This is your youngest going through puberty who isn't reacting anymore? Yup, I had the same thing happen to me as well when I went through puberty. I was diagnosed in a children's hospital really young due to the severity of my symptoms..hit 12-13 and the symptoms lessened whenever I'd mistakenly eat dairy, then by college I was totally fine. Now, I'm vegan so don't eat it but totally could without symptoms, if I wanted to. So as weird as it is, I'd believe it. ETA: Sorry to hijack :/

Maybe I'm misunderstanding...but I think she *did* use the methods in her curriculum...that's where the curriculum came from, right? Her experiences teaching her kids and the different methodologies that she used to do so fed her later writing a curriculum of what she did. I think she's really just written down what she was able to do organically at the time, due to her writing know-how. She's talked a bit about her kids now being involved in Poetry Slams b/c of their earlier time doing Poetry Tea Time, for example. So I'm not a Julie expert but I do think her curriculum is informed by her experiences. I don't get a "buy my stuff" vibe from her at all. She seems to be a genuine lady. :) JMO.

Journey to the Stars with Whoopi Goldberg narrating

1000 Things About Japan is a blogger's musings or journey through leaving Japanese culture and documenting the things they miss about living in Japan and the things they don't miss. It's a really great look (in my opinion!) at those little aspects of what a culture entails that you'd only get by living it. It's very much the "little things" but I believe those little things are what make a new culture so fascinating/intriguing/aggravating/amazing. Surviving in Japan is a how-to guide type blog for expats so we can function while being illiterate and unable to communicate much of our needs to our world around us. You learn a lot about Japan through how this blogger tells you how to do x, y or z. Time out Tokyo or Tokyo Cheapo are sites with different offerings or ideas for cheap and fun stuff to do. You can get a great feel for the area and culture from travel sites like that. There are blog components to both sites. The cultivated mother and homelifeart blogs both feature homeschooling military moms who used to live in Japan. You may have better luck finding homeschooling blogs with families living in those countries if you put Army mom or Navy mom in the search title too. None of the homeschoolers here have blogs, that I know of. I'll put out feelers and edit my post if I see something. :)

We school year-round as I think my girls do much better with an ongoing structure and routine to their lives. That said, we break for Dh's business trips to interesting places, summer camp themes I'd be hard pressed to replicate at home, the obligatory extended family visits, and testing if needed where we live at the time. I tell my girls that they're their "new" grades at the traditional time of the year to make life easier and so I don't forget to "promote" them. ;) But it's all very arbitrary for us as we finish materials at different times and just very often do the next thing. This means I'm often planning the next year at off-times compared to other hsers in the area, though! I'm often able to take out materials to preview from the library without issue b/c I'm not fighting everyone else for them in those few months of summer. ETA: For K, I wouldn't worry about lining anything up. Even for my kids now, in 4th and 1st this year, I'm not overly concerned about lining things up. I line up the lit and history schedule as they lean on each other a lot. Maybe art or writing if I can swing it. Otherwise, I count it as review and don't sweat it.

:( Hope you feel better! I like planning, scratching a bunch of those plans, planning again. It keeps things interesting ;) DD1, 5th grade: Grammar: Killgallon Paragraphs for Middle School, Rod and Staff 6 Spelling: rest of Spelling Wisdom Book 1 Writing: Rest of Write from History Medieval Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 8 and 9, Caesar’s English 1 and 2 Math: Zaccaro’s Primary Math Challenge Problems, Dolciani Pre-Algebra supplement as needed with Art of Problem Solving Pre-Algebra spine Science: The Elements, Carbon Chemistry with Holt Physical Science or Ocean Classrooms Marine Biology courses History: Human Odyssey Renaissance to 1914 Geography: SCM Geography Africa Latin: Latin for Children rest of A and start B Harmony Fine Arts Year 5 with Artistic Pursuits Book 1 Logic: The Thinking Toolbox and Fallacy Detective Lit: Figuratively Speaking Typing: BBC typing and typing.com DD2, 2nd grade: Grammar: FLL 3 Writing: WWE 3 or Write from History Early Modern Spelling: AAS rest of 4, part of 5 Vocabulary: Wordly Wise 5 and 6 Science: The Elements and Holt Physical w/ DD1, interest-led science History: Human Odyssey Renaissance til 1914 with DD1 Geography: Daily Geo Practice 3 and part of 4 Math: MM3A and B

My thoughts with the "smoothies are bad for you" line of thinking was really talking about going to a Smoothie shop where they're likely filled with sugar or thickeners. But otherwise, I think smoothies are good for you! I try to have a smoothie for breakfast at least a few times a week and I've felt a lot better health-wise since starting that. I usually use water instead of milk though.

