I think every week is a bit much. But, what about every other week? I also think I would discuss with him how late is reasonable for each of you to stay out. I can't sleep if DH is out, so him being out until 12:30 would really negatively affect our family. I even like just going to the grocery store by myself. Seems like such a treat. We go on very few dates, but do date night at home regularly. We get take out after DD is in bed and just talk or watch a movie or tv show. It is much cheaper than going out and getting a babysitter. Once the noob comes, I'd discuss maybe a month off of guys night out and figure out things the two of you can do to bond. If you can't go out because your exclusively nursing what about talking to DH about making one night a week his night to clean up the kitchen or fold laundry while you relax with the baby, craft or something else relaxing. I think there are a lot of ways DH can give you a break without you actually having to leave, he just has to be committed to doing it and you have to let him.

DD just turned 6. She has 2 speeds--lightning fast or backwards. DH and I are really frustrated. She's taken to spending an hour at the breakfast table, half an hour in the bathroom, etc. I would prefer not to have a rigid schedule, but I'd so fed up that I'm thinking we might need to move to that. She does not seem to have a problem with physical distractions. She doesn't wander off and try to play with toys during the day or anything like that. She also never complains about school or her school work and when she's working on it she really seems to enjoy it. As for meals, she's not dawdling because she doesn't like the food. She'll sit and take an hour to eat her favorite meal. If she knows we need to go someplace it is even worse. If my parents are in town she has been known to spend an hour and a half at the table because they'll sit there and entertain her. She'll camp out in the bathroom and take bathroom breaks every 10 minutes. Do I set a timer and say breakfast is 20 minutes when the timer goes off, breakfast is cleared and school starts? I hate that because I'm not actually helping her learn good habits, I'm just setting boundaries for her. But, if that is what it takes. How do I get rid of the dawdling without micro-managing her? So far I've said if she dawdles than we need to make up the time. Last week she missed out on the library because I told her we were going to the library at 1 and if she dawdled in the morning we would have to makeup that time. I feel like there are better natural consequences in a structured school setting for kids that dawdle. DD would be mortified if she missed out on something that someone else got to do, but being an only child, I can't do that. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

DD is 5.75. She desperately wants to learn how to read. What she really wants to read are chapter books. She was in Montessori so is used to the steps it takes to build up to doing something, though the process is something she struggles with in all things. She is much more a person that wants to immediately jump to the end. We've really worked on this, but for some reason she is especially struggling with it in reading. She can sound out some words and knows probably 25 sight words. But, when it comes down to reading a book or sounding out a word she doesn't know she comes just short of a panic attack. I put the more difficult work away for about 2 months and just brought it out today. She starts to freak out so much about sounding out a word she doesn't know that she forgets the sounds that individual letters make. It kills me that she is so upset by this. She is not a sensitive child, this is the only thing I can think of that she gets upset about like this. I am in no rush for her to read, but she keeps asking me to bring out the work. I dialed it back and brought out things that I knew she could easily do, hoping it would help her gain a better foundation of confidence. It didn't seem to give her more confidence, she frankly just seemed bored. How do I quench her thirst for this knowledge without overwhelming her? How do I build her confidence so that she doesn't panic? Does anyone have any tips for calming her anxiety once she gets to that point?

Does she only complain about things related to school? My 5.5 yo DD has recently entered a phase where she complains and argues constantly. It is about everything. It is driving me nuts. I haven't figured out a solution yet other than ignoring and saying things like "I'm sorry this is not what you'd hoped it would be, but let's focus and work through it, then we'll be done." It doesn't seem to decrease the griping, but it does send her the message that griping won't get you out of things. She even complains and argues about things that she creates or dictates. I sure do hope it is a short lived phase.

Thank you for the links. I did search the forum for Montessori and look through many of the threads that came up before posting. I guess I'm looking for more of a curriculum in a box and it just doesn't really seem that there are any complete Montessori offerings, which makes sense as to why it would be difficult.

I have seen Brilliant Minds and I do have almost all of the materials in their kit, however I have not purchased their materials. That could certainly be an idea. Would love to find a curriculum that covered all subjects (well) although I would be happy to put together a few different pieces if that was the better way to go.

I have a 5.5 yo DD who I started homeschooling in August. Prior to that she'd been in a Montessori school. So far I have not used a curriculum and just tried to setup a mini Montessori classroom for her, however she is quickly getting bored and I am having trouble keeping up with her thirst for knowledge. I really feel like I need to find a curriculum that will provide me with a little more hand holding through this first year at least. I have looked online for a Montessori curriculum and the only one I found is the NAMC 3-6 Curriculum. It is really expensive, especially since we'd only be needing to use a small portion of it. I've also looked at the Oak Meadow Waldorf curriculum. That looks interesting to me and I wondered if anyone trying to homeschool in a more Montessori based way has used that curriculum. I would love any feedback if you have. Does anyone have any other suggestions that I should look into? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.