[Our standard poodle was attacked by a pit bull yesterday]

 I had a neighbor who had a boxer that people were always calling a pit bull and expressing concern about it. It was odd. 

 

I have a white natural eared boxer that is constantly getting called a pit. Something with the head shape I think.

[Gluten-Free Baking Classics free for Kindle]

TY!

 

[Aw man - American Heritage Girls - age cutoffs?]

I'm curious about this.  Are there written rules about what age girls have to be when they are allowed to do things?  Are these included in the girl handbook or available online?

 

Most are in the leader handbooks and in our communications with National.

[Anyone care to explain their user name?]

Well mine is half obvious and half not. My name + the numbers of my favorite Psalm.:)

[Aw man - American Heritage Girls - age cutoffs?]

I worded that poorly. I am in leadership also, but I am an assistant so I have never had to deal with ordering of badges. When we were in discussions over this with national they said they would not accept the orders (not that the leaders were turning in actual work just the request for the badges) of a child who is not old enough to be in that level. Now maybe this doesnt matter for basic badges and the problem would only arise when the level award came into play, but that was a response from national. They said that their computer simply wouldnt allow her to receive the wrong level of badges based on the birthday entered in the system. 

 

Another reason they gave for not permitting leveling early is high adventure and the rules for camping without a parent. Explorers are supposed to be old enough to do these things, but if they enter in before the age cutoff they are not permitted to.

 

The last reason was maturity in the higher grades...I agree and disagree with this one. Clearly you want them to be mature enough, but some are mature enough and are not making the cutoff by days/months and some are not mature enough but they make the birthday cutoff. 

 

We have an old troop. Way back when there wasnt such a cut and dry cutoff date and things were left up to the discretion of the troop board. It has since changed to be very strict. 

 

As for the pp who mentioned doing an extra year of tenderhearts. I wouldnt suggest doing so. That age group is a difficult one. The first graders are usually so much younger than the third graders. That last year as a tenderheart is usually a challenge as the girl is feeling it and is ready to move on and is often bored with the level of material. To do a 4th year might be very trying. I really wish national would come up with a better pathfinder program that includes the 1st graders and then beefed up the tenderheart level for the 2nd and 3rd graders. JMO though...

 

Gotcha. Tha new computer system they have is changing the playing field. We are an old troop too. We were the first troop outside of Ohio back in 1999.  

 

If you were going to do an extra year in a unit I would choose Explorers for the reasond you mentioned. You can't do a extra in PiPa becasue then they get an extra year to work on S&S badges. I like the idea of a 1st & 2nd grade program though.

 

[Aw man - American Heritage Girls - age cutoffs?]

I can tell you from experience that AHG headquarters is very strict on this. It is highly unlikely (especially if you are newer and it is not a grandfathered from old rules situation) that they will bend. They go by the cutoff date they set and that is that. If your local troop tries to bend the rules to let her advance, she will have difficulties when her work is submitted for badges. They will be expecting her to receive the tenderheart level badges and I doubt you will sneak by them and get her the Explorer level. Now if your troop will still be getting her the badges at the tenderheart level but allow her to sit in the Explorer level group...I guess headquarters cant say too much about that...

 

 I am intrigued by the bolded. I have been in AHG leadership for 7 years and have never had to submitt anything to National for badges. I order what I need and unless is is a High School level award needed for the Stars & Stripes they never say anything. Have you had to?

 

Jenn

[Aw man - American Heritage Girls - age cutoffs?]

3 months is not a big difference. Seems to be splitting hairs. I personally would allow her to move up.

 

[Aw man - American Heritage Girls - age cutoffs?]

When is her birthday? The cutoff dates are Oct. 31 for AHG

 

Jenn

[What age for a phone? And why?]

Hannah was 11 and going away without us with her chorus to Disneyland. It was a semi-dumb phone.

[At what age did / will you give your kid a house key?]

DD 13 just got one because she gets home on one night earlier than I do because she gets a ride.

 

Jenn

[More silliness is needed....]

You got: Xcess Ripped Body Spray

You place a lot of importance on the physical aspects of life. You’re very direct, and hate it when people don’t say what they really mean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You got: You’re Dot from “Animaniacsâ€!

Bb, you’re weird. And I mean that in the absolute best possible way. You’re cute and you know it, but you’re also wonderfully, hilariously, fantastically—and genuinely—weird.

 

 

["I used to like science...]

There is a Notebook that goes with it now. I am using it to teach my DD to do the lab writie ups and then will expect her to do them on her own next year

[S/O- family recipes or things your parents cooked you WILL NOT USE.]

My mom was a good cook but my mil overcooks everything. I remember the first time I cooked him broccoli. My mom steamed her veggies before it was popular and I credit that with why I will eat so many veggies. So the first meal I made for him I steam the broccoli just right, tender and just that perfect bright green hue and he took a bite and timidly said, "Umm I think that this is under done?" I looked at him like he had two heads.

 

We laughed eventually when we figured out his mom's would boil the canned veggies and would often forget them. The smoke detector was often the oven timer.

[I can't stay within my grocery budget :(]

:svengo:

 

I wonder if I can teach DS how to secretly hunt buffalo.

 

In the SF bay area.

 

You can come up here to the North Bay and hunt wild pigs! Can you say sausage? :thumbup:

[What do farmers/ranchers grow in your area?]

Grapes. Lots and lots of grapes. I live in the Northern California wine country. We also have cows, apples, plums and sheep but most of the land is vineyards. 

[What size would come next for girls' jeans?]

JC Penny's used to carry up to 16 in both plus and slim. 

[Anyone's daughter achieve "Eagle Scout" equivalent in GSA or AHG?]

We have girls that do Venturing and AHG. Feasibility depends on how active your units(AHG & Venture) are and if you can count some of the things in both. In our area Venturing does more high adventure trips than our AHG Troop.  

 

We do tend to lose girls when they realize the work involved in getting their S&S. However, we do tell them that they can go one of two ways. S & S or just stay in and have fun. S&S is encouraged but not a requirement. They tend to choose other activties or for some of our homeschooled girls they chose to take CC classes and that interfers etc. 

 

As Laurel-in-Ca (same troop) said we have 3 very strong canidates but they are all sophmores and are just beginning. As far a the faith aspect I think that the award requirement would make the girl work through her issues if she did the requirements honestly. We pray and talk about Jesus but we also work on our badges and other things so comfort is in the eye of the beholder and in how the troop handles itself. We are Christians, we love jesus but we are not at a church service nor do we (meaning our troop) want to be.

 

 

[Girls and social clubs / cliques / marginalizing others....]

I run an all AHG troop and we do not tolerate any behavior like the you discribed. We as leaders work very hard to make sure no one gets left out and to teach the girls to include all of the other girls regardless of it they are not the closest of friends. There are girls that my DD does not relate to very well but she knows to be polite and sincere in her interactions.

 

I hope that this program has values, procedures and leaders that work toward helping all the girls enjoy the program.  

 

 

edited becasue the term "all girls AHG troop" is a little redundant.  :laugh:

[Explain Keurig AND reusable coffee filters as if I were 4 years old]

I love the ease of the k-cups. I don't find it any more expensive than the coffee I was buying. And I use the machine for oatmeal, tea and a host of other things I cannot remember right now. (need more coffee)

[Baby names that have NO potential of ever being revived]

We chose Hannah for our 13 year old in 2001 and it was not even in the top 25. Right after that it became really popular.  :crying:

[Baby names that have NO potential of ever being revived]

I was thinking that Eugene could make a come back in a few year becasue of Tangled and Evangeline( love this name. DH said no)was in Nanny McPhee and The Princess and the Frog.

 

 

[WWS with ????? Is it possible?]

Not unresonable at all. My 8th grader is doing WW2, Ultimate Grammar 8, Wordly Wise 9 and Lightening Lit 8.

[(female content)Mom cloth or Cloth diaper users...diy question]

Cervix?   I don't think the instructions said anything about a cervix.  I just stick the cup in but it stays closer to the opening.  Like a tampon, only a different shape and it doesn't stick in as far.  

 Oh. I was told it had to be up by the cervix. I may have to do more research! :) Thanks!

[(female content)Mom cloth or Cloth diaper users...diy question]

I understand.  I have to take iron one week a month, otherwise I bleed myself anemic.  Even the Super Tampons only last about an hour to an hour and half during my heavy time, and then I need a pad anyway.  

 

Yes, it can handle it.  I use several layers of microfiber in the middle with PUL on the outer edge.  With my first batch I wasn't sure what size to do (I was winging it) so I've only had a problem with the skinny ones.  

 

Have you looked into getting a Deva Cup (or one of the other brands)?  It is the next best thing to just not having a period.  (There is a thread here on them)  I think they are even more useful for people like us.  eta: I bought mine at the cloth diaper store.  

 

Cloth diapers are amazing! 

 

Thanks for the response. I have thought about the cup but my cervix is tilted and set so far back that I can't reach it :(

 

I may just have to make a small batch of them and try them out. worst that can happen is stained clothes and that already happens. ;)

[(female content)Mom cloth or Cloth diaper users...diy question]

I am curious now. You all make mama cloth sound easy. I have just tryed cloth diapers for the first time and am love it. I have a 10 week old EBF baby and am not need them now but will. 

 

I tend to be a heavy bleeder so I would worry about leakage. I overwelm overnight disposibles sometimes (that is all I use day or night). Sorry if TMI, just want ya'll to know understand what I mean by heavy bleeding. I bleed faster than the rate of absorbancy.

 

Can cloth hand that IYO?