I used it with youngest son, but he graduated in 2001 and I don't know what has changed. It is definitely full of Schaefer and Ausgustine's City of God was, I believe, part of the reading. I thought, back then at least, it did lack a lot of history. It was heavy on government. If your husband likes Schaefer and Augustine, I assume he is Reformed. If you are not Reformed, it is a difficult curriculum to use. I am not -- I do have respect for a lot of Schaefer things but every year I found myself replacing more and more or else having to say, "Okay, his something on the other side." I'm not saying this was necessarily bad, but it wasn't easy. Generally, I guess you could say I sort of used his outline and taught it the way I wanted. LOL. I tend to do that with any curriculum, but I did it more with him. It isn't a curriculum I would have just handed my son (although that was what you were supposed to do) but that was because I had lots of theological quibbles. My son had no problem doing it but I started a WVWW loop when using it - most people seemed to struggle with it. Why I, as a somewhat arminian neo-anabaptist decided to use such an ill-fitting curriculum is a long story.

I really, really dislike dogs. I find them disgusting, in fact. They pant, they smell, they slobber and they have been known to sniff at my private place. But I never tell anyone I dislike their pet because some people really love their dogs. Still, I must say, I cringe when people treat them like children or call them children. Sorry, if you are a dog person! I think Latin was pretty useless for my kids. I'm not doing it with FD. I live in Arizona and support an organization that helps undocumented workers (aka illegal aliens) because I think it is the right thing to do - biblically.

It sounds strange, but maybe the Association of Classical Christian Schools would help you out? Surely they know of many non-Christian classical schools. One of your problems is going to be that almost any private school that isn't Christian is ultra expensive. Christian schools often have a financial advantage in that they often are associated with or at least meet in a church (which, even if it charges rent, probably doesn't charge as much). I live in AZ where we have a lot of charter schools. I would consider one if I wasn't homeschooling fd. I know many parents who were unhappy in regular public school who love their classical or other kinds of charter schools. I'm not sure what affect, if any, Common Core will have, though. Also - just as an aside - I've lived in the south, midwest, east, southwest and NoCal. I've not lived in New Orleans, but I know it has a culture all its own. Not typical southern, imho. NC is nice, though. You might have a surprise adjustment in SC or any part of the deep south or even the border states. I'm not saying the people there are bad -- not at all - but as a midwesterner, I found it the culture a bit difficult at first. People were always oh-so-nice but really breaking in was more difficult than elsewhere. Every place I've lived in had its ups and downs though.

Certain patterns in tile or wall papers or even wall painting can make me disoriented. I couldn't use my sister in law's bathroom for a couple of years, it bothered me so much! Any kind of constant noise or movement becomes intolerable after a while. For me, it is worse in the morning. If we are driving and we go over a speed bump - even at the recommended speed - it hurts. I don't mean it hurts in the same way a sore back would. It just feels like an attack on my whole system. The same is true about any loud noise. It hurts but not in the way you normally think of hurt - yet there is no other word for it. It takes me until Tuesday to recover from church and while our church does do contemporary worship, it is not at all loud. I smell things more than other people. This can really get bad. I can't even change my grandchildren's diapers without throwing up. And I used to be a nurse - I've conducted gross tests on gross body fluids and have cleaned up after people, alive and dead, in the past. It's good I'm retired. This disease kicked in when I was about 40. I think many people with this problem don't even realize they have it -- they often think it is a fault within themselves just as others do. My husband is really the one who first began to realize my problem.

Certain patterns in tile or wall papers or even wall painting can make me disoriented. I couldn't use my sister in law's bathroom for a couple of years, it bothered me so much! Any kind of constant noise or movement becomes intolerable after a while. For me, it is worse in the morning. If we are driving and we go over a speed bump - even at the recommended speed - it hurts. I don't mean it hurts in the same way a sore back would. It just feels like an attack on my whole system. The same is true about any loud noise. It hurts but not in the way you normally think of hurt - yet there is no other word for it. It takes me until Tuesday to recover from church and while our church does do contemporary worship, it is not at all loud. I smell things more than other people. This can really get bad. I can't even change my grandchildren's diapers without throwing up. And I used to be a nurse - I've conducted gross tests on gross body fluids and have cleaned up after people, alive and dead, in the past. It's good I'm retired. This disease kicked in when I was about 40. I think many people with this problem don't even realize they have it -- they often think it is a fault within themselves just as others do. My husband is really the one who first began to realize my problem.

Certain patterns in tile or wall papers or even wall painting can make me disoriented. I couldn't use my sister in law's bathroom for a couple of years, it bothered me so much! Any kind of constant noise or movement becomes intolerable after a while. For me, it is worse in the morning. If we are driving and we go over a speed bump - even at the recommended speed - it hurts. I don't mean it hurts in the same way a sore back would. It just feels like an attack on my whole system. The same is true about any loud noise. It hurts but not in the way you normally think of hurt - yet there is no other word for it. It takes me until Tuesday to recover from church and while our church does do contemporary worship, it is not at all loud. I smell things more than other people. This can really get bad. I can't even change my grandchildren's diapers without throwing up. And I used to be a nurse - I've conducted gross tests on gross body fluids and have cleaned up after people, alive and dead, in the past. It's good I'm retired. This disease kicked in when I was about 40. I think many people with this problem don't even realize they have it -- they often think it is a fault within themselves just as others do. My husband is really the one who first began to realize my problem.

You might do a search on menus of people doing the SNAP (foodstamp) challenge. I've seen some good (and some ridiculously bad) recipes on those sites. I don't really believe it is useful to do the Challenge, for various reasons (mainly, it doesn't change anything plus, while I am concerned about hunger in America, I just think a lot of people don't understand the logistics of the SNAP program - they include people who only qualify for partial help in their calculations, so it is not really true that the government expects people to get by on $4.50/day), but I did find some nice ideas for cheap meals occasionally.

For Christmas, our fd requested several decor items for her bedroom. While looking for those, I came upon a white raton-type chest that would look good in her room. I haven't bought it yet, but plan to. This made me think of hope chests. Now, understand, I'm a fairly modern woman (even if I'm 61) and the traditional idea of a hope chest does not appeal. I don't want her whole life to center around finding a man to marry and keeping a home. Maybe she won't marry. Maybe her hopes will be professional. I'm fine with that. God has a plan, probably multiple plans, for her life. Plus, the traditional hope chest doesn't work as well now days because technology and decor standards change so much. But, it occurred to me that since she is a girl (16 yrs old) who didn't have much hope in the past (several suicide attempts before coming here) and who still struggles some with feeling like she can't succeed, that a sort of hope chest might be good for her. As I thought about it, I decided that maybe I could call it a "Hopes & Memories" chest - it could include valued momentos and things pertaining to her hopes and dreams. So, I've been trying to think of things we might include and thought some of you might have have some good suggestions. Here is what I've thought of so far: Baptism certificate Photos - people, pets, homes, and places visited Family tree or maybe a family bible with that info in it School essays that mean a lot to her A letter to herself about what kind of mother she'd like to be (for if she becomes a mother) A letter to herself on what qualities in a husband (if she gets married) Information about academic and professional goals she thinks she might like Knitting/crocheting projects Quilting project Favorite books to save for children (or self - I still read My Side of the Mountain every few years, and I first read it in 3rd grade, 1961!) Other suggestions?

Brief history - DFD is 16. She came to us a year and a half ago. This is her second year of homeschool as a junior. DFD has many problems - some of which we aren't sure re: every diagnosis. She has PCOS. She has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. She has been diagnosed as bipolar and put on the normal drugs - lithium, Seriquel and Limotragine. The Lithium caused her thyroid to plunge to dangerously low levels, so low the doctor didn't believe the first two tests and then took her off the lithium without any taper. DFD did not have any reaction to the withdrawal, though. Her thyroid is still very low (they are afraid to raise it to quickly). When I say low - normal number should be 4, at the most, 5. Hers was 346 - the high number means her function is low. It is now up to the low 200s. DFD also probably suffers from attachment issues although I see improvement there. She also has some Asperger's symptoms although her doctors think this is because both parents and her sister (not with me) all have aspergers. And I think they are right - she just has some characteristics without the actual disease. Anyway, what with meds, little or no thyroid function, ongoing stresses with her parents from afar, etc., her ability to concentrate is very limited. Also, she is lacking in executive function and maybe processing speed since much of what she do is very slow motion. But she's smart and has always wanted to go to college. She is ready for calculus, is doing chemistry this year, along with Spanish IV, history, literature/writing, child development and informal logic. She excels at math and science, struggles more with literature and history because she has to wade through things, arrange them and write about their implications and this isn't easy for her. She is improving, but very slowly and unevenly. However, now we get the the crux of the matter....it is wearing me out, and her as well. So much that I was looking at the chances of her getting into college if I unschooled her for the next year and a half (good, btw, especially if she starts at community college). Here's the problem: There is so much she needs to learn about things like executive function, being around people, and other things that she is behind in. I feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. I am a big believer if children - even teens - having free time to pursue interests and to just "be." But if I try to follow the high school curriculum SHE has laid out (not me -- SHE wants it all because she formerly went to a very academically oriented high school and they told her she had to have this, that and the other to get into college). But the fact is, she can't get a scholarship because the grades aren't there. Well, let me say that again - she IS making an A in every subject, except "maybe" Composition and LIt and even there, it's a B. It could still be an A except that there is no way we will get everything covered in the year at this rate. This is not a kid who won't concentrate on purpose. She cries about it sometimes. All through grade and middle school, she was in Gifted classes. Then, her last year of middle school, the teacher wanted her out because she was struggling with what we know was depression and executive function deficits - but the teacher told her she would never get through high school and go to college because she wasn't really gifted - she was a savant. (This caused a big commotion - the teacher almost got fired over it, long story). Anyway, I don't agree with this, nor did the other teachers or the gifted teacher's superiors. Her math skills are not at all like a savant's. She just likes math because it was the only thing in her life that was predictable for years. Anyway, she has a scrapbook and one page has stars all over it and her photo and the caption, "I'm Going To Show That Teacher How Wrong She Is!" She did this herself but when she struggles so much, it is hard for her to feel like it will come true. I think (and my husband) that if I had all the time and freedom in the world, I would slow down with the actual school work, do more things that she is interested in and more things where I can help her learn social, coping, concentration and executive function. I can do some of that in school work but not enough. Advice? SHE is convinced she needs to do all these classes this year but it just isn't working. She reacts very badly to the suggestion of staying in school with me another semester or so --- she sees that as total failure while I see it as something that is probably necessary because she is a sick girl. I had to drop out of my 3rd year of nursing school because i had a non-cancerous tumor removed but then got peritonitis and missed too much to make up. Frustrating, yes, I graduated a semester late - but I still graduated. And so could she. But convincing her of that....she doesn't need to feel like a failure but it seems to me unless something changes in the amount we are able to master (I believe in mastery), that she isn't going to finish anyway and I'll have wasted all the time on English and the like and little on what she really needs. What say you?

