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catz

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Everything posted by catz

  1. I haven’t read the whole thread. But sure totally fine to leave a 7th grader home for a few hours. We certainly did. That said, would I do this regularly or daily while the kid is on an honor system to get school work done? No. I don’t think that is a good idea. If I had to do this daily I might consider an educational change prior to like high school at least and maybe older depending on the kid.
  2. I had to go look up in what context this was said as a spin off. I just think the locker thing is a trend. When I was a student EVERYONE used a locker. We took great pains to decorate and organize them. Some schools aren't using them for safety reasons. And it's not on trend at other schools. Kids are not carrying stacks of books like they are in the dark ages. In no way do I think kids aren't using lockers because no one showed them how to do it. It is not rocket science. Never in the history of the world has information been more easy to access Padlock tutorial 2:08 My mom never taught me how to cook. She gave me free range in her kitchen. She bought me a couple cookbooks. If I didn't clean up good enough, she gave me direction that. I loved learning to cook that way. To this day, I still love playing with new recipes, cuisines, and techniques. I have taken some classes over the year, but more as a social event. I actually think I learn and retain better by at least trying to figure it out. That's not a pride thing at all, I ask for help when I need it. I have taken classes to get a kick start on a new skill even in recent history. I married relatively late for this board. I have 2 STEM degrees. I owned my own home and worked a corporate job for years. I've traveled alone to foreign countries, etc. So I have just learned to be a good independant problem solver and that has served me very well in life. Even through married life and parenting. Another example - I knit and crochet. I was taught the very basics from someone. I figured everything else out - I can pretty much make anything and pattern create at this point. I rarely repeat a pattern or an item because I like to make something new all the time. I think the point about confidence is a good one. Some people are better with this than others. I hope we all have the self confidence to try new things and have grace helping others or asking for help if we need it. In my corner of the world I certainly don't feel "figuring things out" or communication skills is regularly holding people back. My caveat being that I think I definitely feel like I'm still coming back out after covid and re-engaging in the world like I might have before. At our house we got pretty used to just staying in and not engaging with the outside world for a long time.
  3. My kids didn't attend B&M school but they did a lot of structured extra curriculars and in person dual enrollment classes. Seems like everything they did had a don't ask don't tell policy. Phones silent and away and there was no problem. When she did committed music theater with long runs, they had a locker they kept youth phones in during shows. But the stage manager and asst stage manager were always accessible through show times via text.
  4. That is beyond obnoxious. I wouldn't respond. But I'd also hide and potentially just straight up unfriend. I'd encourage my kid to do the same if she uses that brand of social media. 17 year olds date and break up and it's just not that big of a deal even though it can feel dramatic at the time.. That is just way over stepping as a parent of a teen. And to argue with your teen publicly on social media? Yikes. Shouldn't be surprised if that kid decides to put some distance in that relationship at his earliest opportunity.. I'd be quietly celebrating the break up.
  5. Are you in state for Illinois? Nothing surprises wrt to these popular flagships and out of state admissions anymore but gah,I would be angry in state. I had a kid with pretty much the same stats apply a few years back and he had some weird results too. Hope he has a good set of affordable final choices.
  6. This. I would actually be much more worried about my son dating someone who probably might be more prone to unhealthy emotional choices and like had a lot of catching up to do in terms of maturity. Especially if this was a kid prone to extreme empathy and wanting to be a "fixer". I would want to help. But I'd also want my kid to know that it isn't on him to make the world right for someone if this relationship wasn't working both ways. I don't find an 18 and 22 year old dating super problematic. I have kids in this age range. Though my son who is newly 23 is a new college grad and dating a sheltered high schooler for him while he is working a corporate job and living very indepndantly just seems bonkers and like a crazy power and maturity imbalance. So I do think 4 years at this age can be a lot. It just depends on the parties involved. I really wouldn't care at all what the mother thought if her choices as a parent were unhealthy and possibly abusive.
