Our state law:5 years old or older and under 16 shall attend a public school regularly during the entire school year unless the child is otherwise receiving regular, thorough schooling during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public school to children of the same age. It then says: providing regular, thorough instruction during the school year in English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, Music, Health and PE. DH and I feel that she should be taught: English - Phonics, Grammar, Reading, Handwriting Math - self explanatory Science - self explanatory Social Studies - History we like the SOTW and WTM topics (What is the difference between the two?) Art and Music - ties into History Health and PE - ??? Then how do you tie these subjects into a curriculum. I really like Shurley English which we are using with the older kids to get them back on track but I haven't seen anyone else on the board here using it. Our local homeschool co-op uses Saxon Math and Explode the Code for the 1st and 2nd graders.

I hands down would recommend discovery cove. There is a non-swim with dolphin option that is well worth the price tag and is comparable to any other park admission. It includes all day inclusive food and drinks, reef swim, lazy river swim, pool, aviary and new attraction that was not open when we were there in October. You can stand and watch the dolphins just are not assigned to a group to swim with them. I hands down would do it! It is the most relaxing experience. There is a surprise in the coral reef enclosure...SHARKS! real huge sharks, they are behind plexyglass but because of the angle you can't tell that at first when you are swimming.

You need to check with a family law lawyer as well as your accountant and the exact wording of your divorce decree and the custody agreement. If mom has primary physical custody while the divorce decree grants dad the right to claim the child he does not get to claim the added credits that go along with that child. Those are the 'benefit' of the custodial parent. There is an IRS booklet that specifically addresses the child tax credits and other credits that spells out each situation and what can or can not be done by the custodial or non custodial parent. I say this from the point of view of the working bonus mom with a stay at home husband, two bonus kids and an "ours" daughter. I've been through the I hope she didn't claim this as it will flag an audit even though it is our year. Thankfully now we are joint physical and legal so the rules have changed a bit.

I am brand new to the forum, today was the first time I realized I need to reach out to others for support. I'm guessing this is a first enlightening experience towards realizing that homeschooling parents really are different. A group of moms today were discussing sending their two year old to pre-school, how many days a week, what should they learn, how to choose the right pre-school? I just wanted to scream...your 2 year old does not need preschool! My daughter is 15 months old, she will not be going to pre-school (we are using Slow and Steady, Get Me Ready) she will not be going to school. DH is a stay at home dad and will be homeschooling her. This past weekend we looked at a new house in a better neighborhood with better schools and he still said she's not going to school. I am also bonus mom to a 9 and 11 year old who are in public school, which has only strengthened DH and my resolve that little one will NOT be going to school. We are after-schooling them trying to fill in basic building blocks of phonics and grammar that were missed. Is this a normal realization? How do you respond to others when these topics come up?