No, AoPS Intermediate Algebra is NOT optional fun. It is necessary for PreCalc (and Calc). It is part of the core sequence. If you were moving to non-AoPS for PreCalc, you can skip the AoPS Intermediate Algebra. (As AoPS covers much more content/depth than other math programs, and so while Int Alg is part of the core AoPS sequence, it is not necessary for traditional/typical PreCalc and/or Calc courses.) I'd be very curious to see reports from students and teachers who taught using the sequence skipping Int. Algebra about how that went. I'd also be curious to hear the justification for skipping Int Algebra. Has anyone from WTMA discussed this with AoPS? (They are very responsive to questions!) https://www.artofproblemsolving.com/store/recommendations.php

Just a word of warning that those are LONG hikes each day. If you haven't backpacked those distances recently (or hiked w/o large pack at least 50% longer, so 20 mile days back to back), I highly suggest you have a backup plan with shorter routes. Carrying an overnight pack SERIOUSLY increases the workload compared to a day hike. For instance, if I could comfortably do a 12 mile day hike (with a small day pack or just water/snacks) on a particular trail system, I'd probably limit the back-pack-laden hike to 6-8 miles (and be quite worn out by the end of the day, comparatively). I have done many, many backpacking trips. When I was in my 20s and very strong, we still only planned 8 or so miles/day at most (given, those usually had significant elevation changes on rough trails, with the hike in being up hill and the hike out mostly downhill). Occasionally, maybe we did 10 miles if there was some really good reason to do so, but we were *really* experienced and strong and had just the right equipment for our bodies, broken in boots, etc. The only people I've known who did trips that long (12-14 miles/day) were really, really, really hardcore backpackers -- either ultra-walkers who backpacked for dozens of nights a year and knew exactly what they were doing and were on relatively mild trails such as the AT . . . or ultra-athletes like my brother (who did Ironman Triathalons, ran/biked/swam 10-15 hours a week for a lifetime, etc.) Also, don't forget that mis-cues are routine on trails. It's very, very common to do one or more ooopsie (missing a turn, etc.) that costs you a mile or few . . . Another reason not to over plan (especially if there isn't an easy way to cut a corner to shorten your route if needed). Anyway, I hope you have a FANTASTIC time. Pack light, pack warm, pack dry, and be sure you have plenty of water.

Dh and I both used to have bouts of very sensitive teeth at times, for weeks/months. A few years ago, our dentist told us the most AMAZING trick, and it works 100% for both dh and I, and apparently zillions of people, per our dentist! It's ACT mouthwash (or similar, it's the high fluoride you want). Fluoride actually very effectively desensitizes teeth!! SO, go buy a bottle of ACT. They sell several varieties -- look at the label and be sure to choose one of the ones with the highest fluoride concentration. Use it as directed, as a mouth wash, twice a day, for a full minute or two. Within a week or so, I bet she'll notice a huge improvement. For us, we're "cured" within a week or so. I have more consistent issues with sensitive teeth, so I've just adopted ACT as my regular mouthwash (daily). Dh uses it only as needed, usually a week at a time every year or so. Sensodyne toothpaste can also be effective, and uses some different desensitizing drug. You can use it, too, at the same time as the ACT if you like. (I use it when I'm using tooth whitening strips, in addition to the ACT, as the tooth whitening otherwise sensitizes my teeth . . . with the ACT & Sensodyne, I can whiten at will. Good luck!

