I just made the decision to stop coloring my hair. I've been coloring since I was in my early-mid 30's and I'll be 50 next month. My hair grows quickly and I was doing my roots every 2 weeks! I have dark hair and am almost completely white underneath...no gray or silver. I went to a stylist for a deva cut (dry cut for curly hair) and she gave me just a few highlights around my face. It doesn't hide the demarcation line but it softens it ever so slightly. I'm using root cover-up to get me through the earliest stages and then I will have to live with the outgrowth. My stylist is one of the models in the new book Silver Hair. The author, Lorraine Massey, also wrote the Curly Girl book and developed the Deva products. I use the original conditioner as a leave-in. Everything is sulfate, paraben and silicone free. https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Hair-Goodbye-Natural-Handbook/dp/0761189297

What do you think of the soy curls? I've been on the fence about buying them but I think dh would really appreciate them. I love your menu. This is how we eat and I've been in a total meal slump lately so it's helpful to see. Thanks for sharing!

So glad you went in and got started on meds. "Let's not mess around" is right! Lots of people need you...here on WTM and probably a bit at home too. ?

My ds16 has Down syndrome. He has not had any of the serious health complications that many kids with DS have. He had strabismus and had two eye surgeries at 18 mos and 3 yrs to adjust an eye muscle. He has worn bifocals for years. He is tested yearly for thyroid issues because kids with DS are prone to it. My son also is tested every few years for atlantoaxial instability (which he doesn't have) but is usually only an issue where certain sports are involved. He was diagnosed with cataracts about a year ago. He is monitored twice and year and they have not progressed. My son had respiratory issues for many years. His airway (and ear canals) were much narrower than average so every irritation turned into a croup episode (probably not all actually croup but that's how it presented...really Reactive Airway Disease). We owned a nebulizer that we used every time he got sick and we had a lot of nighttime trips to the ER for breathing problems. We started with early intervention services when ds was 1 month old and continued to 3 yrs. We weren't happy with the speech services and opted to seek out private speech therapy but the PT and OT were excellent. We continued with speech for several years. We belong to a Down syndrome association in a neighboring state because it is closer to us and it is an amazing network of families. Your local children's hospital (and genetics dept) could probably connect your family to local DS organizations and parent outreaches. I know our hospital connects expectant or new families with our DS group. No, the medical community in general was not very helpful. But the geneticist we met with after my son's birth (we had no prenatal diagnosis) was wonderful. I received the book Babies With Down Syndrome but it looks like there's one that is more current. https://www.amazon.com/Parents-Guide-Down-Syndrome-Information/dp/144059290X/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526405246&sr=1-5&keywords=down+syndrome I'm providing a link for my group because it has many excellent resources. It should have some helpful info, regardless of the state you're in. But it could give ideas for where to go for more info. https://www.dsadelaware.org/resources/ Best wishes!

The relevant part of my post came next. "People generally accept..." Because most people do think there is value in using plants to support health/greener living. Until you add the words "essential oils." Then it's snake oils and fallacies. I think extreme opinions on oils (and most other issues) are narrow minded. The opinion that oils are the answer to every problem and the opinion that they are snake oils with NO value ever both come from a place of ignorance and rejection of science-based evidence. I don't care if people use oils or not. I do think singling out one sentence and presenting it as me pushing fallacies is rude and an inaccurate representation of what I said as a whole.

Aromatherapy has been around a long time. We all generally accept that eucalyptus helps with respiratory, fennel and ginger help with digestion, lavender and frankincense can be calming, tea tree for anti-fungal, peppermint for nausea, etc. I'm not sure why there's such a heated response to essential oils. I've been using them and reaping their benefits for about 4-5 years. I have 5 diffusers, one for every bedroom and large area. I think they are great and I use them every day. I don't make a big deal out of it.

We have always vaccinated. My dd followed a typical schedule. With my ds we spread out the vaccinations because he has Down syndrome and I was concerned about a possible overload. We have chosen not to do HPV because both kids have or are predisposed to autoimmune conditions. We don't need any exacerbating situations. My dd is 18 now and I decided that she is informed enough to make that decision for herself. So far she is not interested in getting it.

This is my favorite workout video. It may be available at her library.

Ok, I should probably apologize to my neighbor. He insisted it was Virginia Creeper. I didn't know about the possible allergy to it and I guess he didn't either. When I became covered in one of the worst rashes ever, I assumed he didn't know what he was talking about and I blamed him! We are also in MD.

Yes, it got me bad last summer. I was pulling weeds in my backyard. I hate that it doesn't always look the same...makes it hard to identify and steer clear of.

We love this movie. Saw it in the theater and immediately downloaded the music and pre-ordered the movie. Yes, that song in particular makes me think of my son, his peers and all those who struggle because they are different. It's an emotional and empowering song. Ds16 loves this song as well as the others.

Congratulations!

Order it! :)

How many homeschooled kids are not seen by other adults on a regular basis? Very few, I would guess. My kids were in activities overseen by other adults several times a week...and that seems to be the norm for the families I have known. I don't care if my kids are seen by outsiders. I don't want us being evaluated by school officials who don't understand what we're doing or how we operate. There's too much chance for misinterpretation. Again, we're not talking about the weird cases we see on the news. We're talking about a typical homeschooling family.

Thank you! It would be great if there were samples on Amazon. $60 is a lot for something you can't preview. :( I appreciate you sharing the resources.

We've had success with Rewards. We're at the end (went through it twice) and looking for the next thing.

We bought dining room chairs from Wayfair. We love them and the customer service was fantastic, even when we had to call about a problem. I'm a little more reluctant to order sofas/loveseats because I'm not sure I would like the finished look of a sofa that comes unassembled. We also bought a chandelier that looks great and was an amazing deal.

That's what I read earlier this evening.

I received a response from my representative: Thank you for contacting me regarding HB-1798 County Boards of Education - Home Instruction Program - Observation of Instruction and Reporting of Abuse and Neglect. This bill is currently assigned to the Ways and Means Committee. More information on this bill can be found here: http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.aspx?pid=billpage&stab=01&id=hb1798&tab=subject3&ys=2018RS I am firmly opposed to this bill. I believe it is cost prohibitive - requiring home-school liaisons to drive and make visits twice a year is a significant financial burden. Current law already addresses the concern this bill is supposedly about: "COMAR 13A. 10. 01.E" already allows homeschool liaisons to observe, but the location of observation must be agreed upon with both parties. Additionally, homeschool liaisons are already required to report suspicion of neglect or abuse to the proper authorities for the State of Maryland. Finally, the constitutionality of this bill is shaky at best. Entering a person’s home with no probable cause is a violation of the Fourth Amendment, and would set dangerous precedent no matter how noble the intention appears to be. "Homeschoolers, who are already taking on the herculean task of being educators and parents at the same time, don’t need more nonsense interfering with their ability to provide meaningful instruction to their children.†–Red Maryland I appreciate you taking the time to reach out to me on this important issue. Please do not hesitate to contact our office again should you need to do so. Sincerely, Delegate Kevin B. Hornberger Chair, Cecil County Delegation Ways & Means Committee Lowe House Office Building, Room 410 Annapolis, MD 21401

I live in MD and am opposed to this proposal for a number of reasons. I really don't trust anyone to assess my homeschool. I chose an umbrella because it was the least intrusive option. It has not felt overly oppressive and I have homeschooled in NJ (no regs) and CA as well. I do not want anyone coming into my home to observe me teach. Interestingly, we are foster parents so we are subject to monthly home visits and a yearly renewal meeting and assessment in our home. I consider that intrusive as well but I understand why they do it and I put up with it. A foster child is in the legal custody of the state. This homeschool bill is entirely different and I could never support it. I contacted my representatives to voice my concern.

Yes! Absolutely agree! :hurray:

I'm 49 and right there with you. it's been going on for a few years.