That's good stuff. I can't wait to start listening!

I would be probably be happy to vaccinate my child for measles on schedule if one could get the "M" separate from the "other M" and the "R." My midwife actually looked into it for me but was told that vaccine manufacturers don't find it "cost effective" to break out the components into 3 shots. Most parents who question the vaccine schedule or deviate from it are well informed and know what they must do to keep their children safe.

My accountant asked me how long I was "allowed" to home school my kids? "Like through elementary but surely not middle school and high school I assume?" Sure buddy, but you know what assuming does right? ;) I have found the longer I do this the less combative my responses are to people's strange and sometimes rude questions/comments. I just don't have the time to educate these folks and my kids!

Awesome! Thank you!

Any chance you have your 36 week schedule on paper that you might like to share? ;) Next year will be our 2nd year of CC but the first without a structured curriculum "safety net." I was just sitting her looking through Cycle 3 thinking "This moves fast! Uh oh!" and trying to decide how to link it all up. My panic at having a 2 month old baby when CC starts again might be playing into all this as well. I did CC this year in a vacuum basically - as extra to our curriculum and I really don't think that is the right route for us but I'm slightly lost at making the plan.

I have heard nothing but good things about Hypnobabies. Unfortunately, I can't find it used and my DH would die if I bought it new so I think I might have to just check out the Hypnobirthing book and CD from the library. I think I was hypnotizing myself without knowing it when my son was born. I was incredibly tired so I was falling asleep between contractions. I hope I can get there again this time!

I am going to have to call them tomorrow. Ummm, if they are still in business? I found an bit on the irs.gov site about this: Based on the circumstances, a taxpayer could qualify for an agreement to full pay within 60 or 120 days. The IRS is willing to offer these short term agreements to full pay in order to assist in tax debt repayment. A taxpayer can request an agreement length depending on the specific situation. Penalties and interest incurred will be less through an agreement to full pay within 60 or 120 days rather than seeking to enter into an installment agreement. Either this or we are borrowing from somewhere until we get that state return. Taxes bother me - a necessary evil I know. I'm just not sure how GE makes a gazillion dollars last year and the government gives them money back and we make significantly less than a gazillion and still have to pay.

Thank you. I appreciate it. The IRS website was not clear about it at all. Surprising huh?

Our tax returns so they are all sitting upstairs ready to be sent. By not paying better attention this year we ended up owing federal for the first time in a while. It would really help us if we could get our STATE return back to pay our FEDERAL liability so I'm wondering if I can send my federal return in with no money and pay it when the state check comes?

:iagree: I used to babysit for an exclusively breastfed little boy who had a bowel movements only once a week. Very healthy and very happy. When he finally did go though -- watch out!

This is one of the biggest sacrifices we make for home school and honestly it does make me sad. My husband gets to see the kids for 1 to 2 hours in the evening and on weekends. It's tough. He's a great guy and really connects with them in the time that he does have but it does make me sad.

The first problem is parents are actually pressuring others to watch their children while they leave campus - they are not just leaving the classroom. Next year I will have to split my time between 2 classes just because of the ages of my kids so that's understandable of course. And I'll determine where I spend my time based on the make-up of the class, the tutor and the number of other parents in the room at any given time. We just have parents who NEED to be in class with their kids who aren't there - and sometimes it's because they aren't actually on campus! We've got some dysfunction for sure. Those who follow rules and expectations because it's the right thing to do for the group and those who think rules and expectations apply to everyone but them. I enjoy Classical Conversations - I just don't like this particular part of my campus.

Thanks. I figured it was part of the job description but sometimes people think they are good at something that they really aren't you know? Here's the thing: there's this starry-eyed expectation at my campus that since we are all home educators we have the same expectations for behavior from both our children and ourselves. We are learning quickly that this is the real world and standards are certainly not universal!

Granny? It seems old-fashioned but it sounds really sweet when my kids call my mom that.

Thanks for the reply. I'm asking here because my director is blessed with many gifts - however confrontation and rule enforcement aren't among them. :banghead: I just found this in the new family covenant: 6. The parent of the Classical Conversations® Foundations and Essentials students will remain on the CC Campus during weekly program meetings. Should a parent not be able to stay they are to find another parent to be responsible for their child and let the Program Director know of the arrangements. I really don't like the "out" at the end - I know we would expect people not to abuse this but unfortunately that is sometimes not the case.

Maybe I completely misunderstood this part of CC but why am I under the impression that it is NOT a drop off co-op and some other members of my campus think it is? Parents are actually leaving campus and their kids during Foundations. Am I confused? Did I think I read something that I didn't in the sign up materials? My understanding was that parents are to be in the class with the children and that this was a key component of the program. I'm half convinced I'm going to have to chuck the whole program if my campus can't get behavior (kids and parents) more under control. :angry:

I have a few friends in our CC group who are doing Essentials this year and they have found that what works for them is to do what works for them. Does that make sense? Those who were pulling their hair out because they felt the class was moving too quickly made adjustments to do less and those who wanted to supplement did more. They tutor will present what the tutor is supposed to but ultimately as the parent and home educator you can make those choices for your family.

They need 98 more! I "shared" it and my grandma tried to "like" it but she liked my post instead. I just didn't have the heart to tell her she didn't get it right.

I never got into that book either but felt weird saying it because everyone raves about it! Glad I'm not the only one!

My goal is for my kids NOT to fit in with the majority of the kids they encounter. I celebrate it. "Someone thinks we are weird? Awesome! Mission accomplished!" I did fit in with the other kids and it was a complete waste of my time. I think of all I could've accomplished had I been focused on what I liked instead of what my peers were dictating to me. I am taking a different path with my kids and it might be rough when we hit the teen years but I'm hoping they are so *solid* with who they are by that point that they will see through the nonsense.

My little guy was the same way. The "Parents as Teachers" lady warned me that if he wasn't saying more by 24 months then she was going to recommend an evaluation. To which I smiled politely and promptly dismissed. I honestly think my daughter talked SOOOOOO much he just figured he couldn't get a word in anyway. By the time he was 2 he had started saying more words but to this day he still just is not the chatterbox that my daughter is. Which is fine with me because my EARS ARE TIRED! I think some kids are just quieter than others but if it makes you and your DH feel more at ease then there is nothing wrong with investigating.

Absolutely! I find other boards so slow that I just give up and hang out here!

Late to this party...baby girl coming in June!

I came across a thread the other day that talked about dog owners with non-smelly pets who do not feed them dog food. Makes sense to me because it smells really bad coming out of the bag! Couple of questions: 1. What should I feed her? Chicken? Beef? Veggies? Something else? 2. How much should I feed her? She's about 70 lbs - could probably lose 10 lbs though (sounds like me :D) 3. Where do I get the meat in bulk at a good price? 4. Is there a weaning period where I have to mix bag food and meat until she adjusts? I appreciate the help. If you want to point me in the direction of websites or books that is fine too. Thanks!

We have Just Dance 2 and The Michael Jackson Experience. Just Dance 2 is really fun - just pick up the remote and go. MJ is fun as well but the technical difficulty on the dances is pretty high. I fancy myself a dancer and it's challenging for me. Both are good - the dancing games are the only Wii games I truly enjoy. I will play them by myself sometimes!:D