:iagree: Amen, and amen.:D

I was a big fan as a teen and young adult, but I have to agree with what everyone else has said. The books just seemed like the "same old, same old" after about the first ten or fifteen. I read the first one when I was 15 or 16. I was a fairly sheltered (even though I went to school:tongue_smilie:) teenager, and I thought the books were a little risque--NOTHING, NOTHING, NOTHING at all by today's standard, but still, fwiw. I can't imagine reading them as an 11 year old.

I think the prejudice was just toward homeschooling in general--sort of "Oh no, here's a kid who won't know what's going on here." Thanks so much to everyone who has responded! I really think that the consensus is correct--it would not be good to be constantly scrutinized by the powers that be.

I won a copy and I can't wait for it to be shipped out to me!!

Great food for thought, Cadam. I really need to look into it a little more, I see.

I am in Alabama--any other Alabama hs'ers have any input to offer?

Thanks! That helps a lot!

Congratulations!

I bought mine at Walgreens online and got a great deal. :iagree:---stock up before your prescription runs out! :tongue_smilie:

We have the option of doing either since I am a certified teacher (as is dh). DH thinks it will be better to go with the cover school, and while I am inclined to agree (less paper work to keep up with myself, not accountable to the local superintendent), I have some reservations. Namely, I remember when I was a classroom teacher that when/if we got a student from "one of those" schools (meaning a hs cover), we didn't exactly look upon them favorably. I hate to admit it, but it really is true. I would love to hs my children until they graduate, but there's no way I can say that they will NEVER attend ps. What do you guys think? I really value your expertise!

Hattie Big Sky is one of my recent favorites (I love children's and YA lit.). It is an old-fashioned story about a teenage girl who becomes a homesteader. There is a HINT of romance in that she writes letters to her best friend (a boy) who is in Europe fighting in WWI. You can read my review of it here on my blog. I was also privileged to interview the author; you can read the interview here on my blog. By the way, this book won a Newbery honor a few years ago. It looks like you've gotten many great recommendations. I'm bookmarking this thread!:D

Beautiful! Bookmarked here, too!:D:D

Why I can't I know you all in real life?:D Amen and amen. It is a blessing to do what we do.

Thank you, ladies, for all these wonderful replies and words of encouragement. I often say, "Excuse the mess, but we live here." I think that sums up my problem. :tongue_smilie: I just need to get better at doing little things and not being overwhelmed by it all. Oh--and getting off the computer in a timely manner so that I can do little bits at a time.:tongue_smilie:

Dusting is something like a quarterly activity around here. :tongue_smilie:

I wanted to second (or third) L. M. Montgomery's other books. I like the Emily series particularly. You might enjoy this blog post by one of my bloggy friends who hosts a LM Montgomery challenge every year: LMM Challenge. This post has lots of links to other reviews of LMM books. I like gentle, old fashioned books myself, and I review almost everything I read (for myself and to my children) on my book blog which is linked in my signature. Happy reading!

Thanks for all the responses so far. I know that a key is staying on top of things (like one pp said), and right now we've been so busy that I haven't done that. I also need to do some MAJOR decluttering, and I think I would feel better about it all. It just seems like I spend so much of my time on insignificant things that I'll never get to the significant things.

My girls already make up their own beds (often with my help, always imperfectly--but hey, that's okay!), unload the dishwasher (minus breakables and sharp utensils), take their own dishes to the sink/dishwasher, and help with toy pick up, etc. I know that as they get older, this will get even better, but I am trying to train them well while they're young. It just seems so overwhelming sometimes!

I think this is a major part of my problem. I am a perfectionist, and while I've never been an immaculate housekeeper, in my mind I WANT my house to be perfect. I know I have to settle for much less, but that doesn't help the angst.

I'm specifically asking for help from these two groups because if anyone knows how to do it, veteran homeschoolers and/or moms of many MUST. Of course, anyone is welcome to chime in!:D My dc are young--preschool age. Right now I'm just doing a lesson from OPGTTR and some Kumon workbook pages with them 2-3 times a week. Of course, in addition to this, we read together for approx. 1-1.5 hours a day when we're home all day. Between keeping up laundry and meals, I never manage to get around to actually cleaning my house. I've tried Fly Lady and the Motivated Moms chore charts. Maybe I'm just not disciplined enough, but I cannot manage to do it all. How do you all do it? Do you save your housework until night, after everything else is done? It frightens me a little bit to think that next year we'll be starting K and I don't feel like I have a handle on it when what we're doing is really just extra stuff right now. How will I feel when we actually HAVE to do school? Someone, please, reassure me that homeschooling and keeping a moderately clean house can be done!:tongue_smilie:

No advice, just CONGRATULATIONS!:D

I don't think I have anything of value to add except for to say that this is a wonderful, instructive conversation (thread) for me. I fear I'm too heavy handed with my own dc sometimes. I do so want them to love learning; I really need to rethink my own philosophy. I'm :lurk5:.

You all deserve a big pat on the back--you're doing great!:D

She's good, isn't she?

I keep a book blog. I admit that it is time-consuming, but I have had a lot of fun with it, and I've even had the opportunity to interview a Newbery award winning author because of it (with another interview with a different, new author upcoming!). I've also connected with other people with similar likes and passions. I guess you could say that one hobby/passion has created another one. :tongue_smilie: