Yes, this. I am not nervous at a party. I actually enjoy them. Sitting and listening is fine with me. I enjoy observing other people and like to learn about them and their lives. It is knowing people expect me to be involved where it becomes uncomfortable or those awkward silences where we've exchanged pleasantries and I have brought up everything I can think of to talk about then uh?? When engaging with people who like to talk about themselves, this isn't a problem and they continue the conversation or bring up something on their own. I never really thought about all this until I read other people's posts on this topic and thought, "Wow. I do that, too."

I am an introvert and tend toward shy especially in large groups. I am working on this because I need to but it is exhausting. I also prefer to have the party so I can be busy rather than be at one and will often find ways to help the hostess rather than be involved with conversation. I prefer to talk one-on-one or stand in a group conversation and listen. I do not tend to add much unless asked outright. I'd rather not be heard. Starting or keeping up a conversation is very difficult for me. I am not good with "small talk." I envy friends who are able to talk to people they've just met for long periods of time and always seem to have something to say.

I looked on the icon parking website and there are places in Midtown West for $40 for 24 hours. You just click on the map of where you want to park and there are lists with the discounted prices. You need to print the coupon for the particular garage you will stay in. (I usually print out a number of coupons before I go so I can have a choice when I get there.) Editing to add: You do have to pay with a credit card when using the coupon. They will not take cash with the coupon.

I drive in the city. I live in NJ about 3 hours from NYC. It is not as bad as you might think if you give yourself plenty of time for all the lights and traffic possibilities. I hate to try to find parking so I generally figure out where I am going then look on the icon parking website for discount coupons for nearby garages and park in whichever I can. Another options I have done before is to drive to Jersey City, stay in a hotel there (cheaper than in NYC) and take the PATH into the city.

I voted 3-5 hours for my 7th grader. That is the time I am sitting and actively teaching her. She does a number of subjects on her own during the day and intersperses a number of hours of instrument practice between her school subjects so she is "working" from about 8:30am until about 4pm…sometimes the hours shift if we have other things that day and get started late or have an appointment in the middle.

I taught my dd how to take notes by having her 1st watch me take notes from the PLATO Biology class she was taking. I demonstrated and discussed how to chose and outline the important points. After watching me for a couple lectures, I had her tell me what was important to write. Then we moved to her doing the writing with both of us discussing what was important. By then, she was good at taking notes.

Latin for the vocabulary benefits, to learn grammar, and because it will help her pick up other languages like Spanish. French because she wanted to learn French after visiting Quebec last summer.

I don't know about every parent but when I signed my kids up for music lessons my only goal was to let them try something they might enjoy just like they were trying soccer, taekwondo, swimming, and wrestling. Music was always a part of their young lives. We listened to music of all types in the home, sang together on car trips or while dancing around the kitchen table, and I sang them to sleep at night…being able to learn to play an instrument was exciting. I asked my boys to pick an instrument they'd like to learn to play and started them on lessons on their chosen instruments. When dd was 2yo, she was messing with our electric piano playing pre-programmed songs and when I asked her if she wanted piano lessons, she said, "No, I already know how to play piano. I want to play violin." As far as value to me, I've read research on the benefits of music study and I've seen the benefits in terms of work ethic, perseverance, creativity, etc... I get joy from listening to music and I love seeing my kids' doing what they love to do. They spend time on music because they love it. Music is what they (two of them anyway) often chose to do in their free time. I mentioned in a previous post on this thread many of the ways music enriches our lives, especially dd, so I won't repeat.

My dd's involvement in music probably tilts her away from well-roundedness because it takes up the majority of her time but in addition to that and academics, she also exercises 4-5 days a week, taught herself to sew, makes crafts (some of which she sells to raise money for a charity), is learning to sean nos dance from a video and with help from a couple friends, is learning French (along with the Latin I want her to learn), and reads. Through her music, she meets new people from all over the world, travels (sometimes internationally but mostly nationally…and we visit museums, historical sites, and natural landmarks), performs for different charities and other events including cultural events, composes, arranges, records music, keeps a blog of her experiences, and attends concerts and shows (even participated in a show through a camp this summer which she loved).

