Posts by Ryan Thomas7

Susan James said:I feel the same way! I really hope that language programs—and honestly, any school offering a second language throughout all four years—allow students to take an entrance exam specifically for that second language. It would make so much sense to create more advanced track classes based on those results. They could even offer extra credit or priority to students who commit to studying that language at a higher level. It’s mostly about fine-tuning those GPA nuances, but it matters, especially when middle schools are already pushing two different foreign languages on kids.

For schools that have specialized tracks where most instruction is in another language, they currently require an entrance exam for that subject, but you first have to meet the general enrollment cutoff. In my opinion, it would be much better if students just had to hit a specific proficiency threshold instead. This year, tenth graders had to pass math and use their middle school grades before they were even allowed to sit for the English exam, which feels a bit redundant... especially since many have already passed language certifications from private academies after years of study.🤷

Also, I was actually surprised to see that a top-tier prep school like Lincoln High didn't even hold an entrance exam for their English immersion track this year...

Are you talking about the English immersion program over at the academy? I think that’s a recent change. Last year, they only required an English proficiency test. I have two friends whose kids applied to that specific program last year, and as far as I can recall, neither of them mentioned having to take a math exam.

Gary Martin12 said:The daycare center boasts an incredible staff of specialists, yet I haven't heard a single word from them. I initially reached out regarding a speech therapist because my son was struggling with certain letter sounds and his speech was quite unclear. Suddenly, I was handed a referral for a psychologist too! The specialist concluded everything was fine, while the speech therapist just told us to join their long waiting list for treatment. We ended up doing all the exercises ourselves at home, and he actually mastered his pronunciation. Then, after finally reaching the top of that waiting list eighteen months later, they told us there wasn't much left for them to do with him.

I've noticed he isn't quite as quick or articulate as the other kids his age. I’ve scheduled a private evaluation with a speech pathologist to assess his readiness for kindergarten, so we'll see what they say. Hopefully, I'll get some solid feedback that gives me grounds to appeal the school district's decision. It seems like some kids don't even need to be held back just because they're in therapy, so I'm skeptical about how much I can achieve here, but I have to try. He has made such massive strides in the last six months that I truly believe an extra year of prep would only benefit him.

I am honestly just baffled. Everyone else seems to brag about how easily they requested a grade retention without any major hurdles or negotiations, yet I'm hitting a brick wall. Thanks everyone for the advice and comments!

To be honest—nobody sees a reason for a delay (based on your posts, I wouldn't see one either), so clearly, there simply wasn't one. Not being able to pronounce specific letters isn't a valid reason for a deferral. Letter sounds alone won't cut it. I trust that if you have a solid team at your daycare, they would have certainly guided you toward more specialized evaluations if it were necessary.

The issue with delaying enrollment isn't just that a child is lagging behind in one area; it’s about determining if there is a genuine chance they can catch up—either partially or fully—within that extra year.
Let me give you a blunt example: a six-year-old (turning seven this summer) who hasn't attended daycare or preschool, with a stay-at-home mom and a father working in agriculture. The child performs slightly below average on most of the standard entrance assessments. What would a delay actually accomplish for a child like that? It's better for them to enter school now, because staying home for another year won't bridge those gaps. Besides, someone has to be below average. I know that might sound harsh, but it's just the reality...

And as for everyone getting their requests approved effortlessly—in my experience, those are usually the children who actually required the delay. You should be glad your child doesn't show the specific indicators needed for a deferral.😉

Gary Martin12 said:We started at the Hospitals, where they noted he’s a bit clumsy. I already knew that—I'm certainly not expecting any gold medals in PE! But even after I pleaded with them to reconsider, they wouldn't budge on the delay.
He did the testing solo at school. After about ninety minutes, I was met by a panel consisting of the school counselor, a psychologist, and a special education specialist. All three agreed he’ll need extra support once he starts elementary school. They mentioned he’s a little slow to process things; while his vocabulary is great, his sentences are pretty immature. Honestly, his storytelling makes zero sense! He’s social, handles separation just fine, and is quite independent. However, they had to repeat questions once or twice because he didn't catch them the first time. Beyond recommending that I read to him constantly over the summer, I didn't get much else. Even after I fought tooth and nail for him to start school a year later, they told me it simply wasn't an option.
Physically, he’s right on track with kids his age; he doesn't stand out at all in his preschool group. From what I can gather, the main hurdle for delaying his enrollment is his November birthday. If he were to delay, he'd start in September and be turning eight by November!

