Poor little squirrel. I hope his mama finds him. Well, my sheets didn't get washed, but I took a much needed nap. :-0

I should totally do this. Problem is, I stink at remembering to be accountable to the thread lol. Oh well. I'll try. School has been going...dare I say it? It's been going really great. Everyone is getting their work done, it isn't taking forever, things are moving right along. I have even been good about tying in videos and projects to science and history, which is something I am terrible at. I planned history out week by week over the summer, basically listing every single resource we have on the subject so we can pick and choose what we wanted to do. The kids however, have wanted to do everything! So our weekly schedule is being stretched into a two week schedule. And surprisingly, I'm fine with that...realizing that history doesn't have to wrap up nicely in one school year was very freeing. Today, we are going to church and then lunch with friends. DH is then taking the three big girls over to his friends house for swimming and a BBQ, while I rest a little at home. We had a busy day yesterday and then Baby Boy had a rough night last night and was up a ton so I am beat. While I am home, I need to -strip and was hour bedding. The girls took care of theirs this week already. -write up new chore cards. -get lunch meat for sandwiches -make dinner for tomorrow, since between coop and gymnastics, I don't have time.

I reall, really WANT to love Jim Weiss. I do. I force my kids to listen to SOTW in the car. But man, he puts me to sleep. 😳 Let the tomato throwing begin.

I have three kids, similar ages. my oldest is 6th, second is 3rd, and youngest is a K/1st combo. Plus a newborn. We are always done by 1, because my girls have gym 4 nights a week. This is what a typical day looks like- 8:30-9:30 Sixth grader and I meet for 15 minutes to do math instruction. She works on her own for an additional 30 minutes, making 45 minutes total. Then she works on Phonetic Zoo spelling for 15 minutes on her own. Middle dd is reading on the couch to the younger dd from a stack of preselected books. She does this for 15 minutes, then meets with me for 15 minutes for math, while the littlest does a phonics worksheet. Middle keeps working on math for an additional 15 minutes, making it 30 minutes total. She then does cursive independently. After the first half hour of teaching math to the bigger two, I work on reading and math (15 minutes each) with my littlest. We use CLE math M-Th, and Challenge Math/Problem Solving Genius on Fridays. Miquon for the youngest. 9:30-10:30 Oldest does IEW writing and grammar. These are fairly independent for her. Middle does IEW writing with me for 20 minutes, then works on grammar independently. Littlest is either off playing or working on Logic type puzzles, cutting/glueing, copy work and/or a CM inspired language arts. 10:30-10:45 snack break. I read aloud to them. 10:45-11 Oldest reads history to herself, middle and little girls play. 11-12 Rotating subjects- Monday is coop, Tuesday/Thursday is history, Wednesday is science, Friday is geography. We also do an hour of experiments/labs on Wednesday and history/science task cards and projects on Friday. 12-12:30 Logic puzzles, root words, drill, memory work, ect. Each day its different. Yesterday I had them all riding on scooters inside the house. Each time they passed me, they had to do some sort of drill-for my youngest it was sight words and phonograms, for my middle it was multiplication facts, and for my oldest it was spelling. The day before they did logic puzzles the entire time. 12:30-1 lunch They have lists of chores I am willing to pay for up on the mantle. Any time they have a few minutes, they are welcome to do a chore, or not. We have a great coop where they have writing, engineering, math games, and art classes. Another coop we will be starting will cover all our science using Elemental Science. I could then stop doing the science we do now, but they like it, so we will probably continue. Gym is M/W 2:30-8, Th 5:30-7:30, and F 4-7. They don't all go all that time-Littlest goes six hours, middle goes 10, and oldest goes 8. As much as I'd love to use multiple curriculums, it just won't get done. So we stick with the best one for US, and do only ONE per subject. Here are our curriculum choices in case they help you. Math-CLE for the bigger two, Math games class at coop. and Zaccaro's books once a week. Miquon for the youngest. Spelling-phonetic zoo, corrections from writing assignments. Grammar-Critical thinking company Writing-IEW, task card assignments, and visual journaling class through coop. History-Task cards, encyclopedia, SOTW, History Pockets, and about 30 reader books. Some i read aloud, some my dd will read to herself. Science-task cards, Mystery Science, and Elemental science through coop, engineering and science inquiry through coop. Logic-Critical Thinking Co. and coop Art-coop Literature-just books lists I have found. Audio books, read aloud, or independently.

It's what I learned, so I am biased, but I think it's gorgeous. Definitely do it!

3 kids, always homeschooled. Oldest is entering sixth. I teach all core classes, however they've done a coop that could include science, history, art, technology. I always look at coop as 'extra', and do not count on anything from it-IOW, I still teach history and science at home. I do not teach their PE, which is gymnastics. Our plan is to continue homeschooling through high school, so long as it continues to be the best choice for everyone.

The only time we had lice, we had it taken care of in a few hours. We had a de-lousing company come and comb us all. After two hours, they proclaimed us lice free and said we could go about our normal activities. I wouldn't trust the chemical solutions, but the combing companies take care of it immediately. If the mom is pregnant, this might be worth mentioning to her.

Three bio kids and a foster babe here (he's too little to participate in activities, but he has his own schedule of visitation, appointments, therapies, naps, ect.). My girls all do gymnastics. They are all on team, different levels. They practice anywhere from 4 hours per week (5 year old) to 11 hours (8 year old). That is our main 'thing'. We are at the gym M and W from 3-8, Th 3-7:30, and F 4-7. Sometimes Saturday for extra practice. I pack dinner and shuttle kids home as they finish, shower them, then go pick the others up later. They also did violin/cello over the summer, and dd11 wants to continue. That will be one hour private lesson per week, and practice daily at home. We do a weekly coop from September to May. That's easy because they all go at the same time. Dd5 does art, karate, and science club. Dd8 does art, math, and engineering club. Dd11 does pottery, logic club, and writing. We are starting science coop in September. My two big girls will join, and my 5 year old will be on a play date in exchange for me giving a ride to a friends older children. That works out nicely. We used to do archery and horseback riding as well, so this feels easy lol. Do works out of town a lot, and his schedule is absolutely NOT predictable or the same from week to week. I can not depend on him helping at all. My mom lives with us for this very reason. She is available after 4, and will either help me by picking the girls up from gym or staying home with the little dc's while I pick the older ones up.

I LOVE camping'...in my camper lol. Not so much in a tent. I have gone in a tent, pregnant, nursing a two year old, and with my five year old. That was madness. 😳

I liked The Reading Lesson, followed by Phnics Pathways.

One person jumping when there are flips involved. I only let my own kids flip unless the other kids parents are present. Bigs know to watch for littles. Don't crash purposely or pull on netting. We ask all friends parents permission, some are ok with it some not, so we don't use it when those friends are here. No eating and jumping. My kids will often take picnic on the trampoline, which is fine, but they have to finish and clear everything before jumping. Bare feet. No hard items.

This. I absolutely love love love camping. We camp in a camper though-I wouldn't feel the same way about tent camping. I have all the amenities of home, AC, bathroom, kitchen, comfy bed...we generally do easy food for breakfast and lunch-stuff the kids can grab on their own, and dh grills for dinner. The kids get up and are outside from about 8 am to 9 pm. I drag them in for a quick shower and everyone falls into bed tired and happy. Last time we went camping, I read a 1,000 page book in four days. I had that much time to sit in my hammock and read while the kids swam and dug in the sand. There is no schedule, no running around, no sitting in a car or waiting in lines or restaurants. This makes for happy kids, which makes for a happy mama. We take the bare minimum with us-several swim suits and a couple of changes of clothes, a few books and a bag of toiletries. There isn't much to keep track of or pick up or clean. I do sweep the camper a few times a day, but it takes less than five minutes. It's my favorite vacation so far.

This year we've traveled a TON. I'm constantly in packing or unpacking mode it seems lol. 1. Great Wolf for a week 2. Savannah GA for four days-we went for my daughters gym meet, but stayed extra to enjoy the town. 3. NY to visit family and see a cousin in a Broadway show. 4. Florida to visit family. We stayed in our own timeshare and had friends and family come see US, so it truly felt like vacation. We went for one daughters birthday. 5. TN to ski for another daughters birthday. 6. Took the camper out for a week at a time, twice, at the lake. These weeks are my favorite and most relaxing vacations. I was able to read a 730 page book the first week and a 997 page book the next time. 😳 7. Hubs and I are headed to Atlantic City this weekend. Just us! We are going to see a comedy show. We have more camping to do this summer. I'd love to go four more times. In August we may be going to NOLA for a week, since hubs will be working there for six. And in September we will head back down to FL for another week. It's way way more travel than I would ever do on my own, but the kids have had a blast.

I have a strong gag reflex. I can swallow small capsules pill (if I smell them first, it's a no go, so no big tablets of vitamins) one at a time, preferably with a juice or iced tea. Not water.

My first dd was exclusively breastfed for eight months, and I continued to breastfeed her until she was a preschooler. I did an elimination diet shortly after she was born because she was so incredibly gassy and uncomfortable. I was down to eating just four things. It never helped. I tried tea, I tried Mylicon, I tried the natural stuff. I swaddled, and then didn't. We co-slept, tried the crib, and went back to co-sleeping simply because it was slightly easier for me. Nothing helped. She didn't sleep longer than 20 minute stretches for almost a year. She never lay still unless I had her in a wrap, and even then she only slept for twenty minutes. She never, ever, slept soundly. She was always writhing, wiggling, fighting sleep. The term 'sleep like a baby' did not apply to our children. It was hell. I swore off ever having another kid, despite always wanting a large family. It lead to a very very bad bout of severe depression that went unmedicated, because I felt that if I could just SLEEP, everything would be ok. Obviously it got better, and we had two more kiddos. My attitude and expectations were a bit different with my second two, however, they were worlds easier than my first. I breastfed them for several years as well, but never had the extreme gassy or fussy experiences I did with my first. They didn't sleep through the nights before a year old, but even when they were co-sleeping and waking to nurse, they were calm and contented. I could nurse them and roll them right over back to sleep-this is what all my AP friends swore I should do with my first, not understanding that I was TRYING, but it didn't work that way for her. She'd wake, cry, nurse, wiggle, pop off, cry, writhe, nurse, start to doze, jump, cry, scrunch up her little legs, nurse, wriggle, and be awake for the next two hours. All night. Every night. For almost a year. I did learn, after many years, that I have a weird protein thing that happens to my milk. I noticed it when I had my third just a few months after my sisters baby was born. When she would pump, a nice, thick layer of fat would form at the top. When I would use the milk to feed my nephew, it smelled sweet, like honey. My milk never had that much fat on the top-it was just a super thing layer. And whenever I would smell my pumped milk, it smelled...not sour, but metallic? Even if I had pumped an hour prior. It was very weird. Later I learned that there is a name for this phenomenon. I always wonder if it was actually my breast milk that made my first daughter so fussy. :( Ironically, we've had plenty of experiences with foster babies, and they all have done remarkably well with sleeping-on formula. I have a theory that since it doesn't change from day to day or even feeding to feeding, their little bodies can adapt to it much better than breaks milk? I don't know, but the difference in our foster babies and our own kids with regards to sleeping calmly and well were incredible.

I'm considering purchasing a subscription to these for my 5.5 year old dd. I got Prodigy Math for the big two girls on a group buy for $12, and it has been fantastic. They ask to play math before breakfast. I had hoped my little girl could use it, but their lowest level is first grade, and she isn't ready for some of the problems-at least not independently, which is the whole reason I would want one of these subscriptions for her. I need something she can play on her own for a half hour per day, while I do more intensive teaching of the big girls. She is not easily entertained-I've tried everything to have her occupy herself and she just ends up being a major distraction. She is playing the free trial right now, and I was thinking of going ahead and signing her up in two weeks when that ends. However I was hoping to get some opinions on it first. Or maybe alternate suggestions? Other games similar to RE/MS? Thanks in advance.

Secular or at least not uber conservative. Stick to homeschooling lectures. I don't want to hear about discipline, prepping, guns, or whatever else. Ill go to different conventions for those. Same with the vendors. I want HOMESCHOOLING products. Not wooden spoons with smiley faces, not random business advertising a discount rate for theme parks, ect. A super fun, organized, and well run children's area. I'd be willing to pay a reasonable fee for this. Not $100 per kid though. I don't want a room where it is a free for all either. I want ADULTS in charge and teens helping. Take the kids on a scavenger hunt, make cool crafts, conduct fun experiments. And I want either a pager system or for them to have the capability to text me in case there is any issue. Stroller free zone in the convention hall. I do know its difficult to shop if you have a toddler, so perhaps there would be a block of time each day when stollers were allowed. Say two hours in the morning?

Tashi!!! A loved these. And then E did. Just a couple of sentences peerage, pictures, engaging story, and just really adorable books. I have the Great Big Book of Tashi, which has all of the books included.

From as early as I can remember I've wanted to be marked and have kids. Check! At that age, I wanted to be a dancer, and did make that my career until I got married and had kids.

Fellow INTJ here. So happy to have found my tribe lol. Everything you all have written about coping, homeschooling, and life in general strikes a chord with me. Especially the waiting and wanting efficiency part. I hate wasting time. My kids are 5, 8, and 11, and are actually pretty good about respecting my space and need for quiet. We get school done rather quickly, and then I kick them all out to play. I put a podcast on and clean up, or read, or crochet. And I use screens. Everyone gets half hour during the day and half hour before bed. 😳 I know that's terrible, right before bed, but by that time I am dead tired. After reading to them for an hour, I need them to just stay put in their rooms. Having half hour of screen time makes that happen. I've also found that although *I* am happiest staying home, we all do better with a full extra curricular schedule. My girls are all heavily involved in gymnastics, and go between 3-9 hours a week. While I hate driving them, I do like that I can veg in the lobby for a while. And doing all that exercising tires them out, which makes bedtime go much better. 😉 I have one I and two E's. My E kids get along fabulously most of the time, and spend hours playing crazy games together. My oldest is so much like me, I wouldn't be surprised if she was also an INTJ. She spends about three hours per day reading. Another hour or two listening to audio books and crafting. I'm looking forward to reading how others handle homeschooling, living with little people, and life in general.

We live on a few acres. We have woods and creeks. We bought the house for that reason, so that is what I adore most. Other than that, we have lots of space inside, and a finished basement which makes things much easier with a guest room and a school room.

I would have been MORE than happy with a check! I like that idea seeing as I have three daughters!

She went to an PT for toe walking, who then referred us to an OT because she suspected sensory issues. The OT felt like it was that as well, even though she could not officially diagnose. We did OT for a while, and gradually we started buying similar equipment to have at home to meet her sensory needs. Once we had most everything that we did at therapy, we weaned off and started doing more at home. She is MUCH MUCH better than she was, so I know she is being helped by meeting her sensory needs. When I'm good about doing her exercises every two hours, it's wonderful. But life happens and I can't always do that, and that's when it goes downhill. I am planning on taking her to a psychologist soon. I just need stuff to help with the little everyday things. It's hardly ever a full blown two hour meltdown any more, yay! Still though, she reacts so often with anger, even when anger is not the appropriate response at all. She is really bright, and we have talked endlessly about feelings, emotions, and acceptable responses. I'm creating an anxiety/anger tool kit for her. I'll need to make a small one to keep with me in the car as well, since she does have these episodes while we are out too. Any other ideas?

She is five. She definitely has SPD, anxiety, and sensory seeking behavior. As a result, everything makes her mad. Did she get startled? Anger. Is she sad? Anger. Is she lonely? Anger? Is she being left out? Anger. Something changed or didn't go the way she expected? Anger. Someone told her no? Anger. Dropped a pencil? Anger. Need to do a chore or school? Anger. It's exhausting for me, I can't imagine how it is for her. I don't know if I need to let her express it all, and deal with her meltdowns, tantrums, and anger all day everyday, OR try to re-wire her thinking by focusing on more appropriate responses. I fear doing that will stifle or push down the anger and it will resurface in her teens or something. On the other hand, if I just continue to calm her down or change her world so she can stay calm, how on earth is she going to learn coping skills?? I just need help here.

*Good food. I *could* spend less on our weekly groceries, but I love having a ton of fresh produce, high quality meats and cheeses, and a few healthy and quick convenience options. We also enjoy going out to eat as a family, and we try to choose restaurants over quick-stop fast food places. *Books and homeschool curricula. Enough said. Lol *Extracurricular activities and experiences for the kids. They are all three really involved in gymnastics, they've taken archery and horseback riding lessons, martial arts, art, nature study, and computer programming classes. They've gone snow and water skiing, indoor skydiving, rock climbing, zip lining, repelling, ect. I like being able to take them to museums or to see Broadway shows or the ballet. *Travel-we've gone a numerous 3-4 day mini trips. We bought a camper and have loved traveling with that as well. My hubby works out of town often, and if it works, we tag along and stay in his hotel room and go exploring while he works.