Jump to content

Menu

astrid

Members
  • Posts

    4,771
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by astrid

  1. I teach GED, and I actually do professional development for adult education (ABE, GED, ESL) teachers at the state and national level.

    Can I ask what state you're in? The GED is changing drastically in January 2014, and therefore so is the entire curriculum. It's being built around the Common Core Standards and going completely online. Not all states are/have opted to go with the GED (which is a trade name) however, so that's why I wondered what state you're in.

     

    Do you know if he'll have access to a computer lab with his students? I could send you TONS of resources if you'd like.

     

    astrid

  2. I came here to ask about PANDAS but did a search first and found this thread. In looking back, Molly's anxiety came out of nowhere last winter following her bout of mycpolastic pneumonia. It's kind of ebbed and flowed since then, hitting with a vengeance last spring after a sinus infection. Her handwriting has deteriorated in the past year, and has several other symptoms:

    • Acute sudden onset of OCD
    • Challenges with eating, and at the extreme end, anorexia
    • Sensory issues such as sensitivity to clothes, sound, and light
    • Handwriting noticeably deteriorates
    • Small motor skills deteriorate - a craft project from yesterday is now impossible to complete (see images below)
    • Tics
    • Inattentive, distractible, unable to focus and has difficulties with memory
    • Overnight onset of anxiety or panic attacks over things that were no big deal a few days ago, such as thunderstorms or bugs
    • Suddenly unable to separate from their caregiver, or to sleep alone

     

    • Fear of germs and other more traditional-looking OCD symptoms

     

    I have to wonder......... But is she too old for it? (15?)

     

    astrid

  3. I asked about this last fall right here on this board. I ended up taking dd (15) to the pediatrician who was wonderful-- didn't dismiss us at all, and said her acne was due to bacteria on her skin. He prescribed a month-long course of an oral antibiotic, plus a prescription cream that contained an antibiotic. I have to say, she was markedly improved in a week. Two weeks and her skin was amazingly clear. After the month-long course, her acne was a distant memory. Amazingly, she has not had so much as a whitehead since. Even through all this stress lately, not even stress acne. I really, REALLY encourage you to talk to your pediatrician. Ours is very conservative with antibiotics but said for acne, it's really the only thing. Break the cycle and it'll be an amazing transformation.

     

    Good luck to you-- I've so been there!

     

    astrid

  4. I thought that was a weird combo, too, and I ended up calling. Apparently she bonded to one member of the family and was aggressive towards the other family members. I have a two month old, a two year old, a special needs five year old and an eight year old. We are experienced dog owners, but that isn't for us with all our kids!

    Thanks!

     

     

     

    Looking to adopt. We ended up adopting another sweet kitty instead. :p

     

     

    YIKES!! Yeah, definitely the right decision!

     

    Good luck with your sweet kitty!

     

    astrid

  5. "adores children, especially newborns?" That's weird.......

     

    How old are your kids? Are you an experienced dog owner? Do you have other dogs now? I might take her on a trial, but to me it sounds like she's not had clear boundaries and has picked on pack member to whom she was too bonded. Maybe that one person performed all her care, but still, it's odd to have such mixed messages in the adoption ad.

     

    Tough to really say without seeing her, or knowing the policies of this shelter. If they don't screen particularly well, it's conceivable that she's been placed in homes that were not a good fit for her. But then again, it's entirely possible that she's problematic. Tough to say without knowing more.

     

    astrid

  6. Wow--- I continue to just be so humbled by the prayers, good thoughts, love and light in which we are being held by so many.

     

    Update-- we are doing well. Dd continues to amaze us with her maturity and her ability to keep it all together. She goes to school, enjoys her friends, and just today auditioned for the female lead in the school production of "The Music Man," singing "Goodnight, My Someone" a capella. She was called back and read for the part as well as two others. (She can't dance a lick though, so THAT could be problematic! :-) She's keeping herself busy and getting on with life, and we're letting her do that, though I do worry that she's just filing it away and pretending things are normal, repressing her feelings. She said she worries about US, so I don't want her to put on an act to make us THINK she's doing okay but really isn't. We touch base with her all the time, and I feel like I"m walking a fine line between smothering (which I WANT TO DO!!!) and just sweeping it under the rug, which I know I'm not doing but I don't want her to think we are and start doing it herself. Yikes that's a lot of psychobabble! I hope it makes some kind of sense!

