Pixie Lou, what are crayon rolls? Here's something I am trying for the first time, although the idea is not new. Buy a pack of regular sized clothespins--the kind that have a spring clip. Choose one side to decorate. Paint that side with acrylic paint. Then mix glossy Mod Podge with a LOT of glitter (maybe equal parts). Use glitter that matches the color of the paint. Paint it on top of the dried paint. Once the Mod Podge dries, the glitter will NOT FLAKE OFF! Then cut up adhesive magnetic strips and glue them to the back of the pin. You sell them as glittered clips that will adhere to a refrigerator, school locker, or file cabinet (for grownup children). A couple of notes (learn from my trial and error). I used paint pens to make decorating easier. I "painted" (drew) multicolor stripes and glittered them, making rainbow clips. I made the mistake of Mod Podge-ing the back of the clips and then the adhesive on the magnet strip would come off after a couple of days. (So leave the wood on the back in its raw state.) The strips stay on better if the clip is attached to the fridge vertically; when it's horizontal the glue seems to pull off more. Each clothespin costs only about two cents from Wal Mart. Here is a video nicely demonstrating the Mod Podge "glitter glue." Here is a link that might be useful: Mod Podge Techniques video

The above advice is all good. Your daughter is at an age where, if there is a perceptual or educational problem, she's got time to learn to deal with it before she gets to jr or sr. high when her workload will be much greater. Tally Sue is absolutely right in suggesting that telling her 'not' to be embarrassed is probably going to have the opposite effect. I personally would be forthright and honest and say that we're trying to find a way to make learning and studying as easy as possible for her. Now, may I address your comments about your school systems. If you feel your schools aren't providing good quality education, start making noise--let your governor, legislature, county freeholders, local officials and school board know they're falling down on the job. Get other parents and the newspapers involved in your fight. Every child should have access to a high quality, FREE education, in my opinion. Children who have (or may have) learning problems should have adequate free testing available and the public school system should be providing the appropriate help for them. High expectations, yes, but not impossible. In my state, most public school systems are academically way ahead of the private ones. The public schools all have child study teams who are qualified to identify and treat problems. If a school system doesn't have the right class for a child who needs extra help, it's their responsibility to send that child to a school that does--and the public school pays the tuition and provides transportation. If your state is doing less, you have a right to demand they improve what's offered. If our children aren't properly educated, where will we be as a country? Sorry about that--I'll step down off my soap box now.

I think it helps to talk to them. Using words on their age level, I'd explain, not just what the rules are, but why. My SD was so upset because both of her parents ALWAYS gave her soda with dinner. BM lets her eat as much as she wants and DH would serve her equal portions to what he was eating (a lot for a 6 yr. old). Yet, after she moved in here, she came home on several nights she would cry about so and so at school teasing her for being fat and ugly. After talking to DH and letting him know how I felt (having struggled with weight as a kid also) and that we could change her eating habits, he agreed to try it. SD got upset that now, she was going to be only getting skim milk or 100% fruit juice with dinner. She complained to her mom, who then called DH to tell him how mean I was and that I was "picking" on their daughter. I have sat down with SD several times and told her I know she likes sweets, I do too. But I feel sad to hear her cry when the kids tease her. After she had thinned out a little (helped by a growth spurt), she said nobody teases her anymore. It also is helping her make better choices when eating. If she's going to have ice cream after dinner, she'll skip her carbs (usually the fries or rice) and make sure she eats her protein, fruits & veggies first. She knows that no matter what I do or say, I have a reason for it and I'll always share the reason with her. It takes time and lots of patience to build the trust sometimes. When she used to cry, "I want my mommy." I would say, "yes, I know you do but your mommy isn't here. I'm gonna have to do." It also helps to reinforce that you know they love their mommy and mommy loves them. Even if the BM isn't "territorial", sometimes the kids feel loyalty conflicts anyways. They may feel guilty over it.

I registered with my yahoo email address hours ago and still haven't gotten the acceptance. I do have a Facebook acct. but find them too invasive so stay logged out as much as possible. Reluctant to use it. Just letting you know there's a problem. I'll try again, though.