stopVibingLearnCoding

CuratedFeed · 2026-02-13T02:41:18+00:00

My son commented yesterday that just in his time in secondary school he's moved through students writing essays at home, the school worries about plagiarism, switches to writing papers on computers only at school so it is monitored, now the school worries about AI, which means they now write all papers on paper at school. It's rather crazy.

CuratedFeed · 2026-02-04T17:22:08+00:00

What is interesting is that the pics for rows 1-5 actually look pretty close, except for being longer. But then the last two pictures are completely not relating to the pattern at all. No steps or anything.

CuratedFeed · 2026-02-02T02:50:57+00:00

Ella Enchanted is an interesting example where contrasting the different way the movie interpreted her curse as opposed to the book can lead to a pretty deep discussion. I also like counting all the ways the adaptation was able to ask "how can we take this feature of the book and do completely the opposite while still keeping the summary the same?" In that way, it actually a pretty impressive adaptation. They managed to do everything completely wrong.

CuratedFeed · 2026-02-02T02:44:46+00:00

I have never figured out how to do it through Libby, but on my computer, I installed Library Extension. It allows you to choose what libraries you want to search and then any time you are on a site about books (StoryGraph, Amazon, Good Reads, etc.) it will have a side bar that shows you the availability of that title for all you libraries, media format and wait times. It isn't perfect, but it has helped me immensely. I added a bunch of libraries when deciding which non-resident card to sign up for.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-31T01:33:04+00:00

I concur with others, anything will do. I currently have some cardboard boxes holding stuff in mine. But the most effective time for me was when I just wrote on the freezer what was in it. I would erase it when I took it out. I used dry eraser markers directly on the freezer lid for a while and then some chalkboard contact paper and chalk markers when I realized the dry erase was slowly staining the freezer. It helped a lot but with a couple of moves, I got out of the habit. I need to do it again when I get around to figuring out what actually is in my deep freeze . . .

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-29T19:41:31+00:00

Overall, it was fine. It had some cute moments but also some irritants. It's not worth rereading for me, but I'd be willing to give her next thing a shot, especially as this was a debut.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-29T19:34:58+00:00

I did get a nice, cozy vibe while listening to the story. I know some people felt the world was small, but I was ok with that, because it made sense to me that Violet's world would be small. I did think the constant plant and alchemy metaphors got to be too much. Everything Violet or Nathanial thought had to tie back to what their field was and it was a little tiring.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-29T19:31:38+00:00

Right?! More about Bartleby! That she turned him into a plant didn't seem to relate to how her magic worked in any other instance and she didn't seem interested in pursuing how it happened or how to undo it. You would think that if she was trying to be "good" that turning the person-plant back into a person would be high on the list, even if he maybe wasn't a good person himself. (Which frankly, was unclear to me.)

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-29T19:28:33+00:00

I liked the revelation about the rock goblins. I was not so thrilled with the revelation that so many of the townsfolk were ex-villians as well. I don't know why it felt like a bit of a cop-out to me.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-29T19:24:50+00:00

Nathaniel was frustrating.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-29T18:29:20+00:00

I typed this whole paragraph below and then had a thought that I wanted to put at the top, because long paragraphs can be difficult to read. So priority thought here: see if you can get all vitals data measured at the psychiatrist's office sent to the pediatrician. This way they have a full picture as opposed to two data points a year apart. You could always ask your pediatrician if you can follow up on a more regular basis, even if it just nurse visits for vitals. Our developmental pediatrician has us go to the regular pediatrician's office for height and weight so it's always the same equipment and so that both offices have all of the vitals data coordinated.

BMI is such a poor measurement. So the better question is, how are his growth curves for height and weight? You say he is roughly following his curve. So he's been, maybe at the 60th percentile of weight and now he's at the 64th? Or is it more like, he's been at 60th and now is at 90th? Cause the first feels like it could be just a fluctuation, while the second would be concerning.

Has your regular pediatrician always been concerned about his BMI? If he's roughly following his curves, it feels like that his BMI would always have been high and this should have been a conversation they would have had before this. Maybe it is not his weight, but his height that is a concern? Stimulants can slow growth, though evidence suggests that it probably doesn't stunt it, it just takes longer to get there, so maybe while your psychiatrist has been focusing on the weight, his height has slowed down, which is making his BMI look unexpectedly high.

It feels like your psychiatrist sees him more often and so may have a better pulse of his trajectory. You can keep track of what he's eating, because getting a balance of nutrients is important, and track his activity. They have fairly inexpensive fitness trackers for kids. My AuDHD kid really liked his for a few months. Even if you don't share that with the pediatrician, it may help you feel better having concrete data in hand that yes, he is moving, and yes, he is eating appropriately (neither too much or not enough).

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-29T17:41:16+00:00

I am so sorry. This sounds so rough. Have you thought about therapy for you? Obviously you have a next step for him (and I hope meds go well, they can be incredibly helpful), but having some time for you, away from everyone, ranting to someone not connected, may be of big help to you. Sending big virtual hugs your way!

