Ugh.. my responses keep disappearing today. I was basically saying that I agree with PP.

3 trips to walmart & 3 trips to the library in TWO days. :glare: And I have to go back to Walmart tomorrow to pick up Dd's cake. Dh went with us to run errands so naturally we spent too much money today. Grr. Now time to clean..

I just did this the other day! One fell off in the night and I walked around the house the next day with only one sock. I noticed, and it bothered me a lot, and yet I didn't put another sock on or take the other off! :laugh:

I've recently become bothered by cell phones. Not just with kids but adults as well. My mom, a 61 year old woman, got her first smart phone about a year or two ago and in her free time is constantly on facebook. I don't even like asking her to watch the kids because I know my 3YO will be unsupervised. I gave up my phone about a year ago because I couldn't stand paying such a huge bill (we were with Verizon at the time and paid about $220 a month for two phones!). I realized I was paying all that money to text and facebook. And I did it entirely too much. I remember I would pick up my phone and check texts/scroll through facebook before remembering I had JUST checked everything minutes ago. I would constantly be telling my dd "Hold on a second," as I responded to texts. After being phone free for a year I do actually miss having my own phone. It's weird but it feels a bit like I've lost a little of my identity. I have used dh's phone to text a friend and I still communicate with others via computer, but people don't text me anymore. It's not MY phone. I don't know it's weird lol but it just shows me how much I was invested in a cell phone. The plan is dd will not get a phone until she starts driving. Now, that might change if she needs one sooner--but as for having a cell phone at 8? Heck to the no. I've seen 6 year olds with phones and although they know perfectly well how to use them.. I don't think they are ready to have unsupervised access to internet, facebook, etc. I'm rambling but basically.. I do not believe it's just a generational thing. I think it is an entire society thing.

:iagree: Independent reading and read alouds. ETA: We began a spelling program as part of our LA work. LA also includes, for us, reading poetry & narration, etc.

I have a lot to do today... but I have RED BULL :hurray: As much school as we can fit in w/todays events Take trash out B/L/D 1 on 1 w/Ds (He got "school stuff" last night at the store and he's excited) Library again (3rd time in two days) Take dd to get ears pierced for her birthday Get dog tags Give dog a bath & wash her blankie Laundry Begin cleaning whole house for dds party tomorrow Have dd call aunts to invite them for cake I know I am forgetting things.. hm.

I think my motivation vanished with the nice weather. Hoping I can dig deep and manage to salvage the day after dh goes to work.

After 5 consecutive days of playing outside.. the cold weather is back. I'm really going to have to fight a bad mood today, lol. Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Order dd's birthday cake Feed animals/Clean litter box 1 on 1 w/ds School with dd- Science, Math, Spelling, Writing, IR & RA, English (some catching up from yesterday--but without outside play we will have extra time :crying:) Start getting the house ready for Saturday (Dds birthday "party") Couple loads of laundry Vacuum Oh, I forgot.. Plan paycheck/Grocery list ETA: Return overdue library items ​ Nothing to do this evening so I'm hoping to get all work done early and relax. If the day is REALLY good I might even find time to take the dog on a quick, cold walk.

Oh, the horror! ;) ETA: It doesn't bother my dh.. it's just a thing with me. He will be adjusting the volume and stop on 11 and I cringe. He's like "Oh, sorry." *Changes to 12* lol Sometimes if he's feeling funny he picks odd numbers on purpose.. :glare:lol​

You mean you sometimes have your TV volume on an ODD number!?! :willy_nilly: Evens only around here. :laugh:

Yes! I sleep facing opposite of my dh because I don't want to breathe on him/him breathe on me. When he works nights I enjoy sleeping on my other side! And I cannot take teeth at all either! My kids know not to come near me with any teeth issues. Although this is accompanied by a phobia of the dentist and probably had something to do with getting 11 teeth pulled.. while awake... as a small child. It was spread out over three appointments but was by far the most traumatic thing that ever happened to me LOL

Just opened the windows for the first time this year :hurray: High 50's and sunny. Ohhh it feels wonderful. SO mood lifting and energizing. Fighting the urge to spring clean... since we will probably have a blizzard next week.

A few others (because it feels good to let them out I guess).. I cannot stand noises from eating and/or drinking. Even the sound of a swallow. *shudder* I am constantly trying to eat quietly so no one hears those nasty noises come from ME. :lol: When I was a kid I would get the urge to make a certain letter sound. I would be playing or whatever and just get an urge and have to make the N sound (or whatever letter) a few times. Can't eat popsicles because just thinking about my tongue accidently touching the damp popsicle stick is enough to make me gag. (The same way with my moms wooden spoons. I refuse to use them because of the way they feel in my hand. YUCK.) My dd will erase something on her paper and NOT BRUSH OFF THE ERASER PIECES but will instead JUST CONTINUE WRITING WITH THEM ON HER PAPER... :scared: This is a criminal offense. There are a lot of words I cannot stand to hear or say.. or apparently type. I was going to list them but I just can't :blush: The list goes on.. and on... and on.

Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner School- History, Math, English, IR & RA, Spelling, Handwriting Clean up house (slacked a little yesterday) 1 on 1 with Ds Showers/baths Vaccum Clean litter box Feed animals Outside time with kids/walk the dog I would like to finish earlier today so I can have more down time. I'll either be going to church (might not if Dh uses my car for work) or having some veg time in front of the TV looking at next years curriculum options. :drool: I always use that thought to power through the day but somehow I never get the time/peace to actually do it.​

I am a gigantic ball of weirdness. I feel like I have no secret weirdness.. if you know me, you know I am weird. :lol: The oddest thing probably, would be my issue with buttons. They gross me out... I am unable to touch them. They make me gag.

The bolded... :seeya:Me too! I realize I forgot something from my list now. What breed do you have?

Good morning! Top priorities today: B/L/D- & Dinner prep.. need to thaw the ribs School-Math, Science, IR & RA, Language Arts Baby school with ds- Last night I was so tired we ended up just reading story books. He enjoys the counting bears & "Real" school things so I need to make an effort to do that with him today. Keep the house clean 1x Laundry Feed animals & Clean litter box I would LIKE to do: Watch some TV- my DVR'd shows are really piling up (this is why we are considering cutting cable! :p We never watch it!) Start looking into next years curriculum Walk the dog/more outside time if it's warm enough Vacuum again!

Done... exhausted... and heading up to put the kids to bed. House is clean.. kids are clean.. school is done... beds have fresh sheets and blankets. It doesn't happen often but man does it feel good!

Just spent about 2.5 hours outside... it was wonderful. And I can add some more chores to my DONE list today... Pooper scooping and picking up sticks in the yard! :thumbup1:

Thank you for this!

Hello sister! Wow can I relate. This is our 4th year homeschooling and although I feel like I'm making progress with handling my stress.. I can still largely identify with you on everything.. from the library issues to the 3 year old boy :p We have used all the same curriculum but the math! I think a big part of the stress for me is how different our school year looks from what I had imagined it would be. I would love to have everything go by the plan with perfectly correlated read alouds and a child that will sit there attentively and listen to SOTW 2-3x a week and we would never fall "behind" my curriculum plan. NOW.. that being said.. We are only on lesson 12 of SOTW 3 :) And we skipped some! We are on lesson two... TWO.. of Latin. Confession time: I bought Artistic Pursuits when dd was in 1st grade and we have still not finished it. Same with our music. She's on track with math, writing, reading, and spelling (well, ahead in most actually) but I, too, worry about her comprehension. SOTW can be so hard for us. I don't know if it's her not paying attention or if she struggles with comprehension. In fact, I just posted about it the other day. It sure makes history frustrating for us both sometimes. Anywho, where was I going with this... Oh yeah.. the bright side! lol I am realizing that most of the stress/anxiety that I feel about our school year all comes back to me. I need to CHILL. Yes, it physically hurts my brain to not check off all the lessons in the year but guess what? She's doing fine. We have never had an issue with our yearly assessments. I sat down Saturday night and mapped out the rest of the year in an attempt to finish everything. Will I try? Yes. Will I stick with it? Hmm... Let's hope. I'm rambling but my point is.. it's okay. :D She sounds like she's doing just fine! We might not have read all the books I planned out on the beautiful 4th grade reading list I made back in August but my kid is begging me DAILY to read 2-3 HOURS of Harry Potter. And she would let me go on longer! That, to me, is so much better for US and our homeschool than me pushing a read aloud on her that she didn't enjoy just because it was on my pretty list :p (Not saying you would do this- just showing that sometimes ditching the plan can lead to something wonderful!) My last thought before falling asleep last night was "Homeschooling is hard." lol. But I think I make it harder on myself than it has to be. Is having a plan/goal important? Sure. But learning to sometimes relax and see where your own dc take you is important too. As long as she is moving forward.. you're good! Sorry for rambling... my "morning me time" is running out and I'm trying to hurry!

I come and go from these threads.. but if you all don't mind I need some extra accountability this week (and through the end of our year but we will take it one week at a time lol) School- History, Math, English, Spelling, Writing, Reading (IR and RA) Pick up house B/L/D Call my aunt 1-2 loads of laundry Litter box Run Vacuum Walk dog (play outside if everything gets done?) with kids Kids will probably needs baths One on one "school" time with ds Dh is on seconds this week.. which is good for me getting things done. *Adding about 2 more loads of laundry. Little one had an accident this morning.

We are using ELTL 3 and I pair it with Zaner Bloser Handwriting. I've used ZB from the beginning (although I used to pair it with FLL & WWE). ZB is strictly handwriting practice.

Thank you! I posted this yesterday in a moment of frustration and afterwards decided to stick with SOTW in hopes that she will strengthen these skills the more we stick with it. Your tips are wonderful and we will be using them.