I am toying with the idea of having my ds9 do his copywork on the computer. That way he can improve his typing and still do his copywork. Those of you who do copy work on a regular basis, do you think by skipping the "handwriting" part of it, he will be missing anything? Has anyone done this and regretted it? Thanks for your help. Hot Lava Mama

actually talked about this last time she was out for a visit. It's actually some of the body rotting away. As you get older, parts of you rot (like when you are dead) and don't get regenerated as quickly as when you are younger. On top of that, they usually are on a lot of medication which can also have a smell, or make the "rotting thing" smell even worse. Gross. I know. But she was noticing that it was starting to happen to her! (She's in her 80's) EWWWW. But by the grace of God, hopefully I will live long enough to "rot" away! Know what I mean! Hot Lava Mama

It's a long while before we will be at that stage. Oldest is only nine, and we have #5 on the way. But the thought of someday not HAVING to wake up at 5:00 because a little one is up. Or the thought of actually having ALL weekend to do whatever I want (instead of getting ready for next week's school work) actually terrifies me! I guess with any "normal" person, it would be something to look forward to. But, as with you, we don't do a lot because we have a large family, and not much money. So almost all of our time is spent doing fun things as a family. I hope you find something that comforts you during your lonely times. I guess it will get easier as time goes by. I would think "doing" something would be a good way to help you through it. As a prior poster said, I would write a book, or do whatever your passions drive you to do. Good luck! Perhaps you can help with advice when I reach that stage and you have already mastered it! Hot Lava Mama

We have a rental house that we lease out (not because we want to...because we can't sell the darn thing!) and our renters put the dryer on and left the house. They came back hours later to find the dryer never stopped, it was on fire, as was part of the wall. They tried to put the fire out, took the burning clothes out of the dryer and threw them on the floor...which promptly caught on fire, too. (HELLLLLOOOOO...wooden floor...UHHHHH wood burns!) Yikes! Thank God they had enough sense to FINALLY call the fire department! It was a VERY expensive fire! Hot Lava Mama

Jim Weiss does. O.k., I admit that I am used to him now. At first, I HATED his versions. We have B.J. for 1 & 2. Weird, because we have a lot of Jim Weiss's other stuff, and he seemed fine. When we got to the third SOTW, it seemed like he was talking like this: "Chaaaaaaappppppptttttteeeeerrr oooooonnnnneeee." Ugh. I had to turn it off, I was driving and started to nod off! I must admit, though, he seems to speak a little quicker as he gets into the stories. Oh, I wouldn't sell my B.J. ones for anything! :) Hot Lava Mama

Especially since mine like to stick their fingers into everything to taste it. And, since we have been reading history and they know all about kings and "official food tasters", they insist on "making sure it's not poison." Especially since they don't really understand that if it really was, they would die. But....I do let them "help" anyways. I feel it's a motherly obligation. One good thing, my oldest ds 9, now LIKES to cook, and took on most of the Thankgiving duties this year. I only had to do the turkey, and the "putting this into the oven" kind of thing. This is a bonus play because I HATE, HATE, HATE cooking! (As I have said before, I would rather clean a toilet or change a diaper rather than cook!) Good luck! Hot Lava Mama

I have used Saxon Phonics and AAS with both my ds and dd. The problem that they both have is remembering which sounds are "long" and which are "short". It becomes a problem because so many other rules are based on knowing this rule. For example, the floss rule, the "k" sounds at the end, etc. etc. We go over the vowels sounds DAILY! And they still don't get it. My ds is 9, and dd is 7. Are there any good "tricks" out there to help them remember? One thing I tried (which I thought was working but now it doesn't seem to be) is to have them say their "names" (both of my kids have REALLY long names) and then tell them to remember that just like "their names", the "long" vowels will also say their names, not their sounds. Ugh. It's not working. Any experienced people with helpful suggestions? Thanks! Hot Lava Mama Hot Lava Mama

