Did you try looking up recipes for salad dressings and fruit? Did you look up recipes in French from French sources? I bet they make a lot of simple ones with oil, vineager and fresh herbs and some with cream or yogurt. Fruits may be stewed or served fresh.

Thank you so much for sharing your stories! It's really encouraging to hear how other moms are able to get moving and stay healthy. Being homeschoolers, we are so committed to the education of our children, and at times have very little energy or time to spare for ourselves. Exercise can seem like one more burden to carry. Unfortunately, the bigger burden may be a body that cannot function as we'd like in the future. I want to be there for my grandchildren, and I want my children to have a positive role model for leading a healthy, active life-style. Last summer I met a homeschooling family with 4 children who didn't have a vehicle. They walked, biked and bussed to their destinations. It really made me think about the times I use my car when I don't really need to. With more planning, I can bike or walk for many things. So last summer we had a family goal to use the van as little as possible. We'll be doing this again this summer. It's great for me and the dc!

Bumping - and adding I agree with the bang for your buck about running, though other weight bearing activities are also excellent for building strong bones and improving cardiovascular endurance. Run/walk combination or just quick walking is wonderful for those with injuries and/or don't feel comfortable with heat and sweat. You don't need fancy clothes, you can bring the kids, it's cheap, you don't need to drive anywhere, you can bring a friend to chat with, and you can vary your route to add interest. You can also set goals, such as doing a Half Marathon Walk.

I've been reading through the thread about reasons ladies choose not to exercise. I did my Master's thesis on young women's motivation to participate in sport drop-out rates. I find it sad that many women seem to have multiple barriers to exercising, and may not recognize the health benefits of living active lifestyles, for themselves and their children. I don't want to make anyone feel guilty. I know it can be really rough trying to fit in one extra thing in an already hectic life. I've been through some seasons of life as a busy mom with babies, toddlers, not getting enough sleep, no child care, self-conscious about exercising in public, etc. myself, so I understand the challenges. I think it might be helpful and interesting to hear from other homeschooling moms with young children on what and how they get active, and how it effects their lives. For me, I got back into Taekwon-do when my dd was old enough to join a class. We could do an activity together, which benefitted both of us. I was exhausted with 4 young children, lack of sleep, and new to homeschooling. I found that getting out and participating in the class brought renewed energy. My dh totally noticed it, and was very generous in his time and support to make sure I got out and kept up training.

I don't think the deciding factor is body type. I believe that interest and availability play a much bigger role. In some sports, height can give people an advantage, like in basketball or volleyball (tall) and gymastics and pairs skating/dancing (shorter), but there are many exceptions to this even at the elite level. For people who don't think they are naturally athletic, it could simply be that they haven't been exposed to an activity that suits their interest. All sports are difficult at the beginning when one hasn't learned some basic skills. There are so many physical activities out there, but they aren't always readily observable, and availability is sometimes based on geography/location. It doesn't necessarily mean that the sports one doesn't see much are expensive; they may just be done quietly in locations one doesn't see easily. Running, walking, biking, soccer, baseball, basketball are all pretty obvious and we see people doing them all over. Things like canoeing, rowing, kayaking, sailing, ultimate frisbee, frisbee golf, orienteering, speed-walking, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, skating, cross-country skiing, martial arts, are all wonderful life-long activities that people of any body type can do.

I believe there is both nature and nurture involved. We are born with a certain body make up. Some environmental factors can effect this, certainly. For example, runners are not all alike. Look at the body shape of the sprinters compared to the marathoners. Completely different muscle mass and weight needs for the sport. The sprinter needs powerful muscles to go short distances, and body weight is not a huge factor. A marathon runner benefits from lower body mass to carry over the long distance. Other environmental factors, such as nutrition and physical stress on the body, can effect the body. A young dancer or gymnast who's bones have not finished developing, may slow the growth if they train an exessive amount. Poor nutrition can effect body growth, and too much food can obviously effect body shape. A lot of our body composition and size are pre-determined in our genetic make-up. For example, some people are born with more fast-twitch muscles so that sprinting is easier for them; while others have more slow-twitch muscle fibres. All the training in the world will not change muscle type. How tall we grow, and our natural body type, are also pretty much pre-determined. I think that how the majority of people choose a sport depends more on interest and availability rather than their body type. Those people who continue into sport at the elite level may have certain natural abilities and physical advantages, but it's not always so. There are 7 feet tall people who are not good at basketball, and there are people under 6 feet who love the sport, work very hard, and do very, very well.

Adding in #4 was one of the toughest for me. He had some medical issues at the very beginning, he is really high energy and intense, and he was a wild toddler. Homeschooling was a major challenge when he was 1.5 - 2.5 years. Luckily the older dc was still pretty young, so I didn't stress too much about the minimal homeschooling that was getting done. Things got so much easier when he turned. I love having 4 children, though, and am so fortunate with all our children. I'd have more, God willing.

My dd is also pretty tiny and has definite preferences for foods. If your dd is complaining of feeling hungry, I'd try to increase her protein intake any way you can. You can make smoothies with fruit she likes, yogurt, milk and protein powder. You can get her some meat treats like pepperoni sticks, chicken/turkey nibblers, or sliced meats. Maybe she likes other kinds of nuts or seeds, such as pistachios, sunflower seeds, or almonds. If she's only eating simple carbs her blood sugar may be swinging up and down, which may account for some of the moodiness. Protein will help stabilize things and reduce that feeling of hunger.

WWS

It sounds like you were being extremely polite in not saying anything, but I would have spoken up in my own home. This is pretty silly behaviour for two grown adults to do in someone else's home. A gentle reminder that dogs don't eat at the table in this house would probably have ended it, though they might not come back again.

We drink a lot of smoothies. They are healthy because you get the whole fruit with it fibre as well as the natural sugars. We add in yogurt, milk, often a little juice, and usually some protien powder. It is filling, much more than white bread/bagel/chips or other carb snacks. You can follow recipes, but it is fun to just experiment with fruit and flavours that your family like. Mango is a big hit here. We've not done the green smoothie at home, but the pre-made ones we've tried are awesome! Good reminder to try out the green ones at home.

I just went to that website linked, and there were some much more fun things suggested than I had origially listed. I like the simplicity of the activities, and having the dc involved in making the list would be that much more interesting. Thanks for providing the link and keeping this thread going!

I don't know anything about e-Learning, though looking at their website, the Provincial funding seems to stream directly through the school boards. It also looks like there are limited places and/or limitations set on the places they grant. Have you explored other on-line schools, in case this doesn't work out? They may be more pricey, but may also offer you the freedom you may prefer.

I never did any "carpet time" with any of the dc, though we did do singing and more physical play stuff with my first couple. My youngest got none of that for his kinder year. He's been tagging along with all sorts of other stuff than the first ones didn't get, though. Try out whatever you want to. Some may work amazing, some may crash. I found that I always planned out way too much mommy-directed stuff early on in our homeschooling.

So, by "bucket list" does this mean, "the coolest, out-of-the-ordinary" things we hope to do, or just the "to-do list" things we know we should do but don't necessarily want to do? Cool, out of ordinary stuff: - Train up for my first marathon - Learn to play the snare drum with my ds - Help the dc train up to do their first 5km run - Research writing a children's book about David Thompson Summer to-do list: - Clean up the basement, the master bedroom - Help the kids clean up their bedrooms

I'm guessing the reference is from a movie?

Historically speaking, most US towns and cities were planned and developed before cars were in common use. What the US, and Canada, does have is lots of space to spread out, and no immediate need to have people stop using cars. This doesn't mean that cars have to be the only things on the roads. Bikes can be a quicker, a cheaper, and certainly a healthier, way to get around, and they don't take anything away from cars on the roads. They have a right to use the roads, and drivers and bikers both have obligations to follow the rules.

We've read all four books from the package, but didn't do the geography program. We read the books in our history studies where they fit best geographically and historically. They were all awesome! The dc loved the stories and the illustrations.

I think your K program looks great. It's very similar to mine for K, though I add in daily read-alouds, science books (SL P 4/5) and history (Usborne). We also have SL science K, and my Kers have really enjoyed the Discover and Do DVDs and experiments. Helping in the kitchen with measuring for baking, etc. are also great. I've also tried to add in art and craft activities, but I'm having a harder and harder time fitting them into my days. I've had more luck doing it during the summer.

Firstly, letting an 11 year old do a core alone would depend on the core and on how much interaction you want discussing the history and readings with her. I chose to stay with SL because I love the wonderful discussions it stimulates with my dc and I, and I love learning the material along with the dc. Secondly, you don't need to do a core with a 5 year old at all. You can simply buy or borrow the books from core P3/4 or P4/5 you are interested in, and just have fun snuggling and reading to your little ones. Add in a little handwriting and learning to read/phonics, do some colouring/crafts/other hands-on activities and call it a day. I've been doing 2 cores this year, with my oldest two combined in core E and my younger two in core A. The pre-school cores and core A take very little time to complete. The time you spend on math, reading, writing would be the same with whatever curriculum you choose.

I know that attidude well! There are times when I ignore it and we just move on, and times when I talk with my child about what exactly is too hard. Sometimes I'll ask my dh to look at the work, and he may say it actually is quite hard. The child will still have to do it, with the help they need, but acknowledging that difficulty can be really freeing for the child.

It would depend on you and your dd to a degree. Personally, I'd want to have a curriculum to make sure I wasn't missing anything my dd would need to know. Math concepts build on each other so much, and if you miss teaching the basics in an area it may have consequences in her future learning. There is also the long-term education to consider. Many post-secondary programs require a certainly level of math. The institution may want to know what texts or resources your dd has used. Or if your dd was to re-enter building school, it may make the transition easier if she followed a recognized math curriculum.

How old is your son? How involved have you been with helping with homework, sports, music, religion, etc.? Do you have an established "teacher/student" relationship already in other parts of your daily life? If your son is upper elementary or higher, I would have a completely different approach than a younger child. For the older student, I'd be more an advisor/consultant/encourager working together with my child to find out their areas of interest, needs, and preferred types of learning materials. For a younger child, it would probably be much different. I'd need to have a stronger role in teaching content and choosing curriculum and materials. In either scenario, I think a de-schooling period has recommended by other moms who have gone through this. Each year in school would equal about a month of de-schooling to relax and figure out the direction and method you and your child want to go forward with. I think for any homeschooling mom, whether their children have been in ps or not, having clear expectations of work required by the student, and the role of the parent, are really helpful. For example, have a goal for number of pages or time limit per subject each day or each week. Allow the child some control and flexibility in choosing subject order, place to work, etc. Communicate openly with each other about how things are going for both the student and the parent, and make adjustments when needed.

I'm not sure the age or level of your dd, but Life of Fred is a great program for explaining concepts and it is fun. The elementary books are great as supplements to other curriculums, and the higher levels, starting at Fractions are more complete, though not sure if any of them are stand alone. They sure add to my dc's motivation to want to do math. We use a combination of Singapore Math and Life of Fred.

I must admit that I really dislike most American and Canadian reality TV shows. There are a couple British shows I love, though: The Choir, hosted by Gareth Malone (4 different ones so far, and they are all great! The latest was Miliary Wives) Jamie Oliver (Cooking shows, Food Revolution)