I stopped wearing hose about 4 years ago when my daughter informed me that nobody wears pantyhose now. I don't like the way my feet feel in shoes without them, and I don't really feel as "put together" without them. When I go outside wearing sneakers instead of sandals, I get a tan to my ankles. And then when I wear dress shoes it looks stupid. Wearing hose helps to blend the light skin with the darker skin. (I am NOT going to put make-up on my feet!) And ladies, I hate to tell you this, but as you get older your legs just don't look as nice. I just commented to DH a couple weeks ago that I think I should start wearing hose again. I think the duchess looks classy with her sheer hose.

I'll have to look for that book, Nan. Nita Engle's paintings are beautiful! I went to art school back in the 70's, and learned to use watercolors there. But I was doing advertising art (most of what I learned is now obsolete since so much is done on computers these days) -- very realistic stuff, and much tighter than what I'd like to do now. You're doing great! A website with a blog, and showing and selling your art -- good for you!

I've heard of such a thing, but didn't know what they were! And for some reason, wasn't curious enough to look it up. Now I know! :-) You learn something new every day!

What about parents' savings? DH only gets paid nine months out of the year, so we have to save up for the summer. Then when we fill out the FAFSA we have to report what we have in the bank. We need that money to live on through the summer - it's not for paying college tuition. Does anyone else have a similar situation? What do you do? Take the money out of the bank and put it under your mattress long enough to file your FAFSA?

When our kids were little, we used to put on some soft music (Mozart) when they went to bed. Not only was it soothing, it also helped to drown out any conversation going on elsewhere in the house, so they didn't feel like they were missing something exciting. Bedtime was never a hassle for us. We snuggled and read to them, prayed with them, kissed them good night, and tucked them in with a favorite stuffed toy, doll, or blanket. They went to bed around 8:00 and that was that. Maybe we were just lucky. My mom used to comment when she would visit how easily they went to bed.

Yes, I think it's like anything - once you stop, it's hard to get started again. I tend to be too much of a perfectionist. I would like to loosen up my painting technique to be something more along the lines of the work of Zoltan Szabo. So I plan on trying some new things.

My DD and DS both took art classes at the local art museum. The high school age kids draw everything from life, including the human figure. They have drawn MANY nudes - both male and female - from live nude models - from the time they were in 9th grade. In fact, my son started in 8th grade because he was so advanced that he was moved into the high school class a year early. Parents do sign a permission form for their children to draw from live nude models. Although the first time may have been a little uncomfortable for them, they quickly got used to it and it became no big deal. They started with the skeleton, then the muscles, and then the (nude) human figure from life. They are both excellent artists and do beautiful figure drawings. God made the human body. There is nothing "dirty" about it.

I'm so glad you have found so many resources and events! I have been itching to get out my watercolors and start painting again. This thread has motivated me to get going. Now I can't wait!

Congrats, Nan, on your sale! Reading through this thread has been an inspiration. Just a thought...is there an art guild in your area? I have no idea where you are from. We have an art guild in our county that holds shows on a regular basis, workshops, etc. This month they had a youth art competition that my son entered. Anyway, if your area has such a thing, it may be beneficial for you to join and get involved.

This is my last year of homeschooling. I went through a bit of a crisis at the beginning of the school year, but now I'm coming out of it. Years ago, I thought maybe I would go to college myself once I got the kids through school. My only degree is a PhT (putting husband through -- all the way through a PhD!). But now I don't think I will. I'd be in my 60's by the time I finished, and what's the point? Who is going to hire someone in their 60's, fresh out of college, who hasn't been in the workforce for over 30 years? I plan to do some serious self-education and take all those things off the back burner that I used to do...sewing, painting, gardening (I have a large back yard and have been wanting to try my hand at Japanese gardening), maybe write a book. DH wants us to spend more time together and would like to eat a healthier diet, which means I need to learn how to prepare healthier meals. We have some home remodeling to do. I'd like to practice hospitality more. I teach flute lessons to some of DH's students. I may expand on that. I'd like to play my flute more and learn to play the piano better. I have lots of things I'd like to do. Now I need to set some clear-cut goals.

Just to add to my previous post, a high school student can design an interdisciplinary year-long research project, allowing for the investigation of a particular topic of interest. A prospectus can first be written, describing the proposed field of study, its relevance, what new learning will be necessary to carry out the plan, and the project itself. The research project can then be carried out, and a scholarly paper can be written as a major component of the course. This is not something a student in a cc will do, but it is something that many masters degree programs and even PhD programs require. Homeschooling allows for this type of learning, which can be much more innovative than DE or online classes. Consider the possibilities.

This is a good point. Self-designed courses show initiative and creativity. A serious senior research project, as described in The Well Trained Mind, is something you won't get in a community college. By simply enrolling them in CC, many parents and their students are missing out on the opportunity to do something that will really set them apart from the typical college applicant.

The OP simply asked a valid question, swimmermom3, and was observing what she perceives as a trend. Who ever said that a parent who can't get up in the morning and despises math and science should keep their child at home for whatever reason? If DE is what works for you, go for it. As I said before, outsourcing can be beneficial. But for many it is logistically or financially impossible, or even unnecessary. Some of us are quite capable of providing our children with a better education than the community college down the street. As for me fighting for your right to homeschool, I'm passing the torch. We did manage to get the admissions policy changed at a college that our DD decided not to attend, and hopefully other homeschoolers will benefit from our effort. Times have changed, and it's time for the next generation to take the responsibility of preserving their freedoms. I am old enough to have grandchildren homeschooling. I am ready for the next chapter of my life now. God bless you in your endeavor!

