Thanks...

Dh and I are going away for the night. We'll be gone about 24 hrs. The kids are 17, 15, 13, 11, 10, and 8. They're pretty good, but definitely not perfect. We're thinking of hiring a 19 year old college student, but don't know how much to pay her. Any suggestions?

what would you put it it, especially if you had a large family. What do you think about two dishwashers? An additional washer/dryer upstairs in the kids section... Thanks for your help

I homeschooled all of my children for ten years. It was a wonderful experience and I have no regrets, but I am so happy I put the kids in school this year. I was a nervous wreck before they started. To my suprise and delight, they are thriving in public school and so am I. I love having the balance to clean and persue my own interests while they are gone. I feel that I am a more patient and focused mother when they come home. I was able to make the decision by telling myself that I could always bring them back home if I wasn't happy. For the most part I really like their schools. What I don't like is the homework that they need help with after school when they are tired and just want to play. Because of homeschooling, I do know how to be strict and make them get it done before playing so it hasn't been that painful. I do wonder why they can't get their work done in eight hours, but I'm not complaining because the good seems to outweigh the bad. Good luck with your decision. Just remember that you can always try it and if doesn't work out, you can bring them home.

How would you figure out how much gas money to give a friend that was hauling your kids on a six hours trip?

This will be the first year my kids will be in school, so I am also nervous and excited. We have already started doing a 20 min. tidy after dinner. One kid does the dishes and the rest of us fold laundry, vacuum, sweep, ect. I am not planning on becoming their maid just because they are in school. I hope we can keep this up. Thanks for all the great ideas, and good luck to everyone as the school year begins.

I don't know what it's called, but if you want to buy something so you type in myname.com, how do I do that. What is that called? Is that different from a blog? Sorry for my ignorance, but I appreciate you help.

My daughter will be attending public school for the first time this fall. How can I best prepare her. She is very sweet and I want this to be a good experience. No horror stories please, just useful advice. She struggles in math so we are working on that, but what else does she need to know. Thanks

I am sending my 7th grade son to public school this fall and need some advice. No horror stories please, just educate me on how best to prepare him. We are speeding through the saxon math so that he can take all Pre-AP classes. He is definitely smart enough, just not very organized. What do I need to tell him about being organized? How much do kids his age know about sex? I want to teach him what is right without planting ideas. We are fighting over wearing a helmet when he rides his bike to school. I have seen enough accidents to know that helmets protect brains, but I understand that he doesn't want the other kids to make fun of him. Thanks for all your advice, we are very excited about this new page in our lives.

I am sending my son to public school this fall and need to know some practical advice. Please no horror stories, just educate me on how best to prepare him. Will people make fun of him if he uses his Star Wars backpack? What kinds of clothes do kids wear? What other kinds of things do I need to teach him? Thanks

I feel that we are entering a new era with our teens and I feel lost. What books have you found helpful in dealing with curfews, texting, sex, drugs, attitude... Yikes, this is scary. Thanks

A few weeks ago, we discovered that our 16 yr old son was taking 5 hour energy shots. We told him to stop, saying that if he was tired, he needed to sleep, not take a supplememt. I personally think they make him on edge. Today, I found out he bought some more. Are they bad for teens? He has always been high strung, but lately he seems even more hyped up, but I don't know if that is from the supplement. How would you handle this situation?

I am thinking about putting my kids in school for a year to try it. They are all so social and I can't seem to meet their needs. My heart is just not into anymore, and quite honestly, the idea of a quiet house during the day sounds wonderful. If I continue to homeschool, I will probably switch to one of the DVD programs like Abeka. What has been your experience with public school for grades 2,4,7? Thanks

Am I going to regret painting my kitchen cabinets white? I have six kids that all love to cook but aren't very good cleaners. I don't want to be constantly looking at dirt on the cabinets, but I can't stand the heavy ash grain of my cabinets. Thanks

Hi all, Our house was built in 1975 and it is always too cold or too hot, despite a huge electric bill. We are thinking about replacing the windows or maybe buying magnetic window covers. What do I need to know in order to make the right choice? If you replaced your windows, did it really affect your utility bill? Also, I have solar screens on the front of the house and am wondering if I should take them off in the winter to allow the sun to heat the house. I am open to any advice that would decrease our energy costs. Thank you.

