I actually had a woman follow me (FOLLOW ME!) in a store, and ask me, "WHY are your children not in school?" I told her it was a school holiday-which for us, it was. We were not even in the town where we lived when this happened, and she followed me down the aisles, saying, "I just don't get it. WHY do your children get today off, and mine don't?" "We live in a different district..." I said, walking away. "That makes no sense to me..." she continued. I finally turned around and asked her why was she putting her nose into our business? I mean. This is unlike me, but after two aisle of badgering, I had given up on being polite. She huffed off. :P, I say. lol

A family party, or a nice dinner out. No matter what we do, it is a good time for us to reflect as a family about how the year has gone, and where we are headed in our home school goals. I think doing something at the end of a year puts a nice finish on it.

We used Holt American Government-one of the older texts and keys, but it was great. Found it on eBay.

Teaching Textbooks. Great stuff there!

Jacob"s Geometry? Do you think it might work with it?

I have found in working with the university my daughter is in, that we had to have fair grades. They had to reflect not only a consistency in grading, but also lined up with the SAT scores she had. They would not have even considered her without them. Keeping track is important in the high school years, whether we as parents agree with it or not-they will be graded in college, so I figure, teach 'em now. :001_smile:

Is there a co-op near you, perhaps with someone teaching the sciences? And, I agree with the community college thought-that is a great option, also.

both sides of the coin. I grew up in a VERY Betty Crocker type home; my parents had me when they were older, and grew up in the 1920's and 1930's, so it was very old fashioned compared to many of my friends around me. I mostly played with my cousins, and nearly all of our socializing and travel during my childhood was with my family-aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. So, I was brought up to stay at home. Well, I have done that, and I have worked outside the home, and I am returning to college this fall. I have found the housework a bore, a chore, and I want it no more! (LOL) But, I think there is more to teaching our children just the physical part of it (as stated)-doesn't everyone (men, women, teens, etc.) have a part of their work or life that becomes repetitive and a challenge to complete? I think when we teach the children housekeeping, we are not just giving them a mindless list of stuff to do-this is just a part of life. They need to learn (and it is difficult to teach, trust me!) that every day you will likely have to do something you find mundane, or repetitive, or boring. Maybe today it was balancing the checkbook, and tomorrow at work it will be making 400 copies and collating them, and the day after it will be mowing the lawn, and the day after that, it will be the laundry! It is a part of our responsibility as adults to understand the mundane is a part of life, and to accept that. I think one of the reasons it is difficult to teach this is because we have so little cultural support-"you stay at home? you do your own house work?, etc." And, our families are not near many of us anymore to support us, even just in their presence. Also, this world and our culture intentionally work against our trying to teach our children that home, with all of the blessings and responsibilities equally, is important. Just my .02 worth. ;)

I like the alarm idea. Still, there needs to be some sort of accountability set up. I am so very sorry to hear you are going through this, as we had our daughter move out last year over very difficult issues. Being a parent is just painful sometimes, it really is. :grouphug:

I recommend Spark People. They have a Spark Teens also. I love their suggestions, and how you can track everything you eat. It's wonderful.

that is a hoot! You poor thing. I did the same thing, actually...however, I was nine years old at the time...:lol:

It is so very sad to read about this! I confess there are some stories that I cannot finish reading sometimes, they make me so sad. I grew up in a house that had lost children, and it is so difficult. I cannot even describe it. That being said, sometimes I have to pray a lot to trust my kids to the Lord. I know we do not all believe the same thing here on the boards, but I just want to share that sometimes I just struggle to not worry too much, and need prayer.

We have stopped to help, but generally after we pray about it. I do not mean to make that sound trite, but there have been very clear times when we KNEW we should not have stopped. Discernment is important. My husband was with our children one day, and saw a man having an epileptic seizure on a busy street, in the gutter. This poor man had fallen down, and was only surrounded by people, staring! My husband and children stopped, called 911, and helped the man to get out of the street. They waited for the ambulance; what a lesson in the selfishness of people.

I never did because my mother did a lot, and ended up with horrible arthritis. Her doctor said it was because she cracked her knuckles...anyone else heard of this?

I would agree that you follow him around, overseeing each task. I would think that might wear him out pretty quick, and he would decide to obey. That being said, every kids is SO different! I hope you can find a quick solution!:grouphug: