4wildberrys
-
Posts
1,512 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by 4wildberrys
-
-
:grouphug: Aww!!! So sorry! Our newest kitty sleeps just like that too. You never know---maybe a neighbor knew, saw it and delivered it and was too afraid to say anything to upset your kids? Any alternative thoughts are just too much.
-
So not okay! At 19 she most definitely should know better. I would mention it to her and never have her back again.
-
My nearly 10 year old started skateboarding last April at a half-day camp. He loves it. He just finished another camp and wants me to take him to the skatepark 'all the time'. This park is run by the local rec dept. and is closed during school hours, which is a bit disappointing to my son, but I don't know how much fun he'd have there by himself. He loves watching and learning from the other kids. There are also lots of kids there younger than him.
Gosh, the kids here wear anything from regular shorts and tees to skinny jeans and baggy jeans and dress shirts with ties!!! All unique, but there are a few who were 'skater clothes', I guess.
We've never seen drugs or smoking, but perhaps that's because it is supervised by rec. staff.
Awesome! It must be nice to live in the Civilized World---I've heard about it but haven't experienced it in 17 years living here :001_huh:
-
Same here. Middle son loved skating and was quite good, but then he hung out with other skaters and one led to the other.
A policeman told me if he sees skaters or those dressed as skaters he will check them out due to the high use of pot with this crowd.
As for skate parks, my son did go to several that were well monitored by a park employee, These were run strictly, kept clean and the skaters were well behaved and would even teach the younger skaters. Apparently these type of parks are for those who skate for the sake of skating, not for the culture attached to some groups of skating.
The cops raid our skate park often, but only for certain kids. Our police force is corrupt and saturated with Good Old Boys and Good Old Families. Fortunately, my dh is well liked in town and our kids have been spared problems even though they are friends with many of the druggies (SMALL town, not much choice in friends if you don't play ball sports or go to THE public school), but warned by us the cops know who they hang out with and they need to be very careful NEVER to go to the pot/drug houses in town. Drug use and alcohol use is very accepted in the youth in this town, punishment is pretty much non-existent and certainly not a deterrent. Our skate park is actually pretty nice for how small and remote we are, but definitely a hot spot for drug deals and drug use. We never let our kids there without us when they were young :001_huh:
-
My middle son skates. He is, unfortunately, part of the "skater culture." You can love to skate and not be a part of the culture, but you will probably be exposed to it at some point if you continue to skate (I mean your child and general you).
You have to be very careful here, as it is more than a certain style of dress and speech. Not only drugs are prevalent, but also "attitude"--defying authorities, including police and parents. That's because many skaters (not vert as much) want to use places not designed for skating--and have to break the law to do so. Parking decks, public places with fountains and rails and stairs, office building parks, etc. provide lots of tempting challenges for skaters. The drug part of the culture is boosted and encouraged by brands like Billabong.
It started so subtly for us--we loved VANS skate park. The kids took turns, encouraged each other, didn't diss each other for being less skilled--I really liked taking him there! It was a mix of ages and styles, well-run and so much fun. It seemed completely wholesome.
But, there's a culture attached to it all, as I said, so just be cautious and maybe go to a park with supervision, and (this is purely my opinion, ymmv) don't allow online skater sites, shows or magazines, or skater clothes unless they are from companies that have a more wholesome image. I think watching competitions on TV (X-Games, for example) is fine, but again, be aware.
Yep---same here with us! At first, it was refreshing to have ds and dd rush to get out of the house to go and skate---healthy exercise and all and lots of kids were knew down there in our small town. We were quite slow to pick up what all the rasta colored stuff our son wanted meant....:001_huh: One of the benefits to homeschooling, though, is that stuff doesn't go on long since we are together SO much. The skate culture, unfortunately, is very alcohol and pot saturated. No different than the surf culture, but not something we want our kids doing. Immersion in that junk didn't last long with our kids or get out of hand at all----the nice thing is word got around that we freaked out and the kids now respect that our kids don't get involved in that junk. The worst part was seeing ds's 2 former best friends (from church no less :glare:) become TOTAL pot heads and cigarette smokers and drinkers!!! I told one of the mom's, and apparently she discounted my concerns because her ds denied doing anything. :001_huh: DS is NOT allowed to spend any time with them or have them over any more. I WISH the skate culture would clean up---it's GREAT exercise and so neat to see the passion of kids who really are interested in getting better.
At your ds's age, I wouldn't let him have too long unsupervised at any skate park. And give some serious education about the 'culture' part of it---encourage him to start the new 'clean and dry' skate culture. Which is what we are encouraging ds to do. There IS a skater, I think Shawn White, who IS clean and sober and is open about it.
-
-
I would take down the doors if you can. Muuuch less cleaning ;)
-
Just to give you a different perspective, I knew someone that worked for a big nut company. They are one of the only ones that clean all of their equipment well enough to avoid cross contamination of nuts. It is extremely costly and time consuming and there is a lot of work that goes into it. There would be a lot of liability for a company to guarantee no gluten. If you make it so that 0 gluten is allowed to be called gluten free I think that you wouldn't find gf products on the market at all.
Exactly---this is the way it should be. If you have Celiac---you CAN'T have gluten. Period. trace amounts are going to make you sick, even if you don't feel it right away. If a company can't guarantee 100% GF, then don't label it and market it as such. Is eating from a package really more important than your health?
-
I agree with waiting to see if you actually get your books, and then if you do don't leave negative feedback. If they come in a timely manner, I wouldn't even mention slow shipping. Why? Well....ahem....I have a book I sold on Amazon on Monday that is going out today because I just couldn't get out of the house until today ;) It's always unfortunate when things like that happen, but if the seller is being honest I would give them a break.
-
Whoa! Just because kids are in a Christian family doesn't make them nice or Christian. I'm on my kids all day long for being unkind to one another. Thankfully, they are very nice to other kids. I've found that not socializing them too much with groups with peer mentality helps them be friends with a variety of people in different ages. The last thing I want for my kids is to be in a youth group where they learn all of the cool ways to fit in or not.
I think kids learn these rude characteristics from other kids rather from their parents -- Christian or not. You look at a group of kids, and it's like a survival of the fittest championship. And don't even get me started on groups when teens/young adults are old enough to date. It's sickening to watch the guys flock to the prettiest and work their way down until they find one that will accept them. It happened in every group I was a part of -- Christian or non-Christian.
Totally agree! But in our case, it was one of these 'Christian' parents who also happened to be the Youth Group director who egged on a lot of the meanness towards our daughter---almost destroying her emotionally but for sure ruining her faith in any sort of organized religion :glare: Our son does NOT participate in any sort of youth group...
-
I like to let my kids be themselves and march to their own beat. That is easier when their beat is pretty close to the norm I have to admit.
My middle schoolers went to a youth group function today. My 13ds is a quirky guy - but he has a very big heart and is a sweetie.
He comes out with a huge wrapped bandage on his big toe because he stubbed it and it hurts and he keeps stubbing it. Yeah, he's not super graceful, his adhd causes him to fling his legs and arms around and get hurt. :D
I tell him that he has to wear a smaller bandage on his toe or I won't let him go. He says he is trying to keep his toe from getting hurt anymore. I don't budge. He puts on a smaller bandage.
I tell him he cannot wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. It will be a hot day and they are supposed to wear swimsuits. He says oh, okay and happily runs off to change.
I remind him and his sister to brush their teeth and hair and deodorize. This always seems like a new thing even though I request it 365 times a year. We are halfway there when I look over and he has his dad's huge black cotton gloves on his hands with the fingers cut away, his hair has obviously not been brushed, and I ask him if he is wearing that to the outing. He says yes, I sigh internally, and say I wouldn't wear them. He doesn't care and smiles.
Just as I pull into the parking lot I double check that both kids have deodorant on - of course 13ds forgot. Grrr. Someone took the spare deodorant I keep in the car. Oh well, all the 13-year old boys stink from my experience.
We drive up to the group and I see a huge cluster of boys that we know well yell, "Yay, xxxx is here!" They mean my son and they are all waving him over. He smiles and gets out. I yell after him, "Don't forget to turn in your check and forms!" I don't think he hears me.
