I did my naturopathy diploma by distance ed and it was incredibly challenging. I had two small kids. I remember getting through a chemistry AND a biochemistry textbook by just plugging away one lesson at a time. I dont know how I did it, really. I didnt enjoy it in parts, that's for sure. I had to hire a tutor a few times to get me through some really hard parts. I think the motivation was that I had paid for my whole course up front, and been given 6 years to complete it. Within a couple of years, naturopathy took off, and the price of the course literally quadrupled, but they had to let me go through at the old price. It was enough to push me through. October...its not so far away, really. Imagine how you will feel in a couple of months if a) you hang in there now and Just Do It, or b) you decide to stuff it. Which will feel better in 2 months time? You can do it. YOu only need to pass, right?

I wear jeans- any sort, from denim to beige to pink- and various ...umm, I think you call them woolen sweaters? We call them jumpers here. I have a collection of really nice jumpers- my latest is a handspun, hand knit I picked up at swap meet. In summer, I am likely to wear colourful cotton pants and tops, or floral dresses. I like natural fibres. I wear cotton tshirts, both long and short sleeved. I dont dress conservatively, but neither do I like too much skin showing. I love to play with colours and will often wear a scarf.

Mine still don't, and they are 13 and 15. Ds13 is interested in perhaps business, perhaps real estate, perhaps veterinary science. Dd15 is artistic, but although she was interested in being a doctor a couple of years ago...she has no actual ambition to do anything any more. SHe just wants to have fun and be a 15yo. So no, at no age so far have they really known what they want to do. I think a lot of full grown adults feel the same, though.

I just know I want to be able to make the decision myself, as long as I am able, and then I would like my nearest and dearest to make whatever decisions are necessary. I don't want government policy to dictate me how long they keep trying. It is however my understanding that generally speaking (here in Australia) there is a fairly common sense approach to such things. We do have a fairly decent public health system- in fact there are many treatments that the public system has access to that the private doesnt. I have only been treated well and respectfully in the public system, wheras I constantly feel ripped off in the private. There is a case in my city at the moment of a quadraplegic man begging to be allowed to die, and euthanasia is not legal here, however he has been granted permission by the courts to refuse to be fed (through his tube) and so to starve to death. He is apparently rethinking whether he wants to die. Not to turn it into a debate about euthanasia, but I do think we should be given basic rights to refuse medicine/food.

Mum, they just don't learn any history in school, do they? My friends dont even know where Constantinople is or anything about it! Lol, at least something has stuck! I know she really wonders what she is missing out on in school.

Lol, I was just thinking about this the other day. I wont let go of my SOTW books. I couldn't think of a good reason because we no longer use them. But then I thought, yes, grandchildren, that's my excuse! I would say SOTW has been the biggest factor in shaping our homeschool experience and I have very sentimental feelings about them. Also, I will probably save a few of our favourite reading books like D'Aulaire's Greek and Norse myths- the beautiful big illustrated versions. We just love those books.

Absolutely. And I would tend to give people the benefit of the doubt, myself, rather than jump to conclusions.

I definitely plan by the amount of work because it motivates the kid to get in and do it. If they finish early, they get more free time. I however watch how long things generally take, and schedule accordingly. Reading is the only thing that is done by time.

I do think we should be taking care of everyone. There will always be people who abuse the system, and we all know some that do or have- that doesn't mean the whole system should be thrown out. That doesnt mean I believe in "entitlement" or "rights". I dont, particularly. Its not a fair world and I didnt see those two concepts stamped across anyone's forehead when they were born. But I do think its a nice way to live...to try and take care of everyone rather than "every man for himself". Doesn't make me a socialist or a communist, 'cos I dont think those political ideologies have worked very well either in practice - it just makes me someone who cares and thinks that we can take care without sacrificing a good standard of living. So, so, so much money is wasted on defence and other things...there is plenty to go around.

We keep ours open most of the time. We live in a suburban home in a (relatively)safe suburb that has a big front yard. The front door is well back from the street but visible from the street. Our bedrooms are upstairs though, so if we are having an afternoon nap, we lock the front door. I am a big lover of fresh air.

