:001_smile: This made me smile. This has been my concern too for some reason.

I went back to what focus we need to remember. Pathway Ventures. *We are Christian and so the "t" in Pathway can become a cross. Christ as center of our lives. *Pathway -- reminds me of Pilgrim Progress. The basic idea that we're on "life's road". Learning involves books, but much more. Learning is a process. *Ventures -- to get out there, try new things, explore. You never know what's around the bend. It's OK to be uncomfortable/stretched as part of the learning process. Also implies fun. (I can be too serious!) Learning as a lifestyle.

I'm also interested in what others may have to offer you. The following are just some thoughts. Thinking out loud here. I've a few ideas, but am wondering how close to a town/city you are? *Are you good with crafts/sewing/mending? Do you like writing? There are online opportunities for these skills mentioned. *Childcare? Maybe your kid(s) (depending on age) can become certified in this area? *Could you keep & care for animals? Someone in our 4-H group drives to people's places to care for their animals. Maybe you could keep animals at your place. One thing we started to be involved in is delivering the weekend "bag" -- a bag of advertisements. We took in town routes so that there is not so much wear & tear on the car/van. We did this to primarily work as a family. It's something, but not great pay. It does help to pay for groceries while dh's paychecks are inconsistent. It at first was meant for the little extras in life, including curriculum, but now that's changed. I'm glad we started when we did.

Sounds like a lot of hard times for him and you all. :sad: I'm praying for him as I post this and am praying for you too.

:iagree: I love this advice! It's right along what I've been working on. ETA: What I've posted here is an accumulation of advice given to me. I've really needed to work on burn-out & even depression. So what I say here is very much in the works, but when I follow what I wrote here we all do so much better. The way I like to think about preventing burn-out is : Action ~ *Change in pace. (Breaks, rest, slow down, speed up . . .) *Change in content. (Example: We'll put aside the CLE LightUnit & do something else for Math.) *Routine. (Most days we work at having certain routine with things that need to be done - includes laundry, cleaning & so on. There are daily, weekly & monthly routine.) *Sun. (Getting outside is a must for me.) *Exercise. *Support. (I need support of different kinds from others.) Attitude/Thought process ~ *Fun. (Fun as we study, fun with work that I dread. For example: I set the timer for so long & see what I can do -- or what the child can do.) *Focus. (When my mind is divided on all that needs to be done, I'm so discouraged. So I do what is set before me and concentrate on what needs to be done. I break it down into smaller & manageable portions. I do the same for the children.) *Foundation - early years - & Framework - upper grades. (I assist the children in laying solid foundation & framework from which they continue to build their lives. I don't have to teach them everything now, but hopefully inspire them to learn. Teaching them "how to fish". I also need good foundation & framework -- such as in how I process life.) *Flexibility. (For me this means allowing natural learning to occur -- such as in watching nature when something exciting is happening. I tend to be "to the book" type of person. Seeing the big picture allows me to enjoy & learn from the moments.) Thanks to this board & others, I'm learning what the big picture can look like & how to flesh out these principles in a healthy manner. Have I totally arrived? Nope! But I'm further along then I was. I hope this can be of some encouragement to you. :001_smile:

Just wanted to say "Welcome!" to homeschooling. I'm sorry you have to deal with a family such as your in-laws. I really don't have advice, but just wanted to say that you're awesome for taking the "plunge" regardless of what others say/think. That says great things about you. It sounds like you're getting your basis covered & using wisdom. Knowing the law there makes you a step ahead of your in-laws.

