Thanks everyone for the ideas and suggestions. I have considered a Whole30, but the strictness of it and all of the rules around it really make me feel uncomfortable…I think if I do it, it would have to be a total mindset change: I'm doing this only for awhile, it's to help with headaches, etc. Otherwise, all of my self-protection alarm bells go off (I think once you've struggled to regain health after an E.D., you are like a mama bear with your body). I think I'm also hesitating trying a diet change because I'm skeptical that foods are the primary trigger, and I don't want to give up things I love for no reason…but maybe it would make me feel amazing. Only one way to find out, I suppose, but cooking in such a restricted way, with a family, sounds super difficult. And expensive:/

So, I've had bad headaches, usually migraines, every single day for weeks now. I've gone through headaches periods before, and I know I have some triggers: heat, overstimulation, alcohol, stress, exercise, loud sounds…so, a few drinks, a loud concert, and being stressed would be a headache guarantee. Knowing I can't control all of those factors,but I'm really trying to find a way to mitigate them before my G.P. sends me to the neurologist (she's already hinted that's next…no meds seem to really help). I've been tested in two different ways for celiac disease (blood and also small intestine sample), and both were negative. I've been to a gastro, and had a scope: no colitis, Chrone's, etc. I have really, really wary of gluten-free/paleo. I think unless you have an actually medical necessity, it's a difficult diet to choose. I have a history (10-15 years ago) of eating disorders, and having fought hard to heal, I've maintained health (mental and physical) through moderation and not restricting any foods. Ways of eating which take out certain food groups really prompt anxiety in me…. That being said, I'm so sick of headaches I can barely see straight. I need to feel healthy and good to take care of my family and educate my kids! And I deserve to not be miserable every day! I have read in many places that people have had relief on the paleo diet. I'm getting desperate, and I would love some feedback on whether you've had any experience with migraines/paleo/dietary changes and help with headaches. I've taken to asking total strangers on the internet! Thanks so much. Angela

I have a few days coming up where I will have my evenings to myself (husband will be out of town), and I'm thinking of doing a little mini-retreat to give myself a shot in the arm, homeschool-wise. Wondering if you have any YouTube videos, blog links, audio recordings, or books which you go back to when you need to remember why you're homeschooling/get inspired to be a better teacher/work on some aspect of education? Looking forward to seeing what you have to say!

I just wanted to add that the one thing which gives me the most stress is trying to fit my personality/background/kids/life into everyone else's expectations. I worry about how the grandparents will feel, what the neighbors think, what friends say, what other homeschoolers would find fault with, etc. Letting go of all of that and following my instincts with education is so freeing and healthy for me. Maybe there's something there for you too? Hugs! Angela

Reviving my own thread, because I'm still not sure what to do with history. 😂 I am so visual, and maybe someone can help me to see how this will all lay out on paper? If we do both kids together in SOTW Volume 1, my 1st grader will be lined up with TWTM's suggestions for a history cycle. So, that makes sense. My 3rd grader, in that scenario, wouldn't finish the SOTW series until 6th grade. Would I then do a two year cycle of something before jumping into the 4 year cycle for high school? I am trying to get a picture in my head of what the long term plan is, assuming we homeschool through high school. I'd love some ideas for how you would envision this. At some point, the kids won't be/won't need to stay on the same cycle of history. It doesn't always need to be a family subject.... Thanks for your help! We're supposed to start in a little over a week, and as it stands, I've got my kids set up to do two different cycles of history (I've even scouted out library books for each chapter for each SOTW volume). It's feeling like a lot. Lol.

I have two children with whom I'll be using Brave Writer this year. I just discovered it this past week and I'M IN LOVE! I have The Writer's Jungle on order, and I've downloaded: The Wand for my 1st grader to begin with (the reading involved will be too easy for him, but the writing component will be perfect), and several "back issues" of The Arrow for my 3rd grader. In addition, do I need Jot it Down? I'm unsure as to how much we need the "creative writing component" at this point, and of how it would work to do the projects with two kids. What do you think?

I don't have a ton of experience with narrations yet, but from what you've said, and from my interactions with kids over the years (myself included!), I'm wondering if there might be an anxiety issue going on? Not because you've done something (I think you sound like a very involved, smart, loving mom), but because of the interplay between this child's personality and the world. Do you see anxiety or nervousness in other areas?

No, my 3rd grader is just beginning homeschool, so she hasn't done SOTW, but I really want them in their own cycles of history for other reasons. I don't mind two sets of narrations, etc. I agree that it would be too much writing to do written narrations for everything…we are doing BW for language arts, so they will get writing and copy work through that.

I am getting ready to begin going through SOTW with my 1st grader (Vol. 1) and 3rd grader (Vol. 3). Just wondering what other people do after reading each chapter or section. Oral narration only? Discussion questions? Writing narrations down for the child? My third grader could probably write her narrations down afterward, but my 1st grader couldn't. I don't want to burn them out on a routine of: read, narrate/write/map/repeat. Any thoughts?

What do you do to help get your school year off to a good start? Does it have to do with planning? Attitude? Materials prep? Vision statement? Just curious about ways you begin, as a teacher.

Mukaziwanga- I was really turned off by the history, actually. The recommended texts are full of racism and anti-catholic sentiment that is not acceptable to me. People are anxious to tell you that you can soften it, edit it, etc, but I just didn't like that it was even there. Also, while I like many of the suggested free reads, I found that many of the assigned literature selections were not compelling or engaging for my children. I really love classic children's lit, but I wanted less of the books which seemed to be in the schedule simply because they are "hard." Looking forward to planning help/suggestions!!

After abdandoing my plans to do AO (good riddance...this was a good move for me/us), I am planning out the year for my 1st and 3rd grader. We will be using SOTW as our history spine, and I have the activity books to refer to as well, for maps and such. We are also going to be using Brave Writer for each child (The Wand and The Arrow). With AO, everything was laid out and scheduled for me, down to page numbers, so I knew what to plan for a week, a month, etc. Now that I'm on my own, I'm freaking out a little bit! I have us down to do about a chapter (sometimes 2) from SOTW for each child. Yes,they will be in different cycles of history...I really want my 3rd grader to be "caught up" in regards to the cycle going forward, and she's a strong independent reader, so I can hand it off to her. Does this amount per week seem reasonable? I know it's not wise to try to get supplemental history books for each topic, but I have planned out at least one most weeks, titles I can get from the library or that we own. Should I do that, or make it simpler and just let SOTW stand on its own? How much supplemental reading do you do? Spelling/writing/grammar will be through Brave Writer, but I'd like to assign some other literature to my 3rd grader as well, in addition to the monthly BW book. The trouble is, I have no idea how quickly we'll move through them, and I don't know how to account for that on the schedule. Meaning, as I go though and map out each week, do I note down the book I want her to be reading? If she's not done with it , or already flew through it, then the subsequent weeks of schedules will be "off." I'm sure I'm making this more complicated than it needs to be, but now that I'm not following AO's pre-made schedule, I'm a bit of a loss. I won't be handing her a book and saying "read pages 20-25 and stop to narrate," and then dropping the book for another week. Its all much more fluid, and I don't know how to plan for that! Or is everything other than the BW book a "strongly suggested free read" for her to get to when she has reading time each day? More thoughts: we are doing RS for math. That's all fine. I am planning poetry/Shakespeare/art study/songs as part of morning time all together. That seems doable. That leaves me with science. I'd rather not make nature study the main part of our science...I just...don't love it, and it turns into play outside time, not categorize trees time. Lol. I have BFSU, but I find it baffling and so confusing. I don't have it in me to plan those lessons. Thoughts on another science approach? Kids would be combined on this one. I'd really appreciate some feedback and advice. We're starting in 2.5 weeks, and I just undid all my plans this weekend, so I'm scrambling and nervous to be going "on my own." Grateful for the help!

