We were there the last week in October...sigh...it was great. This was our second trip and we love Disney.

We have a candy jar (with small candies, not full size). DD gets to pick what goes in each week. After lunch and dinner, she gets to pick 2 items out of the jar. On occasion we will have an extra one for no apparent reason, but not often.

:iagree:Absolutely, a means test would not be "stealing". We as a society don't want to have old folks who have worked all their life live in poverty when they no longer work. Social Security is not a 401K. You are not putting in your money into an account where it is held only for you. You are putting your money into a general fundthat should go to those that need it. Sorry, but I think failing to recognize that we all contribute to the kind of society we want to live in, is part of what's wrong in the world. I have a niece with alot of money, and when I mentioned the healthcare issue, she says "that's not my problem". She is only worried about higher taxes on her particular income bracket. Who cares if other people don't have healthcare? We all live in this country together. Heaven help people like her if their lot in life happens to change. But it sounds the same to me to hear people say, well if I don't get my money back, whether or not I need it, then it's stealing. We pay money because we want to live in a certain kind of society. It's not always about our own personal return.

My DD11 has one but wants another one. My DD is at an age where she wants to "be older" and is changing into the young teen stage. Her AG doll is something she still plays with and treasures, and still keeps the "little girl" in her. The AG dolls seem to do that with many girls. And anything that does that is just fine by me, and is money well spent.

Just an observation, but I didn't see anyone mention that one of the reasons for the exorbitant fees at hospitals, etc, is that they are charging for all the folks who have no insurance, no cash, and will never pay. As long as hospitals and ambulances provide service to everyone, everyone should be required to pay into the system (according to their means.) I still don't understand the objection to mandatory participation. If a person doesn't want to pay, won't they still expect to have their appendix out when they show up at the emergency room? And yet two states just passed laws against mandatory participation.

I am going through the same thing, classic thyroid syptoms but thyroid levels coming back normal. My friend recommended I ask my Dr to try thyroid meds for a short period just to see if they make a difference. I think that's what I'm going to do.

We went to Body Worlds and really enjoyed it. My DD was I think 8 at the time, but she has always been exposed to alot of science and medicine. She thought it was great. Her friend who was 9 didn't like it at all (it disturbed her) and her mom left early with her. I did know that the bodies were willingly donated. So strange, I didn't have any thoughts of disrespect. Perhaps that is due to my personal belief that after death the body is just...a body. An object. Having it used to show how amazing the creation of the body is, seemed a great use of it, more so that just it decaying in a grave.

Beth, I had the exact same experience. I have reached the conclusion that my DD11 is ADD inattentive type. Because she didn't have the hyperactivity, it didn't occur to me until recently to even consider ADD. I really only discovered this upon beginning homeschooling about a year ago. I always just thought the same, she was lazy, wasn't listening, or just had the worst case of forgetfulness EVER. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm glad I'm discovering it early enough to maybe help her through the teen years.

That's every day for my DD. Sometimes she even asks, will you come sit with me while I do this. Not to ask any questions, I just sit there. She works 3-4 times faster. I think it just helps her focus.

I take it in gel caps, plus elderberry in gel caps. Didn't get sick at all last flu/cold season. Can't take it straight though! :eek: We're on it right now because we have a Disney trip coming. The brand I use is Gaia. I think Oregomax is way overpriced.

Thanks for linking that! Very well written and interesting (the review I mean!) I have looked at The Shack several times on the shelf and always put it down. I am usually very liberal in my reading, but for some reason I didn't like the sound of it. Based on that review, I'm glad I skipped it. I'm ok with theology I might disagree with, but I don't like it presented in a "sneaky" way. The reviewer described it as "quietly subversive", and I have seen that before in other books.

Funny how things work, huh? I never thought I would homeschool in a million years. I planned on DD being securely in PS, and me going back to pursue my education. Surprisingly, my DD didn't go along with the plan (particulary the "securely" part). So, I adjusted. Also, FYI, I didn't like the "baby" stage at all. I did find it boring. The older she got the more fun she got.

I tried really hard to take it for my energy level and metabolism. I couldn't stand to swallow it and I couldn't get enough each day just by adding it to things. Any ideas for how to get a couple of tablespoons each day without swallowing it?

This is me. But this thread is giving me hope to try again. My DD is very high maintenance (doesn't follow directions well, sometimes just wants me to sit with her while she works - ???). I am also not good with being able to jump from one thing to another. If I was working on school and she needed me, I became totally rattled and couldn't focus on my school again. That's a personality issue. I'm hoping as more time goes on, she will become less maintenance and I can try again.

One other thought, does anyone else see a clear comparision here with the health care situation? In our country, no one is going to be turned away from an emergency room. No one is not going to be transported to the hospital after a car accident because they don't have health insurance. That being the case, why are folks outraged that it should be required for everyone to carry health insurance? It would seem to me that if you don't think a person should be required to carry health insurance, then it would be ok for someone to "opt out" of paying for other services, like fire or ambulance. If that choice is allowed, then it would only be fair not to provide services to that person. I just don't really see the difference.