Educational DVDs (like old school Carmen SanDiego) for watching on road trips or long car drives. I check out a few science, poetry, history books along with the ones the kids pick. They often finish reading the books they chose and pick up the ones I picked out from sheer boredom! I use our read-alouds to expose them to different cultures, times, and places as much as I can. I also use our breaks or vacations to visit family (or when family visits us) to go to local art museums. We play educational games sometimes instead of doing that subject formally which the kids see as a treat. I also get puzzles of different architectural structures around the world, famous places, famous paintings, or a massive instrument for us to put together as a family. The games or puzzles lead to more natural questions/discussion with the kids which they don't see as "learning." I've also tried to make lots of international friends for the kids (our neighbor in VA was from Ethiopia. My kids had no idea where that was...led to the kids researching it so they could "surprise" neighbor next time with all their knowledge) to meet and learn from organically. Exposure to music has been harder for me to do slyly. I'm still working on that one.

Burners Grew up in CT

Hmm...we use the Tako app for writing hiragana/katakana and Kanji. Dr. Moku's app for hiragana and katakana recognition. Memrise app and MindSnacks app for vocabulary and JLPT prep. A good overview for you would maybe be Human Japanese and some youtube videos. We also use some Kanji and Japanese vocabulary workbooks from Amazon, Tuttle Flashcards, things like that. I like Japanesepod101.com and Pimsleur but they bore my kids sometimes. We also have the bonus of immersion. I sometimes do JLPT boot camp's channel on youtube for the nitty gritty grammar if my brain can handle it! My learning more and going over it with my kids has helped. We also go to Japanese Girl Scout events and talk with Japanese neighbors a bunch. There are also sites like italki.com that can connect the kids with a native speaker, which is super helpful. We use a lot of different things when/if we feel up to it. We have a full plate too so sometimes this stuff gets pushed to the side more than I'd like, but we're getting there. I'll edit my post if I think of anything else!

Typically people just go into Rod and Staff 5 after FLL4. I've done that with my oldest (after detouring to some serious other grammar fails) and it's worked well so far. I'd say you could put the 13 yr old in level 6 and be fine. The levels do review the same material with an added layer of depth each time so that may be why 8 looked crazy-complex. Often, the diagrams can look really intimidating. I think most stop grammar at level 8 and then move towards a model of more applied grammar usage through writing. Basically, using your grammar knowledge to allow for clear and deliberate sentence structure. For example, when editing a paper: That sentence sounds weird? Let's diagram it and try to figure out why!

Female over 18 No, I don't think it should be law for a homeschooled child to have someone there while schooling. I'd like to think a parent would be able to make the correct or appropriate choice for what is best for their child and their learning needs. Good luck with your assignment!

I would say No..more-so b/c I'd be a little miffed that there was no offer of payment. Who thinks it's OK to ask someone to watch your dog for free for a week?!

How sweet! I think Sarah Mackenzie has a podcast talking to him about the book...haven't listened to it but it might be interesting for kids who read the picture book to hear from the author. I may have to pick this book up, even though my kids are getting a bit old for picture books.

