What I hit on a couple years ago with my ds who is now 14, but still gets mouthy/know it all/argumentative was to immediately start assigning "yes mom"s. Which, for my son, means that all of his screens/electronics are GONE until he has said "yes mom" to me X number of times. 2 things: he loses a privilege of great value to him, AND, he must concretely practice the correct behavior. My rationale to him? "If you don't freely give me respectful responses, then I must require them of you....you need specific practice". He has, in the past, dug himself a hole 30-50 "yes mom"s deep...oy. But when he finally gets in gear, it's a beautiful thing to behold :o). He can generally get around 10 per day if he is trying. Only first time responses count. Only responses followed by immediate action count. Repeated "yes mom"s for 1 request are only counted as 1. Doing this has actually made it easier for me when I can't always think creatively very quickly. It's consistent, it hurts him, and it forces him to practice the behavior I wish to encourage. It has gradually borne fruit. The last month or so, I've been sort of startled when I've idly asked him to do something minor, and he's responded "Yes Mother" and trotted off...I'll sort of double take a little..."wow he just said Yes Mother". He still has his ups and downs (spd..gotta love it), but I'm seeing some gleams of light :o). Anyway, ymmv.

I followed another link on youtube to the actual youtube made by the guy who found this. A couple comments from the comments section seem the most plausible to me "She is using a 1924 Siemens Hearing Aid. More or less the same size and shape. And the fact that she is holding it to her ear is a giveaway." - Mark, London, England, 28/10/2010 21:57 "It's obvious that she has a siemens hearing aid made in 1924 and is adjustine the volume level. She is talking to see whether it's quiet or loud." - Brandon, England, 28/10/2010 21:38 I googled these devices, and it does seem like a very plausible explanation

This is kind of interesting actually. I personally think there are so many other factors that come into play that to point to just one thing is sort of ridiculous. My son is the youngest with 2 older sisters. I think where he is in the family pecking order, combined with his unique (very unique, ha) personality has affected how he interacts with others. In our genetic line, extreme intensity is a given. All my kids have variations of SPD, and are very sensitive in their own ways. DS is extremely competitive...but I don't think that the fact that he has sisters makes any difference. I think it is a youngest thing. He's especially competitive with my middler....who began to musically "come into her own" just about the time ds began to really "get" that he was fairly gifted musically (not something we make a big deal about, btw). Well God forbid his sister should tread on his turf...doesn't matter that she plays violin, and he plays piano... so we are constantly working on them encouraging one another, instead of just being irritated with each other. Anyway...ds is just quirky, and walks to his own drummer. Not quirky enough to warrant an official label, but quirky enough to sort of set him apart a bit from a lot of peers. He's not cool, macho, or very muscular. He is not into sports (we don't have a tv, and are not into sports either), so he can't really shoot the breeze on that topic much. He does like computer games and such like, so he has his geek friends that he enjoys. But he is very sensitive, so doesn't take teasing well....not good with 13-14 yo boys. makes him a bit of a target. All this to say that I think being the semi hen-pecked youngest, plus his personality plays a bigger role than the fact that he has sisters.

absolutely agree. 100%. such teachers are worth their weight in gold.

I'm not sure either.....I'm hoping I never get to that point. DS started out with an amazing (older, julliard trained) teacher who has been amazingly patient with him, sensitive to his personality in picking pieces, got him out of the method book as soon as he was ready (before level 3 of most methods), and is all around amazing. She requires all her students to work toward the certificate of merit exam each year, so there is a goal each year. She knows when to encourage, nag, yell, or spend all lesson on 3 measures :o). She is a master teacher, in that she has taught advanced level students, as well as other music teachers. I am blessed every week I get to listen in......if it's a good week....on bad weeks I'm sort of cringing in the other room...well laughing up my sleeve while I cringe for my poor ds getting reamed out for all the things I warned him he was going to get reamed out for :o). Icing on the cake.....she totally "gets" boys, SPD quirks and all, and spends lots of time finding not only music to fulfill CM and other festival/competition requirements but music that suits my son's personality. ds started when he was almost 8, and he is 14.5 now. So all that to say....there are definitely teachers out there that are experienced enough to take little boys and get them where they need to be musically.

Pumpkin pie? Omelets, quiche, french toast....

ok, I forgot rocky road ice cream.

OK, I'm from So.CA, but lived overseas for a good part of growing up. My favorite comfort foods: Chicken and Dumplings Mexican food....burritos, enchiladas....you name it, I love it Mashed Potatoes and gravy with: Fried chicken, pot roast, steak, pork chops....etc. Chocolate chip cookies and/or dough hot cocoa diet coke from the fountain french toast chocolate of any kind. anything from Trader Joes preferred

BTDT...... with 2 of my kids, who are now more elderly. No more talking. Chase down said child, remove whatever it is, whatever it takes to do so short of abusing child. Pry their little fingers off it. whatever. Screaming angry child goes to cool off spot. Discipline proceeds per whatever you do in your house. When child is calm, we talk about the whys and wherefores. Maybe "jail" a favorite other toy for a period of time. They just gotta learn you don't do the game thing....

