My best friend has four boys, all in public school. They are ANGELS in school. She helps out in their classrooms now and then and always comes home SHOCKED about how independent and well-behaved they are at school. Their teachers love them. They are the opposite at home. They won't hang up their backpacks, pick up after themselves, or through trash away. They are mouthy and demanding. They wear her out every summer. She is one of those parents jumping for joy as the bus approaches. I can't say my own children are much better. They are wonderful and respectful for their Karate teachers (Sensei), but I'm just their mom.... I feel like I will be on Youtube someday under "Stupid Parent Tricks." But, I also have three toilets - if I only had some earplugs and a backbone... :confused:

Honestly, I wouldn't be able to keep my mouth shut either (I spend a fair amount of time bitting my tongue). My oldest would be very disappointed and would probably sound off to the nearest person in charge asap. Good or bad, he's all about the "rules." For example, our local homeschool group put on a spelling bee. It was conducted by volunteers with little experience or instruction on how to run it. My oldest made it out of the first round. Then when the second round began he noticed that the person running the second round was conducting it in a slightly different manner. As soon as he noticed this, he raised his hand (he was 10) and pointed out the inconsistancy:eek: - and there was silence and then someone said "let's stop and get some guidance on this." It was settled and my ds was eliminated on the word "obnoxious" ...:p But we decided that a paralegal (at the law firm he would be running) would probably catch his misspellings anyway... He accepted the loss because it was clear to him that it was fair. I think he would have imploded if he were in your daughter's position. kd

on her laptop. She started to have problems with her programs running slow. Well, she had a trojan virus called Virtumonde. http://www.dslreports.com/faq/13331 It was a real pain to clean off. It doesn't show up on your task bar and it clones itself all over your computer. Hand to run a program called VindoFix and then run another... It took hours to get it off and when we were finally able to get it off, we installed AVG's free line of products. Wished we had done it sooner.

filled in the missing pieces with Phonic Pathways. Used ETC alongside Abeka's Handbook for Reading (REALLY DEcodable) and sight word bingo. k

That way you and your dh can team up on Tanks (Wii Play Favorite)!! Wii Play only comes with a wiimote/remote. I would get a rechargeable battery set up - we don't have the stand for the remotes, we just use a regular AA battery recharger that plugs into a nearby outlet. I like to keep my wii gear out of sight, so I don't like the idea of the wii recharger stand. YMMV. Current favorite games are Raybid Rabbits (sp?), Hottest Party Dance Dance (DDR), and Wii Play. We got a bit burned out on Wii Sports, but will play it when we have company.

Favorite Movie: True Romance Favorite TV Show: Arrested Development :(

and make you forget they are Russell Crowe or Meryl Streep.... My other favorites Johnny Depp, Val Kilmer, Chris Cooper, Joaquin Phoenix, Anthony Hopkins, and Christian Slater. I was watching some "extra bonus features" on an House DVD about the "House Band" and was kinda shocked about how much Hugh Laurie looked like an old, homeless, Brit (his clothing choices were awlful and his bald spot was showing) - not the sexy Dr. House. The illusion was broken...:confused: I don't really want to know about the actors personal lives. They are never as interesting as the characters they play and if they are -- it's not in a good way. k

so I have a bottom chuck roast covered with onion soup mix and a can of cream of mushroom soup - all wrapped up in foil and cooking in the oven for 4 hours. I will be making some mashed potatoes, orange glazed carrots and a spinach salad.

it tests only Language/English and Mathematics as required by Va Code. kd

http://www.vahomeschoolers.org/noi/filing_NOI.asp#option_i I keep it simple and don't give them anymore than is stated. hth k

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:)

I *think* I started visiting these boards in 2001. I am 40 years old. Married to my dh since 1990. We live in almost Northern VA - just south of where dh and I grew up. I did the career thing for the first five years of our marriage. Then we had the boys and I embraced mommyhood and never looked back. My dh is my best friend and a wonderful husband (25 days a month)....My mom lives fairly close by and she blesses me with her understanding and confidence daily. My best girlfriend is a childhood friend who lives down the road. I don't have loads of friends, but I seem to like it that way. I really like my alone time. I found WTM at the library way back and loved the idea of chronological history. After many attempts at classical, we have evolved to a more eclectic than classical homeschool, but I find lots of useful stuff here. I consider myself pretty unconventional compared to my few friends. We haven't had tv in four years and avoid most pop culture. I have my own ideas about religion. I have a very dry sense of humor. I like to curse in my home when my children aren't around. I don't like girly flicks - prefer intense, non-linear storylines in movies (fav movie "True Romance"). I read all my news online (local, national and foreign). I vote in every election (local & national). I hate shopping and only buy stuff when I have to. We drive old cars and have cheap furnishings. I have very eclectic tastes. I don't care to keep up with the Jones'. I don't like being around groups of people or doing group activities (and I was socialized in PS). I am opinionated, but realize that there are few that share my opinions. I think I'd like to sit down for coffee with GothicGyrl and Michelle T. I have a feeling we'd get ourselves kicked out of Starbucks though...:eek: My hobby is self-educating. I'm working through Russian Math 6 and reading a bunch of parenting books (my 11 year old is putting me through he wringer). I love math and frequent Kitchentablemath site as well as Joanne Jacobs' site. I enjoy this board because I find the people who visit this board interesting and smart. I have learned so much here - both about homeschooling and living. I feel like I am almost "consulting the Oracle" when I log on with a question for the boards..:) Nicksmama

They get up around 7:30 and do their own thing until 8:45 when I expect them dressed and ready for breakfast then lessons start at 9 or 9:30. I get up early to have my "alone time" and they generally spend the first hour of the day having their "alone time" -- keeps us from getting on each other's nerves. I think Michelle T and GothicGirl are my cyber sisters.

Walmart should have installed a downloading script to your pc. It will automatically download a song when you complete your order. If it's only one song, it should happen fairly quickly. The song will appear in your Windows Media Player. You must click on it in Windows Media Player and play it one time through to activate the licensing agreement before you can download it to a portable device or burn it to CD. I've had trouble in the past and had to call their tech support. They were very helpful in getting my song downloaded. Give them a call. You just need your account info. kd

My best friend has called me to help her figure out her 3rd graders homework:eek:. Teacher's supplement it with Mad Minutes math drills. I don't think my county has seen the results of it yet (the student's using it haven't reached middle school).

I love the header! :)