I regret where we live. It is the middle of nowhere, and most of the fellow HSers around here are quite a tightly knit bunch - go to the same church, related….you get the idea. I think we would have been able to access cooler and more varied resources if we lived in a different area. I also regret not teaching them French (we live In Canada, and it is a big bonus where we live). There is still time, however…...:)

Lol!

This. :iagree:

For minor issues, I probably wouldn't. I do not beleive in fixing cosmetic issues unless they are glaring. Too much money, time and yes, pain. My middle child has fairly serious overcrowding but no bite issues. She doesn't smile in photos - but does in real life. So I would guess she is a little self conscious, but not overly so. I am torn on what to do and every time I bring it up people act like I am a horrible person for not getting my daughter orthodontia - but dang it! Braces are not fun and they are expensive. I can think of many other things to do with $5000. In our ortho-crazy world (where braces are seen as something most kids will have) it is hard to get unbiased information on when braces are a need versus a want.

Furnished. With empty homes I always wonder how long they have been empty…..

Stress will delay my period. I have heard extreme diet and exercising can delay or stop periods.

Put the volume on loud and put them on the speakerphone…..maybe that way you can get some stuff done while on hold. We could use a smilie for you -> :bigear: swollen ears from excessive phone use :tongue_smilie: Hang tight and get your answer! Make sure to have them send you an email explaining their answer, so you have a paper trail.

Yes. One guideline I had heard is to expect an up to 10% reduction on listing price. $475 000 is only 5%. I would do it.

To answer the question - would I charge a child of mine room and board if they were working and the answer is "maybe." I would not if they had little money or were saving for big goals - college, their own place, etc. I would if I felt they were skating close to taking advantage of me/ acting entitled/ showing poor money management (i.e their not paying room and board was causing issues). The room and board would be small - just to cover some expenses.

This.

college students probably cannot afford to pay for many expenses; full time workers (even at minimum wage) can.

yes.

I think the Battle of New Orleans took place after the treaty ending the war had been signed. The Americans were certainly victorious there, but I question whether a battle after a treaty is signed can be used in deciding who was victorious. Interesting question - how is it determined who wins a war?

Here is what I was taught north of the border: The USA invaded Canada (Upper and Lower - what is now Quebec and Ontario) and were not successful in taking it. Hence the Americans lost the war, as they were not successful in invading Canada. My education at the hands of Google today seem to indicate it was not as clear cut as that in terms of who lost or win the war. It seems to be one confusing war. My next step will be looking up the reasons or goals of the war - that might help me determine who won it.

http://www.pbs.org/wned/war-of-1812/essays/ I thought this was an interesting read from US/Canada/British perspective.

interesting! I asked DS (15) and my sister (30) who won and they both said Canada/Britain. I asked my son where he learned that, and he said he learned it in history (in high school) this year. My mother, though, who is 71 said it was a tie. She has good general knowledge, but is not a history buff, and alluded to the fact she learned it was a tie in school (in the 1940's or 50's!) Her argument is that the invasion of Upper and Lower Canada was only part of the war, and while they failed in that initiative, in other areas it was a wash.

Hmmmm. This makes me wonder if time has changed our perception of who won/lost? I am 40 and Dh is 43 - we were in school a while ago. I think I will ask random people I run into this week what they think. I might even be able to turn into some sort of research/graphing project I half foist on the kids, lol

I am pretty sure many Canadian children were taught Canada (Britain) won the war. I just asked my husband who won and without missing a beat he said "Britain." Here is a blurb from a war of 1812 website http://www.warof1812.ca/summary.html "If any one could claim victory it was Canada. The United States declared war on Great Britain and set out to make Canada states in the union. Ten American armies crossed into Canada and all were driven out." Here is another one (by Stephen Harper, prime Minister, no less, on a government webpage: http://www.1812.gc.ca/eng/1305654894724/1305655293741 "The War of 1812 was a seminal event in the making of our great country. On the occasion of its 200th anniversary, I invite all Canadians to share in our history and commemorate our proud and brave ancestors who fought and won against enormous odds" Edited to add: I am not trying to argue Canada won the war. My knowledge of that time period is lacking for that. I do think it is interesting 2 countries have a very different take on it , however, and hope more Canadians come on this thread and let me know what they were taught.

got it - thanks :001_smile:

This is going right over my head. Must have coffee. Explain please. :bigear:

DD is creating a poster for a contest and the theme is the War of 1812. I am Canadian. I have always heard the Canadians won the War of 1812. Imagine my surprise when I went online to hunt for images from kids sites and learned that Americans think the United States won the war. History sure is an interesting thing. :tongue_smilie:

What are you looking for? Fun reads from the adult section that are teen appropriate? (i.e reading for pleasure). Literature as part of an English program and to broaden minds? (of course there is some cross over…..) Whatever you do - be careful in teen section of libraries and bookstores for with 11-13 yr olds. I find teen books are almost worse than many adult books in terms of content. Here is a list of gentle (not necessarily religious) fiction if you are looking for fun reads, which might make good transition books. http://www.lansing.lib.il.us/webfiles/RA_bibs/gentle.pdf FWIW, I am reading The Help at the moment it is seems fairly benign, Secret Life of Bees was as well (and had a child protaganist). Both straddle literature and fluff, to me.

I don't think it is entirely counter-cultural. I think many (most) adults are not Ok with young girls being dressed like streetwalkers. What I do think is the majority of us are afraid to speak up and make waves. Often for fear of upsetting our daughters. I do wish I had spoken up about my daughters costume (instead of just not re-enrolling her). How are things going to change unless adults are willing to stand up for their children? edited to add: totally agree with the Dh part. Dh should have an equal say in this. In my mind, if either parent is not ok with the costume, the daughter should be removed from the production.

Well…if it helps, the year I was upset over a dance costume my daughter was in school ;) My middle daughter took dance when she was 6. After a ho-hum year of dance they put on a recital. The costume for her dance - a pink, loosely knitted handkerchief top (with almost no back - just a strap), and a fairly short skirt. The skirt was Ok, but the shirt….oh, my. I am not a prude, and I do not doubt my daughter has worn skimpier clothes before and after, but the choice of clothes that seemed designed to deliberately make my daughter look more adult and sexualised did not sit well with me. I did not complain, but she did not go back the following year. Given the fact your daughter really likes her dance class and most of the costumes have been fine over the three year period, I would give talking to the studio a shot. I doesn't have to be put up with it or drop out - well, it might come down to that, but you won't know unless you try. I would keep volatile language out of it (such as "streetwalker") and focus on fit and the possibility of DD revealing things accidentally which would be horrifying for DD. I would focus on the easiest solution and I would volunteer to do it on all costumes if necessary.

It sometimes comes down to moral relativism versus absolutism. Absolutists would follow all rules - no matter how arbitrary - because they believe in following rules. Moral relativists would look at the situation and make a decision. In many areas I am a absolutist, but in rule following I am relativist. I almost always follow rules, but occasionally do not. Example - I Jay Walked on my quiet street a few hours ago to cross the road. Another example: airplane is delayed. We have been told not to leave the gate "because the plane can leave anytime" ("anytime" turned out to be over 2 hours). DC were starving and there was no food at the gate. We left the gate, were as quick as possible, but got food. Had the plane started to board and they announced it we would have abandoned our food quest to get back to the gate. I think most people are capable of making these sort of decisions (are we all sheep and will only behave properly if there is a rule?) - yet sadly some are not. I am thinking of horrible drivers here. Lastly, I work in a library. I know we have several policies/rules because a few selfish people do selfish things so. A number of our rules are for the bad apples - normal patrons have their activities curtailed because of a few people. I might be making excuses here :tongue_smilie: but I do resent rules that are made that affect me because a few people (not me!) cannot behave with common sense and integrity.