My husband and I have been considering this very thing. We have not broached it with the kids yet, they would each get something nice but I'd rather spend our money on memories than stuff this time and we are never around extended family during any holiday because due to the military we are always too far to make it possible. Since it will be just us 5 might as well spend it doing something exciting. If any of them are dead set against it we will hold off though.

Specifically, my child is 7. It varies tremendously on the subject. Any type of writing, like today is was just 3 sentences on what she ate for dinner last night and how it tasted. She only asked about spelling hamburger and I told her but it lead me to wondering about what is the proper response?

When your child is writing and asks "how do you spell....?" how do you handle it? Do you spell every word for him/her, have him/her look them up, let him/her guess and fix it afterwards or something else?

I see reading lists of great chapter books and classics but I was wondering for those who have 1st-4th graders (or even beyond) how much of your year is spent on discussing themes, genres and art mediums found in picturebooks?

Yes, I procrastinated too long on deciding whether or not to buy it from Amazon and deal with shipping times. So now we've decided to make ourselves. :coolgleamA:

Does anyone have a tried and true recipe for Turkish delights?

My older DS 14 reads because he has to, I think there might have been a handful of books he finished with no over sight from me. They don't over do media, we even have a summer time rule nothing electronic until after 12 (he goes to PS). I've shifted my goal for him from learning to love reading to knowing the benefits of reading. As long as he knows how to get and seek information, I guess I consider it a success. I've talked to him about it and he says he just doesn't enjoy it. I'm not sure if him having ADD is a factor. He'd rather sit staring off into space than a book.

We have a huge one in the play room that we hardly ever really use (they do to just to draw) but the smaller individual one got used so much the plastic film came off :scared:! I ran out the same day and got another lol math would be a huge pain without it even spelling on occasion

Dh's family has an extensive history of sleep walking. He once woke up outside in the snow!. DD has done what you described, would wake up crying facing the wall, or walking downstairs, trying to get in her toybox etc and it would happen in waves a period of nothing then every night for a week or 2 looking back we think it started as young as 18 month but we assumed her pacifier fell out. I remember talking to the Dr at 3 or 4, I don't remember what he said but it was something like not switching from one stage of sleep to the other effectively, like while trying to go from light sleep to deep sleep there is a hiccup and part of the brain wakes. That's why it almost always happens about an hour or so after she falls asleep he never mentioned seizures. I do know the older she got the less often it happens now it averages maybe 4x a year. She was never able to talk though the most I could ever get out of her was "I don't know". My younger DS has done it too, but he's 2 1/2 and only had had about 4 episodes which is about 80% less than his sister so we are even less concerned. Hope you get helpful answers from the Dr.

Just Curious, if it was "Great Uncle Joe" staying at the house for a week or so and one night he went out with his friends but had a key to get it in, would he be expected to call or text as to keep the family updated on his ETA? I think females especially teen and young adults get the brunt of "its just common courtesy". My mother kept way tighter tabs on me than she did my younger brother and it did in some instances breed resentment. At this age she seems to possess many of the qualities you had hoped and not texting every time plans change is just a part of her living her live and gaining independence. Nothing more should be read into it.

Yes I've wondered if her vision is the problem and have asked her several times if she can see the page alright. She had an exam about 2 years ago and was fine but I think for piece of mind at the very least I am going to schedule another appointment.

When I googled the scenario, dyslexia came up quite a bit but I don't think she fits any of the other warning signs. She began reading at 4 by memorizing 3 letter words and by 5 read early chapter books like Junie b jones, she is a natural speller and writes clear complete sentences. I did try to research if there were subcategories of dyslexia but nothing satisfactory popped up. I'm not even sure where I could talk to a professional in that department since she is not in school. Yes, she also sometimes leaves the s off of plural words as well. I've even considered getting her eyes checked again. I am definitely going to check out that group and I can see if the index cards help. Today she began reading The Lion Witch and the Wardrobe and she mixed up about six times but only 2/3 letter words her most common switches are said/and that/what of/if every/very the/was

Sometimes. I pay my son to watch his younger sibling if we/I am doing something of leisure like dinner, movies, or just to get a break. In those circumstances I feel it is not his responsibility to be in charge of them but a voluntary service for which I compensate. If he is watching them while we/I am doing something necessary like grocery shopping then its viewed as his contribution to the running of the house.

My daughter is 6 (7 next month) and she was a fairly early reader. She reads well and is fine with longer words but when reading chapter books at times stumbles or messes up with words like said, on, of, that, what, him, the, I feel like those little but often mistakes is what is keeping her from progressing and retaining the material. Has anyone dealt with something like this. Usually I just point at the word or say "said" and she will self correct with "and" then keep going but it breaks up the reading.

Overnight French toast casserole

I want to be heartbroken but she lived her life her way and was loved by so many. She will be missed but left behind more than most for us to cherish. I admired her for so long may she RIP.

My DD has Cecile. That's really disappointing-not surprising but disappointing. I was hoping American Girl would set them selves just a little more apart with their brand and be more accommodating but money drives all. These dolls are expensive and very much a luxury but if I'm going to spend the extra money I'd rather not have her subject to more of the same covert (usually overt) messages that Caucasian, blonde and blue is the true standard and everything else is filler. I can save my money and go to Barbie for that.

Wow! This thread ended way to soon. It was really interesting. I actually read Buddhism for Dummies few years back and it did a nice job covering the who, where,when, what basics.

No, I can't even put a button back on. A fact I am rather ashamed of.

Its close to me so I'm excited bout it!

We've only been HS for 2 months and I also have 2.5 year old at home 1 thing that I have noticed is that over the course of the weeks with our schedule being fairly consistent My toddler has kind of learned when he can be all over the place with us and when to kinda do his own thing. He used to want to be all up in the middle of everything all the time but it's lost its shine and he is a lot better about letting her do her work. So that's one thing to possibly look forward to in the weeks to come. Also. we try to hold off anything that uses manipulative for nap time. I give him his own "work" for him to color or paint or cut and I am more lax about what he gets into. If it is not going to cause damage to him or the house I usually let it pass. Sometimes I allow a t.v to stay on in the play room and he will make a few pit stops in there before resuming his path of destruction. There is so fool proof method you just move on from plan A to B until you get to Z then repeat :laugh:

It's much better now. I explained the subjects that could be her choice and the ones that were mine and added longer breaks before transitioning over to the next thing. We are getting along much better again.

Thank you! I really love her stuff.

Light silvery purple. I'm too lazy to go upstairs and see the exact name.

I'm very sorry. Very very sorry