I pulled out my then 7year old because he was struggling in 2nd grade, was upset when I picked him up in the afternoons, couldn't read, couldn't write, and the apathetic teacher didn't have a clue how to teach non academic or late maturing boys, and she had a strong preference for academic girls. The difference once he came home was immense. His whole personality changed and became sweet and light again. I was living separately from dh at the time. I needed him on board to look after ds while I worked part time. He was at first very negative. I gave him lots of short, positive articles on homeschooling to read. He realised that ds was struggling in school and agreed to a 6 month trial. Within 2 weeks he was totally convinced that homeschooling was the way to go, and has been my biggest supporter ever since (and we moved back in together soon after). Homeschooling very much brought us together as a family. I pulled dd who was then 9 out of 4th grade a term after pulling ds out, simply because we decided homeschooling was a better option, and we knew we would lose her to her peers very soon, as she is a very social being and very peer oriented. So for her, it was more for social and family reasons. She was not happy about it at all. But within 6 months she was settled and had some great homeschooling girlfriends and was content with her new lifestyle. Something about the homeschooling lifestyle feels very natural once you are in it. You realise kids arent really meant to be separated from their parents at a tender age. I think many fathers get on board once they experience it, but are at first skeptical. You just have to be persistent, offer up information and statistics, and remind him that your son can always go back to school if it doesn't work out.

Raw food diet.

It doesn't sound to me at all like you are doing a bad job, honestly. You are dealing with issues. You think homeschooled kids don't have their own issues? Both academic and social? Your kids sound quite within normal range...both academically and socially. Hang in there. It is normal for kids to not write very well at ages 6 and 10, honestly :). You just meet them where they are at, and move forward.

My kids love history because of SOTW. We didn't do much supplemental reading or many activities at all...but the few activities we did do made an impact, so I would just say I wish we had done more.

We did a fair bit oral, then we changed to written, but with me still sitting and helping for the English to Latin parts at least. I foudn that ds wasnt retaining and writing it down helps- evne if we have just done it orally together. I also have him do the workbook. But, we move very, very slowly through Latin Prep.

I have a 21year old stepdd. We don't expect anything in the way of calls, visits etc. It just happens when it happens. She adores her dad but they conflict a lot too, so sometimes it's good when she takes some space from regular contact. My parents, in particular my mother, believed that she had done a good job of parenting if her kids felt free and independent enough to move away from her and follow their passions, rather than stay close to home to be close to parents. Well, my brother and I both live a fair way away from her- especially me. My parents werent "clingy" to say teh least, and I am far more expressive and emotional as a mum. But I still dont feel I will "expect" anything much.

My close girlfriends were very skeptical and certianly didnt share my enthusiasm. They also didn't understand how I could give up my weekly time with them, and other social engagements, and work, in order to homeschool. However....years later, I generally only get respect from people who have known me for a long time. They see the kids and they see the difference. They know my committment. Your friends will change over time as they see your committment and they see your kids. As long as they don't become too jealous, they will come around. Meanwhile, I would just be really confident to your friends, and kind of brush off their concerns. I learned to be bright and enthusiastic and not share any concerns with people who were already concerned.

Thanks for the suggestions....I am thinking Around the World might fit the bill, except that my kids have seen the movie which means they will resist...but I can probably convince them. The other suggestions I will keep in mind. thanks again.

I agree and I should have been clearer. People are having hormonal troubles undeniably....artificial hormones are a band aid at best, and very dangerous at worst.

Weve done Gulliver....what's Frankenstein like?

Well, he probably will fight you now. I have a son who fights me and he always has. I have chosen not to put him in school, though. At 15...does he have any sense of what he could do next? The year after next...or any sense of direction? I feel that by that age, if a kid, particularly a strong willed kid, doesnt have a sense of direction, it can be hard to motivate them, and they can take out their frustrations on you, the mum. My 15yo dd had no idea of what she wanted to do until a few months ago, and it has made all the difference in the world in her motivation that we have a plan now. She has one more year homeschooling with me before she goes off to probably your equivalent of community college. It gave us a structure to work with- what does she want to finish before then? FOr her, the focus will be on getting her writing quality as high as possible, as well as focus on modern history and current affairs...as she wants to go into journalism. It puts everything in perspective. For her it meant she was willing to do a writing course in her summer holidays- something she would never have done before. Can you take your son to some career advisory places, or fill out those questionnaires, or whatever, to help him gain a picture, a sense of drection? Doesn't mean he cant change his mind. It just helps. A friend of ours has a 16yo son who kept skipping school and she was at her wits end. He came over for a chat with my husband and I, and my husband asked him what he wanted to do. After an hour or so, the kid realised that it was in his own best interests to finish the year at school and get a certificate..and then next year he could go to community college and not have to be in school. But he had to see it for himself. Have you ever seen the book Teenage Liberation Handbook? It might be helpful.

I am looking for "the" book to read aloud to my 14 and 15yos next term. It is my dd15's last year homeschooling with us and we are rushing through the Renaissance/Early Modern period in 10 weeks in order to spend 30 weeks on Modern History- as she is going into Journalism and she really wants to focus on Modern history. I want this year to be memorable and enjoyable. Dd15 will be reading Pride and Prejudice for the term, ds14 will be reading 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (probably something else too). I am ok with Logic Stage books rather than too hard, but it depends (and we have read everything in the WTM logic stage list for this period). I was thinking of a Dickens but it just doesn't excite me. I am looking for a book that kind of/loosely goes with our period, but that is not a heavy going classic. Something enjoyable (classic is ok, just not the meatier end of the spectrum). Any ideas? Can be a bit off beat. We are not treading a strictly classical path.

I am looking for "the" book to read aloud to my 14 and 15yos next term. It is my dd15's last year homeschooling with us and we are rushing through the Renaissance/Early Modern period in 10 weeks in order to spend 30 weeks on Modern History- as she is going into Journalism and she really wants to focus on Modern history. I want this year to be memorable and enjoyable. Dd15 will be reading Pride and Prejudice for the term, ds14 will be reading 20000 Leagues Under the Sea (probably something else too). I am ok with Logic Stage books rather than too hard, but it depends (and we have read everything in the WTM logic stage list for this period). I was thinking of a Dickens but it just doesn't excite me. I am looking for a book that kind of/loosely goes with our period, but that is not a heavy going classic. Something enjoyable (classic is ok, just not the meatier end of the spectrum). Any ideas? Can be a bit off beat. We are not treading a strictly classical path.

When I first read CP, I was feeling very ignorant and getting into the true meaning of the whole classical thing, and I was impressed with CP....now, a good couple of years later, I can completely relate to Bill's comments. I think a good writer is more like Susan Wise Bauer- well educated but not flaunting it with huge words and flowery language. Not showing off how well she can write to an elite audience.....writing so that people can access her knowledge. Clear, warm and inviting writing that inspires you to further educate yourself, rather than making you feel like a dolt. In retrospect, I think Simmons was intellectually arrogant and superior...but I doubt he'd care what anyone thought.

Almond milk- easy peasy. I soak the almonds overnight. That's the best way but you can just use them without soaking too. Use one part almonds to 3 or 4 parts water. More for thinner milk, less for creamier milk. Blend in a blender for a minute or so. A high powered blender is best, but I am sure any will do. I add a date or two for sweetness but it's not necessary. Then you strain the milk. A nut bag strainer is useful- but it's just a nylon fine mesh bag and any way you can strain it is good. You probably need to use a spoon or your hand to squeeze as much liquid out as possible. You can use other nuts, like brazil, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, or macadamias. I have only used almonds though because they are relatively inexpensive. I make smoothies for the kids with almond milk- using frozen bananas and blueberries.

Jennifer, you obviously know better....why on earth are you trusting a doctor rather than your own knowing? You can do the research. Women have survived an awful long time before aritificial hormones came along. We do not suffer from artificial hormone deficit....ever. I would suggest someone is getting rich from them. Probably not your doctors though- they are just plain brainwashed. ETA- do some research on different cultures, diets and osteoporosis. There is a lot of evidence to suggest that the high rates of osteoporosis in western society is related to high meat/protein consumption. Eat lots of greens instead. Women in cultures that dont eat lots of meat and dairy, and do eat lots of greens and have a plant based diet, have far less osteoporosis. You simply have to do your own research.

I have recently let go of raw milk too...as well as most dairy altogether. I was drinking raw mik for a couple of years too. For me, I wasn't getting a specific reaction...I have just been moving more toward vegan and felt I was ready to let go of dairy (although I am not strictly vegan). I feel much better for it. No matter how wonderful raw milk is, and how much better than pasturised milk.....don't forget it is designed for baby calves :) And we are pretty much the only animals that drink milk after babyhood. I am making almond milk and loving it.

I dont feel comfortable with the term "rights" any more. Rights seems to be about makng more laws to me. And the less we care about our neighbour, the less we see ourselves as planetary citizens, the less we recognise everyone as equal, the less we think globally and instead think only of our own small world and what our needs are...the more we need to legislate for "rights". I don't think it's a fundamental, natural concept...I think its a man made one that we had to make up to protect the vulnerable who are being abused by those who don't care. And that's all of us, to some extent. There really *are* thousands of children dying right this moment from hunger and thirst. "Rights" may be a useful stepping stone as a concept to present to those who dont have empathy...but to me it is simply self evident that if we consider ourselves to have rights, we should also be considering the animals to have rights, the plants to have rights, the planet to have rights. And it all melts down. If we think in terms of "rights" its nearly always in terms of "our" rights. And yes As a concept to make laws on...well, ok, but where do we stop? We make more and more laws, and then people dont even have to think for themselves any more. And those who find a way around, break the laws. I dont think "rights" has a firm platform in the beginning. It may be useful as a concept to someone who hasnt considered that black people are equal to whites, or women are equal to men...but can't we get beyond that? Apparently not yet. And yes, apparently we do need laws to protect people, but the question was asking about my deeper philosophy about rights, and I think it falls apart if you look too deeply.

We allow them. Not saying I am perfectly comfortable about it, and we have set limits, but we allow them. We don't have guns in Australia. It's not something that's part of our culture. I am not sure whether the violent war computer games do harm or not. I think they may do harm with kids who are already neglected, at risk, imbalanced etc, but for the general majority, I think it may be more of a release. I know many adult men who play these games and they are not violent people. I know men who are very peace loving who enjoy violent movies and games more than "chick flicks"....it seems to me, and from what I have read, that for a normal, well balanced male psyche, the games can provide an outlet for that warrior spirit. A way to express it without actually hurting anyone. If you've lasted till your kid is 12 without them, you are doing well. My problem with them isn't so much the violence in the games....its how addictive they can be, and how boring everyday life seems without them. We have had to severely curtail ds14's online time because he gets really addicted and unless we set strict limits, he ends up spending a lot of time on them. He has friends on the street, he can still play imaginatively, but if the friends arent there...he complains about "nothing to do" if he isnt allowed on the computer.

I too would leave them alone now. When my kids were younger and we left them alone at home, we would always put on a DVD for them (well, it was actually a video way back). I've actually done the walk round the block thing since they were 5 or 6 years old. But they are my kids with my kids' temperaments- neither was the sort to get into mischief or climb on the roof or drink bleach.

The truth is we are not feeling the pinch too much and as time goes on, I feel that I prefer to prioritise healthy food than spend the money on something that is relaly a luxury. However, I dont buy all organic...only some. It really depends on the day, on what is on special- I am often goign to a local Italian deli and they have amazing B grade fruit and veg specials. So, its frugal, its healthy because its fruit and veg- but not organic- and acutally its not so convenient but when it is convenient, i make teh effort to get there. Its all mixed up here...the priorities change regularly. I am not rigid about any of it. Some days its supermarket fruit and veg, others I feel only organic will do etc

Food on the table, a smile and welcome in the mornings, everyone getting their needs for both community and privacy respected, meeting problems as they arise so things dont fester, open communication, everyone feeling equally loved,a sense of fairness, a garden and pets, little habits like dd and dh having eggs and coffee in the mornings together, everyone willing to be honest and look at themselves- even the adults...just lots of little stuff that seems little until its missing, then the whole harmony goes. I do think it is pivotal that momma is happy...and I don't think that means she can't go out of the house for hobbies or time with friends. Some personalities have more need for external nourishment than others. Some can get enough just by being with the family, and others need a wider circle. Momma needs to have her needs met so she can then be home and present for her family, and the rest of the family need to be big enough to accomodate this.

I never got that feeling of being done- I still get clucky and still could have another one or two. Sometimes that ache is really strong, sometimes its barely there. But...life has other plans for me. Dh knew he was done after ds was born- he has another dd, not with me, so 3 was enough for him and he has always been very clear about that, even while feeling compassion for my feelings. I count my blessings having two beautiful, happy, healthy children, but I never got the feeling of being "done" with having kids.

We dont generally do anything special. Dh and I however did go to the beach and had a beautiful walk while the kids slept in. Its summer holidays here...one lazy day after another.

I intend to: continue my raw diet adventure and see where that takes me get fitter keep expanding my vegetables garden/s even though we rent really focus on the kids and our homeschooling I would also like to be more creative: paint again, sew, spin, knit, etc