so my list is small but growing as I have time to add.......... Here is my list LivingLighthouse's Library Thing

Thank you so much you guys..........this really made me feel better. Last night I called my 15yo from work and asked him the same question and in his 15yo wisdom said "they are having fun mom, isn't that what you wanted?" So thanks for reminding me that yes that is why I sent them and as a kid I never called home either.....so I need to remember that. Being a mom sure is hard.............and I find its harder as they get older.

It is Day Two of my twins at camp and I am going crazy with them being gone. Neither of them has called home and now I'm going from being worried and missing them to kinda hurt. Is that totally ridiculous? They are 13yo.......but I guess I thought they would miss us a little being the first time away from home for more than a night down the street to a week an 8 hour drive away. I just don't know how to feel and now I'm even more confused.....

Okay..........they're gone It wasn't too bad. Out of their group of friends (8 kids) we were the only parents that stayed until the bus left. We got to hang out with the kids and they all wanted hugs as they got on the bus since their folks weren't there (2 siblings said there dad didn't even get up this morning to say good bye.........what is wrong with people?). We took pictures of everyone with each of their cameras and saw them all drive away waving wildly......it actually made me really happy to see how excited they all were and made me remember that they are going to have a fantastic time. Only a couple of tears from mom, but I waited until they were gone......I'm still a little choked up when I think about it.......but I know it will get better. I'm goin to church and then takin older brother to the movies......I figure that is a good distraction

really, I'm not. Okay,maybe I am.....just a little Yes they are 13 years old.........but they've never been farther than a 30 minute drive or longer than a day away from home Please tell me everything is going to be okay...... I'm mean really.......people send their kids to camp every year......younger children even....so why am I starting to freak out? I'm hiding it pretty good.......although I no longer see an issue with drinking at 7am which will be about the time that the charter bus drives away with my babies. Seriously.......will it get easier as the week goes on or is this just the beginning?

This is just what I needed to read. We just decided to send our 13yo twins to their first ever summer camp. And they leave this Sunday!!! I'm starting to panic........while I remember my great memories of camp, it still scares the dickens out of me to let them go. Their camp is about 6 hours away so I think that is part of it......but I know the Youth Pastor and they do a 4 to 1 ratio of adults to Youth which is more than the requirements.......can't you tell I'm full of contradiction here? I will have my other son home.........but I just don't know what to do with myself so I don't start conjuring up all kinds of scenarios. I think I'll save this thread to read each day next week.

a girl in my high school Sunday School class loaned me the first book and I proceeded to devour it and the other 2 books in 3 days...........loved them!!! Definitely Crack material........

In California........you cannot drive with anyone else in the car for the first year. You also cannot drive using a cell phone (even hands free) until you are 18. I do not let my son drive with anyone under 18 at this point (he will be getting his permit this week). If I do, it will be around town........but certainly not down to the bigger city or on long trips.

I'm sitting at the hospital as I write..........it is deader than dead (and I really shouldn't say that working in the hospital).......and I'm here for 8 hours. Only consolation............Time and a half!!! BTW>........hubby is at work too today :(

Well for me the chances were 100%............boy and a girl! However........I have heard that one baby can give off a varied heartbeat in different areas inside the uterus..........having something to do with the distance from the heart itself. Not sure how accurate that is.

My son is a sophomore in high school and is going to be an Aeronautic Engineer. The suggestions from colleges are Go through Pre-Calculus for math Go through Physics for science Another pre-req is computer science- using basic programs, but even programming and design softward as well

we have used this system for many years, since my children were quite young. We have 4 dogs and 3 cats and we rotate monthly. I have 3 children so they only have this chore once every 3 months which is nice because this is one of the more heavy duty chores at our house. When its your month to have "animals" you must feed them morning and night, fill the water dishes, take the dogs out, clean the catbox, give cats food as needed (they share a big dispenser).

I just finished Jane Eyre and am now reading Pillars of the Earth

Personally, if you have young children I would definitely skip the trip to Hana...........many hours of driving winding roads that can be downright dangerous at times for a lot of scenery. Next time I will take a helicopter and just my husband and I will go......not worth it IMHO for kids. We enjoyed Haleakula and recommend it. Our whale watching trip was the highlight of our trip..........so close we reached out of the boat and touched the whales and one of our skippers dove into the ocean next to them..........way cool. The luau thing is overrated and overpriced......but if this is a once in a lifetime trip.........do it.

Ice is called for in a new injury like that. Heat increases blood flow to an area creating more swelling so you want ice to actually slow down the blood flow to decrease swelling to the area. Make sure you alternate 20 minutes on 20 minutes off. Older injuries can benefit from heat/ice alternations.

I sing on the praise team at our church and have for the past 4 years. I agree with what most have posted about the purpose of a praise team. We are a small chuch and we have a guitarist, pianist, flutist and a drummer and 3 vocalists...... We have had issues with performance folks on our team in the past (including a youth pastor) that were weeded out because it became about the team and not about worship. I constantly have to remind myself to not get soo into worship myself that I completely forget where I am and what I'm supposed to be doing. In my mind that's the way it should be.......we are there to worship and lend support to the congregation.....nothing else. When I'm taking a break and am in the congregation I really appreciate having the vocalists up there leading so I can keep track of the correct pitch and melody vs. listening to the off-key whoever behind me. To me THAT is way more distracting than a praise team up front.

This has been very helpful. I have talked to her about this before and she always states she isn't depressed.........and that is what hard for me.....to differentiate between depression and just being a negative person. But I think getting her checked out by the doctor and maybe talking to someone may help sort that out. Thank you so much for sharing, and for some of you some very personal information, that reminds me to not take lightly the affect of hormones and that it isn't just a "teen thing".........in the end, it may be just that, but I don't want to just assume it and it is something more than that.

