I would like to do a history tour of Greece and Italy, with my youngest being 9 or 10. Elaine

For me, it's fibromyalgia. I'm sorry you are experiencing this and I hope you can get some helpful answers from your doctor. Elaine

Jennifer, I'm so sorry for your loss. :grouphug: Elaine

Denise, this is wonderful! I'm so happy for you, your dd, and your whole family. I know there is still a lot of work to be done but I can hear the hope and I rejoice with you. Elaine

Heather, I'm so sorry your family has been exposed to this kind of insensitivity! :grouphug: I once had a lady tell me that I shouldn't have adopted my son from Vietnam because Vietnamese are ugly. I was so shocked I hardly knew what to say! Unfortunately, I think that most of us have been exposed to some weird rudeness because we just don't fit into some people's paradigm. I'm glad for you all, though, that you were made aware of the "selling" comment and the other stuff your kids have been taking in so that you could help them process through it. Much better than just having them file it away on their own as part of their view of their identity. Enjoy your beautiful children and may god give you His grace to have compassion on those making ignorant comments. And, as a pp said, don't feel bad just exiting the conversation to spare your kids when necessary. Elaine

Yes, Gloria Vanderbilt jeans are some of the few that seem to fit me decently as well. I'm glad your daughter found some things she feels good wearing. I know it's hard to be shaped a little differently from "the norm". Elaine

:bigear: I'd like to know this, too! I don't have any amazing advice for you, I'm afraid, but I can certainly commiserate. On really bad days, I wish we didn't have a chore chart because it can seem easier to do it all myself than to nag everyone else about doing things. Then there are other days when they seem so much more mature. One thing I do check regularly is that I am doing my OWN work in a timely manner without complaining. I think that makes a difference. Elaine

So you have me curious......What generalizations have you heard from non-homeschoolers on this subject? I don't know that I've encountered any particular stereotype on this one. I voted for year by year decisions. Even though I would love to educate at home for all of them through high school, I don't know if that will truly be the best thing for everybody or not and we want to be open to whatever meets the needs of the moment. Elaine

Thanks to all for your gracious replies and explanations. This gives me good starting places for thinking through this a bit more. I appreciate all of you joining the conversation. Elaine

Thanks for your thoughtful answer, Simka2! Yes, I think some Protestants believe that EO and RC believers are not truly Christian. It sounds like the EO church does not hold that perspective about Protestants and Catholics, then, just thinks of their theology as incomplete? Elaine

[quote name=Ellie;3206339 Most Catholics (I don't know about EO) would not attend a non-Catholic service because that would imply that they were in full communion with the non-Catholic church' date=' and that would not be the case. [/b] Ok, I'm learning how to use the quote function, so hopefully I just bolded the part of your answer I intended to copy. What would it mean to be in full communion with another believer? I think this is probably key to answering my question. Thanks so much for your response. Elaine

I don't really have people I can ask this of in real life without running the risk of unintentionally confusing or alienating someone, so I was wondering if you wise women of the Hive would be willing to give me some insight on this question. I believe that Protestant, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox believers are all Christians, and therefore would have no problem going to church with, praying with or studying with anyone from any of these churches as a sister or brother in Christ. I have long been aware that this perspective is not held by all Protestant Christians, but I am recently noticing that this way of thinking might be considered incorrect and disturbing to RC and EO believers as well. Is that indeed the case? If a person joined the RC or EO church, would they have to renounce this way for thinking? I guess I'm kind of wondering if I "fit anywhere" with this belief or if I either have to change my mind on this or remain kind of an outsider in all places. I'm really not trying to "stir the pot", just wanting to hear the perspectives of others. Thanks! Elaine

Praying for a safe delivery and a healthy baby. Congratulations on your new nephew! Elaine

Do you feel kind of lightheaded as well? I get this sometimes in the night and I think it is from hypoglycemia. I hope your doctor actually reads your file and doesn't just ignore your concerns. :grouphug: Elaine

Have you gotten to know the mom at all? Maybe you could tell her how well-behaved her girls are and that your kids enjoy their friendship, then say something about your previous bad experience in a "I'm glad we can all just be friends without going through that!" sort of way. I would hate to prejudge this family based on the other family; perhaps it was less their church and more them as individuals? Of course, if you know a bunch of families from this same church and discern a pattern, that would be another thing. Elaine