Totally normal. All three of my kids will do that. They own up to it, but they don't/won't get in trouble for it. I'd suggest not asking anymore, as obviously, they're lying, and that's bad. The eating junk is just normal. The habit of lying is normal, too, but not a good thing. So, for sure, I'd stop asking, as that's just asking for lies at this point. My kids won't get (much) grief from me unless it's some specific thing I've just bought for a specific dish, in which case I clearly tell them . .. and have been known to hide the bag and/or put a big label on it with death threats to anyone who eats it and with explanation of what it is for . . . When I made candies last weekend for Valentine's, I put the tray for the party in the "extra" fridge wrapped tightly with plastic and with a big label across the top "DO NOT TOUCH!!!! FOR PARTY!!" and left all the "free range" ones in the regular fridge . . . I did this because I have learned from experience, lol. I moan a bit when they've eaten 5# bag of chips in a month and I haven't seen ANY baking evidence of proper use, lol. But, I don't get angry about it. I more whine a little in a light hearted way, and I DO try to get them to put things on the grocery list when they're eating up staples. (Chocolate is a staple, right!?!) I've learned to buy HUGE bags of chocolate chips (at Sam's), and I remember to pick up another bag when the current bag has been opened, as we go through a bag in a couple months, and I never want to run out. I have an entire chocolate DRAWER (and it's large and deep) in the kitchen, lol. Holds about 20# of various chocolates plus some baking sugars, lol. Even so, I know that if I'm planning on baking a bunch, I better check the quantities left ahead of time and resupply. I just assume that if I haven't seen the supply within a few days, I better buy more. I use about 1/2 bag of mini chocolate chips per pancake batch, but I buy 4-6 bags at a time anytime we get at all low . . . Today, by dd's computer in the kitchen, I found a marshmallow bag with THREE left (hadn't been opened, bought them for s'mores that didn't get made, tried to put them in an inconspicuous corner of the pantry for later . . . not inconspicuous enough, lol. Nearly weekly, I find a paper towel or bowl of chocolate chips by the same computer . . . So, anyway, I'd suggest buying chocolate in larger quantities. :) And, label anything you REALLY don't want them to eat. (We live 20 min from the nearest grocery, so it's really a hassle if we're out of something and I really need/want to make it right then.)

LOL, that might be why. :) The friend *is trying* to get over it on her own. She's just asked for a break. She's not holding anyone hostage. I have a good number of very old (10-30+ years) friends and a reasonable number of newer (within the last decade) friends. There aren't any of those friends who've been close to me for over a decade (some for 30+ years), who hasn't done some hurtful things at times. Drawn away. Taken time off (even years for one). Dissed me in some way. When we are close to people, we see their sore spots, their weaknesses . . . because they trust us enough to BE real, and because we've been close enough for long enough to BE real. Real people screw up. Real people have bad times. Real people have rough patches. Real people have secrets and mistakes and shame. I am quite sure that I've screwed up more than my share, too. Sometimes, things come back together and eventually we talk about what went wrong and apologize and/or explain. Other times, we just move on. Sometimes many years later, I figure out what happened . . . She withdrew because her dh is a controlling SOB and she was in a rough time personally . . . Or, she withdrew because she was overwhelmed with mental health or relationship problems. Or, whatever. Sometimes, I still don't know. It's OK. People are beautiful not just in spite of our failings but because of them. The only perfect people are those who you don't know enough to know their flaws. Embrace the imperfection, and you'll find people who you can truly love and who can truly love you. I have several friends who I'd lay down my life for. I have several friends who I *know* without a doubt would drop everything and fly to me or my kids if we needed them. Who'd pull out a credit card and pay for whatever we needed. And vice versa. Those are the friends who don't shame me when I share my darkest fears or deepest secrets. I've got one husband -- who is gold and who knows everything. It's "gravy" to have a few friends who can also know the real me. Being KNOWN and KNOWING someone is what real love is. My dearest beloved friends all have flaws. So do I. I couldn't keep up with perfection. It'd exhaust me just trying to keep up.

Definitely. It's a very solid year's course!

One surprising thing I'm seeing about how recent political developments have influenced our society . . . In my 17+ years of homeschooling, I've always soundly rejected schooling/social/etc groups that were religiously/socially segregated. Specifically, even though we were practicing Christians (Episcopalians) for much of our first decade of homeschooling, I refused to join or attend any schooling groups that were Christian-only or had Statements of Faith, etc. That was actually one of my stronger moral stands over the years (as it actually required significant "losses" since so many schooling groups are Christian-only), as we ourselves would have fit in OK as Episcopalians, but I just felt it was reprehensible to have a schooling/social group that excluded people of other faiths/etc. I admit that I always felt morally superior in my refusal to go along with exclusion of religious minorities. I had zero empathy for those who felt driven to have such groups, such "safe spaces" if you were, lol. I thought they were just thoughtless and cruel to those who were in the minority. (Not that I did much about it other than avoid those groups and support inclusive groups . . . and I still had -- and have -- many friends who themselves participated in these religiously exclusive groups.) However, although I tolerated it and looked away, I just could NOT understand why people would do such a thing if not for simply being bigots or fools. Now, however, I can understand better what drove those people to clearly exclude the "other" from their world. Maybe they felt as afraid of the "other", as threatened and endangered by it . . . as I feel now by the "other" side that won the recent election. I am afraid. I am distressed. I feel like the world is a much more dangerous and malevolent place than I'd always assumed it was. I feel morally compelled to create a virtual wall to protect vulnerable people from the malevolent forces out there . . . and I suddenly and persistently feel morally compelled to act loudly, locally, nationally, and frequently to advocate for what I believe is right. These are all new feelings for me. Was this what the "right" was feeling for all those years, and was this feeling why they so aggressively created spaces (especially for their vulnerable people -- their children) that were "safe" from outside threats? Hmmmm. Things to think about. Maybe we all have more in common that we thought we did.

If it's political, which based on what you've written is likely, and your political differences still remain, then I'd give her a ton of space and wait it out. If you have realized you were wrong about the stuff that you think came between you, then go to her and explain your errors, your openness to knowing better for the future, and your commitment to help make right the injustices/wrongs that you may have helped bring into being. IMHO, no matter how distressed someone was/is about a political/social situation, if you admit you *were* wrong and were misled/incorrect/foolish (pick your adjective), and explain that you are now committed to doing better and making the world a good place . . . then I think it is 99% likely that your relationship can be salvaged. People can be forgiven once they recognize their errors and commit to making amends for them. If you don't think you were wrong, then I'd just let it go and move on to other relationships, as this one is dead IMHO. I am trying very hard not to be mean or negative. I'm trying to just tell you the truth as I see it from where I sit . . . which is that many, many people on the losing side of the recent national changes see the current administration as an existential threat to human decency, American justice, human rights, etc. etc. It's not political for most of us any more, it's a human decency issue and an immediate threat to the safety of many people. THAT is why politics has suddenly become so personal and why this situation has disrupted so many friendships and other relationships, as most of us could never have previously imagined not being able to be in relationship with people on any side of the political spectrum. I won't give links, as I know that'll start a storm, but try googling up John Pavlovitz's writings in recent months for a gentle but fierce explanation of why so many people have taken this change in our country so personally and see it in such stark black and white terms. There is no middle ground for some of us.

Getting rid of all our carpeting made a HUGE difference to me, too!! And the HEPA filter in the bedroom, no pets in the bedroom, etc . . . those things make a HUGE difference and are so important!!

Do you use flonase nasal spray? My asthma/allergy DR tells me that the daily flonase is the most critical thing and works better than antihistamines. So, I use the flonase every day but only do antihistamines as needed.

Purina One and Purina ProPlan are good, readily available options. What brand kibble have you used? In general, my dh/vet recommends a high quality food. Science Diet and Royal Canin are the "vet" lines that he recommends and carries at his practice, but Natural Balance and Purina ProPlan (and Purina One, which is a bit cheaper than the others) are well recommended as well. For our own pets, we use Science Diet, Royal Canin, and either of the Purina labels I've mentioned. We tend to mix it up, as dh's vet brain tells us that it's wise to keep your pets adaptable on food choices in case a special (prescription type) diet is needed at some time. So, we tend to rotate and mix up various brands/flavors of our pet foods. That's especially easy with canned food since you don't lose freshness and/or cost efficiency (that you do when you have several bags of dry kibble open at once). How long does the vet want your dog on a wet food? If it's only a few weeks, then it's not a real big deal either way. I'd generally suggest getting 2-3 meals worth of cans of several varieties and see which one(s) your dog tolerates (doesn't puke) and prefers. Then, identify at least 2 that are good choices and rotate them (i.e., one in the am, one in the pm, etc.) Also, many pets get pukey if you suddenly change their diet . . . FYI.

Khan Academy is great now. I'd start with that. I'd also buy one or two prep books for good practice tests. I think the most important things are 1) to do a couple practice tests to get a feel for the format and timing. Do more if your kid is stressed by these things. 2) Review all missed questions each time . . . so the kid walks way knowing how to answer each and every question correctly. Rinse, repeat. If your kid is a poor test taker or an average or weaker performer, my advice in #2 may not be appropriate. I have only helped my own kids with these things, and they're good test takers, so we had relatively few missed questions, so this was feasible. If you have tons of missed questions, then presumably, a more systematic topic by topic approach might be better.

