My 12 year old DD has been making me nuts this year with Lit- she's been totally stymied by anything classic I've given her. Last year she read an entire book (Robinson Crusoe) and I found out after she read it that she didn't understand a word of it. But I have been working hard with her, and found huge improvement with some tricks. 1. I've gotten her a kindle, on which she can look up any words immediately. I find it's a lot easier to read and not lose the flow of the narrative if you can just look up the word by tapping it. 2. I read aloud a chapter or two to orient her to the book, and we discuss the themes, or the setting, characters, etc. This sort of gets her set in the book. At the beginning of the year I would read several chapters, and then have her just finish the last two or three pages aloud. Then I moved on to having her read several pages independently, and narrate what she's read. Then I started letting her read a chapter, but I always gave her discussion questions to answer, and I've have her read the questions before reading the book, so she knew what to look for. Now she's reading To Kill a Mockingbird mostly independently, and doing well. I think it's a slow and painstaking process, but it's worth it.

I make yogurt in my yogurt maker, roughly twice a week I make a gallon (my kids like yogurt a lot!). A gallon of milk makes a gallon of yogurt, and I use only whole milk. I don't add any gelatin or dry milk or anything, and it's perfectly thick. thicker than regular store bought yogurt, not as thick as greek. I could strain it to make greek, but that's annoying and messy and then there's less output. A gallon of milk costs about 4.15 here, so 4 quarts of yogurt for 4.15. Normally a quart of regular vanilla yogurt with aspartame and preservatives and stuff costs around 2.50 minimum, and the good stuff (stonyfield farm or trader joe's) costs more like 4 bucks a quart. So I'm saving significantly. My method is the same as the other posters, except the yogurt maker keeps the temp consistent.

I spray with 409, then let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe. Repeat if necessary. Works pretty well.

Yes, it will go away. Power through and you'll be fine. 😄

The Indians I know use either Indian or the specific tribal name.

Sounds to me like the person pronouncing it has a lisp. Always has, and I've known a few Talithas.

Keep it all.

My daughter, at 11, left out a leg of lamb all night and it spoiled. We asked her to pay part of the cost. It wasn't the whole cost, but enough to be painful for her. She has been uber-careful since.

Yep, I'd eat it.

I am pregnant with #7 and I'm exhausted, sick, and cranky. I have high standards, too, and it's really hard. I find that making a plan for the day the night before really helps. Even just very loosely, if I can schedule the day, things go more smoothly. Post the schedule. Get more sleep, eat something with protein, and drink water. Hang in there, you really will feel better once the baby comes and your body is your own again (sort of).

I have 7 kids and we probably go through 8 gallons a week. I do limit milk drinking, though, and push water. As for produce, we have a discount produce store, and for around 45-50 a week I usually get: grapes, apples (red and green), strawberries, stone fruit, oranges, 10 lbs bananas, pears, kale, cucs, sweet potatoes, potatoes, onions, chard, salad greens, carrots, squash, Brussels sprouts, broccoli. A few other seasonal items, too. Each thing is at least a couple of pounds.

I know I'm jaded and cynical, but this seems totally normal. I would never expect a college to do anything about underage drinking. I went to an Ivy League college less than 10 years ago, and I never once saw anyone get in trouble for stuff like this, but it was CONSTANT. Drinking, drugs, partying, public you-know-what, etc. It was totally commonplace, and totally ignored. I can't imagine anyone even going to an RA about something like that- good for your son for being so mature.

This sounds really wonderful, and I am glad for any family who can do this lifestyle. Unfortunately, my life is urban, and none of the things you talk about are relevant to me. Also, my kids are way less spaced out than yours, and you don't really get into the specifics of how to SCHOOL every day with the toddlers there. I need several hours plus per day to work with my older kids on academics, and being constantly interrupted isn't fair to them. Yes, they need to learn to be patient and flexible, but it's hard to focus when your teacher is constantly stopping. My toddlers also deserve not to spend most of their day shut into another room, or having to be pretty quiet, or playing without any parent interaction. I don't really get the judgment towards those of us who put our kids in some small, part time preschool. My kids are decent, kind, well adjusted kids. They love God and their families. They are happy to see friends and teachers at school, and happy to be at home. No one ever cries when I drop them off, they skip off to their classes happily. Who cares?

I sent/send all my kids to a lovely, warm, Christian preschool for 3 half days a week of preschool at 3 or 4, depending on kid and circumstances. It is 3 hours per day, 3 days a week, and it's about 8 minutes from my house, so transportation isn't a big deal. This gives me 9 hours a week to get any really teacher intensive stuff done with my biggest kids, and/or to knock out any bigger cleaning jobs. This way, when they get home they more of my undivided attention, and they love school. They have tiny classes, wonderful teachers, and lots of enrichment activities that I would never do at home. It's not seat work or worksheets, it's mostly play, snack, cleanup time, singing, poetry, playing outside on playground, etc. I felt bad for them the year I didn't send them- they got ignored a lot and were bored because teaching the olders ones took up a lot of my time and they wanted attention, too. I do believe in giving them time to play independently, and I make sure they get that, but this seems to work well for us. It probably depends on a lot of factors in a family.

Oh good gracious. That mom needs to tell her son to suck it up, buttercup. :)

I have 7 children. Most meals take between 45-60 mins, including making plates, setting table, getting all the condiments and whatnot. Plenty of meals take less time, though, like roasting a chicken or making a roast. My kids do cleanup, so that's not counted in the time.

I think most food safety rules are bunk, and I've been thawing meat in the counter (all day long, not just a few hours) for 15 years and we've never gotten FP. I am more careful with ground meat, because of increased risk therein, but with chicken, pork, and pieces of beef it's a free for all. You could try cutting up the meat, too. That's what I do when I need dinner ready faster.

I thought paleo had no dairy?

Yes, 24/day seems totally reasonable to me. That's 720 a month, right? That's more than I spend on 8 people. Can you post some meals you're doing now, so we can help trim it down?

I am well aware of other interpretations of the BIble, and that there are many people who claim faith in Christ who also agree with homosexuality. They have every right to do so.

I think the issue for me would not be her orientation, but the fact that this woman and her wife consider themselves Christians, also. I have many friends who do things or espouse things I disagree with- I have prochoice friends, gay friends, etc. None of them claim to be Christians, and so I wouldn't expect them to share my beliefs, nor would I hold them to Biblical standards on anything. However, I think the BIble is clear that if someone calls themself a Christian, we are to hold them to Christian standards and contend for the faith. I think it could be confusing to your kids if they are saying they are believers, and you are, too, and yet their beliefs on this are not Biblical. Just my .02.

Steak tacos with peppers and onions, Monterey Jack cheese, and yellow rice.

Malem alarm worked perfectly for my 6 yo. Took 3 days.

I'd send her if she wants to go. I don't treat most eat infections anyway.

My 12 year old DD does this and it's maddening. I think it's relatively normal (but correctable) preteen arrogance, argumentativeness, and sibling rivalry as the younger siblings catch up and threaten the older kid's dominance. I correct her and ask her to try listening, being humble, etc.