Ds13 about 20 hours a week, dd14 about 25 hours. Sports- not so much. A couple of hours of gymnastics. Both do a few classes in various things as well.

Although I am flexible and intended both times to give birth crouching in that wonderful looking native position where the baby just drops out, both times I gave birth on my hands and elbows, with my butt up in the air, head in a pillow, pretending it wasn't happening. I think I was a loud groaner, but I had my face in a pillow so probably didn't make too much noise.

Dd is almost 15 and only just got her first proper period. She weighs about 115 pounds. Hers came when she was a year older than me- I was almost 14. We don't know why- except late maturity seems to run on her father's side and we are not unhappy about it. It may possibly have something to do with us not eating much meat. Who knows. Some of her friends started 3 years ago but they are much skinnier.

Just got in from a weekend with the SCA. Yes, dh is a heavy combat fighter, full armour, and he heads our household, Templestone, of about 20-25 people. He has been battling- with the other Templer fighters- to get relics back from the Hospitallers, who supposedly stole them. :) They are having a great time, they get battered and bruised- especially my dh who is the oldest heavy combat fighter in our SCA group- but after groaning and complaining, they get up and do it again. They had a war this weekend and even won it, against much more experienced fighters. Some of the women in our group do archery, one does heavy combat. None of our group do rapier but some in the larger group do. I and most of the women in our group are into the costumes and crafts side of things. This weekend I learned to do Blackwork embroidery. I have come home inspired to make costumes and do embroidery. I made a glass bead pomander for warding off the plague. People are encouraged to create an identity and to be fairly historically accurate but no one is kicked out for wearing non-period clothing as long as they have made an attempt. Some women have invested a lot of time making incredibly elaborate and historically accurate costumes. I am a beginning sewer- dh bought me a machine for my b'day recently- and I am making basic patterns- tabbards, smock shirts, tunics, very simply dresses. Still looks effective. I have just come home and written myself a list of projects. I am sure it depends on your group. There are politics, as there are in most groups, but we are enjoying it overall and it has been great to get the kids involved. Being teens, they werent keen at first- wierd stuff their wierd parents get into- but after the first camping weekend a couple of months ago, they were hooked too. Ds13 is into archery, and boffin fighting (hitting each other with padded swords), and dd14 is sewing and doing photography of the Templers fighting :) The food at feasts etc is medieval too. Actually, we are all so glad to be home and eat normal food again :) Medieval food was.....ok.

I think I would have thrived as a homeschooler. I loved to read and to learn...I just didn't like being told what to do, and I had quite different values to my friends in school (private school), and I felt a lot of what we learned was just stupid. However when I mentioned it to my mum recently- that I would have loved to homeschool- she said no way would she have had the patience to homeschool. She was interested in alternative forms of education- she oferred to send me to the international school when we knew it was time I left the private school- but I was too insecure to have that big a change. In retospect, it might have been good if she didnt give me the choice and just sent me there. The thing is, I would have loved to homeschool- but I wonder how much my kids, given their natural predilection, would choose to, and what they will think of it when they grow up. Does it match their nature? I think for my son, we all recognise it is better than school. But for my daughter, I am not so sure, because I think we are here for different reasons- she is a social butterfly and sometimes feels isolated even though she has many friends. I sometimes think I am denying her the intensity of social experience she craves, by not letting her go to school. However, she hasnt pushed for it so far, and she is fairly compliant, and the reason we dont let her go is precicely because she is so social, and has a strong peer dependency. We would prefer she be more mature, older, befor she is put in an environment where others will pressure her to drink and do drugs.

It really depends what your goals are. I find that Latin makes my kids- and I- think logically, like nothing else. It really makes you think, and I believe that sort of mental rigour is good for the brain. It also helps you understand English and other languages at a deeper level. It also links in with learning ancient, classical history. I think if you are not "sold" on learning Latin, from reading TWTM or other peoples' posts, then probably nothing I can say will help you change your mind. Just learning roots is only one corner of the benefits. Honestly, I am not a pure classical homeschooler. We are not as rigorous as many here. But there is something about Latin that just feels very good, and it has so many side benefits, that we keep going with it. For me, the goal is not even mastery of Latin, it's just the learning of it feels good for all of us- we will get as far as we get. Its so logical. Of course, you can get benefits from just learning roots, but in a way, it has nothing to do with the learning of Latin- its just a side benefit. And by the way, learning Latin can be fun.

