We've always said no to participating in any way. I won't sell, and I won't buy. If my kids are in an organization that needs to raise money, I'll find out the amount they hope each kid will raise and make a donation (if it's a private organization). My kids are now in public school, and I think since my taxes are over $6K per year I'm giving enough, thank you! I won't allow them to sell, and I won't donate since I've already given, lol. Ria

pudding! Ria

Honestly? Nothing. We have 6 kids, and our youngest are now 13 and 11 1/2. We told all six kids that this year they each get stockings (I'll fill them with candy and little things...nothing expensive at all), and $50. They can ask for a specific $50 gift and get that under the tree. They can pool their money and ask for a specific gift and get that under the tree. They can ask that the money go into their bank accounts, or they can have cash. I did get a group gift (a Far Side collection book) and we are getting a surprise kitten. Edited to add: each of the six (five are boys) owns an iPod. We have 2 Xboxes and 1 XBox 360. We have a Wi. We have a pool table. We have more legos than you could count in a year. Model rockets. BBGuns. Bows and arrows. Balls of all sorts. Books. Models. Stuff. STUFF. Can't. do. more. stuff. Ria

Why don't you just make your own HE laundry soap? I do. Just google homemade laundry detg. The recipe is basically borax, washing soda, Fels Naptha soap, and water. It's low-sudsing which is what HE soap is. I can make 2 gallons for about $2.00. I use 1/2 cup per load and it works beautifully in my front loader. Ria

Um...yeah...too many conspiracy theories, lol. The guy disappeard while flying an experimental aircraft over unihabited rugged terrain with no real flight plan. Searchers did the best they could, but heck, searching costs money, and when a little plane crashes there's not much left. Evidently there are human remains. Paper and a sweatshirt will last a lot longer than dead flesh anyway. Ria

Joanne, Kids will be kids. I couldn't care less what a kid does with his hair, so long as it is free from bugs, lol. :D What I would care about is the policy of the group you joined. If you joined and there was an existing hair/dress/piercing/tatooing/etc code that specifically prohibits a mohawk, then I'd say you are going to have to suck it up and either leave or ask your son to cut his hair. If, however, there was no written policy, then I'd fight and show these people how ridiculous they are acting. Ria

I used some of the texts written for the public schools. Loved them. Ria

I think Saxon is a very solid high school math program. From what I've gathered from my homeschooling friends around here, they are intimidated by higher-level math. They don't feel comfortable helping their kids if needed once the kids are in algebra, alg 2, pre-calc, and calc. So, more and more seem to be turning towards the computer-based programs because the "teacher" explains it on the screen. This is a trend I've experienced here in our local homeschool community. My personal feeling is that Saxon is a better choice than computer-based programs. In addition, there are some other fantastic textbooks out there (Foerster, for example). The NEM series from Singapore is excellent and, in my personal experience, much more challenging than Saxon. It's downside is that it needs a math-saavy teacher to go along with it, lol. JMHO, Ria

I homeschooled for 16 years. Loved every minute of it. I also love our public school system where the boys are now. Ria

Wegmans is another company that offers health/dental insurance to part-time employees. I think you have to average 20 hours per week and have been there at least one year. Ria

A lot of what they offer is processed. Ick. I think you could use the $30 to buy some rice and beans and other healthy foods. Ria

In the future limit sales to paypal only. That's a lot safer, and you don't have to give your address. Ria

No way. Not ever. The kids eat what I fix. I have no tolerance for pickiness. If they find an offending item in their food (an onion piece, perhaps!) they are free to gently push it to the side of their plate without comment. I simply will not alter my recipes or in any other way cater to picky eaters. Ria

Oh, I am so very sad. I'm sorry. So very, very sorry. Ria

I agree with Colleen. I see no need to stock up on anything. That said, I like to keep a good supply of flour on hand, as well as sugar, chocolate chips, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla. Priorities, you know. LOL. Ria

Honestly, when people used to say that to me I'd just take it as a compliment. I'm sure it's meant as a statement of appreciation for the fact that you are able to homeschool so successfully. A lot of people feel that they couldn't do it. We are the lucky ones, eh? Just smile and say something bland like, "Oh, I'm learning more about patience with every passing year, but we really love homeschooling!" Be cheerful, and don't assume that people are trying to be critical or condescending. I really think it's benign. Ria

We had stir-fry beef, bok choy, and oriental mushrooms ( tried typing the name... s..take and the website blanked it out. Too funny!) . Eating early tonight...ds (11) has soccer at 6, I have to be at the jr. high school for back-to-school night from 7-9, and dh is at his seminary class and won't get home until 10 pm. Busy, busy, busy. Ria

Inspect what you have...if you don't see webbing/larvae/moths, the food is fine. Put what you can in glass jars or ziplock bags. Go to the hardware store and get a pantry moth trap and put that on the top shelf. You'll be fine. Ria

Dh bought me a few more shares of Apple stock! What a guy! Ria (who is saving up for a Mac)

I still think that if we sit tight we'll be okay in the end. Yes, stocks are falling, but they'll come up again. They always do. If you hang onto your investments it will work out in time. I am angry that my tax dollars might be spent bailing corporations that made poor choices. I also don't agree with bailing people out of foreclosure. I'm sorry if people made poor choices when getting mortgages, but they were big boys and girls. If someone gets a mortgage they can't afford, they lose. It's tough, but it's life. If I miss enough car payments someone will take my Honda away. I wouldn't look to the government to help me keep my car...personal responsibility fixes that. Sigh. It's so easy to sit here and complain. I don't know what the solution is. I just know that I don't see why I have to help bail people out if they made the poor choices, not me. :confused: Ria

They are just like any drugs - they are fantastic medications for some people, and not a good fit for others. I'd talk to your doctor. Ria

Senator McCain is 72...so is my dad. They were classmates at USNA. My dad is in excellent health, still works, and is extremely physically active. My mom is 71 and is also in excellent health. Because of them I think of 72 as a great time of life. Ria

Schools we looked at two years ago and the programs we looked into at each school: Lehigh University (PA) (engineering) * Lafayette College (PA) (engineering) * Bucknell University (PA) (engineering) York College (PA) (engineering and nursing) * ^ DeSales University (PA) (nursing) ^ Rowan University (PA) (enginering and nursing) Cedar Crest College (PA) (nursing) West Chester University (PA) (nursing) ^ ^ = schools to which twin #1 submitted applications * = schools to which twin #2 submitted applications Both twins were accepted at all schools to which they applied Schools we are planning to visit this year (ds is interested in business): Muhlenberg College (PA) Moravian College (PA) Franklin and Marshall College (PA) Gettysburg College (PA) Bucknell University (PA) Ria

Hi, Alex, and welcome! I homeschooled for 16 years and put my younger four boys in public school in early spring last year. This year will be their first full year of ps; they are grades 11, 9, 7, and 6. I've found it best to talk to each child daily about their classes each day. With the younger boys I ask them to show me what they did in school and I make sure they understand. I keep abreast of when writing assignments are due, and have the boys complete their work according to my requirements (ie, outline, rough draft, editing, final draft) rather than just leaving them to somehow get a paper written by the assigned date. If quizzes or tests are coming up, I try to talk to the boys and ask questions to make sure they know their material. I hope that helps! Ria