I take psyllium husk fiber supplements and assorted probiotics. This takes care of irritable bowel. The fiber also had the side effect of stopping my migraine aura. I even eat trigger foods. I also take calcium and D because I can't consume dairy and have bone thinning.

Foundations of Western Literature.

My daughter wanted to take the National Mythology Exam in the coming year. I tried to create an account on their site, but never received an activation e-mail. So, I cannot get the information about how to register to take the exam. Then, I tried sending them a message through the "contact us" part of their website. My e-mail bounced back undeliverable. Twice. Is anyone else experiencing the same thing? Can anyone provide any insight to what is going on or how we can manage to register?

Another thing that might help would be to reminisce about when he was a baby. Emphasize the love and the joy of being his mom. Keep it alive in his memory. But then talk about other stages. Learning to walk and talk. Potty training. Show your appreciation for each stage. End with the stage he is in now and how much you love this phase of his life, how truly special it is. Tell him you would not trade this special time with him as a bigger boy for anything in the whole wide world!

I would set a special time aside each day to play baby. Growing up is scary, and being able to play baby is very comforting. I would also get involved myself during the special time. Hold the child like a baby. Sing to the child. Provide lots of nurturing. Tell your child how special he is. Then, when the time is up, he is a big kid again, until his next special session.

My child decided she hated her name at the age of four. She decided to go by a nickname based on her Chinese middle name. To most Americans, it sounds like a strange name. She does not care what people think, though. Ten years later, she still uses the nickname.

Sounds like a fun essay topic someday.

I put them in oatmeal. A heaping half cup oatmeal. A cup and a half of water. One teaspoon chia seeds. And then sprinkle in a few craisins. Simmer for five minutes. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts and granola.

The Great Courses Economics course looks good. We already have made use of other Great Courses, so I think fitting that in sometime will probably work.

Someone asked what we are doing for history. We are doing Dave Raymond's American History as a spine. We are supplementing that with The Great Courses' Turning Points in American History, which includes forty-eight, half-hour lectures. And we are supplementing also with weekly (Saturday) lessons from Professor Carol's Circle of Scholars course America's Artistic Legacy. (We are not attempting to do that entire course with all the assignments, just the videos and selected assignments.) We also may add some readings from Zinn's books to give a full view of the range of ways people think about characters such as Columbus, who is much praised by Dave Raymond. And we may add something for Twentieth Century History, since it is not covered in Dave Raymond. Perhaps Turning Points will cover that sufficiently, though. This is an overly meaty course already. We wanted to get American History out of the way freshman year and not study it again. My daughter was born in another country and really is more interested in a global view of the world than extensive studies of one country. She would be more interested in a Comparative Government course that looked at the whole picture, if we could find time to do it, rather than a course just about the U.S. government.

I would also be open to advice on good programs and books that could be used to accomplish these courses efficiently.

Sticking these classes in is not as easy as you think. I have a daughter that plays three instruments, sings in a demanding choir, composes music, studies two languages..... I am always looking for ways to streamline things. I guess I will have to squeeze these in somehow. I don't really agree that these are important. I never took them, and I have managed to understand how to vote just fine. To me, government would make a better middle school course.

I am wondering if most colleges require U.S. Government? And how about Economics? I have a history buff for a student, and she would like to do lots of history and skip such things. Is that possible for a college-bound student? I know some will say check with the college. However, my student is only in ninth grade and does not have any idea of what college she is going to go to.

We used to have a screaming chair. While in the chair, my daughter could say anything she wanted and scream as much as she wanted. She could get down once she quieted down for two minutes. Keep the chair away from the wall, if you do this, and away from anything that can be thrown. I used to stay within sight and sweep the floor etc. Once in a while I might say something like, "Keep it up, good working on your feelings." Another option is to hold your child while he screams. Sounds counter-intuitive but works for some kids, especially those who truly have poor regulation as opposed to kids who are choosing to scream for some rational reason or goal.

Private schools, except for K. K - I learned that mean teachers sometimes have nervous breakdowns, and then you can get a nice teacher. I learned that you shouldn't take another cracker just because you saw another kid take one. That kid might be breaking the rules. I learned that some kids still take naps. 1 - I learned that you cannot just get up and get a drink when thirsty. You have to ask, even if the drinking fountain is right in the room. I learned that if a teacher loses one of your papers that you can successfully refuse to redo it, although the teacher will report this infraction to your mother. 2 - I learned that kids can get paddled for minor offenses, so I'd best lie low. 3 - I learned that when you hit a teacher, even lightly, lots of people call your parents. And you are supposed to obey teachers from other classes, not just your own teacher. Oh, and play-fighting on the playgroup can be misinterpreted by teachers (and that perhaps you should not hit them when they misinterpret your actions). 4 - I learned that some teachers understand. 5 - I learned that homework looks more overwhelming than it is. 6 - I learned that when the school catches fire there is a lot of water damage, but if you all work to clean it up, things will go back to normal. 7 - I learned that life as I knew it could change almost totally in an instant, leaving me shell-shocked. I tried to learn to be invisible. I learned that pretending my life was a movie instead of my life helped me feel better. 8 - I learned that being part of a group provides some protection, but the other kids in the group are not necessarily your friends outside the group setting.

Hi :3 This is Pronghorn's daughter, and I'm here to tell you about a game I made for my Girl Scout Silver Award. It's available free at JourneyswithPaul.blogspot.com My game centers around the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul. You can print out the game board and pieces at the website and it's completely free. It can be used in home learning or Sunday school situations and other things. I'd appreciate feedback if you check it out. Please feel free to spread the word to other sites, especially Christian ones. Bye :3

I don't think Life of Fred presents itself as an AP text. That does not mean it is not robust. We have used Life of Fred for pre-algebra and Beginning Algebra. It does not provide a ton of practice if your kid needs that. However, it is challenging and presents the concepts quite well.

Isn't there a nun has done videos about art? Sister Wendy might be her name. I would watch the videos and chat, unless your kids would find it too challenging.

Perhaps too high a level, but you could try Professor Carol's Circle of Scholars (not sure if I have the name exactly right). For a fee you get access to a number of online courses, including Russian History. You can get a discount on Homeschool Buyer's Co-op. We have done about half of another course and find the material very engaging. But my child is much older.

I do think there is an enhanced incidence of sensory issues in kids adopted from orphanages. They might be kids who are neurologically normal but did not get the appropriate sensory stimulation when young. My kid is one of them, and she has grown out of most of her issues. So perhaps it was really sensory delays for her, since many of the problems have resolved.

Life of Fred helped my daughter like math.

I suggest you try to see the mayor. Camp out in the lobby with your kids until he or she let's you in. Bring pictures.

I take fish oil but only once a day. Perhaps more would help with anxiety.

I use it but never have noticed anything in the way of stress. Exercise helps the most with stress. Lavender is good too.

I had severe insomnia and took Ambien for years. I don't recommend it except as a very last resort. It left me groggy during the day. I solved my problem and got off Ambien by controlling light exposure so that my body would make natural melatonin. The important spectrum of light here is blue light, which is, of course, a component of all white light. So, I bought sunglasses that filter out the blue light, and I wear those for two hours before bed. You can also buy special night lights, light bulbs, screen filters, etc. (See lowbluelights.com.) These products can emit amber or red light without impacting your melatonin production. I also wear a sleep mask because my bedroom is not dark enough. I also wake up the same time every morning to keep those circadian rhythms strong. With these measures I have gone from being a lifelong light sleeper and insomniac to sleeping through storms and almost anything. It is wonderful to sleep so deeply! I know my recommendations may sound a little flaky, but they are based on science and they do work.