:iagree:

This evening after the kids went to bed, I had some free time and used it to look at ideas for their Christmas gifts... and this is later than usual, I'm usually doing this in July!

Ah, I'm seeing what you are meaning, I think. Kind of like people who take a very ascetic approach in their religion?

I'm (sort of) in the duty camp also... I'm kind of with a couple of different examples others have mentioned. I tend to go for what is right over being 'happy'. Honestly, what is happiness? Long term happiness? Short term happiness? I actually am finding the word rather lacking as I sit and think on it... (for short term things, the word happy fits. For long term, not so much. I'm thinking more fulfillment or joy, something that has a greater meaning than just a surface feeling.) But I digress - I can't really think of a time where we have done anything just to 'be happy'. And most people I know are similar. I don't know if that answers the question. But I'd rather do the right thing and fulfill my purpose on earth than just 'be happy'. (oh, and I also agree that doing the right thing would make people happy in the end, anyway! :001_smile:)

:iagree:

:bigear:

I don't spend nearly as much on my own clothes as I should... nothing looks right, fits right, etc. I don't actually even like most of my clothes! Part of the problem is my size :/ - along with the fact that I'm kinda straight up and down, so most pants especially just don't fit well. It's actually kinda depressing when I think about it lol... I love Victoria's Secret clothes, but I don't buy pants from them bc of the whole fit thing. Shirts are pretty easy, though. I get all of my undergarments from them - won't wear anything else. :)

I kind of look at it the way I look at personality stuff - we each have our innate tendencies (nature). We should, as adults, already be able to take what we know we will automatically do (I'm thinking as far as reactions to circumstances and situations, for example) and NOT necessarily react the way that our innate tendency would be. (So for me, going from 1 to 10 in 2.4 seconds is NOT the way to go :tongue_smilie: - similarly, for a more laid back/ peaceful personality, the best route is not always to just let things go or hold anger in just for the sake of not wanting to rock the boat). It's all about being balanced. Unfortunately, I know a lot of adults who don't understand this concept and take knowing their personality type as an excuse for rude behavior (bossy, etc...) Nurture comes into play in helping our children learn their innate tendencies and responses: their personality; and helping them learn to regulate their responses to be more balanced, also. We do this when it comes to personality, when it comes to their 'nature', etc... but by no means do I think that what they end up being is set in stone. I fully understand that my laid back 5 year old will probably not have a job as a doctor or any other high stress (high workload lol) position - but it's our job as parents to make sure that he grows up understanding his strengths and weaknesses. If we are able to do that, then he'll have a strong work ethic and will work hard at whatever job he has when the time comes. I don't know if that made a lot of sense... I may read over it and think I sound ridiculous. But it made sense in my head...:D

So far (but we are still early in the year, and I have a feeling the lessons will take a little longer the further we go), we have been able to get everything done in the morning (with a break for 'recess' as the boys like to call our free time, and snack) with the exception of Bible and our reading. Sometimes we may have to go out in the morning for something else, obviously, which puts us a little behind - but in general we are done by 1:15/1:30 each day. I do occasionally put off art until the afternoon if it's especially messy, so that the 2yo will be in bed and won't add to the mess. :) Once we're done for the day, they can either play quietly in their room or watch a movie quietly in mine. They usually do about half and half.

I didn't really have a good title to sum up the question, I guess. And I have a lot of questions coming to my mind today, sorry! :) Anyway, we have started out reading some very basic stuff, none of the chapter books yet as I'm trying to slowly ease us back into the more words/less picture reading (lol) - in the past we've read stuff like the Chronicles of Narnia, but that was awhile back. Anyway, right now we're doing some of Grimm's Fairy Tales and we read The Reluctant Dragon, and we have some other ones by Nesbit and Steig, I believe... anyway, what I'm wondering is if it's necessary to do anything besides read them? Idk if that makes sense... I guess I just see a lot of different comprehension guides and different little studies advertised that go with certain books, and I was just wondering if that is something that people usually do or if just reading the books is good enough??

Ok, so oldest DS is definitely starting Latin next year, but he is chomping at the bit to start Japanese. He's in 2nd grade now, and we won't be adding anything else this year, but idk if it would be wise to try to start out with so much more stuff next year! When is a good time to start other foreign languages? Should I wait til the Logic stage to put a good bit of time between starting Latin and doing whatever he chooses to do next (whether it still be Japanese or not)? (I must say, I also love the idea of going ahead and starting next year - but I just don't want it to be too much, kwim? We would probably do Rosetta Stone for Japanese or whatever).

I have the 3rd and I love it. I've read the 1st edition (I think it was the 1st??) also - I know that they do recommend some of their own stuff in the 3rd edition but it has never bothered me. I never felt like that was the only option they gave or anything like that.

That is awesome!!! I had a good education but I'm not sure yet exactly what I'll end up using - so far, not much :tongue_smilie:

The Children's Place, Oshkosh, Gymboree??

I actually have a list of 'vacation ideas' (some of which are VERY BIG ideas lol) on my computer. I keep lists of everything... 1) the caribbean/ mexico 2) as many of the places in DC as we can manage 3) Disney World 4) Colorado 5) Yellowstone 6) Arizona ( love love love Arizona!) 7) NYC (also love love love NYC!) 8) Alaska 9) Europe (just about any spot in Europe - pick one! lol) 10) Japan I think that kind of covers it, but basically I'd love to be able to take them all over the world! lol. :) (So I definitely took that fantasizing thing and ran with it, I know!) :D

:iagree:

Where we used to live we called a few times. The guy would have these huge parties and then they'd all drink too much and start screaming and fighting. The cops even knew who it was by the address - once when my husband was talking to one elsewhere, the cop asked him if the guy behind us had gotten back with his girlfriend - if so, they would probably be getting more calls again... :001_huh:

How many generations do you think it takes the average lower middle class family to go from their typical PS education to a grade 12 TWTM education? So as I'm looking through the responses I can't help but wonder what economic status has to do with the whole thing? I don't even know where we fall... lower middle/middle I guess?? But none of this has ever even crossed my mind when deciding on education for my kids. Idk, maybe that's just me? I guess I just figured it was pretty normal. In any case, as a response to the question, I see no reason why it can't be done in one generation. At this point I have every intention of giving all of my kids a classical education all the way through. I think it's definitely possible. What do you all think about families digging in their heels and building just the foundation in the first generation, because like immigrants they are long sighted? I have no experience with this. I don't even really get what it means - they do the first few years and then become lax and do whatever?? I would find it kind of lazy on the parents part, if that were the case, but I don't even know if that's the question... :confused: Sorry, my answers are kinda lame! :tongue_smilie:

I wish there was an emoticon for taking notes....

Good to know I'm not alone! lol :)

So I've already been itching to start planning for NEXT year - as in, like, the 2012-2013 school year. I was completely done with this year (planning, purchasing, everything stocked and ready) by May. June rolled around and I found myself wanting to go ahead and do next year! :D I have managed to give myself a timeline - when we take our fall break in Sept, I'll go through and start making lists of subjects/books and a basic plan of what we need. In Dec I'll make the final budget. Then I'll order all my stuff in March and do all the scheduling/planning when we have Spring Break (also in March). So tell me, am I completely off my rocker? Has anyone else ever done this or had this 'problem'? :tongue_smilie:

I think it would be doable. I don't know a whole lot about everything yet, having just started myself, but it doesn't look to be too much more involved than ours is, and we get by pretty well. :)

Well, by no means do I have anything down pat yet, and I only have one 2 year old, but she has her own little set of drawers full of stuff to do, and she spends time playing with that stuff, coloring on her dry erase board, sitting in my lap, and playing with my 5yo when he's got free time while I'm working with my 7yo. She also 'helps' the boys when they practice their piano and comes and 'reads' with them when they are looking at books on the couch... we shall see how things go when we are more than a week and a half into school!:001_smile:

Oh, and I would definitely go for tattoo over any piercings! I Hate piercings!

Yep, I have one on my lower back (got it there before it earned the nickname it has now!) and I would happily get about 3 more... but so far, my husband is unconvinced ;)