My daughter gets out, too. She kisses me goodbye. The girls her age all seem to ignore her, she is looking for a friend. Her friend isn't here, yet. But she is invisible to this group of "nice Christian" girls. I know their mothers, and they don't see the pettiness in their daughters. Why is it harder to be a girl at this age than a boy?
Fitting in is so much harder for girls, and if she did fit in then would she be a mean girl, too? This dd has adhd, too. She is quirky and dramatic. For girls her age it is an unforgivable sin, and it breaks my heart. My dh says it's because she is so pretty (she's future blonde model gorgeous). I don't think it makes a difference. Girls are cruel.
The only way I can leave her and go home is that I know how badly she wants to go, but it makes my heart so heavy. I don't want my kids to grow up too soon, but I do want them to experience the freedom of being an adult and not having to put up with petty people.
This is pretty long and I didn't intend it to be that way. I just know I hate middle school. Hate it. I think it may hurt me more than them.
So, do you have a quirky kid? How do you handle the social drama?
Well, as the mother of 2 quirky kids, I can relate. But don't EVEN get me started on those 'nice Christian kids'---because we haven't found any yet! And yes, how these 'nice Christian' parents can ignore the awful stuff that goes on is beyond me. I just figure I am quirky and too idealistic---you know, things like expecting Christians to actually act like it? Unfortunately, it's MUCH harder for girls :confused: With a dd who has pink and blond dreadlocked hair and a tall, lanky son who has no interest in any sport except skateboarding----living in a town where Ball Sports dominate and fitting in means conforming to the One Public School/Ball Sport standard.....I could write a novel about our life here! Being the only Catholic, Gluten Free, Nonconformist Homeschoolers in our town makes for quite an isolated life :001_huh:
-
Whole foods, from scratch, only, ever, and always. That is our fate. We have to get it into our hands that a GF label means nothing.
I'm angry, too.
:iagree: Exactly where we are 99.9% of the time and when we switched to whole food only, no packages (even no jar spices) our health improved near 100%. Where in the heck they can say that up to any amount is safe is insanity.
-
:(
What the crap. That is utter crap!
Link?
Here: http://www.1in133.org/proposal/ :glare:
Sickening..
-
That ALL of the major Celiac organizations, including biggies in the medical profession like Dr. Fasano, are saying that 'up to 20ppm' daily of gluten is okay if you have Celiac disease!!! The FDA labeling comments are being taken by people before they come up with rules for what 'Gluten Free' on a label means---and I can NOT get over the fact that ANY gluten would be allowed in a product with this label. I comment and comment to these Celiac organizations, and they all stand by the fact that 'studies have shown' that some gluten is safe?! What studies? If they studied my family and any friends we know, they would have different results on 'safe' levels of gluten. I feel so betrayed and scared for my kids in the future because EVERY single person I know with Celiac gets sick eating ANY gluten. My kids will buy these labeled products in the future, trusting that GF means Free of gluten, but will get sick anyways :glare:
Grrr---I just see this as another greedy sellout by Celiac organizations, Dr's and Big Food and it just makes me sick. What part of Gluten FREE don't they understand? :confused:
-
:grouphug: I'll write more later. Mine ended up in therapy, prayer and all new friends but she had the essay for college entrance on overcoming adversity.
Wow---I too would LOVE to hear your story! We couldn't afford therapy, but dd really did need it. Probably still does----but her desire to study Psychology and become a therapist is one nice benefit to being emotionally destroyed :001_huh: One of the fallouts is that she no longer believes in organized religion---these were homeschooled Catholic girls at that. It was all we could do to remind her Church does not equal Faith.
-
A very intelligent, fellow hsing mom sent me this video about college conspiracy. She's sent 2 of 5 boys to college. Her 3rd son was accepted into two of his top 3 choice colleges and enrolled in 1. In the past couple of months his dad sat all of his boys down and had them watch this video. That son decided against college, dis-enrolled and looked for a job. Based on his community service, he got a job working in a youth program (above entry level). He was privy to see that the other person they were hiring along side him has a BS degree....and being hired at the same level as he (with no college degree).
The video has me thinking. What do YOU think?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpZtX32sKVE&feature=pyv&ad=6739540474&kw=alex%20jones
I REALLY want to agree---and also exactly the reason I never finished my degree. But things are changing!! Our kids couldn't even work in real estate appraising with their dad without a college degree now----which dh did NOT need. So many jobs are requiring them now, I have totally rethought my opinion and attitude about it. And I do think it's valid to get a degree for earning potential because that IS reality for many jobs and careers these days.
-
Yes, packs are hard. I guess I had hoped that long term association would keep away the cats. :glare:
And sometimes it makes the cats meaner :glare:
-
A group of girls that my dd has been a part since she was five have all hit the middle school years. Things have quite suddenly become clicky and catty. One girl looks like she smells something bad every time she looks at my daughter. Lord have mercy. It is so hard to deal with the queen bees when you are also remembering how the queen bees hurt you.
:grouphug::grouphug: Ugh!!! DD and I were just discussing this yesterday because her feelings or reputation never got a chance to recover from the awful mean, cattiness she experienced at the hands of those 'safe' friends---homeschool friends no less :001_huh: These particular girls were just TOO outgoing and social, our dd is not and neither are dh and I, AND we live in a very small town---yuck!
My advice is to make sure there are other friend options and move on. I guess it can be valuable to try and salvage some friendships, but from what I have seen it's the kids who didn't stick around to continually get hurt and moved on to healthier friendships that make out better. Mom too ;)
-
Our dd dealt with the same thing---but for ALL of her school years. It put her a full year behind unfortunately and caused her to botch the ACT. She has Celiac and her brain and academic performance are very affected. I am now regretting pushing the whole college prep study track on her because I almost feel that it has ruined her love of learning. She still has 2 weeks of high school work left and is planning on using CollegePlus! to fast track her way to a BA.
I would say that since you seem to be a VERY determined and focused student, an option for you is just to make up your missed days on weekends/holidays in order to finish in a timely manner. Or lighten up your schedule. Either way----it's tough.
-
the publisher never claims that it is a complete Geometry course. From their website:
Ease Your Students Into Geometry
Key to Geometry offers a non-intimidating way to prepare students for formal geometry as they do step-by-step constructions.
- Students begin by drawing lines, bisecting angles, and reproducing segments using only a pencil, compass, and straightedge.
- Later they do sophisticated constructions involving more than a dozen steps and are prompted to form their own generalizations.
- When they finish, students have been introduced to 134 geometric terms and are ready to tackle formal proofs.
As a Geometry teacher, I think that Key to Geometry is incredibly valuable. Students who have worked their way thru the workbooks are going to truly understand, for example, that every point on a perpendicular bisector is equidistant from the endpoints of the bisected segment.
As a Mechanical Engineering major in college, I took a course called Descriptive Geometry, which contained a lot of what is taught in Key to Geometry.
:iagree: It is quite valuable as a primer leading up to doing formal proofs in a very hands on way. In fact, we were using a Geometry program that jumped right into formal proofs, which left our heads spinning. I hauled our Key To Geometry books out of the closet (put there because I too thought they were just 'baby' drawing and busywork) and I am amazed at how they really are helpful in showing how proofs come about in the first place. Very happy with the program and very happy I never sold them.
-
You and I are in agreement. Just wanted to clarify that the Enterolab testing doesn't require that one be eating gluten at the time of the test.:001_smile:
Really---not anymore? I know they have improved their testing accuracy since we used Enterolab in 2005. Wouldn't the person still have to have eaten gluten shortly before the test though?
And I HIGHLY recommend Enterolab. They are spot on accurate----for us and for everyone else that we know who has used them. ;)
-
Here's what I'm talking about
And then there's this kind of paperless towels & holder
We're already paperless. But the towels are stuffed in a drawer. These look cute. And handy. Do you think the snaps would be a pain? Would the other holder work or would more than one pull out?
Yes, I'm avoiding packing. :D
Can I be the 'killjoy' and say that both sets are totally cute----but utterly impractical?! :tongue_smilie: Seriously, we have been paperless in our kitchen for about 4 years now and the VERY best products have been the floursack dishtowels from Target and waffle weave towels from Crate and Barrell. Very absorbent and wash clean. We have about 2 dozen at least and I fold them in half and roll them to store in a drawer. You could even put them in cute basket rolled up on the counter if they are especially colorful and fun. My experiences with flannel is that it looks cute for approximately the first wash----then fades and pills and is just yucky. And the whole snap together real paper look alike idea is just cumbersome.
-
100% digital education will be a wonderful advantage for low-income students who have no computer(s) in the home. Classroom teachers will love the increased policing required to ensure that each student is accessing the assigned textbook during class hour, instead of logging onto irrelevant, even illicit content websites. Parents will cheer at the necessity to pay more for optometrist visits because Johnny's eyes are strained from hours each day spent staring at online print and diagrams in an effort to make sense out of poorly-designed and badly-written textbooks. Textbook publishers will continue to rake in profits from minimally reprocessed texts which they now can issue at a higher rate of speed, charging ever-higher fees for online access and for allegedly "new" content.
Yep. I'm thrilled.
:lol:
-
Ok so here are the signs/symptoms of Celiacs and I put in red if it applies to him or not.
Gastrointestinal symptoms include:
-
Abdominal pain, bloating, gas, or indigestion YES
- Constipation
-
Decreased appetite (may also be increased or unchanged) HUGE APPETITE
-
Diarrhea, either constant or off and on I HAVEN'T NOTICED THIS BUT I AM NOT SURE
-
Lactose intolerance (common when the person is diagnosed, usually goes away after treatment) NO, HE LOVES DAIRY
- Nausea and vomiting NO, JUST TUMMY ACHES
- Stools that float, are foul smelling, bloody, or “fatty†I DON'T KNOW
-
Unexplained weight loss (although people can be overweight or of normal weight) NOT REALLY LOST, JUST SUPER THIN
Because the intestines do not absorb many important vitamins, minerals, and other parts of food, the following symptoms may start over time:
- Bruising easily NO
-
Depression or anxiety NO
- [/url]Fatigue YES, BUT I ASSUMED THAT WAS FROM THE LOW TONE
- Growth delay in children NO, HE IS VERY TALL FOR HIS AGE
- Hair loss NO, BUT IT GROWS VERY SLOW AFTER A CUT/SHAVE
- Itchy skin (dermatitis herpetiformis) HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH ECZEMA
- Missed menstrual periods UMMMM NO ;)
- Mouth ulcers NO
- Muscle cramps and joint pain HE SAYS HIS LEGS HURT QUITE OFTEN :001_huh:
- Nosebleeds YES!!!!!!!!!!! ALWAYS, ALL MY KIDS BUT 1 DOES
-
Seizures HE HAS HAD 3 :001_huh:
- Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet NOT THAT I KNOW OF
- Unexplained short height NO
Children with celiac disease may have:
- Defects in the tooth enamel and changes in tooth color NO
- Delayed puberty TO YOUNG
- Diarrhea, constipation, fatty or foul-smelling stools, nausea, or vomiting NO NAUSEA OR VOMITING, NOT SURE ABOUT THE STOOLS
- Irritable and fussy behavior NO
- Poor weight gain YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Slowed growth and shorter than normal height for their age NO, JUST THE OPPOSITE
-
Abdominal pain, bloating, gas, or indigestion YES
MUS Algebra II immediately after Key To Algebra?????
in High School and Self-Education Board
Posted
As the mom of a dd who struggled MIGHTILY with math and bombed the ACT math portion no matter what we did, I suggest you go with the program that will set a solid, understanding base with your son. If he understands Key to---then USE it! If you want to just use Key to Geometry, it isn't quite as complete as MUS Geometry, but apparently it does cover the basics. I also highly recommend getting some sort of ACT math study book to cram for the types of math questions. And if he is going to do CC anyways---honestly my advice having crossed this bridge in a not so graceful manner----just do the basics and save the aggravation for the CC :tongue_smilie: