Farmgirl70
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Everything posted by Farmgirl70
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Movie night with grandsons, help a Grandma out please!
Farmgirl70 replied to KatieJ's topic in The Chat Board
The Tale of Despereaux? Beautiful story for all of you -
I grew up with brothers who hunt, shot 22s at tin cans, and the like (I have no problem with that). I currently live in a neighborhood that has seen lots of gang and drug related violence. I am baffled when people argue that regulating guns won't help. Making certain weapons illegal would reduce the ease with which people could be killed in great number. (c'mon, what good reason is there to own an assault rifle?what purpose do they serve, other than to kill people? You don't hunt deer with one, that I know.) Why not make it harder to get guns? I am not advocating an all out ban, but I have seen too many people's lives cut short to think we shouldn't try to make some changes. And please don't tell me they'd just use knives. If someone comes at you with a knife, at least you have a fighting chance. You can't hold back a bullet.
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I wish and hope we could have discussion about this without nastiness. I wish we could listen (surrounding this issue and so many others) with respect and then ponder and think. I wish for creative solutions that work toward the common good. I am so dismayed by the polarization right now in our country and the lack of doing the hard work of listening, brainstorming, compromise, and problem solving. I wish we (as a country) had the humility to consider that we do not always have the best way and that looking at what works elsewhere is not "unpatriotic". I'm not directing this at anyone here, just grieving the happenings of the last day and tired of the perception that we can't do anything about it....
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San Francisco has good public transit...lots of people here live without cars. The cost of living is very high, though.
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I also liked Ann Voskamp's post. If you'd rather not read it, there is a petition to the White House mentioned in the article that I'll just link to here. If you want the US government to welcome more Syrian refugees, please follow the link and sign it: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/authorize-and-resettle-syrian-refugees-us
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Special hugs for mums sending their last child off to college
Farmgirl70 replied to Nan in Mass's topic in The College Board
Thanks. Mine all still live at home and attend college, BUT my youngest started yesterday. This is the first time in 15 years that I haven't planned a school year. Youngest is already navigating a few bumps. I just keep saying that the disappointments and struggles will teach him and make him stronger in the long run. The house is really quiet today... -
Why would someone do this? WHat would you do?
Farmgirl70 replied to IfIOnly's topic in The Chat Board
I am all for the church being inclusive, even to offenders. However, how they are included is up for question. The church should ALWAYS protect the vulnerable. In the case of children who have been sexually molested and abused, unfortunately the church's record is not one of listening to those who have been hurt and protecting them. For many years, this was not taken seriously and adults were naive about people turning over a new leaf and being sorry. (Not just at church, but also in society) I have seen the fallout of so many children who were not listened to and protected. Churches and all adults need to make certain that children are kept safe in this regard. If that means that a sexual predator is inconvenienced for the rest of his/her adult life, that is the consequences of their actions. It doesn't necessarily have to mean that others see them as less than human. Churches and people of faith can find ways to be a supportive community without endangering children. If one has to be chosen over the other (and I don't think it has to be that way), the safety of children always wins over the feelings of a sex offender. I know this isn't in response to the OP, but I feel so strongly about this after working with many kids over the years who were molested and whose trauma is something that they need to deal with even in adulthood. -
A weekend in San Francisco... by myself?! What to do?
Farmgirl70 replied to Momling's topic in The Chat Board
I've lived in the Mission for 17 years....in addition to the things in the broader, lovely San Francisco, here are some things to check out in the Mission: -check out the murals. You can get a tour through Precita Eyes on 24th St (maybe around Harrison?) -get some of the best ice cream I have ever had at Bi-Rite on 18th between Dolores and Guerrero -Tartine Bakery on 18th and Guerrero: pastries worth the line -Dandelion Chocolate at 740 Valencia makes their own chocolate from single source cacoa farms. Free samples in the store, plus try any of the desserts and the drinking chocolate. You really can't go wrong there with anything. -826 Valencia--The Pirate Shop. As a homeschooler, you will be fascinated. This is a front for a writing tutoring center run by local author David Eggers. So fun to poke around the shop. Humorous pirate shop in front, writing classes in back. The shop is really fun to explore, I promise. -get a Mission burrito. Everyone has their favorite Taqueria; ours is El Metate. Favorites in the rest of the city: -walk along Crissy Field. -take a ferry and explore Angel Island. State Park with natural areas and former immigration processing center similar to Ellis Island. -Golden Gate Park, pretty much everywhere -hike at Land's End In the Mission, you will be close to the BART station, which will get you downtown, to the Embarcadero, or close enough to China Town or North Beach. If you want to drive to Crissy Field, Golden Gate Park, or Land's End, parking won't be much of a problem in those places. Enjoy! Let me know if you have any questions or anything you really enjoy and I can steer you more specifically, perhaps. -
comic book English course?
Farmgirl70 replied to AngieW in Texas's topic in High School and Self-Education Board
Also, Coursera has a free course on Comics that my son enjoyed. Included peer reviewed papers, etc. FWIW, I'd skip the peer review...I didn't find the feedback that useful and they were harsh graders. I ended up giving him a second grade based on more age appropriate guidelines. However, he loved the lectures and the exercise of writing the essays was motivating and useful to him. -
My youngest is graduating from homeschooling and headed to college in the fall. Recently, I've been pondering what I am glad we did and decisions I am glad we made. Here's what I have so far: I'm glad we read so many real books, that my kids had time in high school to pursue their interests pretty far, that we took steps to avoid over scheduling so that they had time to grow and get to know their inside selves, that we didn't spend much time on standardized testing, that they spent time outside quite a bit over the course of their education, and that we could approach their education is some creative and interesting ways (not that we did all the time, but we did some really interesting things over the years). How about you? What are you glad you did with your kids--both for their educations and for the people that they have become?
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When do we read Harry Potter?
Farmgirl70 replied to Lawyer&Mom's topic in General Education Discussion Board
I would just say, though, that so much of the beauty of these books is lost in the movies. The movies are good, but the beautiful truths really come out in the books, to be mostly lost in the movies. FWIW, my kids were about Harry's age as the books came out (or pretty close). I thought it was the perfect age for them to read them. (Besides being so exciting whenever a new book came out!) -
Just have to say, my dd is just a couple hours from having her final research paper for her Junior seminar done--30 pages, due tomorrow by 1:00 p.m. She's just editing the last 4! I am so excited for her to be free and so proud of her work this semester. It's been a rigorous one!
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Oh, that is terrible! I agree, that is worse!
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Mine are still doing finals....I think it's a crime to have them so close to Christmas :tongue_smilie: . DS (sophomore) has his astronomy final tomorrow and then he's done. Had a physics 2 final scheduled for Friday, but the teacher will drop the lowest test grade, so he was told that if he likes his grade, he needn't come in for the final. He has an A, so decided today that he'd skip the final. DD (junior) has a history final tomorrow, a presentation on Thursday, and a large research paper due on Friday. They are both SO done! I cannot wait for them to be all done! At this point, though, their grades are looking very good.
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Oh! So sorry for your daughter! Hugs...
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Encouraging words for the semester's end?
Farmgirl70 replied to Susan in TN's topic in The College Board
Saying hang in there to mine, too. She has three papers totalling between 25-30 pages altogether in the next few days, plus another large project due a week after that. She worked all Thanksgiving Break, other than the day itself. She's in tears tonight over a linguistics paper, she's so tired. She's rallying and pushing through, but it is hard to watch. I'm telling her, "Hang in there. You can do it. You've done it before and you'll do it again." Trying to promote confidence on the outside, while my heart goes out to her on the inside. Is it hard for any other parents here to watch? -
Binip, I know everyone goes through these things differently...we actually live in San Francisco, which vies for the most expensive city in the nation. I don't feel that we've had to trade off the major things. The kids have not been given every opportunity I would've liked. On the other hand, they have been given so many that I did not anticipate. Cities have lots of resources and they were able to have a really rich childhood. They won't lack opportunity. I'm just saying that working in a non profit can be a fulfilling career, and not necessarily a "stupid" move. It sounds like you've been disappointed. I am sorry about that.
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I guess my husband and I were "stupid enough" to choose non-profit work. In our home, we talk about choices. We've not had a lot of money, but we do have a thriving network of rich connections, work we absolutely love, and lots of flexibility. I'd do it all over again. We encourage our kids to do something that they are passionate about, weighing the trade-offs. (There are always trade offs). Right now, DD is majoring in history and minoring in counseling. She'll be able to get a masters in counseling if she decides to. She'd like to start a non-profit that mentors teen girls. DS1 is a physics major and math minor, and is not yet sure if he is headed to research or teaching. He mostly is fascinated by learning in his field! DS2 is a senior and not yet sure of what he wants to do. We are trying to help him think about what he likes and what he does well at.
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We didn't ban words here (my kids are young adults now), but we did model good vocabulary. We also taught that respecting others is about attitude, calling them what they wish to be called, and kindness. So, I guess we used stupid once in a while to reference situations, but it's not a word that is used a lot in our house. I wouldn't say that using a synonym is any better....isn't it more about the meaning that we're conveying?
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Older teens trick or treating, how to deal with this?
Farmgirl70 replied to Prairie~Phlox's topic in The Chat Board
Just to advocate for bigger ones trick or treating…please be careful with the tall ones. My middle son was nearly 6 feet at age 12. We were trick or treating with a few homeschool families with kids the same age and younger. My son loved my friend's little guy (age 4) and helped him up to doors all night long very sweetly. It broke my heart when two or three times grumpy adults asked him why he was still trick or treating and if he wasn't too old. He never went again after that. It totally wrecked it for him. I was angry--I mean, really? A dressed up boy helping a 4 yo? Even if he had been older, would it hurt to give him candy and be kind? Sorry, I know that's my own experience coloring this….and a little bit of a tangent for the OP, but let's be kind out there! BTW, those teen boys may look scary, but the majority of them are just big kids. My guy is now 6'7" and still as gentle as they come, even beneath his beard. -
Replacing plastic drink bottles: glass or stainless?
Farmgirl70 replied to Halftime Hope's topic in The Chat Board
Kleen Kanteen has lids where what touches your water is stainless steel. They keep drinks cold a long time, too. We love ours! -
S/O What do You do to Celebrate Birthdays?
Farmgirl70 replied to Χά�ων's topic in The Chat Board
We love birthdays! On the day of, when we took the day off of school, the birthday child has their favorite breakfast in bed. Then we would do an activity of the child's choosing (they always choose something simple and reasonable--going to a park or somewhere we already had a membership to or watching a favorite movie). We'd end the day with presents and family dinner. My husband usually joined us at this point, if it was a work day. Nothing extravagant, just a special, fun day for everyone. We also threw theme parties on a different day with their friends at home until they were about 12. I loved thinking of creative ways to work out our theme on a budget. Teen years were more pizza and friends hanging at our home. -
My kids have been invited to a number of parties at venues that were pretty high in cost for us--$50 or so per person (car racing, Six Flags, etc). I've left it up to them and they did not want to spend so much money. They'll often ask if they can meet up after the venue for dinner with the rest of the party (often at a restaurant). I've always thought it rather thoughtless….we can't be the only ones who balk at spending $100+ on another child's birthday…It's prohibitive for us. My own mode is if I am throwing a party, I am hosting. If I cannot afford to pay for my guests to do something, then I should choose to do something different that I can afford. If the kids want to go to Six Flags a couple of them could just talk about that and do it, but in my opinion it puts people who want to celebrate with the birthday child into an awkward spot when the expectation is to spend so much money.