We did not. I considered not having to do scheduled PE one of the perks of homeschooling. I honestly have no idea if my kids can do sit ups. I'm sure if they wanted to learn, they could.

I'm sorry I don't have any advice; I hope everything goes as smoothly as is possible in such a situation.

I have IGs going back to 1992. The very early years were similar to what you see now (except in much less detail). Right around 2000 and through the mid 2000s I thought SL was really excellent as far as their academic tone. They used exceptional books and had some exceptional commentary (also some strange commentary, but I'm not sure if that was just because I am so different in my religious beliefs). As they got towards the end of the 2000s and definitely into the 10s I felt that things were becoming more watered down and that the product was marketed more as a whole product deal...buy this; we will tell you what to teach your children, how, and what. I STILL get excited when I read old catalogs and look at old IGs. I find them super. The new stuff...eh. Really, when you start looking, I think it is a case of Sarita's hand being more involved in the development of the IG/manual tone in the beginning and now, with John more in charge of things in the middle. My interactions with John have been iffy. There is a LOT of stuff that he says that startles me (in a not good way) and a lot of issues I disagree with him on. I stay interested in what is going on with SL because I find them fascinating...it is obvious that Sarita and John parted ways as far as their individual beliefs long ago; and SL seems like a train wreck waiting to happen...but one that manages to keep sliding by for some reason. Now that I am able to separate the curriculum from some of the other stuff surrounding SL I am using it again in conjunction with WP. Starting in August I will switch to BkSk though. (Together, SL Core W, WP QAW, Algebra I, and Language Arts manage to keep my 12-year old occupied for about two hours per day.) If you have specific questions, it is possible I could answer them or look up the information.

Me too. I really wish I wouldn't have purchased Core W now...maybe I will switch out and do their 6 and then 7 once those guides are out.

I did the infant activities just naturally...I was really surprised when I read the book and saw that they were listed in there! (I bought it when my first son was about six months old). I thought they were fun to do and a little bit of stimulation (but not too much) for the baby. I was never really into their toddler or preschool activities...I liked other stuff better for those years.

I would personally guess WP rather than SL...WP is VERY proprietary about their user's guides, and illegally tries to tell people they can not resell them.

Yes! LOVE it! I've been a member for several years now.

I agree with everything you wrote, but especially this.

We used to do allowance, but no longer do. My kids get money for birthdays and Christmas, for doing extra chores around the house, etc. My oldest earns about $20-40/mo doing chores and gets between $50-100 from various relatives for each holiday. Allowance didn't work for us because my oldest became obsessed with trying to figure out it would take to save money for the stuff he wanted. My husband and I both get spending money...he works outside the home, I work inside the home. My kids also work around the house, so I figure they should get the benefits of that as well. I received allowance as a child, my husband did not. Having the kids earn money for doing extra chores has worked really well for both of us.

I agree with this. I stick with things if they are working and move on if they aren't. I know what our goals are for learning, and I have never seen any disadvantage to using a wide variety of resources.

:lol::lol: (yup, I'm here, too!)

Ack! You picked the quote I wrote on the crockpot thread. It was totally hysterical to come over here (totally randomly!) after basically several months away and this was the thread I opened...and that post was there! (we still have our old crockpot; if there is lead in it we are happily consuming it along with our wild boar and venison)

Yes, I read individually to each of my boys. I schedule their bedtimes to stagger so I can do that...sometimes now they like to listen to the other's stories though. We read a variety of stuff...non-fiction, encyclopedias, fiction, picture books; whatever is striking our fancy during the moment.

Hey there! I didn't even know you were on wtm!!!!!:D

Only bio kids right now. We would absolutely be open to raising kids that are "ours" through other means...my grandparents raised me for part of my life, my mom was a house mother for several years...and those girls are 100% my sisters, I have a step-sister from one marriage, and two step-brothers from a different marriage...all "ex" but still my siblings! I have two half-siblings from my father's second marriage, and my mom also raised a little girl for a year or so until she could go to her grandparents (she still visits and is a "forever" part of our family...she's around 12 now). So I would definitely be open to a child coming our way. (I didn't answer the poll...I don't have my glasses on and can't read the poll questions!!!)