My kids' favourites are the various books by Tiner- History of Medicine, History of Chemistry etc. They are fussy actually, and many science books- including Archimedes etc have been a flop, but Tiner seems to speak to them.

Hands down, both the Hobbit, and Mary Stewart's Crystal Cave. It was a good year :)

I'm not immune to jealousy and over reacting, and neither is my dh. However, we keep the communication channels open, and neither of us want to feel we are imprisoned, or that we can't have genuine friendships with the opposite sex. We both have colourful pasts, and we are not naive about where any friendship could go...but gee, the cost of cutting off from all members of the opposite sex wouldn't be worth it to either of us to have a secure marriage. But we try and take care of the other's feelings, even if they're irrational. In work situations.....well, it would be a shame if everyone had to stay closed to each other, only talk about work, keep their eyes down etc. My dh has plenty of female clients- and sometimes they really have come onto him. He tells me though, and he deals with it. Perhaps for some people who have been sheltered from a lot of mixed sex mingling, who married early or havent had many partners before they married- its an unknown and scary world when someone talks to their mate. But if you have been around the block a few times, you can usually pick up what is going on, how far someone would go, and for most people I mix with in real life, its no big deal unless your radar goes off and says it is.

I did homeschool another child for a year. He was the same age as my oldest. However there were lots of little tihngs that irked me- like the fact that we base so much of our homeschooling around reading books, and this kid was a reluctant reader. I read to my kids at night- and considered it part of their schooling- but his mum didnt. It fell apart because I sent him home for holidays with a book that he had been reading all term, and he had only a few chapters left and I asked him to finish the book. He didnt want to, so his mum backed him up and said I was being too hard on him. He hadnt read a complete book all year. That was the moment it was clear, this wont work, and I said 'no more'. So, trust yourself in your feeling to say no. Its not easy to homeschool someone else's kid- and I was paid a little, and the mother was keen, apparently....but different families have different values. This kid did go off the rails and the mum eventually had to be much stricter- and lo and behold, she instigated nightly reading time. I would just gently suggest to the mum of your kid that you have a few ideas if she is interested and leave it at that. I now know what its like trying to help people who don't really realise how much they need help. They have to really want your advice.

My ds13 can be the same. Mine is also highly manipulative. Things I have found helped: Assessing for learning difficulties. When I discovered he was dyslexic, I felt bad for the times I had been impatient. Doesn't excuse his terrible behaviour- but helps me look harder for ways to help him feel successful. Water. Water is important for brain functions. Many kids don't drink enough water. Sleep. I keep his bedtime fairly early so he can rise early and finish his work by early afternoon. Structure is important here- regular times for subjects, regular routines, regular bedtimes and rising times and meal times, not too much chaos. An ordered environment and lifestyle (not rigid, just not chaotic). I would never make my child work all day on, eg, maths. I would either sit with him if he couldn't focus, re-evualate the program...and keep maths lessons, and all lessons, short. If he still couldnt focus and finish one, I would make him move on and perhaps assign it as homework in his own time. I think the whole keep-going-until-you-finish-even-if-it-takes-all-day doesnt take into account the nature of children. I would take their work away and move on so that their brain can have a break- and come back to it later. Eliminate ALL screen time, until behaviour improves. The re-introduce it on a conditional basis. This doesn't have to be done as ""punishment"- although he will see it as such, most likely. Just explain that you have read something recently and you think its hurting his brain and his behaviour and you are his parent- you want the best for him- and so you are eliminating the things which might be contributing to his difficult behaviour. Make sure his diet is good- good breakfast in particular. Again, plenty of water. Limit sugar and junk food to nil for a while. And try a multi vitamin and/or fish oils and see if they help. Lots of attention. Positive attention, lots of hugs and telling him I love him. Sitting with him and taking an interest in his work- not just to mark and criticise- lots of praise. I have written here many times over the years at my wits end over my son. I feel he would not do well in school at all, otherwise I would probably have packed him off there by now. But we have bad times and good times. When the time is bad, I look at what I can do to change MY behaviour. At the moment...this week...its a good time.

