that was so great!! If I still had Facebook, I'd post it all over the place. Thanks for this.

That is so exciting! We love Song School Greek, so I'll have to check out Latin, as well.

Hmmmm. obviously I knew that in posting this, that maybe there would be some suggestion about some exposure to overtly s##ual fill-in-the-blank, but in our case, it's just the way it is. We do not have television, and when they are able to watch something, it is a movie and it is always during family movie night. He has never been out of my sight. I've never even had babysitters, besides my mil and my own mother - I trust both of these people. I am what you would prob call "over protective." He has never participated in any activity that does not allow one parent to be there at all times. I didn't go into a lot of detail in my original post, because I just wondered about resources that I could find and peruse that would maybe help my husband and I explain things to him instead of saying the MUCH more harmful (IMHO) "Leave yourself alone," or something like that. I think that our house works best with an explanation behind the rule or the lesson we are trying to teach our kids. That's just us. Also, what "self exploration" means in our case does not look like some traditional image - I just want to clarify that without going into too much detail - which I have been attempting not to give, as this post was meant to ask people about any resources my husband and I can look at and apply to our specific situation. I WILL say, that this "self-soothing" (which is what our pediatrician called it) behavior has been going on for a long time. It was of course shocking to us, embarrassing, worrying, but we decided as this kids' parents NOT to make a big deal about it. Thanks for all the responses, none the less.

I ordered "It's not the Stork" and I do think just giving closer supervision is what I need to do. I will keep up the message of boundaries with all kids, too. Obviously, I am not very well prepared for this. It all came on very suddenly, though I should have probably been planning for it. They are always 12 steps ahead, though, right? I bet it's just a phase, but as he's my oldest it's hard to know what to do -- especially when I'm pretty sensitive about not giving a bad message about s## - and everything else, really. Thanks for all the suggestions. He is a very normal kid, and I think presenting information to him in an age appropriate way will go a long way to clarifying the mysteries he's now facing. Thanks again :)

Thank you, mod. I debated even posting about it.

I guess I used "s## drive" just as a technical term. "self exploration" has been going on for a few years, now, and we've always handled that in a very relaxed way. Just briefly reminded him that it's a private thing that is perfectly natural and needs to be done in the privacy of his own room. He has always acted like it's a normal thing. Over the last month or so, though, he closes his door to do it, and one day I came to tell him goodnight and he yelled at me to get out. Which is fine, I totally respect his right to privacy. What has been bothering me and what makes me think we are going to have to go a little further in depth with him is that he has made some strange comments that have to do with his sister (not tons, just one, but I didn't really hear him, and when I asked him to repeat it, he said something completely different than what I thought I heard) and he has just been kind of getting her into these situations that are questionable. Also, with the neighbor girl.

I need Hive Mind help! It is becoming clear to me that my husband and I need to have a conversation about what is and is not appropriate behavior. Without going into specifics, I am just wondering if anyone has any resources to recommend for me to research before we talk to him. We are of the opinion that a s## drive is a natural thing for all people, and I'm looking for recommendations of resources that also are of that opinion. Also, of course since he's so young, I am looking for resources that will help us speak in a way that he can understand and not frighten him. Writing this, I know this is going to (hopefully) be a lot harder for us than it will be for him. Many thanks in advance.

We are at about $500 a month for everything. I make every meal, and am excited canning season is right around the corner. I think I'm even doing tuna this year! I make all of our tomato sauce, salsa, jams, marmalade, fruit syrup - for flavoring yogurt and oatmeal, pickles of all kinds, it goes on and on. Lots of work, but I really hate buying anything pre-purchased. We eat out rarely, and when we do, we take advantage of happy hours and well priced Vietnamese food - our favorite!

We often listen during meal times, or when we are doing crafts. Also, I let my 5 year old "earn it" with good behavior. I let him take an old alarm clock with a cd player up to his room at bed time, and listen to one disc (from whatever book we're reading aloud, usually). He loves it. It's been a great way to keep his room clean!

My older kids love it. Depending on the chapter, we spend anywhere from 3-5 days a week on SOTW. I plan by reserving books from the lib/ ordering books for a chapter aprox 2-3 weeks from starting the chapter. I read one section, ask some of the review questions, and we color the first day. 2nd day we read the next section and answer those questions and read the lib books. I get anywhere from 4-10 books per chapter. We usually do two projects per chapter, so there's that, too. I find also that reading the text a few times to my kids really helps, so I usually will read the text again as they are doing their projects.

Thank you for this, guys!

They will not change. It's a very difficult decision to cut them out, but that is what I would recommend. It's hard at first, but I'm in my 2nd year of 0 contact, and am feeling better than I ever have in my life. It sounds like you will have lots of support as your siblings are all pulling away from them, too. Is there any place you can drop your kids? Somewhere you trust for them to go to? I'd call in some favors with some other moms and have them watch them when your husband's not going to be there. Then, I would take them somewhere by yourself (eek, I know) maybe hiking or something where it's physical and tiring? Good luck. Get them out of your life! Don't let them affect your kids anymore. Or you! You're just as important as your kids. Protect yourself!

Just wondering if I can get some suggestions for my budding opera lovers. I want to get about 5 cds that my kids (and I) can enjoy. What are your top 5?

The 5th Ed just says A-G. Then on to H.

I love doing school year round. That way, I don't feel guilty about taking long holiday breaks, or if something comes up, we are not behind.

There is a great book put out by Le Leche League called "Adventures In Tandum Nursing" it was great for me!

I'm right there with you. So far, the only time we really have to sit down together is when I put the girls down for their naps. The 20 month old does sleep, and the 3 year old is pretty good about just spending quiet time in her room. We get anywhere from 30 mins to 90 mins a day of one on one time, so for that I am thankful. I do take Sunday night to pick out crafts and activities and gather supplies for the little girls. I make sure they have an art project everyday - which we don't always end up doing. During that time, I read to them books my son and I are reading for literature, science or history. Or we use that time to get something math or reading related done. Other than that, I make sure the majority of projects we do are little sister friendly, and they are included in almost everything, not WRTR or MEP, but everything else. When all else fails, I just try to be thankful that I'm not planning on ever having another little one :)

Hourly PER CHILD is $8 - $10. That's A LOT more than I got!! (I think I was paid about $1 a kid). ETA: Thats why my husband and I never go out. Unless a family member is willing!!

We love not having TV. We have A TV, but we watch only Netflix on it, and only on weekends, and only on Saturday for a family movie night. My kids get really rambunctious/aggressive when we watch TV. That is why we limit it so much. Honestly, my kids do not even miss it, and it is a great "treat" to earn every week by doing their chores.

I've had home births, so maybe I don't know, but the only time they looked down there during the whole course of my pregnancy was when the baby's head is coming out. You can be x centimeters for a couple of weeks before you actually give birth! You're not in labor till you're in labor. But maybe they check at the dr.s so they can start talking about interventions?

Wow! Once again, the WTM forum is amazing! I had to cut a close relative off 2 years ago because the narsacistic personality disorder was affecting my family, not to mention me. It is a horrible decision to cut somebody out of your life because they are toxic. It took my 30 years to make up my mind to do it! But, I can honestly say, that even though my children are starting to have questions about where this person is, and I do have run-ins with this persons friends, and even my fancily members, I can honestly say that it was the hardest and best decision I ever made. For 3 reasons: 1. My family is protected and the horror is nit spilling over to my marriage and children. 2. I am happy. For the first time in my life. 3. I can honestly say that I am having the bad parts of that person fade from my mind, and when I think about them, I focus on the good times. It will never be enough to allow him in my life, but it has given me peace I never thought I would have. I am amazed that there are so many people on here that have had to make this heartbreaking choice. I know it takes a tremendous amount of courage. Be courages for your children, OP! And for yourself. Do it for you.

We switched to WRTR. It kills about 4 birds with one stone, and it REALLY works for him. Plus, you should see his handwriting!

Please talk to a lactation consultant. You can call Le Leche League, or call your local hospitals to see if they have a consultant on staff. They can give you scientific data. I've been through this a couple of times, and I'm sorry for your loss :(

So, just to update: I spent most of the morning on the phone with Portland State, and finally figured out that they reimbursed the bank yesterday. They told me it takes awhile because they have to cut actual, physical, checks back to Chase. So phew. Glad that part is taken care of. My real issue has always been with the whole e-signing thing. This is a rotten practice and really is too theoretical to be considered a good practice. Let's just say that this experience has yet again confirmed what I already know: The education system in this country is the next bubble that has to burst. I can only hope that my children can by pass it all by learning skills that do not allow them to sign their life away in the process. The reason WHY we decided to hold off on school, like I originally stated, was to just pay for it out of pocket. We did the math when our paperwork came from Chase. The interest rate on the loan was anywhere from 6% - 23%, and the paperwork stated it could change to any % in that spectrum at anytime. That work's out to around $600 a month FOR 20 YEARS in a worst case scenario. (With the amount we were borrowing). I also think it's horrible that you are allowed to take out loans for education and the remainder goes into your personal acct. I think it's not setting people up to be responsible, I think it's taking advantage, and the e-signing thing is horrific. If we hadn't stayed on top of it, we would be in it for $6000 already! Even the financial aide person at PSU told us we were really lucky we caught the error in time. What a racket this all is.

Yes, it's accredited. This is why it is so shocking that they accepted the money. And I know with certainty that he did not sign ANYTHING back. They told him that he e-signed when he applied for the loan. We are very "fine print" people. Also, we are in talks (well, we've emailed and called. No one has gotten back to us) with the banks fraud department as the bank shows to awards to the university and PSU says it only got one.