nrg
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Posts posted by nrg
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For quick results and a fun project, I suggest the borax crystal "snowflakes" from the link below. Although time varies, we have been able to watch the crystals form right before our eyes. You do not need a kit and perhaps can salvage the project:
http://www.marthastewart.com/297092/borax-crystal-snowflakes
There are many other sources for this. We have had good success without any food coloring.
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I as began to prep our turkey over the kitchen sink this morning, there were 14 goldfinches on a rosemary bush just outside the window. So, the year of the goldfinch begins.
To keep things in perspective and be more accurate, it is the year of the LESSER goldfinch.
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My children had good experiences at Blue Lake (Michigan) and Idyllwild (California).
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2016 has been the year of the scrub jay for me. I am hoping for something more genteel at the feeders in the morning.
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His name is Ruby. We love him. He works while we are away. He keeps the cat hair at bay. He always finds his way back to his home base.
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Autism and depression. I would leave these at home. We are a quirky lot, so I would keep all the fun weirdness, but the autism and depression must be left behind. Sadly, we have not moved for 30 years, so these troublemakers have had plenty of time to set down roots and thrive. Yep. Out they go.
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As a child back in the early 60's, I played with mercury and so did my friends. We broke open thermometers and played with the fun little silvery balls. We brought them to school and shared with our friends. We experimented with them. Eventually the little blobs got smaller and smaller until the stuff was gone. This was not a one-time event.
Our friends whose parents were dentists brought amalgam to play with. We hammered it and make tiny "sculptures." Recently I found a blob of this in a memory box from my childhood.
So...my take on this is to be sure there are no tiny rogue mercury balls in the bedding or on the floor. wash everything and check for obvious bits, and then move on. Like is interesting.
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Yes, you read that right. My son and daughter in law did the stockings for everyone this year. The item on top was frozen (added earlier in the morning). It was a single serving Stoeffer's macaroni and cheese. When we were all suitable perplexed, they launched the punch line. Yep...
It was a stocking Stoeffer.
They won Christmas.
Do you have any winners to share?
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Dear MIL
Thank you for the wonderful Christmas family party. Thank you for loving your young adult grandchildren so thoroughly even when they are not doing things of which you approve and are not following in your path. They are comfortable with you and know they are loved unconditionally. They willing sing carols when they are not Christians for you. You are my example of a real adult. I am grateful for how this brings us all together. I am so happy to be a part of your family.
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I put up nativities.
When we were young and homeschooling, each year we made zillions of one type of ornament for our own tree and for gifts. This year we will spend Christmas in our son's new family home for the first time. We are bringing them his box of ornaments.
As empty nesters, this year will have a nativity and a nativity candle decoration we use for advent.
The decorating was about the shared experience of preparing for the holiday, making fun things, and talking together. Creating the tradition has remained meaningful over the years.We experienced a family tragedy on Christmas a few years ago. Having home be the same, and Christmas familiar and comforting is important fro us now. When everyone is here, they expect it to be the same as it always has been. It has been worthwhile to maintain the tradition however I might be feeling about it.
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I live in California and our county has banned plastic bags for the last few years. I still manage to enter stores with my reusable bags firmly ensconced in the back of my car, but, by and large, it is easy to make the adjustment and better for the planet. My biggest adjustment had to do with the cats' litter box cleaning.
That said, I am not so sure about micromanagement on this scale. It boggles the mind to imagine all of the things we do which are not ideal and how many laws we might pass to correct ourselves.
Meanwhile, we certainly have larger issues to consider right now.
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husband and his employment.
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I would be more comfortable trusting a practice were they to simply discuss the latest findings about infant sleep and the incidence of firearm accidents in the home, perhaps asking me to sign that I had heard/read the information, rather than questioning my personal home life.
To respond to such questions, I would answer that I am aware of the dangers implied, but not discuss my private situation. I would not misrepresent my situation, either.
I am the mother of grown children and was never asked anything like this when my children were young.
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It might be implying that she is a big boob.
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My existential angst dates way back. I have living memories of the riots in Watts, President Kennedy's assassination, Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, Robert Kennedy's assassination, and more. Although my parents tried to shield us children from these by turning off the radio and television, I was a very early reader and got the news from the newspaper. I could read, but I could not really comprehend and I was afraid to walk to the grocery store or ride in our neighbor's convertible for awhile until my mom figured out what was going on in my head. I learned to listen and explain and discuss with my own children as big, remote events have occurred.
