Post by rootbeerfloat on Sept 17, 2021 13:04:55 GMT -5
Kids aren't allowed to eat in their rooms (or upstairs at all).
I don't make them make their beds every day. I wash their sheets regularly, but ask them to strip them, and then they remake the bed with clean linens. They are both good about using their hampers. After laundry is washed/dried, I throw it on their beds to fold/put away and no longer stress out if it takes them a few days to do so.
They will sometimes accumulate things on their desks or in their closets, which I've trained myself to ignore. They don't clutter their floors, thankfully.
DD is naturally organized like me. DS is less so, but tends to be a minimalist in terms of stuff.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Sept 3, 2021 13:14:29 GMT -5
We have an Xbox One (and DS has graduated to a gaming PC), but if I were shopping now, I'd look for the X, which as pp said, is actually hard to find.
Most games they play are digital, so I don't think the DVD is an essential feature. The memory does fill up, but the kids also get tired of games after awhile and will uninstall the ones they don't play anymore.
I also agree that it is major way they socialize, especially while they were so locked down. They have gone through headsets, so keep that in mind. I also recommend getting a rechargeable battery for the controllers because they will eat your batteries fast.
Fornite isn't as bad as some others. DD really only plays Minecraft. DS has played a wider variety, including Battlefront (they fight with light sabers and blasters lol), which we're OK with.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Sept 2, 2021 13:28:58 GMT -5
If I understand our policy correctly (big if LOL), we would be notified our kid was within 3 ft of someone positive for at least 15 min regardless of mask usage. Masks are required here.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Sept 2, 2021 13:12:30 GMT -5
A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua - 3.5* Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon - 3* When He Was Wicked (Brigertons #6) by Julia Quinn - 3* It's in His Kiss (Bridgertons #7) by Julia Quinn - 3* Lover Unveiled (BDB #19) by JR Ward - 3*
Post by rootbeerfloat on Aug 25, 2021 15:53:02 GMT -5
I liked the premise and the prose. But I didn't like Addie or Henry. Henry was boring. It made sense that he and Addie would form a relationship due to circumstances and loneliness.
Addie struck me as self-absorbed, even in the beginning, though I'm sure that helped her survive centuries of solitude. I get that she wanted to be remembered and that art is important, but I feel like immortality could give you the opportunity to change history in a meaningful way, and she didn't do much of anything. Her saving Henry redeemed her for me a bit.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Aug 24, 2021 13:16:18 GMT -5
Neither kid has learned cursive in school. DS usually just prints his name. DD's teacher told her the "letters had to connect" in her signature, so she did that.
I guess I should have them practice. I used to practice mine (as well as my parents', not that I ever mastered them lol).
Post by rootbeerfloat on Aug 13, 2021 18:13:59 GMT -5
I'm reading the sixth Bridgerton book.
QOTW: DD cooks dinner most nights, and every weekend we brainstorm the meal plan together, which typically involves her rejecting 90% of our suggestions, then Googling the ones she wants to try.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Aug 8, 2021 14:07:08 GMT -5
Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline - 2.5* The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune - 3* Fumbled (Playbook #2) by Alexa Martin - 3* Blitzed (Playbook #3) by Alexa Martin - 3* Snapped (Playbook #4) by Alexa Martin - 4* One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston - 3.5* Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid - 4* The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren - 4*
Post by rootbeerfloat on Aug 6, 2021 13:52:04 GMT -5
I read Snapped by Alexa Martin, which was the last in her Playbook series (contemporary sports romances). This one was probably the best as it addressed social justice/players kneeling.
QOTW: Well, I only read one Liane Moriarty book, but it turned me off from reading any more.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 28, 2021 14:10:54 GMT -5
Niece #1 lives a plane flight away, but H and his siblings are close. She just graduated HS and will be heading to college (in the UK, so even farther away).
My sister's kids (14 y/o nephew, 9 m/o niece) live in my neighborhood. Our boys are the same age, but attend different schools and have different interests, so were closer when they were small. I'm definitely his favorite aunt though, and I strive to continue that with his baby sister lol.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 23, 2021 14:28:22 GMT -5
One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. I liked it, though not as much as Red, White, and Royal Blue.
QOTW: I would like to be more handy and be able to make minor repairs around the house. I don't like watching Youtube videos, and having an actual person to teach me might be more effective.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 22, 2021 15:18:15 GMT -5
They go back in a couple of weeks. There is a virtual option, which requires a commitment for at least the semester, will be asynchronous, and (for HS) limits options for electives, so they will attend in-person. 9th grader is vaccinated, but the 6th grader isn't yet (turns 12 in October). Masks are required for both MS and HS.
I read The Night Swim and The Midnight Library. I enjoyed night swim. Midnight library…I’m not sure how I feel. I gave it 3 stars but I could easily go down to 2. It felt rushed, incomplete, not quite right. The parts that were good were good but there were so few of them. It reminded me of Dark Matter but DM was so much better.
I've realized that I don't enjoy these types of books (The Midnight Library, Life After Life). I can appreciate the writing, but I tend to find the characters bland and get tired of them in a neverending loop of unhappy situations.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 8, 2021 12:50:48 GMT -5
I have enjoyed all 3 series for different reasons. The sitcom setup of Wandavision was clever, Agatha and the minor characters were fun, Wanda is badass, and it made me excited for the next Dr. Strange movie (I'm usually meh on him). I liked seeing Falcon's evolution to Captain America and the commentary on race, plus Zemo is awesome and Bucky is hot, even though the flag smashers were awful to watch.
And Loki is fun. I love all the variants and Mobius and Miss Minute, who my family jokes will be the ultimate villain.
I am most likely going to Berlin for work next summer. I've spent the past two days doing some research into how I can make it into a longer vacation. I've never been to Germany and probably wouldn't choose it on my own, but there are a lot of things I'd like to see!
I was thinking maybe just taking one person with me. Is it weird that my first choice for that person is my 13 year old (would be 14 by then)? I honestly think he'd be the easiest and most adventurous to travel with. Sorry H, LOL.
If I can figure out what he could do during my conference, I think I'm going to suggest it.
I took DS to a conference with me. His middle school had an odd calendar, and the conference coincided with one of his breaks. He would've just been entertaining himself home alone, so I figured he could do that in a hotel room while I was in sessions. It wasn't as exciting a location as Berlin, but we did some sightseeing, which was fun. DD is jealous to this day and expects a solo trip sometime, too, lol.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 3, 2021 19:45:22 GMT -5
The Alice Network by Kate Quinn - 3* Wolfsbane by Patricia Briggs - 3* Intercepted by Alexa Martin - 3* The Downstairs Girl by Stacey Lee - 4* Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez - 3.5*
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 3, 2021 19:42:36 GMT -5
I'm reading The House on the Cerulean Sea.
I like seeing large displays, but not crowds. I live somewhere people set them off at home for every concievable holiday, and I'm a grinch. I hate the noise, what it does to the air quality, and how it scares my dogs.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jul 1, 2021 13:23:29 GMT -5
We had DS tested (privately) in 3rd grade. His struggles were spelling and handwriting mainly. He was not dx'd with a learning disorder (though the testing did indicate a slight issue with processing speed?), but was dx'd with anxiety and ADHD. We had a tutor, who thought he probably was dyslexic, but we discontinued that after a while. Because his test scores and grades were fine, he only qualified for the 504. His accommodations (which we still have going into 9th grade) mostly address the anxiety/ADHD, though we could've asked for more time on tests if needed.
His handwriting has improved over time, though he does write as little as possible to get his points across. He is more verbose when he types lol. Typing speed is OK. Having access to spellcheck and grammar check has helped. These are still challenging for him and probably always will be.
OT was never presented as an option, but I definitely think it could've helped.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jun 24, 2021 14:24:52 GMT -5
We did HP on a weekday in March (2018), which wasn't busy. I would arrive early, hit HP first, and get in line for the rides, then browse the shops and get some butterbeer. We didn't eat in either restaurant, so I can't speak to that.
Before HP, we would start with the the rides in the lower lot (Jurassic World, etc), which tend to have the longer lines, then work our way up. I think it's totally doable in 1 day.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jun 21, 2021 12:47:53 GMT -5
We got them maybe 8 years ago, so battery storage wasn't an option or at least wasn't in our price range at the time. Until we added A/C, we produced more than we used in summer months, but those times have passed lol. At some point, we will look to add more panels and explore battery storage, but it isn't a priority for now. I live in HI, where electricity is expensive, and there's plenty of sun.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Jun 16, 2021 12:33:17 GMT -5
I like the hanging at the mall analogy. It also makes me laugh because we've told the kids to hang out the mall, and their response is "what are we supposed to DO?" When they go, they grab a snack, eat it, then leave lol.
What do you mean by fluoride supplements? We've used fluoride toothpaste since the kids were 1 and we started using toothpaste per the dentists recommendation. But we don't give them anything else with fluoride in it. I don't remember the pedi or dentist saying anything about it.
It's a pill to chew or drops in addition to fluoride toothpaste. I believe most of the mainland had fluoride in the water so it's not a thing as much, but my state doesn't or if you're on well water I don't think you have it.
I live where you do and never did supplements. Maybe the pedi I saw when DS was an infant recommended it, but the dentists didn't. Just use flouride toothpaste. (I'm also a stickler for flouride tx in the dentist's office 2x/year.) DS (who is 14 with questionable dental hygiene) has no cavities. DD had to have a few fillings, but got scared straight by the process and hasn't had any since lol.
OP, DS lost his first tooth at 8.5! He's still losing teeth But the dentists have never been concerned (and since he hasn't needed orthodontics, they haven't tried to pull any).