For me, the parenting labels describe more about the parent's thought processes than just describing behaviour. So two mums walk with their kids all the way to the classroom every time. One is doing it because she has busy afternoons and other kids - this is precious, relaxed, one on one time to her. The other mum walks her child to make sure she gets there safely, gets the child's things ready and makes sure that the other kids are being nice - it's high anxiety time for this mother. We did suzuki violin for 5+ years, the intensity depends on the studio, but there is a definite vibe of involved in the education parent.

It's difficult to say, I really am not at all naturally organised or neat, but generally : Kids up, breakfast, morning jobs. We try to start school between 9-9.30. We do about an hour of morning time - bible, read aloud, handicrafts, tai chi, then get into maths - everyone works on math at the same time and I bounce between whoever needs me. My 3 year old is usually playing with playdough or stamps at the table with us. Then we finish off the block with language study and music practice or assigned reading. That usually takes us to around 12-12.30 and we're all very ready for a break - outside time - and some food lol. We try and jump back in by about 1 with some basket time - about half an hour of read aloud, memory work and loop (geography, artist study etc) before LA. The 3 year old hovers around playing with various toys/crafts/causing chaos or plays outside - often the 6 year old gets done quickly and joins him. After LA we'll do science or history and the kids finish off anything else on their list by 3.30ish. I usually still have music practice with my 6 year old (and try to squeeze in some for myself!) Then I *try* to get in some reading and chores before the evening routine, but it's just as likely that I'm wiped out and coffee/net-ing or the kids are at me about a project or tv or something... Some days we have extra curriculars or catch up with friends, and dh works a rotating shift which means we have to be flexible. And we have a big property so there's always stuff to do and seasonal work... It's chaos and so hard but awesome.

Thank you Sadie, feeling like I fell down the rabbit hole in this thread...

Yep, okay, I'm a helicopter parent raising ignorant, potential bigots. The either/or stuff is coming from both sides in this thread. I got into trouble at 11/12/13 for deliberately leaving where I was supposed to be without letting my guardian know beforehand. I was still allowed plenty of freedom. I went to another continent at 11, sans parents, for example. Part of showing maturity would be showing respect to those who are responsible for you, letting people know where you are (generally) is normal even for adults in my world.

I don't have a problem with my, or any, kid being involved in politics or activism. I have a problem with preteens being somewhere and their guardians having no idea. Take away the protest idea. You're away for the weekend, your 11/12 year old is being looked after by a grandparent, and they have homework assignments to complete. Said child walks out of the grandparents house because they decide that their passion is with the local music festival, you all enjoy this genre at home and kid plays a pretty mean chord progression at home. Some older kids invited them and most of their friends are going. Neither the child or grandparent calls you, you have no idea until the news report showing youngsters enjoying the mosh pit and your kid's face. Fine?

Going to a protest - at 11/12/13 and without letting a parent know about it - is an action, an activity that I would class as activism. A far cry from not discussing current affairs. And I think that's an unfair suggestion.

For me, it's not so much the protest I would take issue with. If my 11 year old was at grandmas and left, for any reason, I'd expect a phone call too. And no, my 11 year old is not mature enough even for a mobile phone. It's quite possible that I'm doing this parenting stuff all rong though. Eta- she's not playing barbies either but she did spend a couple of hours playing sylvanian families with a same age friend. I Don't think she needs to rush into political activism before she's even a teenager, and I really don't think that's unusual. Granted, these boards are probably over represented by mature, politically savvy children.

I get your vent and understand your frustration... but, A sizeable proportion of people never get to do a job that fulfills them. I think that looking for one thing to tick all of those boxes is unrealistic. So, I would prioritise. What is most important to you right now? A fulfilling career? Making decent money asap? Getting your foot in the door/build resume? Flexible schedule? Each of those things would lead me to search in slightly different directions. And then I would try to meet the other needs separately. Of course, you may eventually get lucky and find something that ticks all the boxes but I think it would be frustrating to hold out hope for it. Good luck, this stuff can be so demoralising!

Or if it's ever clean enough! ;) I'll try!

I would be furious if it was my 11 year old. She is fairly mature and confident, but she's 11! I'd support a sit in or on site protest, but I reserve the right to know the whereabouts of my 11 year old! And, the law in some states here requires that of me, I legally can't even leave her HOME alone until 12. I went to protests in primary school - with my parents.

I don't really have a floor plan, we renovated a 40ft shipping container. At one end is the master bedroom, about 7ft, at the other end is the kids bedroom which is basically 4 built in bunks and a wardrobe area. In the middle is the kitchen with a wood fire oven and solar fridge/freezer, and the 'lounge room' - area with couch/shelf/piano, and an extra section we added on (which can be retracted if we need to move the container) for the bathroom. We make good use of the height for storing things like clothes and linen and the tv shelf lol. We have a second container that we use half of for a school room and the other half is dh's shed. Outside, we have 20 acres, so we don't feel claustrophobic at all! This is actually our interim house, we break ground on the real house next year, this set up will become an awesome cabin/granny flat. But we are really comfortable here, we love it. The house will be very modest and completely off grid too.

We have 6 people in a <600sq ft home and it's great. Our bed isn't a loft, although 2 of the kids' are.

We're doing SSL with my son, age 9, and it's a bit fluffy and cheesy. I already had the books so we're continuing. He loves the dvd but I really think the workbook is necessary. I hardly ever bother with the songs. I really enjoyed getting started with Latin a lot more. It's cheap to download the kindle version.

I do have to remind and scaffold practices. They like to play, but being able to push through frustration and the discipline to continue through tedium requires maturity that my 6 & 9 & 11 year old don't yet have! I agree with you!

I am loving this thread. And if 8filltheheart & SWB have coffee I'd move mountains to hear some of that conversation!

Ah crap. You just reminded me that I'm overdue and hate pap smears *sob* I had my first mammogram earlier this year and it wasn't painful at all.

Mine too!!! *waves emphatically* Would it work as a group in the social groups part of these forums, I wonder? Or were you thinking more like video/voice? I would be happy to help lead some discussions, maybe taking it in turns?

I really love this. But in my mind it competes with seeing the beauty of traditional academic subjects. I truly believe that there is nobility and worth - and genuine joy - in studying things like higher maths, grammar, literature, science concepts and history. This tension is very characteristic of our homeschool!

Oh I forgot drafting! Thanks for the memory jog, Kinsa! I wasn't very good at it but that was an interesting class! Dh took horticulture and wood shop in his last years of high school. He made an impracticably heavy barbecue haha.

My school had a building with a metal work shop, wood work shop, robotics lab and artist studios. I made a box in metal work and learned to weld. Like Sadie, they were extra subjects in 7th/8th and that most didn't do after 9th. My FIL is a panel beater and metal artist by trade and he has promised to take my kids on part time as teenagers to learn some of the trade.

Along with this thought, I recently taught long division again and we first used base 10 blocks - I demonstrated many many many times before he had a turn. Then, I had him draw out base 10 figures for every problem. Only then did we try a couple of straight problems. My ds is clever and makes lots of connections - not always the correct ones though! Jumping to procedural without cementing the concept is death to him. Dd was much more intuitive and more able to see the concept through the process. And yes, my son regularly does things like times 2 by 10 and come back with 900, or 13. He knows his tables well, he's just gone off on a tangent mid-problem and is totally lost lol.

Haha, we just started using Ellen mchenry as a break from bfsu and IT'S GETTING DONE PEOPLE! My kids love it and start without me! In fact, this very thing came to mind when I read the thread title.

I wish I'd had a high school maths teacher like you!

My oldest son had an almost cavity at a young age - we used a high strength tooth moose religiously for a while. Next appointment the dentist said no cavities at all. We also have fluoridated water, use sensodyne toothpaste and get the adult molars sealed asap. Never had to fill a kid's tooth yet, and I had a fair few fillings at their ages.

My mum prioritised bad men over her children. It is a symptom of something she needs help with but it makes her unsafe for me, emotionally. I have moved on from the pain of the bad stepfather, the pain of a broken relationship with my mother lingers. Please, I'm nearly in tears for you, it sounds so so hard but your children will bless you for fighting for them. Hugs and prayers