This is us exactly, only it was the first week of February our empty house sold in a week in metro Phoenix. There is no way we could have lived in it, cleaned it out, and fixed it up with four kids while homeschooling. No way.

It's always nice to be able to rule something out. Hope he feels better soon!!

All four of my kids are recovering from strep (and influenza type A at the same time! Fun!) Only one of them actually felt a sore throat. I'd check it out just to be sure.

I absolutely hates that phase. It was the worst having to drive older kids around to lessons in the later afternoon. The littles would inevitably fall asleep in the car and then be up all night. I have no advice, but the upmost sympathy. Hang in there!!

DP

White.

The only bartering I do is with my friend. She teaches violin. I teach piano. I teach her girls and she teaches mine. We trade off whose home lessons are at. It's worked really well for 5 or six years.

Totally tongue in cheek. We were teasing, and it was a good reminder that we are both making important contributions.

When I ever mention to DH how the clothes magically end up in the closet and food appears in the fridge, he makes sure to remind me how the money magically appears in my bank account. 😃

My parents love telling the story about how they taught me to read (using Hooked on Phonics) before I entered kindergarten in 1983. And at parent teacher conference at Christmas time of that year, my dad asked the teacher if she'd listened to me read. Her reply, "Kindergarteners don't read." He told her she should listen to me read, which she did. And then I was moved up to first grade after Christmas. I guess that's where the readers were! And it worked out quite well for me for the most part. I was the oldest of five and my parents were young and energetic. They definitely didn't teach us all to read before K! My youngest DD, just turned 5, goes to a home based preschool, which she loves. Just recently it was announced that they were going to begin learning to read and start splitting into reading groups every Friday. Ugh!!! If she didn't love it so much and show a lot of signs for being ready to start (I was thinking of starting her anyway) I would have pulled her out. We do not need lists of sight words and crappy worksheets, thanks but no thanks. But I guess most of the kids will be moving onto public school where it will be expected that they already know this stuff.

When we had whooping cough last summer it induced a lot of vomiting. 👎 Hope you get it figured out and feel better soon!

I think you can do it. My resistant/non compliant kid started school last year (middle of 4th). He thrived and his sisters at home thrived. This year I've had him at school (around the corner, thankfully!), two at home, and my 4 year old at a 3 day/week preschool. Add to that a one full day a week enrichment program for my oldest and it has been pretty busy. But it feels good to know everyone is getting what they need (including me as I am not fighting my 10 year old nearly as much anymore). And I love having more time to focus one on one with the kids at home. Sounds like you have a good support network. I would try it!

As a teacher, I say get the real piano, especially if you have someone willing to help pay. I did some piano shopping for a friend last year, and my dealer (the one I learned the hard way I could trust) had many decent used uprights/spinnets in the $2000 range. There are advantages to a digital piano that have been pointed out (cost, space, noise, portability), but when it comes to technical development of intricate muscles, tone production, and developing an ear for musical artistry...you can't beat the real thing. Since you're commited to this for many years, maybe try a digital piano at first, but start saving for a real one. It'll be worth the investment.

98 cents a head (conventionally grown) here in AZ today.

Loved, loved, loved that show! All of my sisters and my parents were fans and trying to get me to watch it for a long time before my husband and I finally did. And then we were hooked. It was sad to see it end.

Wow! The first city was where I grew up until I was 21, second city is exactly where I live now and have lived for the last 16 years, and the third city is also part of this metro area. Crazy!

I'm on my second iphone. My last one did end it's life shattered and useless. But that's because after my Otterbox fell apart I didn't have a case on it at all for a while and it got dropped on tile several times. If you have a good thick case with screen protection on it you should be fine.

I have watched that Lionel Ritchie clip a million times in the last two weeks, and I giggle every single time. We love the new album! We had fun with this one last week...

My 10 and 13 year olds both recently asked for a watch. My 13 year old got hers for her birthday.

I am with you 100000000%!!!!!!!!!

DP

I worked for my dad at his insurance agency filing and such from the time I was about 10 until the summer before college when I was his secretary for 3 months. I also babysat, taught piano lessons, and accompanied for a voice teacher and others. I also had a weekly gig cleaning and laundering for my grandpa for a few years. I think he honestly thought he was training me to be a good maid! My oldest is barely 13, and we are trying to brainstorm ways for her to earn money besides doing work for us. She has several expensive trips coming up we'd like her to contribute to. I'd love for my children to be able to make money in their teen years doing something they are good at and enjoy as I did with my music. Working on the motivation aspect with my young teen... Lots of great ideas in this thread!

I don't know, but I love those books about deaths in the National Parks. So fascinating and creepy at the same time!

Just bawled all the way through it.

Depends one what your goals are. I started violin in 5 th grade and played in school orchestra until 11th grade, but i'd say I was basically self taught, no private lessons. Piano is my main instrument, so reading music was easy for me, but noone taught me how to shift or do vibrato or really hold my bow that great. So I tried to teach myself those things and my technique is terrible. As I've been watching my daughters learn with really good teachers over the last 10 years, I've realized how much I really missed when it comes to technique, and I'm trying to relearn with them as I can. BUT, I had a great time in orchestra. I enjoyed playing the violin when I did. My goal was never to perform as a soloist in front of others. So if your goal is just for personal enjoyment and challenging yourself to learn something new then go for it!