     

    Anyway, she's sleeping better, and her anxiety (which was an issue before the whole incident) has been okay. Not much hair pulling, so that's a good thing. I'm sleeping better too. I'm reminded every hour how blessed I am to have such a kind, gentle, compassionate husband, because his shoulders have been bearing so much of this burden for all of us. I think I was operating in crisis mode for the first couple of days, and just yesterday I started to fall apart bit by bit at odd times-- driving home from work, sorting laundry, etc. The worry is exhausting, and just when I'm at work and having a "moment" I'll get a sweet text from dh, so that's helping. A wise Hive-er told me the other day that it's ok to fall apart, because what comes back together is stronger and more beautiful than before. Great advice, and I'm trying to let myself cry on dh's shoulder at night. It's got to come out-- the anger, the worry, the grief. Dh and I are finding it's very much a process of grief.

     

    So that's a long, rambling reply to say that we're doing okay-- really. Thanks for your continued prayers and good thoughts-- they help more than you know, and more than I could ever express.

     

    Hugs,

    astrid and family

  7. Hello all,

    First, we cannot adequately express how much your kind words, thoughts, prayers, advice, love and support means to our family. We feel so wrapped in your love, and are forever grateful.

     

    School was actually okay today, and swim practice was a nice diversion and return to normalcy for her. DH, mom and I talked at home and we have an appointment tomorrow at 8:30 am with a counselor at a local r@pe crisis center. From there, we'll know more about what our options are. It's important to us that our dd remain in control of the situation and have control over what course of action we take.

     

    Again, we are so overwhelmed by your love and support---- truly, we are blessed. The light you're all shining in our darkest time is just so comforting and inspirational.

     

    Much Love to you all

    Astrid and family

  8. OH! OHMYWORD!!! I've only been refreshing that one thread--- never looked at the whole board and am only seeing this now.......

     

    OH I am SO touched! I just....wow...... seriously?? I'm floored. We are so loved, blessed and supported. Gosh. I came here in 2002 looking for homeschooling resources when we decided to pull Molly out of second grade. What I have gained is a treasure beyond all imaginging.

     

    I love you all.........and we can feel your support and love, and are forever grateful.

     

    astrid and family

  9.  

     

    When the lady rode her two years ago filly had been at the trainer's for six weeks and was barely manageable. She nearly threw me, dh had to hold her still for me to dismount. I put her up for sale that night and this lady called me at once. She had wanted to buy her as a yearling. Anyhow, I told her what was going on and she met me at the trainer's the next day.

     

     

    She got on and the filly exploded, worse than she did with me the day before. She stayed on and rode her into the ground. Even the trainer was impressed. He said "She'll make a horse out of her!" She called me about an hour later and said "I'll trade you my Quarter mare for her" Done deal.

     

    She's got a three year old child. I don't see how she can have time to ride. I was really impressed with how she stayed on that first day. She's a horse that will need to be ridden extensively for a long time to get her where she needs to be.

     

    Ds could manage her, but I don't want him to. He's already got a young Arab to ride.

     

     

    Ahhh...for some reason I was thinking you broke her and sold her. Wow-- sounds like she's always been a firecracker! I don't blame you-- not worth the risk, and to me it sounds like she needs lots of miles on her. Wait-- maybe a good endurance mount?

     

    astrid

  10. I"m so sorry! What a ROTTEN way to ring in the New Year! UGH! What about a dog? Are pets allowed in your husband's flat? I know it sounds sort of simplistic, but our friend who is a detective in a major New England city swears that the sound of a barking dog does more to deter criminals from breaking and entering than most other measures. They don't want the suspicion the barking arouses, and don't want to deal with what's potentially on the other side of the door!

     

    Again, so sorry...... sending hugs!

     

    astrid

  11. I got at least 40% off, plus free shipping on everything I've ordered from them this year. Google "Land's End coupon code".

     

     

    Oh, I NEVER pay full price, and RARELY pay shipping. But I think their prices and quality have traveled in opposite directions since about 2009.

     

    astrid

  12. I used to shop there a LOT. Like MOST of my wardrobe came from LE. Now my jeans are wearing out and I need a new pair and they don't seem to carry just plain denim jeans anymore! I liked them because they carried womens petite and were pretty durable. I think I'm out of luck replacing them, though.

     

    They've also gotten super expensive! I work, so I wear office casual four days per week-- slacks and a sweater twin set, for example. It seems that in the past year their prices have really jumped!

     

    I think it might be time to send some complaint letters.

     

    astrid

  13. more than yourself I would worry about the backlash that will come back to your daughter. As an adult I know you could handle it, but even if you say you found it- it will come raining down on your daughter. I would make anonymous for that reason alone :hugs:

     

    Yes, that's part of my hesitance. They don't run in the same circles, and really were not more than acquaintances, but I'd definitely do it anonymously if at all possible. The dad is the one who kind of gives me pause-- he's really a jerk.

