justasque
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Posts posted by justasque
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regentrude gave a great explanation.
I wanted to add that I include a "story" that goes with it, usually having to do with a party and leftover pizza.
So if you have 2 1/2 pizzas left over from the party, and you want to give the child 1/8 of a pizza (one slice) in his lunchbox, how many servings will you have? (2 1/2 / 1/8), which = (5/2 / 1/8), which = 20. Hopefully you'll be putting those slices in the freezer!
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I agree with all the pp's.
Unit blocks are great; even better if you can get some of the "special" blocks (like the sort of Y arch-y one). These had a long life in our house. Boys and girls both played with these.
Legos had the longest life, going well into the teen years for my ds.
Kapla blocks come out now and again. Ikea had them for a great price some years back and we got a bazillion.
K'nex is fun, though less so than some of the others.
We've also had bristle blocks, erector sets, gears of various kinds, paper models, tinker toys, wooden trains, Primo and Duplo lego, and so on. Playmobil is more playing and less building.
Yard sales and thrift shops are your friend. Our favorite find was a huge set of Quadro for $8. Now *that's* a building toy!
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Would you happen to have a recipe for this, by chance? I've toiled over the "pot pie" for years. I've had a few near misses, but have never actually nailed it. I would be forever in your debt...
Pot pie is basically veggies in a white sauce with pastry or potatoes or biscuits on top.
Saute onion, garlic (if you want), celery, and carrots in 3 tbsp olive oil. The amount of veggies isn't important, the amount of oil is.
You can add some raw meat at this point and cook it through. Or add cooked meat later on. Or skip the meat altogether.
When onions are translucent, stir in 3 tbsp flour. Cook for about a minute. Stir in 2 cups of either milk (for a white sauce), chicken broth (if making chicken pot pie), beef broth (if making beef pot pie), veggie broth (if you're a vegetarian and aren't into milk), or coconut milk (if you want to get exotic, and you have some experience) - you get the idea.
Stir the sauce over gentle heat until it thickens. Add frozen peas or whatever other veg you fancy. Add cubed cooked meat (beef, chicken, etc.) if desired.
Pour into glass casserole dish. Top with mashed potatoes, or biscuit dough, or pastry dough, or perhaps bread crumbs dotted with butter.
Bake until your topping is done.
Enjoy!
Veggie versions might include lentils or beans instead of meat.
A nice wartime recipe is Mrs. Harwood's cheese and lentil pie, which I ate in the Imperial War Museum's cafe this summer - it was wonderful, and very much comfort food.
Mrs Harwood’s Lentil and Cheese Pie
Boil lentils and an onion in some milk. When everything’s soft, pour it through a sieve. Pull the onion apart and layer it up with the lentils and some cheese, salt and white pepper. It must be white pepper. Sprinkle some breadcrumbs on top and put it in the oven. Use the milk to make mashed potatoes.
Serves 4
300 g red lentils
1 medium onion
30 g butter
850 ml milk
120 g cheddar
150 g fresh breadcrumbs
Salt and white pepper
Soak the lentils in warm water for about half an hour, then drain.
Dice the onion and fry gently in the butter until very soft, about 20 minutes.
Add the lentils and milk, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the lentils are soft. Top up with water if necessary, so that it ends up oozy.
Remove from the heat and stir in half the cheese. Season with salt and white pepper.
Transfer to a gratin dish, toss together the rest of the cheese and breadcrumbs and spread over the top. Bake in a medium-hot oven until golden and crispy on top.
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Before I added to the load of a student this age, I would want to be clear about what sorts of gaps I am wanting to fill.
:iagree:
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But there are dozens of sellers of these on Etsy - some are all cotton, others are lined with PUL - some have flaps, some do not... I made some using a tutorial on a website from a homeschool mom.
And at what point of the copying is it somehow just an idea "in the public domain"?
Ah - I have only seen the one kind. (Came across it this weekend, not on etsy. Wasn't impressed with the particular design but thought it had possibilities for improvement. Glad to see others are all over it!)
I agree - once it gets to the point that the idea of the item is everywhere, then it's a bit different. The idea of the function of the item (washable bag for snacks, or washable Swiffer pads, or whatever) isn't unique, though the particular design may still be.
Also, if you learn how to make something from an on-line tutorial, many of these will have a Creative Commons license that explains how you may use the item. Many of these tutorial-makers allow free use of their design for personal or charitable reasons, but ask for recognition or a piece of the profit if you make them to sell, which seems only fair to me.
It *does* take quite some time, and several prototypes with the accompanying expenses, to develop a quality product, so ideally the people who do that should be able to make a little bit off of it, at least at first.
If the item itself isn't a new idea (barrettes with felt flowers, for example), then I don't think it's a problem so long as you aren't copying someone else's exact designs.
Of course, there is actual copyright law to consult -
things like are you reducing the market for the original, how much of the original are you using in your item, are customers going to confuse your work with the original and what is the effect of that on the original maker, etc. etc.
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I assume there are "extracurriculars" of some sort - scouts, music, sports, art, theater, etc.? (Not *all* of that of course!)
What are his interests?
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I think it depends on how much of what you copy is unique to that person.
For example, if someone is making quilted baby blankets, you could, I think, also make quilted baby blankets. But if she had a design of the pieces that was unique to her, then it would be unethical to copy it. But if she was using standard designs (tumbling blocks, or whatever), then it would be OK.
On the other hand, if the seller was making something that was a fairly unique design altogether - for example, I saw recently some velcro-closing cotton bags designed for putting snacks (cookies or chips or pretzels) in lunch boxes - then I think you'd need to have some unique feature on yours that made it different - for example, the ones I saw were all cotton, if I made them I'd do a waterproof liner and perhaps a zip closure or a long velcro strip instead of the flap of cotton/velcro dot that the original had.
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We used to have her copy a page or two from a book or solve a math worksheet as punishment. Now that doesn't seem to curb the attitude.
Just wanted to add that I wouldn't use school work as discipline. I wouldn't want to endorse the idea that writing or doing math is not joyful, KWIM?
You also mentioned that she does quite well in her room alone. Some folks need more of this "down time" away from other people and get irritable when they don't get it. Raising Your Spirited Child talks a lot about "introverts" and "extroverts", and their differing needs. Again, helping dd identify her own moods and giving her options/ideas as to what she can do to help herself stay on an even keel will be worth more in the long run than a punishment. We all need to learn how to cope when we're feeling down - how not to take it out on others; identifying the feeling and figuring out coping strategies helps a lot. Teaching our children these things will really help them as they grow into teens and adults. Laying the groundwork now for identifying what's bugging her, etc., and learning how you can talk to her about what she's feeling etc., pays off for the teen years especially.
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DD gets very angry and defiant when tired and hungry. She is an only child. Age 10.
Sounds like hypoglycemia. Kids like that need to eat every three hours. The angry/defiant is a chemical reaction to low blood sugar. The behavior *can* be controlled, somewhat, for a short time, but only if the child recognizes it for what it is. The ultimate solution is that you need to feed the child (or they need to recognize the condition and feed themself). Any attempts to make the child do a chore or take a time out or what-have-you when they are in this state are *not* helping - you must address the biology first.
If you do not suffer from this, it's hard to understand. Low blood sugar is NOT the same thing as hunger. The anger and defiance are part of the body's reaction to this state - they are warning signs of a chemical imbalance.
The long-term "cure" is to teach the child to recognize when they are in this state, and to teach them how to cope with it. Don't try to do this while their blood sugar is low - feed them *then* address the issue. Teach them to make sure they have access to food - for example, keeping trail mix or nuts or a granola bar with them just in case if they are going out. Help them to plan their day so they know when to have their planned snacks to prevent going low in the first place. Help them to recognize the warning signs so they can address them early and avoid a full-blown crash.
If you are a "three meals a day ONLY" family, you are probably going to have to make allowances for this child to snack between meals. This doesn't mean junk - protein foods and complex carbohydrates are best, sugars are worst (in the long run, though a quick OJ can be a good "quick fix").
People with this condition do much better when they have a minimal-sugar, minimal simple-carbs diet. Eating a lot of sugar gives a high blood sugar, followed by a crash-low. Avoiding sugars helps keep things on an even keel. You still have to eat every three hours, but it's much better. Taking notice of different foods' glycemic index is the best way to get a sense of which foods are better for people like this.
Of course eventually the child will need to learn that even if their blood sugar is low they must make their best attempt at being civil. It helps to give them ways to communicate their situation: "Mom, my blood sugar is feeling low - I think I need to eat."
