We don't address family members (DVM, DMD, MD, PhD, Fr., Lt., Chief, whatever) by title or rank. Those are professional designations. Even when they're working, being addressed in name only by a family member wouldn't be noticed. Frankly, I don't believe any of them would expect to be addressed, or introduced, even, by their professional designation in any social situation, except at professional-type cocktail parties and whatnot. There is a different standard of address for familiars than professional acquaintances, or hierarchical co-workers. After 10 years, I still call my neighbors "Mr and Mrs", as do my children, but my children call their close adult friends by first name.

Ooooh, interesting. Can also just say how much I appreciate that you (Bill) are aesthetically compulsive enough to coordinate the background of your avatar to your colorful signatures? :D

Ok, I voted "no, because it just doesn't happen that often". Yes, it would absolutely bother me if my kids were given junk food regularly by relatives, friends and neighbors. (And, yes, I find it really irritating when my mother does it) But, in our world, most of our friends and family who would give my kids something eat as well as we do, and are at least as mindful of offering goodies as we are. So if the lady at the haircut place asks me if they are allowed to have sugar, and pulls out a jar of lollipops, I don't begrudge them the treat. (And I am most appreciative that she asked discreetly before offering.) My head would fly off if they came out of a regular lesson with Skittles every time, though.

Angela, here. I've been here... I don't know. I lurked on an off for years, but I'm not sure when I crossed over into posting. We have four children - 20, 8, 4 and 4. My eldest daughter went to public school all the way through. I was less than satisfied with the, uh, "academic rigor" of the whole affair, and even less happy with the social dynamic. When we made the decision for me to stay home full time, I started researching homeschooling, and The Well-Trained Mind was the first book/style that really spoke to me. Bailey is doing third grade: Growing With Grammar, Mammoth Math Division I, Story of the World Vol 3, Evan-Moor Daily Geography, Living Learning Books Chemistry, Lively Latin, First Start French, Spencerian Penmanship, and Bastien Piano. Holden and Quinn are pre-K: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, memory work with the Goops and other verse, and various activities relating to literature, math, and nature study. Welcome to the new people! There is a wealth of information and wisdom on these boards. :D

Well, on the surface of your questions - our electrician used to habitually take his granddaughter out for breakfast and then to school (the corner diner in town has closed, so I don't know if he still does), and I have no idea if she lived with them or her parents work a very early shift or what. I never really thought to inquire; he just called a couple of times when he was coming to do work and mentioned that he'd be over after breakfast and school drop-off. (small town, they live about 3 blocks away) So I wonder if it wasn't unheard of for the uncle, particularly if he was staying there, to go out for breakfast and take her with him if she was up and other family members weren't? I don't know why it would be difficult to determine whether he lived there, unless the investigating officers hadn't put in their report by the time the news story went out. Telling them to watch the 6:00 news would be weird, though... I mean, doesn't that imply he won't be back? :001_huh: That's really sad. I wonder what's behind it all.

We use Seventh Generation and have great results - never any dinginess, spots come out, etc. As Carrie pointed out, I think the effectiveness (of anything) is dependent on the water. We have extremely soft water (as I discovered last fall, when I tested it as part of a product review) and the Seventh Generation products, including laundry detergent and dishwasher powder, outclean even the standard national brands here. I have noticed, though, when we're on vacation and I do laundry at the laundromat (which I'm pretty sure is on a well) my clothes don't look as clean. Interesting, huh? I would second the recommendation of Bi-O-Kleen. Their products are great. They don't work so well in my house, but I know they work well elsewhere.

And might I point out that the world is worse off since you discontinued My World Science? :crying:

Well, if it's any indication, I went to a conference for umbrella school directors earlier this year, and lost several hours of my life to learning how the "keynote" speaker was biblically called to homeschool, how grateful people in... somewhere are for his church's ministry... honestly, the only point made that had anything at all to do with running an umbrella was a story about him realizing that, in doing reviews primarily with mothers (because mothers primarily are the day-in, day-out teachers in their homes) he was putting them in a awkward position of whether to submit to his authority or their husbands'. Ok, that is something that I can keep in mind for reviewing our families, but it's unlikely to come up in my context. So, no, at least in my experience, the assumed topic (i.e. the advertised topic: homeschooling) is not necessarily the gist of what is being addressed.

Really? Do tell! (I am hardly surprised that there is cliquishness in the larger homeschooling community - I think that's true of any large group - but it's interesting that there is outright blackballing.)

In my <absolutely limited> experience, the groups that tend to be able to put on such conferences are long-standing groups of a certain reputation. And, since the homeschooling movement was largely started by fundamentalist Christians, it's not that surprising to me that that is the most visible, experienced, well thought of group of potential speakers, and that these long standing groups see them as of interest to their (the groups') audience. Does that make sense? So, no, it doesn't appear to me that the speaking roster at conferences is terribly diverse. But I don't think it's necessarily by design so much as it reflects a historical cultural majority in homeschooling.

I think three days a week would be daunting. We have been involved in a pre-K - 12 co-op since we started homeschooling and, frankly, that one morning a week can be a real stretch for me, especially when the rest of the week has been crazy. Ironically, though, I just met with someone who is thinking about pulling her kids out of school and would like to have a co-op situation five days a week. We enjoy not only the social aspect of group classes - which is very different than just socializing with friends - but it is an opportunity for my kids to learn something that I wouldn't necessarily delve into as a focused class. At the point they stop really, really getting a lot out of it, though... I'm done. (And, as Laura pointed out, that seems to happen around middle school, which can be sad for people with middle school kids and younger ones, because there is little at co-op for the older kids to get excited about.)

That's how I view it, as well. I also don't purchase books to read for enjoyment with their resale in mind. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum, though, purchasing elementary materials and putting them away for when the boys get to this level... after that, I don't mind passing them along as used materials - I can't hold onto them forever, right? - but, for instance SOTW will be with us for a very long time yet. By the time we're done, the versions we have might be "collectibles". :D

Dude teaches Latin. He probably won't even notice if it's weird. :D

In my experience, I have not found any of the natural alternatives to work adequately. We use Frontline. In the toss-up between flea/tick stuff concerns and concerns about the vectors of disease that are ticks, especially deer ticks, the Frontline wins for me. (And if I could top-spot my kids, I might consider it.)

Huh. Really? I feel no such dilemma in asking my friends about the specifics of how they do/approach things, particularly when they come at life from a distinctly different worldview than I. And, in particular, when I understand the generalities of the thought about something (like Harry Potter objection) but am missing the subtleties that make HP a no-go, but Star Wars perfectly acceptable. I don't think any of them have felt as though I was demanding justification for their choices, or judging their validity; they've always shared their thoughts on the given subject openly. :001_huh: I will have to ask.

I think Lands End rocks. And, if my towels ever wear out, the next ones will be from LE. We registered for bath sheets and towels at Macy's when we got married nine years ago, and those are still as thick and wonderful as they were new. Thankfully, they're not in hideous colors. :D

First, I dug through Yahoo groups to find a homeschoolers list in our area. Then, an informational meeting for a new co-op was posted there. That's it. Fast forward a few years... now, we hold a couple of informational meetings (general information for new and prospective homeschoolers, or people new to the area) a year, which we advertise on the local yahoo groups, on library bulletin boards and in the newspapers. We are also listed in the homeschool resource section of our local library's website. We also do a service project each session (we have 4 sessions per school year), which gives us exposure in the community, and is generally in the paper. Weirdly, the neighboring county board of ed now gives my contact information to people who are considering or beginning homeschooling. :001_huh: It's fine, but a little odd.

I am so sorry, too. :grouphug:

Yep, that's how I learned, despite countless hours of my dad running while holding my bike up. By the way, though, you can put training wheels on the bigger bike. My eight year old's bike, which is only slightly too small for me, has training wheels on it (because she asked for them; we're not too bike experienced here at Chez Crazy). We just bought them separately at a bike shop for around $20.

heh, heh. I'm reading your siggy. Ok, that's obviously not funny, but I'm laughing because I measured large for dates, too, after a loss. Mine was a molar pregnancy, so our midwife sent us for an early ultrasound (apparently, being large for dates is one of the tip-offs)... Turns out there were two in there.:001_huh: (<- Yep, five years later, we still have that same look) I have a friend who was measuring a little large for dates after a miscarriage... guess what? Uh-huh, two lovely boys. You're sure there's only the one, right? :D Congratulations!

So, ok, here's a question (and it's only a question, not a slam on anyone's particular viewpoint or whatever, but this discussion came up with a friend of mine last year so now I'm curious as to other people's reality): How often do you actually break a lightbulb? I understand the potential problem with the CFLs but, in <my> reality, I have broken, perhaps, one lightbulb (aside from occasional ones I have purposely broken, or tossed carelessly because I didn't care if they broke) in 20 years. And, given that breakage generally happens in the course of changing, I'm thinking the risk of that goes down since I have the CFLs. Right? I know there are other factors - we don't have carpet, our fixtures are generally over hard surfaces (as opposed to bedding), most rooms I can close the door while I change the bulb, etc - but I wonder how much of the concern is real vs perceived risk, if that makes sense?

Don't forget to mention the colleges that are doing free online classes (MIT, Hopkins, Notre Dame, among others). They're non-credit, but you get a grade, I believe, or at least a certificate of completion. I'm sure many of them can be used to enhance your professional knowledge, which can bolster the resume in an uncertain economy. Online degrees (accredited distance learning programs) are considerably less expensive than attending school, and not too much of a cultural stretch for homeschoolers. For homeschooling and after schooling, area museums usually have free or marginal-cost programs, as do nature centers, arboretums (arboreta?), and public gardens. The Smithsonian has a materials checkout program that is free. I'm sure there are others I'm just not coming up with.

:iagree: I'm not sure that it's inherently "offensive", but the general use that I hear is to diminish the achievements of others. I do hear, and have used, the term to describe someone who always "goes the extra mile", too, though that isn't the spirit in which I usually encounter it.

I would estimate 1/4 lb per person, plus a little extra if there might be seconds. So.... 12.5 lbs to start, and maybe add a couple?

I don't disallow either, but wouldn't bat an eye over parents finding one genre objectionable, but not another. I suppose some would find it hypocritical; I see it as the parents being informed about the exact nature of what they object to.