As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
And we are no longer charging for the Live Guides. If you have a subscription, it's yours to keep for the lifetime of the Live Guides at no additional cost. The Live Guides will stay online, barring server issues and technical problems, for all of 2019.
That said, PassPorter is not going away. Most of the resources will remain online for as long as we can support them, and after that we will find ways to make whatever we can available. PassPorter means a great deal to us, and to many of you, and we will do our best to keep it alive in whatever way we can. Our server costs are high, and they'll need to come out of our pockets, so in the future you can expect some changes so we can bring those costs down.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your amazing support over the years. Without you, there's no way us little guys could have made something like this happen and given the "big guys" a run for their money. PassPorter was consistently the #3 guidebook after the Unofficial and Official guides, which was really unheard of for such a small company to do. We ROCKED it thanks to you and your support and love!
If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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It must be the age! My DD, just turned 12 in 6th grade, has done it too. She is my "good girl" and was caught 2x lying outright to me about schoolwork. Dumb things though and that what set me off. I'm thinking, "if she lies about insignificant things what the heck happens when it's BIG stuff"? I just try to remind her that lying will get her in more trouble than the truth. We're all stumbling through this parenthood thing with no instructions and I remind her of that too. My DD is super sensitive and takes it personally too so then there's the clean up after the storm. Pixies that we all make it through MS without aging 10 years!
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It must be the age! My DD, just turned 12 in 6th grade, has done it too. She is my "good girl" and was caught 2x lying outright to me about schoolwork. Dumb things though and that what set me off. I'm thinking, "if she lies about insignificant things what the heck happens when it's BIG stuff"? I just try to remind her that lying will get her in more trouble than the truth. We're all stumbling through this parenthood thing with no instructions and I remind her of that too. My DD is super sensitive and takes it personally too so then there's the clean up after the storm. Pixies that we all make it through MS without aging 10 years!
Our kids are the same person only different genders lol. I have been ageing and I can feel and see it. Honestly, this has been one of the toughest yrs I have had with him. You are so right. I worry if he lies about school, then what? It seems like every day there are "issues" and I get exhausted with it. He is very sensitive, and so is my daughter who is almost 7. Unreal. I do hope we survive this. Another quarter for the therapy jar.....
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I am finding ds very forgetful lately too. He forgot to come home twice yesterday-once for lunch, the other for supper. He ended up shoveling to help him remember better after the 2nd time
Why am I the only parent that seems to discipline or have consequences to their childrens neg behaviour???? Why? Oh why???? I am so frustrated over this. There is such a word as "no" and I wish I would find other parents that use that word too. I feel sooooo alone......
Boy, oh boy, I can totally relate. Our DS is a really great kid, very respectful and caring. When he got to middle school we went through a very long period of A's one day and F's the next. He also swore that he did the homework, but he had not.
We were pulling our hair out. We asked each of his teachers if they thought he had ADD or other disorder we should test him for and were consistently told "no, he is fine."
In his freshman year, our son was beat up in a stairwell at his parochial school. We moved him to the local public school at the start of his Sophomore year, the problems began again. About 2 months into the year, he flipped off a teacher and was suspended. When we talk to counselor, she asked us to contact his pediatrician and ask about ADD. When we met with the doctor, she recommended two things: Concerta and a counselor. Both were great decisions. The counselor told us that DS probably had ADD for a long time, but we had been very effective at providing him with supports that made him successful. The counselor also said that it is not unusual for the transition to middle school to be the time that parents can no longer manage the ADD easily.
Four days into taking Concerta, our DS took a test and called me after school to ask if "this is how I think all the time?" When I asked what he meant, DS said he had never been able to work through anything sequentially. I cried.
DS's grade have improved. The "missed" homework has almost ceased (except when he forgets to take his pill.).
Why am I the only parent that seems to discipline or have consequences to their childrens neg behaviour???? Why? Oh why???? I am so frustrated over this. There is such a word as "no" and I wish I would find other parents that use that word too. I feel sooooo alone......
. You're not the only one, probably just the only one of your friends, like me! I swear DH and I seem to be the only ones who don't make excuses for our kids, follow through with consequences and set ground rules. Now, the flip side of that is we are constantly complimented on our kids. I even have a BFF (who is also DS's godmother) say to me all the time how lucky we are that we can take our kids places, ie Disney, Great Wolf, road trips, etc. her boys would "kill each other and drive us crazy". Um, that's a direct result of their parenting or lack there of. Anyway, you're not alone. Right now I'm blaming everything on hormones. I was a teacher before having DD and I always said that teaching MS was the WORST, the kids didn't know if they were coming or going, where they fit in, how they should behave, etc. Deep breaths, we'll make it through this together.
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Why am I the only parent that seems to discipline or have consequences to their childrens neg behaviour???? Why? Oh why???? I am so frustrated over this. There is such a word as "no" and I wish I would find other parents that use that word too. I feel sooooo alone......
Quote:
Originally Posted by notjustamom
. You're not the only one, probably just the only one of your friends, like me! I swear DH and I seem to be the only ones who don't make excuses for our kids, follow through with consequences and set ground rules. Now, the flip side of that is we are constantly complimented on our kids. I even have a BFF (who is also DS's godmother) say to me all the time how lucky we are that we can take our kids places, ie Disney, Great Wolf, road trips, etc. her boys would "kill each other and drive us crazy". Um, that's a direct result of their parenting or lack there of. Anyway, you're not alone. Right now I'm blaming everything on hormones. I was a teacher before having DD and I always said that teaching MS was the WORST, the kids didn't know if they were coming or going, where they fit in, how they should behave, etc. Deep breaths, we'll make it through this together.
