Companies are becoming increasingly aggressive in mining data from users. One of the new interesting technologies allows companies to collect data that you enter into the site, but *decide against* providing. For example, if you are shopping for a new computer and you enter contact information in a form, but then decide against being contacted (say you back out of the form or close your browser), you may be called or contacted based on the information you typed in, even if you didn't push enter. And this is even if you do have good computer security. I was looking for rugs a few weeks back on Overstock, specifically purple rugs. I didn't enter any information, or purchase anything. The next day I was looking on a few other unrelated websites, and up popped the rugs I looked at the day earlier. It was a good reminder to clean out the persistent cookies on my browser. Unfortunately, it is increasingly impossible to remain anonymous online.

Your husband sounds like a genius! :D And I will read the article, as well...

:grouphug: I was also wondering if you had an MRI of her head/spine done? I'm a bit sensitive when I hear vision problems, tiredness, and regression of skills, as my son had the same issues. If you haven't already had an MRI, it sounds like your current pediatrician could take care of ordering one (while you look for someone new). The diagnostic phase of figuring out issues makes me absolutely bonkers. Trust your instincts and don't settle for pats on the head and condescension.

Seconding KristenR's Dover recommendation. My son is currently happily coloring through My First Human Body Book (Dover Children's Science Books). I bought it on Amazon for $4, and it was on one of their 4-for-3 promotions.

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts. I will shelve reading lessons for a few weeks and see if we can restart in a few weeks. He has been on fire with math lately, so we'll focus on that instead (MyLittleBears: It is mini-chocolate chip addition!). We will also shake up the presentation a bit. I currently use colored wooden letters (out of a Melissa & Doug product), but will switch to a wipe board -- so much fun, and he could really use the handwriting practice! Thanks, everyone. It is great to get the insight of others who have btdt!

We have been using OPGTR for a while now, and DS(6) is on Lesson 90 (or so). Unfortunately, he is increasingly resistant to do lessons at all, and we've lately had tears, tantrums and generally the wailing and gnashing of teeth if he even sees the book out. Any thoughts on things I can supplement with or how to shake things up? I like OPGTR and would prefer to continue using it. We have slowed down quite a bit because I’m tired of the fighting/tears. He’s doing great reading aloud, though – a little self-conscious on words he doesn’t know – so I don’t think it’s an understanding/comprehension thing.

Thank you so much! I was just dreading mauling the book. I'm heading to Kinkos this afternoon. :-)

Do any of you resourceful folks know an easy way to get a bound book (for example... say... the SOW Activity Book) liberated from the binding so I can put it into a three-hole punched binder? Worse case scenario, I will just maul the thing, but I was hoping for something a bit more civilized. ;) _____________ Melissa Mom to Big A (6 -- SOW, MM, OPGTTR, biology) and Little B (2.5) On Little B's fight: www.benitosquidito.com

:grouphug: I know it seems like a huge adjustment to go dairy free, but there are so many alternatives on the market, things have gotten much, much easier to find substitutes (and better tasting!). My ds is super sensitive to milk, and so we have pretty much had to make our house dairy free. That being said, for coffee creamer, Silk makes a good non-dairy creamer. Also, I would highly recommend the new coconut milk ice cream (the chocolate variety is a personal favorite). If you get addicted to it, it will be difficult to lose more weight!

My annual check-up delivered me a rather nasty slap in the face -- high blood pressure, too high triglycerides, not enough good cholesterol, ANC that screamed "Type 2 diabetes is imminent..." I am also pretty overweight. In any case, it was enough to commit me to make some pretty big changes. If you're at that point, I would *highly* recommend the book "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman. This is a summary of the eating plan: http://fatfreevegan.com/blog/2010/01/01/eat-to-live-6-week-plan/ It was a shock to the system for about four days, but after the first week, it has become pretty easy. I have lost weight, feel better, and my numbers improved dramatically. (I don't have any affiliation with Dr. Fuhrman or anything like that -- just really happy to have found something that works.)

I just wanted to thank you all for your perspectives. We have decided to take him out at the holiday break, and are just going to "play it all by ear" -- somewhat of a stretch for me as a lawyer. In any case, hopefully it will reduce the tension in the house and give the boys time to play together. For now, I'm having fun picking curriculum and day dreaming about shaping young minds... Surely reality will set in soon enough! :-)

My six-year old son is not what I would call "practical" -- he has to be told everything repeatedly with respect to life skills or he just can't figure it out. For example, "If you want ketchup, you need to ask for it." Otherwise, he will just stop eating and wait for me to hand him the ketchup. And no matter how many time we talk about "stranger danger," he just doesn't get it. He'll just chat with everyone. It's a little disconcerting. That being said, he's excellent at picking up stuff at school. The life skills just don't make any sort of sense to him. It's like I have a six-year old "absent-minded professor." So I'm wondering if there is a curriculum that we could use to try to teach life skills as a school subject. Maybe he'll pick it up if I/we present it as a school topic? Maybe he's just *six*? He's our oldest, and I don't really know what is "normal" for this age?

Could he be having a doozy of a migraine? I sometimes have migraines, and they can last for days if not treated, cause light sensitivity, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and chills. If all of the post-surgery complications are ruled out, I'd ask about migraines.

Hi, this is a first-time post to the Hive, but have been lurking for a while. As background, I have two sons, Big A (just turned 6) and Little B (2 and ONE HALF!). Big A is a somewhat outgoing, intense, bright kid who started kindergarten in the fall. He has been reading for a while, is obsessed with science and history, and like most boys, has more energy than I can hope to burn off in a day. He did two years of preschool, as the preschool was awesome and we used it as daycare as much as for learning. He *LOVED* preschool, so we thought that kindergarten at a public school (our local school is excellent) was going to be easy, and a "no brainer." Since he's been reading and is pretty advanced (whether by age or ability, whatever), we do science and history before school (it's a half-day kindergarten). Big A has indicated, repeatedly, and at the top of his lungs that he hates school. The kids don't pay attention, they aren't learning anything, the room is too full (there are 28 kids in his class)... He has asked me to me his teacher repeatedly. Now we're getting to the point where he's trying to miss the bus in hopes of not having to go to school. I've thought about homeschooling the boys quite a bit, but sort of dismissed it as not being practical at this point in our lives (my youngest was diagnosed with a brain tumor. He also has feeding issues, and is going through *weekly* chemotherapy for about one more year). I just didn't want any more "crazy" in my life for now. At this point, though, I'm wondering if we should just pull the proverbial trigger and homeschool starting at the Christmas break? Or maybe next fall? I'm concerned that by taking him out of school that we're making him give up a potential refuge when the brain tumor nightmare rears up. Also, I'm concerned that I don't have enough bandwidth to make a good effort at schooling. Also, I'm concerned I'll be homeschooling forever... I would like to go back to work eventually. Which is a little self-involved, but I'm trying to keep it real. As a second question, if we do go with homeschooling, how do I effectuate the transition without Big A thinking he somehow "won" or "got out" of going to school? Does that make sense? I don't want him to think that every time he throws a fit for long enough, he'll get his way. :glare: