Or guiding them through thinking about their future? My oldest is in middle school but I'm struggling a bit with responding to some of her more romantic ideas. I just don't feel equipped to help/guide her....I don't want to be negative, at the same time I do want to have a skill set to help guide her. Thank you!

next year... We love a narrative style but also enjoyed Real Science 4 Kids Chemistry last year... Astronomy is a seperate subject in our memory work...so strictly geology/weather/earth structure... Thank you!

I know my oldest children and my husband try to do for me things that are similar to what I do for them and the sort of things we do for other members of our family/friends. I haven't tried to train them one way or another, it's just what they do...but I do involve them in our plans for others (Daddy, siblings, etc). So if their version of what they do is in line for how your family celebrates one another in general then I'd say that's it's not selfish, merely in line. If it isn't then all I would say is that maybe you shouldn't do things for others all on your own and include them in the planning, prepping for other celebrations (and I have no idea what you do, that would be the only thing I'd say if you don't already do it). Not so much so you'll have a more elaborate mother's day ; ) - but simply so they are equipped to give to others (spouses, children, etc). In marriage it can lead to conflicts and I do believe that being "trained" to find out how people would like to be served/celebrated and act on it based on what will bless them and not what you would like/expect is a good life relational skill. Again, not saying they are lacking that - I have no idea based on what you said - just my experience. I was usually involved in helping my mother/hearing her talk through what we did for others in celebration and service in times of crisis....and it's been quite natural for me to do those things. My sisters somehow were not involved and they usually don't send cards, makes calls etc to anyone for any reason. My mother deeply regrets not paying more attention to their training in those areas.... All of that said please let me know if there is anything I can do to serve YOU. I will be praying that nothing abnormal comes back from your tests, but that a clear answer to your worries and a clear solution does. I'll be calling. : )

My daughter, 9, will be traveling with my husband in Central America next fall, I'd like to get some reccomendations of a Spanish program that focuses on conversation - fast verbal skills. We've studied Spanish off and on and she actually has a pretty good vocabulary, but no conversational skills. I think she's an auditory learner... Thank you!

My friend was panicing about one of her daughters beginning things early and I found a research website that listed ages of menarche through history. It was so interesting...girls traditionally began in the same age range we see today. But during the industrial revolution the ages increased. So girls began an average of 15 yo to 18 yo....then over the last century the ages declined again. The researcher hypothesised that it was primarily because of nutrition - people leaving agraian ways of life to live in cities, etc. I started looking because I kept wondering if girls are so much younger now how did they get married so young and start having babies at 14 "back then". I think 11 is pretty average too...

My daughter really loves ballet...but she is a very laid back and easy going girl. There is no competitive bent to her personality and she, in fact, dislikes things she knows are going to be competitive (even against herself, LOL...math speed drills make her crazy). Next year she'll be newly 9, "4th grade", and she's been in classical ballet classes for 4 years. Last fall I let her participate in the local ballet company's classes and Nutcracker....she enjoyed it very much, and seemed to enjoy the challenge but was often frustrated by the other girls quest for perfection. She just wanted it to be fun.... Overall though she liked the challenge of pushing herself and learning on a higher level than her current classes. To the question! ; ) Her ballet school sent out a notice that to be on track for pointe by 12 she would need to take a number of classes equal to her current level (3)....she seems very undecided is she wants to make that commitment/doesn't seem to really have any clear opinion on whether she wants to do pointe at this stage. So how important is it for her to take multiple classes...she currently does 2 a week and that feels like my limit - I have 3 younger children, 2 of whom have a once a week activitiy too. If she doesn't have a burning passion/drive at 8 should I just let things stay the way they are until she does? I keep thinking what if she gets to 12 and everyone else is going on pointe...do I try to avoid the regret I think she'll feel at that point by making this decision for her? I guess we are at a crossroads....I do not think she has great raw natural talent or anything....she simply loves it and has never wanted to do anything else. So do we just keep loving it as a fun activitiy - or stay on a more serious track to avoid future regret? I'd really like some advice, especially from anyone who has had a less driven ballet dancer, loving it but not on the quest for "perfection" :blink:

Completly agree with several things said here - it could be who is measuring (very subjective), how the baby is laying, etc. I wouldn't worry at this point in the pregnancy....last pregnancy I measured 4 and 5 weeks ahead until the last two weeks when baby moved down into "place" (and that was at 41 and 42 weeks)....she was an average, for me, 9 lb baby. It was clearly how she had been settled in and not related to her size (I also felt like my stomach got much smaller, maternity clothes fit better, etc). U/S are pretty unreliable after the first trimester to determine size and I would think multiples would have had other indicators by now that would have made them more of a probability. Here's a hint for "borderline" blood pressure by my CNM (I always have it)....ask for a larger cuff if you are the least bit overweight (even borderline overweight/larger than average women need a large cuff during pregnancy), ask to lie down in a still and quiet room for about 10 minutes before they take it, make sure you are off your feet as much as possible earlier in the day and avoid stimulents (food and drink) and drink lots of water. Ever since I followed her tips my blood pressure was always able to remain in the normal range...it's amazing what a difference just lieing still for a few minutes makes....if I got a slightly high reading even in labor I'd ask them to leave me alone and retake it 10 minutes later. Good luck - I'd let it go at least a month before I really worried about it.

