How do you feel today?

[Wyldewode]

one grand-child has made it his work to break, lie, steal, annoy. the older of the boys. i am at a loss to be honest. no punishment works.

Love and Logic comes to mind. . . but I would also recommend taking him to a therapist. It sounds like there may be something serious going on, and getting him help as soon as possible can help ensure a better outcome.

Here is more information on love and logic. . . best wishes, Sarge.
www.loveandlogic.com/

I'm ready to destroy the arrogant little prick from the unemployment office who called my home and insinuated my mother was a liar because she i wasn't there...shocking, i was at the coffee shop studying.

So sorry to hear about this. . . hope it gets straightened out soon.

[aliantha]

Hey Sarge -- dunno if this will help, but there's a story in the Washington Post today, talking about parenting difficult kids:

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/a ... martliving

I like the idea of getting the kid to play-act good behavior when he's not upset, and giving him a star for it, even tho he's just play-acting. An interesting use of positive reinforcement.

[sgt.null]

i appreciate the advice. but his parents will not allow for a shrink.

i really wish they would stop with pretending to home school and get the kid to school. i think peer pressure would show him how to act. the kids need structure.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Public school will straighten that kid right up.

[thefirst]

I home school mine, for the opposite reasons. I probably shelter her a little too much, but I've never had the discipline problems with her that I've seen other parents deal with. Ah well, I'll probably have to put her in our local elementary next school year, which won't be so bad, they have K - 12 in the same building and I can see it from my house.

La,la,la,la - Foot is feeling better today, I drove to the grocery store, yay for me.

[Avatar]

I think its good you'll be sending her to school...too much sheltering is a bad thing. Makes the world come as something of a shock.

--A

[thefirst]

She's been to public school, a large factor in my home schooling her was that I didn't have a lot of faith in our local grammer. To be honest, I'd rather keep doing it this way. I mean, she's 7 and she's already doing simple algebra. What I've attempted to shelter her from is the bad behavior patterns that are acceptable to most teachers. She was the only child in her kindergarten class to actually call the teacher ma'am.

[Mortice Root]

I agree, Av. The majority of fully home schooled kids always come across as a little "off" socially. I'm assuming it's becuase they largely don't have to develop the social skills to deal different types of people. That said, I have seen some families get around it by having the kids in a few large extracurricular activities (sports, choir, dance - something to that affect) where they can develop their social skills. But thefirst, in your case, maybe it makes good sense, especially if you've tried public schools available to you and have been less than pleased.



Today, I'm excited and intrigued. We're thinking about getting a new dog. We used to have a bearded collie that developed very bad epilepsy. We put her down about a year and a half ago, and have been talking about a new dog ever since. Today my wife found some teddy bear pups not too far from where we live who'd be ready to come home in about a month or so.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Moose says yip yap brrrfff to getting a dog.

[thefirst]

I'd like to get another one, I've never in my life not had a dog. Granted, I had Fred for nearly 15 years. I've just never felt like my house felt like a home without one. Still, I'm not sure if I'm ready for another one just yet, but I think when I do, I'm going back to having a really big dog. I'd like to have another Mastiff, that way, if they sleep in the bed with me, the queen size never feels empty.

[matrixman]

I have a low opinion of the education system, to put it mildly, so I applaud the first's home schooling efforts.

[thefirst]

Thank you matrixman, it's not for everyone, but it's been a great experience for us.

[danlo]

Homeschooled kids at least have respect and manners (this from an ex-teacher).

[thefirst]

That's my point, and I really hate the idea of having to send her to public schools, though I realize that she's been homeschooled for two years now, and most likely will retain at least some of the manners I've encouraged in her.

[Mortice Root]

thefirst, I'm sure she will keep the good manners you've instilled, regardless of what you decide to do. And eveyone else raises valid points as well. I'm sure there's as many positive home schooling scenarios as there are negative. Those that I've seen tend to lean toward the negative, but that's just been my experience.

And thefirst, I totally understand about not being ready for another dog yet. Our beardie was the first dog I had had since childhood. I couldn't believe how devastated I was when she was gone. We had always intended on looking at getting another dog, but it just felt too soon. We needed more time to recover, I think. Sooner, and it I was concerned that the new dog would just feel like a replacement. But now, I think we're ready.

[sgt.null]

i miss my dog. he has been at the shelter since thursday because the grand-kids were here. they went home this morning. well between shelter, bath, shots, etc the kennel wants $400 up front. we are trying to negotiate his release on a payment plan, as between checks.

[Cameraman Jenn]

Poor Sarge. Give the doggie extra huggies from me.

[thefirst]

I miss having someone wag their tail at me and drool in my lap. I know what you're thinking, but really, I do miss my dogs.

[sgt.null]

julie is on the phone with the vet and i am waiting for her to call me after.

i miss my little guy. and we cleaned the back yard of sticks for him. and another dog moved in behind us. leaving two to our one side and one each in two lots behind. they shall all have quite the fun when he gets back.

friday morning the dog behing us direct stood at the fence and barked for sonny.

[Loredoctor]

Feeling confused.