We live in a major city, where there are very few homeschoolers, and homeschool opportunities. We moved a year ago from an area that had a huge population of HS and so this is quite the change... My daughter will be going into 10th this next school year, and right now she's in an all day wilderness survival class that she loves, and will continue next year as well. This was the only class she took this year, so was mostly home. We attend our bible meetings 2 times a week, but not too many kids in her age group, a few girls that are a bit older who do include her in activities 1ce or twice a month. She has no interest in going to public school and I don't really want her to anyway as the schools are not the best here and I have different educational objectives. So other than these activities, she always home, and I don't think it's healthy for her. She dropped dance last year, and had no interest in any other classes. There's a weekly day of classes set up by a mom in our group whom I haven't met- for 12-15 year olds (she'll be 15 when it starts as well) that is a weekly writing class, chemistry, and coding class. The writing class will be taught by a lady who has a Writing school, but it sounds like she has her own method of teaching, using more of creative writing prompts, I'm not super impressed with the idea behind it, but she has excellent reviews. My daughter is a prolific writer and has written books, so she really Needs no help in that department, after receiving a classical education for years. The Chemistry class is taught by a science teacher from a local university using a textbook with labs. I had wanted her to use Apologia Biology this year initially. The coding class is free and taught By one of the parents. Writing class is $50 for 1.5 hour class, chemistry is $35 for 1.5 hour class. So $88 a week for these two, neither of which I'm super interested in but she needs the socialization and I think could benefit from being a group setting. Between her wilderness survival class and this it would be about 500 a month... very tight for us to pay for, and my part time job would essentially all go towards that. There's no other classes for homeschoolers within an hour drive, and the homeschoolers here don't get together for any other reason. Would you sign your kid of for this? You have to pay up front for the whole semester as well. Ouch! ETA: sorry for so many typos, I'm on my phone!

We live at the far end of the charters area, in the middle of a very large city with few homeschoolers and none of the charters approved vendors within 1 hour from us, so local classes are out. We aren't big on online programs, which is why I need to try to spend it on supplies. I hadn't thought of an iPad, I think they'd buy that, so I'll check into that. Any other ideas?

I have 1,350 for each semester to spend on materials for this next school year, since this year my daughters no longer taking dance and so we have to think of what to purchase. She's in 10th grade. Here's what I'm buying (they won't buy non secular items) Apologia Biology Ambleside literature (they'll buy some) Simply Charlotte Mason Ancient times History I was thinking of having them buy: Teaching Textbooks Algebra (they already have this for us to borrow so we don't have to use her funds) Biology labs- they will buy any labs related just not the books. Which ones? It's hard to tell in rainbow Resource what's needed or used for the course. Oak Meadow Health and Physical Fitness (anyone use this)? Rosetta Stone Greek Oak meadow Integrated drawing That still leaves about $900 for this semester alone.... I have NO IDEA what to get with this money and if she doesn't use it it's forfeited. She already has a microscope. She used 1500 this semester on super nice art supplies so she's not needing any right now. Any cool science kits in a Box, lab items, charts, etc. or other $$ things you can think of to order? What would you use this money on?

I wrote last month about a trip my daughter and I are going to take through Europe this October, we will be flying into Rome, then visiting Venice for a couple of days, then will take the Bernina Express from Italy to Chur station in Switzerland. We were then just supposed to stay the night and take the train to Paris, but she really wants to see Switzerland before going to Paris. Help me come up with a plan? I'd like to do 3-4 days, and not cities, but charming country towns, with beautiful nature around.... I know there's the train through the Swiss Alps, but I don't know if that's too much to do after the Bernina Express, and how would we get there, and then also I know the trains to Paris don't connect from there. I'm basically trying to figure out what my options are, and I'm not familiar at all with the country, geography or anything else. I wouldn't mind taking a train somewhere cool, but I have no idea where to go from Chur. And would we need to go back there to take the train to Paris? Thanks!!

Thyroid panel, iron level and vitamin D levels.

Can I ask why everyone thinks 8 days in Rome and 4 days in Venice is too much? I've never been there, so I'm not sure how long everyone stays.... I don't want to be super rushed but on the other hand if there's other things to see in Italy, close enough by, please let me know!!! I know really nothing about the area. Open to all suggestions!! Thanks!

Thank you so much everyone for the suggestions, not sure how to directly reply and quote on my phone... A quick question- where do you buy a European SIM card from? We are flying into Rome, and will get there probably late and very tired. Is this readily available at places? Any idea of the cost? My daughter and I LOVE history and art, so I think Rome will be amazing to see, thank you for the suggestions about visiting a he Vatican as well. Any other suggestions or tips I would appreciate it! Thanks again!

Please help me think this through.... I'm planning on going with my 15 yo daughter to Europe late October and could use some help with tips and suggestions. We are planning on over a month and will visit Rome, then Venice, take the Bernini Express through Switzerland and maybe stay a night in Zurich (anyone ever done this) and then meet hubby in Paris, and then Amsterdam. We will be doing things as minimally as possible with some parts of the trip as far as budget for food and hotel goes, only bring carry on backpacks, and will need to do laundry every few days, as well as trying to eat very budget friendly, going to grocery stores if possible. The plan is to fly into Rome stay for 8-9 days, we want to go to do Pompeii, the Coluseum, the Vatican and what else is worth going to? We are trying to go for as budget friendly as possible, so I'm thinking of staying in hostels while there... any experience with them? How safe, and clean are they? What tips do you have for staying in one? How is the transportation around the city? I don't know any Italian, and have a really hard time navigating maps, will I be ok? When we visited Europe a few years ago, I had a hard time getting my phone to get a European plan... I have no idea what my husband did but it took a few days. Do I need to buy a burner phone, as I don't want it to cost a lot of $$ Any other tips would be appreciated!! Next we'll take a train to Venice and stay for 4 days, what should be on our list there? How are the hostels there? Will it be easy to buy food at grocery stores there as well? Next on to Tirano by train to catch the Bernina Express, which Will take us through the Swiss alps and maybe stop for the night in Zurich. Please tell me your experiences with this. Next onto Paris where we'll meet with hubby, (we've been there before) stay for 8-9 days, and then to Amsterdam where we'll stay with friends for 5 days before coming home. So a Few questions- does this sound like a good plan or is it packing too much into it? I've never traveled alone in Europe before and am a little nervous.... anyone done this with their kids successfully? Do I need to purchase the Euraile pass, or just a train pass for Italy to get from Rome, then Venice, then Tirano? The Bernina Express I don't believe is covered under that or is it? I believe the train from Paris to Amsterdam is not offered as part of that deal. We would need hostels most likely in Rome and Venice only, any experience? A little nervous about taking my 15 yo daughter into a hostel but I've had plenty of friends that do them. Best suggestions for food in all city's for as cheap as possible. We aren't unfortunately going For the food, so please share your best tips for this. Are bathrooms, fountains, etc readily available in Italy? Suggestions for top things to see and do in each place? And Pompeii.... suggestions and tips, how to get there... How does the Public transportation work in Rome and Venice? Do I really need a gondola ride or is there a cheaper option? Any other tips for packing, and saving money would be greatly appreciated!! This is a big deal for me to take dd.

Oh, and she couldn't focus, I remember also at te time that it started she was having such a hard time remembering simple stuff... I tried continuing some school work with her before stopping for months, but its like she regressed backwards. She was just all over te place. It looks like the symptoms are different w every kid, some its more if one thing than another. It's the only thing that makes sense with her. I thought maybe she had asbergers??? She still could have some issues with that, but these symptoms literally developed all at once.

My daughter has been having these symptoms for about a year now. She had had mono for a couple years prior, and was still chronically sick from it, and out of the blue, she started having extreme OCD symptoms, panic attacks, raging everything bothered her, she would have meltdowns for hours, her personality completely changed. She was scared of everything. We thought she had seizures, but looking at it now, I'm sure it was tics. We took her to Er twice, had no sea what to do, we've been seeing a natural dr. And she's been helping somewhat. But I literally just read up on this last night as some ladies on the learning challenges board suggested this. Originally they thought that this could ony come about with strep but now they're saying anything like lymes pneumonia mono even dormant strep. I have been doing research like crazy all day and as soon as I saw it it describes my dd exactly. I guess there's ony a handful of drs around te country that can treat it. I can send some links I found if you're interested.

Does anyone know of this or have this disorder? I think my daughters undiagnosed issues may be attributed to it. You can message me privately if you'd like. Thanks!

