[cowgirlcutie]

'Confidence challenges' are great! We've always done the same thing with our daughter and it helps immensely. Ordering for herself in restaurants when she was very young, returning something to the store while we supervised, and as you said, speaking her mind in a respectful way. When I was growing up, my parents (even though they meant well) had the motto of not speaking unless I was spoken to and wanted to handle all of my problems for me, so that when I was old enough to be doing all of my own business, I didn't even know how to write a check! They're overprotectiveness only hindered me.

[homeschool mama]

I don't recall if you've ventured over to the 'homeschool forum'...you'd be a welcome contributor, cowgirl. Your experience and common sense speak well of you. If you'd like to be pinged let me know. :o)