Depends on the kid. Do they really, really want to learn to ski? Are they outdoor types or do they hate being cold? Do they push themselves or give up quickly?

True. But, everybody needs parents. And they witnessed all the abuse for years and years. I just hope the surviving children are living with family members who welcomed them and love them.

I'm glad to see the maximum sentences, but I am very sorry for their living children. To have both parents in prison for killing a sibling...I can't imagine what they're going through.

Rode stationary bike 45 min Sunday and 1 hour with lots of hills Monday. I'm aiming for an hour daily with weights afterward.

The weather is gray and drippy and chilly for much of the year (3 seasons with breaks now and then on a good year). Some people really struggle with that after they move here. Earthquakes -- yes. Supposedly we're 'due' for a big one, but haven't had a big one for at least 10 years now. No tornadoes. Definitely flooding if your house is in a flood zone. The rivers flood just about every spring in certain areas. No nasty bugs other than the previously mentioned house spiders. They are horrifying.

I understand the need for movement. Absolutely. But, this is a classic consequence that gets results in many cases. Most likely, the child/parent won't forget the item again, and the child will have full recesses once again. Now, a child missing day after day after day...that I would disagree with.

I second the apple with the 1T peanut butter. Something about it is just sooo good! It's sweet and salty and crunchy. And there's nothing like myfitnesspal for a reality check. Keep it up!

What they (and I) need to work on is behaving appropriately despite feeling grouchy. I tell me boys that sometimes people need to fake it. That sometimes people feel angry/depressed/lazy/irritable but they can't be nasty, rude, or disrespectful. If they are nasty, rude, or disrespectful they need to apologize. They apologize for their behavior -- not for their feelings.

Generally, I have sulking kids go pull themselves together before I'll work with them. I expect them to behave in a way they would in a outside class -- no complaining, respectful behavior, trying hard, sitting it a normal way, no glaring/eye-rolling/pouty-face. LIkewise, I expect to have to behave like an outside teacher -- respectful, prepared, interested, and involved with high expectations. Now, if they are truly frustrated and struggling with the work, that's different. Then I reteach, offer more support, give more examples, adjust, etc. But if they're just feeling lazy and blah because they don't like the work or wish it was the weekend, they have to pull it together before I will work with them.

Around here, especially in the city, soccer is a religion. Football is seen as politically incorrect and a bit 'redneck.' So, I think there is a healthier perspective on the sport.

For several years the team had a boy with cerebral palsy. He was a big, big kid, but moved slowly and couldn't really hit hard. (Don't worry, he was big enough that he was something of a brick wall.) He played all four years, never missed a practice. His dad came to every single game -- home or away. The coaches found a way to use him in almost every game his senior year. I love my husband's football team. :)

FWIW, I didn't think they were flimsy. I thought they worked very well. We didn't have any trouble with them.

My husband coaches high school football. This year he has a player with a prosthetic leg. He had his leg amputated at the hip when he was a toddler. The boy is a senior and had never played football before this year. Lets call him Nick. My husband's team encourages and welcomes brand-new players. But, they have never had an amputee on the team. He is a hard-working kid and encouraging, supportive teammate. Last week at practice the team worked on a play to get the ball to Nick. It wasn't going too well at practice, but at least they had a plan. Lo and behold, the perfect opportunity for The Nick Play arose during last Friday's game. The first try, he dropped the ball. The second try, he caught the ball and SCORED!! :hurray: :hurray: :hurray: :laugh: :laugh: :thumbup1: :thumbup1: The team went bezerk. So did the coaches. It was a lovely high school football moment.

Right, but they aren't 250 pounds and 6'6" and they don't pound on one another they way the older players do. I'm not saying there won't be injuries -- of course there will. But peewee football is not just like high school, college, or pro ball.

Really? What did you not like about them? I thought they were an excellent feature of the program.

The lessons are quick in the beginning. But lessons take longer than 10-15 minutes in the higher levels. I had to schedule 30 minutes or so for those upper level lessons.

Yes, it is super-duper parent-involved. Yes, you should get the tiles and the board and the teacher's guide. You'll need word cards -- but you could purchase them or make them yourself. The program is excellent. My son could not spell. It was quite alarming, really. He needed to be taught every little thing about spelling, and AAS did that. We spent about a half-hour on spelling every day using AAS for four years. He is now a fine, confident speller. It was worth every penny and every half-hour.

I agree. Peewee players are little and slow and have no testosterone. They just don't/can't hit very hard yet. A peewee game is nothing like a game played by grown men. I've yet to hear the hits at a peewee game the way I hear them at the high school games. I'm not saying there's no risk, but, in terms of injury risk, little-kid football isn't much like grown-man football at all.

I want to smoosh his sweet cheeks. He is a gorgeous baby. (And I want to be Kate just for a day to try on all of her clothes. Sigh...)

Was just flattened with a ridiculous head cold over the weekend and Monday. Ugh. But, last night I did a slow hour on my bike, so that was something. Hope for a better hour and some weights today.

I'd send him to school. I've told my boys that if they won't work cooperatively on schoolwork at home, they can't be homeschooled. If he just won't do it, I'd let him not do it and make other arrangements ASAP.

A silent stare can be very effective with rude jerks.

I second Joanne's suggestion that you get some meds. I never thought I would -- I had the "I never take anything" approach. But, I got to the point with my depression and anxiety that I could not function. I remember all the crying. Sigh... it was horrible. ( My eyes swelled shut, too. :( ) The doctor diagnosed me right away with a major depressive episode and I started (gladly, at that point) that same day on an antidepressant. I struggled for about 3 days with side effects, and then it was like the fog lifted. Thank God. I could think clearly again, sleep again, eat again. The issues I was dealing with were still there, but I could approach them with a clear head once again. I am thankful for modern medicine. Best wishes to you as you decide what to do.

How much do you enjoy running? Do you like long runs? Does it feed your soul to be out there running and pushing yourself? Is it something you look forward to? If yes, then go for the 10k. If it just feels like good exercise and you're sort of glad when it's over (like me), I'd stick with the 5k and work on some speed. (Then it will be over even faster. :) )

I'd suggest workout videos in the house after the kids are asleep. Most people do have internet nowadays and there are some great workouts on there for every level of fitness.