You know, teaching abstinence was my rebellion. I'm still pretty ticked off at my parents for not suggesting abstinence. It was just expected that I wouldn't or couldn't practice self control. Honestly, the idea wasn't even introduced. Like teens can't make healthy, mature adults, to wait until marriage. I wouldn't disown my kids ;) but I do tell them what I think is healthiest and in their best interests, according to biblical principle, and I won't stop because of the huge conservative backlash. It's not cool to be conservative in the homeschool community. Sigh. Wah. Such is life. I spent high school being popular. It didn't do much for me. I can now live, as an adult, without popularity. ;) The word pure aside, I believe it's healthiest, physically, emotionally, and spiritually, to abstain from intercourse outside of marriage. And, like I said, I'm still pretty miffed that no one taught it or suggested it. BTW, I went to a Catholic high school. The irony there is pretty "amusing", no?

We've done Monarchs and Swallowtails - you're going to REALLY enjoy this!!

You know I find this so interesting. I don't understand the, "I must define myself by being part of a movement." Christians need to just put out there what biblical teaching is, let God teach it, and not stack layers upon layers of STUFF up on it. Did I and do I teach my girls that the proper place for sex is within marriage? Absolutely. I don't see how it's relevant in Elizabeth Smart's case. I really don't understand EXCEPT that people stacked layers on actual teaching. Why? Because Elizabeth Smart was never sleeping around. She never made any choices in her abduction or treatment. People take a fine idea - that sex is good and healthiest when confined to the loving union of marriage - and then they pick it up, hoist it on their shoulders, and make that THE goal. We gave our oldest daughter a ring when she was 15. It was a ruby. It was when purity rings were incredibly popular and we were careful to explain that it wasn't a purity ring. It was because "her worth was far above rubies." If a woman knows she is valued, she treats herself as though she is valued, and that includes not letting men use her and treat her badly. If she knows her value in Christ comes from who she IS then she values herself and makes choices accordingly. It's the cart before the horse. People think it's easier to control choices and actions (by limiting those choices, or education, etc.) instead of grounding their kids in biblical principles and a heart for God and then walking away and letting their child have the fullness of the relationship with God. They don't recognize their child as a fully formed person instead of an extension or reflection of themselves.

Yes, but not in the same area as you. We had our son initially tested by the school system's psychologist. She came back and left us reeling. We were certain she was wrong. Paid $1500 for a full work-up by a private neuropsych. She was much more thorough and gave us a far better understanding of how his brain worked. The school psych? Completely off.

I'm thinking of taking a trainer position for one of these companies. Other than the fact that cognitive training absolutely fascinates me, they make no play or claim to remediation or tutoring. For myself, I've seen remediation work in my mild and moderate dyslexic kiddos. I have. But my severe/profound guy also has working memory issues. Barton remediation IS working, but I'm curious what we'd see if we work on the working memory and processing components in tandem with Barton. Found this article: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/04/education/edlife/a-new-kind-of-tutoring-aims-to-make-students-smarter.html?_r=0 I'm curious, before I accept the position, to hear folks thoughts around here.

Now I just need to figure out Nigerian dwarve boats in a tiny space. ;)

So we have a garden.... A really BIG garden and our acreage is almost two acres out in the country so no picky neighbors. The garden holds the viney things. We have this half moon circle in front of the house, built up with landscape bricks. It's lovely but I can't get over what a great space it is for food NOT flowers. We pulled everything out of it except the rose bush! Rose hips crossed my mind. They were common in Oregon but I haven't seen if they will grow here. We will do rhubarb, asparagus, and raspberries, but in their own space. I love the idea of chives. Will they taint my strawberries? I don't know why I hadn't thought more on herbs!! Nasturtiums I considered as well. Hmmm. Potager? I will Pinterest!!

We're in Zone 4 and we bought a house last year. The kids cleared the first flower bed for strawberries! What else works well for pretty and functional edible landscaping? We've planted the first couple fruit trees. We want pretty, but if I have to spend time maintaining something then it better be useful!

We aren't there yet. The oldest is in college now and the baby is ten months. ;) But DH is already excited at the prospect of time with just me and him. I'm e cited for that time too but hoping we'll definitely gave grandkids around to help fill the nest part time! ;)

You know the one thing that occurs to me through this conversation is the link that is perceived between their faith and what Josh did. Why? Why the perception? I mean that I think that's odd. They never seemed to devalue the girls so I certainly cannot believe he thought his parents would have condoned such action. The fact is, as a HUMAN, one with temptations, he was weak and he succumbed. I think ALL humans are tempted to something wrong. Aren't they? I mean gambling isn't my forte and I'm not into kiddie pictures, but I could see myself being a very content alcoholic if I just "let go" and let it happen. I like me drinking. I feel quite warm and snuggly. And, with my family history, I cannot let 1 drink slide into 2 and 2 slide into 3 to "relax" in the evenings. Now, I DO feel a very special contempt for molestation. As a child molested not once, but twice, I absolutely KNOW there are long term effects to dealing with what happened just mentally and emotionally and where your radar is. I admit even though I think I've dealt with it pretty well, I'm insanely protective of my daughters. The radar? Always in the on position. BUT not because of religion. Why when religious folks fall is it always blamed on religion? Because they were SO conservative? I don't think conservatism leads to pedophilia, molestation, or inappropriate sexual behaviour. I think other behaviours certainly can - pornography, alcoholism being two I can think of. But I see folks drawing a straight line from religion to sexual behaviour and it confuses me. Edited to add that out of my five closest friends that I would know well enough to know whether or not they'd ever been molested, four have been. I do not have a conservative religious background. I, sadly, think it's that some really corrupt or just plain self-gratuitous men (meaning they'd rather indulge themselves than protect someone else) seek out young women and children, and take advantage of them because they are weaker.

Does it exist? As much as we care for our dogs, we also invested $$ into pups from lines we were hopeful would be healthy and stable. Legend is now 7, Lace is 7, and Bris is only six months. With canine flu going around, a dog recently died from it in the same small town where our vet is. Being purely logical at this point as the rest is out of our control, I'm wondering if dog life insurance exists. :(

Yes, Cat, exactly this. I think, in our celebrity mind set, where we look to mommy blogs, magazine articles, and others to reassure ourselves that life and parenthood can be done "right" or, on the other end of the spectrum, that we're doing better than so-so, it is comforting to see another family doing it "right." But we put them up so high on a pedestal that we want to believe perfection can be accomplished. It cannot. Does it surprise me what happened? Absolutely. I'm surprised it happened. But I think many are doubly horrified because of this ideal of perfection they had set up in their head was shattered. I think they border on feeling betrayed that people are people with all their failings.

This. I wouldn't categorize it as stinky, just a stronger raw meat smell. ETA: That said, I'm used to "corn-fed" Iowa deer. We had a friend of family give us a mule deer buck once - one package and I will NEVER EVER touch that stuff again. I couldn't even eat it in chili. Ugh.

We are not required but choose to occasionally test. It helps me tweak and be more aware of their strengths and weaknesses as well as any curriculum weaknesses. If you are working with your child then you are probably aware of their strengths and weaknesses within the use of the curriculum you own. Also? It's just fun. The kids enjoy playing school two days per year, lol, but we taken them at a local homeschool program which is a perk not rveryone has. As far as PSAT, I really think every academic kid should take it NO LATER THAN sophomore year and parents should strongly consider freshman year.

Your BIL makes me sad. He's jaded. I'd hate to be his kid - they might as well be awful because Dad will never believe they're great kids. I was an awful teen. My dad thought I was awesome. Was he deluded? Only a little but his faith in me inspired me. ;)

You piqued my curiousity. I found this additionally: http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/the-short-list-college/articles/2015/01/13/10-universities-with-the-largest-financial-endowments Our state flagship has over one billion. Interesting.

I've been thinking on this and I've constructed a plan. So, you relax, enjoy this year. We can adopt her, she can attend our state university (with both Russian and Linguistics) for in state tuition. Our state u was VERY generous to Ana as a homeschooled kiddo and she's majoring in Psych and Russian so they'd be able to co-study and commute together, so no dorm or food or boarding fees either. ;) And you'd have to visit often. I'd make coffee, it's what I'm good at. ;) You like it, yes?

When you say no linguistics - you mean linguistics as a major, correct? I assume they have the Russian language? If so, couldn't you operate on a first things first basis? For example: Make solid plans to get through 11th and 12th grade - Maybe next year she just does everything at home and if lupus is under control then DE next year with the Russian department and taking the language? Then she could always go to the local U until she has 60 credits. Then, depending on how her body is handling life and stress, she could look at transferring? Would it be better to look at this in chunks rather than the whole picture maybe?

I understand why she does it, and you're right, this was a large class. However, it inadvertently can punish (or reward) and not be accurate. For example: Because it was a large class, several kids signed in their friends. It was a common occurence and those kids got an A for attendance. Really? That's right? For example: You're exactly right - it sometimes was for special occasions. Ana had to attend a lecture for Latin one day and was running a few minutes late. Normally she would have gone in because it was acceptable to the teacher. However, this day she had a speaker in the class. Ana felt it would have been rude to go in while he was speaking and so didn't. This was one of her two absences. So, in this case, it punished the student who was actually attending - 30/32 classes. However, it rewarded the kids who managed to get others to sign in for them. Hooray for the system. :P I understand it isn't feasible to take attendance in large classrooms. I do. But then why make it part of the grade? The students self-punish when not attending class, or as in previous poster's experience, don't need the auditory lecture.

My sanity.

No, I think you're right. I read your first post and didn't read the long thread yesterday. My apologies. I will say that I believe they need to be attached to a "supervisor" all day - as is evident even more by the fact that they have serious issues. Every awful thing they pull that they get to follow all the way through only will reinforce that behaviour. But I also understand that that task is so big, so overwhelming, that it can't be you 24/7. So my question becomes - do you have respite? Has the state supplied you with respite care? Do you have a support system for YOU in place for this? Because this is a lot at you all the time.

If the choice was between napping and mowing I'd still choose mowing. Love to mow! I love that when you're all done, nothing can mess it up for a few days! It stays done! The house? Bwaa ha ha ha!

I need to add in here that I'm SO glad she got an A- on Russian. :P Isn't that awful? But with her A- instead of an A, it means she would have missed Dean's List even with a B. She needed a B on one and an A on the other. Still kept her Honors status at 3.41 this semester, but at least it wasn't dependent on that B-. :P ;) So glad!

Any good books on this topic?

She made an agreement. She broke her word. There are consequences. The end. Sigh. Hopefully Mom has some sense to advocate for the greater good, her daughter's character.