Most of our writing experience has been with WWE, so I am unsure what to do about this. Last year (4th grade) I tried to throw in one of the elementary Killgallon books. That did not go over well at all, so I stopped it pretty early and just went back to WWE4 for the rest of the year. But now he's 5th grade and I feel he needs something different, and am waiting for 6th to do WWS. So I got a couple of the middle school Killgallon books and plan to alternate that with trying to do WTM style writing across the curriculum. (I also have the first couple W&R books and offered to let him take the online class for that instead, but he does not want to.) DS pretty much hates writing anything, looks for shortcuts, etc. So the only thing that seems to make it more bearable for him is to write about cute things. Namely, bunnies. So, most of his imitation sentences are about bunnies. And it's getting a bit repetitive, which seems to be not the point. Now, if he were doing the imitations well, it would not bother me so much. But there are only so many times he can write about bunnies nibbling grass or eating carrots or hopping. But choosing bunnies as the subject of almost every sentence seems to be limiting his ability to do the imitations. A couple days ago he actually did a sentence about sharks, and the imitation was practically perfect. I was quite impressed. I've suggested that it might be easier to do the imitations if he were to change the subject depending on the sentence. But he wants them all to be about bunnies. So my question is, do I let him write about only one thing? It doesn't seem right to me, I feel like I should limit him to only one bunny sentence per set, but at the same time I don't know if it matters. (Also, I feel like this is one of the silliest questions ever.)

I had some chocolate put aside, so I gave him some chocolate and he burst into tears because he thought he didn't deserve it. (I know, snacks are usually something healthy, but it really seemed like a chocolate moment!) But I think his mood is picking up some. We took a short walk this morning before starting school, but it's still rainy and gross outside. We had flash flooding last night, and this morning we went down the street to watch them pump the little lake before it overflowed the road.

Time: 9-10:15am Who: 10.5 year old DS What: Mind Benders Level 3 and Right Start Geometry The Mind Benders is new this year, so he was just doing the third page today. I helped him with the first two earlier this week but I still pretty much had to talk him through the one today, and remind him to mark off the rest of the column and row after he found a match. There was much whining involved, and he wanted to mark that the dog was named Rover (because all Rovers are dogs, don't you know?) without even reading the clues first. (The dog was not named Rover btw.) For those not familiar, RightStart Geometry is written to the student, so they're supposed to be able to read the lesson and do it on their own. He is on lesson 38 so this is nothing new to him. He was supposed to draw two figures in the boxes provided, then cut them out. The problem here is he did not read the directions in order. He skipped to #2 where it said to cut it out, so he cut out the boxes. #1 told him what to draw first. When he realized his mistake, he freaked out, whined, threw his pencil on the table, pouted, and said he was bad. I said we can just use some washi tape to hold it in place while he draws his figures. THEN he couldn't figure out how to draw the lines on the points given, "because it looks different from the picture." Well of course it does, you haven't drawn anything yet. He still couldn't figure out what to do. (The first step was just drawing horizontal lines on the points given, he's been done many things in Rightstart much more difficult than that.) His brain is obviously not on. He says he is grumpy. (Yeah, the attitude came out this morning.) It's now 10:30. He's still sitting there doing RightStart. I think it's going better now, but I'm still wondering if he's even learning anything or if this is all just a waste of time right now.

Just as a note about color, purple and orange/coral actually go together pretty well. I'm generally not a fan of orange, and putting purple with it is about the only thing that makes it tolerable to me. (I even bought a purse this summer that is purple and orange stripes, with blue accents...it's very bright and summery.) It sounds like she is just doing color blocking!

I totally didn't look at the date when I replied. Oops. But my DS has been talking about Halloween for months already (it's one of his favorite holidays) so it does not seem weird to me at all, heh.

I totally didn't look at the date when I replied. Oops. But my DS has been talking about Halloween for months already (it's one of his favorite holidays) so it does not seem weird to me at all, heh.

10 year old DS is going to be Indominus Rex. He originally wanted to be Godzilla for the third year in a row, but I did not want to look for a third Godzilla costume after having two different Godzilla costumes in the past two years.

This is the kind of thing I was looking for... but I have a question if anyone knows anything about History Odyssey Level 2? On this link it shows History Odyssey lessons up to 86... but when I look at the table of contents on the sample at Pandia Press, it only shows lessons up to 72. Where are lessons 73-86? Was there a different version? I don't own History Odyssey, just looking at the first 21 lessons on the sample right now, and I don't know if I'm going to get it, but I thought a few things from it might be useful even if we don't use the whole program.

If the new flat monthly fee for each smartphone replaces the monthly line access for each phone, then we'll save money. And for data, we'll either get 2 extra GB for the same price, or go down and pay a bit less for a little less data. The only thing I'm not looking forward to is paying the full price of the phone outright, especially since both DH and I are going to get new phones later this year.

FitFlops are the only shoes that don't hurt my feet for long, 10 day Disney trips...lots of walking. This is the style I'm talking about (I actually have these) http://www.zappos.com/fitflop-novy-black Something blingy to go with a sundress (or shorts...or anything. Bling is good!) The part between the toes is very smooth and supple and nonirritating...I didn't like wearing flipflops before these. And there's nothing to rub and give blisters. They have other styles as well, but I've never bought them, so can't give feedback. I'd just read reviews.

Just wanted to update for the people who responded to me. Dad has been pulling weeds, and luckily it hasn't been too terribly hot outside. He is still planning to fast for two days for his flight this upcoming week. He talked about it again today and I said again that I don't like that and it doesn't make me happy, and asked if he would at least do something like Ensure but he refuses. He just looks so frail and I can see bones where I shouldn't be able to see bones. He's also said before a couple times that it makes him feel weak, which doesn't seem like a good thing to me. Yet today he said it makes him feel good. So I guess his mind is set. As for me, I've been sleeping (mostly), and I'm taking my vitamins again, which probably helps.

I belong to a couple nail polish groups on Facebook, and in one of them (a very active group) they had to ban any talk about Jamberry because consultants would randomly jump on any post and start talking up Jamberry and offering free samples. They were very pushy and it would cause arguments. Now, people can still post their mani pics if they use Jamberry, but otherwise it is a taboo subject and it's all because of the way the consultants are taught to sell. Now, I haven't ever tried them so I don't have any opinion on how well they work, but I also have no interest in them. I love my nail polish and doing occasional nail art with nail polish and change my nails every 2-3 days. Any longer and I get bored with what I'm wearing. But I did hate it when someone would post their mani pic with cute (though not always perfect) nail art done with nail polish, and then someone would come along and say how much better it would be if they just used Jamberry. What a horrible thing to say to someone who might just be practicing some new-to-them nail art technique. So if a person likes Jamberry and it works for them, great, have fun, show off your mani if you want. I've seen some cute ones. Just don't pressure or mani-shame those who prefer actual nail polish. (I know I'm preaching to the choir here.)

I only have one, so I don't have the escalating business, but my 5th grade DS has been humming seemingly constantly since he was 3. He hums while he eats. He hums in the bathroom. If he's not humming, he's tapping or fiddling with something that makes noise. Lots of times I can ignore it, but sometimes it drives me crazy. Sometimes I just need 5 minutes of quiet. Sometimes he's too busy humming to focus on what he's supposed to be doing. No advice. Just, I hear ya.

He was told a while back that he doesn't have celiac, but I don't know how thorough that conclusion was. He has IBS, but that it wasn't Crohn's, but it was like Crohn's, and in the past couple years he's taken to actually calling it Crohn's, but I don't think that's the official diagnosis? He has some other things going on too. It's hard because all I can do is suggest things that he talk to his doctor about.

I don't have any siblings, so it's all on me to deal with this. My dad lives in the same area as one of his brothers, a sister-in-law, and a bunch of nieces and nephews, but they have their own problems and aren't exactly looking out for him. He also lives in a more moderate climate, and I live in the midwest, which he has lived in before and he doesn't like the temperature extremes. So while we are going to mention to him about him maybe moving out here, I'm thinking he's not going to want to do that. I'm just feeling powerless to help much.

