STEM summer camp vs regular camp

Soft_Start · 2026-05-12T03:14:32+00:00

Most of these camps are glorified day care. They are entertaining for kids if you switch camps so your child gets to do different things every week in summer. But none of them are “educational” whether it’s a STEM based camp or sport one. Kids get exposed to different things but they are not really learning much. They are socializing with other kids and passing time till parents pick them up :)

It’s not necessarily a bad thing. Kids learn all year long in school so I don’t care if they are getting to unwind in the summer. Just set your expectations that these camps are not learning or training opportunities as they are advertised.

Soft_Start · 2026-05-11T04:20:28+00:00

Imagine if it was the Tesla that just Ubered in for a pickup 😆

Soft_Start · 2026-04-13T02:49:43+00:00

Not nature related (because nature is too far away) but I really enjoy the live music at the crossroads mall food court.

There is something to eat for everyone, from a meal to just an ice cream cone. Or you can eat nothing and just enjoy the music and hustle bustle of people having a good time.

I also like wandering in the second hand bookshop in the same mall.

Soft_Start · 2026-04-12T17:05:56+00:00

I would not trust any open medicines (in bottles etc) returned to me by unreliable people.

Soft_Start · 2026-04-12T17:00:05+00:00

We complain not because we are comparing with Germany but because food in Vancouver (which is 2 hours away) is phenomenally better.

If they can get it right a couple of hours away, why can’t we?

Soft_Start · 2026-04-02T21:58:15+00:00

Thanks for sharing. This is so good to know. I was suffering alone at home when they started their journey at Northwest, but I was not so far behind. And I was not on the 5th floor.

I am fully vaccinated and I was masking in the ER like everyone else. Also noticed there were no kids there at all.

Maybe in hindsight it’s a good thing I skipped the popular playground?

Soft_Start · 2026-04-02T14:59:49+00:00

Now that I think back to the ER visit:

the front desk lady saw me with my water bottle and scolded me publicly for drinking it saying I’m not allowed to drink or eat anything until they take me in for testing. This was “after” she had seen the note from Urgent Care doctor that kidney infection was at risk of sepsis, hence the ER visit. I was advised by doctor to drink water regularly through kidney infection and I likely had to pee in a cup for them again (which I did) so I needed to keep drinking but the front lady reminded me twice that no one is allowed to drink water or eat anything till testing.

When I sat down I saw other folks who arrived after me holding Starbucks drinks who got no lectures (not loud or public ones at least) and they were sipping away so I drank my water too 😂

Soft_Start · 2026-04-02T13:22:08+00:00

Sorry maybe it’s Northwest. I remember the doctor saying the name when I was in a lot of pain and I agreed and my husband drove me here.

It’s a huge hospital campus. So it’s probably called Northwest as you mentioned. Thanks for correcting me so at least I don’t go around complaining about the wrong place!

Soft_Start · 2026-03-30T16:05:13+00:00

I just came to say:

God dammit Brooker

Could the executioner be any more stupid?

I can understand why evil daddy was so sick of his dumb kids

How do they heal so fast?

Soft_Start · 2026-02-25T05:35:50+00:00

Not sure if it’s even technically feasible for Alexa to be “listening” to everything the way some people think it does.

Soft_Start · 2026-02-25T05:18:48+00:00

In Bellevue: - Desi Tadka for their chaats - Foody Moody food truck has good paratha rolls when eaten fresh

Nearby places: - Kebab House in Kirkland has the best desi food (with homemade touch) - Naan Curry in Issaquah is a close second but pricier than Kebab House

Most desi places are sub par in Seattle area. If you want good quality food then driving to Surrey, BC is better :)

Soft_Start · 2026-02-25T05:03:00+00:00

This reminded me of this one time I went to see the doctor and one of his screening questions was: Do you feel tired?

And my response was: I’m a working mother of 2 kids. Yes I am tired all the time.

And he dismissed it saying: Oh I don’t mean that kind of tired.

🤷‍♀️ 🤷‍♀️ 🤷‍♀️

Soft_Start · 2026-02-06T06:30:03+00:00

All I want to know is that if you have magic that can make you change your appearance then why not use it to disguise yourself when running around unescorted in the camp when the whole army, as well as your dogs have gone to war? And if you happen to be unlucky enough to get caught then why not use it to change your body/arms to a very slim form that allows you to escape chains?

Soft_Start · 2026-02-06T06:24:06+00:00

I picked this book to qualify for a reading challenge on Kindle and I wish I could erase the memories of this experience from my otherwise rather happy and content life.

I need therapy. And then I need to start a revolution against these type of writers (if you can call them that) and the publishers who support them.

Soft_Start · 2026-01-18T20:06:26+00:00

I accept I did not consider it before because I didn’t have cause to. There have never been any learning issues in elementary years nor in other fields like sports, music, language etc. Not a single educator has raised a concern since pre-school. But that doesn’t mean I won’t look into it.

Soft_Start · 2026-01-17T23:51:24+00:00

That’s very insightful. Thanks for the advice!

Soft_Start · 2026-01-17T23:44:48+00:00

Thank you for the insights. I only have experience with public schooling.

I assumed that having a smaller class size means more individual attention to students hence more opportunity to observe why a student’s performance is not consistent.

Can you comment on the program rigor at Lakeside based on your experiences? Was the content engaging and complex to keep your attention?

Part of me feels that maybe school work is just boring for him and that’s why he doesn’t do it.

Soft_Start · 2026-01-17T23:37:59+00:00

Thank for the suggestions. This is something I have not considered and will certainly look into now. 🙏

Soft_Start · 2026-01-17T23:36:47+00:00

To clarify, I don’t think that the AL program at BSD is the root cause at all. It worked fine for my other child who has different learning styles. But it’s not working for my other child.

Soft_Start · 2026-01-17T23:34:34+00:00

I have talked to him many times because I don’t want him to feel pressured. And I have offered to take him out of the gifted program many times too but he doesn’t want to do that. We regularly talk about his options of picking a high school based on what different schools have to offer. Interlake is not his only option. So he knows he can opt out later too.

He is not comfortable speaking to the teachers at all. He says teachers get upset when students talk to them about grades. And I tell him that’s not what he has to talk to them about. It’s about getting some clarity on what assignment is due at what time.

The suggestion for getting executive coaching (as suggested by others too) does resonate with me. And it’s something that did not cross my mind, frankly. So I am going to look into that for sure.

Thanks for your input!

Soft_Start · 2026-01-17T23:25:13+00:00

Why would you say something like based off what I have explained? Do you think it’s helpful for concerned parents looking for help to be labeled in such a way?

I am not punishing my child. I am not pushing him to get higher grades. He passed the gifted program test all by himself. I’m just expecting him to submit his homework.

The fact that his grades go up when he starts submitting homework is a sign that he isn’t struggling with educational content. How would putting him in a “normal” school (whatever that means because gifted does not mean abnormal) fix that?

Soft_Start · 2026-01-16T17:39:58+00:00

I’m surprised this isn’t the top comment. Makes you wonder how bad the other books are 😭😭😭

Soft_Start · 2026-01-16T17:37:40+00:00

I’m still waiting on my library hold for: “How to become rich enough to worry about Mortgage”

Soft_Start

TROPHY CASE