General discussion - Mom and Dad Esq.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by TexLex
That would be correct.

to your credit.

[nononono]

Originally posted by Paisley
That's all well and good, but then they ought to present the lesson in a way that can be effectively received and understood by the student. My son has a better chance than most of understanding the documents, because his mom is a lawyer and can explain them to him. I can't imagine that many of the parents of the other kindergarteners even tried to explain. These documents might make sense for middle school and older, but are ridiculous for elementary.

I think my five-year-old liked being asked to sign something - it seemed important. Though I must say the kindergartners were asked only to sign code of conduct type things, which were easily enough explained. I still think it's a bit much.

[Gattigap]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
Good show old chap! Can I say I knew you when y'all show up on the cover of the National Enquirer?

Indeed. It's only a matter of time before the suit for emancipation gets filed.

[viet_mom]

Is anyone familiar with the legal aspects of the Ritchie/ adoption effort? I know there are tons of arguments going on but I haven't seen much about the legal aspects. I assume the couple weren't going to go through British law via Ritchie to adopt the child (UK law is tough for international adoptions) and that Madonna is going to do it in the U.S. (She recently said she was going to California to "complete" the process).

It would be great if there is an immigration lawyer on this board. Because I just don't see how the adoption could be processed under U.S. law. Usually the adoptive parents get a homestudy and file for permission with the U.S. government to adopt internationally before they do it. But even if they wait until after..... to complete the adoption for U.S. purposes, they have to get a visa for the child. To do that, they must petition the US government for a determination that the child fits the definition of "orphan". That's a complicated definition and although it recognizes "relinquishment" by a birth parent, it seems there is a decent chance the U.S. government could deny the visa. Tons of reasons - the father didn't relinquish parental rights when he placed the child in the orphanage temporarily, he only relinquished when he was solicited to do so for an adoption (highly unusual), the father's recent statements that he didn't know the papers he signed meant he was severing his parental rights completely, the level of information he was told about the adoptive parents and his inability to read and write. At best, the US would be conducting long investigations. This happens sometimes with Viet Nam adoptions to make sure the relinquishment was proper (China mostly has abandoned infants that can't be investigated).

If the child is denied a visa because he doesn't fit the definition of orphan, I don't think the Ritchies could live in the U.S. with him (I don't know if they can bring him into the U.S. periodically under other grounds. ? ) Yet, I don't think they can live indefinitely in the UK with him (apparently, the child isn't even allowed to be there now). I think if they find some place to live for 2 years with the child, they can get a US visa for the child on grounds other than the "orphan" definition. But that would not work if the child's biological father revokes his prior relinquishment. And also, I think the 2 year time frame would begin to run only after the "final" adoption happened in Malawi (right now, it is "interim" for 18 months).

What a big mess. Didn't Madonna have lawyers? I would love to hear input on the US immigration aspects. (On a more personal note, I cannot believe that, of all the children Madonna could have chosen to adopt, she picked one whose parent hadn't already relinquished parental rights and was still visiting the child at the child center, hoping to parent him! And the father's desparate position is just heartbreaking.)

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by viet_mom
Is anyone familiar with the legal aspects of the Ritchie/ adoption effort? I know there are tons of arguments going on but I haven't seen much about the legal aspects. I assume the couple weren't going to go through British law via Ritchie to adopt the child (UK law is tough for international adoptions) and that Madonna is going to do it in the U.S. (She recently said she was going to California to "complete" the process).

Madonna is adopting Nicole Ritchie? Can Paris Hilton contest?

[viet_mom]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
Madonna is adopting Nicole Ritchie?

Oops. Sorry for the typo. I meant to say Ritchie Valens. See now why the process will be really tough?

Does anyone have a suggestion for a good book on stages of child mental development, particularly for learning?

In other words, at what age children are able to understand various concepts, such as when parents travel what it means to go to another country part way around the world.

Inquisitive daughter, whom I'm happy to teach. But I don't want to waste time with explanations she won't understand.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally posted by Anon Parent
Does anyone have a suggestion for a good book on stages of child mental development, particularly for learning?

In other words, at what age children are able to understand various concepts, such as when parents travel what it means to go to another country part way around the world.

Inquisitive daughter, whom I'm happy to teach. But I don't want to waste time with explanations she won't understand.

You will know better than any book could tell you. Understanding is a funny think - you think a kid has no idea what you really meant, and then, two months later, hear a completely cogent discussion that shows a thorough understanding. One kid can have a good sense of geography and the globe at age 2, another might think the earth is flat and small through kindergartern.

Originally posted by Anon Parent
Does anyone have a suggestion for a good book on stages of child mental development, particularly for learning?

How old is the kid?

Originally posted by TexLex
How old is the kid?

~3

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy
You will know better than any book could tell you. Understanding is a funny think - you think a kid has no idea what you really meant, and then, two months later, hear a completely cogent discussion that shows a thorough understanding. One kid can have a good sense of geography and the globe at age 2, another might think the earth is flat and small through kindergartern.

Confidential to Triple G, Hank still thinks the earth is flat, fwiw, no offence.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Penske_Account
It is a appropriate, at park, for another parent, whom you are acquainted with (your kids are in the same class, but you are not really social friends), who is sitting on a park bench next to your four year old, talking to her, innocently, to ask her if it is okay to have a drink of her bottle of water, and then take a swig and give it back to her? Or is this sort of creepily unsanitarily uncool?

Appropriate, maybe, but dumb. Of the two, which do you think is most likely to backwash?

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by bilmore
Appropriate, maybe, but dumb. Of the two, which do you think is most likely to backwash?

Appropriate how? Like a priest challenging his altar boys to a naked greco-roman wrestle off in the spirit of the original olympiad?

eta: ps: WELCOME BACK BILLMOURE!!!! We missed your wit and wisdom [sniff]

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by bilmore
Appropriate, maybe, but dumb. Of the two, which do you think is most likely to backwash?

And which is more likely to encounter a flock of germs.

[Penske_Account]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
And which is more likely to encounter a flock of germs.

Did i mention the inappropriate parent looks sort of like cooter from Dukes of Hazard, except more unkempt?