My brother is a dedicated chiro- unfortunately he doesn't live in the same state as me. My dad told me a couple of days ago that my aunt, who had an accident 20 years ago and has had chronic back pain ever since- and who previously refused to try chiropractic- visited and had 4 sessions with my brother. After the first session, she was walking without her stick. She went home feeling very different. She is a medical doctor- very sceptical- I am glad she gave it a go. A homeschooling friend of mine used to visit a chiro regularly. The chiro was the one who diagnosed her liver cancer- he sent her to the doctor and it was true. She is still alive. A few weeks ago I was suddenly crippled with neck pain, my head pulled over onto my right shoulder, in agony, unable to move. I have scoliosis which basically needs regular maintenance in the form of stretching exercises, and I had been slack with my yoga for quite a while. My dh got me up and moving- he used to be a massuer specialising in back and neck pain- and I literally had to walk around the house for 5 hours non stop- if I stopped, I locked up. Lying down was agony- walking hurt but was so much better. I have never felt so much pain except in chidlbirth. After 2 days, I went to an emergency chiro. After one session, I was so much better- but I overdid it and relapsed. After 5 sessions in about 10 days, I was completely better. I doubt chiro can fix scoliosis in an adult- although perhaps in a child whose bones are still forming. However, my scoliosis is not much of a problem as long as I keep my back flexible, and visit the chiro every now and then.

I turned 42 yesterday. :)

Keep her away from sugar and bread for a while. (bread having yeast in it and sugar feeding the yeast). Usually, a person will crave food that feeds the yeast. I don't see a problem with the vinegar. Yoghurt, tea tree oil, and garlic are also effective, but in the end, you need to treat the whole body, not just the local area. It may take some time though. A friend recently phoned me asking about pin worms for her daughter- she had discovered she had them when treating a vaginal infection- apparently pin worms can also cause the vaginal infection, so check for them.

I don't think there is such a thing. Nor is there such a thing as security in anything, and if you try and get security through money, you will never be secure. However, you can be sensible about money, and not spend more than you earn, and put some aside for a rainy day, and retirement, and do all the other things people suggest here...we have health and life insurance, some savings, some investment properties (not paid off but kind of paying for themselves), but we rent because we choose lifestyle over financial "security". I don't deny its important to plan and be sensible about money...but honestly, if there was a war in your country, if someone close to you died, if a fire wiped out your town...security means nothing. Things get put back in perspective. In other words, I don't believe its worth working 60 hour weeks, or stressing, or living in such a way that security in the future is the goal. I don't think we are here to do that, or that that is a life well spent.

I never had a job to quit..well I worked part time, but dh was always keen that I be with our kids. When they were little I got myself a part time job because I wanted some financial autonomy. But yes, they are teens now, I still work part time though at home now, and it has always worked out. But I think it does take a leap of faith and a trusting in your highest values, because letting fear and what ifs run your life makes your options rather limiting. We just live within our means, and in our case, we have 2 investment properties in the country but we cant afford to buy in the city where we live, so we rent. But we just don't put money first...dh feels strongly about bringing the kids up in a good suburb, even though we have to rent, rather than buying and living in a poor suburb. But I think many men feel the sense of responsibility of raising a family and having enough money- mine sure does. But it does work out- you just have to learn to live within your means, whatever those means are. In your case, your means are hardly limited- but setting aside savings is a great idea. Abundance and wealth are really an attitude more than an income figure. Many people dont feel abundant with lots of money. I tihnk for many of us homeschool mums, we feel a sense of abundance and gratitude to be able to stay home with our kids, no matter our income, and that spreads out to benefit the family. Time is another form of wealth- the time to spend your kids' childhood with them, because its true, it does pass rather quickly. Life just isnt so secure. Dh and I sometimes talk about what would happen if our income dropped dramatically, but we have both lived poor before we had kids, and we are not particularly frightened of being there again. Its ok, and we trust our ability to rise from the ashes again.