Oh my goodness, I have been reading up on Pandas like crazy and it completely describes what we've gone through with my daughter in the last year!! She basically developed these extreme symptoms within a couple weeks. Does anyone have any experience dealing with this? I have a all to a specialist and am waiting to hear back from them. Thanks for all the help!

Paradox5- Really?? That is unusual. Ive done some intensive reservh on an illness like mono and how it affects the brain. is there any way tou can find out what your friends son has or maybe see if shed be willing to be put in touch with me through email? I really think there may have been issues prior but she is just not the same, I don't know if its from the illness or having underlining issues and the mono has brought those issues to the forefront. She's like a different person, but spending so much time sick does something to your psyche as well so I wonder how much has to do w illness and how much was going to come about anyways? As for Lyme, we live in SC. I thought of that but my dr said its very unlikely as there's very few cases here. I know she's had tick bites though... Should I check for something?

I appreciate the elp everyone, and I do agree she needs more help than we can give. Tiramisu, I also appreciate the thought about working on this so it doesn't affect our relationship. This is just so out of my range, and I feel so helpless. Nothing seems to be working, but I'm honestly hesitant at seeing a professional because I hate to label people, but I think we've reached our limit. I'm going to make an apt tomorrow, also are there any helpful book suggestions? Thanks again!

Who would I see to get a diagnosis, and is it even necessary at this age? Therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist? Is there therapy for someone her age other than meds? That would be a last resort. Any ideas of what this could be? I'm very leery of psychiatry, I just want to be cautious.

Sorry, I'm terrible at typing on my phone!

I don't post much at all, but I really need some help and suggestions with my dd who is almost 11. I'm really not quite sure where to start, as I've never gotten a diagnosis, and now I don't really know where to turn to. We feel like we are at our wits end trying to function with her. I just so desperately need some help but don't know where to start!! Just as a background, she's an only child, somewhat difficult baby, I couldn't out her down ever but had to hold her constantly, she had colic, etc. She didn't start talking till she was past 2 other than 2-3 words, but would point, and when she did it was in complete sentences. She had a super active imagination that I just chalked up to being extremely imaginitave, she had tons if imaginary friends with whole worlds that she would talk about constantly, and names of them all. She did have friends that she got along with and was able to play with, but very talkative and would chatter constantly. She always sounded young for her age, and would kind of talk past you, iykwim... Her gymnastics teacher told me she was in la la land, she had a hard time focusing I thought maye it was ADHD or something. My dh and I felt that she was just unique and different but adults especially loved her, and she did function pretty normally except for being quirky like this. I wouldn't say its anything hat stood out though. Fast forward to 8 she got super sick and spent 1 1/2 years in bed with chronic mono, just super sick. It seemed to trigger a whole host of issues that I'm lost to deal with. For about a year now it been living hell! She started off just getting super ultra sensitive towards things, and very upset f things didn't go her way, and about a year ago she started having major tantrums, raging, things just got indescribably terrible. She would meltdown several times a day, and sometimes get physical, everything would set her over the edge, nothing would alm her down, they would last for hours and she seemed unable to stop or control herself. She just didn't seem like the same person. We did take her to the hospital twice wen these episodes started, we divided not to go te drug route until we figured out what we were dealing with and if things would calm down. They havnt. I have her seeing a natural dr, who is helpin her. She does say her adrenals are shot, an I have her on the GAPS diet, off all grains and dairy. But none of its really helping. Te severity of the tantrums are not as bad, and only a couple ones a week, she is extremely obsessive about things, even she recognizes it. She will go from one obsession to the other where that's all she talks about and does. she recognizes it herself. She has a hard time focusing on you, if that makes sense, she's just in her own world it seems. I have to make her stop and repeat and listen. She is constantly moving, constantly, she can not still still, although there are times when she's ultra focused and can be absorbed in something if its her choosing, and its hard to pull her out. Trying to talk with her is difficult as she's dancing all the time... Trying to get her to do anything is a major battle. She wants to sleep in, and get up when she wants, she argues about absolutely everything, everything bothers her, her clothes, noise. We have major battles over trying to et her out of pajamas. This is not a discipline issue, we've always been very firm with her , but we can not make her do something. No amount of taking away privileges, enforcing consequences works. Nothing works at all on her. Incentives do not work. She is truly miserable and makin a miserable. The kids do not like her as she is intense, and seems to talk about what she wants, but conversely adults love her, she has very good friendships with a lot if adults. She is class about social cues. She sounds very young sometimes for her age, she is truly only happy being by herself in her own world, either playing outside or dancing. She still talks about her imaginary friends all the time. We have her in ballet 3 times a week. I think he likes it because its repetitive. The girls do not like her and pick on her. She is clueless. She will change and leave her panties on a seat for everyone to see. All the time. She doesn't seem to care or get it. She will be talking to a girl at dance and will tell her about... My dada said... She just is very young. It's like she has age regressed since being sick For Almost 3 years now. Any ideas?? She is very very bright for her age. She reads a lot. She has written several novels, and is an exceptional writer and artist. But his other stuff I don't know how to help her. We basically are getting no school done except for 2 days a week, because she's either sick or because she's ready to have a meltdown. I know sometimes she seems to manipulate the situation to get out of her work. Those days when this happens, nothing gets done. She fights and argues about everything. She doesn't want to dress, do her hair, go outside, go in a field trip, nothing. She also seems to have a hard time getting things, or understanding something when she's upset. It's like she's a broken record and nothing's computing. What should I do to help? Does she need a diagnosis, are there programs to help? I'm thinking she has OCD, maybe spd. I have read a lot on Asbergers, and a lot if it fits, but not all, so I really dot know what to think! Any elp would be appreciated.

