We thought using the computer would increase the attention span for math, but it seems we were mistaken. It actually takes longer. Aaauugghh!!!!!! So now, we have the most expensive math program we've ever bought causing more stress in my household. My dc usually insists on using the computer over the textbook, but today finally admitted that the computer is too distracting. Finally!!!!! I'm glad a little self-realization finally struck. Does anyone else have a child with this problem? Do you just have your dc watch the instruction online and do the rest in the book/on paper, or do you have them do it all from the book? Any suggestions for making this easier for my dc? TIA!

I'm sorry that happened to you. Some people have no sense of decency. They belong to both parties. Our McCain sigh was stolen the first night it was out, but no Obama signs disappeared from our neighborhood. We got another and now we bring it in every night. Maybe you can find another one and do the same.

Have you tried mock turtle necks? One of my dds won't wear turtle necks because she says they choke her, but she will wear a mock turtle neck.

My pants favorites are Lands End, JCPenney, and Kohl's. Also, Penney's has nice knit top colors this year, with some nice paisley prints to go along with the solid colors. Look for them on sale for $8 each.

Have you taken a look at Crown Financial Ministries? They might be able to help you. http://www.crown.org/ They have many materials, and they may have someone in your area that could sit down with you to help your dh understand. ETA: They also have free online counseling via chat, if you don't think your dh will go for in person help. Maybe they can give you some ideas.

Pray. Earplugs to lower noise stress. Pray more. Trash bags for floor clutter - stack them in the dc's rooms and assign dc to empty them into the right locations, one bag per kid per day until it's all put away. I'd warn them first that you are going to do it, though, in case they have materials for their online classes strewn about to which they will need immediate access. Have you considered adding more zinc, vit. c, and B vitamins to your day? I find them very helpful for stress. Gaba helps some people, too. Take melatonin to sleep (and/or some calcium/magnesium). Exercise and sunlight in the early a.m. helps regulate sleep at night. Sorry, no new suggestions for the situation with your mom, sisters, or dh. Just more prayer. :grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

It is when you are an introvert! It isn't fun, is it? I don't think you can change your temperament, but you can change your habits. I've tried to increase the number of questions I ask others. "Where did you meet your husband?" "What is your favorite part of the job?" "Why did you decide to move to this part of the country?" Basic questions, but ones that people are usually rather comfortable answering, so they'll talk about themselves for quite a while. Also, I've learned to give brief answers to their questions, then turn the questions back to the other person. Those extroverts love to talk about themselves, so it isn't a problem for them. Best of all, when I get the opportunity to meet another introvert, sometimes we click so well that talking isn't a problem at all and I walk away feeling great!

She showed up at my house before work this morning with some things she had rescued from the trash at her school. She thought they looked interesting and that I might like them. She said she'd keep her eyes open for other stuff the teachers were getting rid of that I might like. Even though I'm not sure I can use what she brought over, I was really touched by her sweetness in thinking of us. We aren't close, but she's always been encouraging and supportive of our homeschooling. It was a nice way to start the day. :)

I'd sure prefer he not be in my dc's class! If you have to ask, you already know the answer.

I want to bid on an item, and I have my account set up, but I've never shopped ebay before. The item I want has no bids. When ebay asks for my maximum bid, will it still start me out at the minimum starting bid price, or will it automatically go to my maximum bid? Just want to be sure before I enter anything. Thanks for input!

I go when contractions are 2-3 minutes apart.

Recently we had a get-together. Beforehand, one of my dc was looking at a favorite sports card worth about $10, and left the binder out in plain sight. The next day we noticed that particular card was gone from the binder. I tried to smooth over the situation by suggesting it somehow must have fallen out and fallen behind the furniture and that it would turn up. I asked last night if it had ever shown up, but it hadn't. One of my other dc immediately brought up another child that spent some time alone in that room and who was very interested in the card. I told the children I didn't feel like I could call the parents without more evidence. Still, if my child might have taken something that belonged to someone else, I'd want to know. Should I just let it go or should I call? ETA: Thanks for the suggestion to do nothing. We didn't say anything to the parents, and we told the dc that it must be around here somewhere. Months later, guess what showed up wedged underneath the furniture?

My ds isn't a teenager yet, but I do notice ups and downs in mood. It tends to correlate with less sleep and also with my moods. He reacts more to how I feel and act than my dds do. I agree with the physical activity for helping. Right now he's outside running and tackling things in the yard to burn off a bad mood. It was his idea. He knows what he needs and often tells me what he needs to do to improve his mood or his energy level.

Totally off topic, but how many can you iron in 5 minutes? Maybe I'm just slow, but I think it takes at least that for only one shirt! Must be the perfectionist in me. I found that my perfectionistic dc freaked out with the timed aspect, too. Fortunately, we found that out with practice tests the week before, so we were able to work them past that point. The only part that really threw them on the real test was the math computation, because they asked how long they had and I foolishly told them. They knew they couldn't possibly get all the problems done in that time, so they slowed way down. Note to self - keep working on math computation speed!

All of the specific options you mentioned are okay with me, but I attend a casual church. While I would prefer teens to be dressed a little more nicely than just t-shirt and shorts, I think having them there is more important than what they wear. However, I don't think it's appropriate if they are wearing skimpy or revealing clothing or if their clothing has rude comments printed on it, as those types of clothing are a distraction to others who are trying to worship. Along that line, however, if the modest and polite clothing your dd wears is a distraction to others in your church because people there dress more formally, I think it would be considerate of her to wear something else so that people aren't distracted by it. If it doesn't seem to bother anyone but you, I'd try to let it go.

So, what happens when they try to access this board? Do they get a "site not allowed" message, or what? What parental control softward do you use, or is this part of your operating system?

I knew because I"m you. :) Seriously, I can relate to lots of what you post. It just seemed that, once again, your problem must be the same as mine. If you can't take the melatonin, what about making sure you get some good exercise in outside early in the day? The sun exposure in the early morning sets your body clock to sleep earlier at night. Now I really am going to bed. I want to have a good day here tomorrow! Good night!

It's easy to fall into this trap, isn't it? We're like the mother cat in Milo and Otis - determined to be good mothers, planning never to yell at our kittens, but then we have a Milo. Ot two, or three.... I certainly don't have it all together in this area, but what I've found is that the key is sleep. You thought I was going to write "consistency," didn't you? :) Seriously, if I get a good night's sleep, I can handle my dc's immaturity much better than when I don't. I can be more consistent in remembering to check to see if they have followed through on what I have told them. I can be calmer when they don't do what I asked. I can set reasonable consequences and stay calm, even when they get upset. Seriously, sleep can do all that for me. I've noticed you stay up late here, too, so maybe that change would be helpful for you. I rknow your health issues affect your sleep, but it's worth a try! Getting enough sleep is supposed to help with weight loss, too, if that's any additional incentive! You might try using melatonin to help you go to sleep, if you still have a hard time on your own. I'd also encourage you to try to find some things that you really enjoy. It's easy to take every little thing with the dc too seriously when we don't have enough fun in our lives. Do you like to dance? What if you set aside some time to crank your favorite tunes and just dance in the living room or kitchen? The endorphins might help your mood. Any exercise might help. Lots of hug time helps. Let your dc know that you need hugs, too. Just like they come to you to ask for hugs, go to them to ask for one. Some book suggestions for you: Good and Angry: Exchanging Frustration for Character in You and Your Kids by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN Say Good-bye to Whining, Complaining, and Bad Attitudes... in you and your kids! also by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN I really like these people's books. They get it. Here's their website: http://www.biblicalparenting.org/default.asp You can sign up for free email encouragement tips from their books at the top right of the home page. How to Discipline Kids without Losing Their Love and Respect by Jim Fay. It gives specific suggestions for what to say when your dc are out of line, while keeping the responsibility for their actions squarely on their shoulders. It's a Love and Logic book, so your library system may have it. Off to get that sleep I need! I hope you'll consider it, too!

My dc observed today that the Air Force jets are much louder when it's very cloudy (it sounds as if a full squadron is flying over at once instead of just one fighter). I've noticed it, too, but I'm not sure why it happens. Does the water in the clouds carry the sound farther, like water in the ocean? Does the sound echo off the clouds somehow? Do they use their afterburners more/longer when it's cloudy? Please explain if you know why this happens! TIA!

Oh, good! It's on my shelf! Thanks for the recommendation!

Are you using any particular science program, or just putting it together yourself?

Keep enough that your dc can go at least a week without you having to do laundry, two weeks if that's more realistic. When everyone gets sick at some point and you are up all night caring for them, you'll be glad not to have to keep up with laundry, too.

Wow! I am surprised at how young you all were when you read this! I didn't read it until I was a junior in college. I found the book very disturbing, as did many of my classmates. The professor had us watch the movie of it after we had discussed the book, and that was even more disturbing. I would definitely wait if your dc is at all sensitive. At the very least, I would recommend a lot of discussion, as well as avoiding the movie.

Our McCain sign was stolen the first night we had it up. We've put up political signs for years and never had that happen! I was really surprised. I got another one, and I bring it in at night now. It goes up when dh leaves for work and comes down when the sun does. The man from the Republican party office told me they get a lot of calls about stolen signs. Tacky. If you don't like my candidate, don't vote for him, but leave my yard sign alone!

When I was younger I was told I looked like Demi Moore. Recently, I've been told I look like Sarah Palin. Ha! I wish!