tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.comments2014-03-14T05:17:05.084-06:00Kid WhispersThrtnWmsFamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16093255450536042527noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.post-44371052694708031842009-09-12T19:05:30.889-06:002009-09-12T19:05:30.889-06:00Hi - I popped over here to thank you for putting m...Hi - I popped over here to thank you for putting my blog on your blogroll. I got a visitor from you today according to SiteMeter. :-)<br /><br />I have a similar problem with my daughter (8 years old) and honestly, not only do I hate the way it makes her act, but I hate the way it makes me feel! I'm tired of the yelling, the punishing, the cajoling, the ANGER. I'm tired of being the "mean one" (when she goes to her father's house he's purposely the "fun one", which makes me look EVEN meaner, of course). She hasn't said it, but I know she wants to. She just knows it would be even more punishment. *sigh* <br /><br />Worse yet, my 2 yo son is picking up on this. His sister is the one who is always in trouble (and granted, she does things that cause it), but now even he will stand in the parking lot and holler for her to come home from the park (because she ignores me - she "hyperfocuses" and gets selective hearing, when she's having fun).<br /><br />I picked up a copy of the book Accountability Kids, along with the hanger and cards that go with it. They encourage positive reinforcement and an earned rewards system. I haven't actually implemented it yet, as it's a learning curve for me too. (My oldest, a former stepchild, was very compliant.) So you might consider giving that a look-see. Then instead of being punished with no TV, he gets to "earn more TV time"?<br /><br />My other suggestion would be jumping jacks or something... is he the type that needs to move/fidget/have physical stimulation? Maybe if you had him do a division problem and then a sit up, or a push up, or something else...or maybe have him switch it up? If he likes routine, let him pick one and then he always does that.... or before he does the work, he could do X number of jumping jacks, then take a "break" from the physical activity by doing the math? <br /><br />Does he need both hands to write his answers? Maybe a squeezee ball in his non-writing hand. "I know you're frustrated because you don't want to sit down and do the work... let the ball help you squeeeeeze out that frustration while you work"? Or if he just needs to "fidget", one of those fitness rolls or pool noodles under his feet - or a tennis ball if it wouldn't distract him if it rolls away? He could roll the noodle (or other substitute) with his feet (a la swinging your feet.... which was always a no-no in old school public schools for me LOL) while he's thinking and writing.<br /><br />I just started reading this so maybe you've already tried all these things - but they are just a few of the things that have been going through my head lately trying to get rid of the situation (and the drama, and the anger, and the frustration!) at my house. If you are feeling like I am, hopefully it will help you all feel less stressed!<br /><br />Good luck, and thanks for linking to my blog!!!Meloniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218572127310877215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.post-67959606073574372752009-08-26T08:25:27.881-06:002009-08-26T08:25:27.881-06:00Tweell: I appreciate your comment. He isn't a...Tweell: I appreciate your comment. He isn't allowed play time or TV or anything until he's finished with his schoolwork. He hasn't had TV priviledges in weeks and weeks. And I never give in. Last week he threatened suicide because he doesn't like being under so many restrictions.<br /><br />I still just don't know.ThrtnWmsFamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093255450536042527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.post-39930675837125768292009-08-13T15:22:19.443-06:002009-08-13T15:22:19.443-06:00Would this be a 'power play'? My response ...Would this be a 'power play'? My response to that behavior is to not allow anything else until the work is done to my satisfaction. No, you can't play outside or with anything. No, you can't watch TV, or have a snack. First A (what I want from you), then B (what you want from me).<br />The hard and essential part is holding out, you must not make yourself a liar.tweellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164718561825615886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.post-21504880480162240332009-04-17T14:08:00.000-06:002009-04-17T14:08:00.000-06:00Thanks, Melonie. Good points. God knows I don't ...Thanks, Melonie. Good points. God knows I don't want to owe any more to the government than I already do! The very fact that homeschoolers have to report what they do, when, how and how much is absolutely tyrranical. Thanks again. VikkiThrtnWmsFamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093255450536042527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.post-15924216474612626512009-04-14T07:20:00.000-06:002009-04-14T07:20:00.000-06:00PS Here is a link to this year's info about i...PS Here is a link to this year's info about it:<br /><br />http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc458.html<br /><br />There is, technically, a way around this.... if you invest in a tuition program or a Coverdell Account.... you could use those monies to pay for homeschool expenses - and probably get a better deal anyway, since the educator option is a "deduction", not a credit.... if you don't have enough itemized deductions you may not be better off with that "up to $250" deduction anyway. It's only cash back in your pocket direct if it's a "credit"... deductions don't always add up for everyone ... for instance, we sold our home in 2007 so no longer itemize.... so that $250 would be zeroed out for my family anyway vs the standard deduction. <br /><br />Hope that helps & makes sense! I'm not a CPA (yet) but I am a bit of a tax geek so I personally find it fascinating. lolMeloniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218572127310877215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.post-7322451169539706192009-04-14T07:14:00.000-06:002009-04-14T07:14:00.000-06:00According to the direct from the IRS info I've rea...According to the direct from the IRS info I've read, home educators do not qualify. Each year I've checked the statutes directly through them and it's still like that.<br /><br />At first I was bummed - but then I started to agree with homeschoolers like the founders of Home Education Magazine who bring up the point: the more we (homeschoolers) get from Uncle Sam, the more beholden we may be and the more legislation the politicos will introduce at the federal level. Federal hs legislation is, to me, a bad thing; right now a person can still vote with their feet by moving to another state that better suits their lifestyle choices. Same goes for midwifery, gun laws and other such issues.<br /><br />Just my thoughts/where I stand on it... I know some will disagree, of course, and I don't expect to sway them to my "side"... it's just how I've handled it. Rather like the joke going around that if a housewife would be worth so much according to the career studies, then the gov't ought to pay women to stay home..... but then, would I have to deal with them telling me how to clean my stove, when to vacuum, how many activities I have to enroll my kids in, etc... in order to get the funds? ;-)Meloniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09218572127310877215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.post-11380525682924471102008-12-12T14:09:00.000-07:002008-12-12T14:09:00.000-07:00Deb: Thanks for the comment! And as to Battleship...Deb: Thanks for the comment! And as to Battleship - I didn't get a turn last night. Here's hoping I'll get a chance soon. It looked fun! VThrtnWmsFamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16093255450536042527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6046056191783044620.post-65976095011806669662008-12-12T13:36:00.000-07:002008-12-12T13:36:00.000-07:00Hi Vikki! Wanted to say thank you for your commen...Hi Vikki! Wanted to say thank you for your comments on my blog (and of course feeling guilty because I hadn't!) Then I realized "Hey!! I could leave a comment on one of HER blogs! So here it is . . . and Battleship?! Seriously fun! (Especially when you win!)<BR/><BR/>DebDebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14505780216294661858noreply@blogger.com