I agree 100% with the above and will add that it is then your job to back her up and support her decision. I've faced end of life decisions with both of my parents and I know how hard it is. :grouphug:

Certainly true for professional or serious pre-pro dancers but a bit overstated for the typical young recreational dancer. We buy Walmart leotards (I think they are about $9) and tights and Payless shoes for ballet and jazz. We used to also get tap shoes there but her tap instructor asked for a different style now that DD is progressing higher in tap instruction.

Are you familiar with the crowd calendars available on the Undercover Tourist website or the Easy WDW website? They are both freely available and pretty reliable: http://www.undercovertourist.com http://www.easywdw.com They are projecting crowd levels of 8 or 9 (out of 10) on those days so VERY crowded. Is there any way you can schedule your trip for early December? Very low crowds and lovely Christmas decorations. Best time to visit, IMHO.

I agree with Lori D. With your DD being 16, its time to start letting her make some decisions for herself: If she spends this time with her friend, when will she get her schoolwork completed? Your rules still apply - the schoolwork MUST be done. However, WHEN it is done can be negotiated.

We had a similar issue with one of our dogs and we ended up buying a Gentle Leader Easy Walk harness. It worked from the very first time we put it on him. I still think it is somewhat magical. ;) Here is where we got it: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3307+4+15019+14142&pcatid=14142

Thanks everyone. She did come by today with the recommendation form and we let her know that the mailings are just marketing and she said that she needed to do more research about the organization. I feel comfortable that she will research and find the easily available information.

Wanted to add our experience. DD had to have extractions mid-way through her orthodontia treatment when she was about 12. We haven't sought a diagnosis but she definitely has traits of both sensory integration issues and aspergers. She had 2 baby teeth with no adult teeth behind them and 2 baby teeth with malformed adult teeth behind them (in the gums). We talked to her dentist, the orthodontist, and the oral surgeon, and everyone agreed that the best solution was for all 4 baby teeth and the 2 "bad" adult teeth be removed. The oral surgeon offered to do it one side at a time with DD awake or take care of it all with her fully sedated. I asked and he said that if it was his kid, he would do it fully sedated. So, that is what we did and we have no regrets. We were self-pay for the orthodontia but the health insurance did kick in and help with the full-sedation costs. I would go ahead and do it. You will be much happier with the final orthodontia results.

I know it looks like it couldn't possibly work but I know a couple different dog owners that swear by the thunder shirt. My sister is one of the owners, her dog went from trembling under a table during thunder to wagging her tail and walking around like normal when wearing the shirt.

A friend called today and talked to DH. She was very excited that her DD has been "nominated" for a trip with People-to-People and was asking if I could complete one of the recommendation forms for her. She's coming by tomorrow to give me the form. Do I take it, complete it, and keep my mouth shut, or do I tell her what little I know of the organization: that it is likely that no one nominated her daughter and that they send out marketing materials to a very wide list of middle and high school kids, that I've received a few for my DD and they've gone straight in the trash, and that the organization is a for-profit travel organization. Her DD is already very excited about the possibility of this trip. :confused:

We've used MUS from the beginning and I've read countless threads related to MUS on various forums. Almost all of the replies/comments fall into two categories: 1. I didn't think MUS was enough for high school so I switched. 2. My students used MUS for high school and did well on college testing and in their college math courses. There is a distinct lack of comments about how someone used MUS and it wasn't good enough to prepare their students for success at a higher level. There is only speculation that it wouldn't be enough, along with the success stories. For what it is worth, DH and I hold 3 technical degrees (engineering and architecture). We think MUS provides very solid math prep.

How did they find the exam compared to the real ACT practice tests? DD took it this morning and thought the English and reading were just like the practice tests. She found the science section to be a bit more technical and she ran across a couple additional math questions that she hasn't gotten to yet in her studies. Her main complaint when it was all over was the temperature of the room, so remember to have your students take a sweater or light jacket. Now the waiting for the results begins. :001_smile:

Oh yes, I definitely agree. I just happened to finish growing up in college. ;)

:lol: I only recently learned that what I've been calling hot chocolate all my life is actually hot cocoa. I've never had hot chocolate!

I remember thinking that everything was SLOW when I moved down south. People talked slow and moved slow. I about had a stroke waiting for the cashier to check people out. She would greet and talk to each person when I just wanted her to MOVE. I'm used to it now. :D Folks moving too fast seem rude.

Not to mention the unicorns and dragons. I'm still not understanding why folks think they can use what the bible says to prove that we are wrong for not believing as they do. Can someone explain? :confused:

1. A husband. 2. Friends that I still have. 3. A better appreciation for people who are different from me. 4. Clarification that the narrow-mindedness of high school is not the real world. 5. Work ethic and ability to juggle multiple responsibilities. Many more but those immediately come to mind.

I have a dog-aggressive dog and I agree with you completely. Ours is a rescue dog and he was mistreated in his previous life. I go to great lengths to keep him from bothering other people/dogs. He is NEVER allowed outside the house without being on a sturdy leash. I cross streets, turn around, and even head up neighbor driveways as necessary to be sure that we don't pass someone else walking a dog. Needless to say, I would not take him on a trail where we'd encounter other dogs. Some people are just thoughtless.

I saw it and really enjoyed it. I cried more at the beginning as the couple was trying to accept their infertility. Yes, their parenting was a bit over-the-top but I would be embarrassed to share some of the things *I* did as a first time parent. DDs 12 and 15 were less thrilled with it. There's nothing objectionable in it but I do think the themes are aimed more at adults.

I don't know anything about Economics in a Box but didn't find putting together a non-textbook course too difficult. Here is what we did: 1. Ten publications related to economics offered free from the Federal Reserve Bank - these are comic book style and serve as a gentle introduction into a topic many people find dry and boring. 2. Economics for Dummies by Sean Masaki Flynn - This is a solid book on economics but written in a style that isn't arduous to read. DD actually liked it pretty well. 3. Series of lectures on microeconomics from Khan Academy - they also have some on macroeconomics but we didn't include those. 4. Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner - the subtitle is A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything and it is a very interesting and sometimes humorous read. We finished it off with a comprehensive final that I found online from a college level economics course.

Here's a link to a picture at wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Tower_%28game%29 We recently found it in the back of a closet at my late father's house. I remembered loving the game so we found some batteries and popped them in. . .it still works!! I'm looking forward to playing it with my DDs but DH is saying that we should see if we could sell it. ha! Pegasus

I'm not sure I'm the target responder for this thread. I was told growing up that we were Christian but we didn't pray, go to church, or read the bible. I mostly remember just being confused about the whole thing. By young adulthood, I was an atheist, without ever having a single event to move me in that direction. I don't believe in god in the exact same way I don't believe in Zeus or Ra. Each are stories invented by man. Truthfully, I'm flabbergasted that there are so many believers. As an aside, quoting from scripture to convince an unbeliever of "the truth" is a useless effort.

Years ago, another mother asked me what sort of things my DDs enjoyed playing with as she needed some gift ideas for her own children. Everything I mentioned she would reply either "too messy" or "too many parts." I felt so BAD for her kids. Fun is messy and fun has lots of parts. It's fine to restrict the time/place for messy toys but to deny them completely is :confused:

Not everyone has specific high school requirements that they need to meet. If their student finishes an AA or AS degree, they call high school done and graduate them.

I was recently commenting to DH that I'd like to try a "proper" cup of tea, to see if I'd like it. We drink gallons of southern sweet tea (iced, of course) and I wonder what a cup of hot tea with sugar and milk/cream would be like. I'm surprised that so many folks are saying that tea bags are just fine. I thought I'd need to go buy some loose tea. I do have a mesh ball on a chain (is this what folks are calling a diffuser?). We also have a stove-top kettle which we use to boil water for making our iced tea. I guess I just need to start experimenting!

Unfortunately, my experience with Job Corps is the same as the PPs. You do not want your son there. DH did participate in Americorps though right out of college. It pays a small stipend; probably enough if your DS continues to have free housing but not enough to live independently.