Posts by David Palmer5

Larry Gonzalez83 said:As a parent who has lived through all of this, I can tell you that as your kid grows up, your whole perspective on the stuff they might go through changes too. When they're little, you don't even think about making a scene over things that seem like a lifetime away. But then overnight, the years pass, kids start getting into mischief, and suddenly there's a real problem right in front of you that needs addressing. I had hoped that even if smoking became a reality, it would happen later in their teens when I wouldn't make such a big deal out of it, since parents lose a lot of influence by then anyway. My daughter started smoking in eighth grade due to a bunch of circumstances I've already mentioned, so I won't go into detail. There's no question about it, it was too early. Whether it's okay or not, by the time she was fifteen, we just accepted her for who she was, even though it was uncomfortable for us at first... especially for me.
And honestly, I'd take a cigarette over some other stupid mistake if that's how they try to act grown up. Kids grow up in the blink of an eye, and it's hard to play the cop in that game. Someone you were treating like a little kid yesterday is still basically a kid... they just happen to have a cigarette in their hand now.

I’m not quite sure what other kind of nonsense you're referring to, but you know as well as I do that one thing doesn't necessarily lead to the other.
In fact, if the Church views the whole situation as, "Aha, I did exactly what I wanted, my parents didn't even make a huge scene, and there's nothing they can do about it anyway," then she might see it as a green light to go out and try those "other things" too. 🤷

Alex Roberts4 said:COVID targets the old and the high-risk. That's just a fact. Let’s not play pretend here, shall we? Sure, there are outliers—a tiny fraction of exceptions because everyone's body reacts differently—but that's it. Do you suddenly have some inside scoop on this 22-year-old or the 47-year-old on life support? Maybe they weren't in peak physical condition? Maybe there was an underlying issue? Who knows... While everyone else is busy acting like geniuses and debating semantics, absolutely nothing is changing. Total joke. And then you have people like you, pointing out the obvious with lines like, "Well, even vaccinated people can get it, and vaccinated people can die..." Good morning to you, too! It's the same logic for every other disease we vaccinate against, except the odds of getting sick are significantly lower. There’s no such thing as a 100% guarantee, and there never has been. Kisses, and cheers!

And who exactly said it doesn't hit the elderly and high-risk groups?
Who's to say your younger crowd isn't perfectly healthy either?
It's not like the seniors who are passing away are all in peak physical condition, right?
You were claiming that only old people are dying, so I shared some actual data with you.
Or do you think the guy from Brooklyn is lying?

If 20-30% of vaccinated people pass, that's a statistical blip. But if 30% of our seniors don't get vaccinated, that is a massive number.
So, pick a side: is that a lot or is it a little?
What does any of this have to do with children?
And what was even the point of this senseless post? You haven't said anything here that you haven't already repeated fifty times.

lujka_x said:.....
With COVID, we see it hitting the elderly hard, yet so many of them are still turning down the vaccine.
.....

Unfortunately, it isn't just the seniors getting hit
Take what the director of the local intensive care unit mentioned:
"- We’re seeing young patients too. For instance, the youngest person in our respiratory unit is only 22. Even the youngest person currently on a ventilator is 47. These are all critical cases, and the situation isn't looking like it did at the start of the pandemic," he noted.

Kyle Reed30 said:
If anyone else happens to know the answers, please let me know. This is really important to me.
Thanks!

Here you go:
https://www.zosi.gov/department/evaluations/

placidnomad87 said:It really felt like there was a golden opportunity right then and there to present this as a legitimate choice for people to vote on, don't you think?

Wouldn't it have been much more logical if the kid had simply worn a mask while walking to school and then taken it off once he arrived? If he had just waited until he was inside, it would have been so much harder for anyone to track him or follow his movements later on. Honestly, wouldn't that have been the absolute best solution to navigate a situation like this one?

The reality is, not every parent has the capacity to handle homeschooling.
We've already seen cases where parents try to act as primary educators for kids who never even stepped foot in preschool. 🙄

placidnomad87 said:It really felt like there was a golden opportunity right then and there to present this as a legitimate choice for people to vote on, don't you think?

Wouldn't it have been much more logical if the kid had simply worn a mask while walking to school and then taken it off once he arrived? If he had just waited until he was inside, it would have been so much harder for anyone to track him or follow his movements later on. Honestly, wouldn't that have been the absolute best solution to navigate a situation like this one?

Of course he could have, but he’s just refusing to do it. Honestly, nobody would even bother chasing him because at that school, people only wear masks when they're entering the building or walking through the hallways.
In the actual classrooms, they don't wear them.

rowdypanther12 said:What if my child just doesn't want to wear a shirt? It bothers them, they feel uncomfortable, and they simply don't want to?
Look, we don't need to go to such extremes. In the past, kids used to get sent home from schools without AC back in June because they were wearing shorts or tank tops, for crying out loud—and nobody ever complained about that, right?
Are we really saying children have to keep their shoulders covered and wear knee-length pants when it's 95 degrees out?
This is all just nonsense. Is it really that hard for them to wear a mask for those 20 feet while walking to the teacher's desk?
If I were the principal, I’d say fine, starting tomorrow the schedule changes: school starts at 6 AM, each class comes in on its own 15-minute staggered interval, and no one leaves the classroom during breaks, so there's no need for masks at all.

Actually, that’s a pretty solid idea. He could just head into school about half an hour before everyone else, find a classroom where people aren't wearing masks, and just hang out there. Same thing for leaving—he can just wait until everyone else has cleared out before heading home.
It’s like that old saying: the wolf sits comfortably while the goat pays the price. One side gets to relax and enjoy the view, while the other is left dealing with all the consequences. It's a classic case of someone reaping the benefits while someone else carries the entire burden. 😁

Ronald Howard3 said:Just let people try homeschooling and the whole thing would be solved. But of course, that's not something they'd ever consider.☕

In this country, there just isn't an option like that for kids who are perfectly healthy. Plus, I honestly can't imagine how parents like that would even manage to homeschool their children. 🤔

mellowskipper said:I am actually reading through this. You have parents standing in front of the school teaching their kids... I mean, that itself is traumatic. They really should have handled that more intelligently—like getting a doctor's note stating the child doesn't need to wear a mask. This whole "battle" fought on the backs of children is just... I don't even know. It's absurd.

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It’s pretty obvious they have way too much free time on their hands. 😁

mellowskipper said:The best way is to just face one entrance exam. She'll prepare, she'll do it, and she'll survive.
I suppose she’s just an "anxious type" by nature—a bit of a panicker. And I never actually said she was "highly successful in school and otherwise." To get top results, you have to work for it. She's not Tesla.
And what exactly is the point of these national exams for kids right now, anyway?

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I don't know about that. To me, a kid who's doing well in school while simultaneously learning foreign languages and playing a sport is definitely successful.
And obviously, you have to work for success. Honestly, I think the idea of kids who "don't study at all but somehow pull straight A's" is nothing more than an urban legend. Kids who are demonstrably high achievers—the ones winning various Olympiads or crushing it in national and international competitions for things like coding, robotics, or math—put in massive amounts of practice and study. That goes for anyone successful in sports, music, or anything else; there is always a huge amount of hard work behind them.
That's why I used the phrase "highly successful."
As for the national exams, I assume they're meant to be some kind of objective way to gauge knowledge levels, maybe as a precursor to introducing some sort of junior graduation exam. It worked similarly before the high school graduation requirements were implemented. Or perhaps it's for bringing entrance exams back to all four-year schools. I'm guessing, though, I really don't know.

mellowskipper said:If I had a kid in 5th or 8th grade, I wouldn't even send them to school on the day those tests are happening—not that it would help much. It’s just pure hyper-stress, and they aren't even using anything useful.

mellowskipper said:I mean, I am generally in favor of finding some kind of solution—because, let’s face it, it turns out we have way too many Einsteins and Elons running around elementary schools... whereas kids who breeze through with a 4.0 GPA are actually quite dim, and everyone basically falls into a state of unconsciousness if they hear that.
I was thinking about not sending it specifically yesterday—mostly because my mom is such a panic artist, and I didn't see much point in stressing her out if it wasn't going to change anything anyway. But even so, it’s still 7r—so it isn't actually about that... thank God.

Okay, look, she won't be taking the state exams since she isn't in 5th or 8th grade, but I don't quite get why a kid who is highly successful both in school and out would panic over tests that personally have zero impact on her grades or her future success.🤔
Just explain to her what the state exams are actually for, and that should be that.

Besides, I think it's better to teach her how to manage panic rather than encouraging her to just dodge every stressful situation she faces.
What happens if she decides to apply to a high school that requires an entrance exam? Is she just going to skip the test and enroll in a school she isn't even interested in just to avoid the stress?

nimblelynx7 said:]

It looks like you just got hit with a direct rebuttal right above you.

A kid gets a delay if it suits the school—like if they have too many students—but they’ll lose that right if they're unlucky enough to land in a year where there’s a shortage.
Of course, since the administration is the top priority and students are just fuel used to secure teacher salaries, nobody actually gives a damn about the child's best interests. And the mother at the bottom of this thread would probably have to fight tooth and nail just to get what's best for her kid when it clashes with the school's agenda.

That isn't actually a rebuttal to my point at all, because we were specifically discussing delaying enrollment for kids who are already 6.5 years old.

nimblelynx7 said:I’m not sure if these delays are because of shifting from age 6 to 7, or moving from 7 to 8. If it’s the former, I get it completely—though I can find some common ground with the latter too.

As far as I'm concerned, my kid isn't starting school at 6 (thankfully they were born in August, so I won't have to fight this battle), because there is absolutely no reason to rush.

It isn't about a lack of independence or capability; I simply see no point in the hurry. We aren't all retiring by 65 or even 67. There is plenty of time to get work done. Even if they start at 7, they'll have more than enough time to finish school, go to college if they want, get a career, and do their part.

If some teacher doesn't have enough students to fill a classroom, they can surely find another job in the market that fits their skills and education. My child is not going to be used just to fill up someone's teaching hours.

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Your child will be going in at a full 7, whereas this other child (the one from the previous post) will be nearly 7 by the time they start.
Usually, parents ask for a delay—and most often get it without much trouble—for kids born in January, February, or March.
At least, that’s what everyone seems to be saying on the subway.😁
(I find it hard to believe there are really that many children with special needs here, so I tend to believe the people who say they simply requested a deferral and were granted one.🤷)

Maybe now that first grade has been made a bit more manageable, they've started cracking down on those delays. If a kid doesn't start until they're 8, and then spends two years just learning their letters, when do they actually become literate? At 10? 15? Never?

Karen Morgan6 said:If I’m reading you correctly, you’re sixteen and still navigating high school. You actually find fulfillment in your studies and staying productive—that’s a rare quality. Don't let go of that drive. But have you considered picking up a hobby? Maybe you enjoy running, spending time outdoors, or getting involved in sports? How are you spending your time when you aren't buried in textbooks?
I was once exactly where you are: a socially awkward loner.
My advice is actually quite straightforward. Stop actively hunting for friends or trying to force your way into a social circle. Instead, find a genuine interest or a hobby, and you’ll naturally stumble upon people who share those same passions. That’s how real connections happen.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying your own company, but don't let solitude become your permanent identity. I noticed you quoting the Bible. Are you attending church services? Are you active in your local congregation? And how much weight do you give to basic etiquette and manners?
A simple smile, a polite "good morning," or a bit of small talk—it might seem trivial or even pointless to you right now, but those tiny interactions are the fundamental difference between being an outcast and being perceived as a "normal" member of society. Approach people who actually pique your curiosity, show a sincere interest in what they care about, and the conversation will follow.
So, my final takeaway is simple: stay persistent in pursuing your goals and don't waste your energy on nonsense.

Sam Wright21 said:Why don't you listen to music?

Are you seriously responding to a thread from 2007? For real?

