Yes, I was so touched by and encouraged by Mr. Carbone's compassion and his convictions to do what he can to right this wrong in America. We need more people like him in leadership who care and are willing to be part of the solution. It is interesting to consider the cultural similarities and differences and how they compare on this issue. I'd be curious to learn more about age bias around the world and how it compares to the U.S. I know for myself that when I was younger I could get nearly any job I went after. As an older adult I'm finding it isn't that easy, even with years of experience and finely tuned skills. I do believe that there is a very strong bias against older adults in the workplace, although I'm not sure why other than the fact that technology is moving so much faster than it was and many of us have either lost interest or the energy it takes to keep up. At any rate, I've seen a lot of prejudice over the years through my dh's experience. It's like a giant elephant in the room nearly everywhere he's gone. Blessings, Lucinda

I knew this would connect with someone in the hive. What a sad state of affairs in our country! With so many people having run out of their employment benefits, they aren't even counted with the others when unemployment rates are calculated. Because of this, unemployment is really much higher than the reports tell us. I hear you! Dh is nearly 60 as well. Very painful.... Yes, but at least he does have savings set aside even though not as much as he'd like to have. Thank goodness for that! Many people have their savings wiped out completely and won't have any at all for retirement. I do hope all works out well for your dad. Blessings, Lucinda

Here is a great clip from a recent 60 Minutes episode called, "Trapped in Unemployment". If your spouse, a relative or a friend is facing the crisis of long term unemployment and is an older professional in their 40's or 50's, the clip will really hit home. Although there aren't complete answers offered in it, there are some great points covered and a ray of hope for this segment of society who's situation needs to be met. Dh and I watched this with interest. He is 58 yo and has had struggles for ten years now since being displaced from high tech. He was a manager overseeing fifty employees and had been with the company for over a decade when he was displaced due to a company buy out. After nine months without a job, he then hired on with one of the major companies in high tech and was with them two years when massive layoffs ruined his chances to continue. After another year of unemployment and a long round of miscellaneous jobs to help fill in the gap, he finally turned to commercial driving. Unfortunately after having a minor stroke last year, dh lost his license to drive the big semis. This led to a transfer to a low paying job within the company (which was a complete disaster for him), and then finally another layoff last month. With all of this, dh has had the rug pulled out from under him by two industries. He is a good man with many strengths and abilities, a strong work ethic and years of experience. Yet he has fallen by the wayside and doesn't know what to do at this point. If it weren't for our faith that has been an anchor through the storm, I know we would have given up long ago. Period. It's so hard to reinvent your career in your 50's! I've seen my dh shovel bark mulch, run a mini-mart, market vinyl siding, work maintenance on a farm, sell cars -- any kind of work he could do while searching for work to match his skills, experience and ability. Our family (including an elderly parent and a 12 year old child) is very unsure of what will happen to us next. We're barely struggling to hold on to our home at this moment. We watched tho video and would do anything to have a program like this one in Conneticut. We live in a state where unemployment is 8.9% and a very strong age bias endures. Anyone else relate to this? Blessings, Lucinda

Does your history also include geography? If it's built into the history curriculum that would be perfect! Otherwise, you might consider doing some map work and study of the nations of the world or just the U.S. And what about art? Do you do anything art related during the week? Blessings, Lucinda

TOG is a wonderful curriculum, but it doesn't cover everything. At this level your student(s) will learn history (including art & church history), philosophy & worldview, geography, literature and writing - if you choose to use the WA program. You will need to provide all other subjects that you want to cover. I have found that the vocabulary with TOG is great, but it applies to history, geography and culture rather than traditional vocabulary that dialectic students should also be learning. Therefore, I have added Vocabulary from Classical Roots for my own dd. We have also added Spelling Power because TOG does not cover spelling at all. (I'm not suggesting you use the same spelling and vocabulary we have used, just sharing our choices for these needs.) In addition to this, I believe that dialectic students really should be studying grammar. We have used R&S for this and are currently using ALL. Although we have studied Latin in the past and are now learning French, English grammar is a critical component in learning to write well and master the English language. Obviously, TOG does not include grammar, so you will need to supplement. I honestly don't think that the grammar included with foreign language (including Latin grammar) is enough for a student at this stage. It is helpful, but not the full deal. Ideally, it should dovetail into English grammar studies. (I seem to remember that LFC was designed to complement Shurley grammar in this way.) We have used TOG's WA, and in my opinion, it was good - especially if you listen to Marcia Sommerville's audio lectures on writing and use the WA manual. I found that this method could easily be implemented in a similar way to TWTM's way of teaching writing across curriculums. You could actually read TWTM and the TOG writing instructions and customize it according to your own goals and needs. We did this for a couple of years, but then decided to move over to WWS, and since my dd really loves it this is where we'll stay. I will say though, that if we weren't doing WWS, we would definitely be using TOG's writing program. There are a lot of opinions about TOG's writing on this board, so you'll find that many will disagree and many will agree with this method. Bottom line is that you will have to try it out for yourself and see if it works best for your student(s). Hope this helps! :) Blessings, Lucinda

Your nausea is most likely the stress of such big decisions and the reality of moving again. This will pass and you will be fine. If dh wants to apply for the job, go with it and support the idea; pray, pray, pray for God's wisdom and guidance. Things will ultimately work out for the good, believe me. And think about it -- you have two really good options that you can live with and be happy with! Most often in life we are given maybe one option, or no options at all. Your dh could be completely out of work like my dh, for instance. Personally, I would die to have a close knit family as you describe. That is another huge blessing in your life all together. Whether near or far from you, you have something that many people do not. You are blessed, dear lady. Be thankful and trust the Lord. Blessings, Lucinda

I had to vote yes, even though dh isn't nearly as involved as I am. He has off and on over the years helped with math, and currently he is supplementing our Saxon with DIVE videos with one-on-one instruction for our dd. (When she was younger, it was hard for her to deal with his direct communication style. Now that she's nearly 13, she can handle it much better.) Other than this, I'm in charge of the academics, the planning, purchasing, etc. I do go to dh for input from time to time, especially when a major decision is made related to hs'ing. It's kind of like he's on our Board of Education - LOL! More than anything though, he is 100% supportive of our homeschooling. That, all in itself, is huge. Blessings, Lucinda P.S. Oh, I almost forgot that he goes on field trips with us whenever possible.

I voted for both, but I should have also voted for 'other' now that I've thought through it more. In addition to academics and our deep convictions to combine a Christian worldview with our studies, we prefer to have the ability to customize curriculum and subjects for our child. In school that would never be possible. We also prefer the lifestyle that goes along with home education. There are actually a lot of good reasons, but those are the main ones. Blessings, Lucinda

My 12 yo dd wants to learn Japanese as well, but we've encouraged her to get other foreign language under her belt so that she has some success first and feels more confident before taking on such a major task. We've studied some Latin so far and are currently working on French for this reason. I personally think that we will use the younger school years as a time to tackle languages that are less complicated to learn, and encourage our dd to study it as an adult in college and beyond if she remains interested. One of my adult ds's is a linguistics major and has studied Japanese at college level for 3 years, plus spent a year in Japan as a foreign student with total immersion in the language. (He is a straight A student and won a full ride scholarship to study abroad the year he was in Tokyo, so he's no dummy.) Even with this broad base of education and experience, he is not fluent in the language and says he may never be able to get that far without permanently moving to Japan. He stresses that is very, very difficult for English speaking people to learn Japanese. I think that getting exposure to any foreign language is wonderful, so please don't take me wrong here because I don't mean to sound like a naysayer. I'd just like to point out that Japanese is ranked as a Category V language out of 5 total categories of difficulty. (Here is a helpful list that shows the levels of difficulty in languages for English speaking people to learn.) I hope it helps you as you and your family consider the many possibilities in learning languages. Blessings, Lucinda

