Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

[patchfire]

I think I've done this like, once before. But hey, I've always tried my hardest to give, so. Yeah. I already feel pretty given-to because bicrim is my awesome Christmas elf and my kids have Christmas gifts coming because of her. Totally not being ungrateful! But I know my Christmas for me personally is going to be pretty empty, so yeah, here this is.

Comments

[bafleyanne]

Did I miss something? Is it a definite that the kids are going to school soon, or is this something unrelated to the divorce? Either way...do you think Gillian would like "New Moon Girls" magazine? It sounds like something I'd love MY daughter to read if she were Gillian's age.

[patchfire]

Well, tbh, I had decided tentatively in June or July that Gillian would go to school within the next couple of years. The composition of homeschoolers in this area is such that she has a very difficult time finding peers. Her best friend at band wasn't allowed to come to her birthday party, because it was at White Water and therefore she would be in a swimsuit, around other people in swimsuits. I mean, we went to the effort to make it single-sex vs coed for the party, and she STILL couldn't attend. There just aren't as many girls that are homeschooled, either, it seems like, and while social life isn't everything, we don't find that we have the social aspect that so many homeschoolers purport to find. So I'm more or less at peace with that decision; the real question is what grade to put her in. Cut-off is end of August, she's an August 5 birthday, and she's so far ahead in math that she needs accommodations for that ANYWAY, but her spelling is practically dyslexic plus the emotional upheaval of the divorce... IDK. She read Outliers

[heathrow]

I'm hoping this transition is as easy as possible.

Would talking to the counselors at the school she would attend be helpful? Talk to them about where she's at academically and receive some guidance?

[patchfire]

That's hopefully what we'll be doing, but first I have to sell the house so I can move into a district I actually want her to attend. I don't know if you remember the news stories a few years ago about the poisonous "cake" some girls brought to their middle school, but that's our current district. Supposedly the school has "improved" since then, but it's still not an environment I'm willing to place her in. I may use the school district we're currently in to get testing completely though. That way if I piss anyone off, at least my kids won't be going there. Heh.

[bozini]

Would a TiVo help with the TV need? I have a spare TiVo.

As for Gillian, you could check out the book Ida B. Miguel is reading our copy now so I cannot and it might be a little lower level than G needs but it is a story about a girl who is happy and homeschooled who due to something has to start going to public school. Spoiler alert but she finds her place in public school in the end.

I would be happy to buy the book for her if you want to look and make certain it isn't way too juvenile for her. When Miguel gets home I will ask him why Ida has to stop being homeschooled to see how close to home the book may be.

[littlealex]

I don't suppose Gillian still wants to learn Chinese? I don't have the opportunity to do much in the way of the other things but I can get her a good beginner's textbook and tapes ♥

[joymaro]

I think I can one of those wishes come true. PM me your addy?

[ktnb]

Can you PM me your address? Or email at accioamaretto@gmail.com? :)