There are so many techniques & opinions & lifestyles in this world -- it sure makes it all interesting. I think that you seem to have a balanced view on the sleeping aspect. I believe you when you say you all cuddle your baby lots! My philosophy/opinion which I think is what you are saying: I think that a few minutes (not extremely long) of fussing (not sharp, high pitched crying) is OK and IF I know that baby is OK in other ways & has been taken care of. Some babies, from what I've observed, seem to need a time of not being handled after being around lots of people & being held a lot. (NOT neglect --just for clarification.) It's all in the balance of what works for your baby. ETA: I'm not saying that you're handling your baby too much! I just know that my babies & other babies needed a little break from gatherings where there were lots of people. (I'm probably digging myself into a hole here.) Swaddling as my sister taught me & whom she learned from a friend of hers from Central America was a lifesaver for me & my babies. The way they did it was really snug, but I often watched babies calm down. You've probably already tried that with lots of other ways. And then there is just doing what you've been doing - rocking & holding & cuddling until your baby goes to sleep. Maybe then keep trying on patting himself to sleep while he is in his crib - if that is your goal. I'd reassure myself that there is plenty of time to continue to work with your child in becoming more secure & independent in going to sleep. When you were younger, you must have been proud of yourself that you become more independent on your own. Best wishes! It sounds like your baby landed in a very loving home.

Thank you! -- I saw that on my search on the internet & was going to come by here again & ask about that. I think I'll try the mosquito dunk. I don't think I could calculate the bleach like your husband does. I'd keep second guessing myself with the bleach. Good idea - we have a place real close to town here that we could go & ask for their ideas. Great field trip for the kids. It would be interesting to hear how they handle it. We do have some bats around the property behind us. I love to see them when they come out. I love extra votes - thank you!:) I think I'm going to buy some of those mosquito dunks REAL soon.

I thought that if we kept water moving in our little fountain/pond feature, then we would not have such trouble with breeding mosquitos. Ick!!!! It is a learning science thing & the kids love watching the baby mosquitos swimming, but I don't want to BE the science experiment. This is where our dog can drink from the water. One idea I have is to figure out which fish would work best in the water to help clean out the water. What else to do? If you happen to have any advice, links, or whatever -- I'd appreciate. OK --I'm off research on the world wide web!

Researching racoons sounds like a great follow-up.

Good thinking there!

I really don't know - just want to keep your post up. Did you try anything yet?

I wonder what you've done so far? Your approach to education? --------So far this is what we're doing. We school year-round. We do go lighter in the Summer. *AM Routine: Rise and Shine & Cares (5 area of Chores) *Independent Work Oldest dd has Independent Work - Assignments from different subjects including Math, Language Arts, Music and so on. She has a spot to put any paper work for me to check. I'm also available anytime she has questions except when working with the other child. Whatever she does not get done before a Meet-up she will need to finish later. It's to my dd's benefit to get up early & finish early. In fact, she's been known to get a lot of week's work done by Wed. If the week's work is not done Sat, she gets to work on it then. Sat is the due date for the assigned work. I give certain amount time for dd to work through AM Routine & to start Indpendent Work. I tell her when our 1st Meet-up is & to meet me at a requested time & place. *Meet-Ups Purpose = Accountability, Reveiw of old material, New Teaching & Concerns (Myself & dd). -> I call the Meet-ups ~ Math, Language Arts, History, Music, Art and so on. -> I'm still working out details here because I'm working on having dd more independent. -> Meet-ups for each subject is 15-20 minutes OR with Science we may do 15-20 minutes with reading & then do a project or experiment. Right now we do Meet-ups in AM & before bedtime and if need be we do Meet-ups in the afternoon. ---------------------So a day may look like this for my oldest. I work with the youngest when the oldest is doing Independent Work: *AM Routine * Rise and Shine/ Cares *Independent Work I'm working on the time for the 1st Meet-up and working on dd to become more independent with starting her Independent Work in am 1st thing. *2 Meet-ups - Math & History *20 minutes = Finish Cares & Continue Independent Work *2 Meet-ups = Language Arts ("PEWS" - Presentation/Penmanship, English Grammar, Spelling) and "Heavenly Huddle" (Bible . . ) *20 minutes = Independent Work *2 Meet-ups = Language Arts as needed & Science. LUNCH --Sometimes read-alouds here. Help Clean-up with lunch. *Independent Work - time varies. Dd does a lot of reading on her own. Time to do 4-H project and other work. Rest Time - good time for books. Usually around 2:30 because that's how we've had it for a long time! It seems my body is tired then & the girls used to nap at that time. Bedtime Read-Alouds, Readers, Time with Daddy to help with some reading. ---------------So this is something that maybe you might get an idea from. As you see, it's still in the works. Sometimes the Language Arts is part of another subject such as in Science. For instance, dd did some copywork/penmanship yesterday using Apologia Botony notebook.