  7. You could use both in Bigos (bee-gose). Which is a Polish hunter's stew. You can really use any kind of meat/sausage in it. https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/259180/bigos-polish-hunters-stew/ Sub your meat in proportions you prefer. If you have bulk sausage, I would just brown it up in small chunks. It freezes well too.
  8. At some point, I realized people who ridicule are actually feeling so cruddy about themselves they have to send their negative energy out to the world because they don't know what else to do with it. It's about them. Not about me. 99% of the time, people are just trying to get through their day and not going to care what someone else is doing. I felt like I grew up very much in a household like this. And I don't think it was malicious. I think my family loved me and did the best with the tools they had at the time. My dad died a number of years ago now and they have really let go a lot of their negative energy over the years And it helped that I just learned to shut it down and walk away from it. I am far from perfect with this. But life is too short to be dictated by other people's bad behavior and negative energy.
  9. You will need to check vaccine requirements of the colleges they are attending. We did update everything and get the dorm recommended ones. I wouldn't worry about placing too low on college placement tests if that is why you are considering possibly doing that more than once. I think it is definitely better to start "too low" when getting used to college life and pacing. It is definitely different and if it's a fair amount of review, I don't think that is the worst thing in the world. Both my kids placed low in math specifically, but that served them super well. My graduate was one class from a math minor before he was done, he is totally a mathy student. Just didn't remotely prep for the placement test which was taken during the summer. If you have a motivated kid though, if they want to prep I certainly wouldn't discourage that. Sending any AP or dual enrollment credits (scores transcripts, etc) is important. It's taken my freshman a LONG time to sort all that out and to figure out what classes she doesn't need to take. And yes, official standardized test if the schools require the offical report and they applied with scores. My daughter attends college and lives in a dorm in a very large city. Reglarly rides public transit. She has a birdie alarm attached to her backpack and this is pretty popular with women on campus. https://www.amazon.com/Defense-Siren-Rechargeable-Personal-Safety-Womne-130dB-Emergency/dp/B09CD34G35/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tpp3RfuAm8ZpECapi7ALUY0b97VMG8bLZEUg6il0XNIcnfsHc5NFVNOi7eHH9Z79suXLV-01D3Fz1yqyp4OTwSJhdl2tuLfZP3a-2Zay1G_wqLQcF6w9zpTXlX1MVeUOirg7BuMIG6rPjLuJ6ZFCFIKLnEs6dJNCf_rJVjCBVfFfGQiKisGusB-NRUNgdkcwKVWelDlJbpcbU0A-SO7m_sIecDgBokd1CayZY__0k40.LI43b6r9o2zmPvDYla0KK8hnlpvThyJFEOHX_pwkfQ0&dib_tag=se&hvadid=557290735614&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9051931&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1180336077335678218&hvtargid=kwd-948007459198&hydadcr=8378_13470734&keywords=the+birdie+alarm&qid=1709849717&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1
  10. I make sourdough once or twice a week on average among other things. So I am using my stand mixer constantly. It’s my favorite kitchen gadget. I have a kitchen aid. I had a kitchen aid prior that lasted over 20 years. This one is a few years old. So far so good. But I haven’t found a reason to knead more than 4-6 minutes. Machine kneading is more efficient than hand kneading. I do hand mix or fold some fussier doughs.
