Sometimes it's just nice to know others are sympathetic -- not many are exempt from this, after all!

IMHO... While we don't spend excessive amounts of time training our children (sons as well as a daughter) to learn the homemaking skills, we do feel it will help to make the "living on their own" transition a little smoother or perhaps just quicker. When I met my now-hubby, he had already lived on his own 12 years and certainly knew how to cook, do laundry, clean, etc. I really value those skills in him -- since I'm not working outside the home, I feel it's my duty to take on those tasks, but it sure is nice when I'm pressed for time or going through one of those busy periods and can say, "Can you make supper tonight?" and he not only "can" do it but can do it WELL. Our sons, being old enough, are the primary laundry-doers in our house right now. They also do the more "manly" chores with my hubby (LOL) but are learning the basic, all-around chores that keep the household running smoothly. A little here, a little there, and possibly there won't be that moment of panic when they're on their own in the future. I do agree, though, that it shouldn't be an all-or-nothing thing (academics v. keeping a home). After all, if they don't learn the academic end of things, who will homeschool THEIR kids? <grin> Lynda

We have children who love to play but who are not gifted athletically. They are perfectly comfortable playing with close friends, tossing a football, playing kickball, etc., but the thought of being on an organized team just turns them off. They feel "everyone knows how to do this except me," even when they know this is not the case. However, they have loved swim lessons, hiking, bike riding, martial arts, and other things they can do without being on a team. We try to stress the physical fitness aspect rather than the competition. My husband and I have nothing against competitive sports/teams, but neither of us were good at these things as kids, so we can completely relate to the scary feeling of a team depending on our lack of ability. :tongue_smilie: Lynda

...here, too. Fortunately, we are not the type to schedule far-away or expensive vacations, so the kids are not disappointed there. But I sometimes feel like something's gotta give somewhere. Where will the gas prices stop and hover for awhile? We already combine any errands with when we have to be driving anyway. Now my DH is riding his bike to work when the weather is nice (about 8 miles each way) and I'm trying to ride mine as much as possible to places like the Post Office and other places where I can carry my cargo in my backpack. We are trying to pay off medical bills from this winter -- typically we don't get sick, but this year, we all went down like dominoes in a circle...twice...with bronchitis/pneumonia, so any "extra" money is spent trying to get rid of those. Much of the time lately, though, it's all we can do to fill our tank. Ugh...I guess it's just time for another "priorities" reevaluation. Lynda

We use Sonlight's science and love it! We used to use a variety of eclectic items, taking the favorites of this and that, but once we started using Sonlight's science program, we were hooked. After using their science for two years, we ended up switching completely to Sonlight, and now use their core program. One of the things I like about Sonlight science is that they put most things in a Biblical perspective and are very good about teaching kids to look further on their own -- just because an "expert" writes a book doesn't mean his opinion is not slanted towards his own presuppositions. Also, my kids loved the idea that science actually proves many Christian beliefs, rather than contradicting them. Lynda