To understand why she ignores Wolf, you can read Harpy's Child.

Read The Wizard of Oz and Other Narcissists!

Well I got together with my friend and we pow-wowed about what might be a solid approach I can stick with since it's still early in the year (even though we've been doing stuff since July, technically it's the start of a new year). She loves all about spelling herself and uses it with her children. She's also used Saxon phonics and used Ordinary Parents Guide to, in her words, condense the wordiness of Saxon for the scripting. We talked about where my son is now (her son struggled to read too) and her suggestion is to start with Saxon Phonics 2 (since he knows the basics that make up the first section review before going into the learning material) and keep doing all about spelling since it's working for him. She has all the books and materials and said all I need to do is replace the two workbooks and return the cards/teacher's manual, since she won't need them for about two years (her next child will use it). What do you all think of Saxon Phonics? When I was looking through it, it does look like starting my son on 2 would work. It looks pretty teacher intensive. Does anyone have any experience with this? I think I do need to find something (besides all about spelling) that I'm going to be able to stick with, that has a good pace for the lessons and that has practice, Saxon seems to have that, but is there anything else out there to consider if I'm going to wipe the slate clean and do a full phonics program?

A host of things, from very scary (brain tumor) to less scary (endocrine), to lifelong (mental health disorder) to treatable (chemical imbalance), to it being just a phase too. I wasn't going to post this as it's personal in nature, but unfortunately you also can't rule out that she's been abused and this is her way of crying out for help. Not that I think that would be your family members, but our cousins daughter did almost the same thing and had been abused (sexually) at 4 by a family friend. She started acting out (lies, manipulation, etc.) at 5, and it took two years to get it out of her what happened and it was devastating to the family. She's been in therapy now for five years and is doing much better.

I hate to say this, but are you sure she wasn't lying? She's obviously keenly aware of how the adults around her are responding, so is she remorseful or is she aware she needs to show you something that seems remorseful? What a sticky situation your family is in, so sorry!

"best by April 2011" It's fine, as long as the can and seams are intact and there are no dents. The "best by" doesn't mean it's spoiled, expired or bad, just that it was "best by" the date, but after the date it should still be totally okay to eat.

I hear ya! When I had him read it first, never seen before, he was upset. I assured him it's okay, just take your time, sound the words out, and we'll then read it together if he wanted. He really didn't want to read it on his own first, but he did it and struggled a bit, but did it. So at least I know that he's not just memorizing and can't read or sound out the words. I can see though that while he can read, we need to slow down so he can gain some fluency. With my reading to him first, I think I artificially inflated his speed, but certainly not the fluency. I'm hoping if we slow down a bit, that will help and he'll become more confident. I was looking at some options online today and found a program that looks interesting. Has anyone used Recipe for Reading? What do you think?

Last night I sat down with the All About Spelling books (I have level 1 and level 2 in hand) and realized much of what we have gotten through takes us to Level 2, Step 12, so I think I'm going to continue with All About Spelling and concentrate on that with him, adding readers to match the lessons and take it slowly to give him a lot of reading practice. A friend is going to loan me her Ordinary Parents Guide, so I'll look that over. She suggested that I line that up with the spelling, use the chapters as they match instead of going through from start to finish, to reinforce and explain more each rule. If it looks like that might help, I'll order a copy of that too. I so wish that there was a step-by-step guide to help parents figure out how to teach reading. Something like, this concept usually takes this long, then this concept takes that long on average. I have no idea how fast or slow he should be learning or how fast or slow we should move through the material!

Except that if you're not at or very near 10 (as I was with my first) and start pushing, you can run into some serious complications! I had serious urge to push and was only at 6, if I'd "listened" to my body and pushed, pushed, pushed it would have been a nightmare!

...shhhh Don't tell the Roman Catholic Church that Latin is dead!

I'll play devil's advocate, but will first say I do think 50 push-ups is excessive, especially for a 5-year old. My son just turned seven and has, on occasion, been late to karate. His sensei, on the first class explained to all the importance of being on time and that when you're late, you will do "overtime" for the time late, and in that time do push-ups, jumping jacks, etc. for the time you owe him. My son started karate when he was six, and for weeks was not late. Then, one afternoon, he was dilly-dallying and wound up 10-minutes late to the class. I'm pretty sure I looked harried walking in, but he was not late because I made him late, he made himself late. So, not all instances of late are the adults fault. And on that occasion, yes, he did 20 push-ups, 30 jumping jacks, 10 squats and some other stuff that took ten minutes. The second time he dilly-dallied and was six minutes late, same thing, he did his overtime. It only took his sensei two times to reinforce the rule to be on time, my son has never been late since from his own actions. The one time since that he was late and it was my fault, he was five minutes late and I let his sensei know it was my fault and guess what? His sensei wanted me to do push-ups and jumping jacks...and, ya know what? I did do it, to show my son why, barring an emergency, it is important to plan in advance and manage time so you're not late. That's just me though.

People tend to be more receptive to direction when you tell them what they can do, instead of what they can't do and when you explain things rather than make demands; does that make sense? Here is what I'd do instead, if it were me: Do not offer any kind of drugs (epidural, pitocin,etc...) If I need pain medication, please be assured I will say so; you may offer suggestions for position and movement that may help if I appear in pain; and if I ask, then provide suggestions for pain relief medication options. No IV, but willing to have it prepared You may place a hep-lock in case of an emergency; please do not administer any IV fluids and/or antibiotics before we discuss and agree first; unless I or the baby are in distress, I would like to have access to clear fluids orally, ad libitum (side note: if you're colonized with Group B strep, they will want you to have IV antibiotics during labor to avoid transmission to the baby) No "helping along" the birthing process (no breaking water, etc...) If you feel I need to have anything to help the process along, like stripping or rupturing membranes, let's discuss and agree first; I would prefer to avoid the use of labor stimulants like pitocin. Ask me if I want to be checked instead of telling me to be checked. You may check progression on our agreed to time line, which we'll discuss and agree to when I am admitted for labor and delivery I want to be able to move around as I feel the need to. You may monitor when needed, then remove the equipment so that I may move around as needed. No controlled pushing. I want to push when I feel the need to. Please let me know when I have reached 10-centimeters so that I may begin pushing as I feel the need to push; I would prefer to avoid controlled pushing if I can. After birth: Daddy will cut umbilical cord When the baby has emerged, I would like my husband to cut the cord. Hold baby right away for at least an hour Once baby is cleaned off on the OHIO, please allow me to hold her for at least the first hour to initiate breastfeeding. No bath for baby (why? do you want to do this or...?) No Hep B vaccine As I am and my husband is negative for HepB, the baby will not receive the HepB vaccination following birth or before release from the hospital. Baby will be breastfed ONLY, do not give pacifiers, formula, sugar water, etc... Breastfeeding is very important for me, so please do not give the baby a pacifier, formula, sugar water or any other fluids orally unless we discuss and agree beforehand. Baby will be with me at all times I would like the baby to room in with me, so please ask before taking to the nursery. If the baby needs to go to the nursery, I or my husband would like to accompany her there and back.

Fat cells remain as they expand and contract depending on whether you're burning fat or storing fat. When you're "burning fat" for energy, you're liberating "free fatty acids" (FFA) from within the fat cell to use as energy. When you're "storing fat", you're pushing free fatty acids (FAA) into the fat cell for storage.

Jews & Christians = People of the Book Non-believers = other people (religions) who haven't learned of Islam Kaffir = those who reject Islam, a disbeliever (Jews & Christians are not kaffir since they're people of the book) The term "infidel" is from the latin "infidelis" (‘not’ + ‘faithful’), and originally denoted a person of a religion other than one's own, specifically a Christian of a Muslim (believed to originate as a term/word during the Crusades).

Yes, it is the same God, Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, in the same line as Judaism and Christianity. Muslims believe in Adam & Eve, Moses, Abraham, Noah, Salomon, and all the others in the Old Testament, the believe Jesus was a prophet and is the Messiah (that he will return, just like a Christian does), and the believe that Muhammad is a prophet who came after Jesus. They also believe in the angels, satan (shatan), heaven and hell and that Mary was a virgin and Jesus was born miraculously. They also believe in the miracles of Jesus throughout his life. They do not baptize children and do not baptize themselves as adults. They do not believe in original sin, and Eve is not held as responsible for their banishment from the Garden, they share the blame equally. They do not believe Jesus died at the crucifixion, but Jesus was taken up by God, to heaven and will return again. The quran does say that his disciples saw him, in flesh and blood, before he rose to heaven. Any of our Muslim posters can correct if I got anything wrong!