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CLHCO

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Everything posted by CLHCO

  1. Oh, I've had this for years and I love it! Of course, you could always go with this version of Walk Like and Egyptian:
  2. Totally agreement about the shelving. Put toys into cheap, clear plastic shoe or sweater boxes - up on the shelf. When one is put away into its container and ready to be put away, then they may ask for the next. I organize by types of things that play well together. My daughter loved tents, so before moving I bought her a little circus tent and she was to us that for her little messy items, like her Littlest Pet Shop toys. The tent contained the toys, and even if she had them scattered inside the tent, everything else looked nice. Pet nets are helpful, but put them up high where friends are seen, but only brought out by you. Right now we're using a bungee cord for stuffed animals because we don't have room for a pet net, and it works ok, but my daughter does have access to it. This makes it far less likely they'll be picked up, but since I have control of the other toys, she will if she wants them brought out. Less is more, too. I learned the hard way, when my older daughters were little, that life is far more stressful, and therefore far less "fun" when there are simply too many toys. We cut them down to the level we need (we live in a 39' bus now) and if she wants a new one, something must go. I will admit that I am very happy in a small living environment right now. My last house was too big, and I'm a chronic disorganized mess. More space really isn't the answer, just less stuff. Smaller space, less stuff, and you can clean it top to bottom so much more quickly. Kids don't get as overwhelmed with the size of the messes, either, so there are fewer headaches trying to walk them through cleaning a monster mess.
  3. If memory serves, I have some old homemade cabbage patch doll clothes that fit a build-a-bear. I think you can still find cabbage patch doll patterns. If not new, try ebay.
  4. Yep. That's what we did, with a few exceptions. I did save our nice mattress, but I could get rid of it if I need to. I kept a few indulgences because we had a space on my parents' property, but if they sell this place, we will have to rent, and I guarantee I will manage somehow to get it all into one of those 5x8 spots. Just enough for winter/summer clothing swaps, precious memories (already secured in only 2 large, sturdy plastic tubs and kept to a minimum), and books to swap out now and then. That's it. I missed something maybe once in the last month. I got over it and now I don't remember what I missed. ;) The clean break has been soooo freeing.
  5. Well, I "officially" live in a 300 sq ft converted bus. (For the moment, it is parked on my parents' property and we use their house often, but that will change in January when we take off.) I do not love the fact that it still needs some renovation. I need more shelving hung and organizing. That said, so far (only lived this way for a month) I really appreciate having so few items, less area to clean, and having to prioritize. Everything I own must be scrutinized for a proper location - one that can be stable when driving, so just stacking things is not an option. For someone chronically disorganized, that has helped me tremendously. I own very little anymore. For school, I have to simplify. We have a used e-reader, a used Sony, and that will get us everything from McGuffey readers to large numbers of classic literature. Computers supply research, and even a few school subjects. I have a shelf where the curriculum that would never work on computer can be put away (Math/English/Handwriting). I do have a other books in storage and we can rotate those out.
  6. It would be better than a DVD. A skype teacher can at least get an idea of correct intonation and technique that needs adjusting. It can take some time for a teacher not used to working with video to learn how to express things verbally that need to be conveyed, since it's visually more limiting, and you cannot help adjust positions in person, but we are gradually figuring out how to work together. I am there for my son's lesson, so if he needs a gentle hand on the shoulder to avoid lifting it at times, or other in-person things, I can help. I have found skype lessons very effective for us, personally, but finding a teacher who will do it can be tricky. It's a new format, and not everyone is set up for it, let alone sold on the idea.
  7. Violin is best in person, because there are a lot of small movements that it's important to be in the room with a good teacher. That said, my son is taking virtual lessons from someone in another state, but it's because he wants advanced fiddle from someone who is also Suzuki trained, and there just wasn't anyone around and I couldn't travel one more place a week any longer. My son went through most of book 4 in Suzuki before moving to this, and the fiddle teacher is making sure he maintains his learned technique while studying fiddle, in case he goes back again to classical, but I'm not sure I'd trust having my son move on to advanced classic instruction through virtual lessons. There are home DVD lessons, and if the goal is to do this for pure personal enjoyment, they are reasonable, but if there is a goal of being competitive, they likely won't get you there. I personally don't think everyone needs to play like a master. Small opportunities for family/community enjoyment is just as important, so if the only option is DVD, and you understand the limits, check to see what is out there through major publishers, like Mel Bay. They usually have many reviews on amazon to look through.
  8. Here are my questions: Can he hurt his hands/wrists/fingers playing this much? Probably not, if using decent technique. I have a daughter who plays sometimes for an hour, then we have up to 2 hour programs in the evenings on an acoustic bluegrass guitar, though she uses some jazz techniques. I know of players going up to 4-5 hours a day. It will hurt your fingers, but my daughter has some Popeye calluses right now. I make her show them off. Pretty young fingers with massive Popeye calluses. :tongue_smilie: Just watch for carpal tunnel on those young wrists. You should get some advice on gentle stretches, and playing without tension. It can usually be avoided. How do I know he is with the right teacher who can help him learn what he needs to know? We've told his teacher his goal. His teacher was talking about knowing jazz chords and not just regular chords. He says DS wants to be 5 steps ahead of where he is right now. The best thing to do is to ask around. First ask what this teacher knows about the subject, and what his experience is with jazz. If you're not satisfied, find out who plays jazz successfully in the area, and who he/she studies under. Your ds can catch up to where he needs to be with that much work, if it's productive work and not just playing mistakes over and over again. Hopefully, with a good teacher, that won't be the case. Most kids studying hard on this are not studying correctly, giving sufficient time to practice, or with the right techniques, so if your son, even if he's behind, gets on the ball, he can do great. I'll probably have other questions based on your answers. :lol: Already edited to add: He'll need another instrument b/c he needs to be in concert band in order to be in jazz band. The director is always saying he need trombone players but DS isn't really sold on the idea. Tuba. Just sayin'. ;) Actually, any instrument that gets him reading music more will benefit him. The more he does it, even on another instrument, the more he'll improve musicianship.
  9. It's hard to say. If your daughter sings lightly as sort of a childhood idea in her head of what quiet and pretty sounds like, but in other situations has a much stronger voice, perhaps it's just an encouragement to sing out. I have hold my youngest to sing out before, when she is just being coy and quiet, but that's because I know her voice and what she's doing. (She is definitely not a quiet kid, but likes to experiment and play coy, iykwim.) However, it could be more than that, and the pushing for volume and Broadway type sound is a very common thing with musical theater, and what others are cautioning against. If it's only once a week and she isn't doing it for long or pushing hard, it likely isn't causing a problem, but if she's wiping out her voice once a week on a longer practice, it's more of an issue. Is her voice at all tired or hoarse sounding after practice? Clearing her throat a lot? If not, just keep an eye out for what seems to be an over-zealous director with an image in her mind of a sound she wants to force, despite obvious weary voices. Yes, bad habits can develop, unless musical theater is the main goal, but the gal I know with long-term damage practiced for a couple of hours, sometimes a few times a week for a local theater company as well as for her high school musicals. She was given roles that were always pushing the edge of her range - higher than she comfortably could handle, and the push was for that rich "Broadway" sound. They loved her voice and designed performances around her, pushing it to the limits. I see my niece in a similar show choir and theater company right now and I cringe at the directors. They do a 3-5 hour dress rehearsal practice then a performance that evening, as well as start the next project while the performances of the other are still going, practicing in the day, performing in the evening. :glare: It's insane.
  10. :iagree: I seem to remember reading an article (ambleside online?) that explained the advantages from an educational standpoint. In my opinion, it's easier for a child to get used to the KJV vocabulary than for an adult. I know many adults who won't even use the KJV as an alternate translation because the wording intimidates them. I hope to avoid this with my children from earlier exposure.
  11. :iagree: Great advice, and exactly what to "watch for" if you do seek voice lessons for your younger child. Any teacher should tell you up front that he/she will only focus on things like this if that teacher knows anything about the voice of a child, you shouldn't even have to ask. I personally love seeing a child follow anything into music he or she is passionate about, regardless of the age... *if* you have a teacher who understands the limits and how to work with that child to build long-term skills, not just what will sound good for the moment. Worse than this, I knew a young woman in college who had her voice ruined by excessive musical theater, belting it out for many hours of rehearsals, and singing sometimes on the extremes of her range. The damage was permanent. Show choirs and musical theater can be the worst, especially since there often are big performances scheduled and unlike a choir, single voices are depended on, so "the show must go on" mentality puts pressure on directors to pressure the children.
  12. That's a thought I hadn't considered. I'll do some looking and maybe call the nurse Monday.
  13. My son (10yo) has had reoccurring incidents of shivering for the last 2 weeks, often without feeling cold and without a fever. I sometimes notice he's mildly pale - could be my imagination though- and/or has cold hands during these times, but otherwise, swears he feels just fine. I haven't figured out anything specific that could be causing this. It goes away after anywhere from 10-30 or so minutes, and he's back to normal. Does anyone know what could cause this? I tried doing a google search and the only thing I got was either for fever (none), or reactions to medication (he isn't on any), vitamin deficiency (not likely - we eat pretty balanced and he takes a multivitamin), insect bites, etc. Hypothyroid is another, but he's a rather energetic child with no change there either, so it doesn't fit. Any other thoughts?
  14. I do something similar to this, though not really for training, but simply for sanity. I fought with my older daughters for years on messes - still do some, but I am just not together enough to be consistent when the overwhelming mess occurs - 5 minutes into playing every time. I wish I had done the following years ago. For my younger two, toys are kept either above the closet, where my daughter can't reach them without my getting them down, or for my son, in the basement. They are in their own little containers, and they check them out one at a time, only getting the next if the first is ready to be put away. It's the only way I could manage it. For paper, my daughter can destroy a room in minutes with a pair of scissors, markers and paper! I could be on the phone for two minutes, walk back into the room and it would be covered! :lol: Honestly? I put a *lock* on the school cabinet where all craft supplies are kept so she must get me when I am in a position to handle the mess and make sure it's tended to. I even put a lock on the hall linen closet because she was into making blanket forts and would destroy it before I could turn around. I could have her ask, but she gets so excited with ideas she would forget, the mess would be made, and we'd get frustrated over and over again. She still gets to make forts, but only if I'm able to deal with the mess. The lock reminders her to ask. That said, my two would still have missed out on swimming by having to look at the floor and see laundry, and I would have been frustrated and let them miss. Sigh.
  15. This! Say it calmly, do not get angry no matter what. Just have it so. This is a very real life answer to the problem, not just a "punishment". Sometimes we do have "too much" we think must come before daily responsibilities, and our priorities must be set straight. It also helps to learn to handle those effectively, away from distractions of outings with friends, etc.
  16. When I was growing up, the common thought was to separate so they develop their own individuality. That's not the case anymore. Quite often, now they can be kept together, where they often do not feel as isolated, alone, and therefore have more confidence with their twin near them. However, that's not the case with all twins, and probably less so with boy/girl twins, but it depends on their personalities and relationship. If one hinders the other significantly, it can seem like a good idea to separate them. Of course, this can backfire and have the quiet twin pull even further into his or herself. Twin dynamics vary as much as any family situation. For younger years, I am a fan of keeping them together unless there is a reason to separate. Mine only went to preschool and kindergarten before homeschool, but they were kept together. As they mature, they will naturally start to separate from different interests, middle and high school class schedules, etc.
  17. Great advice here, especially about team building. That can go a long way. I remember reading a book years ago, (sorry - can't remember which one!), where they discussed a boys camp with major issues of disrespect towards one another, mean behaviors, cruelty, etc. The camp, which focused on a great deal of competitive activities, decided to switch gears, and instead found a situation where they would have to unite and work together, kind of like Nanny McPhee 2, where they go catch pigs. It was something real, not a cheesy game. The fix was almost over-night for the camp, though a family will take longer because of years building the negative pattern. A family goal, vision, hobby, or other activity can do wonders in the long run. I would drop some school at least, though some aspects can be used for that character building. You must have the energy to work on this and trying to juggle too much will make you crazy and unable to model the behaviors you would like to see. I think that part is critical. If you can't model the behavior yourself because you are overstressed, you can't succeed. A leader in our local homeschool community once said that a child doesn't drop out of school because no one taught Johnny to read in the 2nd grade. He drops out because he has poor character. (We're discussing children capable, not with disabilities.) With good character, he will put in the work and learn to read, going even further, despite any disadvantage as a young child. Poor character will have him blaming everyone and using it as an excuse to continue a downward spiral. I think character trumps academics when push comes to shove, because the former will far more easily give you both. However, as I said above, you can use some academics to build aspects of that character, if that works for you right now. Only you know best what you can manage.
  18. I'm definitely a more "free spirit" online than off, but only by a bit. In truth, my online world has made me more obnoxious in real life too. :tongue_smilie: That said, I think I'd freak and wonder what stupid things I've said that will forever taint their view of me. :lol:
  19. It's a cowboy church, but I bet you could sneak by! It is a service, so we'll only play about 35 minutes, then there will be a sermon, if I understood the format correctly. There is a link on our web site (linked below) in the calendar area. We hoped to also find someplace to play in San Antonio before heading to Arizona, but no luck, so we'll just jam at our room in New Braunfels. The neighbors can appreciate it or not. :nopity: We will have 2 days we can go into San Antonio with no other commitments (unless they take busking :tongue_smilie:), so we'll see about that historic market square too. I'm all for hot chocolate.
  20. I didn't figure there was a "real" mountain in Austin, being from Colorado. :tongue_smilie: What time is the bat flight? Probably too late for us, sadly. We have to be in Liberty Hill at 6:30, but my son would *love* to see a bat flight.
  21. I swear, sometimes it seems like people feel better when you just lie, or at least, uh, volunteer no truthful information. I just spit out the truth sometimes and I think I get looked at weird - or may it's my imagination. I am terribly disorganized, we have an inconsistent schedule, I'm a relaxed homeschooler because I'd fail trying to homeschool any other way, and I hang out on the computer to much. (Duh) I seem to have no problem blurting that out, but the "must look good" type of mommies don't seem to take comfort in it. A few may, but many really think you're supposed to be perfect and I'm leading others astray or something, like I should instead hang my head in shame and quit admitting it, and go *fix* it instead. It's a good thing I'm far to relaxed to care. :tongue_smilie: I'll keep blurting out the cold, hard truth.
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