There is also a drug-induced form of Lupus. Just chiming in in case your ds takes any medication regularly.

I've been laying low for a while. Dd, 6th, would like to have a more structured (mommy-free) curriculum next year. She saw a couple of her best friend's Abeka classes, and loved them. As Catholics, Abeka is not quite the right fit for us. I'm looking at the free K12 (I bristle at the state requirements and controls, but it's free) and at Regina Coeli. I like Regina Coeli very much, but it's pricey. The progymnasmata is very attractive, compared to the straight online learning of K12. If you are using it, what do you think? Is there enough "classroom" time vs. independent work? My daughter is more artistic than academic, but likes to perform well.

We are a family of 4. We budget $800 a month, living in an expensive area. This includes paper products, shampoo, laundry soap, etc. With the exception of whatever cereal is on sale, I buy almost no processed foods and do not use coupons. We rarely eat out. I find it difficult on $800.

No credit cards and almost debt free!!!!!!!!!! One IRS bill to go...

DO IT!!! We spent 2 years to get out of $80,000 in debt. Sold back cars, started driving paid for, humble cars. Settled credit card debt. Started using cash. We were slammed with some tax bills this year, but other than those and our mortgage, we are debt free. If we could get out of our house and into something smaller for the sake of eliminating debt, we would in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, our mortgage is upside down. I won't pretend that this phase of "living like no one else" doesn't chafe a little, but it's quite preferable to massive debt.

: ( Sorry to hear. We just lost our JRT to suspected Valley Fever. We had spent about $400, we knew we were losing her, and the next step was hundreds of dollars more in diagnostic tests. Every family has to decide where to draw the line. We rescued her, gave her 4 good years, spent a *reasonable* amount, for us, well, too much for us actually, trying to save her. I think a family's decisions are very personal regarding how much to spend on an animal's care. I did read up on JRT's while she was sick, and they are prone to congestive heart failure.

Not working. Frustrated.

Penny, Where do you live? Do you attend SMG? We should get together. PM me.

Also, Netflix has great science documentaries.

We're in the Covenant Homeschool Resource Center in Phoenix, and it is unfortunately, for us, Creationist/Young Earth. The teacher is reasonable, however, and has given my son permission to anwer questions according to our (accepted mainstream science) beliefs. You aren't too far from Eagleridge, in Mesa. They teach secular science there, and you can take as little as 1 day of classes there. If you have a 10-year-old (ish) girl, pm me. My daughter's best friend just moved away. :crying: We're in s. Scottsdale.

I have found if I buy better towels (say, mid-level at Target), they are less prone to that strange smell. I have nooooo idea why.

Is your Ped. a pediatric psychiatrist? Get to one. He/she obviously has no idea what bipolar is. Between my two kids, we've covered all the symptoms (except night terrors) that you mentioned. My son went to 4 years of preschool and 5 years of ps. We had to take him out after 4th grade because of the bipolar, because the school (with the exception of a very good school psychologist) thought he was just ill-behaved and I was over-indulgent, so ps will not solve anything. I'm sorry you've received so little support. I know it's frustrating trying to find a good ped. psych, but even if you have to travel quite a distance, it's worth it.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?pid=5510118&fbid=425646466827&id=661371827 Here's pink nicely done.

I have not read all the posts but thought I should share. Over a couple of years ago, a little post on a local hs email bulletin came across. A family had just moved in not too far away from me. They hs. Would anyone like to connect? We are devout Catholics. They are from a Christian background but do not go to church. I invited them over. I believe hospitality is a Christian virtue. The playdate lasted 7 hours! The mom and I chatted the whole time. I was exhausted when they left, but really enjoyed the mom. Today she is my closest friend, and her dd is my dd's best friend. It was a point in my life when I was drawing closer to God and dropping negative friendships. God writes straight with crooked lines. My life is so much richer for reaching out.

My dd 10 and ds 14 know more about running a house and are more resourceful than I was when I married at almost 26. I spent years overwhelmed, and am happy they don't have that in front of them.

Amen. Any good RC who has not come across this, has had the abundant GRACE to keep the letter of the law.

What grade level do you plan to use it for?

Has anyone tried this? Is it challenging enought for an 8th grader?

There is a Catholic Group, valleywide, Sacred Heart Home Educators. They have a co-op in Mesa, and various activities throughout the year. I'm in Scottsdale. Most activities are East Valley, so we lay pretty low. There is a Covenant Homeschool "School" in central Phoenix. I just enrolled my son in a science class there.

I regret posting.

My brother is a neurosurgeon who retired in his early 40's and went on to earn a Master's in Divinity from Harvard. My beloved late father loved to brag about him...those are things dads brag about, right? My sister is a mess, but when my dad visited he took lots of pictures of her fancy house to take back home to friends and relatives. He never took a picture of my scraggly old tract home. I can say I never felt he didn't love me. He had certain values that were reinforced by "My Son the Doctor" and my daughters "Splendid Home." He might brag about you more than you realize.

Deleted.

FABULOUS anti-patriarchy article by Mary Pride! I asked my husband and he said I'm not allowed to read that.

Don't allow a general practitioner to prescribe psychiatric drugs. Period. Use a psychiatrist for that, no matter how inconvenient or time consuming.

My 14 year old son just started an apprenticeship with a bicycle shop in our town. It has motivated him tremendously, since I won't let him go if his work isn't done. Go to your city's website, and look for some way he can volunteer. Maybe as a skate instructor in the recreation departement? Our local hospital also lets teenagers work as transporters. Give him "credit" for the hours, such as a half-day of academics the days he volunteers (within reason, of course.)