FWIW, if you can get one dimension down to 16', it'll simplify construction a lot since you can buy 16' lengths of deck lumber. :) When we recently built 2 decks, we used 16' as one of the dimensions in each of them. (The big deck is 16x 32 -- or something like that -- and the small deck is 12x16.) So, anyway, be sure to consider that option when you get your pricing. Eliminating unnecessary cutting of boards is helpful, and besides, it's attractive not to have any cut ends on the boards . . . Every deck board goes the full width of the deck . . . The supports and "engineering" is the most expensive aspect, and certainly the most challenging. Replacing the boards and handrails is pretty easy to do with basic tools. You've got 2 older teen boys in the house . . . I'd suggest at least considering doing this DIY with some parental supervision and lots of teen sweat . . . My teen boy LOVES that sort of work and will GLADLY work it for 10/hr whereas getting him to do any other household work is a serious chore . . . If you pay your boys to do the work, it keeps the $$ in the family and gives them good skills, too. Put your investment into buying any needed tools . . . and you'll probably end up with a nice collection of tools, 2 boys who now feel competent to build a deck (great side jobs during school, etc, and just a cool skill to have), and boys with some of their "own" $$$ to cover some of their expenses. I'd price the materials at Lowe's/Home Depot (might want to buy them at a local lumber yard, but getting prices is easy on the big box stores websites). Add up the lumber costs . . . and add maybe 10% for waste and for screws/nails/minor hardware. If you hire it out, I'd guess 2 days of labor for 2 guys. So, somewhere around 20/hr x 32 hours = $640. That's if you can find someone (a decent handyman) to do it for cash . . . If you're paying a contractor who has licenses/etc/etc/etc/high expenses, double that, so maybe 1300 in labor. Total rough guess. Could be half that -- done in one day -- if all the structural components can be reused (but I don't see how that works if the replacement deck is a different size -- so I'm guessing there will be some element of adding supports/etc.) Structural lumber can be very expensive . . . And that sort of work requires more brains/experience to do it right, whereas replacing decking boards and handrails should be really easy. Home Depot & Lowe's often have display decks with price tags for all the components. They also often have (free) classes on how to do these sorts of things as well as desks that can use computer programs to calculate your lumber needs.

Spectrum Chemistry is my suggestion. I did it with my oldest 2 at ages about 12 & 14, and then did it with my "baby" last year again at age 12. No problems. (All my kids were advanced in math, and so had Algebra before attempting Spectrum Chemistry.) Spectrum is solid high school level and well prepared my kids for AP study. However, the book isn't as wordy or lengthy as typical high school texts, which, IMHO, is a bonus for a younger student in particular. It's also very easy to do at home. The kit has everything you need. Lab manual is comprehensive. Everything is well laid out. FWIW, I started with a read-together-hand-holding approach for the first few chapters, and then let the kids transition into very independent study . . . and they all did just great. My suggestion is to do it together for 3-4 weeks and then let them fly once you know they're doing it right.

LOL, unless you are me. :) I recently had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic, and I was having trouble getting enough air for my comfort. My o2 was around 88-91 and my HR was 130s. For hours . . . It was very uncomfortable. Eventually, a steroid injection got the allergic reaction under control, some supplemental oxygen resolved my panic, and my oxygen sats eventually went back to normal . . . it took about 24 more hours for the steroid to work its way out of my body and my pulse to really come back to normal (70s), though, because steroids inevitably raise my HR, too, lol. Actually, when my mom was in respiratory failure and on oxygen and we couldn't get her oxygen above 80s or so, her pulse was CRAZY high, like 140s-150s continuously for days until she died. (And she was in her 70s, so that's crazy high.) Dh explained to me (he's a vet) that anything that stresses you can likely increase your HR. So, if you're struggling for oxygen or in pain or whatever, your HR typically goes up. I guess this stuff is very complicated. :)

Yep, green beans are magic diet wonders for dogs (and cats!!! Our fat cat loves them!) (Dh is a vet. The green bean method is a tried and true and very healthy method for dogs, and also works for cats who will tolerate them.) I'd try reducing his kibble (high quality!) by 1/3 and adding in the beans. You should be able to get the calories from the dog food bag, and just aim to be cutting his calories by, say 1/4 for now. Do that for a month, then weigh your dog and see if you're making progress. If you're making progress, keep going until you get to the goal weight. If you don't make headway with that level of reduction, then reduce a little more . . . etc. (Many vets will gladly allow you stop by for a no-charge weight check and/or "body condition check" by the DR or a nurse. They'll also usually gladly coach you on amounts of the food/beans/etc.) Definitely use no-salt canned beans or frozen beans. Our fat cat loves frozen beans. Popsicle treats, lol. Nice and crunchy! (You can thaw them if your pet prefers, but many dogs like the crunchy frozen ones.) The green beans give lots of good nutrition to dogs -- like they do for us humans (not for cats so much, as cats are biologically carnivores, whereas dogs are omnivores like us) and also lots of bulk and fiber to fill them up so they don't get so stressed out about being hungry (and drive you nuts about it).

It's not too late for high school! Here in WV, the high schools will NOT give credit for homeschool work, so many families choose to send kids to schools starting in 9th grade. BUT, you can TOTALLY just use the high school for classes (either part time or full time, here in WV) and give the kid a diploma/transcript yourself when it's all over. That's exactly what I did with my senior this year. He and I had butted heads for several years, and he wanted to go to the high school, so he goes, full time, for just this year. I'm still his "principal" and will issue his diploma. I just consider the public school classes as "out sourced" like I would any online class. He's been admitted to colleges, etc, based on this, no problem AT ALL. Personally, I think you'd be wise to go ahead and send some or all of the kids to school for a year or more. Heck, go ahead and send them for the remainder of this year. See how it goes. You can always bring them back home. If your state allows PT enrollment, that can be a great option -- get them a few classes at a public school and homeschool the classes you can more comfortably oversee. Many of my friends here in WV do that for their homeschooled kids in high school -- and it allows you to pick and choose which teachers/classes you want your kid to have. I considered that option for my son, and if the school hadn't been very accommodating in allowing us to enroll him in only the exact courses we wanted, I would have done PT to avoid enrolling him in courses that I didn't think were helpful.

(((((Rose)))))) Thank you for the update. I can't tell you how often I've thought of you and your family over these years. Your story has stuck with me like none other. I have a dear friend with an adopted (now young adult) child with severe mental illness, and just seeing the lengths they've gone to to fight for what their child needs and to keep her safe . . . and they, too, dealt with the (crazy) birth-mother issues during their kid's teen years . . . They, too, "allowed" their child to go live with the birth mother for a period of time when she was just-barely-a-legal-adult (but still very much a dependent child), and that, too, went disastrously. It was clear at that time, to me, that they had no choice but to allow the contact/relationship, as any other approach would have not only not worked to prevent contact but made everything much worse. It's a heartbreaking situation not to be able to save your child pain. I can't fathom the strength you have had to find to face these catastrophic challenges. I am sad to learn of all you've gone through, but, again, so amazed and impressed with the strength and courage you and your husband have shown to your son and your family. A parent's love is a miraculously powerful thing, and you've certainly proved that. May the coming years bring peace, healing, and comfort to all of you.

Many big NM schools offer the same NM package to the Hispanic Scholars. For instance, UA - B offers full tution++ https://www.uab.edu/students/paying-for-college/scholarships/national If your kid is in the running for the Hispanic Scholars program, I'd start with the NM list, follow links, and browse the school's web information.

Yes, schools change their offers, but this list is the most comprehensive and up to date out there . . . Some folks on college confidential used to keep an updated list on a board there, but that was pretty unwieldy, so they moved the "official" list off to this yolasite and they do update it regularly. Follow the links (or find them yourself) for the specific schools you are considering to confirm changes/etc. It seems to me that the next year's NM offers seem to generally be updated by summer prior to the fall application cycle. Also, having been watching these schools/lists for 3 years now, it seems that the vast majority of big NM schools don't make drastic changes in a year. As long as you have 2-3 schools on your NM list, you should be in good shape, especially if you confirm current offers by summer before the senior year. Also, if you go to that CC board and scope things out there, that's where the most intense NM researchers seem to be talking/chatting/etc about upcoming changes, new good offers, etc.

Weird!! Try this: http://nmfscholarships.yolasite.com

Any update? I think of you and your family often and wonder how your son is and how your family has fared. Best wishes...