I have spent 3 years looking at/studying AO, actually did a year of it, and now that I am planning out the year for my two, I had a complete panic attack about it, returned a bunch of books, and am doing a much more WTM inspired year. AO is lovely in theory, but for us, the book choices felt stifling, dry, restrictive. Narration is great as one tool, but as the whole of what you ask a child to do? Also, I was not comfortable holding off on any required writing until Year 4. My goal of education isn't only college for my kids, of course, but I want them to be confident writers, and I was very concerned AO would be too simplistic in that regard. I ultimately didn't like the feeling I had that I was tied down to doing exactly what Mason said, which is what AO requires of you, in order to know you are doing it "right." The folks on the forum are very strict about this, and it all began to feel a bit joyless to me. Anywho, maybe something in my ramblings is helpful to you? I don't love workbooks either, but a rigorous classical education that's going well? I'd throw in more delightful fiction here and there and stick with what's working! The grass ain't greener!

Id love to hear why you are having mixed feelings.

Interestingly, OIS is not one I hear a lot of people having issues with. I have, however, heard complaints about This Country of Ours, namely the references to native americans and other culturally sensitive issues. Is it wise to choose a book in which the parents will have to do some editing to make it acceptable?

So, I am trying to piece together what SWB's argument against CHOW or OIS might be. Is it mostly to do with the age of the text? Have we learned so much more in 100 years that they aren't useful anymore? Is it to do with racism? Western European bias? I'm truly looking for information here...I'm well steeped in AO and CM, and conflicted about some of the history scope and sequence.

Hi all, Thank you for your thoughts. Since I posted, I clarified what I need to teach, "social studies"-wise, and indeed, it wouldn't be a problem to have them in the same year of SOTW. I am torn between doing SOTW and following AO's history plan, and there the kids would each be doing their own history time periods. I think the issue is I'm super undecided on how to approach history in general, and I want a plan to hand hold me through it. SOTW appeals, but I've spent so much time immersed in CM reading and AO that I've got myself all confused. 😂

I'm thisclose to using AO next year with my two, and I'd love more thoughts on OIS and why it might be a mistake to use it. I don't have an issue using a British history text, but if this one is problematic, I'd like to reconsider. Anyone?

So, if I do both kids in ancients, my first grader will end up getting two "extra" years of history than my 3rd grader, correct? The only reason I'm tempted to have one in Year 1 and one in Year 3 is because Year 3 will match up with our state requirements for 3rd grade, and we are required to meet those standards:/ Is the idea behind keeping them in the same cycle of history simply for my sake, because managing two different history periods is complicated? Thanks for thinking it through with me!

I will be homeschooling starting this fall, and my kids will be in 3rd and 1st. They have been in PS for the last 2 years and 1 year, respectively, so any history they've had has been sporadic, as you can well imagine. I'm very eager to use SOTW with them, and want some help figuring out how to jump into the rotation. My first grader has the advantage, obviously, as he will be ready for Year 1. What would you suggest I do with my 3rd grader? Have her start with Year 3? If we have her start at Year 1 with us, what do we do when we get to 5th grade? Thank you so much for thinking this through with me! Angela

I'm working on plans for next fall, and I am trying to come up with a curriculum similar to Ambleside Online, but a bit more Classical (I know CM is classical, but I'm not into the narrations and nature study). Any thoughts or direction for someone who really wants to do something literature based? Ideally it would be fairly well-laid out…I don't know if I want to make my own curriculum every year:) We are Catholic, but there doesn't need to be religiously-based. Thanks for any ideas!