My dd is very charismatic. She is confident and poised no matter the situation. Besides her musical talent, this is the thing most people comment on when coming into contact with her either on stage or in person. I don't know that I did anything to develop these skills…I think she was born this way. I know she will be successful in whatever she decides to do in life because she is just that kind of kid. She always has ideas and plans and isn't afraid to share them with others. She's resourceful and creative in ways that astound me at times. If there's something she decides she wants to do, she finds a way to learn it. I figure anything I might try to do to guide her in a certain direction would only get in her way at this point. I am sure her own imagination and creativity will come up with something more than I'd even dream of. I have supported her along the way by following her lead, providing her opportunities to develop her skills and share them, and trying to parent her in ways that help build her self confidence. I am here for her to bounce ideas off and I help her keep doors open with a solid education. It sounds like you are on the right track with your ds's involvement in drama and music. Maybe you could provide him opportunities to meet people in fields he is interested in. Is there a cause he's interested in being involved with or a charity he believes in? My dd enjoys using her musical skills and craft skills to help raise money for certain charities. Maybe you could find opportunities for him to work in a collaborative way with others to practice leadership skills, dealing with different personalities, etc…

I don't think there is a "too young" when it comes to learning to read as long as you are following the child's lead and aren't trying to push your own time table or expectations for learning. I have one who learned to read by finishing 100EZ lessons by 4yo and another who taught herself to read fluently by 3.5yo (and another who was still struggling and not very interested at 6). Each was a different kid and each had their own way of learning and interest level. I have never encountered a problem associated with learning to read at a young age.

I have been homeschooling for 13 years and have always received complementary reactions when I tell someone I homeschool…usually along the lines of "good for you."

My boys date. They were not allowed to go on a "date" until 16yo though I did allow them to go to their friends' home as long as I had met the parents and they were home, have a friend to our home, or go to a movie with a large group prior (14-15yo). My oldest didn't really date much until the past year and now he is off to college so he is on his own. My rules (for when they are in our house) include a curfew (or a phone call if going past and a reason why), always answer the phone if I call you and call me with any change of plans, and dating one night a weekend only. We have had numerous conversations about calling home for a ride without risk of getting in trouble if they are ever in a situation where they need one…has not happened yet. I do not tell them who they can date and both my boys have had longer term "girlfriends" from time to time. Neither has "dated" a girl I didn't like or would not have approved of it they asked.

My kids get phones when I need them to have one. For my boys, it was when they started in the public schools and were staying after school for sports and needed to call me to come pick them up at varying times (this was 8th grade). There were no longer pay phones in the school. I also found it convenient when they were in the neighborhood playing with friends and I wanted to contact them to come home. My daughter is always home with me or her father or home where there is a landline. Not sure when I will allow her to have a phone. I almost caved and got her one this summer when she was attending two camps where I needed to leave her during the day but it worked out that the music director kept in contact with me on his phone.

On one of our trips overseas (overnight trip), I accidentally booked us seats that backed up to the bathrooms and didn't recline. It was our most uncomfortable flight ever. We tried to sleep laying forward on our tray tables or leaning to the sides on each other but it was impossibly uncomfortable. I make sure to always book seats away from the bathrooms so I can recline.

I don't think it's rude to recline. The seats are made to recline for comfort. The seats do not recline very far but I usually try to sleep on international flights and am unable to do so sitting up. I don't mind if the person in front of me reclines and I recline myself except during a meal. I do glance back to make sure the person behind me is not using their tray table.

Algebra went fine before 7th grade here. I wouldn't worry about the age a child does something. They are ready when they are ready.

Your questions have been similar to mine. I am a linear thinker and having a child who seems to just "know" stuff before I am ready to teach it then having to go back and fill in gaps was very difficult for me in the beginning. I have come to accept it is the way she is…I am used to her now. I don't think there is a systematic way to teach my dd because her thinking isn't systematic. I can go through subjects in a systematic way and sometimes have to skip whole areas because she already knows them and if she runs up against something that challenges her, it seems like we can work at it in different ways or come back to it another time and she eventually seems to just "get it" along with everything else that comes with it. I try to link more…for example with history, art, and music (and sometimes science when I can) we discuss history and what people might have been thinking and expressing with their music and art. Why they created the art the way they did and wrote the music they wrote. I have yet to find a curriculum that has all this nicely pre-packaged. We listen to a lot of Teaching Company DVDs and CDs. Music has been the best way to challenge. Not so much learning the music itself because that comes easy to her, usually one or two listens and she has the actual notes down, but allowing her creative space to write her own music, work with other talented musicians to arrange music, and the technique (motor learning/muscle memory) that requires practice to correct. She did a camp last week where they brought musicians and dancers from all over the world to create an Irish dance show (similar to Riverdance). The amount of work involved was incredible with mostly newly composed music to learn then rehearsals for hours and hours every day but she had the time of her life. She works with a writing tutor who is wonderful at challenging her creatively with her writing while developing her skills. She likes geometry more than any other math so is very happy doing it. She has plenty of time to work on craft-type skills like learning to sew, look up videos of how to make other things she wants to make, and comes up with her own projects.

My DH leaves the educational research and curriculum planning to me. He trusts my judgement on these issues. He is home with dd (the only one we are currently homeschooling) the two days a week I work outside the home. She is fairly independent with the work I leave for her those days but he is there is answer questions and his time with her is important in its own way. They hang out, go for lunch, and do all the grocery shopping together. We are a team and each of us has their own role in our family life.

I work two days a week, sometimes a little more, if I have difficulty saying no to a child waiting for services or if I have to reschedule around performances/camps (like right now). Those days my husband is home with dd. I schedule her schoolwork so she does the material I do not have to be present for like computer programs, writing tutor homework, etc… The "teacher intensive" subjects are done on the days I am home. It is all a juggling act. Luckily, I have a job where I am able to rearrange my schedule around my kids' (mostly dd's) schedule.

I think everyone is different and while I was advanced academically, my children have their own areas where they excel. Two are academically advanced and look "gifted" to the outside world (though my oldest went through a phase where he tried to hide that). My middle ds is not academically advanced. I accepted that early on and, like his siblings, taught him where he was. He was my latest reader and he struggles with test taking. Teachers would never think of him as "gifted." The kind of gifted they are looking at involves test taking and academic success but the way he looks at the world is so unique and creative. He can do anything with his hands (just like his father) without being specifically taught. He just understands mechanical things, learns by watching, and then comes up with novel ideas and inventions. He repairs guitars and other instruments for himself and his friends, fixes my car, and helps his father in his home repair business. He took some guitar lessons but is basically self taught (with some input at camps) in the style he plays. He seems to "get it" intuitively but he never wants to be the center of attention. When adults talk to him about something that interests him, they often comment about his intelligence and ability to converse on that topic. If it doesn't interest him, he doesn't learn it. I struggled with him after school, re-teaching him every geometry lesson and giving him extra problems. He'd do fine at home but still bomb the tests. Then after school was over he decided to build a cigar box ukelele. I came home from work one day and he showed me his plans for the fingerboard…a couple sheets of paper taped together with carefully drawn lines, arcs, and angle measurements. He told me excitedly that he had to actually use geometry to do it because he needed to know the tangents, blah, blah, blah. I had to shake my head. All that to let you know, maybe what you are looking at as an "average" child may actually be a child whose gifts are not academic but something else.

I taught one early because he asked to learn to read and loved books. The lessons were short, cuddly, and fun. He enjoyed every minute and on days he didn't bring me the lesson book, we didn't do it…he brought it every evening as part of his routine unless he wasn't feeling well. I had another who brought me the lesson book twice when she first came upon it on the shelf then stopped so we played the games she liked with letters and I read to her all the time. She was my earliest reader and seemed to absorb the rules through osmosis. I had another child who wouldn't pick up a book unless it was to move it out of his way for something else. He often knew what I had read to the others because he was nearby and listening when I didn't realize it. I taught him to read later.

ICU nurses should not be sleeping on duty.

Normal for a kid who thinks a lot. When dd was very young she had a lot of questions about God like why he allowed bad things to happen to little children and questions about death. The conversations got much deeper than I would have ever gone with a child that young but her initial questions and follow up led us there. Often I had to let her know that I question some of those things, too, and don't know the answers but I explained what makes sense to me within my belief system.

Awesome! Congratulations!