No where near as bad as 30 for me. I have a lot of older friends so I guess I saw they weren't too bad :) 30 was quite a shock for me- somehow I suddenly felt I needed to be an adult. My irresponsible youth was over. But I felt a lot of "growing up" was happening anyway. Having 2 babies helped. I actually love, love, love getting older. I tell that to my kids too. We have a phobia in our society about getting older, but there are so many good things about it. Not that I dont get caught up in sadness about being invisible and letting go of my youthful looks etc (having a teenage beautiful daughter helps that too) but I would never want to go back except to take what I know now. Now I dont tend to think of 40s as old at all :) Now 50. Whew, thats a biggie :)

I would never call the police just because its against the law. I would use my own common sense and assess the situation as to whether I felt it was actually dangerous. If I felt it was, or the child ws distressed, I would stand by the car. If I felt there was an urgency in the situation, I would look for the mother and call another adult to watch the kid, or even open the car door and take the child out- if the car was hot. I too have left my kids in the car. Rarely a running car, actually, because that seems too dangerous to me, unless it's in the driveway or something. The heat thing is huge here where I live in Australia. I cant imagine phoning the police though unless I coudlnt get into the car and teh car was obviously heating up. I would do the same if I saw a dog in a hot car.

Achiness is a sign of an acidic system, which is caused by bad eating, coffee, meat, white flour, sodapop, sugar etc. Increase your water intake at the minimum. Eat more fruit and veg, less crap. I eat fairly well, but recently i had a cup of coffee 3 days in a row. Good, strong coffee. Yum. Just begnning to enjoy it when....wham, my whole body started aching. It affects me badly. It was very unpleasant. So its a sig to me that coffee is not good for my system and an ocasional ONE cup is all I can handle. Check what you are eating before the aching times come on. There may be a pattern. But drinking lots of water should help your body balance out.

I visit my Facebook maybe once a week or fortnight at most. Usually because someone posted a photo and sent me a message, something like that. I have had people contact me through it- and old school friend. I am glad I have it. But it woulndt be a big deal to me if I didnt. It just doenst click with me for some reason. I much prefer Yahoo groups and email (and this message board) as a means of communication. And because I dont allow anyone on my Facebook who I dont know IRL, its not such a big deal- I see them IRL or I dont.

I grew up with parents who drank each evening- a sherry or scotch in the loungeroom, us kids would often have a sip but generally had to stay away because it was mummy and daddy's quiet adult time. In my teens they got into wine and my brother and I were allowed to drink moderately. In retrospect, I think mild alcoholism is socially acceptable, and I don't really know the effects it had on me. I do know that my mother's relationship with an alcoholic in my teens was the trigger for me to leave home at 16. Dh used to be a drinker too. Alcoholism runs in his family and I would say he was one. I would drink sometimes but its never been a big deal for me- I thought that was because I was allowed to drink as a kid- a sip here and there (in fact one family story my mother likes to tell is me getting drunk at my christening, dunking my fingers in everyone's glass till I passed out). However I think it might be more a genetic thing, and also dependent on who you are around. We have no alcohol in the house. Dh stopped 10 years ago and wont touch it and doesnt want the kids to have any at all. I am a bit softer- if I am out somewhere I might have a glass- a couple of times a year- and I might let them have a sip. However, the path I have agreed on with dh is basically not to let the kids drink. I wont allow dd15 to go to parties she is invited to where we know the kids will be underage drinking. So I also dont drink in front of them very often. Teenage binge drinking is HUGE here in Australia. I am not sure why. Its something I talk to my kids about a lot because they hang out with mainstream kids whose fmailies probably drink, and to whom it will be normal to drink at parties underage. I am trying to get them to realise now how unhealthy it is for them. So far, they are strong-and although dd does want to go to the parties, so far, she is accepting that she cant. It's quite a strong issue for us- for me because of living with stepdad and dh who were big drinkers. And for dh because of his past. ANd for us both because our kids are so precious to us yet something like 2/3 of kids in schools here binge drink regularly by their last couple of years of school. Drinking- even to excess- is very, very normal in Australian culture, and I am trying to find a balance where my kids are not overly protected from it- I will ocasionally have a drink, their extended family all drink. I just want them to be intelligent about it- to see the affect it has on people. And, I suspect they have the genes for alcoholism- many people do who do not become alcoholics, but I want to minimise the chances.