Sorry for the horrible typing!!! I can't type on my phone!

We had a weekly co-op for several years that I ran. We also had it at a local nature area, Ann because we met outside and it wasn't typical co-op we kinda felt people out, before we had tem join our group. Some people are not ok with meeting outdoors unless its perfect temps, and we met outside regardless of the weater. We did all ages together. We had play time in the meadow and woods, then circle time, which included memorizing and reciting poems, tongue twisters, reading a nature book, we would do a pe, nature games using Sharing Nature With Children book. Nature study, using Hanbook of nature Study Blog, and a long walk. We would typically take our walk seperate from te nature study. Picture study , handiwork and lunch rounded out the day. We met from 9:30-1:30, and had more of a routine than a schedule. It was more flexible this way since we met outside we could take advantage of things we saw. The moms rotated leading a subject for 2 months each then we switched. Handiwork was one subject for 1-2 months at the time. Some of the things we did included nature crafts, knitting, whittling, embroidery, clay, painting, watercolor etc. we loved the co-op and kept it very small, charged $40 a year for handiwork per kid which I kept at my house, and brought each week. The kids had a blast! I decided to stop it this past year, as I was so much work for me, ultimately most f the work fell to me. The moms would foret to do their assignments no matter how many emails I sent out, it became too frustrating to do planning and leading the whole co-op. Let me know if you have any questions!

Sorry typos... That was we use the $5 graphic cotton tshirts for tops.

Oh, they do have fleece tops as well, we just like to use the cotton long sleeve tees from them. You can't beat five bucks!

Old navy! We too don't use flame resistant, and we just bought our 10yo about 5 pairs of fleece pants from there in different solid colors. super warm. I think they were on sale for $8. They sell the $5 long sleeve graphic tees which we use for tips. They look cute and wash well.

Thanks for the suggestions ladies. Please keep them coming. I realize that the area will be waaaaay more pricey than the south where we are currently. We are from SoCal though, and have lived in the south for 5 years, so high cost of living is not new to me. We basically are wanting to move because I mostly hate it here where we are currently at, and would love to be close to family, and also really like a lot of the things NY has to offer. I think I could put up with the lack of privacy and steep cost f living, for the trade offs. Oh my sister lives in Brooklyn Heights so that's why we chose Brooklyn, as I'm somewhat familiar with it. When we've visited in the past, we don't really do touristy stuff except on occasion, so walking to stores, etc. I think I'd be ok with. What are some other safe, less expensive areas to check out? We'd basically do cheap/free stuff in the city, live very frugally. Do you think we could do it on a budget of around $115 g, with rent being around $3000 monthly? How is heating/air/water prices? Do you all participate in a homeschool group, or classes? Thanks again for all the suggestions!

Sorry for all the typos! Can't type on my phone very well.