My dd is our only child, so it is different situation. She is used to being the only one and it is just our normal way of life. She is 10 yo and has always been homeschooled. I think it helps to have a routine. We have a little free time in the morning. Then she has certain morning chores to be done and so do I. After chores, we do school. You are correct that it does get done fairly quickly. However, we just started our new year and I think we will be working a little longer than we used to. Anyway, after school we have lunch and then clean up. After lunch, we each have free time for an hour or so. Then we start housework. I schedule different sections of the house for different days. We both do housework. After housework, we often have a bit more free time. I make sure she doesn't spend too much time on the computer, but other than that I allow her to entertain herself. I do limit TV also. She reads, writes stories, plays with the pets, etc. Also I try to implement quiet time for myself into the afternoon. I often go in my room and read quietly, watch a little TV or just rest. Occasionally I get a nap.:001_smile: Oh, I forgot to add that we have a morning exercise time after chores when we go for a bike ride or take a walk. I think you just need to get a basic routine going, but necessarily a strict schedule. A good balance of directed activity with you and quiet free time should work.

:grouphug: If your dh is not working, and won't be in school, you won't need to pay for child care, correct? I am not really familiar with other posts you may have made regarding your situation, so I might be missing something. You are considering working because he is unable to find work, so then if you are working because he isn't, he will be there to care for the children. Honestly, I would put a lot of this practical time and effort you are putting into this into helping your dh find work of any sort. Along with a lot of prayer, your efforts could help your family by helping your dh to be able to provide.

I haven't read all the other replies, so I am willfully taking the risk of being the only fuddy-duddy here.:D Strapless is a no-no in our household not only for dd but also for myself. I used to not allow tank tops in public, but have relaxed a little about that. I allow them if they have wider straps and are more like sleeveless than tank tops. I allow dd to wear a spaghetti strap top (she only owns one) around the house in the summer, but if we leave, she has to put a shirt or a little shrug thing over it. When she is an adult and out on her own, she can wear strapless things then if she chooses. I pray that she doesn't choose to do so.:tongue_smilie:

We just started our new year this past week. Our summer lineup is: English From the Roots Up Bible Reading Bible Memory Work God and the History of Art CLP Nature Reader book 4

Yes, it is my favorite time of the year. :tongue_smilie: LOL I guess I have no life, but I look forward to the used homeschool book sales all year long. The bargains are great, and it is just plain fun. Last week was my hs group's sale. I sold some things, but did not find much to buy.:glare: This Saturday is another sale, and the beginning of June, there will be another. Really, I don't need a lot this year, but I hope to find a few good things. It is the one time of year I get to spend some money almost guilt free.:D Go and have a great time and buy lots of books.:lol:

I'm not sure what block scheduling is, but we follow a loose, year round homeschool routine. We just started our new year this week.:) What I plan to do, is school less formally over the summer. We are doing a read aloud of dd's choice, English From the Roots Up, Bible reading and memory work, and some art and science. Then when the traditional year starts, we will change it up a bit. I will set aside some things we are using , and add in math and other language arts. This way, I think I will cover more in a year, and we will have more variety.

Okay, well I am a Christian, but I find that sign strange.:glare: That's nice that they aren't participating, but my dh's hours have been cut, so we are participating. Therefore, I would not be going in their store to buy something. Even if I needed something they sold, I would go elsewhere. What the sign says just gives me an uncomfortable feeling and I am not sure why.:confused:

This is an interesting thread. I would be very interested in getting a recorded copy or printout of SWB's talk where she mentioned this.:001_smile: It sounds like just my kind of thing. I wake up between 7 and 8. Sometimes dd is awake and she reads in her room for a while. Sometimes she wakes up right after me and gets up. For a few days lately, she has slept in a bit or has read in her room for thirty minutes or more and I have really enjoyed the quiet time to myself.:D Just to have a little time to have some coffee and read or watch a little TV all alone is so nice. After breakfast we do chores and then start school about 10. We are done before 12:30. Although dd is 10 yo, our school days are shorter than many of yours because I school in a more informal , relaxed manner. Also, dd is an only child, so I am not schooling anyone else and distractions are more limited. We also school year round in a relaxed way, so we end up covering plenty of material. It is true that each family must do what works for them. :) Now I am off to plan my "off duty" hours. I like that idea!

We limit what we get involved in also. My dd is an only child, and I still feel that our lives are pretty well balances. We do 4H once every two weeks and an occasional homeschool group activity. That's it. No co-op, no dance lessons or sports. I believe that dd and I being home together allows us to be closer as a mom and dd and lays a good foundation for our future relationship. She bonds with me and we do fun things together like bike riding and going for walks. We also enjoy taking care of our chickens and working in the garden. So, we are mostly homebodies, but we do enjoy getting out for an activity from time to time. It's all about balance.

I have read several posts on various hs boards about people having trouble when they order from them.:glare: So, it does not surpsrise me that you are having issues. I have never placed an order from them, so I have no firsthand experience. I do like some of their materials, but if I want to order them, I find another company who carries the items and order from them instead. I hope you get it worked out soon.:grouphug:

Count me in.:grouphug: Dh's hours have been cut at work. Groceries and money run out between paydays. So far, we have been able to pay the bills, but a couple of times, things have been put off until next payday. Then the cycle continues and we are more in the hole next time. Dh's old truck is having issues. Now I went out to my car this morning to go do a couple of errands and it won't start.:glare: Please pray that it is just something simple like the battery. There is NO money for a costly repair. I am praying now for the needs of all of you.

I am one of the people who will only be buying used curriculum this year. In the past, I was able to buy some of my things new, and some used. This year, it will likely all be used. I am so thankful that I am blessed to live in an area with three nice used curriculum sales. I will be having a table at one of them in a few weeks and selling some of my books. They will be marked with very inexpensive prices. While I raise some money to go toward books for my homeschool, other moms will find some good buys. Also, I will buy from other homeschool moms and that will help them have money to buy what they need. Many of them will likely use the money to order new curriculum. When I can afford to do so, I like to buy new books. However, it is just not possible at this time. My dh's hours have been cut at work, and we are struggling. So, I refuse to turn my nose up at the blessings of used curriculum, whether it is buying or selling. I am poor, but I am not cheap or chintzy or tacky.:lol: At least I don't think so.

I would not ask for my money back if I chose to not buy insurance. When I sell items online, I always pay the little bit it costs for delivery confirmation. That way, if the person says they did not receive it, I can track the package and see what is going on. I hope you get your items soon.

If I were considering doing BJU DVD's, and could afford to do so, I would use all subjects.

Dh just bought me a new bicycle and I claimed it as an early Mother's Day gift.:D Now I realize maybe I shouldn't have done that since I could have gotten something else. :001_huh: We don't do anything really special. We go to church and dh and dd give me a card and perhaps a small gift. We keep holidays very low key here in our family.

Thank you for sharing that wisdom. :) I needed to hear that as I plan for the upcoming year and feel sad that I don't have as much money to spend. I know that it isn't necessary to spend a lot to educate my dd. I think we will have a great year.

I am participating in a used book sale to try to sell some of my stuff in a few weeks. Whatever doesn't sell, I will choose some things to send in to them. I sent them some things a couple of years ago also.

Good idea. :) My homeschool group has a website for members and one of the sections is called "Blessings" for things you want to give away. Nobody has posted any curriculum there, though. In fact there is a for sale section and there has been practically nothing posted there either. I hope you get some answers because I would definitely take advantage of something like that if it were available in my area.

This thread has been so helpful to me.:) I was considering using Intermediate Language Lessons for the upcoming year. Now I have it downloaded as well as the Advanced Language Lessons. I can print off a few pages at a time and put them in a binder as we get to them.

Reading that thread made me remember something that happened at our former church. Each year, the church members would nominate men to be deacons. On two different occasions, my dh was nominated. He was willing to serve, and met the scriptural requirements. However, he was given a paper with several other things that he had to agree to in order to be a deacon. One was completely abstaining from alcohol. I don't recall all of the others, but do recall that they included: 1. Being at all church services. 2. Participating in the organized outings where they went witnessing. (Dh often participated in this, but not every time) 3. Agreeing to tithe the 10 percent all the time. (Not that tithing is "unbiblical", but not a specific requirement of a deacon. We did often tithe, but sometimes fell short in that area) There were several others, but I don't remember what they were. Dh just had to turn down the nomination both times because he could not, in good conscience, agree that he would do all these things. We are no longer at that church. Have any of you dealt with churches expecting these "extras"? Apparently it is more common than I realized? :confused:

Ok, I just saw this story. That is really strange.:001_huh: No church is perfect, of course. You will have to decide if you can overlook that type of thing in his sermons.

You have gotten many good Biblical answers, so I have nothing to add except a New Testament reference. In 1 Timothy , we see the qualifications of pastors and deacons. The deacons are "...not given to much wine, not greedy of filty lucre." It does not say no wine at all. Now there are some who say the references to wine really mean grape juice.:001_huh: Yes, I used to belong to one of those churches , and my current pastor may believe that also. I am not sure. Anyway, if was just grape juice, why the warnings against too much for the deacons? For my dh and I , we would not join that church if they required us to commit to that. If you like the church, you could still attend and enjoy the worship, fellowship, and teaching without formally becoming members. I hope you and your dh find a solution that works out for you.:)

Check out the books at the Keepers of the Faith website. The are very , very particular about what books they sell. Also check out the Rod and Staff catalog. They sell wholesome reading books for all age levels, even adults.

I had bought SOW used, and never felt like I could figure out how to pull it off. Also, I just felt like it was not quite as thorough as I wanted regarding topics like grammar, science, geography and history. I think it is a very good curriculum, but not good for me because I just need a little more user-friendly materials since I am scatter brained.:001_smile: For another approach that center on Bible, check out the Heart of Wisdom teaching approach. I don't know their website address, but you could find it by googling, I am sure. They sell unit studies for this, but they are pricey. She sells a book called "The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach" that explains it and tells how you pull it together for yourself. I hope you find something that you like. :)

I am on a search for the same thing. :) In addition to the ones listed above, here are a couple more that other homeschoolers online have pointed out to me. These are by Shoelace Books: They are called Simply Language Arts http://shoelacebooks.ecrater.com/category.php?cid=272768 Here are some for the younger children. These look interesting because they are based on the seasons. http://home.att.net/~classicalwriting/Primer.htm#Series Good luck with your search. Enjoy your new CM approach.