DS12 made most of his friends over the past year or so at swim club. We have a couple trailing friends from HS club. At this point HS is something we do, it no longer defines us. DS also has a number of virtual friends from CTY and online classes.

There is also a series based on the tiny Thorne rooms at the Chicago art museum. Let me see if I can find it. http://www.amazon.com/The-Sixty-Eight-Rooms-Adventures/dp/0375857117/ref=pd_sim_b_3 We are lucky enough to have several of the rooms at our museum here and my kiddo is passionate about these books.

My kiddo got his bank account when he was the ripe old age of 8. He needs to show ID on occasion, he is now 12. I got him ID when he was about 10. We use an online bank so dealing with the bank isn't an issue, just the store. Sometimes he needs ID for testing, swim meets etc.

IDK who you are exchanging with but my 12 yr old DS loved this set http://www.amazon.com/The-Secret-Series-Complete-Collection/dp/0316219819/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352266552&sr=8-1&keywords=the+secret+series+pseudonymous+bosch Also this series (i think there are 3 books now) http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Nother-Story-Quality/dp/1599905183/ref=la_B002P9JERY_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1352266612&sr=1-1

Things I buy Johnsons & Johnsons baby spray conditioner (cuz I have horrible hair and this is the ONLY thing that works) Vicks Vapo Rub - works wonders for asthma/bronchitis in the desert Viva Paper Towels I just found 'Bolthouse' dressing/dip. This seems to be the only brand that doesn't make me ill so its now a 'thing I buy' I avoid: pine sol

I am very hard to stick. The only veins that ever work are in my hands (yuck). I needed an IV last month and they were able to find a vein in the backside of my lower arm - mega ouch there-. You need a tech who can 'think outside the box' when looking for veins. Also, I NEVER EVER watch what they are doing. I either bring a book to read, my Nook/Kindle/Phone etc. They know I'm not being rude :001_smile: Once I found a good lab, I kept them. I know you just moved, but I will drive across down for my lab!

NO WAY. And this may be the splitting point for leaving our docs office and finding a new one. I've been able to hold off the nurse on the CP vax but if she keeps hounding me about CP and HPV I'm going to leave the practice. And what gets me is its the NURSE, not the doc. I selectively vax, the doc is fine with that but the nurse has some massive attitude. Ugh. No to hpv.

HI- I remember you from another board :) Anyway when I was looking at FA for grad school it was ALL loans and whatever grants I could scrape together. As for a second degree, thats tricky because you technically have a degree and are not in year '1-4'. What I would do is go make an appointment with the admissions office and FA office and see what they have available. Also you can fill out the FAFSA and see what you qualify for, just because you fill out the forms doesn't mean you need to attend this term.

NO!

I have a 12 yr old DS. What works for him is doing a block schedule. He does 2 maybe 3 classes at a time. (sometimes only one class) He may spend 3-4 hrs a day on one class. But that course is finished in a month or so. So instead of 'math' taking 8 months, it take 6-8 weeks. Then no more math. We then switch to Science for 6-8 weeks, ONLY science, once that class is done we pick something else. Next time he might do literature and computer programming for 8 weeks. Now its time for Math again. Would some type of 'block' schedule work better for DS. Even if its not like mine. But maybe MWF/TH rotation or MW/TH/FS Maybe the time of day isnt' work for him. My kiddo works best in the evening and night. His best time is from 7pm til midnight. If I was to try to enforce 'school' from 9am-3pm he would probably just sit there and stare into space. He also does great work on the weekends. Just some ideas for you.

Journal, sketch book, writing pens, caligraphy set, (I go through journals and special pens very quickly)

The only thing I 'make' on T-day is reservations. My mother was much like yours OP and I just can not have the drama in my life. DS and I go out, enjoy each others company and tip about 50%. *I do the same thing on 12/25 and Easter. Easter is always our favorite chain mexican place and 12/25 is TGI Fridays. Again huge tips and so relaxing. Sometimes we will go see a movie at the theater - a super duper rare treat.

You need to have your HS group registered, which is a huge PITA around here and not 'worth it' for us. I send my boxtops 2x a year to my old catholic school. That's the only school I have fond memories of and while I'm not longer religious I know they need the $$.

Homemade french bread pizza. Get a $1 loaf of french bread from the grocery, load it up however you like pizza and bake until done. Get as many breads as you need for the party! This is a huge hit if there are kids Cheeseball and crackers Creamcheese (2 blocks) Crushed Pineapple (8oz can drained) Scallions (1/4 cup finely chopped) mix together Sliced Almonds - roll on ball

Dandelion- thanks.

I've been doing some thing that probably falls under 'personal improvement'. Not religious - I need some journal prompts. I really don't want to buy a workbook. I don't know if I'm lacking Google Skills today or what but I can not find what I'm looking for. I'm looking for something that basically covers the following: personal growth, healing from trauma (emotional and physical), something I can use while in private therapy but not inclusive with therapy, self discovery, boundary building. I don't want the prompts to be focused on religion. I know this stuff is out there, I just can not find it. Links anyone??

Experiences- Things like movie tickets, pedicure gift cards (mommy n me day), zoo passes, rock wall club. Is there something she really wants to try? something she really loves you can get a family membership for? a class she wants to take? One year I swore off all clutter and 'experiences' were the name of the game!!

My 12 yr old went, no issues :grouphug:

Hi- Im a single mom and my family is just toxic. I've stopped letting them pay for things. I have a super cheap cell phone and could care less what they 'think' I need. I've found a way to pay my insurance. I've sought out community resources to cover things when I find us short of funds. I'm not going to be tied to them for $$, I'm not going to told what to do because I need a few bucks until payday. I would NOT go to dinner. I don't need that distress in my life. (I also avoid gluten) I would suggest you meet your dad for dinner but avoid the entire 'wife' drama. I've worked long and hard on boundaries. Years in therapy to get here. I don't need dinner that badly. If your kiddo only wants bread, then he only eats bread. Would anyone tell grandma " no more salad" type thing? I doubt it. Don't worry about plate charges or the cost. If you were invited to dinner then you can eat/no eat whatever you want. Honestly, I woudn't go. It's not worth the stress, the few dollars thrown your way, and the awful feeling in the pit of your stomach days before and after this event.

*if* shes goes back to PS will she need some type of 10th grade history? What are your local PS graduation requirements? I only ask because there is nothing worse than going back to PS only to find out jr/sr year the kiddo is missing credits - ya know? Since she is doing Spanish, I might add in more culture-geography-history that way. I would do the health class at home. OR have her go get cpr/1st aid certified and call it 'even' (in my mind the latter is more important but each state/local is different)

Contact the social worker for the kids department. They should be providing either playtime or a kids room. Most hospitals have a 'child life specialist'. Some basic categories of 'stuff' mini people or guys cars a new stuffed animal (unless he has asthma) lots of craft stuff new movies or amazon prime for streaming/netflix/hulu etc things to build calming music to have on in the background

Would they like tickets to someplace. Maybe 'dad and kiddo' day at the zoo, science center type thing?

Hi- We don't live anywhere near CTY so online with them is our only option for now. I know we can do 'thinkwell' indepently but DS thrives on the facilitator interaction with CTY and honestly the $$ isn't 'that much' when compared to - therapy, or trying to find tutors, or moving to a place with a private school that might work. Plus we can get some CTY financial aid. Yes CTY uses ThinkWell for math in the upper levels. My kiddo is happy with the program. He also needs an actual person to email or call for help. CTY has been wonderful in support. I can probably figure out the answer but I am not the best person to be teaching upper level math at the pace DS needs it. Science is PLATO. *I* don't like PLATO but then again, I'm not taking the course. DS loves it and loves the CTY facilitators. CTY did make some changes to the science program last year while we were in middle school science. This was not a complete program over-haul but parts of the labs and projects were changed as well as the grading system for these. Again, I'm not the right person to be teaching or creating a science program at this level or this pace. CTY fits DS needs. I'm going to give DS what he wants/needs once he is done with the Computer Science class. He will be taking math and science. If this gets to be too overwhelming we can always put one class on 'vacation' status. FWIW - computer science at CTY has been a disaster from day one. The facilitators have been very slow to respond, the classes seem very dated, and the entire experience is not what I expect from CTY. It's not what I expect from Hopkins either.:thumbdown:

Do you live on my street?? We had a house like that. The entire thing just wigged me out. I'm still not totally sure what went on over there, but it was not 100% legal.

Well we live with a 9/1/xx cut off for school enrollment here. Kiddo did 1 semester of kindy for 'daycare' reasons while I was working and couldn't find a better solution. He turned 6 basically with in a month of school starting here. If I was to keep that same schedule he would be darn near 19 when he graduates and enter university around his 19th b'day. Kiddo is already advanced to Jr/Sr high level in all subjects so now its just a matter of 'filling in the blanks' and creating a transcript. I def. see him finishing early. I don't know if he will do early enrollment or if he will take a 'gap year' and do something else. I honestly see him having a transcript completed by age 16 or so. What he chooses to do after that is completely up to him. I am more than happy to continue to HS, I am willing to accommodate early enrollment, CC classes, career training, workforce, whatever he chooses.