Honestly, whether your handwriting is beautiful or just legible doesn't really matter. It’s not even about which professions require pen and paper...
what actually matters is that handwriting isn't just a physical act.
If you look up some of the studies on how handwriting connects to brain development, things start to click.
It makes much more sense why so many experts argue against moving away from manual writing and why practicing your handwriting is so vital (at least until you hit a certain age), right?

nimblelynx7 said:The whole point here is to show some empathy for parents asking for a delay, whether they give a specific reason or not.

In my view, there's zero reason for a child to start school before their 7th birthday, regardless of whether we're talking about age 6 or 6.5, based on the points I made earlier.

I'm glad it worked out this way. If it hadn't, people would be fighting through NASA, the courts, and all that nonsense.

I agree that age 7 should be the standard cutoff for starting school, but from everything I've heard and read in the news lately, it seems like anyone who asks for a delay gets it.
No arguments needed, and more importantly, no having to drag people through NASA or even end up in court.
You can even get it approved without needing a doctor's note to justify the delay.

nimblelynx7 said:I’m not sure if these delays are because of shifting from age 6 to 7, or moving from 7 to 8. If it’s the former, I get it completely—though I can find some common ground with the latter too.

As far as I'm concerned, my kid isn't starting school at 6 (thankfully they were born in August, so I won't have to fight this battle), because there is absolutely no reason to rush.

It isn't about a lack of independence or capability; I simply see no point in the hurry. We aren't all retiring by 65 or even 67. There is plenty of time to get work done. Even if they start at 7, they'll have more than enough time to finish school, go to college if they want, get a career, and do their part.

If some teacher doesn't have enough students to fill a classroom, they can surely find another job in the market that fits their skills and education. My child is not going to be used just to fill up someone's teaching hours.

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I don't really get the point of this comment. Your kid is going to start school when they're 7 anyway; nobody is forcing you to enroll them at 6, especially since they wouldn't even be legally required to be in school then.🤔
Actually, around here, kids usually don't even start school until they're at least 6 and a half, not 6.

Raymond Robinson6 said:This new, super aggressive type of advertising makes it impossible to use Reddit. You can barely read more than a single line, let alone actually write anything. It’s just frustrating and pointless at this point.

rustywalker42 said:Look, I don't have anything against ads, but having to refresh the page ten times just to read one sentence? Or trying to send a message only to have an ad pop up and force another F5? That's ridiculous. This isn't normal. Please, just get this brainless ad off Reddit and fire whoever thought this was a brilliant idea.

Yeah, it’s honestly become unbearable.
Why can't I just get these ads to stop showing up on the side of the screen?
Or is there some other way to go about this that actually lets you read or leave a comment?
At this rate, Reddit is completely losing its purpose.

mellowsurfer19 said:The issue where my boyfriend claims I’m neglecting him
(We've been together for about seven months, but over the last two or three, we've been constantly bickering—and most of it seems to stem from my own actions)

Before this relationship, I went through two brief flings where I was always the one doing all the heavy lifting, fighting for scraps of affection while getting absolutely nothing in return; it was exhausting, and I spent a lot of time just hoping to find someone who actually met my standards.

So now, I finally have this guy who truly looks out for me, treats me like his absolute world, and honestly, everything felt perfect at first...
But somewhere along the line, something inside me just shifted, and I can't even pinpoint why I've become such a different person. Right at the start of our relationship, I actually betrayed his trust, which completely shattered the foundation we were building, making things incredibly difficult from the get-go because that sense of security was gone.
Now, he tells me straight up that I’m not investing enough in "us," that I’ve stopped putting in the effort I showed during those early days, and that I don't seem to care about his needs anymore. He even told me I’m becoming boring—that I’ve lost that fun, playful spark we used to have and that I just drone on, repeating the same old stories five times over until he’s just checked out mentally.
After dealing with my behavior for a couple of months, he's started to pull away; he isn't as affectionate or romantic as he used to be, and while I know deep down that I am the architect of this distance, I feel completely paralyzed when it comes to fixing it. Part of me wonders if I've just grown complacent or bored, even though I tell myself that isn't true and I certainly don't want it to be. I love him, yet I find myself standing idly by instead of doing anything to protect our bond, and the thought of us breaking up is devastating. It feels so surreal and wrong that I can act this cold and detached toward a man I genuinely love... he’s told me several times how much my attitude hurts him, saying he’s suffering and can't keep going like this, and while I am painfully aware of the damage I'm causing, I remain stuck because I simply don't know how to bridge the gap. I try, I really do, but my efforts never seem to hit the mark for him. My biggest flaw is that I struggle immensely with expressing emotion, and I have a tendency to retreat into my own shell.
I desperately want to change this pattern, but I feel like I'm lacking the tools to do so, so if anyone knows where I can turn or how to seek professional help, please let me know.
Because if I don't figure this out soon, I'm terrified our relationship won't survive, especially since we've already started talking about building a serious future together.