We all need to move into the same neighborhood so we won't be alone anymore. Because this is EXACTLY how I feel too!
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MNSSHP 2015: DH (Bane), Me (Batgirl), Genie, and our friends
. You're not the only one, probably just the only one of your friends, like me! I swear DH and I seem to be the only ones who don't make excuses for our kids, follow through with consequences and set ground rules. Now, the flip side of that is we are constantly complimented on our kids. I even have a BFF (who is also DS's godmother) say to me all the time how lucky we are that we can take our kids places, ie Disney, Great Wolf, road trips, etc. her boys would "kill each other and drive us crazy". Um, that's a direct result of their parenting or lack there of.
Exactly. I get so many compliments on ds behaviour. He is a great kid. I will gladly take him places, go skiing with him etc. He is a wonderful son!!!! And we don't make excuses for our kids either. We call a spade a spade. And he has consequences to his behaviour. He went out last night and came home on time (he didn't want to shovel the deck anymore with the new snow we got if he was late) My dd who is 6, is our more challanging child (she acts like she is 6 going on 11 with the hormones) and is really giving me problems too, and we have boundaries etc with her too.
I don't know how to do the quotes for more than one person. Sorry.
Beccah: mostly the lying is with school. He doesn't like this teacher. She isn't that popular and has teaching methods I don't like (will ridicule a child infront of other kids to try to shame them into doing better etc). He is an average student. But it still doesn't give the excuse to lie to me or her.
Ashli: I totally agree....we all need to move to the same neighbourhood. And geographically, we are all spread out too. I am in B.C Canada, so problems are wide spread. But hey...I will compensate and move to Florida
Pago: Glad that you got it figured out. My ds is not ADD at all...the opposite sometimes.
Y'all just hold the line. Had this with both of mine. Keep up with the consequences and ratchet them up if you have to. It won't scar your kids (unless of course you are actually scarring them which would be bad ). Now that mine are older, they are useful members of society and independent too. They have no problem taking care of what ever business needs to be done.
And for those of you with the "sensitive" kids, I would make it a policy not to listen to "I'm So Bad" type language. It's not helpful to anyone. So I'd tell them that they can feel that way, but I don't need to hear it. Middle school is really like purgatory - you've just got to get through it.
I can say that as a parent even when they are grown you find yourself being just as concerned with their lives. It no longer is school work, but bigger things in their lives.
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Love the Magic of Disney Thanks Dad for our first 5 trips.
I am not saying your son has ADD....I just think people have the wrong view on it. My high schooler was diagnosed freshman year. Not because she couldnt sit still, or bounced off walls. Total opposite. Forgot homework or projects...did great in test and in class work. Totally unorganized....if it wasnt her favorite subject well the more forgetful she was. Would lie about doing the work ...so not to get in trouble. Well it took so many years for us to find out because her intelligence could only get her so far now....the work load got more intense. We only found out to have her tested is because my best friend is a school psychologist. All her teachers thought she was lazy and unmodevated. Well once we had her tested and she was on meds...she could tell a diffrence. So went from lying about work and almost failing...to honor roll. Oh she is in AP classes. The primary characteristics of ADD / ADHD
When many people think of attention deficit disorder, they picture an out-of-control kid in constant motion, bouncing off the walls and disrupting everyone around. But this is not the only possible picture. Some children with ADD/ADHD are hyperactive, while others sit quietly—with their attention miles away. Some put too much focus on a task and have trouble shifting it to something else. Others are only mildly inattentive, but overly impulsive
In Nov 2012 my DS aged 16yrs and two days old, left home! He has generally been a great son, helpful, friendly, no trouble with the law, drugs or drinking...but we busted him lying several times and took a very tough stance...He left! We went through counselling, him living in a refuge and more mediation...And a christmas without our son. Don't make the harsh mistake we did. Give your DS a hug and tell him how disappointed you are - let him grow up knowing whatever he does you will love and care for him! Best wishes.
In Nov 2012 my DS aged 16yrs and two days old, left home! He has generally been a great son, helpful, friendly, no trouble with the law, drugs or drinking...but we busted him lying several times and took a very tough stance...He left! We went through counselling, him living in a refuge and more mediation...And a christmas without our son. Don't make the harsh mistake we did. Give your DS a hug and tell him how disappointed you are - let him grow up knowing whatever he does you will love and care for him! Best wishes.
Oh, I am sooo sorry. I just read this. Hugs. This is what makes it so difficult. You want to be firm and set up boundaries and yet not be too harsh. So difficult.
I spoke to ds teacher today. He isn't concentrating in class and will pick up a book to read when she is talking and going over things for a test. She has to keep reminding him to stay focused. I asked her if he was ADD and she said "no", but he can't stay focused. Is this something to do with computers? Ipods? I told her what we are doing at home, and told her how much we cared etc. She understood. I had tears in my eyes while telling her that I want the best for him and she reassured me that he will get through this. Ugh.
They are reading a book in class (forget the name) and he all of a sudden got concerned about how he will do in life and not end up living on the street etc, and started to ask about homeless people. I think the world is finally opening up to him and it is hitting him hard. We don't watch the news infront of him either.
I don't know. This is so difficult. I hope i am not screwing up as a parent. I shake my head...I don't know what to do.
I spoke to ds teacher today. He isn't concentrating in class and will pick up a book to read when she is talking and going over things for a test. She has to keep reminding him to stay focused. I asked her if he was ADD and she said "no", but he can't stay focused. :
But here's the thing: the teachers are NOT qualified to determine if it's ADD or something else. That takes a psychologist or psychiatrist. Ask your pediatrician for a referral to one. Do not let the pediatrician be the one to make the determination either. They're also not qualified.