We have both, but mostly for redundancy....if DH needs to be reached and there's a burp in the cell phone signal, if he's paged he can call back with the landline. Our cell service doesn't "burp" all that often, but it has and DH can't be left without a means to return a page.

Those I know who count 30-min of reading even when 15-min was all that was done say it's because that's the scheduled time, like in schools, and that if it is done faster, it's still a 30-min scheduled time that the child finished faster and they'd be sitting at their desk waiting for the other kids to finish. To me, that doesn't pass the smell test.....I'll round up and down to nearest 15-min increment, so if DS finishes his math, that I thought would take 30-min in 17-min, it's 0.25, not 0.50. Math at the grocery store? This year we really did do math at the grocery store - DS had to bring pencil and paper and keep track of the total was we shopped for 15 items on our list, with his total being the subtotal (before tax) on the transaction. Would you consider that a fudge, or really time spent doing math? Another time I gave DS the sale circular and had him make a list of 10 items to buy, he then had to add it all up and figure out the tax (based on our sales tax rate), go in the store, find the items on his list, and make the purchase with the money he figured he'd need to complete the transaction. Would you consider that a fudge on time recording, or really time spent doing math? The last grocery store thing we did was that DS had to figure out the cost of 10 items, less coupons, on paper while we were shopping. Fudging or real math? I considered all three to be really math.

:iagree:

Honestly, I'd include in discussion with her that measuring one's self-worth by whether a small clique includes her or not isn't a good measure. And honestly, it's helps to really think about the fact that she is different than and is having different experiences day-to-day than the girls in PS in her class.....this is something I've spent time discussing with DS as this year it's become more evident that he and his PS friends aren't always on the same page, and that's okay, but it's there - like the "boy-banter" that happens with his scout friends - there is no malicious intent to hurt feelings, but sometimes DS has felt like his feelings were hurt....he just doesn't face the boy-banter day-to-day, but when DH explained it to him, he no longer felt hurt and instead understood it for what it is, boy-banter that second grade boys do when they're all together playing and it's not directed at DS, if he pays attention, he'll see they all banter back-and-forth with each other as they're playing together.

Cockroaches and shellfish (crustacean) share the same protein in their exoskeleton, which is why when one is allergic to cockroaches, they're considered allergic to crustacean shellfish too. With the OP's syptoms including itchy nose, watery eyes, etc. - while they're typically symptoms induced by environmental allergies, the fact that the OTC allergy meds aren't doing it and benedryl is, that's highly indicative that her symptoms aren't environmental right now, but being triggered by her allergy to cockroaches, which would include bugs in dyes, chocolate, etc. The trigger from chocolate is not the chocolate, but artifacts left in the process, bug tidbits that remain in plants that are contaminated/infested with roaches....which can happen in almost any food that's processed. Same with coffee - if it's factory ground, odds are high it contains bug remnants, but if you grind it yourself, low risk for bug remnants.

My understanding is that the cockroach prick on the panel is the cross-control for shellfish allergies, basically to prove shellfish allergy if one sports a hive on the shellfish spot, a positive on the cockroach indicates it's a true allergy and it's to the protein shellfish shares with cockroaches in their exoskeleton. A non-reactive shellfish with a positive cockroach is supposed to be considered positive for crustacean shellfish too, but not bivalves....if you get a hive on the shellfish too, then it's both crustacean and bivalve. As someone else noted, a cockroach/shellfish allergy means you'll be allergic to some things like dyes that are made from grinding up bug bodies (many hard shelled bugs share the same protein) and anything else that might have bugs and/or shellfish in the ingredients, like fish sauces in Asian cooking, cross contamination in kitchens where shellfish is cooked, etc., and some supplements (glucosamine uses crushed shells, some omega-3 supplements will be cross-contaminated in facilities, etc.).

I think it depends on how you react if you include some sugar....does having some sugar trigger the craving for more? If it does, then sugar should probably be off your menu; if it doesn't and you can limit it to really be just now and then, that should be fine. I've watched carbs and sugar in my diet for over a decade now and am okay with an occasional piece of cake at a birthday or an ice cream cone on a hot summer day - but those are few and far between things (less than once a month on average)....but I also know people who just can't do it, one bite sets off triggers for more and they'll fall face first into the carbs/sugar and will have a hard time getting back on track, with just one bite! It's a YMMV type thing.

Have your insulin levels tested. Your A1C isn't just normal-low, but really low, indicating your BG is lower than normal more often than not; a normal reading of 5 indicates BG averages 80 throughout the day over the past three months. If yours is a 2, you're averaging below 60 more than you're averaging a normal higher BG in the 80's. That you're BG can range between 70-100, even in a non-fasting state suggests your insulin is high and bringing your BG's down below normal frequently and if your most severe symptoms occur after a meal, it may be reactive hypoglycemia you're facing....the only way to really know is to have your insulin levels tested, fasting and with meals/glucose challenge, you need both done, not just fasting.

I don't think the hours requirements are intended to be seatwork hours, just instructional-learning hours.....so I don't think you're doing anything wrong recording time spent with read alouds, or even gardening with him. If DS and I decide to do something, like bake cookies one day, I will count that as either home-ec or math, depending on what he did to help....if he did all the measuring of ingredients, mixing and laying out the cookies by weight on the sheet, I'll count it as math since it really is weights and measures and part of his scope this year and we definitely would be having a discussion along the way about the math aspects......if he just helped out and we had some discussion about something in there, it'd be home-ec if there wasn't something directly related to what's in his scope for the year because home-ec is an elective and a reasonable time accounting for the activity because he is learning something, even if it's not math! This year when DS got hooked on sewing and needlepoint, I counted the time he did those, voluntarily on his part, as home-ec too because schools to have an elective for home-ec and learn things like sewing and cooking in those classes, and for DS, learning how to do it did require direct instruction too.

I got married to DH a few days shy of 36, pregnant 7 months later, had DS7 at 38...and baby bug last year at a couple of months shy of 45.....neither pregnancy had complications. That said, the only real issue with her age is her fertility potential - if she's never been pregnant, she should try for only six months, then head to a reproductive endo if she isn't pregnant....time is everything in your 30's and if you don't get pregnant in six months, find out why, don't wait the usually advised year in your 30's and don't head to an OB who dabbles in reproductive, go to the doc that does it day in and day out.

I track in a similar way - it is how the school's do it too! If we've planned 30-min for reading and DS clocks 25-min, it's 0.50 in my log......if he only does 17-min, it's 0.25 in my log. I think it balances at the end of the year, the rounding up and down. I don't push the envelope though - I do know some who schedule an hour for things that really are only going to take 15-min and call it an hour.....I just don't feel right about that. If something takes 15-min, it takes 15-min and it's 0.25.

Only a prosecutor can demand your records. You can be investigated by other agencies, but only the prosecutor's office can actually demand to see your records. I keep a record book - I use a date book, a July-June collegiate academic planner by At-a-Glance - and each day record in it the time we spent on each subject. That's all that is in there....it meets the regulation to keep track of hours. In addition I have a 4" work binder - in that I place DS's worksheets and other things he's done. It's divided by subject and throughout the year I'll cull out things from earlier in the year, but leave some things that "show progress" in each subject. In the back, in the last section, is a copy of each week's daily schedule with what we did and what books were read. Together that meets the requirements to show progress and track what was done. For some things I just take a picture and add it to the book - things like science projects, hands-on-math type things, history projects, etc. - since that shows he did it when there is no paper things done. I don't think 1000 hours is difficult to meet - we usually exceed the 600 on core and go well above the 400 for electives by May. LOL - nope, not here either!

You're right.....except if your child has been enrolled at any point before 7, then you need to notify intent to homeschool (which I didn't and don't need to do since DS was never enrolled) to withdraw your child. But, no, we don't report - we just keep records if we're under investigation for some reason and even then, only a prosecutor can demand the records.

As a mom, regardless of what my opinion about homosexuality is, I would hope you would tell me your concerns....for a few reasons - 1) if it were my daughter, she may have been molested and is acting out, 2) she may be experimenting from things she's seen or heard, 3) she may be curious and just experimenting, 4) she may be lesbian and trying to figure that out in with friends, 5) who knows what else? I'd want to know so I'd have an opportunity to open discussion with my child about the matter.

In Missouri the regulation is total hours of instruction in a school year, defined as July 1 to June 30 - 1000 hours. The regulations include the minimum instruction required in the core subjects (reading, LA, science, math and social studies) - 600 hours; and the remaining 400 may be electives or additional hours in the core subjects. Of the 600 needed for core subjects, 400 have to be done in the homeschool location, the remaining 200 can be anywhere. Since reporting requirements do not begin until your child is 7 at the start of a school year, it hasn't been burdensome for K-1-2 since DS isn't technically under the scope of the regulation until we start 3rd this year in July. However, if he'd been enrolled in school before and I pulled him out, the regs would have applied since he'd already attended pubic school - since he didn't, I will need to keep records starting next school year. We do school year round so that we don't have to do a longer day within a 180-day schedule....if we did a 180-day school year, he'd need to do 5.5-hours each day to meet the 1000 hour requirement. So instead, we do year round and our days vary - sometimes as little as an hour, sometimes as much as four-five hours.....we're usually done with hours in early May each year, as we are again this year, and are now on a break for a couple of week.

You're likely at great risk he'll fail to pay child support - with $1800 take home and $1100 to the kids, he's going to be hard pressed to live on $700 a month for himself. But, that's not your problem - just be aware that him meeting his child support obligations will leave him in a tough position and prepare that he might not make his payments regularly. I say this isn't your problem because the money isn't for you, it's for your kids and they are going to need it and he has a responsibility for them! That said, be prepared that you might need to do this financially all on your own......how much will you be able to work while you're going to school? Can you extend your schooling to work and get your nursing degree, does that impact your scholarships/grants/loans?

Butter (freezer) Nut Butters Tuna (can) Salmon (can) Coffee (can never have enough coffee!) Mayo Mustard Ketchup Salad Dressings Canned beans Dried beans Cleaning supplies Paper goods HBA items Just be sure to check expiration dates!

:iagree: If you can't do the scooter, perhaps rent a wheelchair to use instead - either will help her be able to do things longer without being fatigued.

On things like this, there's principle and there's your time-hassle factor. If it were me, the $17.87 just wouldn't be worth my time - you've already spent time talking to them, posting here, anticipating the next conversation...how much time will that one take? Will you need to write letters and follow up? Does $17.87 change your life, break your budget, etc.? I dunno, I'd just let it go and not rent from there again.

I have a huge one month loop road trip starting tomorrow.....MO-KS-CO-UT-NM-AZ-NV-CA-OR-ID-MT-WY-NE-MO and have worked on the plans now for about six weeks. This is by far the longest road trip we've done - in the past we've done a week or two, but this one is going to take us a month! Sites to check out for cheap(er) options outside of hotels/motels: AirBnB.com VRBO.com HomeAway.com BedandBreakfast.com KOA.com I've also spent time on TripAdvisor.com reading through reviews of accommodation options in different areas to see how they rate and have found some things that aren't popping up on other sites there, but will pop up if I put the name into google. Also, if you know some of the areas you'll be, directly google for cabins, rentals, etc. with the area name, you'll often find sites that are stand-alone that aren't connected to the big sites and/or the ones above. SkyAuction.com sometimes has some deals, as does Groupon.com under their travel section. TravelZoo (registration required) has a Top 20 Deal page each week, sometimes they're good deals, sometimes not so much. Also in areas you're looking to stay google the area name and "unique lodging" and you'll often have something pop up that is unique or different (yurts, luxury tents, huts, tipis, etc.) Over the course of our road trip we'll be staying in a mix of B&B's (breakfast included), cabins, private rentals (log cabin, cottage and condo) and hotels, both chain and private ones, a cave, a tipi, a hogan, and a yurt. DH is taking DS camping in backcountry in CO, but I'm staying in a private rental with our 1-year old since it's an 18-mile in and out hike/camp thing. With private rentals (like on VBRO.com) you can sometimes negotiate the rate, have them waive the cleaning fees, etc. - but it's harder to do that if you're only staying a night or two....easier if it's more nights OR if you catch a "gap" on their calendar where they're booked solid except for a night here or there and you can fill in that gap. AirBnB is often a room in a house, the pool house, a carriage house or above the garage type stuff, but many of them are unique type places to stay and/or the whole house, condo or apartment. For our month, I've done a few things while reserving places - one is to make sure at least once every five days we have a stay somewhere with a washer and dryer so I can do laundry where we're staying, not in a laundromat since that takes time away from doing other things and is easier to just do it while we're relaxing at night before bed. I try to always have a place that has a refrigerator, mini at minimum, a full if at all possible so we can keep our food cold and I can also freeze things overnight before we head out again (or if we're staying before we leave again). At B&B's you can usually call ahead and ask about using the fridge in the kitchen for your stay - almost every place says yes to that type request. MANY B&B's have family size rooms, with a king or queen + a twin or trundle bed in the room, so that saves money too....especially when everyone is fed a home-cooked hot breakfast in the morning (not just the buffet of muffins and such at the hotels). I travel with a cube cooler and inserts that can be frozen as needed rather than using ice since ice makes things soggy as it melts. On our routes I try to figure out where the grocery stores are that will have organic products we like so I can pick up things like goat milk while we're traveling. Overall for this upcoming trip, our nightly average is $72 a night (with tax), with the cheapest being a cabin in UT ($47 a night, private ranch) and the most expensive a log cabin in the San Juan's in CO ($200 a night, private rental - but it has a hot tub, is on 15 acres and is on a lake with a canoe to use and no fishing license is needed for DH there). The oddest place is a cave in NM....most unique a tipi in MT. Also, sometimes going outside a major area by 15-30 miles means rates drop significantly and the areas aren't quite as touristy or crowded, but the place to stay is still good and access to the bigger area is just minutes away. Have fun with the planning - there are so many cool options in the SW and west....PM me if you want some ideas!

As an adult, when you allow your parent(s) to assume authority over you, in this case financial, you leave yourself vulnerable to being treated like a child again when that parent(s) has issues around control and such. I personally would NOT have such a parent controlling the financial purse strings, especially since your children will witness the power struggle between your parent and you for control of every aspect of your life, likely including how you parent your children. Adult to adult, my advice to you would be to a) find a good attorney to represent you in the divorce, b) negotiate for staying in the house (for your children) with your ex paying the mortgage or a reasonable amount of the mortgage, c) negotiate for adequate child support and d) negotiate for half of everything you both own - including the house; I'd stipulate the house paid for for a number of years then sale with you both spiting any equity from the sale.

I live in farm country, so in the last few days I've seen a bunch of men wearing the blue or chino type. Last month or so I've also seen men heading out to go hunting in the camo type. And, oh, last night a friend of ours came over to fish and was sporting a pair of waders for down by the lake, but I don't think that's the type you mean.

We technically finished the school year early this year - last week - when we'd hit the hours requirement for the year, were done with the goals for the year and DS completed the CAT test and I got back his scores. We're now on a two week break which ends Monday when we resume some things for our summer session. From next week through mid-August we'll have a modified schedule that's less intense and much less book & seat work heavy, but some things continue on like reading and math, with other things as they come along like science, geography and history. In mid-August we'll ramp back up to our normal daily schedule. In weeks that DS has a camp (science, art, etc.), we still do reading and math each day too, but for less time those days than days he doesn't have a camp scheduled. Throughout the summer his activity schedule increases significantly, so I really don't want or need to do hours of school - just the basics to maintain skills for math and reading.

:iagree: Most employers (at least those I've known and when I was one myself) understand that prior commitments are negotiable when establishing a new hire schedule.....vacations, weddings, etc. may already be on someone's calendar and can usually be accommodated and are accommodated - in the case of something like a vacation, it'll likely be without pay, but I honestly don't know anyone who's hired and said "no" when an employee says they have a prior commitment and they need that day or several days off near the start of their employment.

I think the employer likely created an email list of all new hires and that's why he got the email. As another noted, a quick reply back to confirm his start, as mutually agreed, on the 26th should suffice....with him closing that he's looking forward to starting on that date.