Sea - thanks, back at ya. Arden (as well as Aaron) are good looking kids as well. She will have a steady stream of suitors! Good luck with that - take a page from the Red Neck Play book and make sure the boys see the fire arm collection prior to any dates.

Deathpunk Dan et al - talking to my Wife last night about this we may just keep her in public school and see if she starts getting too bored. I think once she is in school if we get her involved in Music, Dance/Gymnastics, Horseback riding and anything else that she shows an interest in than she may be fine.

I think the key is to keep them busy and engaged in the activity.

My ol Man preaches t me the three D's - Direction, Devotion and Discipline. If you give your kids those than chances are you have done your D - which is Duty.

As the say, I'll let him know that, "I ain't afraid to go BACK to prison..."

We have friends that sent their kids to Montessori School and they had a very positive experience. As their kids left Montessori, they managed the transition into a more structured school environment well by tightening the reigns a bit the last few months of M school and over the summer.

Nothing too draconian.

Arden is a very bright child, so we decided, based on her maturity as well, to started her in school early. She has done well.

Jack is like me...we both have to work at it! He is doing great.

All the best.

Edit: Let me know if you ever need any advice on the horse thing...I am damn near an expert on how to avoid the pitfalls, mainly 'cause I stepped in most of them. :cool:

I don't know why I thought your son's name was Aaron.

As for the horses - I will have to publish 10 books and have each a best seller before I buy a horse and stable it here. Of course, if we kept it in Iowa on the farm it becomes much less expensive. They have had horses before and are not opposed to them. prehaps when the kids get older and want to spend a month up there in the summer. Maybe.

Until then, horses like boats are best when you have friends with them. Plenty of good stables around here. Max has become a very good rider. He starts up again in late Sept. Full gallop and we will keep developing his barrel turns at speed. Emmy will start when she turns 5. She can't wait. I can.