I notice I clean fast when I am really angry. I had an argument with Dh the other night. I vacuumed and cleaned like the wind until I calmed down :001_smile: :glare:

Thankyou. As a non Christian, I find it derogatory coming from a Christian, unless I actually practice the religion of Paganism, which I dont in particular.

Is the "classical" label so important to you? If it is, I suggest you reconsider Latin and Great Books. But it's just a label. It's more important that you do what's right for you and your family. However, I suggest you start with what does resonate with you- your children are young, you have plenty of time to change your mind later. Story of the World is fantastic. The other suggestions in TWTM are great. Maybe they will encourage you to try other aspects. And, believe it or not, Latin CAN be fun. ANd, so can Great BOoks- but you dont have to read the adult version first. Read a children's picture book of the Iliad and see if your kids enjoy it. Same with others. Read good quality literature. You will get a taste for it along with your children, and the Great Books won't seem like such a big leap. I have read many of Shakespeare's tales in story form-Lamb, Nesbitt etc- to my kids and they are completely unintimidated by the real Shakespeare. The great thing of TWTM is that it leads you gradually there so that its all doable. Same with Latin. Its not a big deal if you are starting at the beginning. However, there are plenty of other valid approaches, and the people here wont kick you off these boards if you dont do Latin or Great Books.

For us the main social outlet is the Scouting organisation. Dh reminded me the other day that dd didnt originally want to join Scouts. SHe was in Brownies at the time and enjoying it. He really pushed her to try (its Sea Scouts and he wanted he to learn boating skills)...and she was the only girl there on and off (Scouts is Co-ed here), and she absolutely loved it and learned so many skills (and continues to). Since the kids got older, all social events double as educational. Perhaps choose something *for* your child that you want her to do- a sport isnt a bad idea, even if she doesn't want to- and choose keeping in mind the types of kids that might be there that she could potentially befriend.

We have always had a room for schooling, after the first months when we were at teh dining room table. We have three large desks- one for each of the kids, one for me. We have a sofa and armcharis for read alouds- and the room doubles as our living room and TV area (dh has another one downstairs). We have maps on the wall, and artwork, and a whiteboard I never use. We have the snake in its aquarium, and the dogs have a bed in here. ALl our computers are in here. There's also an art table where I presently have my sewing machine, and a coffee table for putting whatever we are reading or eating on. Its a busy, well used room right next to the kitchen.

I wanted my kids to love them...they didnt. After a while, I didnt push them and they sit on my shelf. My kids however are not especially sciencey. However....they do love the various Tiner books, which are kind of similar without all the colourful pictures and sidebars. Bear in mind that my kids also never liked the Usborne or Kingfisher encyclopedias. I think all the distractions on the page might turn them off.

Hi Linda, there are hundreds, if not thousands of people coming here, so good luck keeping it all straight :) I have been homeschooling for 6 years. The rest is below :) Welcome.

I think life is trying to tell you something, because there is a pattern of people trying to walk all over you, one thing after another. Time to get strong and learn to say no so you can break the pattern. Its not happening by mistake, its happening because you let it.

I wont sell for fundraising. I just refuse to do it. Our Scouts has a few ways of earning money and fortunately havent asked me to sell anything. One is to hire out the Scout Hall. Another is a yearly event of serving and selling hamburgers and drinks to bikies who are on a charity run- it makes $1000's.

I get plenty of me time and have done for years (you'll see, it will come!). One thing I do is go to a weekly Yoga class that a girlfriend also goes to. We do the class next to each other, groaning in commeriseration over the difficult poses, then have a chat afterwards. Otherwise, I am really not good at staying in touch with my friends unless they are homeschooling mums I see because of the kids. I take off a week each year to do a retreat. I take weekends off here and there to go to workshops. On Sunday I went to an SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism- a medieval reenactment group) day of workshops, without my family and it was great to connect with people as an indepedent identity.