We really like the kids' CDs from Old Town School of Folk Music: Songs for Wiggleworms Wiggleworms Love You The first one is currently not available on CD, but you can download MP3s from Amazon or iTunes and then burn CDs if you have a CD burner. (In case you've never done this, it is really easy!) We also LOVE Dan Zanes, and his albums contain a lot of folk music, among other styles. Here's a list of his albums aimed at kids: family music. We also really enjoy two of his "family folk" albums, Sea Music and Parades and Panoramas. Note that the family folk albums are aimed at kids and adults, and some of the lyrics are perhaps not G-rated. For example, there are a couple of mentions of whiskey in one of the sea chanties, etc. I have no problem with my children listening to them, but some parents might wish to seek out and preview the lyrics. :) Carolyn

I believe you can give a child opportunties to see blending in action, but you can't make it click in their heads. It'll come together one day, but in my humble opinion there's no sense trying to rush it. ;)

Oh yes, for us Amazon Prime is worth every single penny. We live far from family, so it is a great way to make sure birthday gifts arrive in time. And we eat gluten-free, so we buy a lot of GF grocery items in bulk from Amazon.

Here's a link to the Lang Fairy books available in full on Google Books: Lang Fairy Books.

Underarm odor is one of the signs of adrenarche, which is part of the process of puberty. It is considered "normal" starting at age 8, and premature if it begins before age 8. But I don't want to worry anyone: premature adrenarche is rarely a concern unless accompanied by other signs of puberty. Even in that case there's still no reason to panic, but it is a good idea to mention it to a pediatrician. :)Carolyn

That has already been given an emphatic no.Bummer.

How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight? Chicka Chicka ABC Come Along Daisy The Island of the Skog The Wicked Big Toddlah

On a parenting forum I read, during the last election they set up a temporary subforum for political discussions. That made it a lot easier to avoid getting sucked in, because the political threads weren't mixed in with non-political chatter. After the election and election talk died down, that subforum went away. I wonder if that's a possibility here?

Yep, one of the elementary schools in the town we used to live in had very strongly worded signs posted at the main entrance, prohibiting parents from going in with their children. It was a very safe community, no violence to speak of, so I can't imagine it was a true security issue. Sounds more like a control issue to me. We were there for a parent/toddler class, and of course I was allowed to enter for that purpose, but I remember thinking "I don't believe I'm comfortable with that policy!!!"

Thanks for the ideas. I've got Birks and have never loved them...they just don't fit me right. I guess I need to go try on some Keens! :)Carolyn

Random question: I'm looking for lightweight, comfortable, supportive shoes I can wear with socks when it is chilly. Ideally, they'd be slip-ons, but I know I can't have everything. I'd just as soon pad around in socks, but it isn't great for my feet/joints (high arches + hardwood floors). Price isn't such a big deal, because over the years I've decided that comfy feet are priceless.:D I thought Crocs Mammoths would be perfect because they're lightweight, but sadly they don't have enough arch support. I've got a pair of Merrell Encores, which are great for outings, but they feel too heavy/clunky when I'm running around the house. So, what are your favorite around the house shoes? :)Carolyn

You might want to sign up for a membership on the Parents of Food Allergic Kids Support Forums. Any food/brand question you have can be or already has been answered there. There are many famililes there dealing with corn elimination, which I personally think is the hardest of all. Though I'm not a member right now, I definitely thought it was worth the fee during the year I was a member. Also, get your hands on Living Without magazine. It is wonderful! I've found it on the stand at Borders and Whole Foods. In the back of each issue is a guide for recipe substitutions, and I'm constantly referring to the egg substitution section. Amazon carries a lot of gluten-free products in their grocery section. I've definitely gotten my money's worth for my Amazon Prime membership! We buy Ener-G light brown rice bread, Ener-G light tapioca bread, Erewhon cereals, Pamela's wheat-free baking mixes (mmm brownies, but I don't know if they're corn-free), and Namaste baking mixes (blondies, waffles, and I'm of the opinion that they are corn-free, though some might disagree with me). A tip about wheat-free bread: it tastes much better toasted, even if you plan to make a sandwich and eat it later. For soy sauce we use San-J Organic Tamari wheat-free soy sauce, low sodium. I usually get it at the natural food store because our regular grocery store only carries the non-organic wheat-containing version. I like one particular brand of rice cake, because it is nice and thin, but I can't remember the brand name. I'll check when I go to the store tomorrow. Enjoy Life brand chocolate chips (which are really mini-chips) are free of the top allergens. Tinkyada brand rice pasta is good, and I've heard Trader Joe's brand rice pasta is good too. You do have to be careful not to overcook it though. Good luck, and if you can think of other specific things you want subs for, ask away!

Are you saying that you'd like to combine WW and NT, or that your DH wants you to do this? :confused: In any case, I suspect it would be easiest to go with NT alone if that's what you feel is healthiest. Adding WW to the mix would be complicated, it could be counter-productive (ie. it may actually be harder to lose weight with the combo), and it might not be as healthy anyway. And after all, isn't health the real goal? Good luck meeting your goals!

I don't read it that way at all! I take it to mean that he is aware of educational inequality in the public school system and believes the government has a responsibility to remedy it. Ever read Savage Inequalities or The Shame of a Nation? The realities are just heartbreaking. That's what he's talking about.

Oops, I misunderstood the original post.

Have you talked to the neighbors? They might be able to provide details.

The situation you've described (isolated property, 40yo offender) would make me nervous too. I'd delay the closing to give ourselves time to learn more. Can you contact the local PD? If you explain why the information is time-sensitive and can prove that you've already requested the information through official channels, perhaps they'd be willing to provide it unofficially. If a delay wasn't possible, I'd have to consider whether it would be worth walking away and losing our deposit. Good luck!

By the way, even if you ultimately decide that SID/SPD isn't what's going on, you might want to check out the books I mentioned. It is a fact that your child will have to learn to handle noises when out and about. The techniques used to help kids with SID/SPD may be helpful even for a child who doesn't have true SID/SPD.:)

Do you mean Common Sense Media?

Another vote for investigating potential sensory integration issues. A few books I've seen recommended over and over by moms who've been there are The Out of Sync Child, Sensational Kids, and The Out of Sync Child Has Fun. Those books might give you a better idea of whether or not your child is affected by SID/SPD. They definitely provide a lot of ideas on how you can begin to help your child better integrate sensory inputs. Good luck!

Or to complicate your decision further, if you buy from kagi.com and use the coupon code from Homeschool Buyers Coop, you can get the whole Blue Series for $44 (20% off $55). ;)

At FUN Books the Level 1&2 packages are on sale for $329, which includes free shipping. Hope that helps!