Motoric clumsiness isn't actually a valid reason for a school district to delay enrollment, so I understand why the doctor wouldn't sign off on that.
As for the rest, the assessment process isn't just about saying, "Oh, the kid is behind in one area, let's push him back a year." They look at whether that gap will actually close in twelve months and weigh his strengths against his struggles. Some kids are just developmentally slower... waiting a year won't magically fix that. They usually just need individualized instruction or specific accommodations once they're in the classroom. I'm not quite sure what you mean by having a rich vocabulary but immature sentences 🤷are you thinking of those tests where they show a child a few pictures and ask them to tell a story?
Did he attend daycare or preschool? Did any of the staff there ever flag that he might need extra help or face challenges in elementary school? Was he ever formally evaluated there, or referred to a specialist for testing?

restlesscobra13 said:Any recommendations for a private immunologist or rheumatologist in the Washington, D.C. area?

Mislav Cerovec works at Rib, specializing specifically in immunology and rheumatology... though I'm not sure if he takes private patients, since I only ever saw him through the hospital system.
Porin Perić is an excellent rheumatologist—keep in mind he's actually a physiatrist rather than a pure immuno-rheum specialist, but from what I hear, he does private practice.

I know plenty of people who have genuinely transformed their lives—graduating from top-tier universities and landing incredible careers through nothing but pure grit... yet, I still find it hard to buy into these kinds of articles.

The reason? Most journalists just babble on, overusing superlatives to make everything sound life-changing.
Take, for instance, this young woman who was all over the news last year, hailed as some kind of rising American entrepreneur who had expanded her business across several states. Turns out, her "company" consists of exactly one employee: herself. Last year, she pulled in less than $3.25 and ended the season essentially at zero.
That’s why I struggle to take these grand tales of brilliant success at face value... sometimes they just don't add up. 🤷

David Ross3 said:Where can I actually find perfect skinny jeans that won't stretch out at the knees after five minutes? Pretty much everything I own has bagged out at the knees—it looks so trashy that they’re basically just gathering dust in my closet now. 🤦 Ugh, money is tight though... I'm pretty slim, usually an XS or small.

I’ve found Diesel skinnies to be pretty solid. They did eventually stretch out on me, but only after a massive amount of wear...😉

Where can I find some straight-leg or subtle bootcut jeans in really small sizes? I’m looking for that specific vibe Claudia Schiffer used to rock... doesn't matter if they're low or high-rise, as long as they have enough length to actually cover my boots.
Mango, Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, 7 For All Mankind, Ralph Lauren, Amadeus—zero points there. Already hit up every single one of them...

Olivia Cox77 said:Well, from what I understand, most of these newer low-dose contraceptives—things like Yasmin, Yaz, or Logest—tend to have fewer side effects overall, including that whole weight gain issue, mostly because they use a much lower dose of hormones compared to the older stuff.

Well, I gained about five pounds in just ten days when I first started taking them... and honestly, that was my only issue. It’s unusual for me since I usually struggle to put on weight, and my scale hasn't budged in years...

silverlynx74 said:Most of my friends just got their birth control prescriptions from their OB-GYN as soon as they showed up. They weren't even asked to get blood work done or anything like that. My doctor actually asked if I wanted them, so I just said yes.
So, it turns out there are cases where doctors themselves just decide blood tests aren't necessary...🙄

It's true, I've heard that from plenty of friends. My own doctor told me to come in with all my test results first, and only then would they decide whether or not to prescribe the pills.
But the reality is, it's irresponsible on both sides—both the doctors and the women who just grab prescriptions based on what their friends are taking...

I know plenty of friends and relatives who fit this pattern—old enough to handle sex, cigarettes, and alcohol, yet somehow not mature enough to visit a doctor...
My 25-year-old cousin is a perfect example. She’s never stepped foot in an OB-GYN office, despite having menstrual issues for years. Sometimes her period skips months entirely, and then she ends up bleeding every two weeks. We can’t get through to her about getting a checkup. And her mother thinks it’s unnecessary... they live in a tiny town where the mom is always worried about what the neighbors will say if people find out a 25-year-old woman is seeing a specialist. 🙄

What’s even more reckless than skipping the doctor is when girls start taking birth control pills using a friend's prescription. A friend lends them a script, they buy the pills, and they bypass everything—no doctor visits, no blood work, no liver function tests, no clotting checks... and unfortunately, we’ve seen cases where this ends tragically. 😢

For instance, a 24-year-old friend of mine had never been to a gynecologist. Last year, she started taking the pill. I refused to give her my prescription—which probably made me look like a total jerk, but I couldn't justify it—so instead, another friend just handed over hers. She started the pills on the first day of her cycle, and the bleeding just wouldn't stop for 45 days straight. 😲She was so incapacitated by the pain that she couldn't even get out of bed for about ten days. Her boyfriend and I went to stay with her and begged her to see a professional. I actually managed to book an appointment for her with my own doctor, but should I even mention that she completely blew it off? 🙄And of course, there are the typical excuses... "Well, some people take them just fine, surely this will pass eventually..."

Honestly, what disgusts me most isn't even the fact that teenagers might do this without supervision; it's that grown women, who should have at least a grain of common sense, are doing the exact same thing...