Hi there, We're heading into DC for a few days. Any recommendations for great restaurants? Dd eats just about anything, and we love to try new places. Thanks for any recommendations! astrid

Bounty-Hunting For Jesus. :001_huh::glare: astrid

HIGH FIVES TO THE LUNCH LADIES!! Plus, I want one of those t-shirts. I'm not a lunch lady, nor do I ever plan to be a lunch lady, but hey, I'll bet it's a cool graphic! astrid

ROFLMAO! ;););) astrid

Okay, thanks Starr. I'll be sure to feed him and love him and read him stories-- I've never had a boy, so this should be fun! (He won't put snakes and other yucky things in his pockets, will he? :001_smile:) astrid

OH, I DEFINITELY want one of those! How cool! I just love Lego gadgets! astrid

.....so he could build me this? :D I've only got one child, a girl who who will be 13 tomorrow and has no interest now, nor has she ever had, any interest in Legos. Sigh. astrid

:iagree:I couldn't agree more, Peela. Another mom who allowed real silverware and glasses, not sippy cups here. Thank you for your post. astrid

And *I* never said that he wasn't responsible. I said my daughter WAS. How could I ever make any sort of judgement about your son, whom I've never met? You, however, did comment that free range kids are made to grow up too fast, which would imply that my free-range kid has been made to abdicate her childhood and rush to grow up. That is not what the whole free-range philosophy is about. astrid

Respectfully, BlueLobster, I'm not sure you understand the concept. Giving kids freedom to be responsible for their actions and having faith in their abilities to walk to a neighbor's house safely is NOT "rushing them to grow up." It's just not. It does not mean we expect them to BE adults. It does not mean we are ending their childhood. When my dd was 9, she would NOT have had "a heart attack" if I left her alone. She was then, and is now, a responsible, sensible child, and an ONLY child at that. She knew how to call 911 if she needed to, etc. But neither would she be expected to handle an emergency situation. "Free Range" doesn't mean "You're On Your Own; Good Luck With That." astrid

Yes. Free range kid here, and proud of it. I tire quickly of those who seem to equate parents who allow their kids to play outside, ride their bikes to the library, walk to sports practice or a friend's house, etc. with the height of neglect and sloth. Free Range Kid does not equal Neglected Kid. Free Range Parenting does not equal Poor Parenting. (not saying you said this, OP, but I can see it coming and it's a sore spot with me.) astrid

That may be, but who is the pediatrician to ASSUME that? What kind of a double standard, not to mention LIABILITY, would s/he have if he guessed, based on the appearance of a family, who needed what kind of medical care? I certainly wouldn't want my pediatrician making decisions about our medical care on a hunch, or by looking at the car I drove into the parking lot, our clothes, or what little he knows about our choices regarding education and religion. astrid

Another vote for Lightning Lit... we used the 7th grade series this year and loved it! I'll order the 8th grade series this summer for use next year. astrid (secular homeschooler)

I"m thinking of this for Spanish I for my dd who will be in 8th grade next year. I just looked at the list of available titles and I have to say I was a bit overwhelmed! What lessons/subjects to you use? What do you like/dislike about it? Thanks, Astrid

If someone figured out how to make Eau de Cheval, I would totally buy it. :001_smile: Have a great time, Faith! astrid

Sending lots of good thoughts your way! Could you tell me a bit about the apnea surgery? Just curious-- my dh is going through apnea as well; he's on a CPAP machine but surgery was never mentioned, though his is caused by some sort of physical malformation and not weight/neck circumference, etc. as is the case with many others. Here's to a speedy recovery for your DH and and end to worries for you! astrid

OMG that is one of my HANDS DOWN, ALL TIME FAVORITE LOVE SONGS!!! Along with "Crazy Love" by Van Morrison. Off to play them now.... astrid

oooh! THAT WAS OUR WEDDING SONG!!!!! IT'S A GREAT ONE!!! astrid (and it's "Kadison.") :001_smile:

Why did you want to stop your children from thumb-sucking at such an early age? Just curious, really--- my dd was a thumb-sucker and she kind of stopped on her own by age 6. Now she's 13 and there's no need for orthodontia (knock wood!) and she's none the worse for wear. Our pediatric dentist was fine with her thumb habit (though she only sucked at night to fall asleep) so we never attempted to do anything about it; knowing she'd quit on her own eventually. Just curious... astrid

What a great story--- the Seattle area should be proud! astrid

OOOOOH BABY I love my Hoover floor-mate too!!! Seriously love it. astrid

YOU GO, GIRL!!! :thumbup: I agree with you wholeheartedly!!! astrid

Personally, I think it's the TYPE of dog hair. Short, straight, Labrador Retriever type hair is one thing, but our dogs' long, wavy, combined with an undercoat of soft down is quite another on the vacuum. It escaped filters and just burned out the motors of so many department-store vacuums--- if I hadn't sent them all to the dump, I would have a veritable vacuum cleaner graveyard in my shed. In the kitchen, the hair just winds around and clings to the broom, so I prefer to use the vacuum in there as well. And seriously, the words "Oh look! My vacuum is so cool!" have never burst forth from my lips. I could care less what others think of my vacuum brand/model (which, by the way, is not sold via infomercial.) Since I'm very often vacuuming at 11 pm at night, there's even very little chance that any neighbor or friend would actually SEE the vacuum and be impressed, either! :001_smile: astrid

Yes. And then there are the women like me, who often fall for time-saving devices out of sheer, exhausted desperation so that in addition to housework, I can: 1. homeschool my daughter 2. care for an aging parent 3. work three jobs: a) adult education teacher b) educational consultant/adjunct trainer for the state dept. c) registrar of voters 4. fulfill my duties as president of a large national breed club So yeah. I'm busy, and I don't stay home all day long, folding laundry and scrubbing floors while dd dutifully recites her Latin vocab. I can't. But that certainly doesn't make me: 1. lazy 2. a sucker 3. a poor housekeeper I'm just sayin'. astrid

First post, and it contains a link, which I did not click. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1773594#poststop (that's a link to the post, in the "earring" thread below) Hmmm..... astrid