Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[nikki1]

In MY opinion there are many breeds that can do ok with chickens or other "farm" animals. The MOST important thing is that they get educated young. There are a few breeds that I really don't think would be good based primarily on what the dogs are bred for. Myself I have always had Aussies with no problems. There are probably peeps who will tell of other breeds that they think are great. I feel the most important is GET A SMART BREED. And then train the dog. I am a firm believer of and tell people "If you talk to them like a person and treat them like a person they will respond accordingly. If ya talk to them and treat them like a dumb dog that is all you will ever have is a dumb dog"!!

x2!

 

[nikki1]

For the most part, my kiddos have not had a lot of issues in school. That being said, I feel I have been very fortunate with my kids' experiences, as I know several people who have not had the same experience. I have friends whos kids have been picked on, not by students, but by school staff. I also have a friend who has a son with ADHD, who would have fallen through the cracks if she had not stepped in when she did. I do feel that a child's learning experience starts at home, but at the same time, it seems that teachers do not seem to be held as accountable for their actions anymore either. Then there are the absolutely AWESOME teachers, who don't seem to get any recognition for what they do. My older son had the BEST teacher in 6th grade, totally involved with the kids' learning and on top of her classroom. She ended up getting laid off at the end of the year. Seriously? I am very concerned about my little guy starting Kindergarten and have considered home schooling him, but he is SO excited about starting school, that I am on the fence.

Congrats on your new chickies!! I love getting baby chicks.

As a teacher AND a mom of a fairly severely AD/HD + learning disabled son, I know both sides of the coin. As far as starting kindergarten, go in early and meet the teacher. If your child has some special needs, talk to the principal first, and have him/her help select your child's teacher. Keep in mind that bullies and jerks exist everywhere and all through our lives, so it's good for kids to learn to self-advocate at a young age.

On the teacher end, keep in mind that bullies and jerks know when teachers aren't looking, and they act then. Kids need to let us know what's going on, or we can't act on it. Kids and their parents have to stand up and speak up.

My sister's oldest is autistic. She knew she'd spend a fair amount of time being the Mom from Heck, so in between bouts of putting her foot down, she volunteered in the classroom, joined the PTA, and was very friendly and helpful.

For myself, my kids commute with me, so that even though we live out-of-district, my kids attend my school. I have spies everywhere! I can keep an eye on my boy's behavior, and monitor his academic progress carefully. Poor boy never gets away with anything, but at least he always has the help he needs. I've had to go Mama Bear a few times

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the issue!

--Nikki

 

[mikeyb]

Quote: A great picture! A keepsake for sure!

 

[mikeyb]

Ohhhh, I think I overdid it again today. Really wupped and draggin'. I get so mad at me, I get tired and don't accomplish that much.
Oh yeah, that thing about losing things. Went to the hardware store and they started their sale a day early and they had exactly what I was looking for. A torch to crisp up the scotch bloom prior to pulling it out. A standpipe with a hose hook up already installed. Anyway, when I got home, all I needed was the propane tank (the kind you use on a Bar B Q). Went to look for it. No good, could not find it. Looked and looked. #1 son came to my rescue and he looked and looked, then he went to the pole barn to look. No good. It was not there either. As he walked past a window, there it was, sitting in plain view under the window.
I swear I could faintly hear a robust belly laugh.

 

[lilfarmmomma]

that Polish baby is wonderful. I have one also just for fun and then am surprised to hear they lay medium sized white eggs at a pretty good clip.

Thank you!! I am really hoping it is a girl, I am not sure when I will be able to tell. I am so bad about the "ohhhh, it's SO cute!!!" without thinking things through. I love the little chick, just wish I could have known the sex first.

As a teacher AND a mom of a fairly severely AD/HD + learning disabled son, I know both sides of the coin. As far as starting kindergarten, go in early and meet the teacher. If your child has some special needs, talk to the principal first, and have him/her help select your child's teacher. Keep in mind that bullies and jerks exist everywhere and all through our lives, so it's good for kids to learn to self-advocate at a young age.

On the teacher end, keep in mind that bullies and jerks know when teachers aren't looking, and they act then. Kids need to let us know what's going on, or we can't act on it. Kids and their parents have to stand up and speak up.

My sister's oldest is autistic. She knew she'd spend a fair amount of time being the Mom from Heck, so in between bouts of putting her foot down, she volunteered in the classroom, joined the PTA, and was very friendly and helpful.

For myself, my kids commute with me, so that even though we live out-of-district, my kids attend my school. I have spies everywhere! I can keep an eye on my boy's behavior, and monitor his academic progress carefully. Poor boy never gets away with anything, but at least he always has the help he needs. I've had to go Mama Bear a few times

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the issue!

--Nikki

Thank you!! I will definitely do that. I don't worry about bullies and jerks being mean to him so much, as him becoming one of them. He definitely seems to gravitate toward them and jump on the bandwagon. That is part of why I am home now, the behavior that he was picking up at daycare was just not acceptable. It is a full time job just trying to correct it and some days I feel like I am going to pull ALL of my hair out. The chickens have actually helped, because I can have him feed them and he likes working with them to try to make them friendlier. He really enjoys them. I am debating letting him use one of the nicer ones for 4-H next year, which I think will also help him some.

I think that the volunteering in the classroom is a great idea. I will have to look into that. I am also kind of hoping that they have one K teacher that is a little stricter.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Yup he SMUGGLED a PIG back to Oregon !!!!

In the jump seat of his truck!!

In fact I think it was the old school one on the far right.!!! And he got the little piggy to it's destination SAFELY !!!!

 

[Stumpfarmer]

[COLOR=006400]For the most part, my kiddos have not had a lot of issues in school. That being said, I feel I have been very fortunate with my kids' experiences, as I know several people who have not had the same experience. I have friends whos kids have been picked on, not by students, but by school staff. I also have a friend who has a son with ADHD, who would have fallen through the cracks if she had not stepped in when she did. I do feel that a child's learning experience starts at home, but at the same time, it seems that teachers do not seem to be held as accountable for their actions anymore either. Then there are the absolutely AWESOME teachers, who don't seem to get any recognition for what they do.  My older son had the BEST teacher in 6th grade, totally involved with the kids' learning and on top of her classroom. She ended up getting laid off at the end of the year. Seriously?  I am very concerned about my little guy starting Kindergarten and have considered home schooling him, but he is SO excited about starting school, that I am on the fence.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=006400]  Congrats on your new chickies!! I love getting baby chicks. [/COLOR]

As a teacher AND a mom of a fairly severely AD/HD + learning disabled son, I know both sides of the coin.  As far as starting kindergarten, go in early and meet the teacher.  If your child has some special needs, talk to the principal first, and have him/her help select your child's teacher.  Keep in mind that bullies and jerks exist everywhere and all through our lives, so it's good for kids to learn to self-advocate at a young age.

On the teacher end, keep in mind that bullies and jerks know when teachers aren't looking, and they act then.  Kids need to let us know what's going on, or we can't act on it.  Kids and their parents have to stand up and speak up.

My sister's oldest is autistic.  She knew she'd spend a fair amount of time being the Mom from Heck, so in between bouts of putting her foot down, she volunteered in the classroom, joined the PTA, and was very friendly and helpful. 

For myself, my kids commute with me, so that even though we live out-of-district, my kids attend my school.  I have spies everywhere!  I can keep an eye on my boy's behavior, and monitor his academic progress carefully.  Poor boy never gets away with anything, but at least he always has the help he needs.  I've had to go Mama Bear a few times

Anyway, that's my 2 cents on the issue!

--Nikki

Nikki, as someone whose second grade teacher was not the least bit surprised when I was diagnosed with ADHD and a grab bag of perceptual disabilities at the age of 39: thank you for paying attention. Back in the 1950s there wasn't a lot known about ADHD and AS disorders, but we were there- as were my relatives in the teens, twentyies, thirties and forties of the last century, diagnosible through their "permanent records" which one of my cousins stole out of a dumpster when the old Lacey School was demolished.

Our kids who'v gotten help have been much more successful adults.

 

[Stumpfarmer]

Ohhhh, I think I overdid it again today. Really wupped and draggin'. I get so mad at me, I get tired and don't accomplish that much.
Oh yeah, that thing about losing things. Went to the hardware store and they started their sale a day early and they had exactly what I was looking for. A torch to crisp up the scotch bloom prior to pulling it out. A standpipe with a hose hook up already installed. Anyway, when I got home, all I needed was the propane tank (the kind you use on a Bar B Q). Went to look for it. No good, could not find it. Looked and looked. #1 son came to my rescue and he looked and looked, then he went to the pole barn to look. No good. It was not there either. As he walked past a window, there it was, sitting in plain view under the window.
I swear I could faintly hear a robust belly laugh.

I know what you mean; I keep making plans as if I could do as much as I did when I was a mere child of forty, and then finding myself not getting finished.

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Quote: Well of course that would be a safe choice. Corgi ain't got enough legs to ever catch any chicken that is even half alive.

 

[lilfarmmomma]

Nikki, as someone whose second grade teacher was not the least bit surprised when I was diagnosed with ADHD and a grab bag of perceptual disabilities at the age of 39: thank you for paying attention. Back in the 1950s there wasn't a lot known about ADHD and AS disorders, but we were there- as were my relatives in the teens, twentyies, thirties and forties of the last century, diagnosible through their "permanent records" which one of my cousins stole out of a dumpster when the old Lacey School was demolished.

Our kids who'v gotten help have been much more successful adults.

That is a true statement for sure. My family has a few people with ADHD or ADD (not all have the H). I should probably have him tested, as well. If he doesn't have it, no harm done, but if he does, it would help him in the long run for us to know and to treat him accordingly.