My DS has applied there, but we have LOTS of reservations about it. We will be attending an info session in January, which should answer some of my questions. Yes, they are offering scholarships to the first class of students -- $5000 per year for the first 3 years and $3200 the 4th year. The school will not be accredited until 2016. Does Bright Futures pay for an unaccredited school? What about other financial aid? Room and board costs more than tuition. And I noticed on their website that "downtown is your dining hall." Is "downtown" equipped to handle that many students? Would my kid be living on donuts and coffee? I'm not familiar with that area, but it's not a big city. Are all of these restaurants that are suddenly going to have to accommodate a bunch of college students within walking distance? Is there public transportation available at convenient hours? The school is still under construction. Maybe in 4 years it might be ready for your child, ktgrok, but I have my doubts about its readiness for the class beginning this fall. And I haven't even addressed the academics, etc.

I'm sorry. I should have been more clear. I was referring to colleges in CA.

As per JennW (up thread), homeschooling classes are not accepted in CA universities.

So a kid can go into CC with no documentation and then transfer to a state university with no problem, but a totally home schooled kid with a perfect score on the SAT or ACT will not be considered. Does that make sense?

Please don't misunderstand me. Outsourcing can be beneficial. But it can take many forms. One thing that does bother me, though, is when a "homeschooling support group" becomes so powerful through marketing its online classes that certain colleges in that state (PA) have actually required homeschoolers to have a diploma through that organization. Hopefully, this is no longer the case. Your freedom to outsource should not take away my freedom to do it myself.

JennW, why do you think that homeschooling has never been accepted in CA? (This is a genuine question -- I'm not being snarky) Have homeschoolers there tried to challenge the system and get it changed? This is how it happened in other states. I remember reading the book by the Colfax family back in the 80's, whose children went to Harvard after being home schooled in CA. As I recall, the state university wouldn't even look at their kids. How many CA homeschoolers have gone to college and have succeeded? I'm guessing many. Why are people not challenging the system?

These are exactly my thoughts, ncmom. So many "homeschoolers" are setting a precedent by using outside sources that those of us who are teaching our own are having trouble now proving that our high school students' education is valid. A couple of years ago, one of my kids applied to a summer program, and we got a call from the review board asking about his schooling. The person my DH spoke to said that he never saw an applicant who was entirely home schooled. Everyone assumes that if a student is home schooling high school, at least some of it is online or dual enrolling. My second child dual enrolled and quite frankly, it was a mistake. After much consideration, we determined that our other kids would receive a better education if we did it ourselves. The local community college doesn't compare to the educational plan in TWTM. We started homeschooling 23 years ago, shortly after it became legal in our state. Many families had gone before us and fought for the right to teach their own children. Colleges and universities began accepting home schooled students without any outside validation other than SAT scores. But now, with so many homeschoolers outsourcing their classes, homeschooling is once again being questioned. Many on this forum disagree with me, but there is a world of difference between homeschooling and schooling at home online or dual enrolling, which is just sending your kid to school. I believe that, because of the prevalence of outsourcing, homeschooling will once again be considered invalid. I am thankful for the window of opportunity that we had to educate our kids at home, in our own way, according to our own plan. My last one graduates this year. We ourselves challenged one university a number of years ago to change their admissions policy requiring home schooled students to obtain a GED. But I don't see the upcoming generation of homeschoolers doing that -- they are just going with the flow and outsourcing. My DH and I are through. We will not fight anymore for something that others, apparently, do not value.

If a homeschooled student has a best combined score of 1290 on the SAT, excluding writing, or a best composite score of 29, excluding writing, on the ACT, transcripts are not required. You've got to read it carefully, but it's there.

Yes, they are! I've had 3 so far receive it. Number 4 is in Annapolis at the US Naval Academy ( which BTW didn't require SAT subject tests), and my 5th is eligible - not sure yet where he will be going, although he has some acceptances under his belt.

I also find it rather odd that a student who has home schooled in accordance with the FL state law, and who is eligible for the Bright Futures Academic Scholarship (which used to pay 100% of tuition and fees, plus a stipend for books -- before all the cuts to the program) is not considered eligible to be admitted to UF without other documentation.

I understand, Melissa. Although the other universities in the FL state university system (at least the ones we have dealt with) have no such additional requirements for homeschoolers. UF can do what they want. I am just addressing the question of whether they are home school friendly. Many home educators in the not-too-distant past fought for the right to teach their own children at home and for their kids to be able to gain admission to college without a diploma from an outside source. As a result, many home schooled children, including my own, have been accepted to top universities with scholarships to pay the way. They have done extremely well in college and have graduated with top honors. Colleges that will not consider an applicant who has been entirely taught at home (as opposed to those who have done DE or online classes) are missing out on some exceptional students. It is their loss. That being said, if the OP's daughter truly wants to major in veterinary medicine at UF, she will have to jump through some hoops as a homeschooler. If she dual-enrolls or does FLVS, it will be easier for her to get in.

MIT doesn't even have special requirements for homeschoolers. I mean, good grief! Who does UF think they are? I believe it's just laziness on the part of UF admissions. They don't want to take the time or consideration to look at unconventional means of education. No innovative or out-of-the-box thinking there.