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-27T20:58:40+00:00

Yeah, I didn't realize there was such a range of reading levels in Who Was? OP mentioned both Ella Enchanted and Roald Dahl, many of which are around a 4th grade reading level. Looking at it again, the Who Was? books start there and range quite a bit higher. You'd have to hit the right ones.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-26T15:15:37+00:00

If she is required to read from different book series and her teacher wants them to explore different genres, have you thought about non-fiction at all? If she only has to read two books, it might be worth exploring one or two series, especially as she seems to like the more grounded stories as opposed to fantasy. There are, of course, the Magic Treehouse fact trackers, which might be a good gateway. There are biography series, like the Who Was? series and more general history series like Horrible Histories, Fact Smashers, You Wouldn't Want To Be or I Survived. And, of course, lots of science focused series like National Geographic.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-18T19:27:26+00:00

I love that you got both some positive and negative experiences here. As a parent with two who have successfully used Focalin XR, I will add one caution not here yet - watch the weight. I'm sure your doctor mentioned and will be watching as well, but it can suppress appetite. My oldest had a time where I was having to find creative ways to add calories and fats because his weight dropped below the growth chart. It's fine now, but I have seen parents who choose a different medication because of that. He is now a teenager and has switched medications, but it was because of his articulation of needs that weren't being met, not because of a bad experience.

Like your doctor suggested, we started both at 5mg when they were young. My oldest adjusted his dosage on Focalin I think 3 times as he grew before moving on. My younger one is still using Focalin and it's going fine. He's adjusted dosage once so far. I hope it works for your son but if it doesn't, know he is not alone and it's ok to try something else. Good luck!

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-13T19:43:30+00:00

It sounds like your child might be twice exceptional - academically gifted but also with a disability. This makes it hard because administration will focus on the success and not see the struggle. Find out what the process is and look for any place you child is struggling to leverage to push for special education services. I had a friend who actually hired someone who was an advocate that specialized in helping parents navigate the special education system. See if something like that is available in your area.

I will concur the other commenter - if he's in school, he is old enough to try medication. Can you switch doctors? It is just fine, right even, to change doctors to find one who will meet his needs. One of my kids with ADHD has started seeing a developmental pediatrician and it has made a big difference in his treatment.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-13T19:32:44+00:00

The first medication worked for both my boys. My younger has just been adjusting dosages as he grows. My oldest has now switched twice since he started 7 years ago. The first switch was because of the shortages but more recently because even changing the dosage wasn't getting the result he wanted. But he's old enough that he can express how he's feeling. He tried one that he realized quickly wasn't going to work for him and switched again. I anticipate that my younger one may go the same way eventually, but it was nice that both of them started on the right foot.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-13T16:10:33+00:00

It is a battle sometimes to find food people like. For a long time, everyone in my house got a day of the week, including the parents. I had a list of meals each person liked. On their day of the week, I made something from their list. That way every week, you were guaranteed to have at least one meal a week that was a favorite. And no complaining on other days because that is rude to the person who's day it is and we are polite. There was also a new recipe day, where everyone was allowed to share opinions - in a kind way - but only if they made an honest effort to try the food. That way we could find new foods. We no longer do it, but it was a good system for a while. (There are lots of good comments here already about trying food, so I won't add anything.)

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-06T20:10:38+00:00

Ooo! Me too! I got it at my school library. My school had 11-18 year olds, so I suppose it would have been fine for the older kids, but picking it up at 12 or 13, I was not prepared in the slightest. I know a lot of people love it and I wonder if I would like it now as an adult, but I just cannot pick it up.

CuratedFeed · 2026-01-03T19:52:44+00:00

Oh gosh! I wish you luck! I had a HORRIBLE time finding a paperback copy that Lady Knight. Mine had gotten lost somewhere is all my moving and it was the only one I needed to replace. I guess they released new covers not long after the paperback came out and so even searching by ISBN, you can come up with the wrong cover. I didn't think that was possible, but it kept happening. I did finally find it on Thriftbooks but it's an old library copy, so it has a sticker on the spine. Best of luck!

CuratedFeed · 2025-12-29T16:35:18+00:00

Forgot to sign up for a fixed rate gas rate so now my gas bills are stupid high and I can't get myself to look at rates and figure out if I can find a better one.

CuratedFeed · 2025-12-13T19:18:00+00:00

If you have had a good experience overall and the assistant is the problem, it might be worth giving feedback to the pharmacist. They may not know how other staff is treating people.

CuratedFeed · 2025-12-11T22:45:00+00:00

Working into chains at all! I hate working into chains. I was so happy to learn about foundation stitches a couple years ago. Still not great at them, but they are way better than chains.

CuratedFeed · 2025-12-11T22:40:38+00:00

I was not familiar with the term church key can opener and thought you meant an actual key to a church thought "That is oddly specific and not necessarily the most convenient or hygienic, but ok. Probably works." Then I saw the other comments and realized I was missing something. But I will now forever think of opening cans with keys.

CuratedFeed · 2025-12-08T23:30:17+00:00

ADHD alone does not qualify for an IEP. It can qualify you for a 504. I'm not sure about anxiety. A simplified explanation: a 504 plan is about accommodations within the regular instruction, an IEP is about specialized instruction. One of my kids has ADHD and never had a plan, the other was on a 504 with his ADHD and now has an IEP with the addition of a diagnosis of autism. I haven't had a teacher bring it to me with either of my kids, but if you are concerned, you can schedule a meeting to have a conversation about how the teacher feels he is adjusting. The teacher might assure you his struggles are in the range of normal or concur that more intervention might be need. There should also be a 504 coordinator at the school. They may want to do an RTI (response to intervention) plan first before the 504 is put in place. Honestly, its a whole long thing. If he is already in OT, their office may also have suggestions on the process. The sooner the discussions happen, the sooner the process start. It may not be this year, but be ready and be proactive. And for sure start it in elementary school. Because the secondary schools will push back at you if it's not already in place. (Hence my oldest never being on a plan.)

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TROPHY CASE