Yes that is true. But I also earn Malaysian Ringgits so RM50 is still a lot. I can take my family of 5 to dinner at Chili's for about the same amount!

I've used online classes, tutors, DVD lessons, you name it. If you want something all-encompassing you could check out Liberty Online Academy. They have full online curriculums for grades 3 and up.

Well, then I would say if the Santorums are using online classes but doing them at home and calling themselves homeschoolers, then they are homeschoolers. Most homeschoolers I know do not leave public schools because of the curriculum. They leave because of the system, the teachers, the immoral atmosphere, etc. So the fact that someone takes classes online that are offered by a public school system is no different than someone who takes classes online through Potter's School. When Santorum says he does not have faith in public schools, I'd be willing to bet he means quality of teachers, classroom management, time on task, secularism, etc. and not so much the math textbook they use.

So I ask again: in order to be "actually" homeschooling you must teach your kids every subject yourself, at home, using no outside help whatsoever including online courses, co-ops, or CC classes?

You better hide. Spy car will be after you.:tongue_smilie:

:iagree: There have been numerous threads where someone asks about being rigorous enough, or what's the bare minimum, or unschooling, etc., and WTMers come out of the woodwork defending a parent's right to educate however they see fit. But cyberschooling is wrong? How is that different than taking online classes through Potter's School? How is that different than Lisa Whelchel using SOS for all of her kids but then being hailed as a homeschooling expert? How is it different than using co-op classes or classes at the local CC or some other way of farming out subjects? So unless you teach your kids every subject yourself, at home, in a dedicated schoolroom, using no outside help whatsoever including online courses... You are not "actually" homeschooling? Sheesh. :glare: .

I do too. One thing about this island is their need to "one-up" each other. There seems to be no such thing as a simple backyard party (well, no one has a backyard but you know what I mean!). Everything has to be this big shindig. I didn't have a birthday party this year for my 2yo and people here were genuinely shocked. :glare:

Wait... So she's a nurse, a lawyer, an author, wife of a government official, and homeschooling mom of 7? Can we vote for her instead? :D

That's what I hate the most about this. It is his best friend. He will be crushed if he can't go. So now this mom has put ME in a bad spot. I either fork out the cash or I disappoint my kid. So either way I lose. :glare:

:lol::lol::lol:

I don't think so? They are expats as well from Australia and it is the first time it has happened to me.

My ds 13yo is going to a birthday party today for his friend. It is at a paintball facility. I just found out last night that the cost is 50 per kid! First, I have never been charged for attendance at a birthday party before. Second, we are still supposed to bring a gift and most teen parties here do cash gifts and the typical going rate is 50. So this party is now going to cost me 100. :glare: Fine. Whatever. I just think if you are going to throw a party for your child you should either pick a place you can afford or suck it up and pay it. To charge my child to attend plus gift is ridiculous. Last year my ds wanted the paintball party too. We told him he can have the party (which we would pay for) OR he could have nice gift from us, but not both. I guess I am just old-fashioned but all these new birthday party, engagement party, wedding trends just seem tacky to me. .

Awesome suggestions!!!! Thanks, ladies :grouphug:

Thank you! It wasn't what we intended to do but we don't really have choice. It is definitely growing on us though! :D

I have heard that a few times here. It is very upsetting. :grouphug:

What does Met. mean before their names? I have never seen that before. Thanks for the links!

Since we do not have a church we can go to here, we have been doing family worship at home and watching a lot of online sermons. We like a variety so I was wondering what preachers or pastors or theologians do you like to watch or listen to online?

:iagree: :lol::lol::lol:

Because it is super cool. :tongue_smilie: Seriously, it is like an extension of my arm now!

I've pulled my kids' teeth lots of times. I usually just say "let me take a look at it" then a quick yank and it's over. They never feel a thing. Then we put it in a ziplock and unr the pillow it goes. The going rate here is RM10 which is about $3 in USD.

:iagree:

I don't prefer to wash dishes by hand but I have no choice since almost no one in this whole country owns a dishwasher. I miss mine. :glare:

I appreciate your perspective and I actually agree with you in principle. The problem is it doesn't always translate well to real-life situations. With the particular child I used as an example: we DID give the parents MULTIPLE chances to do better with the lunches. For at least a week I watched that child eat garbage every day, crash and burn every afternoon. I started out subtly. Sending home generic messages in our newsletter about how important healthy lunches are, etc. They didn't catch it (or more likely didn't read it). Then his teacher spoke to his parent about it. No change. Then I spoke to the parents. No change. After weeks of this, I walked into the cafeteria, saw the ring of chocolate around the kid's mouth AGAIN and I personally took his lunch and handed him a healthy lunch and charged the parents. When they picked him up, I told them what I did and why. I guess at that point they finally got the message that we were serious and started sending better lunches. So I wasn't faced with the decision of whether or not to kick him out. If they had not complied? I would have had a tougher decision to make and I would have made it. But I am glad I didn't have to because it would have broken his little heart to leave our school. He's just a kid. ok, off to do my job for the day... .

You are correct that the larger and more impersonal a facility is less care goes into making hard decisions. We don't have lunch ladies. My teachers man the cafeteria every day. They know and love these children. They make decisions accordingly. FWIW we don't sit in our weekly administrator meeting, twisting our evil mustaches, thinking of more ways to usurp parental authority. In fact, we spend a lot of time talking about how to make parents take back some of that responsibility. Do you know what is going through my head when I have to tell a parent to stop sending garbage for their child's lunch? I can tell you it is NOT how excited I am to steal their parental responsibility! It is more like "I can't believe I went to college for this." :glare: .

The slippery slope fallacy is my favorite. Do I think it is my right? No, I don't care about my rights. It is my responsibility, though. And am I expected to make medical decisions all the time ... By PARENTS. And here is a news flash... I don't want to parent your child. It is a pain in my butt. Do you think I went to college all those years so I could check the contents of lunches? But bottom line is this... It is a GROUP setting. If each parent wants what they think their individual rights are to be abided by then they need to homeschool because every parent wants something different. Some want to completely abdicate all parenting responsibility during daylight hours. Some want to micromanage every detail. We can't please them all so we aim to do what is best for the child.