Reading this story with interest.... In my rural community, the local ambulance service has faced severe cuts in the amount of state funding and grants it has received in the last several years. Last year, they went to election to increase their tax levy in order to keep providing a certain level of service. The tax levy was voted down. The ambulance service is now forced to cut their amount of ambulance and staff available. It is quite possible at this time that if too many calls come in at once, SOMEONE is not going to get responded to in a timely manner. So, when they don't show up for a call because they don't have the staff and vehicles available - who's fault is that? The ambulance service would likely be villified, when it really is the fault of the community who voted down the tax increase. Also in our state, we are facing three amendments right now that are labeled "tax reform". I'm all for tax reform! But these three amendments will take money away from schools, fire departments, ambulance services. Everybody thinks "hey, that's great, save me some tax money". But what happens when emergency services doesn't show up for their emergency? When there are necessary services being provided, and no one would want or expect to be refused those services, then everyone should share in the cost. Period.

I don't agree that the same logic/opinion should apply to both gay marraige and polygamy, and it has to do with the concept of consenting adults. If you do any reading about the polygamous lifestyle, you will see that a majority of the time underage girls are involved. These girls have been raised in an environment where they are not exposed to any outside reasoning, and are not given a choice about what happens to them. There is no way these girls could be considered a "consenting adult" to the situation. First, they are usually underage, and second, if they are of legal age, they have been held in arguably abusive circumstances that prevent them from giving "informed consent". In my mind, that is the problem at the root of polygamy.

Please share! I have a sixth grader, I use a premade outline for a 5 paragraph essay. We still have a really hard time.

Does she have EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome)? I have a very close friend with that problem.

We are rural, with a small town about 25 minutes away and big city about 45-1 hr away. There are quite a few homeschoolers in the area, but no groups or activities. This area seems very "private" for the most part. The homeschooling families I have met aren't too interested in congregating. All groups are in big city which is too far away to be regular about getting to. When I started HS, I really wished there was something, activities, anything. The thing is, my husband and I both were 100% psyched about moving here. We love it here, and therefore, the challenges don't get us down in the dumps as much. I've been considering starting up some things myself. Maybe you could think about that, like the other poster mentioned her mom doing a theater group.

:iagree: I don't think you should give it extra attention, like oh poor baby, but I don't punish it either. I have at times told dd that she needs to go to her room to calm down, but I don't do it as a punishment. In fact, I have explained to her that when mom gets overwhelmed or upset, it helps to take a few minutes alone to regroup. But, it does make me crazy - I just have to realize that's her personality and also a hormonal and maturity issue.

My mom is German, and I grew up with baths/showers once or twice a week. I remember when I was in middle school I mentioned it to a friend and they freaked out! I was so embarassed! I never knew other people bathed every day, so I never thought anyone would think it was weird. As an adult I still bathe 2x per week, unless it is summer and I get dirty or sweaty. After being married for 24 yrs, now hubby does the same schedule. Hubby has really dry skin and he realizes it is better for him. DD11 is also about 2x per week unless necessary. She has really dry skin too. But I did warn her not to discuss it with her friends, since some people bathe every day and think it would be gross! I didn't want her to get embarassed like me! Its kind of odd because even though it is a somewhat "American" habit, doctors will tell you it's really not necessary or better for you.

Your daughter is beautiful. My dd is 11 and just on the line between wearing a bra sometimes and having to wear it all the time. I also have heard it said about a year between when the breasts come and when the period comes. She has a few skin problems too. I feel your pain. I am the mom who discovered her dd was looking at internet porn. I am already in grieving.... It's weird the conflicting emotions though. Sometimes I look at her and can see the woman she will be, and I am just so in awe how beautiful and special she is...then other times I am terrified!

I do hear what you're saying. I should explain that I have been saying "neighborhood" to simplify, we live in a rural area where the lots are anywhere from 1-5 acres. This family's house is about 3/4 a mile away. So it's not so much like in a typical subdivision neighborhood where you could look outside and maybe see or hear where the kids are. I don't feel I have to be friends with all parents, unless she will be with them without me present or without more supervision (Such as when she was in PS and the friends she had at school, obviously I don't really know them or their parents. But she wasn't going to their house unsupervised.) Even then I don't necessarily expect a "friendship" with the parents, but at least being around them enough to feel like I know them somewhat. Molestation is pretty low on the list of worries, honestly worry more about not knowing the value system in the home and what might be going on there that she will be exposed to. I just think 11 is still pretty impressionable, and DD in particular has not shown the best judgment or maturity in situations that she has been exposed to. Obviously when she is older she will be making her own choices about association, and we are working with her on how to show maturity and good judgment. At this point, I still have alot to do with who she associates with and what parameters are there.