Why would it be strange or controversial to reach kids where they are and teach them in the ways that they learn best? Isn't that the reason so many of us chose to homeschool to begin with? At one point last year, my daughter asked me to download a dictionary app. She said it was because she "needed a dictionary that didn't require internet access". I informed her that we had several versions that would meet her needs, that they were called BOOKS, and she was welcome to retrieve them from our bookshelves at any time of day or night. She laughed her butt off and proceeded to walk away...without the app. There's no point in making kids use a tool that they are unlikely to use when there are other ways to access the same information. At DD's school, they provide textbooks. DD uses hers as needed. She also uses other resources that, as a mildly dyslexic student, are more accessible to her. I think about all of the students who are left behind by insisting on text or lecture as the only medium of instruction. When we know better (about how kids learn) we should do better. If the ultimate results are poor, OK, reevaluate and change course. When the results are not only not poor but good or superior? Get over it.

My dad gave us a gift after we married (we eloped so he didn’t pay for a wedding). It was an unsolicited. My mom has given us a few financial gifts through the years and we have given gifts to her too. I’ve never asked for their money and hope never to need it. My DH has never asked for family money either (his parents were both deceased by the time he was 27/8). Neither of us is comfortable asking and would prefer they put on their own life vests first. They have not. We are happy to give gifts after family has done what they can to manage expenses but we do not loan money to family. DH ‘sold’ his older cousin a car 20 years ago just before he went to boot camp and was never paid or apologized to. Back then, it wasn’t a financial hit we could afford to take. DH hasn’t had a *financial* thing to do with family since then, to include the cousin’s son who is graduating from HS this June. DH looked at the announcement and promptly refused to cut a check.

https://news.usc.edu/165903/ Also, (primary) home equity will no longer be considered in FinAid calculations. The announcement was made this morning and I am very excited to see this change. Many, many alumni pushed this over the last few years. I hope this is the first of many such changes to come.

I said yes, my kid snuck out, but it wasn’t for a nefarious purpose. In an attempt to let the dog use the bathroom, she failed to latch the leash and the dog escaped. In her infinite wisdom, she decided to phone a friend down the block to help her with the search since it was so late. We had no idea she was out chasing the dog until the following week, neither did the other family. The school called after an adult overheard them talking about it at school.

Also....I know this angst...worrying that you'll miss something critical on a once in a lifetime trip. I felt the same way when we went to South Africa! Never fear! You will see what you were meant to see and your kiddo will love it for reasons you can't even fathom today. My kids still talk about the chickens, turtles and ducks at our AirBnB. Have fun!!

That could work. As for Valley Forge...IMO...No. There are tons of revolutionary war battle sites to see. Mostly, it's just...land...unless one of your children is totally into military tactics and history.

I haven't been to either of those museums yet so I cannot say. The reconstructed native village and settler homes at Jamestown are nice and help put things in perspective but I don't know what, if any, gaps or must-sees you have identified for your own crew. I think it'd only take a day's visit to get the gist for most older kids. If that's not worth the effort of getting there for you, I'd certainly consider a museum alternative. We enjoyed it immensely but, at the time, my kids were 7 and 4.

Mount Vernon is great; I think you will enjoy that. There's so much free stuff and TONS of walking in DC that I think can easily fill your days there. When we lived in Rhode Island, we were able to visit a colonial-era settlement with working water-powered grist and saw mills. That was cool. It helped bridge the historical gap between Jamestown and Mt. Vernon. The most memorable part of the Williamsburg experience for me was the inclusion of Native voices/experiences. That would be the one part of Williamsburg that I'd try to include somewhere else.

Williamsburg is good for little kids, lots of hands on exhibits and places to run about. It’s less appealing for older kids.

Mid-August to early September or Mid-October to early November might be better. Congress won't be in session and there are fewer school field trips at that time of year.

FTR, the live-away college experience for most kids doesn't include non-stop partying and those that do go too far in that direction quickly find themselves kicked out of school. On any given weekend there is probably a party somewhere but most students aren't attending. What I most recall from those years are much smaller gatherings of friends (5-15 people) in dorm rooms or off-campus apartments/rented homes with dominoes, cards, sodas, chips and salsa, spaghetti and salad. There were tons of group outings to poetry slams and jazz jam sessions put on by English/music students at the after hours coffee shop, free concerts in the campus square put on by up and coming artists, piling into beat up cars to visit famous local eateries in the wee hours of the night to refuel during finals week, or banding together to buy tickets for, walk to, and attend school sporting events. Being serious about academics doesn't mean eschewing any/all bonding experiences. Students really are doing these things, all over America, and being successful in school and in life.

I would give yourself an extra day in DC and one less in Williamsburg. The big draw museums, Holocaust and SMAAHC can easily take all day with a few walk-by's of major monuments.

DD is very interested in this career field and I am not familiar with it. She does a lot of designing on Roblox, writing scripts for pay, etc. I found an affordable architecture camp she might enjoy next summer. Anyone have any brilliant ideas for how else she can develop and show her interest? I’ve suggested photography and art (she’s doing art/sketching this year). She’s also taking some computer aided drafting classes at school next year. Any other ideas? The concept of a portfolio is intimidating to me and this seems to be what she’s gravitating toward.

Totally depends on the kid. One of mine is planning to go and will likely love it and thrive academically and socially. The other, oddly the more academic of the two, wants to go straight to the job market and be self-sufficient so we’re steering him to USNA or an NROTC program. I went and loved it, DH didn’t and has no regrets—much like our kids I guess.

You will enter the FAFSA data like normal and call each financial aid office to find out how they want you to proceed/where to send your "Special Circumstances" appeal. At a minimum, you'll need to send a letter detailing the issue. Be specific, saying exactly how much monthly income was lost. ETA: You may also want to apply for FinAid and send in your documentation as soon as possible after the filing window starts. The further into spring you go, the more money has been awarded and the less "discretionary" institutional funding may be available.