I took my kids to see it this summer when my adopted ds was about a month short of 4 years old. I was surprised my the focus on adoption issues, but thought that he was probably to young to follow that plot line. The next day, though, he carried his stuffed panda around all day and acted out the adoption related scenes. NO kung fu, nothing related to anything else in the plot, just the adoption issues. Over and over he told me, "Baby panda has lost his mommy. He really NEEDS you!" So yeah, I would say it was disturbing for him and he took in a lot more of it than I thought. Based on his response, I think whether or not you go would probably want to take into account the age of your child, his/her sensitivity level, and his/her ability to discuss these sort of things about the adoption experience when they come up. I was glad, though, that the birth parents and adoptive parent both seem to be portrayed positively. I agree with the previous poster who found Tangled more disturbing. I think the portrayal of the "mom" (witch) would be really confusing and scary for a lot of adopted children. Elaine

I would take a survey of the missionaries serving through your church and ask them what would be most helpful. I'm sure they will feel encouraged to be asked, and it might be hard for you to guess if you haven't had any experience with that kind of work yourself. ElaineJ

You can buy a special kind of licorice pill that is good for relieving heartburn. It is just plain licorice except that it has been "deglycerinated" (or something like that). If I chew two of these pills 20 minutes before eating it really aids in my digestion. They aren't very expensive, either. Of course, I would check with your pharmacist and make certain they wouldn't interact with your prescription meds. Hope you find some relief. Elaine

:grouphug: Just prayed for her and for your family. ElaineJ

.....All that exists Matters to man; he minds what happens And feels he is at fault, a fallen soul With power to place, to explain every What in his world but why he is neither God nor good, this guilt the insoluble Final fact, infusing his private Nexus of needs,his noted aims with Incomprehensible comprehensive dread At not being what he knows that before This world was he was willed to become. from The Age of Anxiety by W.H. Auden Elaine

I am supposed to be eating low carb to combat yeast overgrowth, and it definitely makes me feel moody, grumpy, and sick. I've been told this is due to yeast die off, though. The yucky feeling is supposed to improve after a couple of weeks, but in my case I don't think I witnessed that change after months. I'm currently eating "lower carb", rather than very low carb, as a consequence. I don't feel like I have the support system in place to go years and years feeling that bad. I don't know if that was the right choice or not, though. I am dealing with fibromyalgia and hoping that reducing yeast will be part of the solution, but some say that that can't happen unless I go extreme low carb and take antifungals religiously for an indefinite period of time. Elaine

Hmmm....now the response seems to be half in favor and half against. I guess that gives me a good idea of possible reactions from group parents. Now I'm thinking maybe I should just go with something safer. I had a harder time choosing the books for this group than I anticipated. Middle school is just such a transitional age; if it were elementary or high school, the choices would be a lot more clear cut, I think. Thanks again for your input. Very helpful! Elaine

OK, thanks ladies! That's encouraging. Maybe I'll go ahead and keep it but just send the parents some info on the content beforehand. Any other opinions are also welcome. Thanks for the input. Elaine

I am facilitating a book club for our co-op this upcoming term, and at the recommendation of another mom selected The Giver as one of our books. Now I realize that there are graphic descriptions of killing an infant and some s@xual references, and I am wondering if I am going to end up in trouble with other parents. I know, I know, I should have read it first....:blush: Anyway, I'm wondering if I should change this selection. How would you feel about your 6th to 8th grader reading this book in this context? Would you appreciate me switching to another title even if I had already sent out the book list? Elaine

:grouphug: Helena! I am so glad that you feel a little stronger right now. I've been thinking about the question in your original post regarding people who seem frustrated at you for feeling sick. I have fibromyalgia, so I can relate to your experiences and feelings here. I think that people are tolerant of sickness as something you "fight" and "get over" within a period of time. Overall, our culture is ill equipped to compassionately live alongside chronic weakness. Actually, I have felt the same attitude coming from most doctors I have consulted in my various efforts to "get well". If it seems that my condition is not going to change (which it does), no one knows what to do with me and it is easiest to just try to forget it. When confronted with the effects of the situation they had forgotten about, some people get annoyed. Something that isn't really there somehow is managing to get in their way. It hurts, but it isn't personal, in a way. I suspect that those living with other types of chronic disability or even just old age probably feel the same. I try to just give grace and pray that God can use these experiences to give me insight in caring for others. Blessings, ElaineJ