Waxhaw is lovely. Check out the rest of union county, too. Wesley Chapel, Weddington- 600k will get you far in those areas. This area of South Charlotte is HUGE for homeschooling, lots of co-ops and lots of homeschooling groups. Union County (where Marvin Ridge is) has far better schools than Mecklenburg- stay away from Mecklenburg if possible. There are also some private schools that are excellent in the area, also some University Model private schools that meet 3x a week and you do the rest at home on Tues/Thursday. We also have some great Charter schools in the Union county area that are worth checking out. Sorry if this seems disjointed, I have a four year old in my face asking me all about Donald Trump right now- haha!

I completely agree with this. He got an associates degree, not a doctorate. It doesn't indicate profound anything, except for the basic ability to follow directions and write basic papers. He doesn't have a job outside of the Duggar family "business" and relies on the family money for living. He does give off a serious dolt vibe. He seems confused, his answers to any questions are overly simplistic and he thinks a VERY long time before answering simple questions from the producer.

Yep, they do need help. REAL help, not the fake counselor help they've gotten. They sent Josh to a Christian work center to pray away his sin (and, I'm a Christian so I'm not hating on religion- the "rehab" he attended is not rehab). They claim they've gotten therapy, but considering the type of therapy they got for the sex offender, I shutter to think what they got for their other poor children.

Yeah, I watched the first two episodes and they were incredibly boring. The family is a train-wreck and they're all but ignoring the only thing the general public would be interested in. The first episode was about the newly married daughter making dinner for the entire family- the ENTIRE hour was 95% about that. And the second episode was mostly about them installing can lights in her very dirty house.

I also have the Brother 1034-D and LOVE it. Very easy to use and I've never had a problem with it. I got it for about $150 around black friday a couple of years ago on Amazon.

My husband was homeschooled from first grade until college and never got a sex talk. Ever. He learned where babies came from by reading the dictionary. We were very young when we got married (19), and we joked about calling them up to tell them that we didn't know WHY we couldn't get pregnant- we were kissing all the time! It would have been a fun reaction to see. But my MIL gets very stabby and guilty over that so we never did. I am an RN and will tell my kids everything as part of their home education. I think it's even more important to make sure your child is educated about their body and how babies are made and how to protect themselves if they aren't in school where they get education on that. You can't send your kids out into the world without that vital information- I'd much rather them learn it from me than from their friends or the internet. My mom told me everything, but I was also in public school and had sex ed classes there, too.

I'm sorry. Sometime marriage is tough! I haven't been married as long as you, however I learned early on that an easy way to avoid disappointment is not to have expectations. If I hope for a nice dinner, I can tell him. If he doesn't plan it, I'll plan it. If I want a weekend away, I'll plan it. Yes, it would be nice to have our husband's read our mind, but is it worth the heartache and frustration when they don't? Nope. I still get that nice dinner or nice weekend away whether I plan it or he does. Some men are spontaneous, and it's never bothered me that my husband isn't one of them. If I have something super-special that I want for Christmas or my birthday, I don't hint- I tell him... "Hey! I want this. This would be a great gift!" If he doesn't, I buy it myself. I've only been married nine years, but I can literally count the times I've been upset about anything serious on one hand. Some things just truly aren't worth strife in our marriage, you know? We can't get angry at our husbands for taking our word. "Are you upset?" "No" (and then get mad because he doesn't know or prod deeper). Same with the dinner thing- if he asks what you want for dinner and you say "I'm not hungry," it's not fair to be upset that he doesn't get your joke. And that would be the time to say "just kidding! I Really am hungry. I was hoping you'd take me somewhere nice for dinner. What do you think?" I hope this isn't too harsh- I don't mean for it to be at all. I've just seen so many friends get divorced over things that simple communication could work out.

Has anyone seen the leak of his secret Facebook page by the same name as the AM leak (Joe Smithson)? He is friends with lots of strippers! He also has an "Okcupid" dating page. He was trying HARD to have an affair. One of his turn-ons on his AM page was "a girl in a t-shirt and jeans." Which, honestly is horrible- his ATI teachings highly discourage jeans. His wife "can't" wear jeans, and he is out looking for someone to sleep with who wears jeans. It may have been mentioned before, but he also purchased a $250 "affair guarantee" from AM... if no affair in three months, you get your money back. There have also been some of the messages leaked between him and women on the AM site. He is just vile. VILE. I don't believe he is sorry. I believe he is sorry he got caught. And I am sorry for his wife, who will feel stuck because she has no education and was raised this way. She was raised doing prison ministry- if God can forgive murderers, then certainly she should stay with her husband. Ugh. It just makes me sick.

Luckily (or not?) our pediatrician is very laid back in his approach to children and milestones, and when my son was not clapping until almost 1.5 (almost a year behind when he "should" have been), he wasn't concerned in the least. Also, that website specifies if a child is either of those ages (3 OR 4, not by their 5th birthday like is said in the above quote) and not performing those tasks, to alert your pediatrician (that is, even at age three, it may be a concern). The CDC's website states on their third birthday if they cannot, then it is a "concern." I am generally very laid back in my mothering and dealing with illness, etc (my children have never had a sick appointment at the doctor's office), but I just feel like something isn't right. I am going to get an evaluation just to be sure, to put MY mind at ease and make sure there isn't anything else we can do for him. I would hate to look back and wish we'd gotten help earlier. I also work with his pediatrician and will ask their advice next time I go to work in a couple of weeks, so that I don't have to wait until his next well check (which will be several months after he turns 4). I really do appreciate your advice. Thanks!

Thanks for the encouragement! We will just plan to have the bikes available to play with if he wants to, but not force it (which we haven't done so far either). I guess he'll get it sooner or later! I'm glad to hear that people here have normal older kids who learned to pedal later and are fine now. Thanks again.

I get what you're saying about developmentally appropriate things- but that is why I'm concerned. I'm a pediatric RN and well aware of milestones and when they should be reached- and the AAP says by age three they should be able to pedal a tricycle well. Doesn't your book say that as well? Because that is their book, and I would venture to say it says the same thing.

Thanks.

He got his balance bike at age 2 (for his birthday), because that is when it was recommended for us. He's just not into it- I don't push him to do it, but we try to get him on it every week or two to try, and it's not that he HATES it, he just hasn't taken to it like many of his friends have. Thanks for the advice and reassurance :)

Thanks for the advice! Also thanks for the suggestion to edit the title- I think the point was missed by a few, so hopefully that helps.

He's tried tricycles, balance bikes and a bike with training wheels- it's not that I'm trying to get him to ride them independently and without training wheels. Is there a more age appropriate way that I am missing?

I stated in the OP, but he has a balance bike as well. He's had it for nearly two years and really can't ride it well at all.

you know, I think mine can pedal backward- he kept trying to, but the bike has a pedal break and wouldn't allow him to keep going. Thanks for the advice! I think we will be getting at the very least, an evaluation.

thank you- I didn't know this. My friend told me that it was "too late" to get any state funded help for my son, and left it at that. I didn't know that they were required to evaluate. Thank you!!

Thanks for these links! He is pretty good with all of the other examples that require bilateral coordination. I will also try the air biking- great idea!

I'm not even trying to get him to learn without training wheels, this is difficulty even with training wheels on. He can't figure out a normal tricycle either.

Thanks- here, age 3 is "too late" for school sponsored help, so I'd have to go on my own and get one done. I have a friend who does the "smart start" state funded therapy (she's an occupational therapist), so I'll just pick her brain next time I see her. I think getting an evaluation might be helpful regardless, even just to put my mind at ease.

We have one and he really enjoys it. I think this is going to be a matter of getting him playing, running and jumping as much as possible in the next couple months. He starts preschool (two mornings a week) this fall, so I'm hoping being around other children helps him to learn how to master more gross motor skills. I will also get the scooter back out and let him play around with that. Thanks!

Nope, can't pedal at all. We don't have a push bike, but have been pushing him a bit and even using our hands to try to show him the correct movement and he just doesn't get it at all. He can definitely do sliding, swinging, jumping around on playsets- none of our playgrounds have monkey bars, I'd say he probably couldn't do those. He is definitely behind in his gross motor skills, but I've always just watched him. He only recently began jumping off the ground- it was like his feet were cemented to the ground! That is what I have trouble with- if it's normal versus recognizing it's time to get help. I'm a pediatric RN and know that, just as you've said, younger ages have better results for therapy.

So, I have the sweetest 3.5 year old little boy. He is amazing and SO smart- he is beginning to read and loves learning. When it comes to physical "milestones" he is a bit behind his peers. He is just starting to be able to jump off the ground well, and we've tried to get him to do the balance bike thing since he was around 2. He is okay at it, but nowhere near "riding a bike." We also have a bike with training wheels that we've tried to get him to ride lately and he just can NOT understand or perform pushing the pedals. He also had a trike at my parent's home that he never figured out (with pedals). I am starting to get worried as I see his peers riding bikes well and no friends have reported difficulty with their kids learning it. Would you start to look into occupational or physical therapy or would you see this as normal?

thanks everyone!