  11. In the context of my own young adult kids, it doesn't occur to me to give in depth play by play of relatives lives unless they ask or it comes up naturally in conversation. Especially in terms of far extended family. At some point, it becomes their job to maintain those relationships if they want to. Like this could happen "Oh, we met uncle bob and aunt jane for lunch and saw cousin joe for lunch" "How was that? Did Joe land that new job at Awesome Company?" vs. "That's nice, did you try the new Korean restaurant with them?" And that will determine what info might roll out and how the conversation will roll. Sometimes when I talk to my own mom, I feel like she is talking AT me just regaling me with a bunch extended family info I don't really care about. I have a nephew is doing sports and my mom right now will talk about that for HOURS. I am happy for this kiddo, but I am not a sports ball person, and more than a 15 minute conversation on that topic (which often has a competitive gossipy tone) sets my eyes glaze over and on some petty level irritates me that my kids never got this level of excitement from a grandparent. So I can see how even if it isn't intended as a judgment, it could feel like one. If the delivery is always GOOD news I would be suspect of motive of this. Because no one's life is actually just like that. So I think a lot can depend on how these conversations roll out. Are they like delivery of a disssertation? Because conversations should be two way and people should be reading and playing off each other. And I don't think it's particularly awful if someone indicates they don't really care for the play by play. I mean, it's fine to deliver news that may actually impact them "Hey just so you know, Suzie's wedding is schedule for Oct 23. Not sure if that will work for you, but thought you might want that date for your calendar." "Hey, X and Y are having a graduation party on Z date just FYI if you can make it".
  12. That is so scary and I hate when that happens. I am kind of short and have had a blind spot in every vehicle I have ever driven. I tell my young adults who attend(ed) college in busy cities to make sure cars see you before crossing and I do the same.
  13. I went on overseas group trips with my kids when they were teens. One was in Italy, the other was in Spain. Amazing trips and memories! The travel group that organized them and did an info meeting does ALL student based tour groups. They strongly recommended either a money belt or one of the pouch style ones that can be worn under clothing. And yes, the pickpocket action in some of the tourist areas can be nuts. Kids will distract you, etc. https://www.amazon.com/Day-Tip-Money-Belt-Undercover/dp/B01M594B5K/ref=sxin_14_pa_sp_search_thematic?content-id=amzn1.sym.16a28bc9-ae4d-40ff-95af-003bc9e32f6c%3Aamzn1.sym.16a28bc9-ae4d-40ff-95af-003bc9e32f6c&crid=BMUWTB5JBPR7&cv_ct_cx=travel+pouch&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q2mf0RIBTOXe_9wRLI-gRVqcfOSKqocsg-oIKQ925Wz-9ibVkrlaCqtcTxEwYiAHBJgUHXou_0rFZkZY97Fp7A.V-NxpvATt462_flqES0-BVX3Ky404XB1P_6ne9iHVDI&dib_tag=se&keywords=travel+pouch&pd_rd_i=B01M594B5K&pd_rd_r=fa93e0ae-6953-4ce1-aa10-3b8cde12580a&pd_rd_w=PZdlw&pd_rd_wg=ijach&pf_rd_p=16a28bc9-ae4d-40ff-95af-003bc9e32f6c&pf_rd_r=1ZV7BKDVXMDWBAPYB65Q&qid=1709408244&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=travel+pouch%2Caps%2C120&sr=1-2-e7845da7-4b73-4873-b4b5-aec156390e83-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/Lewis-N-Clark-RFID-Blocking-Anti-Theft/dp/B0082C62BO/ref=sxin_14_pa_sp_search_thematic?content-id=amzn1.sym.16a28bc9-ae4d-40ff-95af-003bc9e32f6c%3Aamzn1.sym.16a28bc9-ae4d-40ff-95af-003bc9e32f6c&crid=BMUWTB5JBPR7&cv_ct_cx=travel%2Bpouch&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.q2mf0RIBTOXe_9wRLI-gRVqcfOSKqocsg-oIKQ925Wz-9ibVkrlaCqtcTxEwYiAHBJgUHXou_0rFZkZY97Fp7A.V-NxpvATt462_flqES0-BVX3Ky404XB1P_6ne9iHVDI&dib_tag=se&keywords=travel%2Bpouch&pd_rd_i=B0082C62BO&pd_rd_r=fa93e0ae-6953-4ce1-aa10-3b8cde12580a&pd_rd_w=PZdlw&pd_rd_wg=ijach&pf_rd_p=16a28bc9-ae4d-40ff-95af-003bc9e32f6c&pf_rd_r=1ZV7BKDVXMDWBAPYB65Q&qid=1709408244&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=travel%2Bpouch%2Caps%2C120&sr=1-1-e7845da7-4b73-4873-b4b5-aec156390e83-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9zZWFyY2hfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1
  14. If she's never been to a Target, I would think that would be great fun out of the gate. A lot of the stuff at Ulta is at Target too. And she could get clothes, makeup, American treats, etc.
  15. This brought tears to my eyes! I am so happy for you! ❤️ 🥳
  16. The sonicare toothbrush the best thing I've ever purchase in terms of this. I use this 2X a day. When I do it in the morning might vary depending on my plans for the day but always right before I go to bed. I floss at least once a day. I bought each my young adult kids a sonicare as well.
  17. We have a flitered fountain for our kitties and I think they also stay so much more hydrated too., Not surprised at all this would make a difference for some cats.
  18. In solidarity from Minnesota. Bonkers.
  19. Poor baby kitty! Maybe d-mannose? https://www.chewy.com/natures-pure-edge-d-mannose-chicken/dp/241535?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Nature's Pure Edge&utm_campaign=20648416049&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA0PuuBhBsEiwAS7fsNYm3ju0FfVVFNCUweSIBXaPC6xja162kaL9cbwcG4dyAnJp-dPncGRoCZ2UQAvD_BwE
  20. I agree and I think it would be fine to spell this out in your school profile and transcript - how you have fulfilled the graduation requirements for your state. I'm not sure it is worth the ongoing back and forth when you don't know who you're speaking to. In general, we just sent way TMI. Our transcript was Typical one page summary - class titles, credits, grades sorted by subject. Credit worksheet by subject to show how graduation requirements were fulfilled Scanned copies of outside grades - dual enrollment transcripts, a few online classes Many pages of detailed class information - Title, Credits, Provide, outside teacher if applicable, grade, description, curriculum list, links to applicable info Our profile included our homeschool background and philosophy, description of state graduation requirements, information on outside educational providers (co-op, professionally taught classes, online classes, dual enrollment providers, etc), covid impact My kids also got into a couple schools they shouldn't have according to verbage on a college's website about homeschooler requirements.
  21. That is weird. I will say I had very detailed transcripts for my kids with class names, curriculum, abbreviated syllabus, outside sources, links, teacher names, etc and they got through a number of fussier admissions processes. It did start with a standard one page transcript. My kids dual enrolled for 2 years, I’m sure that didn’t hurt. I would be trying to convince my kid this wasn’t worth the trouble, or just applying with what you have and let the chips fall. I think it is extra weird an art school wouldn’t see a bunch of non traditionally schooled applicants? ETA totally agree this could be a communication misunderstanding with some random person I their office. Turnover can be high for those anyway, sometimes it’s a student, etc.
  22. I know plenty of people living in Minneapolis/St. Paul urban without a car. Or maybe 1 car for a 2 parent/2-3 kid family. It's defintiely easier without kids LOTS of bike commuters. My spouse among them. I have a kid in Chicago using transit ALL the time. I walk a ton personally, our neighborhood is pretty great but not as good as some others. Lots of college towns are maybe not as expensive as the bigger cities and will be very walkable. Ann Arbor MI, Madison WI, Columbus OH, Bloomington IN, etc. College town tend to have nice amenities as well for their size. You can look up walk scores for an address at https://www.walkscore.com/ City nerds has a number of videos on this! Here's one focusing on less expensive cities.
  23. I have a large wooden one two sided one that fits across my sink that I hand wash and 3 smaller plastic ones that will go in the dishwasher.
  24. As someone who lives in one of these cities on the border, it is almost like one giant city with 2 downdowns. Nice neighborhoods and amenities on both sides of the river! And very accessible to the other side. WE LOVE IT. ❤️ If we had to relocate in the midwest, I really like Madison WI and Chicago. Maybe Milwaukee. If I came into money, I would consider Boston or San Francisco. It's hard picking! I could happily try lots of places.
  25. I've had 6-7 covid shots, I don't even remember at this point. And I had quite a painful arm with several of those. No idea with the difference.
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