Linda, I'm so, so sorry for such a great loss. My heart breaks for you and your children. I am praying for all of you right now. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

I've had four so far and another one who's already showing signs and will become a certifiable teen in the fall. Food is their love language. This is one way to win with them -- cooking their favorites, letting them eat at 10:00 p.m. because they're starving. Physical activity is a must. This is non-negotiable in our house. They need to get their testosterone OUT in a healthy way and if they're not spent in sports, then it usually flares up in tempers at home. A good busy is good. It's so much easier when profitable activities (sports, classes, youth group, camp, work) keep them too busy to spend hours on social media. It's manic -- you'll have heart swells one day followed by "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" days. Back to back. All the way through launch. They need respect. You're growing me, like Judo Mom said, and one of their top needs is respect. Cheerlead as much as you can. Don't demean. They don't take bossing as well as they did when they were little boys. Especially from moms. If at all possible, hand off the correction and accountability to your husband. I'm a single mom and this has been one of the hardest things to navigate -- I just told them I'd grow a spine as strong as I needed to raise them. Don't underestimate their need for plenty of sleep. And help with executive function for many. Oh yes! One more thing that was super helpful: when you need to correct or have a *talk*, try to do it without eye contact. Do it while your cooking dinner and chopping your veggies or when you're in the car and driving. One of mine would listen but then he needed to hash out his side through long texts and I learned to love hearing his heart that way. I know to this day, writing is the best way to have deep, heart-to-heart communication with him.

My 6th and 8th grade boys used EE completely independently one year when life as we knew it collapsed. I was so grateful that everything they needed was in the box, instructions were clear and they could do it all by themselves. I just took pictures of the projects for the end-of-year review. They LOVED that year of science. I did the elementary version with my son and a co-op class a few years later b/c I loved the hands-on projects so much. The author is helpful and quick to respond if you have any questions.

I prefer my calories in chocolate. ;) ^^True and no need to go into any details!

There was a thread a few weeks back about incorporating more read alouds through audio. I'm a huge fan...I no longer have the time in evenings to read aloud like I did with my older kids. We've just about borrowed out our local library. Just a heads-up that Audible is having their 2 for 1 deal right now so if you're a member and have credits, now's a good time to use them! Happy summer! ETA: Woops -- forgot the link. https://www.audible.com/special-promo/2for1

Margaret!! All these years...you've launched well. Oh don't get me started...there's always SOMETHING that can generate mom guilt. No, I think we do what we can, when we can. Sometimes we know better, sometimes we don't. But parenting really isn't about getting everything right so much as helping to shape and encourage and let blossom these souls. My older ones got my energy. My youngers get WAY less of that (y'all go out and play!) but they get my experience and wisdom learned at the expense of my olders.

I agree with Carol that so much literature deals with Christian themes of forgiveness, redemption, restoration, struggle. But these books come to mind as particularly Christian or have been deemed Christian classics: Count of Monte Cristo Hinds Feet on High Places Pilgrims Progress The Mill on the Floss Screwtape Letters (so many CS Lewis to choose!) Scarlet Letter has themes dealing with Puritanism in earl America Invitation to the Classics by Cowan and Guinness gives great background material. I would also include something like Martin Luther King's Letter from Birmingham Jail. Not fiction, and contemporary but it brings up current themes of justice and the Christian response.

It does feel odd. There's a shift in momentum, energy and stimulation that I think my younger two also feel. My son is graduating this year and next year is the first time ever I'll only be schooling two. And the first time in years without a high schooler (praise the Lord!). I'm going to take full advantage and weave in lots of field trips and hands-on, interest-based studies before I have another high schooler. I miss those busy days. Miss the stew out of them. But these days are wonderful in their own right. My youngest will have a different homeschool experience than the olders in some ways (traveling to visit the first grandchild, traveling to NYC and more outside classes) but I'm looking forward to carving out the time to envision and plan for next year.

Is your 7th grader a solid reader? If so, The Yearling is one of our favorites. A Pulitzer novel about coming of age. Not often found on book lists but a classic. After he reads it, you could follow with a movie night. Gregory Peck stars in the older version (recommended) and there's a newer version as well. Lisa

So much this! Let him exhaust his hormones and energy in sports so he doesn't exhaust is on his siblings and you. But also: 1) make sure you keep the standards no matter how much he's bucking it. 2) make sure you try super hard not to be sarcastic even when it seems so fitting! I often find my kids are mirroring what I've allowed in my own speech and attitude. Yep, starts with me first. 3) even if dh is working a lot, he can still hold your ds accountable. Keep cheerleading him on. Keep finding ways to love him and speak his love language. Take him out for lunch just the two of you. (I love doing this with each of mine.) Keep challenging him even when he wants to take the easiest route. Remind him you always have his best interest.

I reviewed this book early this year and love it. It's published by a globally-minded homeschool mom of bio and adopted kids who's culled many books about other countries and cultures to read with her kids. Give Your Child the World. She also writes at simplehomeschool.net, often about books and culture.

