We have a set schedule but it's a loose one. Make a list of the most important things you want to accomplish and then set out rough times to do each,tweak as needed. I try to keep our schedule like breathing in (written work,lessons) and breathing out (handwork,playtime,movement). Homeschool runs better on a schedule because kids know what is going to happen each day so the day just flows. We homeschool year round 5 children. our day looks like this my devotions/snuggle with kids 8am breakfast devotions with kids older child reads to younger while I prepare lunch (we eat our main meal of the day at lunch time) Movement (we sing songs and play games that get our blood moving) main lessons (try to do hardest work in the morning when every one is their freshest) 10pm snack (usually fresh bread) finish main lessons outdoor play 12 pm lunch devotions with my older children/ younger children have quiet time in their rooms (hey studies show we all learn better with a midday nap. )/I prepare or my older children prepare dinner then have some quiet time for me. 1:30 adventure time (spring and summer we just spend this time outdoors) mon/cleaning (we do the extras then) free play Tues/painting wed/baking Thurs/seasonal craft Fri/ field trips 4pm settling time/snack we practice our instruments/read/play games/books on tape if I'm busy 6 pm dinner (usually left overs or something simple) clean up get ready for bed 7pm bedtime I read to them or they listen to books on tape 8 lights out for younger ones older ones free time to do as please till 10 pm bedtime They say the time spent in main lesson should match the grade in other words 3rd is three hours total for day,2nd two etc.. I find I can crunch time because I teach my children things together not by grade. In other words my 3rd grader will not learn cursive this year but next when his sister is in second. They will learn it together. We do most subjects this way with math being the exception. My teens each have their "grade" because they use sonlight with separate science/math but they do 99.9% work on their own and quite often quiz ,correct each other. Which is helpful for review.

Much of your lists we just expect our kids to pitch in as part of the family. We can't afford allowances either but we do allow the kids to earn really special things,we don't' give cash. It's going to take my 9 year about a month to earn enough to enough to go see diary of wimpy kid movie and he's done the same thing to earn quite a few books over the year. The only one who has any cash is my 16 year old who has a fantastic work ethic which earned him an internship that usually only collage students get. My opinion ,I wont' give them cash and if you must give very little.

I agree with you sputterduck. I have five children and some just eat a ton more then others and they aren't heavier. I think that is why it's important to have something available to them but something that is healthy to snack on.

Joanne don't beat yourself up! My gosh parenting is the hardest thing. Guilt just makes everything worse. We all need help now and then it doesn't mean we didnt' try our hardest or did all we knew to do. My husband and I were talking about this same subject on the way home from church sometimes you can be doing everything possible and it's still doesn't work. I think with parenting like marriage is you just keep plugging,always learning,figuring out what works for your family. Sometimes that's books,friends and sometimes therapy can make a huge difference. It did in our lives. I was the only one who went to therapy and though many things didn't change I did and that changed how I handled the things that didn't change which in turn slowly changed things LOL! ((((hugs))) parenting is super stinky sometimes don't be hard on yourself

I think it's a balance of each child being considerate of the other's needs. I think there is nothing wrong with explaining to the older child how much it means to younger when he plays with him. But also the younger child needs to understand that time and attention from the older child is a gift to be appreciated not demanded and that the older child needs some time that is their own.

Haven't done it in a while but ...... now i have to do it this week! Thanks for the inspiration

this is jsut what we do " moved our every-day dishes to bottom cabinets when my youngest was 4. The kids unload the dishwasher and if there's ever anything that belongs somewhere they just can't reach, they put it on the counter and I put it away. But there's not a lot they can't put away, either because it's kept fairly low or with the help of our kitchen stool."

We have set snack times and meals in between they can have specified snacks. It varies but we have apples,carrot sticks,celery,oranges etc.. all healthy. Usually my kids fill up at meal time because that is where the "yummiest" food is. All but one of my kids are high on the chart height wise and all are 50% for weight. We try to make sure we spend at least 2 hours a day outside which gives them a good appetite for dinner.

Oh I can sympathize!!! I hate fussy dress things and my husband loves them! I agree with the "your best makeup is your smile. Chin up and beam at your husband." Sometimes you just have to do it.... it always comes back to you in a good way.

I need to watch this show thanks for the heads up! I feel like as a parent I will never be the best trainer and can always use some more help! I know my kids when I started exercising them regularly :lol: it got rid of a ton and I mean a TON of home school issues. We try to spend at least two hours a day outside no matter the weather.

We spend around 450 to 500 for a family of 7 (4 adult sized eaters) includes everything cleaning paper goods,diapers etc.. The cost of living where we are is super high but it's even higher for us on the island often a 1.00 to 50. per item more then the rest of the state. So though it sounds like a decent amount it's not so I do a LOT of from scratch cooking ,we rarely buy anything processed we make everything our own bread and grow our own food in season.

Wow it would be tough to go through that list! I would just pick out the few most special things things that have memories attached!

My husband was given a week's suspension when a boy sucker punched him. He hadn't even had any contact with boy it came out of no where. The school's policy was to suspend anyone caught fighting so even though he hadn't done a thing he spent a week at home. It's been almost 30 years since then and you know it's not that big of a deal. Now he has story that he likes to tell about how life just isnt' fair sometimes. I wouldn't sweat it. Schools have a tough job and it's only getting worse. It's really hard to tell who did what in these types of situations.

Sounds to me like he doesn't feel loved or liked and the more he feels that way the more he acts like an unlikable ,unlovable person. Try to figure out what makes him feel loved we all have our own love languages and maybe you haven't reached out to him in a way that he can connect with. Honestly from your post I would say you have to fix your attitude first. Love him and expect nothing in return. Have standards and consequences but dont' focus on the negative, instead look for the good, praise every single thing he does right to the hilt. Build him up ,show him he has potential and does do some things right. He probably wont' do therapy because he views it as punishment or that you are saying there is something wrong with him. Why not go to therapy by yourself? It's hard to see the forest for the trees and often an outsiders view makes a world of difference. HTH by the way i'm not saying what i'm saying in a judgemental way more from a been there done that point of view. You can be doing everything right and be going about it all the wrong way. Meaning you could be loving this kid to death and he doesn't see it because it's not in a way he could connect to.

tooo funny!!!!

bizarre!

You could give her two chewables or one and half. I couldnt swallow the adult pills when I was prego so the doctor reccomended two chewables.

That is a good feeling! We started homeschool 17 years ago before it was common in the NE. We had soooooo much trouble and what freaks we were. We even had a preacher preach against it. Which was such a blessing in the end (long story but it was the catalyst for many good things to come). He has since started preaching how people soon will need to start homeschooling. LOL!

You have to choose it.... I spent most of my life in a box constructed by others. I ALLOWED it. I became a christian at 18 into a legalistic church. When I was 35 finally left and realized how much I lived my life trying to live others versions of christianity and had not lived the life God intended for me. I teach my kids all the time you have to study,pray,listen not just blindly accept because it's the norm. God intended you to be free not some kind of cookie cutter christian. I think we all miss out when you care too much about what others think. I think we should care but not make it everything.

Well that was really interesting I totally guess wrong!

I like having a list of rules with set consequences (well as much as possible kids are creative when they sin so sometimes that requires a creative consequence) I don't think this should be a jam it down their throat kind of thing either but more like a friendly reminder with consequences sometimes. I find if I can I sing to them the reminder it helps me (settles my frustration) and makes it more palatable for them. this is still a work in progress for me. I find doorposts materials helpful for scripture based consequences. http://www.doorposts.com/ I've loved everything I've bought from them. HTH I will obey the first time I am told eph 6:1 I will not complain phil 2:14 I will be slow to anger prov 14:29 tell the truth prov 12 be quiet prov 10:19 not gossip prov 11:13 not listen to gossip prov 17:4 not tease prov 4:24 not answer back with folly prov 26:4 I will treat other kindly math 7:12 I will cease from strife Prov 20:3 do what is right james 4:!7 I will be positive Prov 17:20 do my chores @ the 3:10 I will do my best eccl 9:10 I will share romans 12:10 I will forgive ephesians 4 :32 not laugh at sin prov 14:9 I will not repay evil prov 24:29 I will not be proud prov 16:18 no be envious prov 27:4 not be jealous prov 6:34 I will be content prov 15:16 I will listen in family devotions and church prov 28:9

whether I started underweight,normal, or overweight which I did all three ,I typically gained around 70 pounds. Usually almost 20 the last months as water weight,which quickly disappeared after birth.

Put books that could make a unit study together sell as a set. If you price them well they will sell and you will get to mail less boxes. HTH

I don't think it's for everyone but.... I've seen moms who send their kids to public school who probably should homeschool they would be forced to learn to connect with their kids. Why have kids if you are going to let someone else raise them? Really school is part of raising them...

Wow thank you for all the responses! I do not mind teacher intensive as long as I do not have to be the creative one. LOL! We try to avoid workbooks and my kids tend to get concepts pretty fast so I think rightstart is going to be a great fit! Thank you for the input!!