I would agree, if not because of the "ideology" of those who choose to home school, but, mostly, because those who choose to home school aren't qualified to teach a dog how to roll-over, much-less a child the things they need to know to be a fully-rounded, adult citizen in the modern world (not that real schools do a…

Sad thing is that by paying, he is actually/actively encouraging her to do it again.

One simple sentence for those who doubt why someone would ever want to consider distancing themselves from someone else (whether 'family' or friend):

That's the reason why I think emotional/mental/psychological abuse is SO much worse than physical. No one can see the scars the psychological abuse leaves. No one believes it happens. Very few get the treatment they need for it.

Wow, sucks to be you.... You're STILL being abused by him...

Perhaps, but I still think that belies a false premise on the fundamentals of their belief system. In their old book & the BIG TEN (no lying, stealing, or killing)... only ever applied to other members of your tribe. If the other person wasn't in your tribe, then you could do anything to them with impunity.

Well, I think the first problem with that idea is it's based on the premise that those anti-gay types actually have "compassion" for.... well, anyone really.

I hope they sue the "church" for whatever the fee they paid for the use of the building (plus legal fees, 'course).

Exactly, she(& her husband) clearly loved their religion more than their child.

? Whut ?

Just because you & others didn't, doesn't mean that a different set of others didn't or wouldn't.

Funny thing is, I thought that was exactly how to have a happy holidays = far from family.

Has he shown her an ebay listing or something similar?

You for got your first edition/issue comic books.

But the ethnically-confused can be so amusing.

Well, given that many parts of the world still(!) believe that a female is property of, first, her father, (then boyfriend, fiance), & husband, followed by ex- until the next comes along (if such a thing is allowed for her). They'd agree that a female's only worth is as breeding stock...to make boys for her husband. A…

And to punishing her for when she does. Perhaps? You know, with anyone not her husband (lord & master) type thing.

The problem with this is that it still starts with cauliflower & NEVER tastes like potatoes.

Ok, so while I agree that it's bad/not a good idea to lie about why you don't want to attend, you say it's ok to lie saying you're sorry you won't be attending? Odd. If you aren't sorry, you shouldn't say you are...devalues the meaning/sincerity for when you actually may be sorry.

All of the suggestions have one thing in common: giving them a reason why you don't want to do something they want you to do. The problem with that is that having a reason only gives them the ability to argue that your reason isn't good enough.