:lol: I like the idea of humor. That often lightens the air. I wish I was better at thinking of humor on the spot. . .. We also have a Dr that quizes us -- We are looking for another Dr.

You have some good advice given to you, but I just wanted to identify with you. I love looking at curriculum & can continue to look and look and look . . . but our money pocket is just not that deep to buy all that I want!!!! Then I remember that good curriculum is only good as far as what is used by us. If it sits on the shelf -- what good is that? Here is something of my approach. I hope something helps. I go back to thinking about the basics when I feel overwhelmed with choices --> *my approach to education *the kids' learning style/needs *my teaching style/needs and what we want to do as a family (Science? History?) *Goals for each child. *Adaptability of the program ~ My willingness to adapt it & How easy for me to adapt it? Is it worth the hassle? For instance, I'd think that you could easily adapt MOH or SOTW to fit your needs by giving appropriate follow-up assignments for each child - but how much hassle is it for you & what are you williing to do/not do? For LA with my 3rd grader -- I think about LA in this way: P - Presentation (Recitation, Oral Narration, Comprehension . . .) & Penmanship (Manuscript, Cursive) E - English Grammar (Writing Mechanics) W - Writing Composition (Words to paper -- the Process) S - Spelling (Word origins, phonics . . .) Sometimes I combine these areas, sometimes it's more individualized. I fit LA programs around "PEWS". Reading is a natural part of our lives & so gets done if we're "schooling" or not.

Here's a :grouphug: -- wish it could be a live hug. How difficult. I read every word you wrote. I'm so sorry you're going through this.

:iagree: This is exactly what I was thinking when I 1st heard about the Gores. I'm also thinking about the children. No matter the age, changes in life can be hard to work through.

:lol: Although, coconut aroma is not too bad.

I encourage you to seriously consider the advice given here. I understand not wanting to get rid of the tree. So sorry.

I'm so glad everyone is OK. That would shake me up too. :grouphug: I think it's quite alright to cry -- that's a lot of stress. Maybe you all can do something simple & fun "together"?

Teaching our kids how to work is of great importance with my dh and I. But of most importance for us is balance. We love to play too!!!

:lol: I would have no idea how to mummify, but what fun for your kids! This is where my dh helps with schooling. What a brave & awesome teacher-Mom you are. Your kids will remember this for a loooooooong time! At least you have a great resource here - the forums - if you should have any questions or further concerns.

:iagree:

As I was reading this thread, I kept wondering if there is a pure phonic based or pure "sight word" approach. My thought is that there is no pure approach. I have to think that an effective approach is a combo of both approaches. (Same with Math - the 'whys" and the "facts". That is it's own thread.)

What is helping me: *Prioritize When I figure out what habits are a priority around here, that helps me to focus on myself as well as my children. There are so many great ideas, but I have to narrow it down in order to focus well. *Working on simplicity. I've a tendency to make it complicated. The more simple the easier it is to keep. *Practice Habits When I fail, I try to evaluate why then I get back up & continue. For the kids - I found that I need to teach first & show first what I expect of a child & to praise him/her as great effort/progress is made. I too need rewards. I work at doing a habit for one month for it to become a natural/familiar part of our day. *Variety & Spice I like to put variety into our routine. I need breaks too! For instance, with our Rise and Shine routine I may tell the kids that "today we'll have Pajama day" or that they "we'll do the chores together". Putting on music in the morning is one way to spice up our routine. *Make it fit me. Have I totally arrived? Nope. But I'm working at it, a little at a time. I've been watching threads about how to do housework while homeschooling. I have lots & lots to learn because I have my struggles with getting it altogether. Hope this can help you - from a person who struggles with routines/schedules too.