1)DSL
2)According to speedtest.com, it is .22mbps
3)LR took about an hour, so 200mb would take 10 hours???  I don't really understand the process, but I think that might be too big for me.
4) Could it be downloaded in sections?  My rural connection gets unrealiable at night.  I would be prepared to spend 10-12 hours downloading as long as I could do it in one hour or less sections/pieces.
5)I still think I would prefer to download it, as long as I could do it over a few weeks.

Here is an article on Hobbies that I wrote for a local newsletter:

"I need a hobby.  At a recent parenting class an entire section focused on self care.  The experts say an important part of parenting is taking care of one's self, which should include a hobby.  Therefore in my quest to be a decent mother I am in search of a hobby.  The hobby must be simple.  The hobby must not come with lots of stuff to buy, organize, take out, or clean up.  Realistically the hobby must be done at home, hopefully while the children are napping.  The hobby must be quick.  The hobby must be interruptible.  I could not think of any activity that meets this rigorous set of standards.  I enlisted the help of a close friend who has two toddlers.  It was a short conversation.  No, she doesn't have a hobby.  Yes, she would like a hobby.  Yes, she knows of one activity that meets the hobby standards.  Shaving.  That simple.  I could be a better parent if on at least a monthly basis I shaved my legs."
 

Is the forum considered a hobby?

I use to have hobbies such as quilting, exercising, playing the flute in a band, and decorating my house.  The birth of my daughter put all of those on the far top shelf.

I think my dd is my hobby?  I just feel so busy researching, preparing, and then teaching her I have little time to do anything else, well except laundry, cooking, and cleaning.

I wrote an article on new mothers needing hobbies, I will post it.

Have you tried 'Chicken Hurry'?  Take chicken parts (legs, wings, backs, breasts, whatever what you want), and coat/toss/smear them in BBQ sauce.  Toss in slow cooker for 8 hours, or in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour and half.  Easy.  I serve with pasta (shells, macaroni, rotini, whatever I have) as the chicken has left over sauce that you can pour over the pasta.  Add frozen veggie and there is a meal.

Is the program any good?  In my opinion, yes.  The DVDs are of reasonable quality.  The sliding flash cards are o.k.  The other 82 double sided flash cards and the game cards are really good.  My dd loves all the books, the 5 big flap style book and the one board book.

What I like?  DVD's are easy to plug in, my dd will watch most of it, and it gives me a reasonable 15 minute guilt free break.  My dd will bring me the books to read to her - they are her favourite books.  The flash cards are easy to handle and dd loves to look at them.

What I hate?  The sliding cards stick, making them difficult for dd to use on her own, and frustrating for me to use.  I dislike the timelines that YBCR has set out, I find my dd needed to see new information much much faster than suggested.  The music CD included is too short and uninspired.

How long?  I started about 10 weeks ago.  My dd would have been 15 months old, and now she is 17 1/2 months.

What else am I using?  I was using homemade GD flashcards starting just before her first birthday (so for about 6 months now in total).  I started using the powerpoint presentations from Billbaby about a week after the YBCR.  I started using LR about 4 weeks ago.  I also do math teaching with homemade red dot cards and now LM.  I have just started to do some physical stuff and brain gym.  I just discovered the starfall.com website so we have been using that for a few days.  Since birth I have read an insane # of books (50 plus) every day.

Success?  YES.  I subscribe to GD no testing ideas, so it is often difficult to tell.  Within one week of YBCR my daughter recognized at least 2 words (hi and wave).  Now, 10 weeks later, I have noticed she knows about 12-15 words - all words from YBCR.

I agree with SB1201 that I am not sure YBCR alone would teach a child to read, but it definately helped my dd.  The other thing I like about YBCR is because of its high quality and pretty graphics it helps motivate me to use it.

Good Luck with your decision.

I am soooo excited to see the changes; in my excitement I had forgotten how much everyone must be working to benefit our little ones.  Thank you.  Thank you very very much for enriching our lives, our children's lives, and our relationships with our children.

I still can't wait till next Wednesday, but hopefully the delay will allow the people at brillbaby to take a deep breath and enjoy their own family.

In the meantime, thanks for the few extra days of free downloads.

I am just wondering how one stays motivated to get it all done? 

I feel that I do not have enough time to get 'life' done in a day.  How do you manage to keep your kitchen clean, your laundry done, etc., etc., and teach your baby all the materials (YCBR, LM, LR, music, physical activity)?

