Julie, thank you. I'm glad combining the two has worked for your daughter. My son is similar in some ways - good on the conceptual side of things, but slower with the computational part. Somehow Maths almost seems easier for him the further we go, does that makes sense? (Maybe he needs to start AOPS for that reason alone!) He doesn't have the visual-spatial talent your daughter has, though, from what I've seen so far. I think, to answer Roadrunner, my main reason for doing the two together, and consequently taking longer with each, is because my son loves BA so much and he doesn't always do well with change. I think if we just come to a sudden stop with Beast, then he could end up resenting AOPS just because it wasn't BA. Whereas if he is already using, and hopefully enjoying (I think he will, but you never know!), AOPS then I hope it will make the end of Beast Academy easier to cope with. So, my reason for interweaving the two it is for emotional reasons not mathematical reasons (or not having BA5 available). deerforest, my son would definitely be asking the same, if we had had to move on already! Emma x

My 11 year old son (grade 5/year 6 - we are in the UK) is coming to the end of Beast Academy 4. He loves Maths and really loves the style of Beast Academy. He doesn't struggle with it, even the starred questions, very much. He is happy to spend time puzzling over the questions. So, I think AOPS will probably be a good fit for him. At the moment he is saying he wants to study Maths at university, and even to do a PhD in the subject, so I am taking that to mean that he really enjoys it! 😄 Anyway, I have been considering doing Beast Academy 5 alongside AOPS pre-algebra (so a chapter or two of BA, followed by a chapter of PA), in order to ease the jump from lovable monsters (I read it aloud to him with voices!) to big textbook with no pictures, rather than any worry about the Maths content. Has anyone tried this? Can anyone see any drawback to this plan that I haven't spotted? Emma x

Has anyone used this? Paid for its services? Any feedback? http://musictrainingclub.com and http://talentplayground.com I would be interested to know what others have thought. It isn't massively expensive but I hadn't heard of it before. It is to support my son at home with pitch training particularly (and to help me at the same time!). Apologies if I am rambling. I'm very tired this afternoon! Best wishes Emma

Also still praying. Xxx

💕 I'm a year behind you - my son has been gone four years. Love and peace to you while you wait for the day when when all our tears will be wiped away. Xxx

We're big fans of Qwirkle here. It's a good one for younger children, as well as older children and adults, I think. When I play with my 8 year old we tend to play 'collaboratively' with our pieces on show and giving each other help. I'm sure he won't want to do that forever though! :)

Lyra, definitely, for colouring and anything that needs coloured pencils, rather than 'art'. :) We've had ours ages, used them loads and they are still going strong...

Lots of love to you, Emily, and your family. :grouphug: Emma xxx

Laura - thank you! There were a few there that I needed reminding of. :D I think someone (hint, hint) ought to write a reference guide for those of us who didn't pick these things up when we were younger (I'm from a pretty working class background), non native speakers of English, people overseas and the like. Emma x

You know, that is one of my biggest consolations too. An heir and a spare is no bad idea. It does make it hard to be down to your spare though. (Please everyone, take this in the spirit I mean it.) Rosie, I hope your daughter helps you to get through each day as my son has done for me. I saw that she has a plan. :001_smile: A child's pragmatism in the face of death is really touching. When William died (from leukaemia, so it was expected) Edward was only 5. One of the first things he said to me in the morning when he woke and found out William had died in the night (at home in our bed) Edward took me aside and away from the community paediatric nurses and whispered to me 'Does this mean I can have all William's toys now?' Yes, Edward. Yes you can. :001_smile: I hope you have people around you that are helping with the practicalities that must be facing you at the moment. And I hope you have good people close by to pick you up when this hits you properly. Thinking of you and your daughter most of the time here. Emma xxx

Rosie, I am so, so sorry to hear this dreadful news. Much love, from someone who has lost a cheeky little bugger of her own Emma xxx

I thought I would chip in, as the mother of a child who is now effectively an only child, although he had an older brother here for the first five years of his life. (He still has an older brother, but not here on earth, iyswim.) No, I am the eldest of 4. Yes. I always wanted to have 4, 5, 6 children. I was so desperate not to have an only child for any longer than necessary I started trying for a second baby when William was 6 months old, despite having had a terrible birth with him. I'm now in my late 30s. I am really hoping that my health (and our finances) improved so that we can have some more before it is too late! (I trying hard to leave this in God's hands and have peace over it...) No, he doesn't. He really would like me to have 'lots' more babies. William wanted me to have lots more too. We really like big families here! :001_smile:

Praise God! What wonderful news! Continuing to pray. Emma xxx

When I was at primary school we looked at it in one or two lessons (a school that took teaching history seriously and taught it pretty thoroughly), at secondary school not at all. I think it is just a bit of a non event in many British people's minds. I don't agree with that, but I suspect that is how it is viewed by many. We definitely concentrated on Europe and particularly England at school. We didn't learn any history of Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland at secondary school. I don't think it is anything to do with being ashamed. I think in this country we don't tend to view the decisions of rulers or governments on our behalf as indicative of either the 'goodness' or 'badness' of the people - most ordinary people here were suffering under their hands as much as those overseas. I can't imagine children in this country being taught 'the British are great!' in school nowadays! :lol: Emma x

I am sorry that I have missed this up till now. I am praying too. I lost my eldest son to leukaemia on Easter Sunday three years ago so have some understanding of what you are going through. How much harder with an adult child though... With much love, Emma xxx