Thanks Jane, I was hoping you'd weigh in on this one- you always had such good nature ideas.

Yes on the first, but no on the second. Thanks for the link!

:iagree: Ditto. This was our experience as well. The tracks would sometimes meander all through the house. The five year old boy I nanny one day a week only uses his table to store things- for the most part, his layouts are always long and complicated, and great fun. I think the train tables are limiting in some aspects. The Boy was 2 weeks short of 2 when we gave him his first set. They were played with till kids were around 8 and 11. I just recently put them all into tubs. The end of an era.

Thanks! I have the HONS, and was looking for some new ways to use it. Mostly I am looking for ways to keep myself from getting "bored" with my teaching style. Want to freshen it up a bit this time, and have a bit more fun. Will check out the site.

Wow. You couldn't have posted this at a better time for me. I have really been struggling with feelings of anger and frustration with my own mother's situation (a post in itself, sigh), and the loss of her mentally while she is still alive. Reading all these stories has allowed me to let go a bit and enjoy reminising about the good times with my own mama. Thanks Crissy. Sending you love and hugs as you endure. My mom was frugal yet creative. She loved the natural world and did her best to impart that to us, whether it was forcing us to sit next to her in the garden with our bare hands in the warm earth watching worms; or showing us how to whittle and helping us to create an amazing little town under a pine tree- all the buildings, fences, and cows carved out of scrap wood. She would tell us the stars were ours, and that the lights across the water in Seattle were blinking hello to us. And God had painted the sunset especially for me because he knew I liked bright colours. She painted and drew, and was an amazing woodworker. She tried every crafty fad there was, and succeeded at all of them. She walked the beach and collected shells, floats, and driftwood up to the day I was born. She told me I was an amazing artist and loved to sit and watch me paint, even after losing her eyesight. She told me I could do anything I wanted to as long as I put my mind to it. These are some of the good things I am remembering tonight. Thanks so much for this thread. LB

cross-posting here and on curric. board: I used to teach and lead a nature study group years ago, and will be starting this up again with littles (5 to 6 yrs old) and their mamas this summer. I would love some suggestions for websites or blogs for inspiration and ideas for CM based nature study, just to get my creative planning juices going. TIA

I used to teach and lead a nature study group years ago, and will be starting this up again with littles (5 to 6 yrs old) and their mamas this summer. I would love some suggestions for websites or blogs for inspiration and ideas for CM based nature study, just to get my creative planning juices going. TIA

Pie for brekky is a staple for me, from the time I was a tiny girl. I always make tons of pies at a time so there is enough for brekky, and for at least one other family dessert together. We have a huge quiche pan someone gave me years ago, so I use that, and up to 3 other regular pie pans. I made 3 pies on wed, and we are down to one, as we did just have pie for brekky. The way I make pie, it is pretty healthy, and another way for me to get yellow veggies into my son, so I let them eat as much of it as they want, whenever they want. We make squash/punkin/sweet tater pies all fall and winter long, and yes, I server them for brekky all the time.

Yep. I find that even though I haven't hsed for 3 years now, that the rhythms and routines of autodidactism have really stuck. I have several areas of person study: art techniques and art history, poetry, early childhood development, sign language, religion/spirituality, and continuing to read as much good literature as possible. I am also slowly working my way through the required reading list for post-partum doula training. I sometimes feel like I am hsing my way to a very unique college degree. I have been reading journal articles and current studies in prenatal/infant/baby development. I am currently teaching myself new watercolor and acrylic techniques using art technique books. I find self-study to be uplifting and energizing.

Mark Harmon is a ringer for my Dude. The silver hair, bright blue eyes. mmmmm.

I'm here. Much more lurky than I used to be, but I am here.

We do not live in a super neighborhood. I only keep the windows open at night when it is really hot, and the Dude is home. If he is traveling, windows are shut....... tonight is going to be hot!:glare:

I think we watched these too. I liked them.

A few different numbers for you....... I made fifty cents an hour for 3 kids when I was 13, lol! I paid $10. an hour for 2 kids the few times I had a teen sitter. Our piano teacher has 4 babysitters for her one child (we call ourselves her nanny team), and pays anywhere from $10 to $16 (one teen, one college girl, a mom who has an in-home day care, and me). As a nanny, I make between $15 and $20 an hour. I believe paying a teen at least $10 an hour helps them take the job and the responsibility seriously, and is worth every penny.

