I think it's our desire to be helpful to others. If we find something that helps us, we want to share it with those who may need something similar. Because so many of us have found the typical, modern American diet to be harmful to our health, we seek out alternatives.

We tried the fluoride treatments at the dentist, but they are so overwhelming that the dc do swallow, and the other option of the paint-on kind certainly gets swallowed. No more fluoride treatments, and the dentist and hygienists don't care.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: I'm impressed with your once-a-month efforts! I do it once a year in the early fall, right before the dust mites hatch. The rest of the year it's covered with a dust ruffle and the space is filled up with boxed items we rarely need. If the stuff weren't stored there, I'd use the Roomba.

I make sure that my fidgety dc gets exercise before being expected to sit still. It helps tremendously. Also, if your dd is just sitting to listen, I would let her mess with a pencil, as long as she doesn't poke her sister with it. If she's supposed to be working, she should be working. I do let my fidgety one chew gum while working - just having the mouth moving is often enough. However, if your dd really needs to move, and it sounds like she does, you might consider getting her one of those bouncy balls as a seat. Either the kind with a handle (a hippity-hop, if you are old enough to remember that name :)), or maybe put the ball inside a floating ring to keep it one spot. I know several people whose dc use those to work, and it helps them get in the small movement they need to concentrate without disturbing others.

:iagree: My niece's name is very similar to my sister's, and it has caused a lot of confusion. If she had a nickname that were very different, it would have alieviated the problem. Definitely, don't give your dc a name that could lead to teasing! If you've already thought if it, you know some mean kid will, too!

Wow! I just checked, and although dh and I don't have any money listed there, two cousins and an uncle do! Thanks for sharing the info!

If you peruse the TT posts, you'll find someone mentioned yesterday that they went with Lial's Introductory Algebra and that it had a video tutor, as well. The cost was much less. You might take a look to see if you could find that used. Your library system might even have the book, so you could get an idea of the difficulty. There's also Beginning Algebra by Lial, though I don't remember the distinction between the two.

What is a reasonable consequence for a child who purposely ignores a sibling who is talking to him or her?

And even though it may filter out a full-length photo of a nude person, it may not filter out photos of just certain nude parts engaged in certain activities. Googling for photos of archeological finds taught me that. Yuck. I, too, have it set to the highest security level.

I was just looking at their home ec materials for my dd and saw this for boys. Has anyone used it? What did you like/dislike? Did your ds work though it on his own or did you or your dh help him?

A friend just sent this link to me. I've never heard of it. Does anyone here have any experience with this? http://www.edudps.com/

Another option you probably already own: Microsoft Outlook. You can set alarms to go with a schedule on the calendar. It doesn't work if the computer is off, of course, but it will ring to let you know it's time for something else. You'd have to look at the screen to find out what. If you had speakers attached it might be loud enough for all over the house, but I don't know. I think the voice recordings would be even better, but I don't think that could be done with Outlook. Anyway, Outlook has helped keep us on schedule, so I thought I'd share.

Are your parents in the US? Can you even take it over the border into Canada? I'm not sure how thoroughly they check for stuff like that, but I'd hate to lose it to border patrol, KWIM? Personally, I wouldn't want it. I'd urge the parents to take it to an antiques dealer to sell!

I had parts of speech and mechanics instruction in elementary school, but it didn't stick. In junior high, I had some instruction, but the teacher spent most of the time telling jokes, so I didn't get it. Finally, in 10th grade, I took a grammar class from the "meanest" teacher in the district. She was strict. She made us work hard. We diagrammed sentences and memorized grammatical terms by making note cards with 100+ terms defined, with examples. She tested us weekly. I finally got it. When I took a rhetoric class with her as a senior, a significant part of our grades was determined by how well we followed the grammar rules in our writing. I am very grateful for what she taught, and I look forward to relearning what I've forgotten as my dc cover it!

I've BTDT! So sorry you are having a hard time of it this week. I'm praying that God will give you the comfort and assurance you need!

This was my reaction after watching several lessons online, but my dc loved it! I do plan to purchase it this year. My dc needs the repetition in math, and if this way seems more fun, fine. It will be worth every penny!

ETA: Thanks for your prayers!

Those of you who have used level 2 for middle school, did it seem rigorous enough? Also, if you used it with 2 dc at the same time, did the younger one get left in the dust? Any frustrations with doing it together? Did you have to read everything aloud for them to be able to do this, or did they read it individually and then just do the experiments together? TIA!!!

I live in the midwest in a medium-sized city. I'm an introvert, and most of my neighbors are even more so. It took awhile to get to know people! We've lived here 13 years, and I've spoken to the lady across the street a total of three times. She just doesn't want to talk - she gets very nervous if we try to start a conversation, so now we just wave. After a couple of years, the extremely introverted next door neighbors warmed up to us a bit. Our kids (the extroverts) talk to them all the time over the fence as they work in their yard, and they've come to be good friends. We are friendly to each other, but I woudn't call us friends - just good neighbors.

I don't know. Could be. Or, it could just be a mid-life crisis. I used to work with a lady that took off like that. Everyone thought she must have been abducted, because she seemed so stable and reliable, but she just... drove... away. It was bizarre, but she turned out to be fine, and in a way I understood. I feel like just driving away sometimes, too! ;) I'm glad your pastor is safe. I hope he manages to work out his problems and that all ends well.

I PM'ed you! :)

Grahanm crackers spread with chocolate frosting and made into sandwiches. Okay, not just one, an entire sleeve of them. Okay, maybe the whole box.... ;) Good thing I don't actually buy this stuff or I'd be in trouble!

When my cd didn't work the first time I tried it, I went to their website to contact them, and in the FAQ section I found the answer explaining how to make it work. Maybe there is an errata answer, too.

Lightening Literature does look great! I'll have to consider this!

It took increasing my page requirements in ETC and changing the way we read together. First, I had to find an extremely easy book that thrilled this dc (based on topic). Then, I had to read the whole thing, so dc was familiar with the story. Next, I would read a page, then have dc read the same page. This went on for quite awhile. Then, I would read a page, and dc would read another page. That lasted a long time, too. It was hard work, but eventually, dc could read the whole book to me. We read other easy things, too, of course, but being able to read this "wonderful" book really increased dc's confidence and willingness to try. I had started to think dyslexia was the problem, but it doesn't seem to be so.