[disagreements on homeschool]

To make it short, he always wants to homeschool no matter what. I want to take it year to year child by child and personally I dont feel called to homeschool middle or high school.

 

Also, I feel he is always encouraging me to push advanced things on ds and I think he is happy on grade level and insisting to teach ds age 4 to read. I have no doubt he could, I just dont see he is super interested or any benefit to doing this besides to say.. look how smart my kid is. Know what I mean? My reason to homeschool is simply to keep then at home during the little years to keep them close and enjoy them being little. I want them to be on grade level when they do go to school. I think dh just wants them to be advanced or something.

 

For the record, he really doesnt do any of the homeschooling. Even though its a long way off it stresses me out thinking of stressing about chemistry and algebra with my olders and neglecting snuggling and playing with my littles. Im just not interested. I dont see the benefit of this. I like teaching them in the fun years, but older grades seems so consuming. I know I shouldnt worry right now, but easier said than done.

 

 

Don't worry so much about future homeschooling. Enjoy what you are doing now. You can decide when you get to middle or highschool what you want to do. There could be multiple compromises to be made that don't require you to teach higher level classes - such as outsourcing all classes online/co-ops or private school and are more rigorous than typical public school academics.

 

I would show him the data that pushing early formal academics does nothing to benefit the future education. If a student learns to read at age 4 or age 7, they will typically even out by the end of elementary school. Many countries don't start formal academics until age 7 and they turn out fine, if not better. I wouldn't be very happy with my spouse micromanaging how I should do something.

[What would you suggest for bedroom situation?]

The laundry room does have family closet set up for all younger ones (3-9). I wish we had just had one all along but since we didn't the older ones have balked at doing it now. And honestly now that we have it for the youngers I see the downsides and I don't blame them.

 

I keep thinking the same, big boys, big girls, littles. Just trying to see how that would work.

 

Would you be willing to give the master bedroom to the youngest 4? Then the 3 oldest boys in room 3, 2 older girls in room 2, you in room 1. It often makes more sense for the adults to take a smaller room since there is less furniture / stuff / need for more space and it's big enough for more kids to share.

 

If that wouldn't work, I'd probably switch the 3 oldest boys and 3 youngest girls, give the oldest girl the den back and try to find somewhere else for the sewing machine either your bedroom or the den.

[Honest opinions on large age gap between siblings]

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[I'd like to accelerate Teaching Textbooks next year...]

Instead of accelerating the courses, doing them concurrently would probably be better. That way there is not such a rush to get through it and more time to truly learn the material. With that being said, I would really consider whether it was a good idea for her to graduate early and why you are considering it. Another option could be dual enrollment instead so that she can still be considered a freshmen the following year. 

[How many books is too many?]

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