I would get the boy some boy-looking crocs. They are very light to throw in the backpack or whatever you take to wherever you are, and are nice to switch out of from regular shoes. Crocs make feet VERY happy :o). JMO.

would something like this help? http://www.amazon.com/GoFit-GF-PUB-Push-Up-Bars/dp/B0007W2FLS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1286664388&sr=8-5

Definitely Baby Blues (baby - age 8/10), Calvin & Hobbes(boys age 5-8), Foxtrot (preteen/teen)

Another birthday here....my sons 14th. He thinks it is really cool that it is 10/10/10 this year.

Ha! It's just around the bend.....wait a week or so and those lovely Santa Ana winds will probably come whipping through. THEN you'll know it's autumn....at least that's what it's like in SoCal. I know what you mean, though. Yesterday was really weird. Cold and misty, and 50 deg cooler than a week previous. Yep, a week ago Mon. it was about 115. Yesterday was about 65. OY.

John Piper is very good. Here is a message he did on the problem of evil.

Our church does the same thing and call it the "Swap Shop".

Well, I think you could cut AG, or Vocab, or both. BUT, I don't see any Lit going on anywhere. If your dd is reading a lot, she'll pick up quite a bit of vocab on the fly. Not sure if you just forgot to put that in.

I don't know....she's 9, not 5 or 6. Sort of time to step up to the plate and learn a bit of diplomacy. Maybe give her 3 min in a cool off spot to feel sorry for herself, then consequences for bad behavior after that. If she won't play with brother, then maybe she should spend that time doing his chores or something else that would benefit him. I always tell my kids that yep, life is not fair, but sometimes it is unfair in your favor, and sometimes it is unfair in someone else's favor. I have a *very* competitive son, who has gotten his hiney in trouble for it at least once in a big way. He has had to learn. My mantra with him is "you do YOUR best, and you encourage others to do THEIR best." Period. Give her cue cards :o), with phrases you expect to hear when he gets one right, and she doesn't. "Good job ______! I'll get it next time!" and the like. I do know where you are coming from. My ds is almost 14, and he is at almost the same math level as his sister who is 17, so we have had similar issues. My 2 are very competitive. Similarly gifted in some ways, very differently gifted in others. Good luck :o).

Look on the bright side.....you could be in the same situation here in CA where it is 110 deg. today :o). I'll take your rainy in between weather. Wishing you food, though :o).

around 110 here in Santa Clarita right now....at least that's what my computer is saying. Could be hotter. LA hit an all time record today of 113 at noon. WOW. We're hanging in the AC for the most part. And the heat is dry. Also not as oppressive as it would be in July, IMO, because the days are shorter. Still blasted hot, tho.

Here you go.....have fun with Ree :o). http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/brisket_baby/

Well, my husband is a CPA at a fairly small firm where he has worked for going on 20 years. He is the office manager, so is in charge of the billing, payroll, & general stuff. He also does a lot of the tax work for the non-profit clients....churches & the like. I don't see him as much during tax season, which is basically Jan 1 - April 15.

Yes, I have 2. VERY intense. First one is now 19, and very driven...may become an engineer. Thought I would kill her before she could even get to the penitentiary when she was younger. Lovely and gracious now....but still intense and driven. Last one is almost 14, and I'm in the "Kill em before they get to jail" stage with him still :o). Middle one is not intense in the same way at all. Very different. But oh honey.....I know exactly of what you speak. I have a few very good friends, thankfully, who "get" my kids, and still love them. They have kids that are similar, and we commiserate a bit. Those who did not know my daughter when she was little, absolutely look at me like I'm nuts if I talk about what she was like until age 13 or so. She is still the same, but has the wisdom, and graciousness to use self control when necessary, and handle frustration. It's a long process. I know "over the top". btdt. Threw my dd into the cold shower a couple times around age 11 just because *nothing* else would calm her down. Strange, but it worked. And yes, some others have NO idea what it is like to live daily with intense, spd-ish, kids. I would say mine would most likely be catagorized as gifted as well, if tested, but that just makes things more challenging LOL. Hang in there. I'm hanging in there this week. Son is gonna kill me over math, I swear, but I'm committed to dying on this hill, so wish me luck. I try to live in the moment, and celebrate every joy. Case in point: my 13 yo son sat on my lap this morning at the computer while he was still sleepy and we had a hug and rock. He still gives me kisses :o). Love that boy! Keep em close emotionally at ALL costs. SO important with kids like this, to always let them know you love them, even at their worst, and forgive them, because they are VERY sensitive. Kayleen

oh yeah...here too. DS (almost 14, 8th) did NOT have his work done this week, and has been generally nasty for the last 3 days, precipitating unpleasant consequences for which he has alternated between feeling sorry for himself, blaming ME for it all, and being repentant. So, in spite of his insistence that "Saturdays are SACRED!!!" (uh huh), he's been doing schoolwork all*day*long, in between practicing piano, or doing chores, or selling popcorn for boyscouts (boy am I gracious.....this was one of Dad's only opportunities to do it with him :o/). I told him that if he wanted Saturdays to be sacred for playing, then he better make weekdays sacred for school. Phooey. He'll be doing schoolwork and practicing piano all afternoon tomorrow after church as well. He is banned from any screens/electronics *period* until I hear about 30 more happy "yes mom"s (which he hasn't been working off very quickly....he's been earning more than he's been working off). Grrrrrrr. ventventventvent. Sigh.

ditto ditto