I can't believe I'm about to be TMI on a math thread.... I think I'm a bit unusual, because once I find my solution, I'm ready to close the books. Over the years, my accountant and I have discovered that it's best for both of us if we rearrange the order of operations. To achieve complete customer satisfaction, that can leave us reaching for technology. He's not particular who handles the calculator (but sometimes I am), and we certainly do plenty of manual calculation. How we close out the books can depend on time, fatigue, and, frankly, I find some things are cyclical. I have several calculators. One works better if my accountant does the figuring. One gives me a really final, single solution. And one has - for the first time in my life - allowed me to find multiple solutions. I prefer to work with my accountant, but he doesn't mind if I do some calculations on my own. Sometimes I just don't have the energy for really elaborate equations, you know?

I love putting the cart away, because it’s 45 seconds away from the kids I just wrangled through the store. I love that Covid has made me feel not guilty about leaving the kids in the car, because what kind of mother would I be if I exposed the kids to a horrible virus letting them out of the car? I also love that Covid has given me a real reason to shop without the kids for the last seven months, so I’d probably walk to Timbuktu to return a cart and prolong my bimonthly vacations, I mean solo grocery trips. Also, I had to take all four kids into the store a few weeks ago, and Oh My Lanta am I out of practice. Ten minutes in I was exhausted, only managed a quarter of the items on my list, and needed a hot date with Ben and Jerry at 10:00 am. I probably abandoned the cart, but I’m blocking the episode from my memory.

DH and I watched last night. We really enjoyed it.

I have no problem with what other people wear, although I did have a problem with a young woman’s *judgement* when she packed two itsy, bitsy, teeny, weenie mostly string bikinis when hired to help me with my four children (ages 5 down to six months) at the beach for a week. It was all she wore for the first four days, and it was a disaster of slipping strings and too much accidental exposure. Then she trotted out a sturdy tankini for our last day, and I really had to wonder what she’d been thinking. Week at the beach with friends? Wear whatever. Paid week helping a mom with four children who will be climbing all over? Wear something that will stand up to the job. Even a rash guard (which, it turns out, she also owned and packed) thrown over top would have helped.

I always miss things when I put myself to bed on time. I’d love a PM. I’m getting the inference but hate when I finally realize who Is “missing” weeks later.

Oh, I get it. 2020 was going to be the first year we had no major life disrupting events, and gee... To be fair, some of those were *good* events, but it feels like we’ve just been steamrolling ahead without a chance to breathe, and we were looking forward to the calm. It’s totally okay to appreciate and even support your husband’s career opportunities while acknowledging that you hate your “office” and have been looking forward to a change that’s being back burnered once again. Vent away.

I know one has been offered, but our favorite keema recipe is https://wellnessmama.com/5228/pakistani-kima/ I love that it's all in one pot, and I don't have to do anything else. Makes yummy leftovers, too.

It’s why my neighbor’s kids are joining my homeschool this year. They were very much on the fence in general this year, but as soon as the kinder schedule came out, it was a big no. 6-7 hours of meetings via a screen is really not possible for anyone, let alone a little five yo person.

So the only non abusive story I know related to this is a family with several daughters. The dad was driving the van with the two older girls (probably 7th/8th grade) and several of their friends for a spring break trip. The mom was behind in the car with the younger sisters. Apparently one of the daughters was having an extended teenage moment, including but not limited to be rude to dad. After several warnings, he called mom, asked her to pull over at a specific mile marker, pulled off and made daughter drive with mom. Obviously she was never in any danger. I imagine my parents had wished they could do similar between the ages of 12-14.

I love mine.

There are two separate products: First Language Lessons Levels 1-4 which are intended for the grammar stage, and Grammar for the Well Trained Mind, which is much more recent publication and is intended for Logic and perhaps early Rhetoric stage. The latter is probably not mentioned in the Well-Trained Mind because it wasn't published at the time of the edition you are referencing. Other people can give reviews on which is "better". I imagine it depends on your goals and what kind of learners you have.

Obviously I’ve heard a lot about it since I have recent ties to the area, but I’ve also seen it mentioned on several print and video news sources. FWIW, I understand the “no one is covering this” mentality, but it’s really hard to understand how horrific a major weather event can be if you are not on the ground. I lived through the the most amazing ice storm in Oklahoma years ago; it felt like Armageddon in the city. It was all consuming for those of us struggling without power and with extensive damage to trees/homes/vehicles. There was national coverage, but it didn’t feel *enough* for those affected personally. I’m sure those in hurricane zones can relate to the fact that national coverage of weather disasters is fleeting compared to the effects of the storm.

Mine, too. Funny but unfortunately there are too many unicorns out there right now.

I think there are lots of thoughtful conversations to have about the ramifications of a cashless society. I just don't have "End Times" on my list of discussion points.

See, this is why I can’t talk to certain people. Now I seriously want to know the connection between a cashless society and the mark of the beast/end times. I mean, not enough to actually spend any more brain power on it, but it’s going to tickle for a while.

Thanks, all. It really is much better for my mental health if I don't engage personally with some of these folks over various... beliefs. The Hive to the rescue, as always.

That was illuminating, thank you.

And this is why I came to you all instead of other corners of the internet. My brain hurts.

I have a few family members that I have snoozed in FB, but things occasionally pop up regardless. I keep seeing that this virus is going to end November 4. In this theory, will the Democrats stop perpetuating the virus hoax because it is now obvious Trump can’t be discredited? Or is it stopping because the Democrats win and no longer need the virus hoax? I can’t google because I have no desire to Alice down that terrifying rabbit hole, but I really am confused about what the election is supposed to prove to whichever entity is promoting this virus as a hoax.

1) Pesto pasta salad with rotisserie chicken, peas, and tomatoes 2) Chipotle slaw - 1 bag (or more) of red cabbage slaw, shredded rotisserie chicken, and 1/4 c Parmesan cheese tossed with chipotle vinaigrette (1 canned chipotle pepper, 2 tbsp balsamic vinager, 1/4-1/2c olive oil, salt to taste) served with chips and sliced avocado (or toss the avocado in if your people are not like my picky people). 2) The Silver Palate recipe with tomatoes, garlic, basil, and Brie. All make good leftovers. Eat cold or room temperature, except the last one.

My BIL is head of one of the labs in testing stages for a possible vaccine. We will rely heavily on his expertise once things come in the market.

We're home. I'm more or less ignoring every e-mail I get from previous extra curricular activities. There are lots of ways people in my area are working to get around regulations re: masking and social distancing requirements, so I'm not even trying. I also don't want my kids to get invested in an activity and have the rug pulled out from under them in a few weeks. We have two extras that translated very well to Zoom/online platforms, so those have continued without interruption. That'll be it this year.

For what it's worth, I don't feel like a newbie, but I do feel like a parent of very young children who is aware of how much things will change over the next 15 years. I have been on these boards for a decade, even though my oldest is only 7. I've learned so much from so many posters about life, parenting, and homeschooling, and I feel fairly confident that I'm doing okay synthesizing those things for my personality/our family. I'm so far from being an expert it's not even funny; I'm not sure I'll ever be an expert, even if I actually manage to graduate all 4 of my kids and send them out well equipped for life in the wide world. But I'm technically three years into this homeschooling gig, and I'm happy with the rhythm we've got. I don't see any radical changes I would make for my upcoming kiddos, and I'm sure as heck going to end up apologizing to my oldest for all the guinea pigging he gets to do. So, no, I'm not a newbie, but I definitely don't feel equipped to dole out wisdom either.

This was how my high school taught European History back in the day. I was in the pioneer class, and it was awesome. I remember so much from that class, not only because the teachers were passionate about the new program but because events were hung together through a lense that connected them. I eventually studied most of that history again in other ways, but I’m shocked by how much I remember from 10th grade.

One thing that helped with my last was waiting... he wasn’t trained until 3.5. Now, he was particularly stubborn, but by the end of a week we were done. I’ll be training number 4 this year, and I’ll definitely start her during one of our weeks off. Then timers to remind me to remind her, and my kinder can practice her read aloud to the toddler on the potty.