I just feel behind in everything and that some of the teaching gets left out because I do not have the energy to prepare and/or show the materials?

Any hints or tips?  Thanks.

I believe I read in the book "Why love Matters" that when choosing to go back to work it is best to choose the shortest shifts possible.  Something to the tune that children will find it less stressful if they are gone for shorter periods of time, even if that means leaving them more days. 

All the best in your decision.  I think it is a tough one.  Do you have the option to try one schedule for a month and the other schedule for a month and compare which one is better for your family?

I feel so much better after reading the replies.  I was feeling slightly like a failure because I wasn't strictly following GD schedule.

I did single words, about 400 of them, before I moved on to couplets, which I only did about 40 of, before I moved directly to books.  I tried to do the sentences stage but my 1 yr. old was not interested.  She likes the books much better.

Then I discovered YBCR and LR and Powerpoint flash cards and ever since then I have been to quote another member "...the pinacle of haphazard".

I know I could be more organized and effective, but the haphazardness seems to be working.  She is reading about 10 words right now and she is 17 months old, so hopefully it only gets better from here.

Good Answer!  Mind if I borrow it next time someone asks me? 

I dont' feel betrayed at all, I feel understood.  Thanks for posting.

And if it makes you feel better, my local librian totally *judged* me when I took out Glen Doman's "Teach your Baby Math".  I can't remember her exact words, but they went something to the tune of "...why don't you just let her learn to count like everyone else does.... let her pick the # of candies to which she can count out..."   Even my local librian thinks I am crazy for teaching my dd at such a young age. 

Sometimes I can be   s   l   o   w.  I never even considered using LR to further the YBCR videos!

Karma to you SB1201 for the files.  Thanks!

racenry, have you tried using LM or even just the dot cards on powerpoint?  I also find my dd won't look at the dot cards anymore, but she loves LM.  I have the speed on LM as fast as it can go and that really does hold her attention (at least she is looking at the screen).  So far, I have no idea if she knows any math

Relax.  That would be my advice.  I find Potty Learning very frustrating for me, and I must constantly remind myself that IT isn't about me.  Relax, it will come, and your dd will learn when she is ready.

I have been practicing Elimination Communication since my dd was 5 weeks old.  I know she knows all about the potty, what is for, how to use, when to use it, etc, and yet.......... there are days sometimes even weeks when she simply REFUSES to have anything to do with it.  The more I focus on it, the more frustrated I am about it, the less happy the relationship with my dd is.  If I relax and take it in stride, at least everyone is happier.

Luckily right now we are having a good few days and dd has used the potty many many times in the last few days.

I wish you more success than me.  And I am sorry the only advice I can provide is to relax.  If I had better strategies, perhaps my dd would be trained!

I believe I understand your frustration.  My in-laws are expensive gift givers, and my parents are not.

I have explained to everyone, parents, sisters, brothers, and friends that my dd wants for nothing.  I agree with Tornado, I am trying to avoid the consumption trap.  Me and my partner are able to provide the basics of what are dd needs, and she does not need another toy, dress, book, or anything else.  Of course, this doesn't stop most of them, but at least then my parents are able to see that I would prefer NOT to receive the gift.  My parents can feel Good about not buying anything because they know that they are respecting our parenting style/choices.  My parents can opt out of the one-up-manship game with their head held high. 

I try to discourage any gift giving, even for birthdays, Christmas, or other holidays.  I strongly encourage the gift of 'TIME'.  My dd loves to spend time with people and she would rather do that than play by herself with a new toy.  My sisters and sister in laws now almost appreciate knowing they don't have to stress about gifts, they just have to book an afternoon to visit with dd.  Bonus feature of this strategy - I get some much needed alone time.

I have not been successful, yet, I am hopeful this next strategy will work out for me. I have cautiously approached the in-laws regarding an education savings account for my dd, instead of gift giving.  Again, I have explained to them that dd wants/needs nothing at this young age, but, eventually she will need a very large sum of $$ to attend college/university.  I am hoping that I can redirect some of the $$ from expensive gifts into an education account.  This strategy (if it works) has 2 advantages.  It removes the one-up manship game even more, because there is nothing to SEE, and more $$ for college/university is something dd will need.

Good Luck to you kizudo.  If anyone else has some strategies I am anxious read to them.  This is an ongoing struggle for my family.

There is so much wonderful, useful, and amazing content on this website.  I seem unable to stop myself from spending hours and hours reading into the night.