If you choose to drop CC, (and I did after 8 weeks into the second semester, one in Ch A and another in F/E) write an email and drop it. Be advised, no refund will be offered and they will outright deny any right for a refund for any reason...if you go that route, PM me. I'm a previous upper level manager and might be able to assist you as we did receive a refund. Drop it. Our daughters are not 'gifted' by any definition of the word...but they work at a different rate and speed in the classical ed model...CC has no room for such a thing.

I am now in SE MI...Macomb county. Could be close as well.

Some time ago, I was much more active on this forum. However life took hold and I limited my time online. We are relocating to SW Michigan (Macomb County) and would like to get as much info regarding support groups, fellow home schoolers etc in the area as possible. I promise...I'm not a stalker. Just desperate. :lol: I'd appreciate any input, either on this thread or by private message.

Any info on support groups, etc for the SE area of MI would be greatly appreciated. I'm familiar with the laws for MI, just need to make connections and find info for activities, etc.

I know it's not the same, but as a family we choose to not participate in all the things that others find so important at church. For many other reasons, we have become disillusioned by the current 'culture' of many churches not only in our area, but as a whole. Please understand, we choose what we think is best (we grew up in rural areas and now live in a city) for our children and people think we can't afford activities. We get pity because we're looked at as we're poor. Regardless...this article spoke volumes to me, and I hope it validates you too. http://www.alanknox.net/2011/04/guest-post-how-does-the-church-respond-to-poverty/

Love to have you in the Kansas CitySt. Joseph, MO metro areas. If interested, would be interested in hosting you in our fine area.

Is there such an item to evaluate a student? Young man, 5th grade, Mom is seriously concerned for his grasp on grammar and wants to start using FLL. But where to start? And she's new to the WTM/Trivium idea...but loves the method. Anyone have any pointers?

:iagree: These two books are well worth the time to read them and carve every bit of info you can use from them. I'd actually encourage you to consider purchasing a used copy of both for furture reference. It helped me to be able to respond in an appropriate manner to both my own mother and DH's mother in a respectful way.

We are a family of four. I was raised on a farm and went to town once a week for errands and groceries. It's not so much that I don't want to use a mix or am a food snob, it's more of I can do more with the ingredients I have on hand rather than pay for a mix we may or may not like. So, my advice: Meal plan around what is on sale that your family will eat or you can safely consume. Purchase only what is on sale and stock up if possible, if space and money allows. Use options that your family will eat. Go meatless for one meal, if dairy is out then rice, beans, pasta, letils, potatoes are a bland ingredient that can be worked into any recipe. We purchase beef from a friend that saves us a ton...but that was after I had saved through my grocery budget for a year. Chicken is purchased either whole, or split breasts that I put in the crockpot, cook down, saving the broth for soup and the meat is chopped and frozen to be ready for other recipes. Sam's Club is not a big savings for our family unless we buy produce in larger quantities and can consume it before going bad OR meat that is marked down. Best day to go is on Monday's since everyone goes over the weekend for the samples. The overstock is sold at a cut rate. I would suggest sharing the cost with another family for the membership dues. Our grocery budget is $150 per week for a family of four. However, I just had a very expensive week for shopping today and spent $75 for all that I needed for a week's worth of food. And we rarely eat out or splurge on pop, snacks, junk food, etc. We save a ton by eating real food and not over eating.

All I have to say on the MOTH and following books of the same category is: I own the schedule, the schedule doesn't own me. We have things to accomplish everyday but if something comes up and God allows the interruption along with the skills to incorporate it in...we go for it. I would agree with the careful influence on our children, however it is my job as a parent to manage, redirect, use the situations as opportunities for teaching AND expose each child as necessary. The idea that children should be raised to be salt and light and how that reconciles with not hiding your light under a bowl contradictory...but then, I'm analytical like that. :tongue_smilie: I'm the keeper of all things 'home' in our family, and use careful observation to keep a productive and positive atmosphere that I am responsible to uphold. Since we believe that God put our family together not only to teach us how to work together but to work with the exact opposite at times through each other, I can see how their children are an example of that method. But! I do not agree with the isolation factor promoted by and for Mrs. Maxwell or the children, at all. Sunday School and in short order, youth group is an occassional activity when it compliments and supports the direction Mr. Missouri leads our family in. Simply because there is far too much nonsense and twaddle than actual biblical study or application.

:iagree:

Has anyone ever heard of this before? Yes. And I've personally witnessed the 'imposters' on several different levels and from 3 different perspectives. Have you ever suspected somebody was a "homeschooling impostor"? Yes. Do you think she meant unschoolers, and they just seemed like impostors to her? For the most part, home educating/home schooling families will have their own preferences towards how to 'do school.' However, unschooling families will value an education in whatever method that may be very different. Imposter families often don't adhere to the laws in their own state and use the 'home education/home school' umbrella as a means to avoid prosecution. Whether you've met them or not, do you think there are people who "pretend" to homeschool just to be truant? Yes. Seen it all too often and it is real. Do you think that other people (non-homeschoolers) suspect than many homeschoolers are really just truant? Absolutely. It only takes one bad experience to remember a restaurant...keep in mind that when those that are imposters in home education will use it as an 'excuse'...example: "Oh, it's alright. We homeschool." The impression left by those that use it as a method to avoid prosecution of truancy leave the rest of us an uphill stereotype to overcome. For clarification: I worked in the administration of our local district in a 'bean counter' capacity---I collected the statistical data for our district to report to the state. Once that became more than boring (after 3 years) I moved from that office to one of our 18 elementary schools. Parents withdrawing their children to home school happened a lot, and while I'd say 75% of them were actually educating them...the problem was the 25% that would either hand their child a coloring page (at age 11) or that the child read the cereal box and decided that was an education. This promoted the local district to harrass and malign the familes that were actually providing an education. Before anyone jumps on the fact that reading the back of a cereal box or doing a coloring page once a week is an education...be aware that these children were neglected in every other area of their parent/child relationship. Poor health neglected--tooth decay to the gums, poor personal cleanliness on child, but not parent, infected and infested open sores, lack of food, no supervision. These were the extreme cases, but it left the administration that EVERY home educating family must be 'supervised' which is a problem that we're still battling nearly 9 years after I resigned my position. Since I was involved in setting up the program that worked with our local district and the county prosecutors office (the point was to keep kids in school and off the streets, drugs, etc), I sat in the court room when the facts came to light. Out of all of the cases brought forward to appear in front of a judge (maybe 25 in a semester) there were 3 families that had their records in order and could explain and provide examples of their work. Each time, the judge excused the case and chastised the prosecuting office for not finding the facts before hand and over-reaching the issue on their behalf. However, the other 22 cases were nothing less than imposters of home education...and the school administration were confirmed in their unfounded suspicisions--and now it's gone awry. After 6 weeks of the judge using his authority to offer guidance, examples, and information to the parents with ZERO impact or change, the judge would recommend Social Service intervention and ultimately the child(ren) would return to public school. As a home educating family now, I see it all too often. It's not unschooling (which my hat is off to these folks, it just makes my head hurt to even consider trying) but its those that label breathing in and out science and eating Fritos a health class...that's not unschooling. That's deception. More than you asked for but it's my $.02

I think the smoky flavor would be welcome in greens. I'd freeze it just because its out of the way...and use it. Some of the best good eats is a ham bone used for flavoring. Merry Christmas!

We've done a majority of the activities. Our daughters have retained much of SOTW because of the activities---pick and choose as needed. As long as you're not concerened with the product and allow the process--its all good.

Background. My parents participated in the Santa story with the three of us. It was fun, we all believed and enjoyed it. Until...(hold that thought) We were taught and told that you were never to lie. Ever. There was nothing worse than a liar. "I will never lie to you, or for you.' To the point that my mother would go to all ends to not tell a lie, even if it were only by a technicality. "Sorry, she can't come to the phone, she's in the restroom." And she'd go stand in the restroom so no one would lie for her. Back to the Santa thought. I came home from kindergarten and was sure that the other children were telling a lie regarding Santa. After all, my parents wouldn't lie to me. So I asked my mother, and she hesitated and I can remember saying it "Tell me the truth." And she confirmed it was a lie, only a story for me to believe. My next statement is one that hurt my mother to the core: "You punished me for lying to you, and all this time you've been lying to me." She still says the duplicity is one of her biggest regrets in parenting. That being said, I don't habor that against my parents. But my parents said later as I was an adult that it was one of the things they wouldn't have done looking back with what they knew now. We don't do Santa simply because we couldn't get past the duplicity either. However, we do have Saint Nickolas day and talk about the real person who lived and his life and how the story spiraled into something else for a good purpose, but that its only a story. We hang their stockings, and they get small gifts and house slippers (just our thing) but then the stockings are put away after December 6. Certainly, we have a much larger focus on Christ, but we do that through Advent. We do not participate in the catholic doctrine however we do enjoy the month long excitement and the several days after Christmas to focus on the real reason of our celebration. Our daughters don't understand why others would shorten it or confuse it by adding in Santa, but consider their perspective from what they've been taught. In our opinion (and I say that to note it's our guidance from God on the issue) Christmas is meant to be experienced in the fullest by those who know and love Christ. It's not an observance of good will by gift giving or mythical stories.

I confess: It drives me gad-zooks crazy when we're judged for having 'only two children' due to our selfish desires to 'stop.' Sometimes I want to discuss the hard work, finances, and time that was spent just to conceive--doubt it would make a difference. So I privately broil on the inside. I like the fact that I'm not Martha Christian Home and Gardens--nor do I want to be either. I don't like lap booking. Never will. Scrapbooking. See line above. I enjoy sewing, crochet, and knitting. Yes, I actually wear what I make and no, you can't tell the difference. The stereotypical home school Mom is not something I strive for. We don't subscribe to many of the 'ideals' of raising daughters and that outcasts not only me, but our daughters as well. Frustrating at times that humans feel the need to congregate for reassurance for survival amongst their own. Chocolate is a necessity. Daily. My husband 'gets' me. Our daughters are growing up to be people I really like to spend my time with... I cry at the drop of a hat, but I won't allow you to see me do it.

As one that receives these sorts of emails everyday regarding home school group activities, it can be very overwhelming to answer every question asked after an announced outing or field trip. Regardless of how direct and to the point you craft the request, there will always be people that will email asking questions, wanting more info, etc. I agree, there are times when a paricular circumstance when it can be misunderstood, but imagine the amount of emails she receives with questions when it is direct. Regardless, she could have been pleasant in her response. But, it may have spent all of her 'pleasant' on the 276 emails before yours. Hope you can extend her some forgiveness and move on.

I have the Rival Smart CrockPot with the timer gizmo. It's huge and unless it's chock-full will turn any food into ancient ruins in a short amount of time. I use it for soups, stews, and anything that I can stir. If it's a layered thing, forget it. Too hot, too fast. Burnt is not a flavor category. The handle on the lid has broken twice and I've called and had it replaced. After the second time, I gave up. I'll use a spoon to pry it up and remove it rather than trust a handle that is going to break. I have a Rival round crock pot, 6 quart size. Bought it about 10 years ago. It's a good utility version. Doesn't cook too fast, great for roasts or layered recipes. Fantastic for veggies too. I've also baked potatoes in it and this one does a fantastic job. I have a Hamilton Beach, 4 quart size. Removable crock, looks nice after 8 years. Settings are way off and doesn't heat throughly in my opinion. Last thing I sacrificed in there was a roast...and it's now sitting in the garage sale box. I have two El-Cheap-Oh versions, about 2 quart size. Think I paid $3 for each at a Black Friday sale. Good for veggies or small desserts, but gotta be careful. These have a LOT of hot spots. The settings should read: Ashes or Charred And then, there is my favorite. It's about 25 years old. Has an acutal 'pot' that can be removed from the hot-plate style heater. Pot can be placed on the stove top for searing of meat, to get contents hot or boiling and then placed on heater. It has 5 settings and they are true settings. I love it. Bought it at a garage sale and it's my 'Go-To Crock Pot' for just about everything. It's about a 6-8 quart size, oblong in shape, ugly as sin 1970's Harvest Gold in color...but it's a dependable work horse and I'll be sad when it gives up the ghost.

After everything you've outlined that has been done to help this family and the twins arrival, I'd say that's more than generous from the congregation. I've looked several times after being motivated by this sort of situation and yet to find where scripture points to someone being demanding of their God given load in life to burden others with in doing for them. I'd but out. Cut the prepared meals off in two days, have three days of freezer meals prepared and let this gal work it out on her own. If her own husband and mother are people she expects to wait on her hand and foot, then what would stop her from thinking the world will do it too? There is a difference between being loved like a Queen from a man (or from others) and being treated like a Queen from anyone. The last one can be spotted as its immediately following a demand. You've been very gracious.

I applaud your congregation and the leadership that choose to take a stand rather than run the politically correct race. What a difference this will make in years to come.

Another resource: www.generationsofvirtue.com

Does Mom have the desire to improve her own reading abilities and skills? K12 isn't always free, and in my state is far from inexpensive. I'd have to know more about these options before making a suggestion.

New to homeschooling or not, there are some people that surround themselves with others who resemble or immulate their personal values. Most often it's for self assurance needs and other times because of a lack of a multi faceted life. That makes me sad for them. We're in our fifth year. I enjoy diversity and variety, but there are some that are so right in knowing their own life purpose it overshadows the fact that it doesn't mean everyone's purpose is a carbon copy of their own. It's not always to be hurtful, but it can certainly end up that way. Friends who are supportive and genuinely interested in you achieving your specific goals and life purpose are ones to seek out. Move this friendship to the 'surface only' category and consider it a lesson learned--albeit the hard way. :grouphug:

Very helpful. Thank you very much.:thumbup:

I agree. The problem revolves around most adults (we'll leave children out since they are developing their skills. Hopefully:confused:) have never been taught the art of compromise without dissention or resentment. 'If I give in here, what's in it for me?' Hopefully the upholding of a relationship among others will be enough to curb whatever is offensive--unfortunately the offense remains in a stand off of who will acquiesce first. Individuality is essential, but living independently is destructive not only to our society and community, but ourselves.