There could be other medical reasons, but from a naturopathic perspective, its a sign of a toxic system, although it does seem to be hormonally related with many teens. The smell is created by bacteria which feed on the sweat which is excreted through the sweat glands. Antibacterial swabs of some sort, as previously suggested, are a good idea just to kill the bacteria in the short term. However I would make sure he is drinking LOTS of water and eating LOTS Of fruit and vegetables and limiting junky foods. What goes in, honestly, has to come out somehow. The other thing is to make sure he is having regular bowel movements as constipation can also cause offensive body odour. We all have several avenues of elimination- sweat and the skin is one, bowels are another, breath is another, urine is another. Keeping all the avenues open takes the stress off any other avenue to have to compensate. I wont buy aluminium based anti perspirants for my kids, even though they complain and want me to, to be cool like their friends. They do stop the perspiration, but the cost is too high on health, IMO.

I haven't read all the other responses, but what came to me is, with teenagers as I have, if we were going to be unschooling for a large part anyway, I think I would discuss with them what they wanted to do and just help them to structure 2 hours of the day to get the more booky part done, if that was part of their plan. My experience is that, with my kids and apparently many others, if you structure ANY learning, as in, MAKE them sit down and learn stuff you want them to learn, even if for only 2 hours a day....you cant really "unschool" the rest of the time, because you have already kind of betrayed the whole unschooling foundation of the child following their own interests, because they tend to then rebel against the authority, because "school" and "free time" become polarised rather than integrated. Perhaps its often kids who were burned by institutionalised learning at school, but I have often tried to limit our structured time to bare bones, and I find that my particular brand of kids just doesnt unschool very well the rest of the time if there is any forced schooling. In fact, the more structure, the better, around here- the more peaceful. Too much unsctructured time and my kids get quite antsy. However, I have never taken the unschooling thing to its extreme and given it long enough to work- I feel it can work- however I think that you need to let go of outcomes and trust the child's own unfolding. If I was to continue my present style and for some reason only had 2 hours to get our work done, I think I would do half an hour of maths, half an hour of writing, and an hour covering various other things like history, literature and science- all through reading aloud 'living' books. My kids have got to the point that they dont want me to read aloud in their free time anymore, yet they love me to do it in our school time and I feel our read aloud time, including discussions, is the most productive time of the day, most often.

We have a wooden bread box on the counter, and a dry climate. We do use the breadbox, but also store bread in the freezer. We tend to either keep or wrap the bread in plastic though. The only problem with the breadbox is if bread goes mouldy I think the spores tend to live in the breadbox and for a while there it seemed liek our bread was going off very quickly and we thought it might be all the mould spores in the box, so we gave it a good clean. Its just a convenient way to store bread for us because it dries out in the fridge.

I am just amazed that people even have opinions about such things. I just couldnt care less! Let the bride wear what she likes. I don't even like weddings much and don't understand the big deal and the need for such a show. My own wedding was small, intimate, in our backyard, and bring a plate of food to share. I wore something, I think :)

Mine is very low and particularly so in pregnancy. Seems to be pretty normal. For years I avoided salt because I jsut figured it wasnt healthy, but then dh suggested I allow myself to eat salt freely since my blood pressure was so low, so I do. I cant honestly say if its helped or not though- I dont check my BP very often.

I make little balls rolled in coconut. They are 2 parts dried fruit (dates, sultanas, apricots, goji berries- anything really) and one part nuts (walnuts are good, pecans are great although a bit oily). Blend well in a blender or food processor, make into balls and roll in coconut. I add a heaped tbs of cocoa as well, and if you added run essence you would have a pretty healthy rum ball.

I tandem fed my two who are 17.5 months apart. They weaned themselves when dd was 5 and ds 3.5.

I think its a case of not going to extremes or trying to make rigid categories. I have found it of limited usefulness to understand my kids' learning styles-useful, but not something I base too many decisions on.

I have a 14yo dyslexic boy. What if all your son got to by the end of highschool was a really solid Logic Stage level? I hear that SWB says in her latest edition of TWTM that some kids with LDs may only get that- but that is still pretty good and not to be sneezed at. I was thrilled to hear that because I kept thinking "how will my son ever get to the rhetoric stage? " I don't agree you should work backwards from where you want him to be in a few years. My experience is...no matter where I want my son to be, he can only be where he is, and he can only move a tiny babystep from where he is now, as his next step. Where he ends up is anyone's guess...of course I have my general goals for him, but my biggest mistake with him has always been to try and jump him past where his ability is, because I want to "catch him up". It always backfires, and his self esteem plummets. Better to get him doing what he can do, well, and then challenge him a little more until he succeeds at the next level. My goal with him is a solid logic stage, and then we will see if we have time to go further before he finishes with me. We have started at the beginning in Latin more times than I can care to name. However, he is actually getting a very solid foundation in the grammar and it is helping him to remember English grammar. So, we plod on, as slowly as it takes. If my goal was to have him finish a certain course, I would be in despair. My goal is to move forward. I still read aloud every day to him- we cover a lot of history and literature that way, as well as books like The Fallacy Detective, this year a philosophy book etc.A lot can be covered informally, too. Worldview can be done in an informal way with lots of discussions- my son is very verbal and discussions work well with him. For a long, long time, logic puzzles were just too frustrating for him. This year (age 13) he could finally do them without melt downs. I think you have to stay with where your son is at, and move forward, never taking your eyes off him, and having a general idea of goals. I have had to let go of a lot of classical ideals with my son, and you might not want to do that with yours, but still, it's your son that is important, not the ideals. My son never officially learned to type- I tried a program for a few days- but I just made him do writing assignments on the computer because it makes editing soooo much easier. He continued to do copywork and dictation by hand, and can now handwrite quite well too (writing has been his most difficult task, not reading). However, the bulk of his writing was on the computer for a long time, and it made writing assignments easier. He just got better at typing as he went. None of us hunt and peck but none of us have done proper programs. I think its important with kids like this, that they succeed. I have had to cut back things for my son over and over, just so we could move forward in the basics. We read widely, and also watch documentaries. Ive just been talking to someone else with a 14yo dyslexic son...and she reminded me, while we chatted, that dyslexia is not really a diability as such---its just a different wqay of processing things, and it doesnt match well with the normal system of learning. But dyslexic kids usually have the gift of thinking outside of the box, and often surprising us with their ingenious thinking...so I think its also important to honour and find the gifts and strengths rather than always comparing them to where there peers are at in academic work, or where we think they shoudl be. They are perfectly normal- for who they are. Many famous people are dyslexic. Well, theres my rave for the day :)

For as long as I can remember, I have painted dh a tshirt each Christmas and Birthday. He loves and values them, and even when the tshirts get worn and holey, he then wears them for pjamas. Last year, I got a bit tired of them and dont remember what I got him- possibly even nothing. This year I have bought the tshirt already, just have to think of what to paint on it.

I wasnt expecting to like it- I went to see it with dh and another man, and our son, and I was just going along for the ride. But I ended up thoroughly enjoying myself. Ds14 absolutely loves the 300, and quotes the movie and remembers lots of it (Hes probably seen it 3 or 4 times now). Things like that really help him get handles on certian parts of history (even if they arent totally accurate).

I haven't read the other replies so I may have missed something....but I would breastfeed her more, not less, and not worry. But then, I never went to a ped even once, and I only went to the health nurse once for my first child's wellness check. I rely mostly on instinct and common sense. Does you dd suffer from allergies at all? She may not be absorbing her nutrition well...I would take her to see some sort of natural therapist before I would listen to a pedaetrician with barely any training in diet.

I havent read the other replies..but I think it very much depends on the age of the kids. By teen age, I make sure they have some idea of what is going on. But earlier than that, I just let it happen naturally- but we dont watch tv news. We had the papers delivered for years so that helped. I wouldnt want young kids to really stay in tune with the horror in the world. Plenty of time for that later. Out of my two kids though, one is quite interested and likes to read the newspaper and has done for years- the other doesnt really have any interest at all.

Dh loves to buy me gifts and does frequently...Christmas is just another excuse to do so, really, and it may or may not be something I particularly want since if I really want something, we don't wait till Christmas, so sometimes we really run out of ideas by then. One year though I felt really neglected and I bought myself an electric can opener and wrapped it and put it under the tree for myself. It was something I really wanted and I felt guilty spending the money at the time (I wouldnt now) so I made it a present to myself, from myself. Generally though, we dont buy our own presents. I will be painting dh a tshirt again this Christmas.

