ok, thinking about students and excuses here... I've only taught dance classes but I used to be an academic advisor to freshmen/sophs who were undec about a major or looking to change. Anyway, I became known for my "kick in the a$$" speech -- used judiciously of course only with those students who really needed it after much empathetic discussion about their goals... so one time I was talking with a student who really wanted to get into the journalism school for which you needed at least a 2.8 gpa. His gpa was basement bottom so I calc'd what he would need to do over the course of x semesters to get in. He balked at what I was suggesting implying that the courses I was recommending were just too hard. So I said "look, these courses aren't rocket science - I don't know what you've been doing for two years but if you apply yourself, you should be able to raise your gpa" To which he replied "heh, heh, pot" (with 'pot' sort of drawn out like 'poooooooot') I said "well, pot's great but not every day. You need to go to class."
Then there was the girl who thought if she took each premed course one at a time (e.g., organic chem one term, biology another term), then she'd be able to get the grades needed to get into med school. After gently discouraging this course of action for almost an hour, I finally said "look, a lot of people in this world want to be rock stars but we're not all going to be. I think you need to find a new direction." I really wasn't as harsh as I sounded
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back to your regularly scheduled thread
Then there was the girl who thought if she took each premed course one at a time (e.g., organic chem one term, biology another term), then she'd be able to get the grades needed to get into med school. After gently discouraging this course of action for almost an hour, I finally said "look, a lot of people in this world want to be rock stars but we're not all going to be. I think you need to find a new direction." I really wasn't as harsh as I sounded
:back to your regularly scheduled thread
in your signature. 
You need some sleep!!! I hope you can catch a nap today or something. Ugh! Thank you so much for your kind words. I'll talk to dh this week and apologize and ask for his patience.
Do you live in Las Vegas? That's my dh's favorite place on earth. He has to travel there for business occasionally.
It really makes kids aware of the consequences of the choices they make. Like, letting them buy a cheap toy with all their money, knowing it's going to break in an hour. Or, letting them choose when they'll do a chore...if they wait until later, they might end up missing something even more fun than what they were doing when they put it off to begin with. Naomi said last night, "I need to read L&L!" She used to get so upset with us for using it, but now that she's babysitting a lot, she can see the benefits, even in her own upbringing! It cracked us all up at dinner last night. And like Geo said, modeling owning up makes a lot of sense. I need to do that more!
The girls and I did a little of a yoga video, but not much. Mostly we laughed at the instructors. I must be fighting a bug becasue I feel asleep for a couple of hours this afternoon and I never do that. I must admit that I feel pretty good now.
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! So glad to see you!
: At least I survived the dentist, although I have to go back for 2 fillings. 
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