Hello, My ten year old son has really struggled to learn how to read. We have been using Dianne Craft's "Right Brain Phonics Program" with much success. He is able to read "The Littles" and very simple chapter books as long as I sit with him. We read together for about 20 min. and then he reads what we read on his own. But, he just hasn't taken off and achieved a higher level of reading. My question is, am I doing everything I need to do? Do I need to have him tested? Everyday he seems to move forward, but it is at a very slow pace compared to his siblings. If I have him tested, where do I go and what can I expect? Also, he likes the Explode the Code workbooks and actually seems to need less help with them than with his reading. Can you recommend another workbook type curriculum that he could do as a review? Thank you for your insight.

Hello Ladies, I'm looking for a little insight on my situation. We have homeschooled our six kids since birth. The oldest is in the 9th grade and is a fabulous kid. He babysat for a friend yesterday and even unloaded her dishwasher! Two of my kids have struggled with learning issues that have required a lot of extra time, but they are doing okay now. People say our kids are wonderful, and they are. So why would I want to put them in school? I'm tired. The idea of everyone being gone all day sounds fabulous. There is no down time or quiet time for me with everyone home all the time. I feel that I am a big dissappointment to everyone who ever asks me for coffee or to help them because my answer is always no. When I do say yes to an outside activity, I find it very draining and hate coming home to more work than even before. My kids have chores and help out quite a bit, but I just need some quiet time. Is school going to ruin them? Am I giving up by puttting them in school? This time goes so fast that I want to do the right thing, but I don't want to look back on these years with dred. Thanks for your advice.

Our third child out of six is constantly in trouble. He loves to badger his siblings, not listen to us, and neglects his chores and school work. No amount of punishment seems to affect him. When we take away privledges he glares at us, but he never changes his bahavior. If the punishment envolves loss of computer or tv, he will sneak those things. How do we reach him? None of our other children act this way and we are at a complete loss. Thank you for your advice.

My middle son is in the 6th grade and very smart, but he is so lazy. While my other children are self motivated, I have to remind this child to do everything from chores to homework. He loves football and has enjoyed playing pop warner, but next year he will be too old. I am thinking about putting him in school after Christmas so he can get used to it before football season. The idea of him going to school while the others are still home no longer breaks my heart, so maybe it is the right decision. I'm looking for any insigh or practical advice. What should I be aware of? Thanks

What level of Shurley Grammar would you start with an 8th grader? What about a 6th grader? Could I use the same program? Rod and Staff does not seem to be sticking and I keep finding myself going back to what I learned in Shurley Grammar years ago with my high schooler.

What are your top three favorite books by Steven King? I have never read anything by him, but I listened to his book about writing which was fabulous. He can be very blunt, but I found his book to be honest and helpful. Thanks

All of my oder boys have not started Rod and Staff 3 until the 4th grade. I am planning on starting my 4th grade son with Rod and Staff 3 in the fall, but I don't know what to do with his younger sister. She is a much better reader and is probably ready to start RS 3, but I don't know if it would be frustrating to him to have his younger sister in the same grammar book. Maybe I should just wait and start her next year. Any suggestions on helping kids whose younger siblings are just better at school than them? Thanks

What have been your best read alouds for a 9 year old boy? I heard "Bud, not Buddy" was good. TIA

I really don't have time to read each book and figure out the answers. Are the answers somewhere else? Can you please tell me a little more about how you use the guides with your daughter.

I am not that orthodox, but I was wondering if you thought a catholic could use Omnibus? I looked into Angelicum's Great Book program, but it was not as "busy mom friendly" as Omnibus. I appreciate the lesson plans and answers contained in Omnibus. I have Omnibus I, but I am more concerned about II and III. How have you worked through the Great Books? Are there any catholic websites you found helpful? Thanks, Kristin