I liked K12 History too for middle grades, but I used SOTW until we finished them, then K12 (just the History Odyssey book1). Because my dd15 only has one more year with me and we only just finished Medieval, and she wants to do Journalism and therefore really wants to do Modern History, I am considering using SOTW3 to rush through those times before we spend the rest of the year on Modern History. I also really like ConnectTheThoughts history but its not as academic as some- we just used the Medieval and I feel both kids (ages 14 and 15) got a lot out of it. It includes multimedia- You Tube documentaries and movies. I dont have a problem using SOTW for older kids, even into highschool. I think its better than what most kids at school use even at that age, personally, particularly in terms of the chronological history and overview. I would add to it, or put in research assignments and essays to go in depth in some areas, but if all a kid got their whole childhood was SOTW, they would be better off than most kids at schools. Of course, we can do better as well, but for some kids its going to be enough, particularly if they start late, and/or are not going to be strong in that area. If you are starting from the beginning..well, its ideal to start with SOTW and move onto other things later, but still, SOTW is great to read through for an overview.

Oh, how I wish. I have still been a curriculum junkie, buying from the U.S. with terrible exchange rates and prohibitive postage. Since its all I have ever know, it just seemed normal :glare: What I have done is use the central idea of using history as a centre, tying our literature into history, and also a daily routine that includes "together time" and starting with maths. I have used copywork, dictation and narration as a centre of our LA program particularly for my dyslexic kid. We have 4 ten week terms, and I am always "improving" what we are doing for the next term, including changing curricula. But overall, I just dont regret it. We could not have done Saxon Maths and Rod and Staff English all these years with any joy. The changes keep us interested. Yes, I could have done with LESS changes. But still, I dont regret trying many things and I dont think the kids have suffered for it- but we have had a core of stability, not so much in curricula, but in routine and a certain approach. I know there is a balance to be had here, but I say dont let curricula be your master- you are the teacher. Use the curricula for a purpose, and if its not working, ditch it.

No- we go over everything thats wrong (idelal,y anyway), so theres not much point in grades. My kids like grades, but I still dont do it, even now that they are teens. I honestly think if they go to university and get grades, they will understand what they mean, even if they never got them in childhood. And maybe, maybe, they won't live for the grade the way many people do.

Question 1- this is an area many of us just get strong and you have to not care os much what they think. Its your life, your kids, and they had their chance at parenting. Question 2- its a hard one. Pehaps you can agree to one year at a time and see hoe it goes? My dh gave me 6 months, and within 2 months he was hpapy that I quit my part time job, and he support us all full time so we could homeschool. I gave him lots of information about homeschooling that I printed off the internet and left on the kitchen table. From a sceptic he became my greatest supporter. We too are frivolous spenders with a lifestyle many would envy. I ended up getting work from home..it just all worked out when the priority was to homeschool. Question 3- I think you can just work it out as you go and not worry too much about it. We are secular and have often used Christian curricula, and many Christians use secular curricula. You can teach both evolution and creation theories. I would venture to say its more what you are living that what curricula you use.

