I truly think it's one of the times that no one is going to win :( We all feel inadequate in some way, right? I mean, I see your child is two years younger than mine and doing Beast Academy... And I always felt like mine is smart. So... either he's not smart... or not challenged enough. (So I must be wrong) Now, seriously I feel like that... but it's not your fault, and won't change his life forever... BUT, if I rely on what I teach my son to be the pivotal point in my worth... then anything you put down... say... whatever... is going to effect me. (and make me like/not like you) If I realize that everyone is different... with us all having our strengths and weaknesses, then I can rejoice with you and what your kids do. (My son isn't doing Latin, we're working on Hebrew first) :) I really think that much of the problem is not the speaker, but rather the listener :(

Coconut Oil used for Popcorn... We make it on the stove with the old fashioned thing you turn. :) I also used the example of someone here who did a bag of chocolate chips (organic :)) and some coconut oil... and dipped Bananas. I don't actually think these are too bad for you :)

Prayers for a good recovery!!

Come up with a positive thing to say... repeat it when asked. "One year at a time; we decided the kids need a private school experience, and I'm the teacher" or whatever suits you." :) or whatever will keep things settled... You really owe them only kindness :) Not explanations. It's scary for them... they might even just look for things to tell THEIR friends who ask :) "Their mom is Schooling them this year" :) Lots of fun things to tell them. Heck, you could scare them with "More time to spend with the Grandparents" :)

I saw on Pinterest, someone who does smoothies and divides them in ziplock bags... When you want them, you take it out and kinda "thaw" it.... :)

Is "D" a place where your pup can go outside, at all? And can your older dog go outside, at home, with a "doggie door" or something? If those two are "yes" then I'd do D. I would actually look for another spot to board your pup. I have a great spot here that has indoor/outdoor places to run... and I pay $3 or $5 (can't remember, think they went up to $5) for them to do a half hour play time with him. I would think that you could find a spot like that?? I don't have to feel bad at all about leaving him, and he comes back exhausted. I can also pay $160 for a week of keeping him there, with training included. Just a thought... I wouldn't go with the "hope they're alive" option.

Power strips... hair products, disposable make-up stuff, stuff to get stains out, Non-messy snacks :) Earplugs:D

Spell By Color Link :) At least that's what I think she's meaning to link :)

Has anyone tried Retrain the Brain? My son probably has ADHD and I'm thinking of it for "help" :) :bigear:

Retrain the Brain Has anyone tried this?? I'm gonna start a thread about it, maybe. I'm interested in ordering it for my son, who I am pretty sure will be diagnosed with ADHD...

Thanks to you all for this thread. I've been wanting something for under my feet... at the sink... stove... etc. :) I need a lonnnnng runner, too. Wish I could afford one of those with the gel :)

This part... I just say that I believe I'm saving some wonderful teacher's sanity... (and only at the expense of mine) or something like that... :)

How incredibly sad :( I love his work.... Sad that "Success" doesn't equal happiness :(

I would let the school know that it won't work to put them in the same class. :)

Did you purchase them for a "special" price? Looking around for a great price... Wondering if I want any supplements or just the books :)

:iagree: I thought that doing Poetry work, and some of the other work, for youngers would be MUCH better!! It's the actual "remembering" how to do memory work that I believe is good for youngers, then when they get older... they still have the natural ability. At least that's what I think I see :) I do like the timeline. I'll be interested to see it when someone dares to put it up on YouTube :) My son does use the skip counting he learned in CC, although I prefer the School House Rock tunes :) I truly believe that CC is not the "best" for kids of all ages, but it is the easiest for a Director to put in action... and for Tutors to teach. Ask me how I know :)

This :) Which is why I'm burnt out reading all of the homeschooling brags on our local lists. Seriously, you care. We care, equally, about our Public school girls and our Home Educated boy :) We are involved. We care. My husband spends hours and ours reading to my son. They are all smart.... and all educated. We like aspects of both types of education. Tutoring by involved adults tends to help students, but isn't possible or wanted by all parents OR by all students. :) (in other words some teens are screaming to get to school... and they still yearn for education :))

I'd suggest reading Teaching the Trivium by the Bluedorn's. Then, I'd put in things now that would help, and stay home. Seriously, I'd do a "Baby Moon x2" except for I'd let people help. :) Do you have a big freezer? I'd start freezing up food and food saving them. (so they don't get freezer burn) Mom's helper is great!! Good things to look for: a great young lady who can "anticipate" what you need and what's going to happen. (Some people can look at a baby and realize they're going to run in the street... and some can't...) I was with a 13 year old who put a baby not sitting on the floor (sitting) and let go. Not the right girl to be a "Mom's helper".... I'd want someone from say.... 11-2 or whatever you can afford. It'd be great if you could find someone who would use it as a school credit. We had an incredible teen who did our preschool for 1.5 hrs for us and her mom incorporated curricula about caring for children in her Highschool curriculum. (maybe .5 or 1 credit) ... We also paid her a bit. Who knows what you can afford $$$ wise... but look around :) I can tell you that even though I don't have a ton of kids, I have lived with big families. Let the kids stay home, sleep in, and not bring in extra germs. Read the Bluedorns :) Relax.... Don't even start school... It's really ok. Now, what do I mean by "don't start school?" Train them gently to come when you call. Keep peaceful music on.... Sit on the floor... I'd put up a few barriers for your olders.... so that they can keep their small toys in say... a separate spot. (Like a large play yard that they can play legos in...) You can have math manipulatives, stories on cds... Read to them... It doesn't take much to go through some phonograms orally with them. Anyway, basically spend your energy setting up your "camp" :) Organize your house in such a way that things will be accessible. Get your mom's helper in place :) It might help to look at what is covered in school. It's not that hard. (If your kids were say in Jr High or Highschool, and you couldn't really do school with them... and they weren't super motivated... my answer would be totally different :)) Get your sleep now... and Enjoy :)

Poor Thing.... and poor husband :( Just trying to get the dogs out to exercise. Funny about the kangaroo, though!! Just so out of what would be normal here :) Now deer... that's another story :)

Sure... homeschool their mats :) :)

That's so sweet!! I'd love my kids to be able to see pups :) Lucky You!! :)

Very funny :)

Wow, very cool. I live in Oregon and haven't had that much fun :)

My son nursed at night forever.... He also ate; his metabolism was just crazy :) I did rice milk at night in a bottle a couple of nights, with my husband feeding him, so I could get some sleep. Even though he didn't usually drink rice milk, he would. Perhaps some supplements. Since my son was still nursing a ton, it's not like the milk being just rice milk was a big deal :) :)

Yes, you're right. Also, as a precaution when I had younger children, I left the windows down a bit... and the back windows vented. I did this because I'm paranoid and had heard of horrible accidents. Since I take my dog around, in the summer I leave the windows vented because I'm paranoid that I'll forget him. I've also written on the car windows "DOG" just because I'm so nervous. I am SO NOT above anyone else in the "remembering" thing. If other people can forget... so can I :(