Your situation is quite different. The OP is in her first year. She hasn't established a routine or schedule. I would hate to see someone quit before they started. Your children are well grounded from years of your devotion and hard work. They were "ready" to enter the public school environment. Don't you think your family would look completely different if you had stopped after one year?

No one can fully "count the cost" of what homeschooling is going to be like in their own home. Theories are just that. They will look different in the variety of homes they are applied. You are going to have to blaze your own trail. Don't look to others to find what works for YOUR family. You have unique circumstances. It is hard in the beginning, but you will build confidence over time---- you'll just have to trust me when I say I speak from experience. Don't give up after one year. You haven't worked out the kinks. There are ALWAYS kinks in the beginning. It's like getting your land legs back after being at sea for a long time. Attitude problems in your children have nothing to do with homeschooling. Sorry, but it's true. You'll have to deal with them sooner or later. I would start there. Focus on making a minimalist schedule and communicate your expectations to your children. For example, "you will complete your math assignment without complaint or grumbling or the consequence will be X" then implement! I think it is far too soon for you to entertain the idea of quitting. But these are simply the observations from an outsider. :o I'm guessing you are much stronger than this, but the "to-do" list is keeping you from realizing this. ((hugs)) and }}}}}butt kicks from me! :D Jo

I'm making homemade chicken fingers for my neighbors (only the kids and mom will be eating). I'm making a simple pasta salad as a side and snickerdoodles for dessert. I need another side. What would you make? Jo

Our church does a lot of work in Uganda, so when our tithe amount went up with our new pay scale in Hawaii, we asked him if there were any specific areas of need. I think this list is fascinating so I'm passing it on. 1.A pastor in Uganda is about 45 years old, and has never married, largely because of he cannot afford a dowry. His dowry is 5 cows; one cow cost about $300. His name is Fred Kabenge and he is the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church of Uganda. 2.$247 would pay the salary for one month for 5 Ugandan pastors 3.$247 would buy three beds with mattresses in our new orphanage 4.$247 would buy about 30 Bibles in the Acholi language 5.$247 would feed all the children in one of our schools in Uganda for a week. There are 210 in one of our schools and about half are orphans. Right now is an interesting time in Uganda. We are building the orphanage and need to break ground on another church in a few weeks. Our workers make less than $1 per hour.

but I LOVE using the dry erase board I used an easel. When we weren't using the board I brought it down and put up various art books, prints, or paintings. Jo

When we lived in Georgia our wooden play/fort structure had a problem with spiders- we had a large pine tree wooded lot. Our Little Tykes Barn was uninhabitable because of the pests. Our favored activities for ages 2 to 7 were the zip line and digging with shovels. In Virginia my dh built a simple, large sand box for the deck. It had two sides, one for sand and one for rocks. The imaginative play was endless! We put a tarp over it when not in use or if it was raining. I'll keep thinking. Jo

I would also have to say those "lightbulb" moments. I love that we can sit on the couch and discuss topics. The fine art of asking questions to stimulate their thinking process. Last week I had to go to the elementary school to turn in my notice of intent. I watched a classroom full of wiggly, distracted students, whispering to each other while the teacher was saying something. I had been particularly burned out at this point but I left that school seeing what a gift personalized education can be. More specifically, I have been delighted to teach my children through the Revolution of the United States and the Constitution. My children have naturally drawn connections with modern politics. This to me is delightful. Government is so much clearer to them then it ever was to me at their ages. Jo

Ages: 11ds, 9ds, 7dd, 5ds, 3dd, and 13modd. (And I'm 14 wks pregnant) We wake by 7:30, eat breakfast generally at the same time. All morning chores- beds, dress, teeth, and kitchen clean up are done by 8:30. The older three start on independent work (spelling or math) while I do preschool work with the younger 3 dc. At 9am we stop for devotions. 9:30 the oldest watches the 13 mo and 3yo so I can work on phonics with 7yo in private. 10am we snack and read poetry. After snack: 7yo does copywork, ETC, or math mostly independently but I am always available to answer questions. The older two continue with independent subjects until they are all checked off the list. During this time, I do chores, games, laundry with the baby, 3yo, and 5yos "help". All the time stopping to answer questions as needed. They get a little free time before lunch if they've completed their work appropriately. Lunch, read alouds, and clean up. ******Naps for all three younger children are mandatory! I arrange my entire schedule in order to have the baby and preschoolers sleeping simultaneously. ****** Afternoon subjects are History with written narrations and vocabulary, and Science. This still leaves me about 30 of quiet room time before naps are over. After naps they play outside, come in and straighten the house, we prep for dinner. Our family read aloud comes after dinner and baths. Note: Our schedule changes frequently. Sometimes, because the little ones are playing incredibly well or the baby takes an early nap, I will do history before lunch. I have learned to take advantage of teachable moments (and I don't mean in the sense of a child being ready to learn. I mean I have a moment to teach!). I don't think this was very unique or helpful. But if you have any other questions, let me know. Jo

Yes. That is absolutely correct. I was looking for more than permission or agreement. I need to know that he wants this for me too. I need to be told that he doesn't think I'm being a wimp. I need him to say- painfully honest here- "I COULD NEVER DO WHAT YOU DO. I WOULD HAVE GONE CRAZY LONG BEFORE THIS." How's that for disclosure? I just finished reading everyone's responses and I feel buoyed. Thanks everyone. Hugs back to everyone. Jo

Let's just say, hypothetically;), that you really need a break. You need a more-than-a-night-with-the-girlfriends type of break. You have fantacized about days away alone with books, a journal, and quiet. So let's also say your significant other has essentially said, "do what you need to do". It isn't exactly an enthusiastic endorsement but it's an acknowledgement that he is willing to take over all duties so I can get away. It's also received as "you're making me nuts, go fix yourself". Loser. So here comes more "loser": Do you go frozen? Do you feel guilty for making a big deal of your exhaustion? Do you feel like you've whined or complained and now feel guilty? :( Or am I the only one who does this? Jo

My 11 yods was just confronted with the news that it's time to take pills. He wasn't thrilled. As a matter of fact he made himself sick over it. My magic cure? "Take the pill or I'm going to strangle you!" Okay, so it didn't exactly go like that, actually there wasn't any *one* thing. He did find out that capsules float so he leaned forward to get it to the back of his throat. That helped. Honestly, he just had to get used to the feeling of a pill going down his throat. It was miserable for a few days, but in the end he bragged to the whole family that he is a "pill taker now". I wouldn't try to hide the pill. I would keep working on how to swallow with liquids- straws, water bottles, different positions, etc. Try it all, but don't give up. Jo

Proof? Scam?

Because my 11 ds is exactly the same! His favorite thing in the world is to organize the bookshelves. He operates so much better in tidy environments. Poor child! He has lots of little siblings that interfere with this desire. ;) Jo

Sooooooooo.... If he understands the concepts but is simply making sloppy mistakes, or simple math mistakes, then I should simply have him re-do his work but I may still move on to the next lesson? I really am wanting him to make 100% on EVERYTHING. Math is one of those subjects that I feel there should be no wiggle room. But perhaps the day in and day out process of working through his mistakes and showing all his work- which I have begun to insist upon or it's wrong even if the answer is correct- will work itself out. Any further thoughts? Jo

One of my sons is doing Math-U-See. He is on lesson 27 (fraction stuff). He seems to get the concepts but makes repeated mistakes on the lessons and tests. He has received solid Bs on his past three tests. We go over the mistakes and he corrects all his missed problems. The problem is when I give him a repeat test he will often make the same mistake or another sloppy mistake (he is famous for not showing all his work because he "just knew the answer" :rolleyes:). Would you drill, drill, drill until perfection? I know he can do better work, but he seems deflated by my repeated drill on the same topic. My gut tells me to insist on mastery and not move on until he gets it entirely correct. But I know some of you have hindsight on this topic that I don't. Am I going to ruin him on math for all time by insisting on perfection? Thanks for your insight. Jo

I don't have any of my recipes (I will look up recipes online) so I am drawing a blank. Can I get your best meal gift idea? What do you make for people you know absolutely nothing about? They have two young children, 4/5 and 8/9ish. Thanks so much. Jo

I still don't have my household goods after moving, so nary a homeschool resource book to be had! Can someone tell me how many sentences they give to their mid-first grader to copy? I'm wondering because I seem to either make it too easy for my daughter or make her cry. Honestly it depends on the time of day, if she hears her siblings outside playing, if the moon is in a certain phase, or her emotions are just bubbling over. :rolleyes: This makes it difficult for me to "just know" what is right for her age/development (that's my hint to those of you tempted to write, "you know your child" ;)). What does the WTM suggest? Or FLL require? Thanks. Jo

Can someone tell me how many sentences they give to their mid-first grader to copy? I'm wondering because I seem to either make it too easy for my daughter or make her cry. Honestly it depends on the time of day, if she hears her siblings outside playing, if the moon is in a certain phase, or her emotions are just bubbling over. :rolleyes: This makes it difficult for me to "just know" what is right for her age/development (that's my hint to those of you tempted to write, "you know your child" ;)). What does the WTM suggest? Or FLL require? Thanks. Jo

I would have felt horrible too. But I absolutely agree that he didn't do the job he was hired to do. I would call the company and ask for a different estimator if possible. If our estimator had been distracted by children's behavior we would have never moved! ;) Jo

but, you must understand that I am not nearly pregnant enough to go into the liquor store and buy cheap vodka. It's tradition. ;) Jo

"Some people are WAY behind in their social skills" Jo

And I especially loved having the paramedic's perspective...thanks! FWIW- the neighbor I was referring to is young, his kids are in school, and he owns two of the scarriest pit bulls I've ever seen- they can be hungry for a few hours until his wife gets back :o. He also seemed to have his mom, or some other relative arrive. All those factors play a part in what any of us would do, I'm sure. Thanks for all the responses. Jo

It must really rock you to your core. It is just tragic. I'm so sorry for your loss. I will keep your friend's family in prayer- as well as you and your family. Jo

Do you go outside and watch? Do you stand in your house and discreetly watch through a window? Do you not look, but fight the curiosity? Do you ignore the whole event? I might mention that this just happened and I have never met this neighbor. I have had this happen to a neighbor I knew well once and I ran right over to see if I could help. But in this case it was pure curiosity. Fess up ya'll! What would you do? Jo

Homeschoolers weekly fatigue? :rolleyes: Do you arrange your weeks in a certain way to avoid this? I pack my Monday and Tuesday pretty full with scholastics because I know I'm going to be pooped by Thursday and I'll have to put in an errand day somewhere. Do others feel the thurs/fri energy gap? Have you rearranged the schedule to adapt for this? Keep in mind I'm those "3 ring circus days" of three school aged, 1 preschooler, and 2 littles to entertain! The exhaustion sneaks up on me. Jo