Hi all- So, some more thoughts: I do feel a bit guilty over not homeschooling. I feel like I had the opportunities and the support and I gave up because it was hard, I was having stress-related health issues, and my DD was/is an outgoing, happy to be part of a group child, and I worried that we were holding her back from that by homeschooling. DD has done well at school. She likes her teacher, she likes her friends, she enjoys her work. Nothing bad has happened. Same with DS, though he's an introvert, and I know he'd be fine at home. DH is not interested in HS'ing one and not the other, so this is a "both or none" situation. My reasons for thinking we might want to give HS'ing another go are: wanting them to read more and better books, the chance to do more things out in the world, rather than be stuck at school all day, individualized education, family time. Also, HS'ing was my vision for my kids, and now that they are both at school, I'm here alone, bored, cleaning the house, thinking how much I miss them and wanting to be with them. I'm going to be a SAHM regardless, but what real purpose am I serving if my kids are gone all day? I do volunteer in their classrooms, but... My fears are: my need for quiet, order, and alone time. Family reactions (my in laws are extroverted, social people who are very connected in our small town and can't imagine that people can do well and be happy if they aren't at school with all their friends and peers; THEY love being really social, and would miss all the awards assemblies, school events, etc. They eat that stuff up, and why I care so much what they think, I don't know…we live next door to them, and my nephew, also next door, will be at school, and I worry my kids will feel left out when my MIL and FIL get all excited over his school stuff), my own observations about DD, who, as I said, loves to be with her classmates and be around people. I know I can create a social world for her in HS'ing, but it's harder when it's not built in like it is at school, and I have fears about "what if she doesn't find friends and have a community?" There's my brain dump for the morning:)

Thanks for all your thoughts so far…To add: Both kids are performing well above grade level. DD, in particular is a phenomenal reader and both kids are succeeding. We do know local homeschoolers, and have connections we could use. The kids will finish the year, and I can absolutely use the summer to do a trial run. I guess it boils down to: I'm not positive we're all suited to HS-ing, but I regret not trying harder. I want a fantastic education for my kids, and I want them to love school. If things are proceeding nicely, does it make sense to start a new path, go against the grain, and keep them home? DD is quite a social kid, in addition to being very bright and studious, and I am an introvert and highly sensitive, so I know HS-ing would, on some levels, push my "why is it so loud in here and why can't we all sit nicely and read" buttons. I have a low tolerance for chaos and disorder. Lol.

Hello- First, the background, then the question:) My DD (8) was home schooled for K, and we loved it. Moved to a new area with a great, small school, and for various reasons, enrolled her. She's been in for 1st and now 2nd. Every year, we've considered going back to HS, but have carried on with PS because: she's happy, doing well, and things seem ok. We also have a DS (6) who is finishing K and has done well. So, here I am again, wondering if I could provide them with more, give them a better education, help them grow and learn and be together. When we put DD in school, it was because I felt overwhelmed, I was struggling with terrible migraines, and well, frankly, I let everyone around me tell me how lucky we were to live in this area with this awesome school. And I needed a break, so she went. And then my DS went. And they are fine. But I feel like we missed the boat, like I gave up too quickly, like I should have tried to make it work. My DH would be on board with making a change, but he's not keen on fixing something that's not broken. How do you know if you should HS if PS is going fairly well? DD loves her teacher and friends, and while I think the work is boring and uninspiring, it's fine. Our extended family would grudgingly support us if we made the choice to HS, but there would be lots of comments and barely disguised feelings that we'd made a crazy choice. I hate being on pins and needles about this. I see so much value in HS, and it was my dream for my kids. Any advice on rocking the boat is really welcome!

If you design your own CM booklist/curriculum, what are the resources you use to pull it all together? Do you use AO as a base? SCM? Mater Amabilis? None of the above? And if none of the above, do you have a scope and sequence, an over-arching plan for what time periods to hit, what books to include and get to, etc? I am considering going off on my own, curriculum-wise, because I'm tweaking the pre-made booklists more and more, but I like the idea of having a whole plan, knowing I will get to the things which are important, and not having to reinvent the wheel each school year. Thoughts?