You are such a sweetheart. Well, we would love a playdate if you are willing to meet in the evening or on the weekends. Other boys we have met through homeschool groups never seem to be available when we are. :( He did karate when he was 6yo and hated it. But we are thinking of giving it another try now that he is older. But those classes don't really allow for much interaction, either. The other day he asked us if we would adopt a boy his age because he wants a friend. :(

I'm not sure there is a 4H around here (I live near Detroit in the city). I don't know much about 4H. Doesn't it have something to do with raising animals or something like that? Boy scouts is a possibility if we could find a group nearby that meets on my husband's night off (Tuesday) so he could chaperone. I won't let ds go without dh as I have read too many "boy scout abuse" stories. Hmmm...I'll have to check into that.

I work in a public school district and this kind of stuff happens often. Very sad.

I need some ideas for "socialization" for my 10yo ds. 1. There are no kids his age in our neighborhood. 2. He is the oldest child in the family and the next oldest is my other son who is 4yo. The other neices and nephews are 4yo and under. 3. He has one friend he has known for a while (the ds of my friend) but they live somewhat far and he only sees him maybe once a month. 4. He has little to no traditional athletic ability so team sports are out. BTDT. He does golf during the summer (semi-social but mostly a solo activity). He shoots rifles competitively (completely a solo activity and the season is over). He takes piano lessons (another solo activity). 5. He loves Legos but there are no Lego League teams any where near here and I do not have the time or the know-how to coach one. 6. We have not found a church home since we moved here 8 months ago. We have been to at least 10 different churches. Maybe more. He went to a youth group at a nearby church for a few weeks but the kids in it were so horrible I made him stop going. At one point, a kid in this youth group called him a name and pushed him. At church? Give me a break. We are still looking as I know this would give him at least one opportunity to meet people and make friends. 7. I work full time so I am not able to engage in most homeschool group activities as they always seem to be scheduled during the middle of the day. Even if I didn't work I don't know how we would fit these activities in as he does his lessons during the day. 8. The nearest homeschool co-op is about a 40-minute drive, their classes leave something to be desired and would require my dh to take him (he would do it but I feel bad making him sit there for several hours with a bunch of women). So what do I do??? His only interaction is with his 4yo brother at this point. He needs more. He needs to make friends in both structured and unstructured environments. It doesn't have to be every day but once a week would be nice, ya know? Problem is, I am picky about who I let him hang around and he isn't interested in your "typical" group activities like little league baseball or soccer, etc. Anyone have a non-sport child involved in some kind of group activity that is both wholesome and allows your son to make friends? I'm really at a loss. :confused:

Um...yup...what she said.

I am an unreliable blogger but mine is http://www.heatherfischer.typepad.com :D

My oldest started at 7yo but youngest will start at about 5yo. We pay $15 for 30 minutes and that is standard in this area.

Judomom...your avatar is a stitch! :lol: Ds will be 5yo in February. He does listen and follow instructions well but I wonder if he could move his body the way he is supposed to??? I don't want to sign him up until he is ready AND capable of learning real martial arts-type things, ya know? Like I thought he might like gymnastics since he is always doing flips around the house. So I signed him up and paid a small fortune and it is nothing more than a bunch of 4yo running around the gym and jumping on things. There is no actual instruction going on. I don't want to do that again. So can 5yo kids handle actual martial arts instruction or is it more...ummmm...."unstructured"?:tongue_smilie:

For those of you experienced in martial arts (either yourself or your kids)...what is a good age to get them started? Question #2...and this may seem weird...but our youngest ds (almost 5yo) is adopted from Korea. Is it way too cliche to put him in martial arts? We have gotten comments since we first got him about him being good at karate because he is Asian (ridiculous, I know, but you would be surprised what people think and say). I love the martial arts and I think he would like it but am I setting him up for rude/ridiculous comments???

Awwwww...... I am sorry. I am a cat-lover and I feel for you. :grouphug:

Asheville, NC!!!!

:iagree: and include myself in this group which is why I wonder about the whole "jury of your peers" system. Who are my peers? Who are your peers? If I am on trial my group of peers would be middle-class, educated, working mothers who also homeschool and are conservative evangelicals. A pretty specific group, ya know?

No way. I have very strong personal beliefs and opinions and probably would not be able to be impartial and open-minded, etc. especially if the topic was something that violated my beliefs. Just being honest.

Something just occured to me...did you have that baby yet????? :D

No apology necessary. I live in (near) Detroit and can't wait to get out. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Thank you all so much! I am off to check out your suggestions... You know what I would love? A Greek program that is just like Latina Christiana with the DVDs and everything. That would be perfect...sigh....

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/fashion/01spy.html?_r=2 Made me sort of wistful....

Oh good! :grouphug:

My ds (10yo) is in his 4th year of Latin (we did PL, LCI, LCII and we are now in Henle). This year I started a gentle introduction to Greek with The Greek Alphabeterion and Hupogrammon. We are nearly finished with it and I am debating where to go next. All I am really aware of is Elementary Greek and Hey Andrew. 1. Are there any other programs out there I should consider for beginning Greek? 2. Any reviews on any of the Greek programs would be greatly appreciated as I need to make a decision very soon (and I have procrastinated). :D

Ever-so-gently tossing this out there...I am of the conservative Christian bent and I have given books about Christianity (including copies of the Bible) as gifts to people (especially those I love) as I feel the Bible tells us we are to witness to others in fulfillment of the Great Commission and sometimes (ok, most of the time) a book says it much better than I do (especially when that book is the Bible). This is sort of the opposite of what happened to you but I am trying to see it from your brother's viewpoint. Is he sending you this book just to be a jerk? Or does he truly believe in this "philosophy" and truly thinks it would benefit you to know more about it? Even if you disagree with the message in the book, I would try to appreciate the spirit in which it is given. Now if he is just sending it to you to be a smart-a** then I would be mad. I don't know if anyone I have ever sent a book or a Bible to has gotten this offended by it. If they have, they have never said anything. But I only do it because I care so much about them and I think they know that and recognize the sentiment behind the gift even if they never read it. I think they see it as just another weird book from their "Jesus Freak" relative....:D. Of course, if someone told me they found it offensive and told me never to send them something like that again, I would respect their wishes.

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

yup, that's how much damage was done to our minivan in our accident the day after Christmas...all because someone was driving too fast on icy roads and couldn't stop in time so they slammed into the back of us. I am REALLY glad I have car insurance right now. Because it wasn't our fault, we pay nothing and we even get a rental car while it is in the shop so I am grateful for that. And of course, grateful no one was hurt. But $4000....sheesh.

Yes, use an interlinear bible. Try this: http://www.studylight.org/isb/

Absolutely. No question.

I don't know if I can keep up but I'll be starting with "The Greco-Roman World During New Testament Times"