Ditto to what everyone else said about hormones for this age - PMS seems to begin quite a while (years?) before Aunt Flo actually arrives. Again, helping dd identify the symptoms goes a long way towards minimizing the mood swings.
Again - assuming it is hypoglycemia, this is a *medical* problem, not a discipline one.
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On one hand, I feel like a bankruptcy would set us back to (almost) "zero" and *I* could start handling the finances from then on. It's something I've been asking for for years. Another aspect I don't really want to get into, though.
This worries me. You've got to work together on this. You are a team. Your finances are intertwined. The debt and possible bankruptcy will be on your record, not just his. You are raising your dc together, on the money you have. You need to agree on how to budget your money. If your dh is resistant to you being part of the financial team, then in some ways earning your own money might not be a bad idea, for all kinds of reasons. A nights-or-weekends job might be a good place to start.
And I don't think it's unreasonable to at least seriously consider putting the dc in school for a year and taking a job to pay off the debt, if it means avoiding bankruptcy. Your debt load doesn't sound impossibly high. Most of your kids are old enough that, so long as your local schools aren't horrid, it might be just fine. And if it isn't, you can always quit and go back to hsing. None of us would want to do it, but you have to weigh the advantage of being a SAHM with the disadvantage of being financially unstable (moving frequently, etc.). (Your oldest will be college-age soon, and the rest not far behind. What are your plans for that?) Only you and your dh can decide on the right path.
Your youngest will be of school age soon, so the child care issues are only temporary. A job with the school district would give you school hours and possibly benefits as well, and perhaps enough money to solve the losing-benefits problem.
Another option is to take a summer-only job. A friend works at a local camp-for-rich-kids. Her kids go for free (so free child care *plus* it's a great experience for them), and she gets paid. It's a win-win. I know you need money now, but this kind of thing is worth thinking about for the future.
I am not trying to tell you what to do, and I'm usually big on SAHMs and Hsing, of course! But I just wanted to say that unless you have dc with special needs of some kind, chances are the school thing might not be horrible, and if a year of it gets you out of debt, the whole family might be better off in the long run, and able to go back to hsing as soon as the debt is paid. I cannot tell you how much living close-to-debt-free reduces the stress in a family. I can only imagine how bankruptcy increases it.
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We have a big ole basket in the living room, where our library books "live". When the kiddos were younger, I would choose various books at the library that related to anything of interest. I'd tie in to things we'd done recently, upcoming field trips, fiction that related to interests, books in a series we were reading, etc. I tried to choose a variety of non-fiction subjects, but I didn't obsess over covering every subject every week. I did not limit myself to one book on a subject, either. Often I'd take out a variety, at different reading levels or taking different angles to the subject. (We found a library that allows a max of 99 books per card at a time. I try to keep everything on one or two cards, so yes, we have met that max. 20 books a week per person sounds more reasonable than 99, though, doesn't it! :D)
For us, the idea was mainly that if you wanted to read and needed a new book, the basket was a good place to look. Some got read by one of the dc, some got read by me, some didn't get read at all, and that was OK - in fact, it was expected. The idea was to have a selection from which to choose, not to cover all of them. I also found that I read quite a few, especially on subjects we were studying, so that I had the background to discuss whatever came up about that subject.
We also have a huge personal library of children's books, so I never required that anyone read specifically from the basket.
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I've seen this too -- kids will be going along great and look like they're going to finish the whole math sequence way early, and then they just crash. We took some time off, regrouped, ignored math for a semester or so, and came back just fine.
:iagree:One of the advantages of being "ahead" is that you can slow down when you need to.
Also, 2 hours a day is probably too much. IME, Most kids can do an hour at a time before "brain freeze" sets in. Pushing past brain freeze is a waste of time. If you *must* do this much in a day, break it up into smaller time slots.
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Can you get the garnishment changed to less money over a longer time period? Or is the person to whom the money is owed in a similar situation and can't make do without the full amount?
Have you asked the food stamps people about transitional programs?
Have you looked into other social services - WIC, etc?
:grouphug:
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My question is, do I just step down? This is not fun for me, causes me more stress than happiness, and I really don't feel called to do it anymore.
I think you've answered your own question. Look at it this way - it is a blessing that there is someone right there, ready to take over the job, rather than you having to beat the bushes to find someone and take forever training/mentoring them.
Once you are free of this job, which you're not enjoying, you will probably end up finding another volunteer job or other pursuit which gives you more pleasure.
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Two pounds is perfect. It's a *sustainable* rate. Remember, it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change! (OK, I hate it when my sister says that to me, but I know she's right.) Take the opportunity to try out new dishes, to find things you like, so you can have lots of options along the way. It's not just about restricting calories, it's about finding things you love that aren't "splurge" foods. And if dh is right there with you, you're lucky - that should help a lot. I agree with the previous posters - reward yourself with something nice, when you've reached a "mini goal". Maybe a new pair of jeans when you lose 10 pounds or keep on your diet for a whole month. It helps to feel good about yourself even before you make your total goal. What a good example you're setting for your dc!
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I agree with layers and thrifting.
Natural fabrics make a more "historical" look.
Men's business shirts, belted at the waist, make a nice tunic. Go for a natural fabric in a brown or tan. Cut the collar off just above the collar band. Make sure it's oversized so it will "poof". Roll up the sleeves. Choose a leather belt with a nice big buckle that has an "aged" look about it.
Layer a vest on top, if you can find a "natural" looking one, or choose another shirt and cut off the sleeves.
Accessories make the outfit. Find a "pouch" type of bag with a strap that goes across the body. Again, natural fabrics - leather, linen.
A hat will make the look perfect - but I'm not sure if a deputy is a good guy or a bad guy, so I can't advise on that one! Robin Hood-esque hats are easy to make of felt - we've made them in blue or red for Robin's friends.
Leather sandals are ideal, or perhaps boots. If not, a black leather shoe is better than a more modern sneaker.
Sometimes a broach or pin of some kind can make the outfit - pin it to the hat with a feather behind it.
If the character is a bad guy (that is, the non-Robin Hood side), a cravat might be nice, or a cape of some sort, worn sort of off to one side. (A rectangle of fabric sewn to a length of grosgrain ribbon makes a quick one.)
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And while I think it's great for kids to stand up for others, I also think that some posters on this thread may be a bit naive when it comes to teens and the social situations at school. People have said they'd want their kids to speak up even if it means losing friends, but what if it means getting the holy crap beaten out of you? Or being taunted relentlessly, not just that day, but on and on?
I speak from experience.
I know (non-gay) teen boys in school. They have spoken out (in the "Hey dude, not around me!" kind of way). They have made *more* friends, not fewer. It's a leadership thing.
I also know some gay teens. I have seen the scenario play out, again and again, in various groups of kids (and sometimes adults) where *I* knew one of the kids was gay and the other people did not. It's ugly, and hurtful, and the gay kid will probably not risk saying anything about having been hurt by it. Most of the time, the speaker didn't mean anything by their comment, and didn't intend to hurt anyone. Saying something matters. It makes a difference, in ways the speaker may never know.
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What about for ladies? I can only locate longer skirts at Talbot's during the summertime and purchase linen, but I cannot wear linen year round and I don't sew. I am at a total loss.
Christopher & Bank (or is it Banks?) usually has some. Old Navy, sometimes. Department stores. Hippie stores, if you like that style.
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Is this about 7th grade? They start this thing called puberty, where they leave their brain under the pillow in the morning...I don't know when they find it again. :tongue_smilie: I've been told that 7th/8th grade is a great time to repeat a year in math.
:iagree:
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I've also used clear contact paper, and it's really worked well. I've even done it on books that were already well-worn, and it helped prevent them from totally falling apart. I don't do it a lot, but for a non-profit's lending library and a few of my kids' textbooks it's been worthwhile.
As the previous poster mentioned, there is a learning curve! Take a good look at one that's already covered to get an idea of how to do it. Remember that when the book is closed it will be longer around than when it's open (if that makes sense). I usually lay the closed book down putting the front cover onto the contact paper, then roll around to the spine, then lay it down on the back cover. If you can use a kind of rolling action it helps with smoothness. Make diagonal cuts in the excess contact paper at all the corners. Wrap the edges around the top, bottom, and sides of the cover, cutting out a section for the spine. Place a strip reinforcing the joint between the cover and the first page.
Enjoy!
