I'm reminded of the story of the exodus in the Bible in which the Israelites began longing for the leeks and melons they had back in Egypt. They were slaves, for crying out loud! Folks, do we really want to go back to the days of ridiculous govenment regulation? I realize that you're talking about some sort of homeschool self-regulatory system, but it's only a step from there back to the state. Many people fought long and hard for the freedom we have to educate our own children. I am afraid that many homeschoolers have forgotten that what we are doing was once illegal. (Or perhaps in the case of younger homeschoolers, they are unaware of that fact.) As I said before, we need to prove the naysayers wrong by doing our very best to provide our own children with an excellent education and to help others to do the same. But it is not our place to be policing other homeschoolers.

After what the pioneers of the modern homeschooling movement did to make homeschooling a legal option for today's parents, this suggestion is shocking. Frankly, it reminds me of the pigs in Animal Farm - "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." Who am I, or any other homeschooling parent, to regulate what or in what manner another parent teaches his or her children? Most of us have some type of state regulation that we are complying with. That's enough! It is nobody's business, beyond the laws of my state (and some would argue that it's none of the state's business either) how I raise or teach my children. If there is abuse going on, that's a different issue - not a homeschooling issue. As for our part, we should do our very best to give our children the best education we see fit, and to encourage and help others to do the same, thus proving that homeschooling is an excellent educational choice. But to somehow start regulating other homeschoolers? No way!!

Thanks for the update! I'm so glad evrything has worked out.

This sounds almost like our situation. DH's parents fussed over our first child and always favored her over the others, who they never really got to know. Thankfully, we live 1200 miles away, so we hardly ever saw them. The grandparents have all passed away now, so it's no longer an issue. But it was rather touchy when DH's dad lived with us the last 18 months of his life and we were caring for him (ALS - aka Lou Gehrig's disease).

Homeschooled kids in Florida can participate in these activities in the public schools, but there are still plenty of homeschool activities. Many families don't want to be involved in the ps system at all or just prefer to be with other homeschoolers.

I suppose it's a matter of personal taste. The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus is beautiful. I also love Velasquez Painting the Infanta Margarita with the Lights and Shadows of his own Glory. Of course, any Dali is so much more beautiful in real life! If, as you say, you have more elephants to bring out the elephant theme, then for decorating purposes, that one might be very effective.

This sounds like a description of the situation at the school where my DH teaches. Try teaching a classroom of 25 to 30 (or in the case of some electives, 60 or more)of these kids. It's amazing that anyone learns anything at all at his school! After teaching 18 years in exclusive private schools, it was very enlightening when he went to a Title I school. The so called "end-of-the-year" testing takes place here in April. Once that's over, the kids shut down and think it's the end of the year, when there is almost an entire quarter left of the school year. Then it's just field trips, parties, very little learning, and trying to keep things under control until they are released in June.

:grouphug: I know how you feel. My fourth will be going to USNA in June, and I will be left with only one. When I remember those days with all five kids around the table and the lively conversation, and think about next year when it'll be just DS and me for lunch, I can hardly imagine it. It seems like it happened so suddenly! My future midshipman was always so intense and time-consuming with all of his activities, it will definitely be a change! I will have to hold myself together when I say goodbye to him, but I know I'll be a basket case when they slam those doors on Bancroft Hall on I-Day! (Getting teary eyed thinking about it!)

My daughter was 13 when she got hers.

Although not required, athletics can help your child to be more competitive for appointment to Annapolis, where 89% of the class of 2016 have participated in varsity sports. If your child does not do varsity athletics, he should try to participate in some form of physical activity and be able to score well on the Candidate Fitness Assesment. My DS, a class of 2017 appointee, did martial arts, skeet, SCUBA, cycling (100Ks with a local club), and running (1/2 marathons), besides other extra-curriculars. Someone mentioned Civil Air Patrol; also check out US Naval Sea Cadets. My DS started Sea Cadets in 9th grade and has had some of the most awesome experiences ever! He's now the LPO of his (over 100 member) division. Your DS needs to be as competitive as possible. I have seen some excellent candidates get turned down. There's no guarantee that anyone will be accepted. ETA: Your DS should also try to get as much leadership experience as possible - if not in sports, in something else. If he's in Boy Scouts, he should try to make Eagle before his senior year, if possible. Our troop has so many boys who wait until 2 days before their 18th birthday to finish, and by then their college applications are in. We advised DS to get earn his Eagle rank early enough that he could list it on college/service academy apps.

I would say the important thing is for him to be well prepared for the math and science courses he will have to take in college. He will need to have excellent grades in all his college level classes in order to score well on the MCAT and to have a competitive GPA. Shadowing a physician and volunteering at a hospital would be beneficial. The sports and band stuff might help him to get into college, but I don't think that med schools really care about your high school ECs. It's what you do in college thà t counts. DD (now a physician) went to an honors college when she was 16 with no APs or dual enrollment, got straight A's in college and high scores on her MCAT. She was accepted to several med schools and graduated at the top of her class - a doctor at the age of 24.

I have written letters of complaint and have usually gotten a positive response. I do much better with writing letters than calling or complaining in person, because I tend to get rather emotional and sometimes nasty when I'm upset. :o If I write a letter, I can express myself more intelligently and thoughfully. I really should write more letters of praise, though. Just this morning I had a very positive experience with an unusually helpful and competent receptionist at a doctor's office and I need to express my thanks for her assistance.

:grouphug: Navigating the health care system is a nightmare. Try to take it one step at a time. Let's pray for a successful surgery on Wednesday and a speedy recovery. You can deal with the lung issue and the wedding once he gets through this hurdle. :grouphug:

We use "Last name Family Homeschool." We didn't want to hide the fact that we homeschool by giving our school some fancy name. The signatures at the bottom are "signature of father" and "signature of mother." I just ordered our fourth diploma from homeschooldiploma.com. We have been very pleased with their products and service.

We have two full-size sofas and a recliner, so there are enough seats for the seven of us, although we are rarely all in the living room at the same time. If we need more seats for company, we bring in the dining room chairs or piano bench. Of course, if you figure in the golden retriever and cats...

My DH had serious issues with sciatic nerve pain in the past. He got himself an inversion table, which temporarily eased the pain. The problem was that when he turned right-side-up again , the pain was excruciating! Our DD then went to med school and became a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). She does occasional osteopathic manipulation on him, and he has been virtually pain free for years. Perhaps instead of going to an MD, you could try a DO ( one that practices manipulation techniques - some DOs do not).

I'm so sorry. :grouphug:

She seems like a well informed, intelligent young lady. I'm sure she is well aware of the credentials of students accepted to Princeton and Yale. But you don't have any chance if you don't try, do you? She did say in an interview that she was accepted to college. And as for the sister having worked for the WSJ, so what? She may have been using her resources. She's learning how to network. She took a discouraging moment and made the best of it. She's been published in the Wall Street Journal! This girl is going places!

Awesome band...My nephew was one of those sousaphone players a couple years ago. Dotted the i at the Rose Bowl!

She went to the hospital too soon. The sooner you go in, the more opportunity they have to intervene in a perfectly normal labor. That's exactly the reason I never went to the hospital until I was just about ready to deliver. ( I was too chicken to deliver at home) As for the breastfeeding, it's outrageous that they wouldn't let her feed her baby. Thankfully, the baby is doing well, though. And once she takes him home they'll settle into a routine. It will be ok. Hopefully, next time, she won't head for the hospital when she's just barely in labor.

After 33 years of marriage and 5 babies, my DH still thinks I'm beautiful, and the intimacy is better than ever. I have never been gorgeous or sexy in my own eyes, but to him I am! I do try to look my best for him, although when the children were very young it was difficult. Just remember that at 8 months pregnant, you are not fat! You are carrying his child and are the very picture of womanliness. Really, who could be more feminine than a woman great with child?

I almost always take a nap for about 20 minutes in the afternoon. I'm up at 6 a.m. 7 days a week and usually stay up until about 11:30 p.m. I'd never be able to get through the day without a nap.

Don't be too quick to judge the quieter people as being less spiritually on fire for the Lord. Sometimes the quiet old lady who sits in the pew every Sunday is the one who spends hours every day in prayer for each person in the church, visits the sick, sends birthday cards to everyone or a note when a person is absent one week, etc. And her Bible is tattered and full of notes because she has been studying it for many, many years. On the other hand, some of the most outspoken people in the church, who seem to be so spiritual, are very shallow Christians.

This is my daughter's situation, as well. No car. She tried a group that meets on campus, but got discouraged because, after making friends there, she found out they had some major doctrinal differences.

By what logic? I was simply giving an example of how something that seems ridiculous to us today may be perfectly acceptable in the future. I never said we should go back to the 50's! I've already wasted too much time on this thread. People will believe what they believe, and quite frankly, I'm tired of the nastiness. (and no, Jen in NY, I am not saying that you are the one being nasty.)