Have your child tested by a dev. optometrist. My ds could read small, individual words, but as soon as they were strung together, his eyes would skip words and even entire lines. Also check how well your child understands individual sounds, and retreives words. English has many, many words that sound very similar. If a child can't hear the difference between bit and bet, it's hard to determine the different written words and their very different meanings. Most people are surprised to realise that the ability to understand the spoken word affects the ability to read. There may be other LD's also, but I'd check developmetal vision and language skills 1st in that order.

Why don't you have her look at a couple of additional schools/locations to see if they also are a better fit than her current school? Then she would have several options, rather than feeling that following this guy is a acceptable "out" from an apparent bad educational fit. If she still feels this new school is the best bet, she'll probably feel more commited to finishing her degree. Another question for her to consider re: her relationship with bf. If he is as committed to the relationship as she is, why did't he find a position closer to her? It's possible that this was by far the best, or even only, opportunity. But I've known other guys to take jobs within a few hours of the gf. I've also known a couple that decided together which offers would allow both to continue/start their careers, only to have something come up so the couple commuted for a while. From what you've posted, the bf didn't do any of this.

I love bed and breakfasts in small, picturesque towns. Sorry, but I don't know of any in TX.

Air and Space on the mall often has a line to get to get in, so I'd be there 1st thing or wait till late in the day. Since it's Aug, I don't have a feel for how crowded it will be or the timing of the crowds. During the school year, except during school holidays, the museums "empty" out after noon, when most of the school groups return to school. There is also an Air and Space annex by Dulles Airport. Parking with a fee is available or there is a shuttle from the mall (I believe it's free) In Natural History, there's an insect zoo your dc should enjoy. There's also (or used to be) a discovery room where kids can handle furs, shells, etc. It's designed for ages toddlers and up and is staffed so you don't need to worry about things. It's hours are shorter than the museum as a whole. And for photo ops, the dinosaur hall has lots of oportunities. Touring the monuments in the evening and at night should be cooler.

:blushing: Oooops. 2 hours is to the IN/OH border. 70 min is a much better estimate.

I broke my toe in high school, and received a bit more medical attention. I was told to nail a board to the bottom of my shoe (which I didn't do) and/or use crutches so I wouldn't bend my foot and toes. I used the crutches for several weeks and could win every race in school using only one foot --- and two crutches. :D:D

In addition to higher costs of living, you might check which areas have more major city and inner city schools. Many inner and large city schools need to pay more to attract teachers because their student bodies are more difficult to teach because of discipline and similar problems. Also richer school districts often pay more to attract better teachers.

In Dayton, Oh (about two hours west of Columbus), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base has a fantastic museum. Even I found it interesting. If you're driving to Columbus, you might want to visit it on your way home. It's just off of I-70.

Check with the nature centers, parks, birding groups, and zoos in your area. They frequently have classes for children and/or their parents. At home, I'd start with a bird feeder and a bird bath outside a big window. (ours is about 4' from our sliding glass windows) Keep a bird ID book and binoculars nearby. Then just watch and enjoy. If you get a bird bath heater, you'll be a major attraction in winter, if you live in the right climate area.

In the near term, I think that it would hurt her employability. Per my dh, one major employer would prefer a high school graduate to a college dropout. Being a drop out shows a past history if being a quitter. If I were interviewing her, I would also question the reliability of someone who quit school to follow a guy without any commitment. How long would it be before she quit to go back home because she broke up with bf? If I met her on a social level, I would question her self-confidence or maturity. She has given up on her hopes and education to follow a guy who apparently hasn't had to sacrifice anything, not even an engagement ring, much less a wedding ring. It indicates to me that she doesn't respect herself. These are not characteristics of the women I've made friends with. Finally I'd question how much faith she has in the guy or in the relationship. There are many long distance relationships that last. There are also those that drift apart. It's much better to check the strength of the relationship prior to marrage. That I feel would be better done by the girl finishing college and the two staying in touch by phone, e-mail and commuting than by her quitting college. There are good reasons to quit college or transfer. But to follow a guy across the country without a commitment isn't one of them.

I need convicing too. I can see sometimes it may be called for, but not always. But I can make a guess. And that's that DA is wanting to send a big time message to the relatives that raised the boys and the parents of the the girl. Unfortunately he can't charge them, so the oldest boy gets the book thrown at him.

For your teens, you might check if the airline provides escort service. My then 14 yo received escort service for a domestic flight. For the educatioal materials you'll need while you're in the Ukraine, I understand that it's ok to copy educational materials as long as you don't copy the entire (or most of) the book.

I think dh and I are OLD that we still have and use so much of this. :D

I'm suddenly visualizing a moose dressed in a tutu, on point. :lol::lol::lol: and yes, I do know what you mean by "dressing" a moose.

We couldn't get back for my IL's 50th, so SIL was sent down to "spy" on MIL's address book. SIL took photos of it and I used the names and adresses inn it to ask everyone to write down their favorite memory of the celebrating couple and return the memories and anniversary cards to me. I then UPSed the memories with a scrapbook and the money for an anniversary trip. They really enjoyed the memories. I believe the church also put on a anniversery party for them.

The instructors did get in with the raw beginners part of the time, but once the students could swim the instructors walked the deck, correcting stroke problems. I've also seen my ds's swim class all on the deck, practicing strokes and dive positions.

When I read that you wanted to go rim to rim, I thought you wanted to hike it! It's possible, I've done it twice, but not with little kids. :w00t: I've stayed in the campground on the South Rim. It was nice and not close to the rim for the cowards among us. I liked it.:001_smile: In the built up area and shuttle bus stops along the South Rim there are barriers and generally there is land not too far below. But not all of the South Rim has barriers. I took my ds,10 at the time, on the geological Jr. Ranger Tour Program. It was good, but it's not for 2 yo's with nervous mothers. There were a few times that I took a slightly higher path than the group did. In your shoes, I'd put a harness on the 2 year old. Either that or blinders on me. But then someone has a picture of me hanging onto a short rock as I creep around a hairpin turn on the trail down to the bottom -- and the path is 6' wide! :lol:

Dh and I couldn't believe it when we moved here and saw midgets (OK, little kids) in pads playing football. Their skeletons and joints just aren't ready for it. The past two years, ds has played flagfootball in the spring. Ds considered playing tackle last fall, but decided he didn't want to play in full gear in the heat. This summer, one of the teens in our church died from an apparent heat stroke while doing conditioning for HS football (under the coaches supervision). I don't think ds will ever seriously consider tackle football again.

If one is a marine biologist, one communicates with the organisms living attached to the pier. If one is a structural engineer, one studies the wear and tear of the tides, waves ad age on the pier. And if one is a beginning boater, one crashes into it. :lol::lol::lol:

Like Crissy, I usually let my 15 yo wake up on his own, however sleeping in for him is 7am. He's usually up, but not coherent;), by 6am. He normally goes to bed around 9 on his own, but the entire family has always tended to be early to bed, early to rise because of dh's commute.

OP, please excuse this brief highjack :auto: Which village do you live in? We lived in Ramstein 9 years ago close to the British school and ds went to an American preschool in Landstuhl. I loved living there! ETA. What's the KMCC? Is it a community college?

It must have a window large enough to exit in an emergency. I don't remember if it's a national requirement for a fireman in gear to enter or leave via the window. You also mentioned that the room has AC that doesn't always work. What sort of air does it have, central or a window unit?

fruit leathers. I'm pretty sure you can use your oven for drying them.

We adopted from Costa Rica. We checked into a few other countries, but all of our contacts were private adoption lawyers. ETA We did attend adoption classes which gave us a lot of info on different types of adoptions and how to find attoreys and agencies. Columbia, as I recall, had a national adoption agency that all international adoptions had to go through. I don't kow if you could access it without having a US agency or lawyer. On the other hand, you might not want to.

I have several sturdy salads that I like to keep on hand, a broccoli - cauliflower salad, a coleslaw and a carrot medalion salad (I saw a similar one on the boards within the past week or so). 3-bean salad also keeps well or can be quickly prepared using canned beans and bottled salad dressing. But for some reason dh feels it's his resonsibility to eat the entire broccoli salad in one sitting so it doesn't last. :glare: I also like to keep raw vegetables cut up and ready to go. They can be served with a dip. In the cooler months, I love to roast vegetables. Sometimes I see cold roast vegetables served as a salad. But my best bet is to include them as part of the main course.