Topic : 12/26 "I Am Right!"

Well, I am a guy.  I do know who I am and what I have to offer.  This may sound silly coming from a 21 year old, but I can't help that.  The thing I want to say here is that from what I know about myself and what I have to offer, these are qualities that people don't appear to want or be attracted to.  This comes from some experience and a lot of personal observation.  I know what I could do to attract someone/somebody but I find such behavior distasteful.  This may sound like a bunch of negative hogwash, but when nothing has ever happened in the way of relationships it gives nothing to shoot or hope for.  I would need something to go on, but proofs are difficult to come by.  Time is unlikely to change anything either.  Being by oneself is a cruel fate. 

I have successfully homeschooled two children, removing them from school in the 4th & 6th grades.  Contrary to what you (Dr. Phil) said about the high school ages, homeschooling doesn't need to end at junior high.  I agree that you must be a networked, research oriented person to homeschool, but your (Dr. Phil's) research staff missed out on the great opportunities homeschooling affords to teens in particular.   

In high school they are able to find mentors in the community who can take them under their wing and give them real life-work experiences, helping them to make more informed choices for college.  Our teens belonged to many groups with both homeschooled teens, and traditional teens.  Yes, teens have different social needs, but they most certainly can be met through homeschooling.  Our homeschool group met for science labs, yearbook, camping trips, beach & park days, ballroom dancing, and more.  The kids had a prom, in fact in NJ there are several homeschool proms.  There are also athletic teams and music groups, academic teams (like mock trial, science bowl, etc.)  Our teens were involved in many, many typical teenage activities.   

So, what about the differences and advantages?  My daughter volunteered at several local musuems learning about living history, she actually was invited twice to present a paper at a national conference.  She also danced professionally and taught dance to see if that was something she'd be interested in doing.  She put both interests together and is at a college where there is a historic dance troupe and she not only performs but works on the costumes.  This year she is at Oxford in England on scholarship from her home college.   

My son created a computer lab from old computers for an after school ESL project.  The skills he learned there, showed him that he really wanted to do engineering work.  He is a small engineering school in Pennsylvania also on partial scholarship.  He works on the school's TV camera crew.   

The biggest life skill they learned was not taking "no" for an answer, to seek out what they need in order to learn.  For the senior year, they both took a few community college courses and worked, ending their year with trips to Europe backpacking and doing volunteer work, all paid for by themselves... 

Priceless opportunities, that they never would have had time for in a traditional school setting. 

Thank you for listening (I hope)
 

I am having such a hard time figuring out the layout of this board and how to navigate the various topics and threads.   But anyway... 

My husband believes that I always have to be right, but the truth is that the issues that we 'discuss' which give him that impression happen to be ones that I am right about. 

For instance, spending money wisely as opposed to unwisely, having a plan rather than winging it, saving rather than wasting, from everything to the heat and electric to eating out.  He is right about a great number of things but since I don't argue with him about them and only about the above type things, which actually are causes for us to have arguments, they stand out in his mind more I think. 

Bottom line though, for peace purposes and stress reduction, we both let off on issues and seek that common ground where we can rationally discuss and agree that we disagree, letting off on arguing.  Of course, always with the understanding that 'I' am still right!  Ha-ha!! 

I AM THAT LITTLE GIRLS FUTURE STEPMOTHER.  SHE DOESNT EAT A LOT OF SWEETS, IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE.  WHEN HER FATHER AND I TAKE HER OUT TO EAT SHE ORDERS SALAD AND ICE WATER! 

SHE IS A VERY ACTIVE LITTLE GIRL.  SHE PLAYS BASKETBALL, ICE SKATES, SWIMS, AND DOES KARATE.  SHE IS ONLY 8 AND MAYBE IN THE 95% FOR WEIGHT BUT DID YOU NOTICE THEY NEVER MENTIONED HER HEIGHT?!? 

SHE HAS A BIG FRAME LIKE HER FATHER AND IS DEVELOPING EARLY.  THE WOMAN IN HER FAMILY (FATHERS SIDE) ARE VERY LARGE BUSTED WOMAN.  I MYSELF WAS JUST LIKE ANNABELLE AND HAD TO WEAR A BRA IN THE THIRD GRADE.  I WAS CHUNKY AND OVERWEIGHT UNTIL I GREW 4 INCHES AND GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL WEIGHING 125 POUNDS. 

I BELIEVE THAT WE ALL ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING AS FAR AS ANNABELLE'S DIET IS CONCERNED.  AUNTIE MAY OFFER HER THE SWEETS THAT SHE DOESNT NORMALLY GET.  AS FAR AS GRANDMA IS CONCERNED I FEEL SHE IS BEING OVERLY CRITICAL AND NEEDS TO BACK OFF! 

ANNABELLE IS A VERY SMART LITTLE GIRL AND IF ANY MEMBER OF JODY'S FAMILY DOESNT THINK ANNABELLE DOESNT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT HER THEY ARE VERY WRONG. 

WE NEED TO LAY OFF AND JUST LOVE HER FOR THE BEAUTIFUL LITTLE GIRL THAT SHE IS AND LET NATURE TAKE ITS COURSE.  HER FATHER AND I WERE NEVER ASKED HOW WE FELT ABOUT THIS WHOLE SITUATION AND AS YOU CAN TELL I HAVE A VERY STRONG OPINION.  THE ONLY CONCERN HER FATHER HAS IS THAT ANNABELLE DOESNT GET HURT BY THIS WHOLE THING AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO SHELTER HER FROM EVER SEEING THIS SHOW. 

SO ALL OF YOU THAT SAW THE SHOW AND ARE COMPELLED TO MAKE REMARKS ABOUT OUR DAUGHTERS WEIGHT I SAY THIS TO: "LOOK AT YOUR OWN CHILDREN, PUT YOURSELF IN JODY'S SHOES, AND TRY TO LIVE A HAPPY LIFE WITH EVERYONE TELLING YOU HOW TO RAISE YOUR CHILDREN". 

WHAT WAS NOT MENTIONED ON THE SHOW IS THAT JODY ALSO HAS TWO OTHER CHILDREN ONE ONLY BEING A COUPLE OF MONTHS OLD.  SHE HAS HER HANDS FULL AND CANT ALWAYS SPEND THE TIME SHE WOULD LIKE TO WITH JUST ANNABELLE.  JODY IS A GOOD MOTHER AND DOES MAKE GOOD CHOICES FOR ALL HER CHILDREN AND I THINK HER FAMILY SHOULD BUTT OUT BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN FAMILIES TO WORRY ABOUT! 

ANNABELLE'S STEPMOM 

That little girl was overweight.  She should be on a diet--a proper diet.  Her mother should be giving her foods that are healthy and low cal.  There is no need to let her know that she is on a diet, but she should be eating better.  She is fat.  Fat kids are less healthy and more likely to become fat adults.  Also, they are more likely to be teased in school which can lead to self-esteem problems.  Just feed your kid right lady and while you're at it, get on a healthier diet yourself!  You need to be healthy and ALIVE when you grandchild come along.  Good luck! 

Hi! 

 I have been homeschooled since I was in 3rd grade and it has been something I really enjoy. I have not wanted to go to public school at all. This is my senior year and we are about to have my graduation, I feel like this is a big achievment for me because of all the hard work that I me and my mom have put into this. 

 But I really do agree with the people who said that homeschooling is not for everyone, just because I know of people who would not be a good choice to homeschool their children and for the fact the more people you have homeschooling the more the laws will change(and I would really like to have the freedom to homeschool my children when I have them.) 

Thanks for listening.Just thought I would give you guys the perspective of a homeschool student.  

This is also  to Stacey and Eddie, 

I am also a wife of a fighter.  They are wanting him to go pro, right now he holds the title Light Heavy Wieght Champion  in amature UFC. I am very proud of him and support him in everything he does. At first I was like most people very scared to watch someone hit the man that you love but the more I went with him and watched him train and went to his fights I understood why he loves what he does. It's apart of him. That's his passion.  It's who he is. He's a fighter and not just in the cage, but in life and for his family who he loves and cared about and protects.  

My suggestion is to Stacey is to let your husband try it. Let him be the man he wants to be. If in the end he changes his mind at least he'll be changing his mind knowing  that you stood by him no matter what. 

 When interviewing Eddie and his wife I thought Dr Phil only explored one side of the issue.  I think some critical aspects were left out.  Dr Phil neglected to ask, "does Eddie actually train?"  I have been training for 17yrs in various martial arts and am a police defensive tactics instructor for the Alberta Government.  I can tell you from experience that if Eddie is serious he will know within a year of hard training.  "Ultimate Fighters" train upto 6hrs a day everyday.  I can tell by the language that Eddie used that he doesn't know much about "ultimate fighting."   Professionals refer to it as Mixed Martial Arts (or MMA).  Perhaps Eddie can train at a local club and enter some amature competitions.  I suspect that after a year of training he would loose his taste for it.  About 1% of people who begin training finish a black belt program and out of those only the top 1% make it the UFC or equivilant arena's. 

Tombo