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Many, many years ago, my son was 26 months old. He had a total meltdown while sitting with the groceries in the cart (one of his favorite places). After swaddling and calming, he told me: 5 grapefruit in the bag. 3 people in our family. Huge problem. I bought another single grapefruit. The balance of the universe was restored. He is a computer scientist now.
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I am wondering if there is a temporary way to create fangs that look real. Are there ways to use veneers or other reconstructive dentistry to add to the cuspids to make fangs? Doing a test run in full regalia, teeth + eyes, would be a fun and informative way to answer this question about employment. It would also meant that he could enjoy the look for as long as it is desirable and find a new look later--or even make it permanent after he has all the information he needs to make the decision. Permanent solutions to temporary conditions rarely go well.
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Gush first; express appropriate gratitude; greet each guest warmly; go hide in the car and wait for it to be over.
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I live in the SLO area and worked in the charter school arena here for many years. There are no homeschool charters which originate in SLO county, but there are satellites of several:
Big Sur Charter
Family Partnership Charter--independent study, homeschool, Montessori
Olive Grove Charter
Inspire Charter
Trivium Academy Charter (a classical hybrid program)
Best wishes to your friend; this is a lovely place to live!
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Beautiful and practical!
We ended up choosing a sleep number bed to solve the same issue.
The bonus cats really make this whole thing work!
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Perhaps it is time for a little reverse snobbery. Who would ever want their very young children to be programmed to respond like robots to inane "academic" questioning? Let's firm up our understanding of child development and appropriate activities for kindergarten and the primary grades in terms of classical education and examine what misunderstandings are leading to "cream skimming" by looking for rote parlor tricks from little ones.
As a young parent, I was quite susceptible to the false judgments of others. My asynchronous children never met anyone's standards for anything, and when they exceeded the artificial standards, they were judged negatively for that. I foolishly worked to have them meet standards. Do not be me (my parenting mantra for my grown children). Happily, I learned rather early to let us be us, do our best, and to discern which comments were helpful and which were just aimed at putting others down.
I know nothing about your home schooling, but I do know that you may comfortably let the comments of this institution roll smoothly off your back and move on.
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I have not read this entire thread.
This "testing" situation and report of the results does not look anything like a valid, professional assessment done by educators with an understanding of child development. You are traumatized by your visit to this school.
SO...the failure is not yours; it is theirs. Do you want your children to be a part of this? I understand that this seemed to be an appropriate option for you; does it still seem that way? Now that you have witnessed how things are done here, if you were to take the children back for a reassessment, would you want them to attend this school?
You have dodged a bullet.
Hug your beautiful children and be grateful that they are not accustomed to such treatment.
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I am working on giving up the use of "cr*ptastic" to describe all and sundry ickinesses. I used to have so much control over myself...
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Let us not neglect M.C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin and the inimitable Ladies' Number 1 Detective Agency. I do love a light fluffy cozy.
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Have you had to give up on a significant dream of your own?
in The Chat Board
Posted
I gave up medical school for teaching because my father was on the verge of alcoholic collapse and my mother was severely handicapped and I had 2 younger brothers. I got a job right away and held the family together.
I gave up the masters degree with only the thesis left a few years later when my husband graduated from grad school and opened a practice far from the university.
I gave up teaching when I had my first child because he had special needs, as did the second. So, we homeschooled for over 20 years. When the 3 were grown enough for me to return to work, I did for a while, until it became clear that our second son would never be employable despite being profoundly gifted, due to autism and mental illness. So, I retired early and opened a business (vision therapy, my husband is an optometrist) in which our son could learn to be successful.
This sounds like a lot when I see it here. However, I got the masters degree at age 49. My sons, despite their special needs are now fully functioning adults with happy lives. My middle son has changed to be unrecognizable from his impaired self of 5 years ago. Therapy and a job in which you provide real help to people who then appreciate you is life-altering.
I gave up an active, busy life for health issues.
Sometimes I miss the old, over-achieving me. But, I would not exchange the deep, abiding relationships I have with my sons, the depth of learning and understanding for the plights of others I have earned, or the joy each day brings as I am able to really help others.
My advice? Keep doing your best. Seek guidance from your source. Take joy.