I usually suffer horridly from allergies. I also get any cold or virus going around and get it three times worse than anyone else. I have been taking 8000 units of vitamin D every day for 5 months. I cannot believe the difference! I missed 2 days worth of doses last week, and was miserable. The next day, back on the vitamin D, and feeling fine. It is worth a shot......

No new suggestions, just wanted to say I hope you feel better very soon. Hugs and smooches (maybe just air kisses, lol) coming your way.

In addition to the suggestions so far, I would include some poetry. But then, I am an absolute poetry fiend. I FORCED my kids to memorize lots of poetry when we hsed. :001_smile:

Didn't read other post yet, but I did this when we were hsing. We wanted the kids to explore and form thoughts and opinions, and be able to make educated choices about what spiritual options they may want to pursue as young adults. They were about 9 and 12 when we did this. The kids and I took an all day class from Terri at Knowledge Quest. Patty Johanna put it together, and it was full of info. She covered all the different types of "theisms", etc. (I am having trouble remembering what all else was covered.), from a Christian point of view, but very open-minded-ly. It was a great jump-off point. We then spent a year researching and exploring various religions: visiting different churches, talking to folks from all backgrounds,etc. We read tons of library books about world religions that we hadn't already covered or explored yet in the Story of the World, and read Genevieve Foster's book, Augustus Caesar's World. I know we used another text or two, but I cannot remember titles. Visiting various places of worship and taking part in various rituals was very cool. Just off the top of my head.... we took part in pagan ceremonies (solstices, equinoxes, etc), went to a Catholic funeral, mass, and a way cool Latin choir performance. We visited a Buddhist temple, a synagogue, attended services at Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist, and Unitarian churches; we attended several different Unity "churches", and visited relatives who are Mennonite. I know there is more I am forgetting, but it was great fun, we learned tons, and we did it all through our family's own world view lense, and it was very much experiential learning. One of the homeschool "unit studies" I am the most proud of. Speaking for myself, it was very informative and eye-opening for me, as I am on my own spiritual journey these last few years. Does that help?

It's almost time to :party: I'm in the home stretch! Worked from 7 to 10, getting the 5 yr old to school, have to be back at 11:30 to pick her up. I will work the rest of the afteroon, then my dd and I will attend 18 yr old's graduation tonight, and then I am done working for 8 weeks!!!! I can take a break from :driving: and :auto:, and I am so gonna :chillpill: My mantra for today (besides the Just keep swimming, which you know I will be using, too:)) is "one more day, almost there". Have a great day today, folks. I will do my best to do the same!

My son has always had a hard time sleeping. He didn't sleep through the night till he was 4. We had the best luck with Hyland's Calm and Forte' tablets. He still doesn't sleep much.

My son and I are extros, dd and dh intros. The kids take care of all the pets. WHen they leave for college, I will have to change cat litter for the first time in all the years we have had cats! DD has 8 chickens, and the kids have 3 cats. I would have more cats if dh would let me, but they are all indoor, and it seems like there are more than three most days! We have always had 3 cats. That is dh's limit. We did tropical fish for a while, and dh had a snake before we were married. I honestly don't think being intro or extro has much bearing on number of pets.

Thanks! It has been an honor to work with both of them. THe 5 yr old is a sweet comic genius; and the 18 yr old is autistic, and has come so very far since I first met her. I do feel like I have done my very best by these girls, and the whole family. That does feel very good. I am ready for a change, though! And yes, I will do my best to have as much studio time (my fave kind of me time) as possible every day. ;-)

You are! You are! I would love to start walking again, or helping you declutter, or anything that lets me see you and your sweet babies on a regular basis!! I miss you!

The family I have been providing respite care to for the last 7 yrs is moving on Sunday, across country. I have been working 10 to 15 hours a day for the last 3 weeks. I am exhausted, but have also been enjoying it. I am basically soaking myself in the 4.5 yr and 18 yr old girls, enjoying every minute of caring for them. But I am ti.erd. One more day, and then I have 9 weeks of summer "vacation" before I start my new nanny gig in late August. I put that in quotes, because I will still be busy, helping to move my mom into a memory care facility, and getting her house empty and on the market, going to physical therapy and counseling appts, gardening, and decluttering. I will also be making time for art playdates, and time in the studio. I have a great deal to look forward to this summer. Just letting you know so you can give me a little push to make it one more long day. Thanks for listening.... as always, all y'all are the bees knees!

Hi Chris!:seeya: