so i guess i should go with a syringe or pipette type instrument then, and make sure im shaking up the nutrients in the bottle before mixing. a digital pH meter probly wouldnt be too bad either, compared to basic pH reagent /color coding kit. although they seem finicky and require lots of care- which sort of foils my plans for quick fertigation routine. as for the process of mixing, i typically will make a 5 gal batch by filling with 4 gals of water or so, then adding FP, then ProTekt, then vinegar. i "stir" with a blast from the hose to mix things around and top off to 5 gals. for irrigation its just protekt then vinegar. i add nutrients according to my "typical" mix ratio, then measure, and adjust as necessary.

Of course, they say wine helps too, and, if a choice between which tastes better, I'm going with wine.

They might replace the grade, or they might average the two grades together, or some other option. The school counselor should be able to tell you how they determine the final grade for the course. The parents who visit this forum are all dealing with different personalities of kids, different school systems, etc. All we can do is draw on our own experience, and if my kids didn't want me talking to their teachers that would be a great big huge red flag to me. Occasionally my kids have had teachers were impossible to deal with reasonably (one of my son's teachers had a complete breakdown one year and was committed to an institution). But for the most part my kids' teachers have been some of my biggest allies and advisers. You might ask your daughter why she doesn't want you to talk to her teachers. Are the teachers going to tell you something your daughter doesn't want you to know (like she's flirting with her boyfriend in class), or is she afraid you'll say something to anger the teachers and they'll take it out on her? Teachers are a parent's best resource, and parents should be the teachers' best resource. I'd be very, very suspicious if my daughter never wanted me to talk to *anyone* about her schoolwork. As far as the post above about good study habits being genetic and not learned, some kids are just naturally organized and good students, that's true. But most kids who aren't naturally organized can learn those skills. I know that from experience. I completely agree that it's not enough to say "you just have to try". Many, many kids don't know exactly what to do to try, and many of the ones who know what to do don't have the discipline to follow through. Instead of saying to her "you just have to try", you might want to try identifying exactly what it is you want her to do, monitoring her progress in that area and setting up consequences if she doesn't follow through. What is it exactly that you want her to do - do her homework, go in for help every day with her chemistry teacher, memorize her equations? There are a world of things she can do. We've had math and chemistry formulas taped to the bathroom mirror, the dash of the car, the inside of the front door. We've fit our equations into popular songs and danced around the room singing equations. We've set aside homework hours - only homework can be done during that time. Kids sometimes need help coming up with study techniques - like highlighting notes, using sticky notes, organizing their notebooks, etc. I've had teachers I respect tell me the best predictor of academic success is organizational skills, not intelligence. I don't know if that's true, but helping your daughter learn to get organized would be very, very helpful for her. Having said all that, the truth is that she's halfway into her junior year of high school. So speaking only for myself, it would be pretty late into the game to be on my daughter's case for something I've let go her whole life to this point. If this situation was mine, I'd help my daughter all she wanted, but I don't think I'd go toe-to-toe over it at this point in life. I hope you find something that works for all of you. Enjoy the holidays with your daughter, teens grow up so fast.

How is your food? Low-fat carbs to me equals vegetables. Are you eating mostly meat (or other protein) and vegetables? Are you familiar with glycemic index? I do best with eggs & veggies for breakfast, green salad with meat for lunch, and small appetizer plate like cheese and grapes for dinner. I no longer drink soda and avoid sweets and starches. I drink lots of water. I do start the day with a small coffee with a teaspoon of sugar to give my brain a quickstart. Corn syrup does not equal sugar. I believe it's the glucose in sugar that works - not the fructose. Also, "an apple a day" really works for me. When your insides are clean and your weight is optimal and you feed your body what it was designed to consume, it functions well, at least in my experience. Take breaks of deep breathing to refresh, outside if you can. That can be energizing. If I HAVE TO, I'll have an afternoon coffee with sugar. Caffeine doesn't work unless combined with water (you can't be dehydrated or it will put you to sleep) and for some reason the sugar makes it work better too. Thought control: When you see yourself slipping into a bad thought pattern, catch yourself and change it. There is no need to judge yourself. Focus on what you need to do, what positive action will make you feel better. Exercise: walking, yoga, cardio, core. This is a goid time to get into the best shape of your life. Yoga is a necessity for me. You can do some movements at work. Getting the blood to circulate will give you more energy.