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Gap had a line of tiered skirts a few years back, and we've picked up a whole bunch of them at thrift stores.
Sometimes "dress up" outfits have longer skirts - we find these at thrifts also.
Sometimes I buy skirts intended for adults from thrift stores, and cut off the waistband, fold it over, sew it down (leaving an opening), and insert elastic. I often leave the (small) opening unsewn, so that I can replace the elastic with a larger piece later on. The advantage of this is that you can find skirts with details or fabrics you'd never be able to replicate at home.
Sometimes I sew skirts. If I make 'em long to start with, and again elastic waist, they can last quite a long time.
Etsy has a ton of people making some lovely twirl skirts in beautiful fabrics.
And it's really not hard to sew your own, though you can't always get quality fabrics without resorting to mail order.
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In this situation, if Calvin calls the other kids out on their use of 'gay' to mean 'lame,' he might make a point, but he isn't going to make a difference. ... These boys aren't cornering someone with taunts of being gay, queer, faggot, they are simply assigning meaning to a word that Calvin doesn't agree with.
He will make a difference if one of the other kids actually is gay and/or struggling with same-sex attraction, something that he may not be aware of about that particular kid (nor may the other kids). He will make a difference if one of the other kids has a sibling or parent or close friend who is dealing with the issue. Whatever your politics or religious beliefs on the issue, treating kids for whom this is a personal issue (in one way or another), not a theoretical one, with kindness and sensitivity is appropriate. By saying something, Calvin is doing just that, and encouraging his peers to do the same.
Like I and previous posters have said, it doesn't have to be a morality lecture, just a brief "that is uncool" message (verbal or non-verbal) can make a difference.
Don't we all get uncomfortable when someone says something negative about homeschoolers in front of us, not realizing that we're one of "them"? Same thing, pretty much.
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I think that your son should stand up for what he believes is right. Real friends know and respect our beliefs, even if they don't share them. Your son needn't be obnoxious about how he feels; a simple, "I'm not comfortable with people using the word 'gay' because it's a slur" should do the trick. Or he could ask his friends not to use the word "gay" around him. He doesn't have to be in "fighting mode" about it.
I think that, should he say nothing now for fear of being ostracized, he will come to be sorry for his silence later.
Tara
:iagree:
Perhaps your conversation can be more about how to bring the subject up in a way that isn't prissy. Something in "guy banter speak" (without anger, with a smile) like "Yo, dude, my uncle is gay - watch your mouth!" (or whatever - I am not a native speaker!) might be more effective than something that sounds more like a lecture. Say it and move on - no need to dwell on it, just get the idea out there. My kids have found that they can speak up this way without negative ramification, and that when they do they are respected for it, especially by others who would like to speak out but think they're the only one. Just because something is common, doesn't mean it's not hurtful to some people. Remember that one person speaking out can make a difference, sometimes in ways they will never know. :)
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If a song has an exclamation mark next to it, it means that iTunes thought it knew where the song was on your hard drive, but can't find it there now. So if you moved the files to another place, you have to get iTunes to know the new location.
Try playing one of the songs (on your computer, from iTunes). You will probably get a message saying that iTunes can't locate it, and would you like to browse for it. Do the browse thingy and show iTunes where it is - this will fix the database *for that song*. Repeat for each song.
Another approach is to go under "file" and choose "add file to library". Then browse for the file, and iTunes will add it. If all the songs you want are in the same folder, and no other songs are in that folder, then you can choose "add folder to library" and do it all at once. The problem with this approach is that iTunes will still have the old listing for the song with the exclamation point. You can then highlight that song, left click, and delete. It will delete it from the iTunes database, but not from your computer (because even if it wanted to, it doesn't know where that file is).
Did that make sense?
iTunes is both brilliant and horrible. I *so* wish I was in charge of the programming team for it. Boy would it be better! :)
Urgent advice needed regarding National Merit Scholarship...
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
Call the school and/or NMS to be sure you get good answers. A good resource is the hs2coll Yahoo group, where they discuss the finer details of NM forms every year. Even if your kiddo is in school (and I gather he is?), it is wise to get the info from experienced moms, as the guidance counselors aren't always quite as savvy as the average hs2coll mom!
(Link to the hs2coll group is on my "homeschooling high school" page.)
--Pauline
http://www.askpauline.com