I am struggling with my upcoming 5th grader. We have seriously entertained the idea of putting him in a small private school, but he is not wanting to go. I was thinking having a boxed curriculum might work. I need suggestions for a secular(or easily made secular), every day planned out, fairly independent curriculum. I don't need History as I'd like to keep him with the other kids for that. I was looking at Timberdoodle with some modifications. Anything else? ETA: Up till know we've used TOG, MM, FLL, W&R, and AAS.

Thank you, that does help!

If you have Memoria Press' K curriculum can you please answer some questions? We will be using a charter this coming school year and they give us funds to purchase school stuff, but it has to be secular. I know Memoria Press is Christian, but it is an approved vendor. I would like to get the MP K set for my youngest. I thought if I chose to purchase it without the Rod & Staff math it might be ok. But what about the Teacher's Manual, the copywork books, and the phonics program. Would those pass as secular or not? Thanks!

I did not say that one compromises on domestic violence or substance abuse. Never. Should my mother have left my physically abusive father, absolutely! But, there are generations of relatives who the moment any conflict comes up (not re abuse) that they just walk. Men and women, but especially the men. Maybe I'm being naive, but I feel like if my father had seen healthy relationships, had seen adults give and take, grow and develop healthy relationships, maybe he wouldn't have issues with addiction and DV. Or his brothers, or the many cousins. Instead, when a marriage ends, the men disappear. All the way back to a great-great-great grandfather. Or if my mother had parents together maybe she wouldn't have sought unhealthy relationships. Are there bad marriages that cause trauma-yes. But, in my personal experience with friends and family, divorce causes so much more. And yes, I wish I had a heritage on intact families.

In my family's case there was substance abuse and domestic violence, and I wouldn't doubt some mental illness, also. But that's not why it makes me sad. Perhaps there are families that can divorce and things improve, but that has not been the case in any divorce I've seen. Divorce fractures families. In my family, from what I know (I don't know the particulars of my great grandparents or my great-greats) it has meant the loss of father's and poverty for the mothers and children. It's been the loss of extended family and continued friction in relationships. It has also meant that the next generations have not seen what healthy relationships are supposed to look like. They have not learned how people work through conflict or compromise. Instead when things get difficult, they just leave.

Same here. It was kind of depressing tracing my family tree.

Does anyone at a CA charter use Inspire? They are expanding to our area next year, and with $2600 per child, I am seriously considering joining, though I've never liked the idea before. If you use Inspire can you please share your thoughts?

I'm thinking I really need to purge the fabric better. It's great when I need something and find it in my stash, but it's not often, and I could easily find it at thrift stores, like you mentioned. Thanks! I do have one small basket that stays in the living cabinet of "baby" toys. We host a weekly bible study that has babies and we keep a basket of toys/board books for them.

My kids are 12, 9 (almost 10), 7 (almost 8), 6 and 4 (almost 5). Three boys, then two girls.

Having all the kids in the room with me while I am sorting/packing is not good for any of us :w00t: ! But, I do try and get their general opinions on things they would like to keep or things they are done playing with. DS 7 is a major pack rat!!!! He will cry if I try and throw out a piece of paper he once got to color on at a restaurant! He can not be with me while I'm cleaning. I've heard about that book, but haven't read it. That is a helpful thought though. Thanks!

I was planning on getting 5 or 6 of the Pax cabinets for one wall in the garage. I like them because I can custom design the insides with shelves and drawers. Awkward indoor wall space that already has to hold piano, two large bookshelves and then some built-ins we're having put in for entertainment and books.

Thank you, this was helpful. I really just need someone to give me permission to get rid of things! I think trains and Lincoln logs could totally go, they just aren't played with that often. We have a ton of legos, but might keep the blocks for the younger two who aren't yet into legos. Thank you! I like the idea of prioritizing. We will have a finite amount of space, what do we really want/need to fill that space. That's a better way of looking at this.

In CA, no basement :) 1500 sq ft total.

I have most the stuff in large totes. But, I hadn't thought about limiting fabrics/sewing notions to one tote as well. Or the dress-up stuff, but that's a good idea. Thanks.

We are making our hopefully final move in two months. We are buying a house that is 1500 sq ft. There are 7 of us! I need to make this house functional and organized! To do that, I feel like I need to purge, but I'm having a hard time :o . We will not have a designated school area, so I will be lining one wall of the garage with storage cabinets. Those cabinets will need to hold all our school supplies (books with be on shelves in living room), all our craft/sewing stuff, and most of the kids' toys. My trouble is figuring out what I should get rid of, examples: Trains/train tracks (not played with too often, but a big nice set) Blocks (huge box of blocks of all kinds, played with only occasionally, but really enjoyed when we do have them out) Tons of dress clothes and paraphernalia (younger kids love dressing up, but it's hard to store) Fabric (I don't sew often, but every once and a while my fabric/sewing stuff really comes in handy, ie Halloween, Christmas) Lincoln Logs (same as blocks) Games/Puzzles (we have a ton, and they get used, but do I really need them all?) Tinker Toys (2 huge sets, same as blocks) So, when you are making purging decisions, what do you think through. Is using something occasionally enough to keep it? Do you keep things for grandkids?

My girls get horrible rashes from most typical sunscreens. They only one that hasn't caused a rash is California Babies. It can be found at Target.

I hate to sound callous but lately it seems like everyone sets up GoFund me accounts. A friend lost their parent to a car accident, they had a GoFund me set up within a couple hours. The parent had life insurance.

There are two people that bring their dogs to our church. I was really shocked when I first saw it. One is always in a carrier, and I've heard it's for the woman as an emotional support pet, but the husband is the one always carrying it. The other dog is never crated, just usually tucked into the woman's jacket. We are in a very small sanctuary that is usually packed, and I don't think it's fair for those with allergies. But, the pastors do not want to break any laws by asking about them, so it's just kind of ignored for right how.

Mine can smell it! Seriously, every time I try and sneak a piece from my stash, two of my kids come in the room sniffing, "Mom, I smell chocolate!" I need chocolate with less scent :)

Nebraska.

I wonder if your CA experience was actually an Orange Co experience. I grew in Central Coast CA and was poor, but everyone I knew, rich or poor shopped at thrift stores. It wasn't/isn't a mark of poverty. It's almost a trendy thing to do. As for pajamas. I never thought about it.

My younger brother was jumped when I was in High School, he was in Junior High. It happened down the street from our house and I was the only one home when he managed to crawl home. I will never ever forget the feelings of fear, terror, rage, and helplessness it caused. I get emotional every time I think about it. No one should ever have to feel those feelings. And it was all over a rather lame verbal "insult" my brother made to one kid. So, that kid got two others to help, using steel toe boots and bricks! It was horrific! I currently live in another town, about 20 minutes away from where we grew up, and it's been 20 years, but things seem to be even worse, and it has become more common. I've also heard of new/young teachers being threatened by students here. I don't know what needs to happen, but I wish these kids were taught more respect for human life and better skills for managing their anger.

Oceanside is pretty, but not considered Central by any means. If the OP doesn't want to go to Carlsbad, I don't think she's going to want to go to Oceanside.

Avila Beach. It is by far the warmest beach here on the Central Coast. Morro Bay has the best sea shells, but largely too cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Pismo is great, but wayyyy crowded all summer and you have to pay for parking everywhere, now. And Avila is still warmer. Grover Beach isn't as crowded, but also not as warm.

Great question, thank you for asking. I've been wanting to cover this stuff with my DC, but didn't know exactly how.