If one equates success in life with a degree and social status, well, we should all be making sure our kids get to college no matter what. But that's not success, really, and although everyone pays lip service to deeper values than that, it's very easy to get caught there. I never did it...although I too went to a private school, had professional parents and grandparents, was groomed for academia...I escaped. I followed my own heart, I have done some amazing things, I have travelled and met a LOT of people, and I dont regret not following the path I was "supposed to". And yes, I would have appeared very lost for several years, and my parents worried about me. And I did eventually go and get a naturopathic diploma, but I am not using it. I do continue to learn and educate myself. But I dont have a bit of paper to prove anything. I too want my kids to get all the skills they need to live a good life, and education is important because it opens up options we might not otherwise have.And I guess I was blessed with a pretty good private school education and an awareness of the value of education for my kids. But in the end, I am sooooo glad I did what I did, and not what my elders would have preferred me to do- even if I didnt have goals, or a sense of direction, for years at a time. I had an inner sense of direction. I saw what college and academia and careers can do for people- I grew up around it. My father is an astrophysist- hardly there for me at all, emotionally cold. My grandmother, still alive, a tough, inflexible old woman, who valued herself through her academic success rather than her nurturing or feminine qualities. That doesn't mean every teen who is directionless and lost and moody and lacks ambition is heading to a healthy place but I think we need to cut them some slack if they dont know what they want to do, or where they are going, and just let them know we believe in them and that they are capable of following their dreams. I know I sound idealistic, but if everyone was "successful" in the normal sense, the world would be a boring place, and it would also make that sort of success meaningless.

Lol, I cant answer you because the only IEW product we have used, which we are currently working through, is Medieval History-based Writing lessons. The kids (ages 13 and 14) have been working on doing a 5 paragraph essay- I am making them do it the IEW way. 3 word outlines, rewrites, even dress ups, because I want to honestly evaluate whether it works, especially for my reluctant writer. However, he was just telling me a few days ago that he finds the 3 word outlining and rewriting from that type of outlining silly, and feels he could do a much better job by just taking notes, or doing a more normal outline, then going for it in his own way. And, I think he is probabyl right. Maybe IEW works well for people who like to approach writing as a science, as a methodical, almost mathematical art, and feel intimidated by the freedom of writing. I am finding that since both my kids have their own writing voice anyway, even my reluctant writer, IEW is kind of a step backwards. I will make it work for me though and the way it is broken down into steps is helping the whole assignment not be overwhelming. I will tweak it now I have given it a good go, but I am glad I havent used the whole program. I dont feel I need that amount of hand holding, actually, even though I appreciate the structure of a program at times.

A few off the top of my head (I am sure there are more) Smokers at swap meet. We go there at around 7am to find a bargain, not to breathe your smoke, thankyou very much. I will be happy when all smoking in public is banned. When dh or ds belch too close to me. Or worse, fart. I am not especially hung up about them doing it at all, and if they want to compete and laugh hilariously, fine....I just don't want to smell it, KWIM? Flaky people. People who say they will do something and dont, make a committment and dont follow through, are consistently late (no matter how apologetic they are every time), cant set a boundary and stick by it, and I must admit, as I get older, I am getting a bit intolerant of messy people too, when it impacts on me. All caps in emails, or long, long paragraphs on message boards. It is so much easier to read- and skim- with a few gaps and paragraph breaks, and really, how much more effort is it? Spelling and grammar mistakes dont bug me, but how hard is it to hit "enter" once in a while? :001_smile: I swear I am getting less tolerant as I get older. :glare:

I gave up sugar last September- even made it through Christmas. I was allowing myself a small amount of agave syrup in my tea in the mornings- it doesnt trigger sugar cravings and I only used a few drops. Now I am allowing myself about 1/4 tsp honey instead. I only have 2 cups of tea a day. I can drink coffee without sweetener, but not tea, although stevia is ok for a bit. I had to stop chocolate, and it wasn't so hard after a while. Now I will have some 85% Lindt now and then- just one square. I feel so much better for not eating sugar, and I didn't do it to lose weight. I did it because I recognise its an unhealthy addiction used to push away emotions I didn't want to feel. Its such a common addiction that its not recognised as such. Alcoholism and sugar cravings can be related. When alcoholics give up alcohol, they usually crave sugar and eat heaps. My dh wasnt exactly an alcoholic but he did drink too much and the tendency runs in his family- he gave up alcohol but now hs 4 tsps of sugar in his tea, and drinks heaps of sugary drinks. Hang in there- it needs to become a habit. When I craved sugar in summer I ate sweet fruit- a mango now and then, and recently, grapes. In a way its still a "sugar hit" so I only do it in moderation, but I have always loved fruit, and it stops me feeling deprived of sugary foods. I will also have unsweetend meusli but with sultanas, or chopped dates. I am not so severe or strict. I just dont want to eat the granulated sugar or large amounts of any concentrated sweetener.

I love reading aloud to my teens, because I wouldn't appreciate the books anywhere near as much on my own. Something about sharing a book. We are reading Ivanhoe at the moment and loving it. I can have a tendency to read aloud and simply not absorb what I am reading, though. I can read to the kids and ask for a narration because *I* havent been listening. I am not an aural person- although I still like to read to them and if the book is good, I will listen too.

My 13 and 14yos do their own laundry, but still need lots of prompting. Dh has always done his own laundry too, which is unusual I guess, but he is 13yrs older than me and was already very good at taking care of himself when we got together, and I wasn't at all. He wasnt going to risk his nice expensive clothes on my very minimal skills. That was 17 years ago, but he still does his own washing. So, I try and do, or encourage, about one load a day, whether its noticing that dh has done one, or reminding the kids to do one, or do one myself. We have a ginormous laundry. we don't have a dryer- here it is sunny and warm for at least 8 months of the year. We dry outside in the sun, or inside on racks. So there is always "moving the laundry on to the next stage" as well. Doing laundry by the person, rather than mixing it all up and doing it by the colour or whatever, saves a whole stage of sorting. Everyone has one or two baskets- lots of baskets helps. Each person does one or two loads a week. Sometimes I save up whites, but mostly, they just go in with the rest. I do two loads for myself- one bright/dark colours, and one light/white colours. Then I do towels and sheets separately. The drying racks only ever have one person's laundry on them, so its easy enough to call that person and ask them to put away their clothes when they are dry, so that the next person can use the racks (the kids need reminding!). But there are 4 racks- enough for 2 or 3 loads of washing. I like our system, and it evolved from using the Flylady system of one load a day.

Its such an emotional and polarising issue. However, I suspect you haven't even read the reasons people dont vaccinate, because there are plenty of arguments that disagree with what you have said above- and educated people, doctors, armed with lots of information, will argue with you very eloquently that what you have said isnt true. People against vaccinating often dont do it for just personal reasons, or paranoid reasons- there are very good arguments that say many of those diseases would have disappeared generally even without vaccinations, and they were already disappearing when vaccinations came in. Vaccinations make certain companies a LOT of money. However, I am not pro or against vaccinations either- I just wish people would have an open mind to both sides of the debate and truly educate themselves, in a scientific way, of the facts both sides present, rather than taking an emotional and ignorant position wherever they "feel" the truth lies. Both sides have valid arguments, and scientifically backed ones. One is more socially acceptable than the other. I have been to third world countries. It would be very shallow of me, although i choose to only partially vaccinate my children, to make generalisations about what is best for everyone- I know the limitations of my knowledge. I know people who don't vaccinate who I feel are as naive and ignorant as people who just blindly do it because the doctors and nurses tell them too. My point is simply that its an issue worth studying at a deeper level because there is more to it than appears on the surface, but the mainstream media, backed by pharmaceutical companies with an agenda, uses fear to manipulate people. As for the OP, I would just deal with the situation as it arises, and it may not be a big deal at all.

Probably not, because it would probably be Christian and have a heap of values and ideas I wouldn't agree with. I went to a reasonably Classical school myself and I sure didn't like it and its not where I would put my kids :) I think I would seriously consider a school that did the IB though- IF it was reasonably close, and affordable. we have them in my city, but neither close nor affordable.