You can try just letting them chew on a brush during the day to get used to it. Our OT suggested the oral Wilbarger protocol.

We're moving to a smaller space this summer and books are a huge question mark in my plans. I'm considering this for portability: https://www.overstock.com/Sports-Toys/Tabletop-Book-Browser/9108588/product.html Or this as a desk top: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Safco-9420MO-Wood-Adjustable-Literature-Organizer-with-12-Compartment-Medium-Oak/21821522?findingMethod=rr

We are starting with a virtual classroom this year and they eventually require Greek. We're going to try Code Cracker so they can begin the MP EG with the class next year. I'm really grateful that we will have outside help with it. My background with languages is with Spanish and Russian so not much help!

The Ramona books are great on audio.

Thank you so much for this!

I homeschooled while working g as a midwifery assistant to a CNM. I think this depends a lot on what kind of practice you plan on having. Ours was a home birth practice and the biggest challenge, besides the stress, was arranging childcare on days where we had long labors. If you wish I can give you the contact info for the CNM I was working for. She is also a homeschooler and has since moved to a part time nursing job.

This is how I feel when I have a cyst. I hope you feel better soon.

We have the same Anniversary! I hope yours was happy!

It's All Too Much is great!

Have you read Quo Vadis? It's excellent.

Seconding Sidetracked Home Executives. It's systematic and simple once you get going.

James Herriot books are wonderful on audio.

SOTW is great. We teach religion and history and I haven't had a problem with it so far. I want my kids to know about all cultures,not just my own. Adam and Eve are part of our religious studies, nomads are part of our history studies. I really like that SWB is respectful and enthusiastic about other cultures as well as her own.

You don't need an excuse when you have a perfectly good reason. The brunch doesn't work for you. "We won't be there for the brunch but we hope you have a good time and we'll catch up with you later."

I would consider Weight Watchers smart points to be a "medium" or moderate carb diet. It has worked for me as far as controlling hunger and blood sugar goes. You may find that pairing your carbs with protein can help with sudden intense hunger.

Is anyone aware of exceptions or difficulties if you're homeschooling a child with special needs?

Raspberry lemon is good. You can also get a magnesium spray or epsom salts if you don't like ingesting it.

I think it's cute. But there are lots of things that are popular that I think are dumb, so I get it.

The Girl Who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen - especially the audiobook by Rebecca Lowman. It's just a quirky little story but I really love it. What Alice Forgot or Little Big Lies by Leanne Morriarty. Actually any of her stuff. The Last Anniversary is really good too. I tried to Love Outlander and Game of Thrones but they're just too "sweeping and epic" for me. Give me something light with a little bit of bite and I'll devour it.

I use it as a back up. They're comfortable, but I'm not able to use them exclusively. They are effective and absorbent for lighter days.

We recently went to a system of earning TV and games by doing all their chores and schoolwork. They have a brief TV time every day and games only for their earned time on Saturday. Occasionally I will offer them a few extra minutes during the week if they've done an extra chore that I really need done. It took about 2 days and then their behavior improved enormously. They are very cooperative with helping one another earn their screen time. I don't think it would work for me to go cold turkey. My parents would do that and we ended up with an all or nothing type attitude towards entertainment. I think for me it's important to teach perspective, priorities and balance. This started as a project for Lent, but I think we will probably continue it in some form after Pascha because it's been so effective at helping with their attitudes. Plus, my house has been a lot cleaner.

There are portable trackers that look like calculators. They aren't "smart" devices.

Thanks, this looks great!

Do you mean meeting people at all, or getting to know people? You can tell a lot about a person by meeting them before setting up a playdate. Maybe we are just going to disagree on that one. I agree that a lot of people are abused by those they know and trust. However, due to some experiences I've had, there are things that stand out to me and those instincts have served me well. I think kids should be free to explore the world and try things, make friends etc. I just don't think that this mom is being unreasonable.

I don't want to be alarmist here and I'm a fairly laid back parent in general but someone close to me suffered serious abuse as a child due to "unvetted" playdates. I'm not saying this mom's approach is good or bad, bit I'm very careful about my kids going to someone's house alone and I'm also pretty open about it with other parents. I agree that the vast majority of people are safe, but things do happen and getting to know families my kids will spend time with seems smart to me, not annoying.