Forgive me for barging in, Quiver, I just saw your name pop up on recent posts and wanted to wave hello. From one old timer to another. I mean long-timer. :D

Me too. Pot stirring for sure. ;)

I could not disagree more. Being mature is not a disservice. It can save you from all manner of scenarios that could absolutely wreck your school and life. Maybe you would have been mature anyway? But trying to keep up with kids who are more mature isn't always best. Driving first? Yes. I purposely wanted my late summer birthday kids to be able to drive themselves rather than have to depend on their friends. This isn't why we chose to red shirt at all, but it was a nice bonus. Held back in school? Many homeschoolers dual enroll and take APs in high school allowing them to enter college as sophomores and juniors. So it doesn't put them behind for graduation/work/career/savings at all. Savings at retirement? Red shirting never stops anyone from saving at any point. One of my sons worked all the way through college and his summers, lived super frugally and amassed a really sizeable investment nest egg before he graduated. So that's a red herring from the start.

Praying for you now, for all of you and Jenny. I'm so sorry for such pain. Praying for moment by moment peace and guidance.

After homeschooling for 18 years, I will only have my youngest two next year. Because of that and because I'm doing a lot of writing at home, our homeschooling looks a bit different. I've wondered whether it's still serving my youngest or whether they need something else. But, last week, I sat down, mapped out next year for both of them (5th and 7th) and really affirmed both my desire AND reasons for homeschooling. That said, we'll be outsourcing a few things this year. Here's what's on tap so far for my 7th grade ds who needs some challenging: Math: Pre-algebra with a local classical tutorial 2x a week Science: Life science with a local classical tutorial 2x a week Language Arts: R & S English 7 WWS 2 Spelling Workout next level (is it F? or G?) Continue memorizing Linguistic Development through Poetry Memorization Geography: with WTMA in the fall delight directed history study in the spring Bible: personal devotion with youth group at church family Bible study through Exodus, discussion, scripture memory Socratic Discussion: with WTMA in the spring Reading List, Discussion and Read Aloud List Either beginning trumpet or guitar lessons Typing Basketball at private school I feel that way as well! Things get soooo serious and time gets so scarce once kids hit high school. I know all too well that the years of being able to take off for the beach to do a planet walk or a day at the art museum are fleeting! I'm planning to really enjoy the freedom and exploration and discovery that homeschooling allows.

Still no regrets. There are definitely gaps. There are absolutely a few things I'd do differently. I didn't teach perfectly, my kids weren't perfect students and the curriculum wasn't perfect. There were some hard seasons. And my kids have been honest about what they liked and what they didn't. BUT. The sheer quantity of time we had is invaluable. Our shared experiences are priceless. My kids had opportunities unavailable in ps. Homeschooling shaped my character (probably more than my children's). Time together was a gift when our world was rocked to the core. My kids avoided most of the traps that catch kids coming of age. And despite the gaps and imperfections, my kids have done well after graduation.They may have done just as well or even better had we gone a ps/private route. No telling. But I'm sure the people they are, which flows over into their academics and life choices, was shaped by homeschooling.

I can't speak to Omnibus as we haven't used it but we have done the younger VP history for both when it was only in workbook form and now with the self-paced videos. It's hard to put a % on it b/c even if it's a secular event, VP will often interpret it, apply it, discuss it in relation to a Biblical worldview. That Biblical worldview is woven throughout the discussion -- not every game or every lecture, but lots.

One of my favorite books is Martyr of the Catacombs as well as The Life and Legacy of St. Patrick. Two different time periods but both favorite books. Here's the link for the St Patrick book. http://www.shopchristianliberty.com/the-life-and-legacy-of-saint-patrick-pdf/ Veritas Press does a great job weaving church history in with secular history, but it's not an exclusively church history course. I would take a look at the VP catalog because it will have some great books to go along with early church history.

The Bronze Bow is a favorite. Otto of the Silver Hand and The Silver Shard we read a while ago but I remember enjoying them. The Golden Goblet depicts the Egyptian way of life well, but the story is bit spooky. It deals quite a bit with death as I recall. If you have younger kids, just make sure it won't be too scary for them.

I'm so sorry...that's a lot to shoulder. Saying a prayer for you, your dh and your family now.

Thank you. I'm going to do more research into dyscalculia to see whether she might be on a sliding scale of some sort. That may be helpful for *me* so that I can quit banging my head and realize that there's something organic going on.

This looks good. I'll check into MM! Thank you both. Aw, good 'ol Ruth Beechick. I like her stuff and her approach but I need something already laid out *for me.* I don't want to have to recreate any wheels. Thank you for the other free links as well. OhElizabeth, what is SLD math? If that's an LD, I'm not familiar with those initials.

There are plenty of exercises in the text but the workbook makes it easier IMO to record answers. We do some of the text exercises orally but using the worksheets prevents my dc from having to rewrite all the sentences. Not every lesson has a worksheet.

FYI...for those who've been waiting for this sale to come around again. This code is good for $100 off the self-paced history courses and includes a free set of flash cards or the ebook Vocacio with a purchase of the Omnibus series. I'm actually not sure whether flash cards refers to the History cards or whether this is something new that VP is offering. I'll update after I order and find out. Here's a link to the courses. Use the code SPRING. (NOTE: In the past, I've been able to use both the $100 code as well as the sibling discount. I don't know whether that will apply this go round but stacking those makes it an even better deal. ) Enjoy! ETA: The history cards ARE included. We have a set but we'll be able to use these for a fun game. And there wasn't a sibling discount but it did take $100 of both courses so I didn't have to check each one out separately. Hope that helps!