:grouphug:

Most importantly, have her get the best TRAINING possible right now. Her own technique will become very important later. Ask to assist teachers, which may be just lining up little kids and getting props, but have her pay attention to how the teachers teach. A performing career is not always necessary- many of the most excellent performers aren't good teachers, rather they are good "demonstrators". But it will depend on whether she wants to teach classical ballet at a major city program, or a smaller recreational studio. The big company studios usually require extensive performing experience. Many rcrational studios hire former students with little training beyond what the studio provided to them. Likewise, some with little professional performance experience are excellent teachers, able to break down steps and explain it in a way that is easily understood. Diamond had a lifetime of very good training, but not full-time classical ballet, and no performing company experience. She has a very sharp eye for detail. A proud moment came via one of her high school musical students- he was not a dance student. He said she made him feel like he knew how to dance, when the previous choreographer just yelled at them for not knowing how to dance. If your DD plans to work with special needs students, she will likely need more formal training to more fully understand development and adaptive steps. A college degree would be best, but maybe there are studios and programs that would work with an apprentice. And working with older adult beginners is not the same as children or even teens. Progress will be weird- we may pick things up in our head long before our body is capable, and we'll have different goals- fitness and flexibility more so than going en pointe or getting a lead role in a dance production, KWIM? Also, many dance conventions have teacher training seminars, but usually you have to be 16 or 18, and are more of a supplement rather than all you need. And no matter what path she takes for the actual dance aspects, I VERY HIGHLY CANNOT EMPHASIZE THIS ENOUGH recommend some business and personal finance classes. In nearly every business I have experience with, especially dance studios and salons, very rarely was the actual quality of the service an issue- but poor business practices have driven us away from any otherwise good places. I have also watched very talented people go out of business due to a lack of business knowledge. And sadly, I have seen mediocre to poor quality places, dance studios included, thrive due to excellent business skills and marketing.

My kids are color-coded too! And we do personal supplies. We started that due to a 4.5yr age gap, with the older being super careful and the younger being very free-flowing, plus another 2yrs younger than her. So a 4yo, 6yo, and 11yo had vastly different needs as far as quality of supplies I did buy binders and filler paper and cheap notebooks for all, anybody wanting something different was free to buy their own with their own money- only one ever did, and not until college Also, each girl has different preferences for mechanical pencils, pens, and colored pencils. So even if supplies were communal they'd essentially have their own anyway. There has always been a communal bin for things like markers and paints. But one girl always bought her own Sharpies and kept them with her own things.

Replying inside your quote, since I can't figure out how to change fonts/colors on my iPad I'm especially proud of and impressed by Diamond's school. There is no choir or band program, and only 2 of the 9 featured dancers have ever had dance classes. So for them to put in such an amazing show and be nominated for the award is just awesome. The director, music director, and choreographer work very well together, and the kids love them. Enjoy the show! There no blue Monday in your Sunday clothes!

:grouphug:

Never too old. I would start my search for a Tai Chi class.

BabyBaby has taken martial arts for 8 of her 15 years. She also is an instructor in one of her styles. 4.5 would be the youngest I'd want to see... and ideally, a class no longer than 30-45 minutes, just for kids ages 4-6. Styles would depend on what's available in your area. If I were starting over with a 4yo, I'd spend the summer visiting all of the gyms/dojos available, either having him try out a class, or just observing with instructors permission. Also (this is my recommendation for dancers, too) observe an older/more advanced class too. It gives good insight as to class discipline, and also how many kids stick with it through higher ranks (especially for girls in martial arts) So... to avoid a belt factory, ask how advancing through belt levels works. It isn't uncommon for testing to be an additional fee, but if it is built into your financed payment plan, then I'd look elsewhere. A good answer would be, something like "When several students are ready to test, we schedule a testing day" but for a large gym, "Testing is scheduled once a month, but is only for students who are ready" would be OK. Also, how many belt levels between white and black? There are seven total in one of BabyBaby's styles. Another style has seven but with two extra added, if needed, for children under 18 since a black belt will not be awarded to anyone under 18. What to look for? For the little ones, an excellent teacher who can wrangle wiggly young children, still teach solid technique, and not neglect the students who are more focused while still reigning in the wiggly ones. Older students who have been with the gym for years, several black or other advanced belts Teens and adults just starting out Organized classes, my ideal is Just a little below old-school super-strict Everyone in proper uniforms A variety of class times, especially for the future. If classes are only offered two days/week or limited hours then it will likely not continue to work for you or the majority of the students, meaning there will be a lot of turnover and not as much long-term commitment, or you will have to pass on other opportunities because of the limited training schedule.

This totally made my day. Ozzy and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Ummmm how big is your fridge, and how small is your 11yo?

:grouphug: She must have really appreciated the flowers.

First, let me be very very clear that I agree one million% that the schools dress code is beyond idiotic. I also think it is terrible that these young ladies are being punished for doing things that have apparently been ignored in the recent past. However, these girls have gone to the school since K? So presumably, they were aware of the rules. And now the fight for their hair (reminder: I agree that the rule is every sort of wrong) is preventing them from athletic competition, Prom, and more? As a parent, if I chose to place my students in a school, I would still abide by the rules, even if I disagreed with them, and even if others seem to get away with violating them. (And I have done so at various homeschool classes) For exactly that reason: I wouldn't want my children's education and participation jeopardized over something like hair color, cleavage coverage, or the exact shade of khaki allowed in uniform pants. So, aside from all of that, I have to say that not allowing anything like nail polish, hair color (and am I understanding correctly- not just blue or fuschia, but also subtle highlights or anything in the natural colors but produced by dyes? CRAY FREAKING ZEE!), make up, hair extensions? And that is supposed to eliminate anybody knowing who can afford more expensive stuff? Do they require everyon to get a haircut from the same salon? Some broke folk can't even afford the $6.95 Children's coupon at Cost Cutters! Nothing stopping anyone from getting a $100 haircut. And no nail polish is just stupid. You can have a $75+ set of artificial nails with airbrush designs or buy a $1 bottle of Wet n Wild polish and do it yourself. So what? Does the school police the kids to find out if they got their tan at a spray booth, a European vacation, or mowing the lawn? Unless the school provides identical uniforms all the way down to the same underpants, socks, and bras, and has monthly mandatory haircuts and nail trimmings, and also requires all families to have identical vehicles and live in housing valued within 5% or so of all students... where will it end? I wish everybody was able to provide for all of their basic needs and many of their wants as well. But I cannot imagine how any of those schools rules will make that a reality. From my point of view, at best it provides an illusion of equal income/resources (sorry, best word escapes me) but does nothing truly useful.

Gas gift card, especially if your area has some nice gas stations that are more like upscale fast food places where you can get snacks, meals, good coffee, etc. If you have a homemade specialty, cookies, salsa, floral arrangement- add that if you wish. Amount? $25-$50 is a nice gesture, but not over the top extravagant, in my opinion. I'd even be pleased to get $10, especially if it truly was not out of my way. Another thought, take the dancers to a professional performance? What a blessing! I loved my dance carpool!

In my pajamas. Watching movies or playing mindless games in my iPad. Hopefully feeling well enough to eat the dinner DH makes. I would do absolutely nothing in hopes that the resting would help me get better more quickly.

AWESOME!!! Please remember to check back in a few months with an update!

I think interviewing volunteers is a very wise thing to do. Especially for an organization that is having a hard time getting people who are a good fit. I'd be hesitant to volunteer anywhere that just accepted everyone who walked through the door. And I also wouldn't want to sign up to volunteer somewhere, get started, and two weeks in realize it isn't right for me.

So angry for that girl. BT/DT, actually educated a youth pastor and had it resolved well- either EVERYONE wears a tshirt with their swimsuit, boys included, or no one has to. He had no horrible intentions, just was following a suggested guideline that he didn't realize would single out exactly one girl. And with the "no cleavage" rule, I know a young lady who is a doubleAAminus who could wear a v-neck open to her waist. Super padded push up bras dont even help. She is the Modesty Police's dream. :rolleyes:

Ooooh now we have a mystery, too! Please keep the updates coming, and hug your DD for me! I hope she can prevent girls from feeling like mine were made to feel.

Is there room under your rock for me? I want to travel back in time to long before I ever heard of this, too. For the record, my oldest was eight. I was terrified that my TODDLER's dress would ride up above her knees in the nursery, so I made her wear tights, even on hot days. I'm way too much of a rule-follower, and I was still trying to fit in and be what I was taught that a "good" Christian homeschooler would do. But yes, every dress code we've been subject to mentioned not being a distraction to boys or causing them to stumble. To this day, the word "defraud" makes me physically ill. It's so sad it's almost funny. But I gotta give them credit for simply saying "You're figure is too mature to wear that here" instead of making up some extra BS rule for everybody Yes, this. :rolleyes:

About the college students: it may be true that most won't be life-long or even year-round residents, and of course their classes should come first, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to volunteer. They just need to be given assignments that can be flexible in their timing. Sorting, cleaning, pricing, rather than staffing the cash register. And perhaps they can have a more modern scheduling system, like signing up or picking tasks online somehow. College students can also promote the shop via social media, featuring books, reviews, special events. Publicity and marketing most likely need to be modernized to reach more and new people. Whatever is already working well can continue as it has been.

Sorry, I've never been a landlord. I guess I don't see a difference between not getting $100/month and taking the $100 and then turning it around into a few cans of paint or a shower head. Either way you don't end up with the $100. Not arguing, just not getting it. I do hope you're able to keep your good tenants, though!

Over the year that is $1,200, which sounds like just over half of a month's rent? Not a huge savings, and probably very little impact on their decision. How about instead asking if there are any small updates that they would like? New carpet or professional cleaning, paint- not boring beige, new shower head... Things typically not in rentals, or only upgraded/redone when a tenant moves. I had a friend who was a 10+ year renter in a "lower upscale" rental community. Excellent tenant, but she planned to move out if they didn't replace her carpet. It was old, cheap, and no professional cleaning was going to make it better. Over the years she saw new carpet going into many units as tenants moved out, she just wanted something to feel new. She stayed several more years after.

I'm jealous! If I went back to work doing hair in salons, I would absolutely invest in one of those. That would mean I could take 3-4 appointments in the time I used to be able to only do 1-2. Working on commission, that would double my income and pay for itself in one or two weeks. When I upgraded to $200 clippers (20+years ago) I found it took about half the time, and also got better cleaner results. I'd never buy that dryer for home use, though.

Awesome! Dress codes at homeschool groups have done lasting damage to my girls. None of us care what the actual dress code is, whether it's "Don't show up naked" or "Don't wear a tank top two days in a row. You can only wear your hair in a ponytail once a week. On Wednesdays we wear pink. You can only wear jeans or track pants on Friday." (Mean Girls, LOL!) or even that the uniform is a blue feathered chicken suit. What is wrong is when it's phrased so that girls don't "distract" boys and also seems to be applied in such a way that only pretty girls with b00ks are a problem. Looking foreward to the updates here!

Actually, there is no need to have floral centerpieces at any event, and I have never seen them at any graduation party. I rarely even see them at weddings anymore. For Diamond's grad party, the centerpiece or table decorations were baskets of candy and potato chips/pretzels. I will likely do the same for SweetChild. I would much rather spend every penny of my very limited budget on food, so if I get flowers as a centerpiece, they will be an edible variety LOL!

I like the idea, but I know my 47yo DH would probably pick up and expolre a table centerpiece, even with a sign, because he doesn't read signs LOL! I would not want to have to spend an entire party keeping an eye on a child who wants to see and touch everything. If these are such treasured prize possessions that any loss or disassemblage would be unthinkable, best to not risk it. Unless you can find a safer spot for display, but I vote against table cebterpieces. A tray of LEGO to play with might be a better and more fun option.