[Is finding a space for AP testing going to be even harder this year?]

19 minutes ago, Farrar said:

The idea in this thread that kids who go to under-resourced schools from poor families who are not as highly educated somehow have such an easy walk in life is so far from reality that I don't know where to start. 

There isn’t much else to say when that’s the view. 

[I need help choosing carry on luggage]

 

If you are on Facebook, check out Travel Fashion Girl or Girls Love Travel. Both have blogs as well. They usually have up to date suggestions.  If not the groups will be helpful. 

We love packing cubes for space saving and organization. 

[If your kid took ADHD meds...]

 

It could be that you are still settling into the right dose. That can take time. Your doctor may have started small and inching up until you get right fit.  Each individual metabolizes the medication differently.  All my adhd’ers take a long acting, and have short acting as needed when the long acting wears off. 

Most of our changes in dosing occurred after significant growth changes.  It’s more effective if I am providing sufficient scaffolding and skill building. It’s a long game but after years the progress is visible. Mine are older teens now. 

[Any advice for congestion/sinus issues that just won’t go away?]

Chiming in with Sudafed, the real stuff, just like the others. 

[chromebook or laptop for college]

 

I would get a standard laptop, not a chromebook for college. 

 

Chromebooks are great for other uses. 

[Advice Needed - ADHD/EF and the college kid]

 

Many colleges have excellent services for students with special needs including adhd. They usually want verification of the disability, and the student has to request any helpful accommodations. 

My adhd family members medicate and we worked on EF skills over the years. We tend to stick to scientifically backed solutions.  Medication + working on the necessary skills. The meds help them learn the skills and form the necessary habits so they can carry through hopefully without meds.  In our case, over time we’ve seen positive results. 

Medication had an almost immediate effect, my kids on meds were really happy with the increased ability to focus on all things, even the fun stuff.

 

[Pondering]

3 hours ago, Scarlett said:

Maybe too effective, the lies were believable enough and horrible enough that several people now have read the lies. Who knows how many of them will never quite believe if it is true or not.  

 

They snooped then shared with multiple people?! Wow!

[Pondering]

Snooper is wrong. 

 

[teen drivers--should they have to follow this law?]

1 hour ago, Terabith said:

I can imagine situations in which I wouldn’t require them to follow the law, but they all pretty much revolve around an apocalypse or major disaster.  Gunman is shooting up the church?  Squeeze the whole youth group in there and get out.  Zombie apocalypse?  Pile folks in and head for the safest location.  Dam broke and we are in Nebraska with life threatening flooding?  Take people to safety.  Government is rounding up all your Jewish or Hispanic friends to take them to concentration camps!  Hell yeah, drive them to emergency shelters.  Sally doesn’t have a ride?  Call me or Sally’s mother.  If it’s not an end of the world life or death scenario, follow the damned laws.  

 

 

This is our expectation. 

[Help! We missed the boat (piano lessons question)]

41 minutes ago, Calm37 said:

The Alfred Adult All-In-One Course is inexpensive and an easy way to see if starting with a book would work for him. I have worked through this course myself as a refresher from childhood piano lessons. I know an adult college student who was recently using this for a beginning piano course at school. It is just $12 at Amazon for Level One.

 

 

This is my suggestion, one of my teens just started piano with this book. 

[Anyone going to update their MMR?]

I had to have an updated MMR for college in the 90’s. That was my last update. 

[Opinion discussion: How do you feel about public schools distributing]

Pass them out! Baskets of condoms everywhere! 

[How do you choose a child’s therapist?]

We found a therapist  via pediatrician referral. 

 

Asking in a a trusted group of local mom friends might help too. 

[Dr. Hive, my tongue feels burned but it's not!]

Can thrush cause that?

[And now her watch is done]

I’m so sorry. 

["Retired" board games that were great!]

1 minute ago, Farrar said:

There's an old card game called Waterworks that's great that we love. You have to connect pipes. It's beyond out of print at this point - I think it was last made in the 80's.

For many, many years I hoarded my copies of Diplomacy and Colonial Diplomacy, but I'm pretty sure it's in print again and has been for a long time. Which reminds me... I should totally get people together and play Diplomacy!

 

 

We we still have waterworks. Diplomacy is the best. 

[Acquiring a new cat(s) advice]

I don’t know for sure, other than kittens are best in pairs. 

[Tuft and Needle or other online mattress....which do you like?]

We like our Zinus mattresses. 

We bought them off amazon. They have a few styles to choose from.

[Perspective needed please re. older siblings sharing bed]

If they are content, leave them be.

[What stores carry Paula's Choice skin care for acne]

18 minutes ago, mmasc said:

Since you’re in a time crunch, how about the Acne Free line carried at drugstores/Walmart? They have a kit I think. 

 

Agree!

The ACNE free line should work well until you can get what you need. 

[Are you someone who gets dirt cheap airfare tix? I need your help!]

Scott’s Cheap Flights. 

 

When searching flights on your own, search in private browsing or incognito mode. 

 

I I know you said no credit card, but overall the Chase Sapphire options give you the best bang for your buck. The Points Guy (website) has good info. 

 

Ps we flew $77 round trip from Bloomington-Normal to Orlando recently. 

[Question about what others do re: elder care]

We made sure my mother was never left alone.  Nurses are overworked. Not everyone is nice. 

[What's the weirdest thing you've ordered online?]

Crickets and flightless fruit flies.

[Last minute Universal Studios tips]

 

 

The evening light show on Hogwarts Castle gets crowded! If you want to see it, go to the bridge by the castle early! The block routes and the mass of people waiting tends to be huge.  We were just there last weekend. 

[Should I give in?]

 

 

Cats are significantly easier to care for most of the time. I’d still get the cat.