For example, couldn't you just as easily say that the rise in ADHD is due to fluoride in the public water supply? Events that happen at approximately the same time are not necessarily cause-and-effect. For example, "More people have pollen allergies in 2008 than ever before. People spend more time on computers than ever before. Therefore, pollen allergies are exacerbated by the light emanating from computer monitors." My opinion, for what it's worth, is that ADD & ADHD is largely due to preservatives and artificial colors/flavorings in children's food. That is just because I observe the worst behavior in the children that eat stuff like Cheetos and bright blue yogurt made of chemicals instead of milk. And the children that eat real food seem calmer and more able to control themselves. But mine is no more scientific than yours.....what does everyone else think? Julie

Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, Smilla's Sense of Snow, and the Shipping News. The last two are quite old, but if you haven't read them they are wonderful. I just have to add that I tried to read Karen Armstrong's newest book, "The Bible: A Biography" on the beach in Mexico. Great book, wrong venue. She demands one's full attention, with no shimmering waves or margaritas. julie

My son likes Aesop a lot, but probably wouldn't if I made him write the papers by hand. He writes them on the computer, with spell-check and grammar functions disabled, TYVM! We also watched the IEW DVD's between Aesop "A" and "B" and those tie in really nicely to Classical Writing. So if your child gets a little tired of Classical Writing, you can mix it up with IEW, especially if you have a friend with the DVD's or the student-directed program (which I can't recall the name of right now). My son is gifted in writing as well, and he put up with Growing with Grammar a lot more willingly than First Langage Lessons. For some reason, he was more tolerant of GWG. He is learning diagramming (and so am I). His Latin program also helps with grammar. Have fun in third grade. julie

You just need a drop of soap in a whole pile of washcloths, with around a cup of water? I can't remember where I got the washcloths, but they are super soft. Perhaps MotherEase? And I put them in a wipes warmer. Do they still make those things? Kind of a necessity come wintertime if you use this method. We also used paper wipes when we were out on the road, but never had as much success as with the washcloths. julie

If all of your 17 posts are this thoughtful and well-written, I am speechless. So. Yeah. Thanks. buddhabelly

No, this is not one of the ethics rules that an attorney must follow. buddhabelly

I used MotherEase diapers (soooo soft! with those convenient snaps) and I think I used their covers as well. The reason that I didn't like the all-in-ones is because it makes more laundry. You only have to wash the diaper covers every third change or so (depending!). With the all-in-ones, well, they are attached so you have to wash the cover as well. MotherEase diaper covers were waterproof cotton, with the cutest designs. I treasure the photos of my baby in those cute, soft diapers. And as far as stinky diapers, I agree with throwing the whole diaper as well as the cloth bag straight into the washer when you get home. Then you're only smelling it twice. I think I washed once for not-poopy diapers, twice for poopy ones. Then one rinse. I hung the covers to dry -- easy to do, and they dried soooo quickly. buddhabelly

Are all these allergies in the same child? If so, he/she is going to have a hard time negotiating the larger world in the future. My son was allergic to many, many things and we have solved the problem with something called NAET. You can Google "NAET allergies" to read more about it. I know it sounds goofy, but if your children's allergies are interfering with enjoyment of life or good health, it couldn't hurt to at least check it out. The practitioner could just talk to you and let you know if he/she could help. I'm sorry I don't know where "Newcastle" is (Britain?), but on the website there is a spot where you can check for practitioners in your area. The way we found out about it is that the little girl next door was cured of her allergies (severe) to wheat and dairy, and now she can eat whatever she wants. I am hoping that my son will now choose a wider variety of foods, but I'm not holding my breath about that. ;) Best of luck with finding solutions. buddhabelly

I was originally going to say "she's only in K" too, but I see everyone else has already mentioned that. You must have had some reason for starting her first grade year, though. So let me just say that there are not "huge holes" in her math education. In my son's K year at public school, they did almost no math. That's one reason he wanted to homeschool, LOL! I know you like the boxed curriculum, but one reason many of us can't do that is because our children work at different levels in different subjects. Since you started first grade with your dd, she must be working at that level in some subjects, but don't push her if she is not "wired" for math yet. Even one-to-one correspondence (necessary for counting objects) is not a given at very young ages. Sometimes you just need to wait, and then find that math is SO much easier because the child's brain is ready. May I just suggest one more curriculum? (Gee, buddhabelly, obviously you didn't read the thread title. :001_huh:) I think Right Start Math is just super for teaching mathematics well on a conceptual level. You could start with "B" and just breeze through it until you find where she should be. It is especially good for place value. JMHO. And since you really can't make good use of Right Start if you start it much later, I like to try to suggest it to parents of 5 or 6yos. If you are overwhelmed, just do math, reading/phonics and perhaps a handwriting program if she is ready. Good luck! Buddhabelly

I can hear your loving, caring voice. You must be a good writer because your "voice" comes across loud and clear. I must admit, though, the reason I originallyliked you was because I thought you were Drew's wife. I thought that because he used to post as "Mungo" a while back. I figured out my error pretty quickly. But now I just like you because of your posts. And that is my real life. Just a slice of it, but it is life. We are communicating. Or failing to, LOL, just as if you were on the phone with a friend or relative. I should insert a caveat here: my belief system might be swaying my answers to this thread. I would also say that if I was watching a movie or reading a book, that is "real life." I say that because for that moment that I am involved with those fictional characters, that is my reality. I could go further, but it would get way too Buddhist. (As in, ultimately, there is no "me" anyway. And no "you." Which makes compassion self-existing. Shall we just leave that alone? Yes, we shall.) buddhabelly

Hey, I object! I have skin! I do think this is real life. I could lie to you just as easily in person as on this forum. I choose not to. But I think if I was a liar here, I would be just as big a liar IRL and if I was good at it, you wouldn't know. Yes, I can't pretend to be a young, thin, blonde in real life, but I don't think weight and age are moral failings. I know people who do. :eek: I believe that one's character is the most relevant, and I believe that comes across fine in this forum. OK now, let me have it! buddhabelly

My son has done both Mindstorms and Microworlds. They are really different. For example, in Microworlds he just animated a story. However, they are also similar in that they teach how exacting one must be when programming. HTH!

Check out Cornelia Funke's books if he has not already read them: Dragonrider, Inkheart, Inkspell, Thief Lord. Again, happy reading!

He is being treated now with acupressure (the system is called NAET, if you want to Google it). We went to the naturopath because his eczema was worsening and spreading all over his body. But she is treating it this way (by eliminating his body's attack on various things). He tested allergic to B complex vitamins, so eliminating that allergy helped tremendously. He eats whole grains, which are rich in B complex. He also tested allergic to his braces and the fluoride rinse he was taking each day, so treating the braces and eliminating the fluoride rinse helped. Usually if one treats the nutrient allergies, the others (dust, mold, dander, pollen, laundry detergent) disappear. But if not, those can be treated individually. You can probably find a naturopath that uses this system somewhere in your area by looking at http://www.naet.com and clicking on "Find a Practitioner." Some people think it's really bizarre, but if you think of it as acupuncture without needles it's not so strange. I have a thorough education in Oriental medicine and meridian theory, so it was not too hard to accept. My son will probably have some scarring (his skin was that bad), but it is healed now and he can live a more normal life. I don't really want to debate the merits of this system, but I just wanted to share what has worked for us. Besides, I don't check the boards very often! Best of luck. Julie

Thanks for asking, because I completely forgot to put that in my post. It is best for second grade through fifth, in my mind. You can see samples at the website (Classical Academic Press). If you have children younger than second grade, they could participate orally. I am just so pleased it was published when my son was in third grade -- perfect level for him! Oops, we can't edit the subject lines. It is Bible for Children, not Latin for Children! Julie

Since he read it a few years back, why not just do Vol. 2 or 3? They are written more on his level. The series is kind of based on starting Vol. 1 in first grade, Vol. 2 in second, etc. Has he done much American history? If not, you might want to start in Vol. 3, where the fun begins for the American colonies. We supplement with "A history of US" and lots of books about early American history. Your mileage may vary! Have a great year. Julie

There is a wonderful book called "Whale Mail" by Ron Hirschi, illustrated by Evon Zerbetz (a Ketchikan artist whose work graces our walls). It is about a family that researches whales as they migrate from Hawai'i to Alaska (or vice versa, I can't recall). There are postcards from the youthful researchers to your child in the pockets of the book --- hence the title. I see that Ron Hirschi wrote another one about "what lives in the coral sea." I believe we've enjoyed that one as well. And since you've got a 3yo too (or is he 4 now?), you mustn't miss "Sally and the Limpet." One of my all-time favorites. And you might as well read "Dear Mr. Blueberry" too! Off to go look for "Sally and the Limpet in my son's closet now..... Oh, and we also enjoyed the Voyager's Stone but it is does not have quite the entertainment value as the others I've mentioned. Would be better for fourth or fifth grade, IMO. Oh, I just had to share that the "Pagoo" author and illustrator came to my second grade classroom to share his book, way back in 1969. I still remember that: wow, a real author! And he lives right here in my town! Julie

We did this last semester (8 yo) and my son loved it. The only one we couldn't do is the one with the banana because he can't stand the smell, taste or even the sight of them! The others worked fine, as I recall. His retention was good. We supplemented with readings from the Usborne book, Energy, Forces and Motion. I highly recommend the Usborne book and the RS4K Level 1 Physics.

I was going to suggest the Artemis Fowl books, but perhaps you should save that series until he is at least 11 or 12. They are not great literature, just highly entertaining. (Just as Harry Potter is not great literature and you would not necessarily want your child imitating the writing style of Rowling). So, instead, how about "Bridge to Terabithia?" I loved the writing in that book. Also "Tuck Everlasting", "A Wrinkle in Time," and "Phantom Tollbooth." Happy reading!

Mostly, I think my son is gifted because of the amazing things he builds out of Legos and K'nex. They always have a lot of moving parts and uh....I don't really know much about building, but also hydraulics and stuff. He was a very late walker, but would make pulleys and other machines even before he could walk. He was an early talker. I remember once changing his diaper while he talked about "tricks city." He was showing me how the "tricks city" comes in through the poles outside (which he could see from his changing table) and through those wires and then down to the light switch, and then up to the light. Ooooooh. Electricity. I seeeeeee. Now hold still while I get your diaper on! He loves Latin and logic puzzles. The way he solves math problems is not always the "usual" way, but is often clever and almost always correct. His reading comprehension is around 9th or 10th grade. I am way behind him on his reading list because he reads faster than I do. And I am a very fast reader! It has been interesting to see on this thread how many gifted children are highly sensitive. If your children are "picky" eaters, I would like to point out that this is related to sensitivity. It is a texture thing. Also, to the person who said that her child "has to" wash hands after every little mess: that is also part of the same issue. When a sensitive child's hands are the slightest bit dirty, it just drives them batty. My son will only wear seamless socks (Striderite -- online or in the store), cuts tags out, will only wear absolutely smooth clothes made of cotton, and hates "juicy" foods. Sigh. Apparently that includes all fruits and all vegetables except for carrots and steamed broccoli. My son is also gifted in music, which makes my dh and I very jealous because we are not so fortunate. He is playing in Suzuki Book 6 (violin) and continues to enjoy the violin. Do any of you with Suzuki violin players (or piano, or cello, or viola) go to the Oregon Suzuki Institute? This will be our fifth year. The children enjoy making friends with others who love music, and there are no TVs or video games! Julie

Latin for Children is excellent at teaching grammar to third graders, IMHO. It might be more fun than Henle. We are about 2/3 through "B" and while I get overwhelmed sometimes with the difficulty of Latin, my son always encourages me to keep on with it! :001_smile: We are also adding in Lingua Latina for some extra practice. My son is a third-grader, but very advanced in language arts and logic. We began in second grade with Minimus and Latin for Children "A". Minimus will not teach your child much Latin, but it is so. much. fun. Your children will be speaking Latin to each other way after "Latin" class is over, and they will be having a ball. Just my three cents. Julie

Robert Carnes, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. (Don't let the size of it throw you or him -- half of it is illustrations. Gorgeous illustrations.) I loved this book as much as my son did. If your son is sensitive, you might want to pre-read. The boy has a tough life. You might also point out that it really is fiction. (At the end of the book, the author says he is the boy all grown up.) Also, has he read the Tale of Despereaux? I am probably spelling that wrong. My son liked it for a lot of the same reasons that he liked the Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh books. One more: Finn Family Moomintrolls. There may be more than one in this series. And if he has studied Roman times, be sure he has discovered the Caroline Lawrence series: Pirates of Pompeii, Assassins of Rome, Secrets of Vesuvius, Theives of Ostia. As someone else mentioned, you really have to read these in order. Your library should have them. Good luck! Julie

Thanks so much, Pam. I am amazed how fast this got buried. Julie

My 9-year-old is starting to ask a lot of questions about adolescence and what it will be like. I know some of the questions will be up to me to answer in my own way ("So what age is it appropriate to have sex?"), but can anyone help me here with book recommendations? I was never a boy, so I don't really know what happens in puberty! He is starting to experience some hormonal shifts, so this is not premature. He is now showering almost every day, because he gets stinkier now. I am open to Christian books as well, as long as they "keep it real." I would prefer secular, but I know many of your favorites will be Christian and don't want to miss good ones. He is a Christian, I'm Buddhist. We don't believe that teenagers should be sexually active, so it's OK if the book recommends against that kind of thing. :) Thanks in advance. Julie

As another poster mentioned, it is possible to leave one's estate to a spouse for his/her use during his/her lifetime. In terms of real property, it is called a "life estate." If the testamentor is wealthy, sometimes the interest/dividends from investments are sufficient to provide for the spouse, and the principal can be left untouched. Then after the spouse's death, the estate can be divided between the offspring of the testamentor. My father did not do this. And even as his health is declining, my stepmother is busy giving large "gifts" to her children and grandchildren. But that is really not her money to give. She came into the marriage with nothing. My dad trusts her to provide for us (his children and grandchildren), but I know she won't. And as long as I'm whining, what gets me more than anything else is that she continually whines about how taking care of my dad impinges on her carefree lifestyle. And I'm thinking, uh, what did you expect when you married a much older, wealthy man? I am not the least bit sorry for her.