No, I don't think it's essential or even beneficial. If you can afford to focus on your studies during the school term and don't have to get a paying job, do it!! Getting work experience during the summers is definitely a good idea, as you do need *some* work experience. Personally, I'd look to get some work experience every summer if at all possible, perhaps missing one summer's work for some other great opportunity to travel/etc. If you can't line up a paid-work opportunity for a summer, look to create or find an unpaid internship opportunity. We live in a low-wage college town with an overabundance of kids looking for summer work, and our college girl has good merit scholarships for school, so we didn't require her to earn $$ during her first college summers (pre-freshman and post-freshman). We *did* require her to "do something productive" which meant finding unpaid but formal internships. The one she did after her freshman year was with her/our very favorite and awesome local charity (kids' outdoor education school), and she/her mentor just made it up to suit her and the school. It was a blessing to all involved, and that experience was vital on her resume when applying to co-op positions in computer science. Every interview asked about it, and when they figured out that she'd done ALL THAT for NO PAY, they were flummoxed and super impressed, and offered her the job she wanted. :) The fact that she went out and created that opportunity to serve reflected very well on her on many levels. This is something you could easily do during the school year if desired if you have time . . . Find a local charity that you are excited about, set up a meeting, and offer your services for X hours/wk, asking how you can help, finding things to do.

DD (double majoring in Computer Science and Math) considered Computer Engineering and what we determined was that computer engineering tended towards more of a hardware focus whereas computer science was more software focused. Personally, I googled up the topic and found plenty of articles with details, but that was the essence. At dd's college (U Alabama), Computer Science and Computer Engineering are both within the College of Engineering. So far as I can tell, there isn't any difference in "getting into" the programs. Her school has more of a weed-out approach to qualifying for various degree programs. Which would actually be harder to the student seems more student related. My dd is very strong in and LOVES math (and electrical stuff!), loves everything computer science, but hates physics (swears she's bad at it, which is nonsensical) and also disliked the standard 100 level intro to engineering class (which was easy for her but boring and annoying). So, for her, after a semester or two, it was easy for her to choose her major (CS) based on what types of courses each major would have the rest of her degree program and what sorts of jobs each would lead to. So, for her, CS is "easier". For other kids, the computer engineering would seem easier. For instance, for my kid, the math-heavy parts in the CS curriculum are a piece of cake, while she works her butt off on the programming aspects (being pretty much a computer novice when she arrived at college compared to many CS students who've been programming for years) whereas some other kids who are very strong in CS in general really struggle with the math-heavy content. Both are hard majors. I don't think one is clearly easier than the other. For an "easier" related major, consider MIS (Management Information Systems), which is a computer-related major based within the business college (at most places). At Alabama, kids who get weeded out of CS often head towards MIS. Note, though, that MIS is not an easy major either, in the grand scheme of things, but is just typically easier than CS (or Computer Engineering). MIS is generally easier for most students due to the various business courses replacing various hard science/math/engineering courses required for CS or any engineering degree. FWIW, at U. Alabama anyway, it's very easy to come up with a first year plan that keeps several options open -- just choose courses that count towards both (all) options as much as possible, while also making sure to take courses that help the kid CHOOSE among the options, even if that means s/he might have one or two "wasted" courses . . . (Nothing is a waste if it helps the kid chart their destiny!) For dd, that's what we did, and it worked out very well for her. By the middle of her first year, she was 100% certain that CS was her major, and by early in her 3rd semester, she had also added the math major (after having added a math minor a few weeks into her first semester).

FWIW, at dd's college (U Alabama), the individual professors have pretty much 100% leeway on whether or not and how to accommodate for illness. I think the Dean/etc will get involved if you are in the hospital for a period of time or are a victim of crime or family emergency or similar, but those circumstances are few and far between. So, from what I've heard (thankfully dd has not yet been severely sick while in college), yes, if a kid is really, really sick (but not hospitalized) for many days, they might well end up failing courses. You should find the college's Dean of Students (or similar) and contact them for assistance/guidance. At Alabama, there is a designated dean that can/will handle notifying professors, etc, if the student is unable to do so. It is important to contact (email) each and every professor with details of what is going on and what help you need. Get doctor's notes and send them to every professor as well. Stay in touch. U Alabama offers free flu shots, on the quad, for many days during the fall. Dd got hers, thank goodness, as this seems like a bad flu year.