Another place to look for a diversity of voices and experiences in books is the UUA bookstore. :)

1) Don't lie. Ever. The kids know that you're lying and will lose a lot of respect for you if you constantly engage in blatant lies. 2) Don't introduce your kids to your SO by driving them to the house to find your car in the driveway, clothes in a laundry basket in the hallway, your stuff strewn around this "friend's" house and the SO's kids running to embrace you and calling you "Dad." It was very traumatizing and my Mom had had no idea that that visit was to meet the gf. We were supposed to be going mini-golfing. Which leads to.... 3) Don't lie to your ex about what you're doing on your visits and then ask your kid to lie to ex spouse about it when they get home. 4) Don't put your kids in the middle. They should never ever feel like you will not love them if you are civil to ex-spouse 5) Don't be late with the child support. You aren't punishing your spouse, you are punishing your kids. I had to go to my elite private school in shoes that were duct taped together and in skirts that were too small for me (too short and I had to safety pin them closed with fabric sewed on the side at the banding to keep them together.) I got detention every single day I showed up in inappropriate attire, even though it wasn't my fault. 6) Don't be late picking them up, or don't fail to show up to pick them up. The kid gets punished by coaches and teachers for this. 7) Don't make them drive you and your SO home from dinner at 14 b/c you are too drunk to do so. Don't ask them to cover for you. My parents divorce was very devastating. My mom kept buying bigger and bigger homes she couldn't afford to try to one-up my Dad who could actually afford those things. The financial strain was horrible. I went to a college in a different state to escape the drama and heartache.

This sounds epic!!

It depends on my mood. Some years I want to go out and about, getting an "experiential" gift of going somewhere or doing something that we couldn't justify the time or expense of without a good reason. Some years I like to just get a few books, some nice wine and chill with Dh. Sometimes even going out for dinner with or without the kids. I usually end up baking my own cake but my oldest may be able to handle it all on her own by the time my birthday rolls around again. :hurray:

Dark circles, tiny skinny kid, and not good with milk..on top of canker sores would have me looking more into celiac. Really.

I frequently had that problem with my Brother machine. It was usually a bobbin problem.

I was going to suggest l-lysine but I see you've already got that! When my Dds both had hand, foot, mouth the Dr prescribed them a concoction called 'Magic MouthWash' which was a life-saver when they had a number of painful mouth sores. I usually don't give my kids things like that, but my Dds were truly miserable. I would at least consider visiting the Dr to see if they'd consider an oral rinse for the pain.

If you were to go with two semesters of Chem and Physics, I think it could work. The Elements took us about 7-8 weeks max. with videos she links and acitivities (we school year-round so I'm not as focused on timeframe as I probably should be) and then Carbon Chemistry added about 6-7, as it was denser and had a lot of fun activities. My kids loved both. Now, EE was a good first pass at Physics but get the Advanced or Accelerated (can't remember what he calls it). The computer graphics were very corny (think 90s computer games) but my Dd still enjoyed it. It was a *very* watered-down elementary physics..this isn't going to get into any of the math or advanced concepts. The experiments were very easy to get done. After the applicable lesson, it would go incrementally step by step (with pictures, videos and animation showing where to glue what, or where to attach this piece to that thing). I am allergic to complicated science experiments and this was very easy to get done. You need a low temp glue gun but everything else is included in the box. You even use the box itself for a couple experiments! Now, I felt like I had to add a ton of books and Bill Nye Physics videos in order to really flesh EE out but YMMV. The course took us a few months with the stuff I added in.

It was really great. I was a little afraid of what I would get when Dh asked if he could go "off-list" this year. But he came through!!

Hubby surprised me with a trip to visit owls at an owl cafe' in Harajuku. I really love owls and have always wanted to visit with them up close and personal. It was incredibly sweet and thoughtful and the kids were over-the-moon about telling Mommy. They predicted I'd cry in shock and they were right. :hurray:

Yes, definitely. It was too much for me to keep up with the tiles when using it with my oldest as my youngest was a spaz toddler who was into every.thing! Dd1 didn't really seem to enjoy or learn from the use of the tiles so after the theirs book I just broke out a whiteboard, used different colored markers to illustrate different phonograms and it worked very well. Both my kids were early readers who went through OPG quickly, so for me, using a phonetic spelling program was important to ensure that everything was solid. Oh, and I didn't even break out the tiles or other stuff at all for my little dd when beginning AAS and she's now in the the 4th book and doing fine with the whiteboard. Just to show you that it can still be taught from square one with just the TM and go well. HTH!