Sometimes it looks like every preschooler can write their full name. My kids have a very long last name (about twenty letters) that isn't super phonetic. With each kid, I really struggle teaching them to spell it, and this often doesn't happen reliably until around second grade and with some tears. Any advice for teaching a very long, non-phonetic last name?

I like Story of the World for the early years, but I don't think even the best history curriculum will have a six year old understanding the deeper causes and effects. I really just go for enough exposure that hopefully we can work on that in the middle school years.

I had a stillbirth in the summer and now in the home stretch of another pregnancy. Please be gentle. I'm in therapy and have talked to my care providers about where I am mentally and emotionally this pregnancy. I'm trying to make peace with not preparing very much for this baby. Other than a car seat, is there anything I absolutely must have before we have this baby? I have a lot of baby gear from my older living children and from preparing for the child we didn't get to bring home. We live very close to a Walmart and Amazon Prime. Can I get away with just dealing with carseats and either ordering or sending my husband for anything else we don't have in storage? Or is there something important that I'm missing?

I used Radians for my living babies. They all weighed around 9lbs, so they fit at birth. My seven year old is still in his (though will soon get bumped to a Nautilus so I can put a new baby in there: no, it hasn't expired yet), and he's not petite. My three year old is still rear facing in his.

My husband now works a white collar job (estimating) but up until a year ago, he worked as a plumber. When he did have work, he often worked long, long days, often on call, but then we'd have stretches of unemployment or only a few hours, especially in the winter. He was paid by the hour. As much as I wish the children saw more of their father, reliable income puts way less stress on our family. Either way, I can't rely on him to be home ever, but at least with his office job, I can rely on a check at the end of the week.

One of my kids had a birthday. Not enough steps, no exercise, ate too much junk. I just hope to get back on track tomorrow

My husband leaves at 4:30AM with the promise of returning around 5:30PM, but most nights he gets back around 8PM. We have small kids who often only see him on the weekend. I know his office normalizes this work/life balance, but I resent it.

I prefer to keep kindergarten very short. We chose just to cover math, handwriting, phonics, and music (learning an instrument via a Suzuki program) for kindergarten: I didn't add content subjects until first grade. If your kid has the stamina and interest, it certainly wouldn't hurt, but it certainly can wait, too. I love Handwriting Without Tears. OPGTR worked well for us, too. I am not familiar with that math program.

Rightstart Math, Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading, Handwriting Without Tears

If you feel up to it and all your symptoms are above the neck, go for it. If you have vomiting, fever, etc... give your body a break.

I'm going to join. I'm pregnant (third trimester), so I'm focusing on healthy weight gain (around 1lb/week) and exercise. My goal for this week is 12,000 steps a day and yoga 5 days this week.

If your kid is reading fluently and covering phonics through spelling, no.

I really like the diaper bag that attaches to my Boba carrier, but this probably has a lot to do with my obsession with my Boba. Also, I make my big kids carry their own junk.

My word for the year is hope, and each month I give myself little goals to help cultivate optimism. Last month was meditation; this month is sleep hygiene.

I was born in the eighties. I saw it as a child bit didn't take to it. My second and third children love it, and it has grown on me.

We have a hard time getting through history and science. I hate rushing the children, but even with encouraging them to hurry up, these subjects just take forever. Today, we did history. I read to the kids. I asked them their review questions. They did a coloring page. They did narrations. They did map work. We reviewed our history cards. This took almost two hours. Part of it is that review questions and narration with my seven year old is like pulling teeth. Part of it is how long the coloring takes: they are on task, it just takes forever for them for some reason. Now I feel so behind in my day. I really wish I could find some way for these subjects to feel relaxed and last less than an hour. Help?

I really loved The OA. We are watching Daredevil, due to my love of Jessica Jones and Luke Cage. It's not as good, but close.

I don't bring my kids. ETA: I like taking trips with my kids and exposing them (and me) to different cultures, historical sites, nature, etc..., but I wouldn't call it relaxing. Worthwhile, enriching, enjoyable, yes, but not relaxing.

BA goes deeper into fractions later in the series. I wouldn't add anything: just keep working until you get there!

I expect parents to stay for playmates and I don't provide food unless we talked about it beforehand.

Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo Sarah, Plain and Tall (can't remember the author) Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert O'Brien Little House in the Big Woods Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

AoPS Pre-Algebra BFSU 2, maybe Science Olympiad SotW 2 Draw Asia I and maybe II AAS 7 and 8 WWE 4 ALL if published in time, otherwise probably Analytical Grammar Rosetta Stone Spanish Suzuki Piano, hopefully finishing book 3 and starting 4 no clue for art PE will be outsourced to various rec leagues

Rightstart Math (probably finishing D and starting E) but maybe trying to sell him on Beast Academy AAS (probably finish 3 and at least part of 4) WWE 2 HWoT finishing printing power, starting cursive FLL 2 SotW 2 BFSU 2 (I know he's a little young, but I want him to tag along with an older sib anyway) continent blobs Suzuki Violin (hopefully finishing book 3) Rosetta Stone and Getting Started with Spanish legally required to do PE, but we outsource to various sports (probably lacrosse, skating - though he wants to do hockey but I'm not sure he skates well enough for that yet, and soccer, but not we'll see) no clue for art

Cauliflower and cheese? It has to be good

I have less and less patience for this age with each kid. Nine more months until four!