I think it all has to do with the tone of the home and not the chores themselves. The tone can be set by the parents, but the personalities of the kids will also affect things. I think its a really valid issue to bring up and its making me have a look. My dh is stressed every. single. day. about our teens not doing their chores properly. He then puts that stress onto the kids with an irritable start to most days, and I naturally feel it too. I am much more easy going. Dh, as a kid, had plenty of chores and wouldnt even consider not doing them- no fighting about them. Yet he didn't have a happy childhood at all. He now battles with the kids and can't really understand why it is like this. I think the overall tone of the house is more important than anything specific that is happening in it. Chores are not inherently good or bad. If there is a lot of stress and unhappiness around chores, I think it needs to be looked at, for sure. I liked Flylady for the attitudinal thing. Instead of sending my younger kids in to tidy their bedrooms, and dont come out till its done kind of thing....I learned to go in there with them, put the timer on and show them how to do it. Made all the difference in the world....and I probably need to do it again with my teens more often. Put the timer on, put some music on, and all clean a room together. It's actually fun and amazingly quick. My kids do all the dishes....but we put an ipod dock in the kitchen, so they can play their music while they do dishes. (It was really for me while I cook, but it works for them too :) ) I agree that mum (or dad) should not be doing all the work while the kids play. But it is the parents job to effectively teach life skills, and there are many ways to skin a cat- with a seriousness and heavy sense of obligation, or with a lightness and sense of humour and playfulness. I have actually been thinking about this issue lately myself. Knowing how to clean the bathroom isnt the issue...it's caring enough to do it, OR just forming the habit of doing it. I didnt learn to keep my home clean and tidy (relatively) until I lived on my own for 18 months with the kids. I found Flylady and discovered a sense of being house proud and a joy around cleaning and tidying. Before that, I couldnt find a consistent motivation and dh would just nag and I would resent it. Flylady helped me get a good attitude and since then, its not really been a problem for me- I actually enjoy housework. However, my kids don't, particularly. I think there is a power struggle going on between them and their dad though, and that's part of it. As with all things I think there is a balance to be found. Chores dont have to be so bad, they can be fun...but its not always possible and sometimes they just need to be done, too. I think I have a lot of compassion for my kids around chores because my own mother was not consistent with me, and I didnt learn to "keep house" well at all. And I was kept in on Saturdays to clean my room, all alone, instead of being taught HOW to keep things tidy. Wheras Dh came from a Born Organised mother and doesn't really empathise with anyone's difficulties around the whole issue. I dont think its a black and white issue. I do think kids contributing to the household is important. They actually want to when they are little...they want to help so badly- it's innate. I am sure we do something to poison that beautiful and natural spirit as they get older. In some cultures there is not even a word for the concept of "work" as separate from "play". It's just life. Even by calling them "chores" we are setting up a negative expectation.

I just saw one of these online th other day and I think they are a great idea. If I had to get up early with an alarm, I would get one for sure. In my case, I wake up early anyway, and I dont even have to, so it's not much use. And my kids arent little anymore either- I love the idea of using one as a night light to send them off to sleep. Cool idea.

By withdrawing into my cave and reading and having an early night. Or going for a walk. Or sitting on the computer for hours..but I dont recommend that one.

Yes, I do think it's important to nurture a child's individual passions to some extent. It's one of our advantages in homeschooling. There doesn't have to be a conflict in family time and kids having their own activities. My teens are very social, having several activities each, lots of friends...and we still spend lots of time together as a family. It does get expensive though. My dd15 has part time work now which helps us all- it means she can pay for a lot of her own clothes and activities like movies with friends. We live and we learn.

I agree that anyone drinking raw milk should know the risks. If labelling is necessary because people are too ignorant, well, put the labels on. However, there might be unscrupulous practices going on. Our raw milk supplier is critical of another raw milk supplier in our state, because the milk is transferred from one container to another more than hers is, and also, people can take their own containers, which again heightens the risk of contamination. It's a difficult situation and it really should be up to the comsumer to be aware of the risks and get to know their supplier personally, visit the farm etc. But in a country where it is so personally profitable to sue rather than suck it up and take some resonsibility, its going to be messy.

My dd15 has eggs every morning with dh. She is not strictly vegetarian but we dont eat much meat at home and dh is vego. You can make things like nut loaf, cauliflower cheese, quiche or frittatas, or anything with a white/bechemal sauce- milk has protein. You could try some Indian food, like a basic dhal and rice. Most traditional cultures have common meals that are good combinations- mexican food too, like bean burritos or tacos. I make tacos with a tin of mexi-beans and salad and cheese and sour cream sometimes. Or, I make a fake spicy tomato and mince sauce with TVP, but I dont use TVP much nowadays as I dont think its very healthy and dh's gut reacts to it badly. You can also not worry too much about teh protein and just try and get more vegies into them. Vegies have protein.

We did it mostly orally. I read the books aloud over the whole year. I made up a few writing assignments over the year- I didnt like the ones in the program. We skipped some parts and did most of it orally. We had a fantastic year with it. My kids were only 11 and 12 or so at the time.