You are absolutely not alone. Our family has gone through a long series of ups and downs due to dh's employment over a period of ten, yes TEN, years. He has been displaced twice during that time for reasons beyond his control. There was a shift in the economy with massive layoffs in high tech that affected us twice. After being out of work for 9 months and then another 12 months 3 years later, dh finally just gave up on staying in the industry, letting all of his skills and education fall behind in the wind of technology. After a rough time discovering what to do next, he finally landed upon commercial driving and became a trucker. Even that was tough because he'd get laid off every winter, but he was determined to make it work. Then finally last year he had a minor stroke while driving a semi which resulted in losing his medical card from the DOT, taking him permanently out of driving and into a much lower paying job with the same employer. That was bad enough....but now he just got laid off again. At the age of 59 he just doesn't know what to do. For the first time in a decade, he's seriously thinking about going back to school or finding a retraining opportunity of some kind. We're even looking at relocating to another region next year. Big changes once again due to a desperation to find steady income and stability for the family! Through all that has happened to us, I have continued to work part-time jobs while caring for my elderly mother and hs'ing our dd. Those jobs of mine that were intended to pay off debts and help us get ahead have instead been sources of income we have had to rely upon. Humanly speaking, I've fought bitterness from time to time, but the thing that keeps me going is my deep faith in God. I cannot even imagine living this life without a relationship with the Lord that is real and personal. Dh shares that faith, and our marriage has remained intact because together we have never lost hope. We've been through a lot this past decade, but we continue to survive and keep going because we have a strong foundation. Blessings, Lucinda

It looks wonderful, Rene, but I could not afford to pay (or even justify paying) $175 for a geography program for one student. If I could find a reasonably priced used set, then I'd be interested for sure. According to the video I've watched and also what the website says, they are on their 9th edition of the program and is supposed to include updated lists of all the countries. What version have you used? This also looks good, but it has much more than I really need for my upcoming 8th grade student. My main intent and purpose is the geography. Thanks everyone! I am still considering what to do, but your input has been very helpful. Blessings, Lucinda

Well let's not forget about the obvious -- SWB's writing programs! (And it seems fitting since we're here as guests on her site, don't you think?) The WWE and WWS writing programs are excellent and the early levels (WWE) even come scripted for the instructor. SWB also has some great audio presentations called "A Plan for Teaching Writing" that I've gotten a lot out of. I would suggest getting all three levels to listen to so you understand her methods well. SWB has a passion for helping students learn to become good writers so that they will ultimately do well in high school and college. I've found her materials to be very user friendly, and my dd and I love using them. In fact, my dd is very adamant about using and staying this curriculum. As her parent/teacher I can see a huge difference in her writing ability since we made the change in 6th grade. There are many users here on this board that have gone through the whole series, and you could do a search for more input. I'd highly recommend that you consider these suggestions. You could start your older student at a lower level and then go on to WWS Level 1 that is brand new this year. By the time you are done, Level 2 should be ready. Blessings, Lucinda

I'm seriously considering Mapping the World by Heart (MTWBH) for dd next year in 8th grade. We did part of Runkle's geography this year, but it ended up being a bust for us....so then I learned about MTWBH and it sounds awesome! This is really more like what I had in mind for dd when I chose the Runkle program. So anyway, here I am at the crossroads again... If you've used this curriculum, would you mind sharing with me about it? I know it was designed for classroom use, but the website says it can be adapted to hs. That's good to know, but how would it be for an only? I'd also like to know how it is scheduled out. Do you do geography more than 3x per week? I've love to get input, pros & cons, suggestions -- anything. Thanks! Blessings, Lucinda

I'm hearin' you because I struggle with the same issues. All I can say is that my physician gave me some really good advice awhile back that I will never forget. He said to be careful about choosing weight loss plans because whatever means you choose to lose the weight is what you will have to do for the rest of your life in order to keep it off. In other words, if you go low carb, you have to stay low carb FOREVER. And to be honest, if you lose the weight on a low carb eating plan then eventually go back to eating higher carbs again, you will gain the weight back - WITH INTEREST. I can attest to this because it happened to me twice and it's true. :tongue_smilie: I'm not opposed to any of the weight loss plans, I just know that it requires a mindset of changing your whole lifestyle in order to get fit, trim and healthy and stay that way. I believe that is why I struggle so much. I haven't been able to pull up the inner strength yet to make such a drastic, permanent change. I'm not out of hope, just haven't gotten there yet. Blessings, Lucinda

I was a liberal arts gal, even in high school. Words, music and pictures have always been my thing, but I did take two years of biology and Algebra I. Looking back, I wish I'd been guided along and required to take math and science all four years. No one in my family had gone on to college (20 years later, I was the first one to graduate from with a 4-year degree), but at the time I was in high school taking subjects I wasn't crazy about didn't seem to matter. As a hs mom I've learned the difference at a much deeper level. Blessings, Lucinda

Well, Laurie - I just downloaded my free trial of YNAB. It looks like a really good option. Thanks again for the referral. Blessings, Lucinda

Thanks for the tip! Anyone else with Quicken/Mac experience? Lucinda

I've tried several different money management software programs since switching over to my trusty little MacBook, but I have to admit that I really miss using Quicken. What is your opinion of the Mac version? Does it perform as well as what I was used to on my old PC with Windows? Blessings, Lucinda

Me tooooo! Me toooooo! Thanks for popping in, SWB! Blessings, Lucinda

Pushing the LIKE button! :thumbup: Lucinda

I just lifted up a prayer for you and your family. Thank you for encouraging me today by sharing. Do keep us posted! Blessings, Lucinda P.S. My dh is out of work now too, trying to decide about retraining through a cc program or whatever he can fine. These are certainly tough times for families!

Thanks very much for the encouraging remarks. I know it would be hard to fight the feelings of guilt, even though we have all the modern technology to stay in touch with those we would leave behind. And yes, we'd be able to visit at least once a year. Even so, just knowing that we couldn't plan family gatherings or have sleepovers with the kids as often and whenever we want to would be so hard! In all, I think that is the greatest issue of all for me. Yet despite this, the possibility of a better quality of life in every other way would add years to our lives and meet every other need. This will be a very hard decision to make! :lol: Lucinda

I could have written your remarks myself, Danastress! My ds was a very successful woodcraftsmen and cabinetmaker with work that was featured in high end, Street of Dreams homes. He always made me extremely proud, but when he announced that he wanted to change careers, and then worked his way through school at night, as well as a reserve cop for a few years, I saw an amazing change in him. He worked so hard to become a policeman, and like your ds - he really wanted it. I think guys like these young men must truly be warriors at heart. You just wait until you go to the graduation! Better take a hankie along because you're going to need it. And I bet your ds will love the wallet and medallion. They are very appropriate gifts. Blessings, Lucinda

Congratulations! My oldest son is also a police officer, and I totally understand your feelings of extreme pride and the dilemma that you face. There are, of course, all kinds of officer related gifts that you can Google, and there's always the nice leather wallet with police badge holder built in. Maybe that with a crisp $100 bill tucked inside, or a gift card to his favorite store? This seems like it may be less awkward than just straight cash (with the loan and all.) Is he a member of a gym? If not, what about a year's membership and a gift certificate to present? Actually, your presence at his graduation and the loving support you have been all through the long process means the most to him, I guarantee. Enjoy the special day with your ds, and best to you as you explore ideas for a gift. Blessings, Lucinda

I'm not impressed with this season either. I think the producers and even Bob have let their heads get too big! The drama is driving me nuts to the point that all I wanted to watch last episode was the very end just to see who was going home. Yeah, every week I hope Conda gets to be the one....but not so far. BL has been a real favorite of my dh's and mine, that is up to this season. We sure hope this isn't the way it's going to continue! Blessings, Lucinda