Yes, this is how I understand it...you don't even have to turn in the scores (I've been told not to by more than one evaluator) what's important is that a state certified teacher signs the form that says there is measurable progress (or whatever it says). If the certified teacher would accept a test administered by the parent then that'd be an option too. Sometimes you just have to ask someone who isn't in the "business" of doing evaluations....

We took a huge pay cut to move here...it wasn't quite 1/3 though...more like 1/4. Housing is less, but we bought a larger home so we ended up with a bit more of a house payment. It hasn't been painless....but it was a God thing for us...we did crunch the numbers very carefully though, I'll be honest.

The standard here - in a state with minimal oversight - is that your child is progressing. Not progressing at anyone else's rate - but that each year they are showing that they are progressing in knowledge and ability. I don't have the doom and gloom prejudices about public school that many people do. When I taught CERTAINLY I was accountable for how the children in my class progressed, at least here in FL, I was held accountable by the parents, the administration and ultimately by the county. If there were students who could not pass minimum competancy tests and I could not show a valid reason why then I had to answer as to why those deficits were not addressed sooner. My sister is currently a public school teacher and not only is she accountable in a variety of ways (far more than I was) she also brings home their struggles as much as I stay up late over my own children's. I have no problem turning in my form (which shows no scores or details) each year that says my children (based on a standardized test or portfolio evaluation) have satisfactorially progressed that year. I see it as my responsibility to see that our state continues to feel comfortable with the liberties we have as home schoolers. My biggest problem with states where there are oversight laws and umbrella schools are an option is that many aren't obeying the law that already exists. Each time a home school parent breaks the law - circumvents established protocol - is selfish in their desire to have things their way because it's their right they are endangering the privilege of home schooling. Because like all rights home schooling is not an entitlement...someone worked for that right, someone died for our rights, and we need to respect that enough to give a little of our own "freedom" for the privilege of exercising them. In a perfect world, of course not, but my head is down and I'm driving on in this world - and want to leave it with as many rights for the future as I enjoy now. Just recently one single parent here in FL endangered a benefit that home schoolers enjoy because she was focused on her wants and her needs and couldn't be bothered to follow the rules in place that governed the benefit. She wanted an exception because she didn't do her job, and it's HER RIGHT....and threatened to sue the state. If not for the quick work of our home school lobbyist the benefit may have been lost to thousands of home schoolers who DID follow the rules. As it is the benefit is in jeopardy...and these thoughts are fresh off of that....it makes me plain mad.

they carry great organics, the clothes are often higher quality and better prices than Sams, produce and meat are higher quality.... The only complaint I have is that they carry such great seasonal stuff that it often gives me the "wants" :o I have to be strong and keep an internal monologue going about consumerism and being wise, etc When we moved away from my beloved Costco we bought a Sams membership - but honestly I often go there with the intention of picking up some things and very often come home empty handed because they were out of produce or it didn't look great, etc. I agree, though, with getting a pass and checking it out for yourself. I'm really weird about shopping for fresh food and would wait a month for something to go on sale at Publix than buy it for the same price at Walmart or Albertsons....

when the poor job other parents do puts my liberties at risk I want something to be minimally required. And I feel like umbrella schools who don't oversight are really misrepresenting themselves. Who wouldn't want to make money without doing anything? But that's not what the whole "system" was set up for.... Here in FL it's much like TN... And I know some homeschoolers who need some guidance too, but love their freedom not to educate their children.

checking out a board! :) Or at least her name and sweet spirit! 2) Smelling baby heads and breath 3) Rainy days when we don't have to go anywhere...not so much when we are delivering meals out in it and Mama forgot umbrellas and raincoats! :o I've been thinking about calling you and asking you a question...I might just do that right now while you're in my thoughts.

Well my husband and I courted for 5 years....he knew immediately he wanted to marry me (the feeling was mutual) but he also felt strongly he did not have leave to marry until he could support a family. He asked me to marry him the last day of his internship (the 5 years were 4 of med school and his internship year that he had to finish to "really" be a doctor) and we were married shortly there after. It was difficult for both of us, but the Lord grew us during that time in ways we would have missed if we had not gone through it. I think we both had plenty of life experiences during that time that made us stronger, more devout, more mature than had he ignored what he felt like was a God given responsibility just to have our wants met. Had we married we would have been better off in many ways - including financially (since I was working and out of college)....but we would have lost life experience which I feel like the Lord intended for us. A call for all young men? I have no idea - but it was for my husband and I can't say we have any regrets.

I got an email about it too, and what they said about voting no made sense to me. That's what I'll be doing.

our girls book club would like to end with a mother/daughter book to read. The girls range from 7-11 and we've been reading books on the 3rd-5th grade level I'd guess. I could only think of Little Women but that seems ambitious - though I've not read it in awhile. They did read A Little Princess.... Thank you

My sister is a travel agent for a student travel group - STA. They specialize in student (university) travel and I've been amazed at the tours, etc that exist. Things I can't imagine being able to "pull off" on your own... They also have really neat family tours that are as simple as Europe and exotic as enviromental travel.... From the prices I've seen a tour is much cheaper than going it alone - the tour companies pay the travel agents and so their services are at no charge to you. I do have a friend who does better through Orbitz, but my sister has always found cheaper fares for me than I could find online.