Wow those are really high numbers. Our docs recommended 1000 IUs year round since we are in the north. We haven't been tested, however; maybe I'll look into that in case we aren't taking enough. As with all things, however, I'm leery of taking too much since there doesn't seem to enough conclusive evidence of what's safe and what the effects (both of not enough and too much) really are.

I don't think that recognizing the areas in which our parents could have been more caring/less harmful/more sensitive/more intentional etc is "piling on" them. My parents played a huge role in causing me a lot of distress, which is clear to me now as a parent myself. That's self awareness, not placing blame.

...to have self confidence, instead of making me question myself all the time.

When we need to run the stove to take off the chill, and the air outside is crisp and smells of woodsmoke and leaves. And when I get to wear tall boots, but they can still be with short skirts and the serious coats haven't come out yet. Fall is hands down my favorite season, even though I know what's coming next.

Right now, I have about 15 assigned books for the year for my 6th grader (split between history and Maine Studies). Those are to be read independently and have various assignments to go with them. On his own, he reads far more books than I can keep up with, but I don't think that's what you are asking about. I think your goal looks fine; unless it will interfere with his reading for pleasure, 12 looks perfectly appropriate for assigned reading.

My son was obsessed with those from around a year to age 3. We still quote them: "not now, not evah, nevah!". :)

I haven't lived in Columbus for several years (Clintonville, also! :) ) but I'll try to think of a few places. Restaurants: Buca has big rooms you can reserve, and something on the menu for just about everyone. They have several locations now, I believe. China Dynasty in Lane Avenue can hold a lot of people and you can either order individually or they can cater (really yummy). Reception hall: there's an old firehouse behind Spaghetti Warehouse on Broad St that's quite nice. My BIL had his wedding reception there. Not sure about price, though. I'll try to keep thinking...

When DS was younger we had birthday parties at our local ice rink. He stopped wanting a party at 7, and usually chooses something low key like a family dinner out at the Indian restaurant and bowling with a friend. And pie---always pumpkin pie (that he likes to make himself). Simple is gooood. :)

I bought the text on eBay for around $30. So far the only other thing I've purchased is a $1.29 bottle of water with a spigot. Most of the required materials can be found around the home or improvised in some way. The text is great, but the real meat, IMO, is in the student activity sheets etc found online. I went through each one and printed off the ones I found to be " best" for my son, then cross referenced each with the corresponding chapter. At the same time, I made a list of anything I might need to buy or put together for each observation and lab. It sounds like a lot of work, but it went pretty fast.

This thread is getting me thinking...a small saddle bag is going to find its way into DS's stocking at Christmas...I think I'll stick an emergency contact card with health id etc in it. DH always takes his license and health card with him when he bikes alone; we really should have something for DS too. I won't worry about it when he runs, though.

No. Sometimes I sharpie my cell # on his water bottle, but that's it.

We have dark brown counters (not granite) so warmer than black, and a lighter brown based granite on the island. I love the contrast with the off white cabinets and light wood floors, but it's not as stark as the black and white look. I think go with whatever makes your eyes and heart happy--we spends lot of time in the kitchen, after all, and it should reflect your style. :)

We have one and it's fine. We live in town and are in process of getting NG so we'll be switching over, but only because we are upgrading from oil to NG for the boiler and hot water. Cooking on it is no different than gas, which is what I'm accustomed to. I think I spend around $100 a year on propane, which is much less than electricity where I live (but higher than NG). The tank gets partially filled once a year.

Don't forget a trip up the CN Tower if you have time. Touristy, yes, but worth it for the view (on a clear day you can see the mist from Niagra) and the chance to jump up and down on the glass floor--with the whole of Toronto below your feet. :) You are correct about fruit and veggies--sometimes they care and will confiscate, other times it's fine. Whatever you choose, be scrupulously honest.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about our math struggles as kids. She managed to overcome hers and became a doctor; I barely passed Algebra 2 as a senior in high school despite being an honors student otherwise. She pointed out that now a school would definitely call for evaluations, and that likely there is an LD at play. I don't know why that never occurred to me. My 11yo has far outpaced what I'm capable of when it comes to math and math reasoning. Looking back, I wonder what different path I might have taken had that enormous failure not been hanging over my head. I say at 12, get her tested. I wish I'd been. ((Hugs )) to you and her. Is hard when you just can't make it make sense. :(

Oh! Duh, that makes sense. Yes, I recall now we had it restrung.

My DS writes with his right hand (but his positioning is like a lefty), but does everything else like a lefty. When he played guitar, he played like a lefty, but I think he used a regular (right handed) guitar? It was a 3/4 kid size, and I don't recall having any choices. Sorry, that probably doesn't help at all. I'm not sure how you could change someone's natural positioning or handedness though.

No unit study ideas, but definitely plan on bringing a lot of warm clothes even it's sunny and mild down below. The weather is drastically different on top of the mountain--you'll need winter hats and gloves and fleece coats. No joke. I really can't imagine any kid not getting a huge thrill going up, unless they are scared of heights. It's not for the faint of heart (and driving is much, much worse).

This question is not meant to inflame or offend. As background, we are an atheist family but we are talking a lot about religion this year in our history studies as well as within current events topics. Please understand that this question is coming from a place of absolute religious ignorance. :) My 11year old would like to know, respectfully, how young earth believers explain or understand the story of Noah's Ark. Do you see it as truth that 2 of each animal was admitted on board, or...? I honestly don't mean any offense--I don't even really know the story or what it's purpose is-- but he is trying to wrap his head around a few things this morning. Thanks to anyone who can offer up their respectful viewpoint!

I keep Arm and Hammer baking soda packets in his hockey bag--I think they are made for the refrigerator maybe? And yes to airing everything out right away, but I'm sure you do that. The baking soda mostly worked until preteen stink came into the mixture. I'm guessing just holding my breath and avoiding the locker rooms is my only hope at this point.

I used to loathe going on vacation with my parents. Of course, I never had any say in where we went or even any idea, really, where we were going. My parents just went where they wanted and dragged me along. Camping in flash flood canyons in the Mojave desert in spring? Not my idea off teenage fun, thank you very much. I would have hated a cruise, too, being trapped like that while my friends were doing whatever fun stuff came up back home. It definitely sounds normal to me, but not in a self centered teenage way. Just in the way that YOUR fun may not be HER fun, and she probably doesn't feel like her opinion is respected. Her dance recitals are important to her, and that should be equally valid as your desire for a cruise. Yes to leaving her with grandparents or good friends. She's 13--why not? Everyone wins. :)

Oh yes, we love making up words. All.the.time. And not quoting movie lines? Inconceivable! :) One of our favorite words is elflocked. As in, DS's hair is seriously elflocked in the morning (like elves came in the night and seriously messed it up). It's actually not made up (though we have a lot of variations that are), but an old word that's sadly fallen out of common use. LOVE mouseacookie. Definitely using that one today!

Definitely let your doctor know about the depression side effect you've experienced. I once took a medicine for a sinus infection that caused severe depression. It was so bad all I could do was curl up alone on the kitchen floor. DS was about 3 and I couldn't care for him, couldn't stop crying--it was very scary. The symptoms went away immediately after stopping the meds, thank goodness. I'm so glad I managed to call my doctor. But I'm sure to mention it every year, so a mistake is never made. Doctors take depression very, very seriously.

I second the steroid nasal spray. We've had much better success with that than Claritin or any other pill.

DS is loving Jacobs too! DH took on overseeing math this year (happy dance!), and they are having so much fun with it. DS loves coming across the clever answers--he gets that the author put a lot of effort into making things interesting. The math routine is different this year by necessity--now they will review the next days work in the evening, and it will be up to DS to get his work done independently during the day. If he gets stuck, he will have his own example problems and notes to rely on, otherwise he'll have to wait for daddy to get home. He's excited and eager to take on this new ownership. Yay! :) CPO has been a big hit too. He even likes doing the chapter assessments. Go figure! :)