I quotes this in full because it should be read twice.

Ok...I will jump in...nitty gritty time. Philosophy aside, which is always nice to discuss but can put a novice homes school mom into a tailspin depression because she JUST CAN'T SEE IT. What does my homeschool look like when I teach from a place of " rest"? Well, it is certainly NOT restful...LOL, but it IS GOOD. Not restful: a stack of workbooks, exams with those workbooks, a certain # of pages which MUST GET DONE NOW!!!! Fall behind, try to catch up, can't catch up, feeling like a failure, go into anxiety mode, put ridiculous expectations on everyone to try to " catch them up", have the kids shut down, rebel and start salivating at that beautiful yellow bus. Restful: We have chores that must get done in the morning. I can not be at rest with a pile of laundry next to me and a pile of poop in the cat box. 15 minutes can change the world! I have 3 students this year. One is very resistant and can throw our entire day into bedlam. I don't let him. Math and reading are non-negotiable. Each child has a book they read for an hour when they wake up. We are slow to rise, and I need a minute to drink my coffe and veg while my body kicks into gear. Ok, history, music, poetry, art, geography, writing assignments, science, copy work/dictation, etc. are on a timeline for me. IOW, this year we studied from the early explorers thru the revolutionary war. Some of my kids were very focused on maps and how they changes, one on military weapons and strategy and how it changed from ancient times into modern times, we studied the scientific discoveries of the time period and also read biographies of scientists ( Galen, Galileo, Isaac Newton, Kepler, Copernicus, etc. ). We did some demonstrations and some models of what these scientists discovered. They are not experiments because we know what is supposed to happen. We gather together after our table work. table work includes: Math, copy work/dictation, a writing assignment ( I am using a <gasp> workbook here because I can assign it and then check to make sure the lesson was done properly. ) Any assignments from our family school which were assigned as independent work....mainly for my high schooler. This time is usually 1 1/2 hours for my youngest who is 10, 2 1/2 for my 12 year old and 15 year old. The 15 year old also works independently in the evening) Family school consists of: Bible reading. We read and discuss. Sometimes I assign memory verses. Sometimes we read from different versions etc. We are now reading from the book of John. Story of the World. We read a section 3x a week. Discuss, find hooks, find reasons, discuss what ifs etc. what makes a good leader, Mehta makes a bad leader? Why was so and so successful, why did so and so fail? What would you have done if..., my kids will usually color...yes, even my teen and her pics are awesome. Flip color page over...write some things you remember in a list. We do most of the maps...if we have time. Teen DD has other resources to read and she writes one composition a week on some related topic of study. Science Biography: we read a chapter from a science bio 3x a week....we make sure to watch some type of video documentary, listen to audio lectures etc. My kids are NOT STEM motivated. Nth is has been the only way I have found to introduce science topics to my kids in a way they don't run screaming from the room. Videos and experiment kits and biographies. We cover the topics. Thank God for documentaries, coursera and YouTube! Literature: each child reads on their own for at least an hour in the morning. We also read aloud ( we do include historical fiction, but it has to fall within the category of literature as well. I will read a chapter or 2 or 6 aloud. We discuss. I point out literary terms. I have them listen for metaphors, similes, foreshadowing, etc. I ask, who is the protagonist? Why? Who is the antagonist? Why? We make story maps, or plots. We talk about how the story line matches such and such story in the Bible or Shakespeare. We talk about conflicts and resolutions. My little guy is quite adept at pulling themes and morals out of the most difficult stories. He adds to the conversation every bit as well as his older siblings. He has been part of this conversation since birth. He was born into a homeschooling house hold. Now, these are just ideas, and some of how I do it. It will not work for everyone. I am comfortable doing what I do because I was naive enough when I was younger to trust I would provide my kids with a solid education if I just worked at it and made it part of their lives. My older kids couldn't wait to graduate from college so they could get back to their education and their studies! LOL! Yes, they have said that! Do we have gaps?? Yes. Do I feel like I am missing the boat sometimes?? Yes. Do I get nervous and want to ship them out?? Some days for sure! My kids have not studied foreign languages .... I am sorrybfornthat, but the opportunity did not arise, and they were not really inclined. They studies music and art. Some studied sciences deeply, others gave it a precursory glance. They can all read well, write well, communicate clearly, work hard, moffer service to others, carry on intelligent conversation and support themselves. I am convinced their lives are richer for what was provided to them by teaching from a place of rest, interspersed with times of panic, and topped with lots of love and companionship. We grew up with each other. We are still learning with each other, albeit through text messages, Facebook and phone calls! My younger kids have a different type of lifestyle than the orders did. Their mom works part time, their mom is older and a little less enthusiastic. Their mom needs naps more often! But, I keep coming back to the place where school ( or education) is a life and a lifestyle. We do not need to wrestle with anything but ideas! We do not need to test every little gain! What we do need to do is trust ourselves to provide the best, work hard to provide it and trust the process. Good luck! It is a long strange journey, but so worth the effort.

Me too.....lol!! However, I think I work this old body too hard for that. Sigh... Peaceful yoga sounds nice....but I am more of a lift something really heavy and toss it over there girl, then run hills for an hour until my legs and my lungs are screaming," sit the F down, what are you trying to do...kill us??? ". Yup, that is more my style. 😉 Oh, so, tonight I ran 6 miles with crazy hills both ways...yep, my legs and my lungs are screaming!

Ok!!! I want your kettle bell and your DVD!!!! Where did you get it??

Tuesday: no cardio! Lol! I stuck with an abs, core, back routine. Lots of dumbells. My 10 lb'ers are getting too light!! Yeah!! It's been a long time in coming. Wednesdays plan is a 3 mile easy walk, cycle class and barefoot class tonight. Hoping to burn off some of the extra eating I have been doing 😜. Spring makes me hungry! ( so do the other 3 seasons.)

Swellmomma, when I started to workout, I could barely walk up my driveway to get the mail. My driveway is only 3 car lengths long! Start at the start. There is no posing, just making progress or giving up. For me, giving up wasn't an option. I had to take care of my kids and my parents. My parents are gone now, but I still have those kids!! I slowly worked my way up to 3 miles of walking daily. That was IT for 10 years! In that 10 years, I lost 100 lbs, had many major health setbacks and finally, 2 years ago, at my daughters insistance, joined a gym. I was embarrassed and miserable, but found classes I love and other women I love more! My gym people encourage me more than I deserve and when they believe in me, I believe in me. I could not hold a plank for 3 full seconds....I can hold one for 3 whole minutes now. I could not do 1 push up....even modified....I can do 50 modified non stop, and about 25 regular ... I could not run between telephone pole to telephone pole last June. I ran a 10k last September in under an hour...and I am training for a 1/2 marathon next fall. I am not bragging, and I hope it doesn't come off like that....I just want you to know I started in the worst possible shape I could ever be in....bed-ridden for months. I think you have seen some of my posts through the years. I KNOW you can do this!!! You have the strength of character and the drive! This community of exercisers is actually a community of encouragers. We are here for each other. We root for each other. We are proud of one another's accomplishments and help each other over the hurdles that can seem insurmountable alone. WELCOME ABOARD!!!!! And I, for one, can not wait to cheer on your achievements!!! Now, GO GETTUM!!!!

Sucked it up and did 4.5 on the dreaded treadmill.

Crazy busy weekend. Saturday did bootcamp and cycle back to back... Them went hiking in the snow 2.5 miles straight up hill with my kids. We did great, and no one fell down the mountain. We only almost lost one shoe! Yesterday did lots of house chores and then ran 3.1 in 28 with my last mile split my fastest pace. Today is a cycle/strength day, but my ds needed to get stitches this morning, which totally stressed me out, and my 2 youngest dss have an extra karate class tonight to make up for snow days. I cancelled my cycle and I may run while the boys are in karate. I may just come home and go to sleep for the 2 hours. Sigh..... My legs are tired :-( my arms are tired, my brain is tired.

Bob, it's name is Bob.

Don't do a full CLE curriculum. I love CLE, but the full curriculum nearly drove us off a cliff this year. I am not sure I can ever look at amours light unit quite the same. They made my happy kids cry! Too much of a good thing can become a really bad thing.

Yup. Then bought more crap we can't it will never use ....only to donate that as well! Sigh .

My kids are loving this book! We are in the midst of studying the late 1600's, colonialism and of course...Witch Hunts! It is alive in that my children can put themselves back into the time period, relate to the characters, have discussions as if they were in Kit's shoes, or Williams, or Rachel's or Uncle Matthew's. They can begin to understand why some people behave as they do, why they are willing to die or kill for their beliefs, and how it can be brave to hold your tongue and your weapon. We will be reading transcripts from the Salem Witch trials, as well as studying the inquisition in Europe as it relates. This book set the tone, but it is also literature in its own right. Well written, developed characters, lots of foreshadowing and other literary techniques to point out, and a darn good story to boot.

