The initial meeting did not go well. My son (a generally eager to please, agreeable sort of student) said that it was laggy, and it was difficult to understand what the instructor wanted. He is willing to do a second attempt with a different instructor, but I think I need to be looking for another option. 😬

I call my MIL by her first name. My kids call her Nana. We have a fine relationship but I cannot imagine, under any circumstances, referring to her as my mother. Because she is not my mother.

I am deep into Yale's Open Course lectures on the American Revolution and this was addressed by the professor. Apparently since social rank/standing were much more fluid and difficult to recognize in the colonies, dueling developed as a way to assert yourself as having a higher standing. Still idiotic, but an interesting explanation.

okay, I take it back, I’m crying. I do think it loses a lot being filmed. Still don’t think I would have paid 1k to see it, which was the going rate here.

Does it get better? Not understanding why everyone loves this so much.

I use a bio identical form in a pill. I'm currently on Reddit complaining about it. I take it cyclically, and the first time was great. Now each time seems progressively worse. My mood drops, I'm argumentative, short tempered and angry. I bloat and cramp immediately, then all of my joints ache, and I develop a headache. I sweat aggressively, and am starving at all times. Like I cannot express how hungry I am. I would binge on sardines - that's how hungry I am, constantly. My weight is going up, as is my body dysmorphia. Can you tell I'm on it right now, because I cannot think of a single positive thing to say about it??? It is like the worst PMS I've experienced, but self inflicted for two weeks at a time.

So, is there a sense of "finishing" a level? Is the speed of instruction meant to cover a certain amount of material in a certain amount of time? Do they use their own curriculum or something that is widely available? Thanks!!!

My son has taken two years of Spanish with a provider that has been "fine". Now that provider has switched to non-native teachers and I am looking at other options. I have three kids, and would potentially enroll all of them depending on what provider I was using - so I would have one high school Spanish 3, one middle school Spanish 1, one elementary Spanish 1. I would like a program with a reasonable workload and difficulty level. We are looking to achieve a fluency that would allow travel or communication with local Spanish speakers. We are not looking to be the family that finds a hidden Spanish grammar pun in Don Quixote. I am considering Homeschool Spanish Academy. Has anyone used them recently? Does your student usually have the same teacher repeatedly? Is there a curriculum they follow? I am looking for something more structured than just tutoring. Is there some other provider I should be considering?

The Animation Course is fabulous, but it is not free/low cost. https://www.theanimcourse.com/ Maybe Skillshare? Or Creative Live? https://www.creativelive.com/class/after-effects-beginners-jeff-foster/lessons/animation-basics https://www.skillshare.com/browse/animation

Thanks! I also found that UC Scout has a class, but I haven't been able to find any reviews. https://www.ucscout.org/courses/us-government-and-politics

We have loved the Yale lectures. So much amazing content!

Based on the exposure I had to Hillsdale for AP Econ this is not an option for us.

This is what I'm currently considering. Have you used this?

I am looking for lectures to use for U.S. government. We have happily used the Yale Open Courses for other topics and are looking for something similar. Currently I'm considering the Harvard lectures on EdX, but I'm not totally in love. Any suggestions? Videos? Podcasts? Online Courses?

I'm compiling a booklist - but I'm not sure what I want to do besides the books. Did you all just read and discuss? Follow a guide? Use a curriculum? Trying to strike a balance between getting the most out of it and getting to enjoy the experience of reading the books.

Open Tent had a really strong ASL teacher. Perhaps check there?

This is us, 100%. We worked, and worked, and worked on the MCQ so that his score would still be high even if he bombed the FRQs. I am struggling to envision telling him that the next month is going to be nothing but test prep. My son is deeply grieving the loss of his sport, and honestly maybe I just the gentle way out.

I am considering allowing my student to abandon this year's AP exams. Is anybody else making this choice? On one hand I feel like we should finish what we started. On the other hand this production is exceeding my willingness to put up with the CB. I feel like their need to make money/stay relevant is overshadowing their desire to give a fair and equal test. Thoughts? Opinions? How are you all handling this?

This, to me, does not solve the problem. There are cases through out the Bay Area, and athletes will be en masse, staying at hotels, eating at restaurants, etc. I understand how they might consider this okay for a championship though.

I have a child who is supposed to travel to a sporting event in this area this weekend. They are refusing to cancel at this point, despite advice from the county to stop all non-essential activities. I hate being "that parent" but this seems really poorly considered to me. My child's team can't compete without him, so I'm not really sure what to do at this point.

If I were doing the course independently I would look for another resource. I guess I'm surprised that these materials are presented as the same as other materials used in the course - as though they are neutral. I think that is my issue, because we often use non-secular materials, but I know that going in. This course is more like secular resource, secular resource, Bible verse, secular resource. It seems like there should have been mention of this before, or clear labeling or something. Maybe there was and I missed it. I agree that we could all do with more civil debate in all categories.

My student is taking a Micro Econ class that uses videos from Hillsdale College. I understand that Economics can be political - but do these videos really represent the BEST exposure to these ideas? I do not usually react to religious materials, but I find these videos so offensive. I guess I could overlook it if its truly the only/best way to teach the material, but I don't have enough exposure to the topic to understand. Seems like Khan/ACDC covers the same material without the Bible verses and anti-government rants. What am I missing here? Edited to clarify: Student is taking an online course and these videos have been assigned along with other resources.

I've been controlling mine, all except for the cycle length, with keto. Total game changer for me. I think that this flare up has been caused by a thyroid medication adjustment and that given some brief treatment I could return to relative (although not spontaneous) remission. I guess I just keep thinking that someone who considers themselves to be an expert should know more on the topic than I do. However healthcare based on Reddit information continually seems more reliable.

I asked her over email to show me, via lab results, what causes her to believe this will solve itself. I can't wait to hear 🤣

To a certain extent I'm already "self medicating" with diet but age/stress/time has meant that diet is not strong enough to override the symptoms. IME, birth control just covers up the symptoms and allows the doctor to feel like they've done something. I went along with that scam for a decade. Never again. There are a number of potentially helpful treatments, each with pros/cons. Berberine/Metformin/Inositol can help. Recent studies have shown berberine (an herb) to be more effective than Metformin (a diabetes drug). Other approaches might be cyclical progesterone, or other hormone manipulation. I am willing to do all the research myself and basically demand what I want, but I would rather have a doctor who is willing to brainstorm and problem solve with me. Doing nothing is not an option I will consider. 😉