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MomatHWTK

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Posts posted by MomatHWTK

    More Co-op Drama...What Would You Do?

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    I teach my children to deal with bullies not through training them to endure but by encouraging them to protest. Only by standing against wrongs can we hope to stop them. OP, in your case, I probably would withdraw my child and make sure everyone knew why. Either the behavior will be stopped or you will know that it is tacitly endorsed by the administration. Try to use neutral language when explaining the situation. Don't use buzzwords normally associated with one's political leanings. Instead, look for neutral language and avoid emotion and hyperbole. Go higher.  

    • Like 6

    WWYD - parenting advice on dd10's art

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by MomatHWTK

    My DD at 13 is old enough to recognize the benefit of producing commercial work. She also understands that some pieces are prepared to be sold and others to be treasured. With any luck, the two will be the same and she will have works that are both productions from the soul and also marketable. I know she wants to be self-supporting as an artist so we discuss how to make that happen. But, it is her choice. I encourage her by showing her examples of other artists who bridge the divide. (Book illustrators, people who sell prints and greeting cards, graphics design, etc.) 

     

    I foster her skills by letting her take online classes (live and video) from professionals. They have the talent to show her what she needs to know and give her tips and tricks. Plus, fellow artists speak and explain things in a way that she gets. They are her people.  I know enough to recognize that her skills will need to be nurtured by someone well beyond my abilities as she matures. When the time comes, we'll seek those people out.

     

    She used to show us all her art, now she keeps a sketchbook and only shows us those that meet her standards for display. She will practice the same line or idea over and over again. I don't say things like, "If you are going to be an artist you need to do X." (Which actually, since I'm not a successful artist or a professional art instructor or art historian- how would I know anyway? That would be like me giving a rodeo rider advice!)

     

    I say, "I'm willing to purchase X (tool, equipment, lessons) for you if you are committed to using it." Watching art lessons or practicing then becomes part of her daily schoolwork. I do the same for my coder son. The child chooses whether to commit to the goal and then I help him or her achieve it. 

     

     

     

    • Like 1

    Help me find this website

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by MomatHWTK

    Here are some new entries in the market (new apps are sometimes less expensive). People I work for use Trello or Asana, but I don't know what either costs. You might try a simple contact manager and then use Google Docs to share maps, etc. 

     

    These apps seem heavy on project management over contact management, but might be worth a look:

    http://blog.capterra.com/free-open-source-project-management-software/

    • Like 1

    Why do some people think they're photographers? (vent)

    in The Chat Board

    Posted

    My Dd is a professional artist- meaning people have purchased her works. Not friends and family- strangers.  My son is a coder. He hasn't sold a game yet, but he has put materials out in the public realm and received reviews. I don't see any reason to dump on a child's dreams and dedication. And if an adult wants to pursue a career in a chosen field, the market will determine whether they succeed or not. Often, it is the person with less talent but more ability to sell that succeeds. 

    • Like 1

    Need help. Boys are addicted to video games.

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by MomatHWTK

    My kids have always played on the computer in their free time. It is possible that the loss of family time is an age thing. My oldest two are more than willing to spend the entire day doing their own thing without speaking to me much at all. The younger two still seek me out. When it first happened with my dd, I thought I'd upset her. But, no, she's just moved to a new stage. She talks to me when she feels like it. I've also noticed that all of the kids prefer to have time one on one with a parent than as a group. It is different than when they were younger. 

     

    Read your update: Civ is incredibly time-consuming. You build an empire from huts to settling on the moon. I have the latest edition but haven't even found the time to learn all the new tricks. Great game, though. 

    • Like 8

    Median income of your area

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by MomatHWTK

    Thanks for the responses. I don't really have a reason for asking. It's just something that came up this week and I was wondering if our town really is that 'bad off' when compared to other places. Although my town isn't the worst town represented on the Board, it certainly is in the bottom 10. It puts the recent job openings at the local CC into perspective; $22,000 for FT business office employee & $32,000 for a FT alumni relations/scholarship director.

     

     

    I think it is helpful to see the averages and COL across the nation because it takes me out of my bubble. Wow, $22K was low-medium paying office work when I was a fresh graduate (a very long time ago). I suspect entry level salaries have not moved for quite some time. 

    • Like 2

    Median income of your area

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by MomatHWTK

    My area per Sperling's:

     

      Income per Cap.           Here: $33,868      US: $28,555

      Household Income       Here: $70,190       US: $53,482

     Family Median Income  Here: $85,317       US:  $65,443

     

     

     

     

    Cost of Living (also from Sperling's):

    (Comparing Local cost to base of 100 for US average)

    Overall    93

    Grocery  89.4

    Health     94

    Housing  87  (Median home price is $162,100)

    Utilities   105

    Transportation  97

    Miscellaneous  98 

     

    So average costs but a little higher income. Moderate to upper-middle flyover country. 

    Pictures and Canvases

    in The Chat Board

    Posted · Edited by MomatHWTK

    I just ordered from an online company, but my canvas hasn't arrived yet. I'll try to remember to post a "review" after I get my new canvas delivered. 

     

    ETA: I don't know much about pricing, but my 16" was less than $40 (incl. delivery fees).

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