He is paying more per credit 😡. Frustrating, but true. He can not handle his work schedule and more than 12 credits. He does not want to stop working. He likes the challenge and the change in his days. He is antsy like that. My girls were able to handle 16 credits and work about 10 - 15 hours ( mostly on weekends) and more than full time over the summer, saving every penny. Not easy, but it worked for them. Like I said, dds did have some debt, but no where near what I see other kids graduate with. It is crazy!

Barefoot / cycle class. I am now officially tired. I need a rest day and shall take it tomorrow. Promise. Really. I mean it.

They are weighted medicine balls. Not bouncy, but oh so rolly!

My son is now working his way through college debt free so far. He worked 2 years of high school and saved every dime. Other than buying a car, he is a fantastic saver! He is not taking more than 12 credits a semester, and it will take him longer to graduate, but, he is still working 20 hours a week and getting straight A's. Both my daughters came out of community college debt-free with straight A's and fat transfer scholarships. They do have debt to pay off from their last 2 years, but it is minimal. 2nd dd's greatest expense was her internship program coupled with work toward her masters...$11,000 for working 40 hours a week unpaid and 12 graduate credits, making it impossible for her to work. We covered her rent ( she had to live near her internship) phone, car payment, etc. That one year put a big strain on us all financially, but we were all willing to contribute, including her siblings that took a year off all their extracurricular activities so we could help. What really stinks is that because my kids saved money by working all through high school ( 2nd dd worked as a life guard, swim instructor, park director etc.) they became ineligible for financial aid. It made them feel as if they had decided to sit on their butts and enjoyed their summers, they would have been in the same financial place. So frustrating!! Also, do not be so quick to look down on families who did not save for college expenses. Some of us were working 60-90 hours a week to support our children without any extra support from family or the government. Some of us did not come from families who saw the value of a college education. Some of us come from backgrounds that are not so elite that college is the first priority ( food, shelter and medical care come way before that!). It is easy to tsk, tsk when you have the resources and family backround to make college savings such a no-brainer, but for those of us who need to scratch and claw just to make sure we have food on our tables and clothes on our backs and our electricity and heat turned on, well....mile in our shoes! I will do whatever is humanly possible to get my children academically ready for college and I will financially help them when I can, but...reality says it is just as important to feed and clothe the little ones who still need full support, and cheer on the big ones who can move into adulthood. Off my soapbox.

5 AM is so not happening for me. You, Lucy Stoner are a bad@ss!! Hope you have a coffe pot sized travel mug in your car! So, Tuesday I got 5 miles on extremely hilly terrain. I did this@ 4:30 PM! ( not am :-). ) then came home and took a nap!

Just be prepared....when letting go of the rope, there is inevitably going to be a tumble down mess at the bottom and a bunch of angry towees. They feel it s your JOB to pull that rope, and it has been, because you made it your job. No judgement from me!! I was a rope puller. I decided to let go and the clean up was not pretty. It was necessary, but not pretty. Sometimes, I think it would be easier to pick it back up, but then any progress will be lost. I sometimes feel guilty, because I feel like maybe it is my job to pull that rope!!! I see other moms happily pulling, and pushing, and prodding with good results on their kids! I just don't have the energy or inclination any more. I am NOT a good rope puller!!! I have a hard enough time with my own stuff.

Me too! :hugs:

I drive 25 minutes to boot camp as well. It is also at 7 o freaking clock in the morning! It is worth it.

😁. 💪

Cycle then sculpt. Fun push up progressions.

Yoga this morning after a brutal boot camp yesterday morning which was followed by a brutal cycle class. 💪💪 Thought stretching would help. Not much. Hoping to get some outside miles in this week. Hope the weather and my muscles cooperate.

Beautiful baby!

I had a bout of school in a box right after the Circe thread. Due to family circumstances, we needed a get it done approach. Biggest waste of time ever!!!! My panic led me to order enough workbooks for several families knowing in the depths if my heart that my kids could never just produce finished pages without the benefit of learning anything. Long story short....lesson learned. We do use historical fiction because we like it, but it is not the backbone of our historical studies, but more like a little ice cream with our cake :-) Our homeschool tends to look like life happening. Kids don't always know what is on th roster, or whether or not what I put in front of them is part of a curriculum or something I just found to share. I like to keep them guessing. One caveat before throwing all caution to the wind....don't neglect skill subjects! Even if they are taught in context....and reading/grammar/vocabulary/ handwriting/ writing etc. are easy to incorporate into a good piece of literature,....math, not so much....you must make sure the tools of learning and thinking are in place. A building without a strong foundation does not stand long. It is all well and fine to study the ants outside, or Alice in Wonderland inside, but neglecting the messy partin order to do the more beautiful part can come back to bite you in the nether regions....just a heads up!