Sometimes I'm good about taking my vitamins, sometimes I'm..not. Yeah I've been forgetting lately. Thanks for reminding me. I'll start with that. But otherwise no, I'm not really a pill taker. I did say if I got weird symptoms again (like I did in May) that I would go back to the doctor, but I haven't yet. Right now I'm acknowledging the stress, and, well, talking. I do feel much better to be able to talk about it. Thanks.

We do have problems with weeds, but even the year that I thought we barely had any weeds and there would be nothing for him to do, he still found plenty of weeds to pull to keep him occupied. I don't know what gives. He just wants to do yard work I guess. So what I'm saying is he keeps finding stuff to do. But yeah. I'm worried about heat stroke. Maybe I can get him to stop earlier.

Heartlikealion, maybe you're right about me not complaining loudly enough about the weeds, but when I said stuff about it last year, he said that's why he's doing it in the morning when it's cooler, and it doesn't bother him, but sometimes he's out there until 1 or 2 in the afternoon and it's pretty warm by then. I do make sure he has water. We do play games and stuff when he's inside, sometimes he'll randomly take out the trash, or we'll go out to do things around town, but it's all on his schedule. I mostly sit around waiting for him to be ready to do something. The whole fasting before the flight thing... He went out to visit his sisters a month ago and he did the same thing, and I *did* complain loudly, several times (even though I found out after the fact), especially when he said it made him feel weak, and complained again before he came out here, but he is determined not to eat before flying. He gave the excuse that his weight was the same at the doctor's so that his fasting didn't cause a problem. I hope he'll eat something at least the day before he leaves next week. I will suggest the shake if nothing else, thanks. I just don't have high hopes of him agreeing to it. And yeah, I think he is staying hydrated at least.

Forgive me, I don't post much. But it's after 2am and I don't have anyone to talk to at the moment, so I decided to see what you all have to say. Well, I'm not asleep even though I was tired all day (from not sleeping much the past couple days) and I figure it's because I'm stressed. My dad is visiting; he got here a couple days ago and is staying for the next week or so. He lives half the country away so I only see him once a year. He has multiple health problems; one is being treated and should be cured soon, most of the others center around his digestive system and will not necessarily get better, the focus seems to be management. Anyway. He is mostly skin and bones. He has had problems gaining/maintaining weight for a few years now, but it just seems worse. Because he does not want to feel bad on the airplane, he is not eating the day of or the day before his flight. The whole situation distresses me. And now he wants to go out in the heat for several days on end and pull weeds in my yard. He does not have a yard where he lives and claims he likes doing the work; he has been pulling weeds when he visits for years now. And while I thank him, I've told him before that it is not necessary, but I think he likes to feel useful. But I don't like to think of him being all skin and bones and pulling weeds in the heat. I feel bad, because when he is at his home, I get to stick my head in the sand for 6 days a week, and then on the 7th day he calls me and tells me all about his latest doctor visit or health concern in great detail. I worry about him being so far away and living alone. If something happens I'm not sure I'll know what to do. I know he wrote down and gave me all his insurance info about 10 years ago or more, but we've moved a couple times since then, and while it is in a "safe" place, I don't remember exactly which safe place I put it. Plus he is technologically challenged, so if he needs to do something online like look up a doctor or view his test results he has to call me up so I can do it for him. I am grateful for each visit, truly, but last year's visit and this year's is stressing me out. Let's back up a bit. In May my mom visited, and the day she left I started getting weird symptoms. I know I was worried about her getting home safely (7+ hour drive). I hate it when people are out on the road, and my husband takes many road trips for work. He is away this week on one as well. Anyway, in May I went to the doctor when I started getting weird symptoms, they did a few tests including checking thyroid, and I was told everything was fine, that I was just stressed or experiencing anxiety. After about a week the symptoms went away and I've been okay since, although a few times at the beginning I had to talk myself out of it. I'm not a great sleeper to begin with, and I've always had night owl tendancies, so here I am, awake and not tired. So here I am. I'm worried about my dad, my husband, general money worry, and I haven't even ordered the last half of our homeschooling curriculum yet, not to mention we haven't finished a couple books from last year yet either, although it's close. (SOTW4, I'm looking at you.) I KNOW that many people are dealing with much worse, and that I should be grateful, and I am, I just don't know how to stop it from affecting me. Frankly, putting this out there is making me feel silly and whiny, but it's also making me feel better to type it out. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. Any tips or words of wisdom about dealing with stress will be appreciated. Edit: Oh, and teeth. Both of my parents haven't been to a dentist in many years, due to money, and they've both started to lose a tooth or two. My teeth are fine, but I go to the dentist. But I can't even tell you how many bad dreams I've had over the years about losing teeth, so my parents losing teeth does not sit well at all. Not to mention I wonder if all this health stuff means anything for me or my child down the line.

I tried ETC1 with my son around that age too, and it did NOT go well. It was too much writing. He had enjoyed the beginning books (Get Ready, Get Set, and Go for the Code) so I had thought he'd like ETC1 too. Nope. So I dropped it. He didn't really need it anyway. He was getting handwriting practice through HWT, so I let that be his only writing, aside from the occasional math page. (FWIW, he still doesn't like writing. I guess some things never change. But as he's starting 5th grade in the fall, it's different now. But that's another story.)

I'm not sure what he does lately. He used to give up and play a different game. Not sure if he's learned to persevere yet; I'll have to ask DH. The game systems are downstairs and DH usually monitors that, cause the noise drives me nuts after a while.

Yep, this is exactly how he responds. He doesn't care if he's strong or healthy. One day he'll see reason...right?

Thanks, I do need to remember this.

So many good replies in this thread, it's hard to reply to them all. I only say he has some perfectionist tendancies because I am a perfectionist myself. For example, he's pretty good at math, except for sometimes rushing and making careless mistakes, but because he normally gets things pretty easily, if he looks at a problem and doesn't immediately know the answer (especially when it's a multi-step problem), sometimes he'll freak out right then and say he can't do it. He wants to be able to see the answer right away, and he feels dumb when he doesn't immediately know the answer. I have had many conversations about how struggling with a problem is actually good for his brain, and how some problems are supposed to be challenging even for people who are good at math. Believe me, I've had many conversations about the strong brain thing, and he'll just reply he doesn't care if his brain is strong.

I wanted to reply to this, and also Farrar who suggested I should sit with him while he works. I usually do sit with him as much as possible, it helps keep him on track. But yesterday when this happened, I had to take a call from my dad, who just got a smartphone for the first time and who has no idea how to use it to even do the most basic things, so I knew I needed to take the call, because he's been having trouble even making calls. So I had to help my dad for an hour, and I went in the other room so DS could concentrate on his work. Now, to DS's credit, while I was on the phone, he filled out one of the SOTW4 preprinted outlines from the activity book for the first half of the chapter completely on his own while I was on the phone. But he was also supposed to finish the essay question from the previous chapter, something he was supposed to finish over the weekend, but he never did it. So I let him pick which order he wanted to do those in. By the time I got off the phone, probably 10-15 minutes had passed since he left his work. Usually I try to give feedback much sooner. I think the main problem I'm trying to address here, is the reactions and attitude that happens when I'm correcting his work. He does NOT like to be wrong, I think he has some perfectionist tendencies, which I understand. I mentioned this in another thread, but sometimes when I am correcting his work, and he is watching me, and I start to mark something wrong, he will freak out and start yelling, "It's right! It's RIGHT! I know it's right!" Then I have to get him to stop freaking out before he will listen to me as we go over it and find out where he made a mistake. The second problem is he does not like to write or even answer things verbally in complete sentences. He CAN, he just doesn't like to because "it's too much work." He likes to tell me that he is lazy. I should probably amend my original statement here and say he does not love to learn, when it requires any amount of effort on his part. This is the kid, who, at age 5, while I was holding his hand while walking down the stairs at a museum, I was reminding him to alternate his feet (as he usually would lead with the same foot all the time) and he exclaimed, "I hate the life of learning!" I have many, many examples like this that are not related to school work at all, if anyone is interested, but I won't clog up this post with them right now.