I love my cast iron pans! I am careful not to drop or scrape them, of course. The pans are heavy, though, so you'd have to evaluate your dc's ability to move them safely.

Are you sure the store won't take them back? I've known people who returned things at stores with the tags off, and they were accepted back. If that's your first choice, call to find out!

You just described it! I get past it in several different ways. Honestly, I think the most important one is to be sure I'm doing well in the other areas of my life - God, friends, sleep, exercise, food, etc. If I am, I seem to be better prepared to have a good attitude toward homeschooling. As far as how to improve things in school, we may shake up the schedule a bit, add in something fun, do a project, let the dc plan the school day, etc. The best day I had last year was when we scrapped the plans for the day and did a one-day unit study on Africa, simply because the dc were excited about a movie they had seen. It made us all feel better. I hope you find just the right key for you!

:iagree: I used to have a motion detector alarm on my apartment door when I was single, and it made me feel much safer. When I travelled I attached it to hotel doors with velcro tape. I would seriously make calls tomorrow in an attempt to find someone who can help you fix your lighting situation. You need the broken one fixed, of course, which you can take care of yourself, but you also need motion detector lights. I'd get one for every side of the house, if possible. Also, I would call the police department before it gets dark to ask them to make extra passes by your home because of having trespassers in your yard two nights in a row. Do you, by any chance, remember the name of the helpful officer that called your ex when you had a problem before? Maybe he would be able to help you with this. Praying for you right now. :grouphug:

I'd like to know what kind of instruction they provide - lectures, explanations of how to do homework problems, or what? Thanks for any information you can provide!

Many men have really bushy eyebrows that they trim every month or two to keep neat. If they stop trimming, the eyebrows grow bushier. There are special clippers for facial hair.

Do you let your children catch/find their own pets (amphibians, reptiles, insects, etc.) or do you require that they purchase their pets from pet stores? I was surprised at the strong feelings some friends had on this issue and wondered how you all dealt with this question.

Yes. I avoid getting together with her when the dc are present.

How would I react if my neighbors did this in real life? I'd wonder what drugs they were taking! LOL! We have very different political opinions (evidenced by our conflicting yard signs), but we like each other well enough. We do favors for each other, share garden produce, keep an eye out when the other is vacationing, etc. You don't mess with that kind of neighborly relationship by getting pushy about politics, or much of anything else, for that matter.

If you don't have a friend who knows how to fix wiring, I would talk with the owner and/or manager of your local hardware store. They would probably be able to help you figure out what you need to make this work.

Just wanted to chime in here.... If your cat fights while you are trying to clean her, it may help to put her in the shower with you. If you wear a couple of thick sweatshirts for her to grasp with her claws, she'll cling to you while you soap her and rinse her. I had a cat once that wouldn't let me do any cleaning on him at all unless it was in the shower.

:iagree:

I taught in a state university for three years, a private college for one year, and private elementary and middle schools for thirteen years. No education degree or certification, although I did take a number of education courses before I realized I didn't need certification to teach where I wanted to teach. Advanced degrees carry a lot of weight with private schools and colleges, but teaching certification is optional.

Have you all seen this one? It gave me a chuckle!

I'm going to a dinner party and I get to bring dessert for 14. Fine, except that there are food allergies to accomodate: no chocolate, no milk-based products, no coconut, no soy, and no oats. Even though it isn't essential, just for myself I'd like to avoid or reduce the amount of sugar, too (honey would be fine). Does such a recipe exist? What would you make?

Is there something like this? Something all in one book, with lots of detail, that I can use with all my elementary-aged children? Something with color photos and easy-to-read text that doesn't talk down to children? Young earth, or at least from a Christian perspective? Even if your idea doesn't fit all of these criteria, please share the best you've found! Thanks! (I should add that the easy-to-read text is for me - something that doesn't have miniscule type!)

LOL! I'll remember this one! I suspect it will come in handy! I'm glad your dd finally got her tooth filled and that you were able to help her through the process!

Praying for all of you.

Mold can cause all kinds of physcial reactions. Chemical sensitivities can happen with multiple chemicals, even ones that have never been a problem before. Is there someplace else you and your dc could stay for a week or so to clear out your systems, then go back to test it?

Do you think you will be moving? If you did, would you still be in the Skylands area? If not, I'd pick something that won't change with the move. I like all of the options except Country Day School. Your school is more of a boarding school, isn't it? ;)

I do it while the oldest dc are in an activity without me. If that doesn't happen, I go later in the evening on a night my dh can be home with all of them. I used to go early on Saturday morning, but that made our Saturday morning activities feel too rushed. Oops - Forgot to add, I go to the grocery store once a week and I hit a farmer's market once a week.

Look at your schedule. Is there a time when the older ones are able to work independently? Do they have a silent reading time? Take advantage of that time to spend it with your little one. Another option - does the little one have to wait while the older ones are involved in an activity? Use that time to read stories, play games, etc. As long as you make it a time for just the two of you, it will be special to that child, whenever it is!

I usually eat my lunch while I'm preparing the dc's lunch. While they eat, I read aloud to them.

Someone forwarded this to me today, but I don't have any chocolate or oil in the house, so I can't try it. I thought maybe some of you chocolate lovers might like to try it to see if it works. The email was titled "The Most Dangerous Chocolate Cake Recipe in the World" because you can have cake in only five minutes! :) Let us know if it works, and if it doesn't, I'm sorry! 5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE 1 MicrowaveableCoffee Mug 4 tablespoons flour(that's plain flour, not self-rising) 4 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons baking cocoa 1 egg 3 tablespoons milk 3 tablespoons oil 3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional) Small splash of vanilla Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well . Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (This can serve 2 if you want to share!)

Bad day. Spacey dc. Grouchy mommy. Sick cat. That about sums it up. Just had to tell someone. Thanks. :crying: