:lol::lol:

:lol: You are too funny, love it!

Oh man the Rainbow Resource is as thick as a phone in a major city...I love it! I takes me months to get through that one.

Another vote for Pathways here

Works for me. I am rather tired of bullies not getting any consequences...adult or child.

suspend...but anything needs to be in conjunction with the parents. Whether or not the parents are poor examples are not, they are still responsible for them under the age of 18. Anything they do or don't do is a reflection on the parents whether it is justified or not, and they need to be closely involved in the consequence process.

I'm so unconventional and most people know it by now. I've stopped informing people unless it comes up. I haven't gotten too much strongly negative; a lot of people understand why I do it. I have no problems standing up for ourselves and then leaving it behind.

We do have Amazon Prime, if that makes a difference. I have it too and I love it. So, about getting books onto either one--you can only do that if you're within range of a wi-fi, right? They'd both need that? I can only answer for the Kindle Fire and yes, you must have wi-fi. Regarding the cost of books, does the Kindle lending library make it worthwhile to get the Fire instead of a different tablet? Not all books are expensive, many are cheaper in Kindle version. I do like the lending library though, and my public library has ebooks for lend as well. With the Kindle Fire, you're restricted to using apps from Amazon. Does that make a difference? Does it matter? That is one pain in the patoey for me....I prefer my Google Play store, and Apple has apps only available for their products which makes me nuts. If one wanted to plug a keyboard into the thing in order to, say, make it easier to type some sort of checklist/to-do list, the Kindle Fire won't do that, right? -But a different tablet would? Ehh...no clue. Never tried it. So the Kindle Fire can watch Amazon Prime free movies, can't another tablet do the same thing? -And they both would need to be in wi-fi range to do that, right? You can't, for instance, download a free movie to watch in the car on a trip? Probably another one can do that. I believe you can dl and watch movies on the Fire, just like you can download and play apps on the fire without having to always been connected to wi-fi (well most apps, some still require it). Prime you can do this with, but Netflix or Hulu you cannot. ETA: Thought of one more--Does the feature of having a removable/replaceable battery factor into this decision? Isn't there a tablet that has a replaceable battery? Kindle does not have this, you have to reboot it instead which always works. Also found out that many Fires have USB port problems...I'm on my third one right now (I have extended warrenty that I haven't touched yet), Amazon is very good and sends me a new one once I explain the problem. I am gentle and I don't force the plug or anything but for some reason they keep wearing out to where when plugged in they won't charge because the port is broken somehow. I still love my fire and while I'd love an Ipad I'm happy with this.

no, I don't do them unless the kids are sick or, in the case of my daughter, she needs to be seen by a doc every 6 months for her WIC soy milk recertification. I learned early on I wasn't interested in being pushed for vaxes or getting their nutritional or sleep advice, and I had no concerns about their growth and development. Figured my money was better spent elsewhere. I have confidence in my ability to detect if something is off, even a tiny bit. Some parents are just that way, and it does not mean that someone who prefers or needs well-child visits for their kids are clueless or that parents who don't really do them are clueless.

Limiting isn't bad but I wouldn't start a war over it. Anytime sweets are brought, save them for your special day, thank person politely and sincerely. If it is a special occasion outside of your day, allow one for each child and put the rest away. It works. We have soda only on special occasions. I rarely buy ice cream. I rarely keep sweets of any type. I am in the process of making sure juice is watered down and making sure better choices are available.

Bus monitors have little power...they can't do anything but TELL someone to knock it off and that isn't going to scare kids who have no respect for authority in the first place. They aren't going to care. The ones that fear consequences of some kind would listen, but many kids don't have that. I would recommend watching the video as well first.

No it isn't always the parents-there are amazing involved parents who do their best and their kid has other ideas, has friends who influence them, etc. Unfortunately in my line of work that is not what I see the majority of the time. I see kids who were exposed to addictive substances in utero, who have dysfunctional homes, kids who are physically punished constantly for everything-and parents who don't want to step up to the plate because the problem in their mind is that it's the kid, not the parent. I love and appreciate the parents who step up to the plate and are their child's advocate and do anything they can do keep life smooth for their child. Unfortunately, as I said, they are in the minority. I'm not buying that a diganosis made those kids be cruel like that when it is obvious they knew what they were doing. Like it or not, many kids are like this just because-they see it in their lives through family. Sure there could be an underlying issue that meds and/or therapy could help, but none of that changes a dysfunctional life that only the parent can change.

From people magazine online "She doesn't want them to be punished. Instead, she hopes that parents see the videos, hear the words, and talk to their kids." "As for those students' parents, she has a message. 'I'm sorry that your sons acted the way they did," she said. "I'm sure they don't act that way at home, but you never know what they're going to do when they're out of the house.'" She has a kind and gentle spirit for sure....and sure assumes a lot. I wouldn't be surprised if at least some of those kids act that way at home! They need consequences for their actions however.

Oh how sad!!!! My thoughts are with her

Is it through Reece's Rainbow? I'm so sorry you have to wait even longer....I am hoping it will seem to pass relatively quickly.

1. How does the homeschooling parent stay calm and not frazzled (mood wise) during the day. Not sure, I am still trying to figure that one out myself, especially since my 3 year old wants my attention all the time. 2. Does anyone else find that they have found that because they homeschool that it has made them become more nervous around people when they go outside of the home. No, not for me. 3. How does the h'sing parents handle the worry that their child/ren do not have as many opportunities for making friendships and playing with other kids (we have any only child) This is an issue with me....my work schedule and the fact that ds's few friends go to public school. There is no one in our local hs group homeschooling kids around his age it seems like...so unfortunately his social circle is very small and I hate that. I try to have him in some sort of lessons so that he can have other interaction and he goes to "daycare" 3.5 days a week..even though most of the kids are a lot younger. 4. How do other h'sing parents handle the worry about their child not having exposure to different sports, drama (like acting or school plays/musicals/choir, music or arts) that they do in school. Our local parks and rec dept for the city has classes year round...though they seem to be mostly for under 6 and 14 and up. Hopefully he can do piano lessons year round. 5. How do h'sing parents get their children to learn how to cope or solve conflict in their peer relationships or making good decisions regarding friendships, when they may not necessarily get the exposure to really tricky social situations. We kind of have this issue now....since ds has a sister that he has to learn how to get along with. These lessons get reinforced at daycare and stuff. Plus, he has two neighbor boys he likes to play with, one of whom isn't a great influence though...so he is learning what to avoid and what to look for in a friend. 6. How do we expose or prepare our kids to do speeches or practice oral presentations to people other than family, so that the child learns confidence in speaking. Public speaking is a big part of our ministry so I have nooooooo doubt he will gradually get there lol. 7. Do any other h'sing parents often have a built in default that makes them think that school is "normal" place for their kids to go. I find that because I enjoyed school and went through the schooling system myself I struggle with maintaining a place of peace about homeschooling and can default back to schooling in my head as what "normal" is. How have h'sing parents coped with this type of default thinking. I think so, because I too grew up in the ps system. I didn't have great experiences at all but I had some good ones. For me it is hard to remember I am reinventing "normal" for our lives. 8. In our experience our child listens better to a school teacher, who she respects more than to me, the mother, homeschooling. I wish this wasn't the case but it is the truth. In the past DD has respected and listens well to the information taught at school and responds to school well BUT in the homeschool she is not as engaging. This is not unusual....I have seen a lot of kids this way. A friend of mine tried to hs her daughter for 4th grade using K12 and it just didn't work...she had been public schooled her whole life and it just went over like a lopsided turd in a punch bowl....she fought and fought and fought and she went back to public school after that year and has been there ever since, much happier and less conflict. Sometimes there are ways around it....sometimes there isn't.

I don't use my crockpot often, but the one I have is very pretty. I don't use mine as often as I should...I love mine. I put my shopping cart in the corral because I have several dents on my mini van that I know are from wayward carts. I could care less what happens to my car anymore, but I always (unless I am just really squished for time) put mine in the cart corral because it's easier for the workers and it's hard to park in a parking spot where carts are in the way. I pefer the males in the house to sit down to pee, so they don't splash on the heating register. It smells yucky and reminds me of the old Fenway Park stench. Although I never check to see if they are standing or not. Never been to Fenway Park....no heating registers in my bathrooms. Sitting down to pee isn't a bad idea but my son seems to find such happiness in standing....must be a boy thing. I like the Duggars. They are interesting. I like seeing how things are run in their house. I don't understand Joseph Smith and the seer stone, but I am nice to suited young men who kock on my door. I've learned that it's kind to offer lemonade. I am kind to anyone at my door. I think the story of Abraham and Issac is metaphorical. Ehh...no. I started watching Dance Moms again, even while I promised I would stop. Oh lord no.....too many shades of Jon-Benet Ramsey. I think 99.99% of perfectly healthy teens brew tea whether we witness it or not, even if bedroom and bathroom doors are removed, and even if the shower curtain is replaced with sliding glass. Meh, it happens whether we want it to or not. I still have unschooling tendencies. I have never had those lol.

Thank you for the ideas...I will try and go slower and maybe switch out in a cycle, and take out the absolutely non-essentials. Any more ideas are definitely welcome...but I do have to agree that keeping it so he does not get overwhelmed is not a bad thing

National Geographic Kids. I have another we use as well but since you said ONE...I post one lol https://w1.buysub.com/pubs/NG/NWO/NWO_SplitA.jsp?cds_page_id=115543&cds_mag_code=NWO&id=1339901881221&lsid=21682158006026543&vid=2&cds_misc_5=DESPGTSTA9 I love the articles and the beautiful photographs mainly.

It's just something simple, Lollipop Logic. No big time logic at all but games for logic might be a good idea too. I agree that combining things and dropping some might be a good idea as well.

This program could be a good fit for him, considering what you just wrote. There isn't a lot of writing work in it but it does seem like it could work. I am going to do this with my son and it is short and has fun but has cool literaure pieces in it too.

Keep em coming...these are some good ideas. I may just have to drop either AO history or RHO history. Grrr.

I want to start......but I think I will wait until traditional school starts in August. We're doing light school here but I just want to start our new LA program already. Part of the issues were maturity with our last try at formal reading so I think waiting some extra months may help.

That isn't a bad idea. The readings can be broken up and rearranged.....That isn't a bad idea. Not a bad idea...I think I will actually do this for sure.

I work 12 hour shifts 3 days a week plus one half day of 6 hours. They are at a daycare except for Sat, when they are with my parents. I would love it if my mom could do some readings...ooh that would help. It would be very hard to add in stuff any other day. I definitely could do some of these readings as a bedtime story or bath story or while eating. That is a very good idea. I could put copywork after I get off work a few nights....it is just a sentence. I don't want to do too much because he's tired after a long day and thinking just does not happen after 6 pm on a long day lol.