<<You have to be Canadian to see/feel the differences which are fairly substantial IMO>> I don't know what the person who said this meant, and I'm American and have only been to Canada once (and literally only for the day) but I see it in Canadians I've met here. I live in a snowbird state near a snowbird town and we have lots of Canadians Oct-March. We Americans don't perceive of ourselves this way, but much of the rest of the world considers us brash, loud, opinionated, arrogant and ethnocentric. For example, most people love their countries and would rather be living in them than elsewhere, but they don't necessarily proclaim for all to hear (or even believe) that theirs is "the absolute best." Most people have cultural preferences, but don't think those are the norm. Americans are much more likely to walk about as if they own a place. They are much more likely to talk about money. They are more likely to let their politics, religion and other things be known in a forceful way. I think the reputation is in some ways earned but in some ways, we are also misunderstood as well as stereo-typed. And of course, even within cultures, people vary. But I guess I'm saying Canadians, as a whole, are gentler. They've lived their lives as the step sister, of either Britain or the U.S., being lumped together yet not. We are all affected by our country's history and our perceived standing in the world, even if we don't intend to be. I leaned how people perceive "us" by living for a long time in Latin America. It's not that people told me this right away - or even ever. They wouldn't. But even as an American myself, I came to recognize it, every time a new missionary, AID worker, or embassy worker came to town. Kind of a self-confidence without other consciousness and a tendency to consider material things and individuality more important than other people. But very unconsciously - I don't think most Americans intend to be that way. Your average American in very sincere in his/her desire to know other people. But we are sometimes like rich kids, full of confidence, who have never lived in the real world and talk loudly about things we don't understand, and commenting about things other people have no part in. As for the people of the United States being called "Americans" - all people in the Western/Northern Hemisphere were known as Americans before American Independence. Our country's name is the United States of America. Because we were united states in America. It was never intended to infer that people who were not part of the Union were not inhabitants of the hemisphere! United Statesian is a bit awkward. Plus, Mexico became the United States of Mexico, so there would still be a problem. Nevertheless, the Spanish equivalent to United Statesian is a legal term in Latin America, maybe Spain. But no one in Latin America calls us that. They call us Norte Americanos. But Mexican, Central Americans and Canadians are technically NorteAmericanos, too. So - my point is, many times Latin Americans will throw this at we United Statesians as an example of our arrogance, but in this case, it isn't arrogance. It is just common usage. I'm not saying there isn't arrogance in other areas, lol.

My understanding is this: Unless you have talent AND are very lucky, getting into that kind of career is more about who you know than what your major is. So, to do what she wants to do, a degree in writing or English is not all that useful unless it is from a school that can give you those contacts. I know that isn't fair but it is what it is. I see that you live in NY. I don't know if it has a screen writing major, but I do know SUNY has a good reputation in other media areas, as do a couple of places in CA and NYC. If there is a screen writing major or minor at SUNY, that might be worth it. You might look into it. My son once thought of doing some kind of film major. He didn't end up doing it. Instead, he ended up majoring in philosophy/religion and then getting a MBA in Entertainment/Media Business. He started free lancing on the internet while he was still in his teens and when the internet was much newer. I am probably one of the few people who can say letting her son play video games payed off because reviewing games was where he started professional writing, lol. It's not where he stayed, though. On the other hand, his fiance has a degree in creative writing from a large and well-known private university and was writing copy when they met - and was earning next to nothing. She has since gone free-lance and is doing somewhat better. Her interest is not media/entertainment like my son's though. Your daughter might want to get some kind of humanities degree in order to get a broader background to write from and then plan to go immediately to grad school at a place like SUNY or UCLA for screenwriting. No matter what, though, unlike an engineering or a medical degree, a degree in the arts guarantees nothing in the way of success or income. But income isn't everything. Then again, neither is a college degree. DS1 (my older son) does have a friend who became an independent film maker; his most recent film even won some awards but he's barely squeaking by and living in Ventura (not the film capital of SoCal). He's happy, though. But he didn't even go to college and was pretty much unschooled. And DS2 had a friend from when he was about 7, also homeschooled. We moved and lost touch. This guy also started freelancing on the internet as a teen, and ended up being on the ground floor of an internet site that became well known and was sold. He is doing very well financially as a result - I mean, REALLY well after the sell. He and DS2 only met again after they were both in their respective careers. Again, no college degree but homeschooled semi-classically.

I agree with you although I've seen or heard of it a lot.

There are only three people in the family, everyone does his/her own once a week, including their own towels and bedding. I do kitchen stuff, guest towels, cleaning rags and anything else that comes up every week or two (I change the kitchen stuff more often, lol, I just don't wash it often). Oh, lately, DFD and I have combined our whites and sometimes she does them and sometimes I do them. I feel a bit guilty sometimes because if one person did it all, we might save a load or two, and living in the desert, water is a concern, but none of us wants to do it all so... I did the same with my sons. They did their own from a very early age.

I like snacking on cherub tomatoes. In spite of having two boys, I never buzzed a head. Put me in the category of having wanted a doll house, but never getting one. I didn't have daughters but for one son, I did buy the entire Jurrasic Park compound with all its people, dinos and jeeps. I think was the closest I could get.

I'm no expert. I just came here to see at what level others were writing but here is what I have to say. It seems a generally good argument but the second sentence in the second paragraph is not a complete sentence. I believe the rule is for all sentences to be complete ones in a formal essay. This may be a typographical error - does it belong to the previous sentence? I also have a comment on commas - now, I admit, I tend to overuse commas and may be incorrect but I see a couple of places where I would insert one. At this age, I would also prefer some concrete examples of how society, politicians, etc. have handed out blindfolds and how people are being robbed and sold as well as some literal examples of how common sense would make things better. Perhaps someone who is less comma crazy can chime in on the commas.

Would you spay a pregnant cat? Absolutely not!!!! (but I might pay a vet to do it if s/he thought it was medically necessary) Can Apraxia effect how my son writes his letters? Well, let's try a similar example for comparison. Can deafness affect how my son hears music? Well, then, there ya go!

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I've also heard good things about PEMFs but the last I knew, they were so new here that they were hard to get unless you are an injured top athlete. If your Dr. is traditional, he will probably suggest injections of hyoluronic acid such as SynVisc (there are other commercial names, too, but I don't remember them). It lubricates the knee joint and according to my Dr., he has had patients with severe arthritis who put off knee replacements indefinitely. It used to be a series of 3-6 injections, but they now have a one-shot shot. It doesn't work for everyone, though. Of course, cortisone injections can temporarily help with inflammation, but it is nasty stuff and isn't really an a long-term solution for arthritis like Synvisc. Otherwise, it's exercises to make the area around the joint stronger and if you have excess weight, taking it off. Also, heat in the morning after inactivity, ice after activity and/or at night. Oh, and there is also an anti-inflammatory gel called Voltaren that works sometimes. The gel is better than meds you take by mouth because, of course, anti-inflammatories are terrible on your esophagus and stomach (and eventually, on you liver). I must be honest and say that herbal anti-inflammatories are not (in my experience) very effective once the inflammation hits a certain point. They just aren't strong enough. But you could try. Also, you should know - if you have surgery for the meniscus tear (sometimes necessary and sometimes not recommended, depending on where the tear is located), expect the arthritis to advance much more quickly than if you don't. Knee replacement is a very mixed bag -- the good news is, it's like a miracle once you reach total recovery. The bad news is, it is extremely difficult and painful afterwards (my doctor requires oxycontin for a minimum of two weeks afterwards - and even after that, it is a very long and arduous recovery). But if you are fairly young or even middle aged, that is probably far in the future and maybe things will be better, lol. I'm a now disabled R.N. and have lupus (lots of arthritis though not osteo and not the knees so much but i had a left knee replacement due to osteo-arthritis resulting from a serious injury I had many years ago). Bah, now I'm in a wheelchair most of the time but that is unrelated to the knee.

Invited and registered! Thank you!

Yes, assuming the tutor understood and adhered to my values and theories regarding education, lol.

Are they the type to enjoy Jane Austen? Several of those are available.

Okay, I know it is a bit late but I'm looking for something to read for the next few nights (or more) for Halloween. A short story is best but a book is okay - we can continue to read past Halloween. Criteria: 1)Two adults and an immature 16 year old so upper middle school at least. 2)Nothing really gory and nothing terribly occult (fd has trigger issues with gore and we are Christians but not as strict as some - so we would enjoy nothing truly occultish). I have thought of these but we've already read them: Frankenstein The Tell Tale Heart The Pendulum The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Well, at least it is a great time of year for SBD P1. SOUPS! and more SOUPS!

1 A man who is emotionally solid. 2. A man who has neither personal attitudes or theology which would question his wife's equality in the area of decision making or calling from God. This is important to me because we are Christians, but we do not believe in patriarchal so-called complementarianism. I'd want the same for sons - for me, there isn't really a difference in what I want for sons-in-laws and daughters-in-laws except that #2 with my daughters-in-laws looked like, "A woman who isn't overly dependent but is a strong person, able to truly share her life."