But not for everyone. I wanted to love them but just couldn't, and my kids did not like them. I was disappointed.

Thats hilarious. I have lost everything twice now (and yes it is VEY upsetting!), since starting to homeschool, including zillions of bookmarks and many, many ebooks- mostly bought rather than free. I still hardly missed any of it! Every now and then I think of an ebook I used to have that I wouldn't mind using...but its always something I can easily live without and substitute with something else. Now I have a back up hard drive with masses of space in it..I just have to remember to actually back up my documents regularly.

I agree....this board has widened my perspective immensely. I am not sure it has actually changed my views, but it has exposed me to persepctives I really didnt know existed, especially in such large numbers! I dont have many conservative Christians in my personal world- a few homeschoolers, but I don't socialise with them much. However, I feel my kids do get exposed to other perspectives. My son is a rebel, anti authority type and if we, his parents, think it, well, he will take a different opinion just because. His best friend is Christian and they discuss things. He is very keen to notice other opinions and perspectives from his family. And thats just the way he is. My kids do not blindly believe everything I tell them. I think it is a normal (healthy but annoying!) teenager characteristic to want to find out for yourself and challenge your parents- to find out what ideas sink and which float, when put under pressure! I dont go out of my way to find opposite opinions...they seem to find out for themselves.

Yes, I suffer from guilt and the least of my worries would be a bird curriculum! But I have plenty of uinfinished things like that also. I really wanted my kids to love nature study, and they never really took to it- except that they do love animals. They have their own way or relating to nature and didnt ever want it to be like "school". Everything I tried fell flat. But I have many other unfinished plans and I just have had to accept that we couldn't do it all. But, I guess that whenever I have let go of one plan, another took its place, so we never stopped doing stuff. The hardest part for me now is all the books we wont have time to read.

We are really loose around food here. We eat whenever and pretty much whatever we like, within reason. We dont eat much meat (dh is vegetarian, the kids and I eat meat about 2, sometimes 3 times a week) and I dont take any notice of serving sizes- but then, I dont usually cook food from packets either. Our food bill is pretty high, though, but that is partly because I have taken to eating (and serving ) much, much more vegetables, and we always have lots of fruit, and I am trying to do as much as possible organic. I think our food bill is about 2/3 or more, fruit and vegetables- which is a good thing, however, not cheap.

We love it. My dog is a middle sized, placid to the extreme, tending to overweight mixture of a dog. She is about 5 now. Easy to the extreme. Doesn't bark. Sleeps mostly. Loves her walks though. Dh bought himself a jack russell cross maltese and she is a ball of energy, hyper, barks, always wants to be in your lap and if you stop patting her she will wriggle till you start again. Very demanding dog! But...loveable and cute too. She has actually been a great companion to our other dog because they have such different temperaments and Little Dog (yes, we call her that) jumps all over India and keeps her active, which is good for her. Probably annoys her to pieces but you couldn't tell. So, in our case...it has been a good thing and dh adores his little friend, who also adores him- they are bonded and he takes her everywhere. India sits in our school room and just sleeps all day. India sleeps outside. Little Dog sleeps in a crate inside (otherwise she barks).

Sometimes a counsellor. Sometimes a girlfriend. I use my journal to write about things in order to "talk them through" a fair bit. Sometimes I just wait it out and see if time helps. I also pray and meditate- asking for help can really be effective! I am careful who I use....often, they will not be completely objective so its not always useful to give me a clear perspective, but one way or another, it often helps.

Congratulations Linda!

I completely understand. For 3 years I lived in a rented house where we somehow got away with letting the backyard go wild. The grass was long and I still remember that as my main memory of living there- this wild backyard. Our little suburban patch of wilderness. Hasnt happened since. My dh is a sort of manicured suburban type, but have managed to get chickens and put in a vegie patch, so I forgive him.

I agree. As a 2 dog owner, I do try and protect guests from being overwhelmed with excited pooches as they enter the house. I am especially concerned for children who might be frightened, although our dogs are excessively friendly. But...I do not get offended by people whose (friendly!) dogs sniff me. I treat dogs as worthy of my acknowledgement and respect, and when I enter a dog's home I talk to and acknowledge the dog as a living being rather than part of the furniture. I let the dog smell me and be friendly, even jump up. Then when we have met, I am ready to be with my hosts more fully, and often send the dogs away, which usually signal the owners to call off their dog. However...I do get a little miffed when people who have large, loud, barky or even small yappy nippy dogs do not restrain the dogs. As a visitor, I do not know whether the dog will protect its territory by growling or biting, and I appreciate the owner restraining a dog who is obviously intimidating. I do consider it rude not to in that case, but I also think its an (unconscious) outward expression of hostility toward guests by the owners quite often. But I do discriminate between friendly and not so friendly dog welcomes. Also..in public areas, I used to be amazed how many people would not restrain their dogs around young children and babies. I never trusted ANY dog aroudn my small children until I was very familiar with that dog, and even then, very rarely.

A lot of genius and creative breakthroughs have happened when people were "daydreaming"- including Einstein's. When the normal, conscious, linear, logical mind relaxes...inspiration can happen. I think its an important part of life and I wouldn't put a negative slant on it. Einstein reckoned imagination was more important than anything. For all those who think daydreaming is a bad thing- is that just because you were told so in class at school and never questioned it? Or is it really a considered opinion? It is probably every teacher's bane to have their students daydreaming rather than focusing, but that still doesnt make it all bad. Daydreaming as a chronic habit when one is supposed to be doing schoolwork is probably a habit formed to escape the effort of focusing on schoolwork. And should be dealt with accordingly. I have started my son on coffee (he is 14 ) and that is helping him focus. I think gently bring a child's focus back to the work at hand is perfectly normal and reasonable. But lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater! There is time in life for both, and even during schooltime, a bit of time for daydreaming may provide a "mental health moment" to allow the focused mind to take a break. I think Charlotte Mason was on the ball with her short lessons, to keep kids focused. Drifting off may be a sign of boredom or overload, and a change of subject might help.

I learned to knot socks with a 2 star pattern that has a proper heel and all. Do you have graded patterns in the u.S.? Many pattern books here have 4 stars and a 2 star pattern is just above beginner. Not so hard really. I had knitted fingerless mittens for years before I tried socks. SO I wasnt a complete beginner. My first pair of socks seemed like a huge undtertaking..but very, very satisfying.

Yes, its only the last few months I really feel that "teenager" thing, and I am not getting out of it scot free, apparently. I stress, I argue, I tear my hair out, I yell...I wonder what happaned to our wonderful close relationship...then I get a big warm hug by someone who used to be little who suddenly is now TALLER than me. Ds14 has ridden his bike to the mall to go to see Robin Hood with several other kids his age. His girlfriend was supposed to be there but couldnt make it. Dd15almost16 has ridden her bike to the Venturer hall to help them build a Rover hall next door. Then she will come home and catch the bus into Fremantle, and meet up with friends and go shopping, and catch the bus home. Life is different. I still do a lot of driving for them, but they have taken hold of their own lives with both hands. Gone are the days I organise social events or even homeschooling excursions for them. I am not finding it easy, sometimes. BUt there are still plenty of good times and fun times and lots of breaks where they are off doing their own thing, for me to catch my breathe and get a feeling for what it will be like in a few short years when they are not living here and my life doesn't revolve around them any more. ANd you know...I think I am going to be ok :)

I only get them to ask Dad when I want back up for my answer and I already know what his will be. Otherwise...we often differ and for us, I am the one who will say "sure, go ahead" and he will say "no way". So, when I acutally want to say "no way" (such as dd15 goign to a party where there will be alcohol), I get them to ask him and he can be the bad guy, which doesnt bother him at all. My kids know how to manipulate the mother versus dad thing to the max, so we have to outsmart them. We both know we both do it :)

Mine has been as low as 60/40 and my doctors dont know how I am walking around. It is hereditary- mum has low blood pressure, dad's is normal. Dh's was low until recently- now its normal (he is 56 though and a little overweight). So my kids will have it too most likely- dd15 already has problems with dizziness on standing. It has affected my life tremendously and along with a difficulty in absorbing iron, makes me quite tired. But..it suppsedly has no harmful affects. I don't know about that. The one thing I cant do is stand for long periods- in queues especially, or when I do my yoga and chi gung exercises. Standing exercises cant last more than a couple of minutes or I feel terrible and start getting whoozy and dizzy. What I did do was stop restricting my salt intake. I used to always be skimpy on the salt and then I realised that for me, salt is ok, even good. However, I only use sea salt which has all the micro-minerals in it. Other than that, regular walking seems to make me feel better. Exercise normalises blood pressure, so its goo either way.

You are only looking at yourself through other people's eyes. Never such a healthy thing. Do you know those people are happy? Will they be happy later, or ever? Do they even know what happiness is? Life is made up of the small things much more than the big things. Its the small things that make us happy- friends, family, being able to appreciate what we have, being able to enjoy a garden or cooking or a smile...living in service to others in some way. Its all those little things that make up every day that make us happy, not being able to rest on the laurels of our past. I am at peace with mediocrity in the eyes of the world. I have a grandmother whose whole life was about achieveing and overcoming her past, and she was always telling me I was wasting my life, my good mind, by not climbing the ladder of success the way she did, in her own field. But her example was not one I would want to emulate at all- she is not a role model I look up to, even though I love her. In many ways I see that she wasted her life because she couldnt let go and just be happy. Same with my dad. He was a workaholic career scientist who neglected his family because he always put himself first. He still can't understand why my brother has 6 kids- can't conceive why anyone would want more than the obligatory 2! But he is an empty shell of a man in some ways...it is only since he was diagnosed with cancer he has decided to make the most of the life he has left, and started valuing what is truly valuable. Living by one's own values is more important than anything...especially more important than living by the world's values. I think its good to sometimes imagine we only have 1 year left to live- what is really important to us? Most people presume they have forever and the future is never certain.

My step father died a few weeks ago and specifically asked for no service. He was an alcoholic Irishman, and he just wanted everyone who wanted to give him a send off, to get together for a pissup wake. So that is what my mother is organising. Plus she will be scattering his ashes on an area of land he lived on for most of his adult life. But- these were his explicit wishes. I would hold a wake myself and even a ceremony if I felt so inclined, if I felt it was important to me. I wouldn't worry about the MIL- she wont care any more what you do. But do what you need to do to get closure and healing and celebration of her life, for yourselves and whoever else feels similarly.

As others have said, it would very much depend on what sort of involvement the school wanted. I would appreciate to be able to put my kids in certain classes in highschool- even extra curricula ones. When I asked our highschool they were quite negative about it, but homeschooling is not a common option here and most poeple don't know about it. I would be happy to compromise to some extent to give my kids the best of both worlds.

The mother needs love too, even though she doesn't appear to deserve it. The way I handle situations like that, especially when it doesnt feel appropriate to say nything, is to hold them all in love as much as I feel able. Its called metta...you send loving kindness towards people who press your buttons. Not that I wouldnt be disturbed...but the mother needs to be reached, and punishment and judgement probably won't do the trick. How about asking if she would like you to mind her kids while she has her appointment? Showing someone some kindness can make a difference. Even if it seems undeserved.

It's not something we would usually say, but I think it's all in the delivery. Words only have the power you give them and yes there are some words I find offensive, but I am pretty liberal with my language. We swear a little around here...it's only offensive to us if its delivered in a way thats meant to give offence (and that happens!). Then, the intent is addressed- the words are secondary. It's more important to me that my kids know when it is appropriate to use certain words and when it most certainly isnt, when its humorous and when it isnt, and how to discern and be socially sensitive. I know they swear anyway- well, my ds14 does- but I honestly dont have any moral high ground to stand on, even though I am not a big swearer...so, that is my approach.

I can't remember, but I try and get my kids to give me an oral narration most days about what they are reading independently. Sometimes over the years it has been more detailed and formal, sometimes just an informal "how's that book going? " We tend to do more structured writing and discussion at the end of a book (not every book though). When I read aloud (which I still do in the logic stage for some books) we tend to discuss as we go. We also do brief narrations of yesterday's reading before we start today's, to jog our memories. I think its the sort of thing you find your own way with over time. I dont like to let discussion or analysis or narrations of readings swamp the love of reading or become too tedious, so I pick and choose when and what to focus on for periods of time.

I get that there is a place for this type of thinking and there are times to put aside emotions, for sure...but I also think that men who lose touch with their feelings are quite a common problem in our society, and its not something I would want for my son. It's one thing to be capable of surviving in the world, playing it tough, never taking a day off work and all that...but is that really, all the way through, what we would want for anyone, even our heroic men? That they can never take a day off because they can't take time to feel- grief for a loved one, time to get in touch with themselves? How many of these types of men are workaholics- addicted to work to avoid their emotional life altogether? I am not talking all touchy feely new agey. I am just saying...I think men could generally do with some getting in touch with their feelings, and its women who could generally do with some letting go of being so emotionally centred. My ideal is to find the balance for both my rather excessively emotional but self centred son, and my fairly unemotional and outgoing daughter, rather than impose societal roles on them to fit into.

Some kind of virus your body is fighting? Low iron levels? Low thyroid? Adrenal burnout?

You have a 14yo. I completely understand.

I would do it if necessary by 15. It hasn't been necessary. Dh and I went to Bali for 3 nights back in February. We had some friends who were in their early twenties- a couple- come and stay in the house with the kids. They didn't feel "babied", but they were being watched by people we felt were reasonably responsible (but who at the same time enjoyed pizza and movies and loud music like our teens!).