Mentioning the tween thing reminded me, all of my olders went through a personality transition starting at 10 or 11. I was most shocked by my DD because she became very different. If you haven't already- it is probably time to start introducing those talks and buying those books for her. Try to keep in mind that her body is messing with her emotions and it is very possible that they are messing with you, too. My SIL has three daughters. She says it can get pretty scary at her house during some weeks.

Facebook of Denver zoo: https://www.facebook.com/CBSDenver/videos/vb.52552983299/10154651179633300/?type=2&theater&notif_t=live_video_invite&notif_id=1487790411035830

Article in Science Magazine: https://scienmag.com/popular-heartburn-drugs-linked-to-gradual-yet-silent-kidney-damage/

I don't understand the whole "it's my house and my children just get to live here" thing. Our house is our house. I'm not giving my kids a gift by allowing them to live in their own home. We make choices that are best for all the inhabitants of the house.

Our house is filled with the kids' stuff. We could use more room so that they could keep more of their finished Lego works on display. We definitely don't clean up toys at night. Although, now that the kids are older it is less of an issue. They use electronics or read. If I had space for a playroom, we'd put the bulk of the Legos and other building tools in there and let them go wild. How fun! Right now, they build in the living room and have to move projects out of the way when they want to do something else.

To assist students: Media literacy instruction https://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2017/02/16/media-literacy-five-ways-teachers-are-fighting-fake-news/

I sometimes stay up for 28 hours or so and then sleep for 16. That is very rare, but it happens. It was worse before I started a non-stimulant medication. (I just began taking medication in the past few years.) Maybe ask your doctor what an acceptable time frame is for your son to adjust.

I follow this organization on my Twitter feed: http://www.specialneedsroadmaps.ca/ They regularly publish tips on how to effectively teach kids who have ADHD and other issues. I've found their tip sheets to be very helpful. (I deal with ADHD, anxiety and ASD with my kids.) ETA: Here's the Twitter handle- @ONTSpecialNeeds

Here's a link to the NPS fee free day calendar: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/11-14-2016-fee-free-days.htm

At this point in time, it is not clear that individuals who owe the penalty won't eventually be asked to pay. The change merely means (for now) that the IRS won't reject those filings. Details: "The IRS noted Wednesday that tax filers remain responsible for any Obamacare penalty they owe. It also said that taxpayers who don't disclose their insurance status could end up getting questioned by the agency." http://www.cnbc.com/2017/02/15/irs-wont-reject-tax-returns-if-they-do-not-include-obamacare-disclosures.html I would suspect that to negate the debt altogether would require legislative action that removed the penalty retroactively.

LOL Somebody's dog must have been barking too much during CS calls. I don't do well with work that requires phone calls. Either a child stands next to me demanding to know who I'm talking to or the rabbit bites me and I scream.

She may be struggling with something and handling it as best as she can. That may not make you feel better, but at least you know where things are for now. Try to put the situation out of your mind and wait to see what her next move is. You can be as polite and kind to her has you have always been while you wait. :grouphug:

This document is a list of places online where you might be able to find copywriting jobs. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jNjfMeTkpvP5WzRmaFMLECEcLNajKknq6fHQumS9NwI/edit?usp=sharing (It's a Google Sheet that I compiled to share.) Virtual assistant and customer services jobs are available, too. But, many of the lower paying versions of those jobs are outsourced. On the major freelancing sites, those types of jobs seem to be the ones that scammers most often target. So, to do VA or CS, I would recommend trying to find a reputable agency to work through. Writing jobs allow more flexibility (IMO) because you aren't "on call." If you know about job training, etc. then you might be able to write for a site like this: https://www.workplacetesting.com/about/contributors To find similar opportunities, search using your skill term (i.e. "human resources") and "write for us." How are your proofreading skills? Also, video-based tutoring is very popular. http://www.tutor.com/apply

I am a part of the Non-Profit Marketing Group (and some others.) Most of the groups are just dumping grounds for people to self-promote. I join a group and if people don't interact, I leave.

Depression tends to make you see everything and everyone in your life in the most negative way. Most of the people I know, self included, with depression have to really pay attention to those negative feelings. It is very easy to look outside for things to blame for your feelings when the reality is that it is the depression talking.

Medication and solitude. Solitude is hard to come by, sometimes I put on headphones.

:lurk5:

There will be salt in your water if you use a softener. So if you are sensitive to salt water, that will be a problem. Salt is used to rinse the beads in the softener that collect particles (cleaning your water). Every few days, the entire machine is flushed with salt and the residue remains. Your water passes through the beads coated in salt residue. (That is how our system works, anyway.) You could try bypassing the system and see if things improve. Here are some better explanations: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/water-softeners-sodium/faq-20058469 http://www.maherwater.com/salt-in-soft-water.html

Thanks!

I'm on LinkedIn, too. I didn't have much volunteer work to mention. If I had done volunteer work, I definitely would have featured it on my profile. I don't hide the fact that I homeschool, bit it isn't highlighted on my profile. I've not found any jobs using LinkedIn, but I have found individuals who will share tips and advice with me. On a related note, I came across this article on "returnships" today: "Darcie Lamond left an executive-level business and consulting position at a major financial services company to raise her family. A decade later, when she was ready to rejoin the workforce in 2014, she had trouble finding a job." http://adage.com/article/news/returnships-helping-agencies-bridge-diversity-gap/307936/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social

:lurk5:

Are you looking for ones that can be checked out or purchased, or are you open to live streaming options?

My SIL had a factory job that required 7-day a week overtimes during peak periods. They can't train people for the good weeks, so they just do overtime. My DH is in a professional job with the same issue. Training takes years and not everyone makes it through. They were so low on staff last year that he worked overtime every other weekend for months. Sometimes overtimes was assigned 3 weeks out of the four. In my past career, maybe you didn't have to work overtime, but if you didn't you wouldn't climb the ladder. We were treated as management and you left when the assignments were done.

People who searched for amazon saw an ad in first place that led to a fake malware warning if clicked. Details in this article: http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/fake-amazon-ad-shows-why-you-should-use-caution-when-clicking-ads-in-google-sear.html?cid=sf01001&sr_share=twitter Recommendation is to use the regular links, rather than clicking on the paid ad link.

:grouphug: An associate of mine recently moved from CA to the Denver area. The COL in Denver isn't the best, but he was thrilled at how much less it was than CA. (I can't remember exactly where he moved from...) He's renting a place, 2 bd 2ba and thought having the two baths was a luxury. He's happier with the community, too. I would talk to your 18 y.o. before making a big decision. If it were me, I might choose someplace in between CA and KS, to shorten his travel if he wanted to visit (or you want to visit him). If your other children won't be unsettled by it, you could store some of your belongings and do a temporary move before making a final decision. (We kept our stuff in storage for a few months once while trying to find a house.)