I frequented these boards for many years, but left about 4 years ago when my grandmother moved in with us and my time needed repurposing. (Doesn't that sound all ivory-tower-hoity-toity? :001_smile:) Since then, she has passed away, my mother came to live with us and also passed away, and my daughter, who was my last homeschooler, decided to enter high school as a junior this year. -whew- Now I have time on my hands (Bwahahahaha!!) and have decided to do a little edumacating of myself! So I am back and looking for any tips/ideas/support from those of you who have tried/done the same thing. Any resources, websites, forums, etc that anyone has found useful would be greatly appreciated. I've noticed this forum is really all about educating the high schooler; anyone found something similar that really helps them? Thanks so much!

We just bought our first horse, and I am looking for a Well-Trained Mind-type place to go for information, ideas, etc. Is there such a thing? She is for my daughter; an Appendix Quarter Horse (not my daughter, of course!) She's 5, calm, easy-going (again, not our daughter!) and we're thinking this is going to be fun! (Of course, you are welcome to try to disillusion us! :)

I agree with Janet. He can wear the whole banana and if anyone says anything, he can ask, "But, are YOU an Eagle?":glare: Just kidding on that one, but he can wear his uniform. No need to rip anything. As far as the epaulets, he can choose, I believe. Is his Venturing crew more near and dear to him that his Scout troop? Wear green. Does he want to honor the contributions of the troop that helped him up the Path? Wear red; and do you see my bias?:001_smile: A side note; I saw a troop do something really cool. When the Webelos crossed over, the Eagles from the troop took off their red tabs, signed the inside, and gave them to the new boys. This was done to encourage them to earn their OWN Eagle tabs and to let them know the older boys were there for them. My middle son was past 18 at his Court. He wore his uniform, and red tabs. When he went to a meeting the next week, as an Asst. Scoutmaster, he took off all the insignia, except the ones he could keep (Eagle and religious ribbon, Arrow of Light, troop numbers) and neckerchief. Congratulations to all! I have two eagles (that makes me a Major!) and I know what's involved.

I'll show them! We're not getting one! My husband was laid off last year, and got a years' severance. Six months later, he's still unemployed...our "double salary" cost us 37% in taxes, we couldn't take any deductions except our mortgage interest (no tuition, no taxes, nothing) because we're "wealthy," and now we won't be getting the rebate because of our "high income." Did I mention he's still unemployed? Do I sound bitter? :)

Lisa! I tried the link and it doesn't work. Any ideas? I'd really like to see the syllabus.

To Hell and Back, which is the story of Audie Murphy, played by Audie Murphy. The Great Raid. Please do not show her the most recent Pearl Harbor. By all that is holy, I beg you.:) The Miracle of the White Stallions; story of how Patton rescued the Spanish Riding School, still a national treasure of Austria. Patton The Great Escape, then Stalag 17...then Chicken Run. She'll laugh and laugh.... Enemy at the Gates; some icky sex, but very interesting view of the siege of Stalingrad, WWII from a sort of Russian perspective The Sound of Music :) The rest of the suggestions would also be on my list; awesome films.

Do a search for "Rome Reenacting." There are people out there who do this for fun all the time! I'm sure you'll find some realistic ideas. I looked really quickly and found this http://www.teacheroz.com/romans.htm If you can't find something there, searching won't be too difficult. Have fun! BTW, I wouldn't go with a wig. I'd find a Roman hairdresser...

Prayers ascending. If she gets up near Mosul, e-mail me so I can share my son's name and she can say, "Hi!" s c h o o l y m o m 4 at y a h o o dot c o m

I would not allow Heelies in church. Period. Would you (and I'm not attacking YOU; I'm using "you" as in "one person.) allow bikes? Trikes? I don't think so. There has to be a certain amount of reverence--control--propriety, call it what you will, while in the building. I'm betting they aren't Heelie-ing" down the halls in school. Wait--I might be wrong there. :) I agree on having someone be with the kids while this is going on. When I was in a young moms' study, we shared childcare. Two moms would sign up to watch the kids each week; these moms would also bring snacks for the moms and the kids. Simple stuff for the kids; goldfish, pretzels, apple juice, etc. For the moms, a nice coffee cake; if this is evening, maybe pie or something. Those moms would have care of the kids during the actual study, which we tried to keep just under an hour. That gave us half an hour or a little more to all share snacks and socializing together. The moms didn't have a specific program for the kids; this was more like supervised play. It was in a school gym, so there would be large and small toys, circle games, etc. Granted, these kids were all under 6, but a similar style plan could work for older kids, too. And the oldest can help. As I think of this, we also did this with couples, back when we were much younger. At that time, sitters were hired from among the teens of the congregation. We paid $1 per child. I don't know why one or two couples couldn't volunteer to take care of the kids, using the same "plan" as our moms' group. I may suggest this at our church now.... I hope this makes sense. This really was a good system, and worked well for all involved.

I would suggest not letting it get to you. We have four children, and always felt we had a larger family. UNTIL we started homeschooling...then it felt like a starter pack! It's all in your perspective! You have JUST ENOUGH kids...or KID!

I would see any of the national or state parks in the Black Hill. My favorites are Custer and Bear Butte, and I would definitely camp at Custer. Go to see Mt. Rushmore. Then, Crazy Horse. In that order. Crazy Horse might dwarf Rushmore, otherwise. And, unless you're really into Indians, (and I am) I would just "visit" the parking lot at Crazy Horse. The museum there is nice, but not worth the money if your kids would be quickly bored by costumes and artifacts and.... I used to like Deadwood and Boot Hill, but Kevin Costner ruined it with casinos...

http://www.boots2008.blogspot.com

I am so sorry. Remember to take care of yourself, too.

when my daughter's instructor had found and older horse she thought was perfect for her and would have been "free." Well, just before Christmas, we decided not to take Angel, as my husband has been out of work since October. Today the instructor called to tell me Angel died last week of an aneurysm. She was so glad we had not taken him and put dd through the I-love-my-horse--oh,no-my-horse-is-dead. Good thing, too, we never mentioned it to her. Just updating!

When my kids walk into a public place (museum, restaurant,etc) on a holiday or other day when the schools are out, they'll roll their eys and say, Pubbies." When my now-12-year-old was 4, I tried to talk her out of a really cute basket in the shape of a strawberry, because it was made in China (and I bought it, after all, because, after all, 4 year-old girls are so cute!) We talked about how things are made there, and I even mentioned the little girls who live in factories and never get to go to school. Fast forward a year, as we started kindergarten at home. Grandma, who didn't understand this homeschool thing, asked if I was sending her to school. Dd, who REALLY wanted to go at that point, piped up with, "No, Grandma, I'm just like those little girls in China. I don't get to go to school."