I'm curious—what was the reasoning behind posting this exact same thread across three different subforums?

urbantinker8 said:if your surroundings are really weighing on you that heavily, I guess there's the question of why you haven't just moved away yet, since you mentioned having the option?
and honestly, that environment isn't going to magically disappear before the next school year starts anyway.

I'm not sure that's quite right.
sometimes, it seems to me, all a parent needs to do is be firm and persistent.
they just won't let the school district engage in an endless tug-of-war with every single parent who insists they know what's best for their kid.🙄

I'm not so sure about that.
Just because people claim they got a deferral solely because they asked for it doesn't mean that's actually how it went down.

Besides, you can see for yourself:

Andrew Wright2 said:Look, I get to live wherever I want. I'm not ditching the US just because of some people. I lived abroad and actually went to school specifically to work right here at home.

And yeah, we got a delay on our request, even with everyone involved in the process. It’s not like we were being pushy or making a scene or trying to grease any palms. We just told them we wanted priority for preschool, and they were like, "Sure, we'll look into it." Then they just hashed it out with the school district and the doctors.

If everyone was in agreement, then the deferral was legitimate and there was clearly a valid reason for it. Otherwise, at least one person would have pointed out that delaying enrollment didn't make any sense.

mistyjackal842 said:I honestly feel like you would have been better off just enrolling your child in school this year. There isn't really a compelling reason to delay it, is there? If you were in Washington, D.C., they probably wouldn't even grant an extension, and I doubt it would be any different in Miami either. Around here, kids are sent straight to school even if they were born in mid-March—even when the mom specifically asks for a delay because the little one hasn't finished a preschool program yet. For instance, I know a child born around March 12, 2010, who just finished first grade last month. I saw a similar situation in Miami once; a boy born in mid-February 2009 was put in school too. I don't know if his mom asked for a deferral or not, but he wasn't exactly a star student—he passed with Bs—and his mom has to work pretty hard with him on his homework. He's already done with second grade now. It seems like quite a few of you from the Seattle area are posting about these delays. Maybe it’s just easier to get an extension where you are compared to other parts of the country? Personally, my birthday is November 25th, and I went to school at just under seven years old without any issues. And it wasn't just us, either; people born in the middle of summer back in '78 were also starting first grade. Everyone did fine, even though they had barely turned six right before school started. My dad actually started school when he was only six and a half. He always says he was the youngest in his class, and he was born on March 8th. It strikes me as a bit odd that they actually granted you the extension. I guess maybe they just didn't want to deal with the hassle and ended up passing everything over to the Department of Social Services.

I was just quoting your post; I could have quoted anyone else, it's really no different.
Come on, everyone, let's not be naive here.
Kids don't get a deferral just because their parents want them to.
That's just how some people choose to look at it.
Every single kid who gets a delay in starting school actually has a legitimate reason behind it.

urbanorca8 said:^

It honestly breaks my heart to hear about kids failing middle school—you know, the ones getting straight Cs or worse because they just won't study. But let's be real: it’s usually kids from less educated families who are stuck—they aren't to blame when their parents can't help them navigate the coursework. The high achievers are almost always the ones with a parent or an older sibling at home who can actually walk them through a chemistry problem or hand down a reading list from years ago—which I think is great, though it definitely leaves some kids out in the cold without that support system.

Hmm, so according to this logic, if a kid is an only child—or even just the oldest sibling—they simply can't be exceptional? 🤦

That’s a pretty wild theory. We might need to dive deeper into that one. ☕