  14. Alrighty..... here goes.

     

    Molly had an acquaintance from first grade through middle school with whom she was friendly, but not BFF's. Girl was kind of a spoiled brat youngest child and became a bit of a "mean girl" by middle school. The summer after 8th grade, her parents sold their house in town and bought a house in a neighboring, much more affluent town so that "Kate" could go to the "better" high school and have "better friends, who aren't POOR!" Well, "Kate" spent a year at the "good" school and now attends the technical high school in a very working-class town. I was friendly with "Kate's" mom as we had kids the same age and in the band, etc. We were in the same circle of mom friends, and were friendly enough. I also served with her on a few volunteer committees in town and was her oldest daughter's 7th grade English teacher. They moved out of town specifically to keep their daughter sheltered and away from "bad influences" in our little working-class town. Mom and Dad made lots of public noise about how they couldn't wait to leave, how awful our town's kids are, etc. Dad, especially, was pretty condescending and rude about it. So that left a bit of a sour taste in the mouths of our circle of moms, myself included.

     

    Flash foward to now-- "Kate" and Molly are high school sophomores. Both have Instagram accounts, though Molly is never on hers and if she is, she posts silly pictures of the dogs or her cat. Last week Molly came to me and showed me some pretty shocking posts of "Kate's." All show her engaged in serious drinking-- Absolut bottles, etc. Some show her with marijuana, joints, etc. and actively smoking. Lots of comments about both the drugs and the booze, etc. Pretty shocking stuff, and I"m not easy to shock by any means.

     

    I FEEL like I should bring it to the mom's attention. If it were MY kid, I'd want to know. But it's a hard thing, you know? Molly took screen shots of "Kate's" instagram posts and texted them to me, so I do have proof and I know it's not just heresay. It also seems like it's pretty frequent, if not daily. Today's picture was of her holding a HUGE pot bud, shaped kind of like a Christmas tree, that said, "Merry Christmas to me!" I feel weird calling out of the blue, you know? And what if she already knows?

     

    Ugh. I don't know why I"m so conflicted about this. The kid made it all public so it's not like she's trying to hide any of it.

     

    So.....would you call mom? Or let it go? Or do something else? I'm turning over possibilities in my mind and just wanted some input.

  15. Well, yeah, really. It's so sad for the children but true. It's sad for everyone involved. Our extended family adopted two Russian girls and it's been a nightmare from day 1.
    I've read some things. It makes me wonder what they are doing to those kids in some of the orphanages over there.

     

    I have extended family who also adopted from Russia-- two very different geographical locations (Siberia and greater Moscow area) and with both children, life has been a complete nightmare from the first month. Both have attachment disorder, RAD, etc. It's very, very sad. I also have a former colleague who adopted a boy from Russia and has a similar story-- RAD, etc.

     

    Remember the big news story a few years ago about the mother from the southern USA (can't remember exactly where?) who sent her adopted Russian child back to Russia? I was teaching a class of Russian immigrants at the time (the youngest one was 74 years old and they referred to themselves as "Soviets," but I digress) About a month prior to that news story breaking, I was teaching vocabulary for family members: Aunt, uncle, husband, brother-in-law, etc. The word "adopted" came up and we discussed it. They immediately jumped on American adoptions of Russian children and went on and on about how the government was going to stop the adoptions because "American families treated the poor Russian children so badly," and "the Americans made the babies "brain damaged" and "they were FINE when they left Russia; the orphanages are the BEST in the WORLD." They were very defensive about it then, and it was before the whole news story hit. Once it did there was no end to the "See? I told you so!" attitude. These were very wealthy, well-connected Russians who were enrolled in my ESL class just for something to do.

     

    astrid

  16. Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...what level of background and training do you think most security guards have?

     

    I'll give you a hint based on their "pay grade"--literal pay grade: It's low. VERY low.

     

    Security guards do not have, as part of their job description, a requirement that they must remain ever-vigilant while simultaneously educating, parenting, and disciplining a class full of children.

     

    astrid

  17. You know, if I were a kid from a family such as mine (zero experience with guns, except exposure to news video of crimes committed with firearms) I would not feel safer if I knew my school was patrolled by an armed officer. I would be terrified. Terrified that my environment was so unsafe that I had to be guarded by an armed guard wearing body armor, and completely preoccupied by what if's. Likewise if I knew my teacher, with whom I spent 6 hours per day was carrying a concealed weapon and ready to whip it out and start shooting at a moment's notice. I suspect I would not be alone in thinking this way.

     

    Sorry. I don't want my kids in that sort of a high-pressure/stressful environment. Additionally, I don't want my kid to have a teacher who always has half her attention on the door.

     

    astrid

×
×
  • Create New...