Sounds like a mold allergy. They get worse with any kind of damp. Stefanie

We sent a kid to one. I have mixed feelings on the issue and it did not help (school admitted his issues probably couldn't be helped). And it was super expensive. I'd be more than happy to share more in PM if you have any specific questions... Stefanie

This so much. I was pretty severely depressed after my dad died. On the good days, it is easy to see what the false messages are in your perceptions and counter them. On the bad days, it is impossible. In my opinion, and my experiences, the point of suicide is when you completely buy in to the false messages. But you can't necessarily control if you buy in. Stefanie

Well, I'm done with planning for LA and math for the next 8 weeks. I've decided to ditch Spanish outside our weekly co-op class until I can work on attention issues with DD. We do good just to get to Sci/History and I really need that 15 minute Spanish block for that. I have to go way back and rebuild some routines and basics so we'll be focusing on that too. I'm almost done with science. I have 5 weeks of astronomy planned. I am also planning a concurrent mini unit on the mythology of the sky to go with the astronomy unit. Then I need to figure out what is next. I have three weeks to fill the gap before a week long break. I'm leaning towards either a health/body unit that we can finish up in the next 8 week block, or a 3 week mini unit on a biome/animals. Then go into health body or some other interest subject. Also, need to streamline 8 weeks of history still. DD is off at a winter day camp. DH is taking a nap, baby is currently playing in his room. Today will be a good day to plan. Stefanie

Ugh...we've been sick..... DD has been playing with the Magformers she got for Christmas, and the Pokemon game and the card game.... I at least got English/Math planned for the next 8 weeks. Now to seriously look at history and science. I have a referral out for OT to look at sensory issues for DD and I've been researching some things I can do on my own until then too. Stefanie

....for spending all afternoon learning how to play the Pokemon TCG so my DD7 has someone to play with. I also downloaded the online version for her to practice with. Why oh why did I let her get started on such a time/money suck? Especially since I hate the Magic TCG with a passion. Stefanie

Well, I'd be pretty disappointed if the movie screwed up the history that badly. He just goes and goes in the move because that was what really happened; it is what makes it legendary. And just a bit of trivia.....Secretariat's heart was over 2x normal size and is generally considered the be the cause of his success. Stefanie

Personally experienced worse....and it was pushed by the mother. Stefanie

Generally, I agree, but there are times where these high school relationships are just as predatory as the 25 yer old chasing after a teen. Stefanie

Ugh.....BTDT, same "great ideas". NO. Trust your gut. It is exactly what you think it is. Stefanie

We've kind of dropped school for the rest of the year while I regroup and re-think some things. I've finally admitted that DD7 has some issues that most likely need some kind evaluation and intervention. Specifically I'm thinking sensory issues as it would explain so many things. Evenings work better, but I can't consistently contain her in order to get work done. We have a pedi appointment on the 23rd and I'll be asking for a referral. Stefanie

They have two now.....but CS is worse than Bryan in other ways. They have higher taxes and almost the most expensive utility rates in the state. Also, Bryan has more affordable housing. Special services have gotten better, especially for newborns. But for commuting, we are close enough to several major metros to have a choice about where you go. Its about an 1 1/2 hours to the medical districts in the city center (Austin and Houston), closer still to the outlying branches. You also have very reasonable commute to Temple. But really, the biggest thing the area has going for it is the professional jobs here usually pay better compared to the COL. It is close enough to the big metros that the pay has to be competitive but there is enough transient student population to keep the COL low. Stefanie

We have a whole herd of wild hogs that comes through.....17 at last count, not including the littles. Bryan/College Station area is smack in the middle of all the big metros so it is easy to do day trips for the big stuff. Not much to do routinely while here, but Texas A&M and Blinn provide wonderful arts and educational community resources. Lots of homeschool support, and has a much better cost of living than the bigger cities and their suburbs. Stefanie

I'd be more than happy to mail you my copy of TMND. You could even burn it after you read it to satisfy your liberal sensitivities. Stefanie

We'll just have to agree to disagree. For the record, I have severe depression, arguably more so than the two individuals I've discussed. Stefanie

Except that in their case "you can't expect more" isn't realistic.....it's an excuse to be lazy. It stems from laziness and not capability. We have seen enough evidence when they are held to the fire that they can, they just don't want to have to. And that just isn't excusable. I personally have never said that it is all about attitude. But at the same time I don't think you can divorce personal choices and attitudes from outcomes. It is like nature and nurture. Our situations arise out of a cascade of choices and factors, internal and external.

But those things are not financial in nature. Certainly they make things harder though. And you also stated a defeatist attitude as part of your justification for why someone couldn't move up. What I would expect financial education to do for people is to allow them to understand money attitudes, how to work on changing their money attitudes, and identify and work to change their particular self sabotaging behaviors, how to better assess financial options. Honestly, financial self help books accomplish this in many ways and are a dime a dozen....but in order to capitalize on this stuff, it still takes a conducive attitude, hard work, and determination. And of course, having been taught this stuff early in life would be even more ideal. I have my own relatives that live in poverty and quite frankly I expect they will never break out. They have their own inherent challenges (mental health and addiction), but they have just as many problems with outright indefensibly poor judgements and attitudes around work and money. But they won't fail to break out because of those challenges, they will fail because their attitude is one of apathy, making excuses, and "you can't expect more from me". Being around them and their particular plights have not changed my opinions on this topic. Stefanie

Well, while being educated about money isn't the a sure way out of poverty, it at least helps to be educated enough to not shoot yourself in the foot. There are many things that people (across the class spectrum) do to make things harder for themselves financially without even realizing it. Stefanie

"Our" tree is across the street at my moms. We don't really have room for one (we have cat trees in all the available spaces) at our house. The tree at my mom's is a small artificial tree but my DD7 decorated it herself with pink, purple, and Disney ornaments and pinkish lights and tinsel. Its very pink. Stefanie

Possibly because they've never stayed at a job longer than 6 months, or the jobs they routinely hold are temp positions that are designed to fire their employees before they can move up after a year? This is a can be a big problem with unskilled labor jobs. We have a large number of call center type places in my area, and there is a whole segment of the low income population that is just continuously, cycling though them year after year. Stefanie

I said it was a small part, not an insignificant part, and I wasn't limiting the statement to wealth. There are plenty of reasons why an otherwise determined person may not break out of an unhealthy cycle. Stefanie

The barriers ARE real and they are not small. The things we are discussing: personal ambition, hard work, good habits, etc are only a small part of the equation. It is widely acknowledged that can take a family generations to break out of unhealthy lifestyles and habits. It is also well known that wealth rarely survives more than 3 generations. Stefanie

Also, net worth and income are different. Most people when they talk about "rich" talk about disposable income....which is not what is measured or talked about in TMND book. Net worth is not money accessible for spending. Stefanie