that sounds like asthma to me, and how I experience it. I do know several people that have done the allergy drops instead off the shots, and are happy with them.

Gotta agree. It is too easy for the dog to hit the end of the leash hard and get a neck injury. Plus, a retractable leash has a constant amount of tension that the dog is having to fight with their neck..not a good situation.

Not the OP, but I've seen some NASTY rope burns from them wrapping around human legs, dog legs, etc. If it wraps around someone, and the dog keeps running..it goes BADLY.

:iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree: When I teach training classes I tell people I WILL call them out, and take away their leash if they show up with a retractable leash. Those things are SO dangerous around other people.

sliders?

:iagree:

I REALLY think you have a biased idea of what virtual schools look like when you do them at home. My friend is using the public charter virtual for her kindergarten student. She spends HOURS a day doing the hands on teaching, etc. It isn't like she can hand him a book and walk away. It looks EXACTLY the same as if she used that same curriculum, but paid for it herself. She certainly does question if this is the right way to teach him, worries, etc.

But, what definition is she changing? To me, the definition of homeschooling is to do school at home. She is doing that.

We are just in the first unit, but my son is definitley not taking 1-2 hours per lesson (this is Algebra 1). NOw, he probably rushes more than he should, but 30-45 minutes is more like it.

So...if i am using curriculum that is almost totally independent for my son this year (I am), does that mean I'm not homeschooling?

homeschooling = schooling at home. Public schooling at home, private schooling at home, unschooling at home, classical schooling at home all are under that umbrella of schooling at home.

I'm guessing you haven't used these programs. They still require a lot of involvment of the parent. In fact, when we tried a virtual spanish class via our local public charter it was MORE work for me than the Switched on schoolhouse we are using now. If someone uses Oak Meadow, are they not homeschoolers, but private schoolers? If they use some outsourced classes are they only partly homeschooling, and partly private schooling? I don't see why someone that enrolls in the BJU video programs, or Oak Meadow, or Calvert, or whatever, is considered a homeschooler, but if they do the same thing with a government paid for program it isn't homeschooling anymore. Give her a break, get over it, and focus on your own children. Sorry.

thanks...I didn't say anything and did tip them. I figured they worked really hard, for a very long time, and it was all good. I'd rather them on the ladders cleaning things and me do the microwave than the other way around, lol.

Yes, I was a train wreck, and things are better. Not sure HOW that happened, other than my son got older and able to help, DH finally got a promotion with more money, etc. Plus, honestly, I learned that spending money because I'm sad/frustrated is a bad idea. The house? Best thing was to take a few days off of everything, have everyone help clean it, spend a SMALL amount of money on a few nice things (new bedspread from good will, or throw pillows from Walmart, or whatever). THEN keep it clean. But playing catch up never works for me, it has to start clean to give me an incentive. Plus, in all honesty..I divorced my neglectful, emotionally damaged husband...that helped too.

Thank you or explaining! Glad to see the pacing guide does have the homework, at the end of the unit. I was afraid I'd have to go back in and schedule it myself.

That seems like it would be a fair idea. I sent them an email, we will see what they say. otherwise I may eat the cost and try the monthly subscription to Visual Link Spanish.

Here in Florida they want at LEAST 2 years of a foreign language. Perferably more.

So you think this would be a good approximation of a Spanish 1 class, or a least a good preparation course for Spanish 1?

hmm...maybe we need to back up then. I'd hoped to get Spanish 1 done in 8th, freeing up more time in high school...but better to go back then fail the course.

I just looked at the pacing guide, and did one line of that a day when scheduling. However...it seems that didn't account for the "kinetic homework" I just found on the program...not sure what to do about that.

The memory of knowing that people that needed them are making beautiful music with those instruments will mean more in the long run than the instruments themselves, collecting dust and getting ruined. Can you ask the orchestra director for tickets in exchange for loaning out the instruments? Or a recording or something? Trade the instruments for experience?

Everything else on our schedule is going ok. Algebra, History, etc etc. He is also learning Java programming, other fun stuff. Spanish....not so much. Last year we worked with Spanish for Children. He did the workbook, I helped. We didn't finish as in 6th grade it got left for last often. This year I wanted something more indpendent, and with audio, so I we are using Monarch (the online version of Switched on Schoolhouse). I figured he had some introduction already, so we went with Secondary Spanish.(their order is Beginning, Secondary, then Spanish 1). My son is a SMART kid. He has been tested, and is gifted. He has some learning issues (slow processing speed, horrid working memory). He is NOT getting spanish. I think there are a few reasons and need help teasing out what to do, and what the biggest problem is. Part of it, I think, is that this is 7th grade, I've upped the workload a lot, and he can't get by with just reading it once and moving on. He will actually have to study. Part of it is he has no interest in it. I've explained that to go to college he needs a certain number of credits in foreign language. Part of it may be that we didn't cover enough last year, or the same things, so he has gaps that are hurting him. He remembers very little from last year I think. So the curriculum may be expecting more from him than is fair...or that he can do. This worries me the most.... Part may be he isn't used to an online program, and it just isn't working well for him. For today I printed out the self quiz he took yesterday (and failed). I printed out the assignment it was based on...but he's right, not everything is in that lesson. Most everything is though. And I printed out the answer key. I figure he can look over the lesson again. Then redo the quiz on paper using the answer key as needed. Then retake it online, without the answer key. Does this sound like a good plan? If we need to back up to beginner spanish....that means I'm totally out the 80 bucks or more I spent on Monarch, as there are no returns, and it expires after a certain amount of time, so I couldn't use it next year. I did Monarch instead of Switched on Schoolhouse because he spends time at his father's house, and so the ability to do it from both houses was a huge plus. i'm open to other options...Rosetta Stone did NOT work for him..it was fun but he found it very very frustrating to not have things explained. There is a middle school spanish class once a week locally, at an enrichment center, but I don't think it covers much and once a week for a language seems like a poor idea.

Um, prepared to spend some time in the bathroom, lol! I take 1tsp once to twice a day (for blood pressure issues..if it was just insomnia I'd just do once a day). I also use magnesium oil once a day.

Ok, what state are you in? That will highly effect how the midwifery thing works. Some states have zero regulations, and the pay reflects that. I'm in Florida, we have strict regulations. 3 years of midwifery school (Not after college, but instead of college), certain number of births, etc etc. You can get regular federal student aid/grants/etc just like any other course of study. There are a quite a few schools here...one just opened up 2 years ago. Lots of hands on training as you learn. And I know my midwife charges $4,000 per patient for birth/prental/etc and takes 4 births a month. Oh, and medicaid will reimburse as well, although not that much. Lots of people go into it after being in the mom world a long time. Also you can work out of your home if need be...my midwife has a lovely home office with a separate entrance. Her daughter and granddaughter live with her, so often my toddler plays with her granddaughter during my appointments, and is in and out. REally a great system. I have several friends going through the process now, and one that just graduated. I'd look into this a lot more. It is MUCH more mom/family friendly, and you say birth is your passion. You could even get involved in advocacy and such.

I think teens do need mom more than they would see her if she was working 100 hours a week as a medical resident. I don't think anyone was saying she shouldn't go to some kind of school or do some kind of job, just not to THAT extreme.