I hear you and it only gets harder as that 4th baby gets older. :) We suggested bath toys and soaps, bath towel, zoo pass, new stroller (it really was beat by the 4th kid.) Think consumables. Bucket of stickers and construction paper, triangular or rock crayons, water colors or finger paint.

this was really helpful. I have read and re-read it several times. I started off using CM methods and still strive to follow that philosophy. Sonlight is CM style. I find that I"m not getting to the fun stuff - nature study, art or composer study. So what is taking up so much time for me? I find that 20 min math lesson wasn't really enough to sink those concepts. My oldest handled Singapore math easily. We moved to NEM this year and it reviews first. I realized that he has forgotten how to divide fractions, convert mixed numbers, find primary numbers, etc. and that he needs review on multiplication tables. IMO, 20 min of math a day just wasn't enough for my kid. I'm curious as to how your kids are 'beyond needing you for one on one time." Do they read their math/language arts books and just know what to do? It sounds like your kids read a lot to themselves. Do you go over what they've read? Are they doing narrations? Do you do dictation with them? Do you read aloud? When do you fit all of that in? I planned to keep track of my time this week, but it was so nice that we took our books outside. We got a lot accomplished, interspersed with pruning and bike riding, but it was way past 4 when we put our book bags away and even then, we didn't finish every subject. Today we have a fieldtrip but I'd like to keep track next week. I truly am beginning to think that it is not possible for me to get every subject finished for 3 grades plus preschool in 5 hours. Sasharowan, thanks for the homeschool tracker info. If you weren't keeping a portfolio (we test at the end of the year) would you still use it? Currently, it's not taking me an hour to plan out the weeks' worth. But maybe that's my problem?! Maybe I'm not planning enough?

I know that 1:4 is better than a brick school ratio of 1:20 but still I feel that I could do a better job. Now that my oldest is headed to private high school, I really want them to be prepared. I totally agree with you about PE. My kids play baseball, swim and play soccer. We are on break before indoor soccer begins and so no one is moving enough, including me! Do you send your kids outside to play or do you have any ideas for activities? We have recently discussed letting each kid pick an activity and the rest of us have to play that game/activity for 1 hour. Not only are our kids the same ages, it sounds like we have a lot in common! I thought hard about follow through being my problem. I'm sure that I struggle with that in the afternoons but I'm not sure that it's my problem during the school day. Getting school done for 3 grades plus preschool and lunch in 5 hours is hard. Are you able to get every planned subject finished every day? I know that I need to work on slackerville in the afternoons! I think I will keep a chart tomorrow where you write down what you are doing every 30 min.

I'm finding that math is very intensive for my kids right now. We use Singapore. At the very minimum, I need to read the text to the kids before they begin their workbook pages. Everything I'm doing this year requires so much mom time. Winston Grammar, AAS, Outlining, etc all require me to sit next to the child and help them. The only independent subjects are Spanish, typing, history and science. I agree, keeping them all centrally located is a good idea. I have never used Homeschool Tracker. Did it take you a long time to input 3 grades? Here is what worked for me this week: Do not answer the phone until 2pm. Do not schedule any repair persons until after 2pm. Have no sick days! (We had an emergency run last week for a possible kidney stone.) Give each kid 30 min of attention and tell the other children to work independently until it's their turn. Teach the children to work until they are stuck. Review the math instructions and see if they can figure it out for themselves. If they are still stuck, move on to something else. Get the laundry and dishes moving before breakfast. Eat leftovers for lunch rather than making a meal from scratch. Limit outings before 2pm to 1x per week. Have materials ready the night before. Do not get on the computer before 2pm. It's still not the way I want it - my 7 yr old is still not getting what she needs. I'm still working on squeezing it all in. Thanks so much for your advice!

I like this idea. Each of my kids has a chart of subjects and they are listed as to things they can do independently and things that require my help. I need to tweak this so that the flow works better. Today I tried to spend 30 min with each kid (combined the littles) and then move on to the next kid. I need to teach them to work on their own and wait for their turn. It did go so much better today. I'm with you here - we combine as much as we can. Here's my problem - if everyone is doing math, then everyone is wanting help. The 12 yr old forgot how to divide fractions, the 10 yr old is struggling with multiplying 2 digit numbers and the 7 yr old is learning how to borrow when subtracting. They EACH need me to sit right next to them and show them how to work the problems. And whomever I pick, the others are not thrilled to be waiting - again. How do you get this to work for you? These are excellent. I already do the read aloud at lunch. I read religion at breakfast and the girls read aloud at bedtime. I would love to hear how WaH worked for you. I am inches from putting my oldest in a Bravewriter course. How do you combine 2 kids in AAS? I absolutely love AAS, but it takes almost an hour each day. I am really bad about getting dinner figured out early. I so need a menu plan. It's 4:30 and I'm scrambling for dinner tonight. I'd love to hear your crockpot recipes. Thanks so much for all of your suggestions. I sure do appreciate the help.

Anneofalamo, My kids help a lot, especially the 12 yr old. I can see that an idea would be to have them do chores while they are waiting rather than doing them after school work is finished. I'm looking forward to seeing your blog - it really helps to see how other moms work their days. MamaAkins, I am not new to hsing, I've been doing it since my oldest was 3. But, every year has been different, and this is the first year with no baby or toddler so my expectations are higher. This year also seems to require so much more attention - my 4 yr old is an early reader (when do I find time to read books to her?) and my 7 yr old needs phonics work, my 10 and 12 yr old need work outlining and writing and my 12 yr old is beginning NEM which is an adjustment. When do you get your table work ready? In the morning when you get up? I really like the idea of them doing their chores while they are waiting for me. I hate to adjust the cooking style, but I do see your point. I will start breakfast early before they get up and see if that gives us more time. joni470, do your kids mind the day scheduled from 7-4? I'm not sure that I want to go that long! Maybe my problem is really that the day is too long for me? thank you so much for your suggestions. I see that I really need to do more prep or scheduling work to get the days to run smoothly.

I have 4 kids, 12, 10, 7 and 4. I'm having trouble juggling them all and getting everything done. I've tried making a schedule, having a list of things to cross off when they are finished, but the problem seems to be that the kids end up waiting for me to help them and get distracted. The 10 yr old will wander off and the 7 and 4 yr olds will go off to play and trash whatever room I'm not in. Math and LA require the most time from me for each kid. I don't know whether to ask for someone to look and my list of curriculum or just tell me how they juggle their own kids. I'll take any suggestions. We are using NEM (7th grader) and Singapore math, AAS, IEW ancients, basic outlining, Noeo Chemistry (3 levels), Rosetta Stone Spanish, Typing, and Sonlight Core 6 as a unit study. The littles are also using HWT and ETC. I do religion (Faith and Life and Catholic Mosaic) at breakfast. I cook hot meals and they are also taking some time. Help!

elfgivas, putting the kids in school will be the most difficult thing for her. it's helpful to hear that your situation turned out alright. joanne, we have a lawyer who is rated very highly and has been recommended by several lawyer friends. i pray that she will do a good job. thank you all. and god bless those of you who have traveled this path yourselves.

Joanne, thanks for the check list! I think we have hit most of them. the pace is so fast, there is very little time to process. In three weeks, she has moved across the country, been dumped, put her possessions in storage, realized there will be no reconciling, sorted her storage, moved again, contacted attorneys, and is now going back to get her storage. (the kids need more than the clothes on their backs.) none of that includes handling the kids who are struggling and continuing her job (she teaches online classes.) Brenda, how do you see that she will end up with less if she files in a different state? The attorney said that the support was about the same, ie, there would be no advantage to filing in his state. Do you mean that he might not pay? Because I don't see that as a problem. He has 3 kids from his first marriage and has always paid. does anyone know, is it ever possible to negotiate permanent spousal support?

actually, she can decide what state she wants to do this in. she no longer has residency in the old state and can not file there. we have spoken to several lawyers about this and they all agree. she has no residency in the state her husband is now living in and so will not file there. she has chosen to live with us and therefore can file for a legal separation and eventually a divorce once she has residency. jurisdiction over her husband will be a tricky issue unless she filed in the state where he is now living. she has no desire to live far away from family. property is not really an issue. they sold their home before the move and intended to purchase a new home in the new state. that money would be divided. there is little there, almost no retirement. child support will be according to his income. it isn't enough to live on. she has all of these documents because of the move and has already shown them to a very good lawyer who also mediates. I understand that lawyers are the only ones who win in a divorce. it appears to me that it's her children and she who will lose and NOT the lawyers OR her husband. she can get spousal support for 3-5 years at best. Permanent alimony is not an option, according to her lawyer.

we've talked to several lawyers and it seems pretty cut and dried. a shark doesn't appear to make any difference - your support is a percentage of the husband's salary. alimony depends on how many years you have been married and is 3-5 years if you've been married 10-20 years. of course, if you are lucky enough to divorce in MN or Oregon, you get spousal support for life. is there a way that a shark lawyer would make any difference? it doesn't seem to even go before a judge anymore. does anyone have any advice?

bounce

My sister's husband just left her and the kids, literally, in the middle of a cross country move. She is currently living with us and we're trying to get her possessions out of storage in another state. She is planning on filing for a legal separation. It was depressing to hear how little she will receive in a divorce while her ex makes a 6 figure salary. If you are single parent, how do you make it financially and emotionally? Do you have any advice?

My sister needs a divorce lawyer in Cincinnati. Please pm me if you have any suggestions.

that's St Joseph with the Christ child. http://www.catholicfaithstore.com/Store/Products/Item/-97/1/St-Joseph-with-Christ-Child-Statue-12-inches_35076.html

they sound perfect, I have a middle school kid who will be bored with SOTW activity books. Can you tell me how they were spendy? Did you mean the materials or the cost of the files? Thanks so much!

Has anyone ever used the art projects from http://www.enrichment4you.com/index.php?cPath=2_3&osCsid=6cea5d82ee84d29c7ea7f386b332f1d9 ? They look pretty neat.

I don't have any advice re: medicines but I did want to recommend one more type of treatment. During the winter, my then 11 year old had daily headaches for several months. We ruled out vision problems, took him to the ped and made an appointment with the neurologists at the local children's hospital. Meanwhile, we began to take him to the chiropractor. It took several weeks of 3x/week adjustments, but the headaches completely disappeared. I don't know if this treatment would help your kiddo, but I wanted to suggest it. Daily headaches are miserable.

what a great idea! please add me to your list. :001_smile:

My oldest is 7th grade this year. My son enjoys writing assignments but does not write for fun. I'd like to help him polish his writing skills and prepare him for private high school. I've tried a number of writing programs and not liked any of them for various reasons. I own the Writer's Jungle and really like it - but I need a schedule. I've used several Arrow issues but find that they are not enough (and are expensive!) I've used Sonlight's LA but it goes too quickly for him. I've considered IEW although it just doesn't appeal to me all that much. I've listened to SWB's mp3 about writing in middle school but again, would like a schedule. What writing program are you using for your 7th grader?

thanks Pamela! Any other Virginians?

My sister is moving Richmond VA in August and is looking for homes next week. She is looking for some property with a few acres but not a horrible commute to downtown where he husband's job is located. Anyone have any advice regarding location? Home-schooling groups? Any advice for getting settled in this area? Thanks! I just realized that I put this in the wrong category. So sorry!

:iagree: Also agree with Catholic Mosaic.