Homeschooling- how would you feel?

[smoop]

Hi everyone,
Before even having a daughter with SB, I had seriously started considering homeschooling (I just want to make it clear that her SB is not the reason for my decision). I see many advantages to teaching my children at home; I realize it's not for everyone. We don't know how long we'll homeschool for.. just taking one year at a time.

I once came across a man's blog who had SB. He was saying how hard school was for him, how he never fit it, how it drove him to hanging around the wrong crowd and he became a serious drug user. He said that there were many times he considered suicide. He said that he and his mother had regretted not homeschooling.

I certainly don't want to shelter my daughter. She will have lots of opportunities to be around other kids on a regular basis. Plus we will probably go to a coop school once a week.

My question is.. how would you have felt being homeschooled? Do you think it would have benefited you? More specifically, was school difficult for you?

[technovicki]

i personally probably gained more going to public school than being home schooled. i was teased a little in elementary but not so much in middle or high school. and i was embarrassed when i had an accident but once i got the bathroom timing under control around 2nd grade i was much better. also be able to leave class 5 minutes early before the bell rang helped in middle school but in high school i left at the same time as the other students. but i was also fortunate to have a popular older brother and im sure that helped a lot. and when i did see someone or heard of someone making fun of me i felt bad but my parents would just remind me that the parents of those kids did not teach them good manners. its not much when you are a kid but you remember that as you get older.

its been about 10 years since graduating high school and am unsure if its any worse. it sounds like it is but im sure when i was attending it sounded worse to people who went there 10 years before me. i think it really helped me become more confident in myself and not care what others thought. i do think it helped me become better prepared for college away from family.

it sounds like you have a pretty good plan...taking it year by year and the coop thing for socializing. as for the drugs and suicide that is a risk for any teenager with or without a disability. i THINK it comes down the person and the support system and even then its just tougher for some people.

[Barb]

I know you asked this question to the adults but if you decide to homeschool, let me know. I was a fourth grade teacher and after C had detethering last year, I started to homeschool my boys. It has worked out very well for us.

[angel]

I think that homeschooling is a personal choice. It may work for some families and not for others. In my personal opnion i think kids handle things differently. I got made fun of a lot when i was little. And it hurt my feelings but as i got older i figured out who i am and it didn't bother me so much. I think a lot of it is in the personality of each child. Disabled or not disabled. One of my son's best friends ( a girl) is going through this same thing and she isn't disabled at all. She is very easy to get her feelings hurt and the other girls love to pick on her because they get the biggest reaction from her.
I am never going to homeschool my son only because i think the lessons he learns from socializing with the other kids is important. Not all of them will be good ones we have already learned, but life isn't always full of good experiences.
When i got to highschool i finally figured it out. I don't have to live like that i don't have to be shy and sad i can be proud of who i am. They say that people treat you the way you allow them to treat you and i have found a lot of truth in that. As soon as i quit getting upset and stopped taking a lot of crap people treated me a lot different.

Angel

[ollieholmes]

I dont have spina bifida but i do have a disability and looking back at things i hated school when i was there. I was bullied for my disability and for who i was freinds with.

But i have to say its taught me alot. It taught me to stick up for myself and be more iindependant. Not to let them get to me. My disability is a social disability and actualy being in a clasroom with others helped my social situation. I think it has made alot of difference to my life now. I wont gointo it any more as we are talking about something else now.

[Brandy0215]

I was in public school from k-4th grade and it was kinda up and down for me.In the youger grades it didn't really bother me.But around third grade kids started to make fun of me and call me "the diaper girl".The teachers at my school didn't really help me out either and looked the other way at the teaseing.The middle of fourth year,my mom took me and my sister out of school and started home school.For me it was the best thing ever!I was able to work at my own pace and i was able to understand the work better because my mom and dad took the time to show me the steps i had to take in each subject.My social life was better as well.I made new friends and felt more confident about being around people that cared about me.

[Gymp]

Each to their own but I'm glad I went through the public school system.It taught me how to stand up to others who made fun of me and how to basically interact with other people in different situations.

Gymp

[angel]

I feel the same it is where i got my guts to stand up for myself!! I learned so so much from my time there. Highschool was great but middle school was terrible! I learned so much about myself then. I learned that if you don't take their crap they won't dish as much out ( i have my sister to thank for that she never took crap off anybody). I learned that i am a lot stronger than i thought i was. I learned that it was okay for me not to like them as much as they didn't like me. I learned that i can throw a pretty damn good punch. I learned that a lot of people like to intimidate those they think will cry easy and are shocked as hell when you come out of that corner fighting mad and let them know you aren't gonna take it off of them. I learned that I can do things by myself i didn't need a big group of friends around me all the time to feel good about myself. I learned to always make it a point to speak to those kids that you might not have before (not that i was a snob believe it or not i was rather shy at one time) because they could probably use a friend as well. I learned later that people grow up and aren't the same when they do. The one girl that was the ringleader of it all who made my life absolutly miserable is now friends with me on myspace. Who would have ever guessed that! Not Me!!!

Angel

[Summer25]

I begged in middle school to be homeschooled. I mean cried, screamed, and begged. I hated middle school. I hated everything about it. Looking back, I still wish I was homeschooled during that period. I defiantely wouldn't be who I am today if I was. I would have probably made it through school and liked it. Now I loved high school. So, that kind of made up for the horrid middle school experience. I didn't do very good in high school, but I made it through a lot better then middle school both socially and education wise. If I was allowed to pick the middle school I wanted to go to and went with all of my friends things might have been different as well.

[Dodger67]

Hi guys & gals

Just for the benefit of us "furriners" please explain "middle" and "high" school. At which grades does one go from one to the other?
Here in South Africa we don't have "middle" schools. The division between primary/junior and secondary/high school is between the 7th and 8th grade. High school ends with the 12th grade.

[angel]

When i was in school elementary went between 1-6 grades. middle school was 7&8 grade and highschool was 9-12.

Angel

[Gymp]

Where I am Grades Kindergarden to Grade 6 is elementary then 7 and 8 is senior elementary then 9 to 12 is Highschool.
We used to have a grade 13 but it's been phased out.

The first day of grade seven I got sucker punched for the way I walked,that was the turning point for me.I turned out to be a fairly good scrapper after that.

Gymp

[smoop]

Middle school is generally between 6-8th grade and then highschool is from 9th thru 12th grade.

[Summer25]

The grades just depend on the area. My middle school was 6-8 grade. My niece is now in middle school in Tennessee and she started in 5th grade. So, it depends on the state and county.

[dahliafaolan]

Middle/junior high schools depends on your area. For example, when I was going to junior high, it was for grades 7-9, but now the schools have been turned into middle schools. Now, I think they go from 6-8.

Hey Angel, glad to hear there's another girl with a good punch. A lot of guys used to pick on me in middle school till one of the football players tried backing me up against the wall. He pinned my arms, thinking that would make me defenseless, but he made the mistake of getting in my face. So I headbutted them and then slammed my fist into his babymakers till he fell flat on his butt. I didn't really get picked on for the rest of the year.

[Dodger67]

Hell's bells! There are Dangerous Dames here!
Remind us not to pick fights with you gals.

[Gymp]

Hell's bells! There are Dangerous Dames here!
Remind us not to pick fights with you gals.

Yes,that seems the case Dodger...
We'd best watch ourselves and not to piss em off,I'm sure there'd be hell to pay!

Gymp

[angel]

LoL i punched a girl but she slapped me first. I guess she thought i wouldn't fight back but she should have known better. I grew up the youngest of three. I had a brother and sister that cut me NO SLACK!! My sister is an awsome person but puts up with no shit and she taught me to be the same way. I was always taught to take up for myself!! It really takes a lot to piss me off and i have never been mad enough to hit anyone first.
It is funny you guys said that my family doctor said last week that he would really be concerned to see me really pissed off (i forget the conversation's topic) he says you can tell by my personality that if provoked I would fight like a mad man.
My grandma used to yell at me all the time because i would hit my big brother in the head with my crutches when he would chase me. She always said if you don't stop you are gonna knock him retarded (those were her exact words no offense to anyone intended). I stopped hitting him in the head when one day by accident i hit him somewhere else in the lower region of his body (ahem you know what i mean) and he fell to his knees. I thought that was a much better reaction because it took him to the ground very quickly lol. They wern't mean to me i was just the little sister so i caught the usual hell that any little sister would.

Angel

[Gymp]

Go getum girl.....grrrrrrrrrrrr.....
LOL

Gymp
(sorry Angel I couldn't resist)

[vikij]

Hi everyone,
Before even having a daughter with SB, I had seriously started considering homeschooling (I just want to make it clear that her SB is not the reason for my decision). I see many advantages to teaching my children at home; I realize it's not for everyone. We don't know how long we'll homeschool for.. just taking one year at a time.

I once came across a man's blog who had SB. He was saying how hard school was for him, how he never fit it, how it drove him to hanging around the wrong crowd and he became a serious drug user. He said that there were many times he considered suicide. He said that he and his mother had regretted not homeschooling.

I certainly don't want to shelter my daughter. She will have lots of opportunities to be around other kids on a regular basis. Plus we will probably go to a coop school once a week.

My question is.. how would you have felt being homeschooled? Do you think it would have benefited you? More specifically, was school difficult for you?


Hello I'm Vickey and I have SB. I would have to say I agree with you on home schooling I wish my mom would have done the same with me but we couldn't afford it. I also think It would benefit her as well. And YES it was HORRIBLE for me I was always picked on I even had my head busted open from a highschooler who through rocks at me when i was in the 3rd grade. Also a child with SB needs more attention than the others and its hard to get it in a public school and they will put them in Special ED because of it. English was my best subject and Math I never got still today I'm trying to get my GED and I still don't get the Math. Anyway I say Home School childeren with SB it will benefit them greatly.

[Darangen]

I'm currently 18 (nearly 19) and I have experience with both.

I went to school from grades 1-8, however I had no symptoms until after a surgery, which happened when I entered grade 7.

That was a horrible time because it was at a new school for me as well as we just moved, and I didn't get it until 3 months later when everyone already had their friends. Because I had to grow used to my new symptoms, I didn't have the knowledge to handle them I do now, so people did find out about my problems (incontinence).

I was not only made fun of by nearly everyone (as opposed to a few people or a group of people like conventional teasing), but was generally just treated subhuman. Even the nice people would avoid me, talk about me like I was less than a person, no one would group with me on group projects, and so on.

In a way, that's even more lonely than being homeschooled because I not only felt alone, but felt alone around tons of people who weren't alone. Plus I had no friends. And since then I haven't met any and am now basically friendless.

Now, the circumstances for your child will be different, but the point I'm getting at is that she will likely face teasing. And it can be hard.

Now, after that I left school for a year and did homeschooling. It was nice to not be teased, but It was very lonely, and built up a lot of isolation. In my opinion, not being around people builds up a lot of depression that can easily come when already facing these problems. In some ways, it was worse than being made fun of for my problems.

However, after a year of homeschooling I went back to a new school, and it was easier (and I was in highschool now, where it's harder, too), because i had ways to control my problems.

It's a risk/reward situation. But if your child is taught to manage the problems early on, I would easily suggest going to school over homeschooling. If I had the knowledge to manage my problems from the start I might be a lot better off now.

But on the other hand, getting away from people via homeschooling was also a great relief, even if it did cause a lot of isolation..

Unfortunately my post doesn't give an easy answer of which is better, but hopefully this information can help you reach a good decision.

[rach378]

i was home schooled and i absolutely hated it, i couldnt wait to go to school

[Melz]

I"m late in answering the thread, but figure that someone may read it anyway and find it useful.

I don't really recommend home schooling to disabled children. Yes they will be bullied. Yes they will face discrimination. BUT, they will face it as adults (to a lesser extent but it still happens.. people staring, being knocked back from jobs etc) so going through it in school will prepare them for their adult life.

I really think going through all the years of bullying has made my adult life easier to deal with and I'm a better person for it.

[XoBLoNDiE85]

I dont have sb but i was homeschooled and had co op once a week form 4th grade on and i LOVED it! I am considering hs my girls actally. Ashtyn will be in 1st next year so we will see what happens.

[elisaacd]

After my son's third surgery, he became completely incontinent. He is now in diapers and going into 2nd grade. He wants to be homeschooled so badly and I am really considering it esp after reading about "diaper girl". That is so sad. I'm sure you will do what you think is best. Good luck.

[Barb]

I think I have some perspective on this now after homeschooling for a few years.

First off, I think you need to take the 'disabled' part out of the equation. Even though that is why we first started, I have found the benefits to go far beyond that for our family.

My older one, who is actually very bright, very popular in school started middle school last year and had a very hard time of it. Middle school in the US is absolutely no picnic here, disabled or not. Since we already had Carter home, we let the older one stay home in hopes of letting some of the middle school drama pass, opening up our schedule to travel more and so on. My theory (and I do have a masters in education) is that kids don't really learn all that much in those years. I felt we could do better at home (especially in terms of traveling which is so educational). We gave him a year. Now he is applying for some private highschools and I absolutely thought that they would want him to go into 8th grade to 'get ready' but all of their advice was to keep him home and do what we are doing, it is working very well. He is heavily involved in sports which gets the whole social aspect worked out. I love the comment people make about making friends at school...you aren't allowed to talk during school, remember?

Now, onto the other one. We started this whole homeschooling thing because school was physically a nightmare after detethering. But, I honestly can not ever see C going back to a public school. He does so well here at home. He has friends through homeschool groups, the gym, and sports events. I look back on those years of me teaching, and him going to school, I don't know how (or why) I did it. I was so convinced that the struggle was worth it. It wasn't. We are so much happier now. So much more relaxed. We do what we want, when we want. I don't have to answer to the 'system', no fighting over IEP's and this and that. :clap2: We are all so much happier this way.

One last comment on the school of thought of bullying toughening kids up. The problem really isn't with our kids, it is with all the kids that need to mature and get the confidence to not be bully's. I don't want my kids around those sort of people period so I don't think exposing them to get hurt really is teaching them anything except that some people are just mean. :11a:

I realize that not everyone can homeschool for a variety of reason, or would even want to but I guess that point of this post for me, is that disabled or not, I believe in homeschooling. Don't make a decision based solely on that.

...and as a side note. My older one started his own (now very successful website) at 11 and C is now taking over a big part of that so by age 11 for both the boys they are actively working in a family business and both actively raise money and awareness for their own charity.

[Dodger67]

In South Africa homeschooling has become stigmatised because most do it for political reasons(racists, ultra-conservatives, etc.)

[Barb]

Here it is quite common because quite franky, a lot of people think our schools suck.

[Cubster]

We homeschool but long before we had children we had decided to do so. It's not because of the lacking in the public system or to avoid the unwanted social aspects. We homeschool because we, the parents, want to be the ones to have the greatest impact on the emotional, spiritual and educational well being of our children. We feel for our family, it's the right thing to do. It's not for everyone.

I have to agree that having a child with special need makes homeschooling a bonus. No IEP's, no worrying about falling through the cracks with learning. Gideon is a stroke survivor and physical needs aside, he has delayed learning and I've been told 1000x that if he were in the school system, the 1 on 1 that he needs just isn't available. With limited staff and funding it's just not possible.

Over all, it's been a great experience. We have a co-op that we go to and homeschool swimming lessons, art classes, activites and field trips. My kids get tons of social interaction and they actually say they don't want to go to public school. They seem to like the family learning environment.

[mum]

So I headbutted them and then slammed my fist into his babymakers till he fell flat on his butt. I didn't really get picked on for the rest of the year.

lol lol lol i loved that :D

[DJ Paris]

Home schooling...

Well I tend to look at all situations from both sides and am very unbiased. Mostly b/c im VERY open minded.

anyway..
I was never home school, but my neighbor was b/c his family was so religious. But i would have not liked being home schooled. I feel that the child would lack dealing with there issue and there disability.


at home, the child would feel to safe, and possibility get "lazy" with there sb. and i believe they need to hard times and they need to learn how to deal with issues in the fly and on the go. I understand as a parent you want to "protect " your child as much as possible.

My parents sheltered me way to much as first, but then after talking with a teachers aid ( from my HS ) they let things go alot more in 4th grade. I had some hard times yes, but nothing teachers you better then life!

I guess i just think that dealing with these issues on there own is much better. I have a younger friend that is in a wheelchair and i kind of mentor him with things.

[UNIV]

at home, the child would feel to safe, and possibility get "lazy" with there sb.

I remember being called “Lazy” almost on a daily basis. Home schooling would have been a wonderful piece of heaven for me. I doubt I would have learned much though, my mother always worked and her time off was spent with her boyfriends. Grammar school was a nightmare, middle school was shear torture, and by the time I reached high school, I probably had some severe physiological problems. I would have been completely happy to stay in my room and listen to the radio, day in and day out. My coping mechanism was not to eat or drink anything, beyond subsistence.

[LysetteOlmeda]

I dont not have spina bifida, but I was home schooled! My parents are super relgious and didnt want me in that enviroment. I honestly hated it and I feel that when I turned 18 and headed out to the real world that I was completely unprepared, which led me to alot of stupid choices. My parents always made sure I had some type of social life but really didnt work for me. I know it must be diifferent for children with a disability but I know when my daughter is ready for school that I will send her and if we feel its not working out than we can figure something out together... But I at least want to give her the opportunity and experience

[XoBLoNDiE85]

i dont have sb and i was hs 4th all the way thru and LOVED it. We did tooons of group activities,dances,classes, all kinds of stuff more than public. And I now hs my girls, well, my oldest shes in 1st and Zoe is pretty much pre-k. I really enjoy it! And I'm sure i wll save Hannah and myself some stress!

[Dodger67]

I think the reason why people choose homeschooling is critical.
Here in South Africa religion and politics (read racism) are major motivations. Kids often are harmed by that - their socialisation is stunted.

My nieces and nephews are homeschooled (but with a professional teacher) simply because there isn't an english school in their area (rural farming community).

[LillyPie]

WOW! Today is my second day of HS for my 8 year old. She doesn't have SB but I am considering HS Lilly (SB) also. The reason I have chosen HS for my 8 yr old is because she is slightly dyslexic, it hasnt been obvious enough for someone to point out but it is enough to cause her to stay behind all of her class mates. Her last report card was dreadful and her teacher said its not because she isnt trying, she just doesnt grasp stuff right away and needs a lot of visual aids. I asked the school to test her right before Thanksgiving but they said that they do a program called ACE before they test for leaning difficulties. And to date they never started the ACE program and of course never tested her and she just kept falling farther and farther behind, so yesterday I unenrolled her from school and I am her new teacher. I am using a company called Abeka, and I am loving it so far. Its been 2 days but I can already see light bulbs turing on in head. She really just needs the 1 on 1 education that her teacher or the school either cant or wont provide. (Im telling you my local school SUCKS!!!) Does anyone have any tips for me for HS options or other companies to use. Now I am considering HS my 1st grader also.

[XoBLoNDiE85]

Hey! My mom used the same curriculum with me for alot of subjects...Abeka is a good one and i have heard its usually a grade level ahead.With my 1st grader i use a mixture, Modern Curriculum Press for all her English, Singapore Math, reading American Girl Books for History with the activity books, Usborne For Science, and I add in extras as needed usually off of a website our charter school provides.

[NerdaliciouS]

Honestly, I'm kind of glad I wasn't home schooled. In the beginning I never even thought there was anything wrong, but I suffered from a lot of teasing, and even physical stuff. I won't go into details as to how I suffered! But, it teaches you how to cope with it. At times, and even now, mostly due to other things, I never wanted to leave my room/house. I wanted nothing to do with "out there". And being different, you often separate yourselves from "others", and I'm sure everyone here can say that.

I'm not against home-schooling either, but I'm glad I wasn't, in an odd way. I don't know, it opens your eyes, I guess. The only thing I don't like about public, and even private school is: BRAINWASHING! Now, I know I'm young and some people would probably laugh at that, but think about it. You get told the same stuff, day in, day out, if you have a different thought, way of doing it, "you are wrong". And basically everyone comes out like mindwarped mushrooms, because we're all believing what's being told to us. There are people who can see past it, and I like to include myself in that, but that's one of the downfalls. There are pros and cons to both ways, but you know, if you have the time and energy to home school your child/ren, do it. I think you'll feel better about it in the end. At least you know what they're learning. :)

[elisaacd]

WOW! Today is my second day of HS for my 8 year old. She doesn't have SB but I am considering HS Lilly (SB) also. The reason I have chosen HS for my 8 yr old is because she is slightly dyslexic, it hasnt been obvious enough for someone to point out but it is enough to cause her to stay behind all of her class mates. Her last report card was dreadful and her teacher said its not because she isnt trying, she just doesnt grasp stuff right away and needs a lot of visual aids. I asked the school to test her right before Thanksgiving but they said that they do a program called ACE before they test for leaning difficulties. And to date they never started the ACE program and of course never tested her and she just kept falling farther and farther behind, so yesterday I unenrolled her from school and I am her new teacher. I am using a company called Abeka, and I am loving it so far. Its been 2 days but I can already see light bulbs turing on in head. She really just needs the 1 on 1 education that her teacher or the school either cant or wont provide. (Im telling you my local school SUCKS!!!) Does anyone have any tips for me for HS options or other companies to use. Now I am considering HS my 1st grader also.


I am also using Abeka for my 7 year old son. He is HS this year because of his two spinal surgeries at the end of the last school year. We thought it would be best if he stayed home for one year to recoupe. Abeka is wonderful. To be honest, I really don't like doing it, but my son is so smart that he makes it really easy on me. He will like to be back to school next year. I love the idea of HS and all my nieces and nephews were HS up until the 6th grade. I wish I had more of a heart for it because it is so good for them. Good luck to you and I am so glad to hear that the light is turing on.

[elisaacd]

Honestly, I'm kind of glad I wasn't home schooled. In the beginning I never even thought there was anything wrong, but I suffered from a lot of teasing, and even physical stuff. I won't go into details as to how I suffered! But, it teaches you how to cope with it. At times, and even now, mostly due to other things, I never wanted to leave my room/house. I wanted nothing to do with "out there". And being different, you often separate yourselves from "others", and I'm sure everyone here can say that.

I'm not against home-schooling either, but I'm glad I wasn't, in an odd way. I don't know, it opens your eyes, I guess. The only thing I don't like about public, and even private school is: BRAINWASHING! Now, I know I'm young and some people would probably laugh at that, but think about it. You get told the same stuff, day in, day out, if you have a different thought, way of doing it, "you are wrong". And basically everyone comes out like mindwarped mushrooms, because we're all believing what's being told to us. There are people who can see past it, and I like to include myself in that, but that's one of the downfalls. There are pros and cons to both ways, but you know, if you have the time and energy to home school your child/ren, do it. I think you'll feel better about it in the end. At least you know what they're learning. :)

Amen to that!!! For someone so young, I think you have perspective that even adults may not have. I agree with you that public school brainwashes our children. I wish I likes HS more than I do.

[bcain]

I thought about HS, but my 9 yr old was so difficult to teach basic skills to, such as writing letters, or coloring. I knew I didn't have the patience or know how to HS her. She has struggled in school since kindergarten. She's in 4th grade. She's an average student, but requires extra help, and has attention difficulties. Luckily she is a hard worker.

[LillyPie]

I am liking HS so far. Its something I have always considered, but never did because I wanted to work and contribute to the finances of our home. I have recently realized that I and my kids are happier with me at home. I mean I have 4 kids in 3 different schools and I am now HSing one of them. They all go in about the same time in the am (except Lilly , she goes in at 11) then Elaya and Lilly get off at 2 (lilly rides the bus, curb side service:19a:) then Danielle has to be picked up on the other side of town at 3:45... I am like suuuper busy. How can I expect some one else to do all that? And I really dont mind doing it all, I would rather raise my kids than a babysitter raising them. So its really worked out.

Bcain: I have found that HS is much easier than I thought it would be. The progam I use tells me what to say to her, how to prepare, and how much time to give. I know what you mean by not being sure if you can teach a child with learning problems. Thats what I thought might be my issue with Rayna but the one on one teaching has helped her tremendously. In just 1 week I have been able teach her so many basic things that she wasnt able to get in the public school setting.

[bcain]

I used to work outside the home, until Sarah had to be cathed every 3-4 hrs. I couldn't find and didn't want to have someone else cath her. I was fortunate and didn't have to work more than part time. I may return to work eventually. I agree with you, it's super busy. It's just as busy with Sarah's schedule now. I think it was a little easier to work part time than to stay home.:scream:

[LillyPie]

I cath Lilly that often too and I dont want anyone else to cath her either. My mom and husband are the only other people in my family one who know how to cath her, and I wanted it that way because if something ever happen to me no one would know what to do. My husband kinda knows how, because I forced him to do it one time because I think its imperative that he know how, but just that one time and it was like 2 years ago. My mom learned when Lilly was about 2 yrs old because I tried to go to work and she was the babysitter. I dont have any college education so any part time job I'd qualify for probably wouldnt be worth the amount I would spend on gas, sitter charges and lunch money. LOL. Damn my parents were right when they told me to go to college ~~LOL~~ Now I hear myself telling my kids the same thing about college, my dad laughs and says "NOW ITS YOUR TURN"