I sing............publicly! Fortunately I go to a church that is just desperate enough to want me to. So, I sing on Praise Team and have even done solos.........scary business, but I'm so glad I am doing it. Gardening............I suck at this! I kill almost everything I plant, but occassionally a hardy soul (roots, whatever) will come along and actually grow..........it gives me such satisfaction I jump on the bed, wrestle on the floor, I have belching contests.........all in the name of "I'm not too old"............and I'll keep doing it until I can't!

Thank you for your input. I will say a couple of things about her......she does have hobbies......she is in drama at school and she knits/crochets...........she also is a very healthy eater and gets plenty of sleep (first to bed, last to rise). She took a PE class at school all on her own just because she wanted more exercise...... But, I know that that isn't everything.

From a fellow uninterested party here I literally am forcing myself to go to church every week at this point. I have been hyperinvolved for years at our church and have recently cut back due to going back to work. Since that time I feel pressured to take on more responsibilites like before and at the same time I feel ostracized for not being more involved. I seriously have to fight not leaving on a regular basis. My kids have left our Youth Group due to no kids their ages and the leader, they attend my SS class that I teach for Youth and go to Church and are involved in other activities......but I am sad they are not part of a youth group. I almost feel like I would like to just take a break..........not leave persay........maybe just tell the pastor, hey we won't be here for the next month or 2 or 3........but we'll be back. I wouldn't mind going to the big church across the street where we can just come and go and no one will pressure us for more and maybe get our kids hooked into their Youth Group...........but then I feel like a traitor........ Anyway, this was your problem, not mine........so I'm sorry I've digressed on my own issue............I say feel free to make the choices that fit you for now, you don't have to make a permanent decision right now........take a break, wait......and see.

Okay, so my daughter is newly 13yo. And boy is she miserable. Now she has been like this for awhile now........as in the last couple of years it has gotten progressively worse. I know you are thinking it so I'll tell you......no, she hasn't started her period yet (nor really had any breast development) So here is the problem..........she is unhappy ALL THE TIME........and makes the people around her unhappy. She doesn't look at the bright side, but always finds something to complain about No matter what you say, she will argue.....without fail She is unhappy about the way she looks (she still has baby fat) but she dresses soooo dumpy even though I take her shopping and try to show her styles that will make her look good She complains she has no friends (somewhat true, but I believe is probably due to her depressing outlook) Every once in a great while she will be pleasant.......even happy.....but it seems far and few between. I do see her laugh and play with her friends, so I know there is some happiness there.........but when you talk to her, she always complains about something She cries at the drop of a hat..........and pouts.........and pouts So, is this typical behavior or is this the point where I say enough and take her to the dr. and see if something more is going on. I really want her to be happy........I really want to enjoy being around her.....I'm at the point I just don't like being around her and then I feel guilty for not wanting to be in her company........it stinks. Whatcha think???

As I am a mom of all teenagers this may or may not help you......but I went to work for the first time about 4 months ago and work 4 days a week (2:30pm to 11pm) and am now moving to 2 12-hour shifts 11am-11pm starting in May. It took quite an adjustment for us to make this change. #1 was my husband had to get WAY more involved. And he has! He has a tough job and works 50-60 hours a week, but he cooks most nights, helps with schoolwork in the evenings and drives the kids to activities when he can. #2 Think ahead. When I was waiting until "the day of" to try to plan what to do........nothing would happen.......so I had to force myself to take a day each week and plan out our week.....pretty detailed too.....and that helped me to stay on track. Without that plan it is too easy to get sidetracked. #3 Delegate......my kids picked up more chores to do around the house, they found rides for activities and are responsible for more in regards to schoolwork (like checking their answers on things, instead of me correcting all their work and recording their grades) I know these may not all help........but hopefully it may trigger something.

Have to agree with Trina here..........it really depends on how much you want done for you and how much you want to do yourself. MapAids to me are invaluable because I DID spend hours looking for maps online, printed them out, find an answer key, etc....so to me.........worth it! If you are planning to use a different English curriculum then skip the Writing Aids........otherwise it weaves nicely with TOG. I usually take time and go through the list of all the books for the unit, mark which ones are at my library and are used less than a month and put those on my "do not buy" list. I then eliminate things I feel are duplicated or that we won't get to or something I feel I have on hand that I can substitute without it being too big a stretch and those go on the "do not buy list"...........the rest I put on To Buy list and I start looking........ebay, thrift shops, curriculum sales.........then at the end of summer I'll buy new whatever I haven't found. Works pretty well for us and I feel I have been able to use TOG very efficiently and inexpensively.

1. Age of child 15yo 2. Grade (K-12) 9th 3. How many hours does the child spend on school work each day, on average? (don't count lunch or play time) 5-6 hours 4. What time does the child start and end school each day, usually? starts around 9am and ends around 3pm 5. How many hours does the child spend on math each day? 1-11/2 hours 6. How many subjects is the child studying? (Count subjects that require at least 1/2 hour per day on average) 8 subjects 7. On a scale from 1-10 (with 1 being the lowest) how focused is the child during school time? 7 8. On a scale from 1-10 (with 1 being the lowest) how comfortable (quiet, well-lit, sufficient space, etc.) is the child's study space? 9

I admit it.........I love Dexter! I caught it on a free Showtime weekend last year and watched the whole first season in 2 days.........then I was hooked. I do have to say that I am really happy they are showing it on CBS now without all the language/sex..........