Grandpa and Grandma are getting rid of their old set of encyclopedias, so they give them to you. Then your four children run around MORE exicted than on Christmas day. And when you proceed to tell them that some of the 6 sets of encyclopedias have to go because we don't have room for all of them, they proceed to cry and plead...NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Hmm. Let's see my check list. Number 3, make sure you raise kids with a love of books. Yep. Check! Done! :glare: Hot Lava Mama

is a penguin. A real one that "poops and eats"...oh, and a "bucket of fish to feed him." Guess I would have to be in the camp that says "your not getting your wish." Hot Lava Mama

responded. It will be a while before they will be taking the tests, but I am always trying to stay one step ahead. My oldest is only in 4th, but I am already looking to see what they will need to get into college. It just goes so fast, it seems to sneak up on me! Hot Lava Mama

I never considered a lot of what everyone brought up. Also, since my kids are so young right now, looks like I don't have to worry about it for a little while. Just keep reading the poem to them. Whew! Hot Lava Mama

O.k. So my kids have read some poems, but my question is should they be required to write poetry? I am thinking down the road when my dd starts into CW. They have a poetry class, and I am wondering if she "needs" to do it? Frankly, I just don't get poetry. I am a more black and white kind of person, so the flowery language leaves me with my jaw open and a stumped look on my face. And help here? Hot Lava Mama

Can you help me find more information on the Latin exams? I think I am convinced that my kids will take them (I agree with the benefits), the questions I have are (1) How many different tests are they, and what are they called? (2) When do they take them? (3) How do I arrange for them to take them..ie. are they at a location or do I just give it to them? Anything else "administratively" that I have forgotten? Thanks for you help! Hot Lava Mama

my daughter will use CW when she gets there. My son, on the other hand, is doing well with IEW. I finally broke down and purchased IEW for him. Other programs didn't work well for him. Yes, it is very formula driven. For those students (including me at his age) who aren't "natural" writers, it's a god-send. My son now knows exactly what to write, what to include and how it is suppose to sound. For us and the struggles with his writing, it's been worth every cent! Good luck. I firmly believe BOTH are very, very good programs and you couldn't go wrong with either one! Hot Lava Mama

We are using Abeka for both for math. Lots of lessons. 170. Hard to skip many days and still be done by summer. Plus, we are having another baby in early April, so we need to try and get done before then. They survived and are playing happily now! Hot Lava Mama

First, I think there are "skills" that need to be learned about the test taking environment. Such as skip a problem that has you stuck so you don't blow the rest of the test, make a guess if you can, then go back to that problem if you have extra time at the end, etc. Also, I like to have another "evaluation" from mine to see if I am on cue with where I think they are. Their test scores are not surprises to me. They are generally weak where I think they are, and strong where I think they are. We use Family Learning Organization for our tests. I think they are out of Washington. We have been very happy with their process. Good Luck! Hot Lava Mama

keep their hands off the tree....thus we have MANY tree tips throughout the whole time the tree is up! We are going to do what we did last year. Put the tree up the weekend before Christmas and take it down on Christmas day (before we go over to Grandma's for dinner). I know. I know. I'm a grinch. Not really. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the whole Christmas thing. I just can't stand to hear dh yell at the kids, the kids to keep saying "timber" and for me to have to keep picking up the knocked off ornaments from the tree (I am pregnant this year, too, which will make it even more annoying...trying to bend over and all!). Besides, I am pretty wiped out by Chrismas day what with all the buying presents, wrapping, shipping things out, and staying up the night before to get everything out by morning. Ugh.

My son actually prefers FLL 3 because it requires less writing. I would say both programs are very good. They seem to cover the same things pretty well. The only difference is that FLL 3 covers it more by "talking" (by the parent) while GWG covers it more by writing (by the child). FYI, FLL is only going to level 4, then they are done. PHP will not be doing anymore after that. We are going to switch to GWG after that. I wish FLL was going to go on, but, alas, I guess SWB can only be stretched so thin! BTW, my daughter prefers GWG because she "loves to write". Something my ds has never really cared for. I don't think you could go wrong with either program. Hot Lava Mama

so we use graph paper, too. I also only give him NO MORE than 5 problems. He can do a 2 digit times a 3 digit fine. Gets it right every time. But when it's a 3 digit times a 3 digit, he misses it about 75% of the time. I think he just gets overwhelmed with all the columns and rows. I am hoping to just keep him going with a few problems a day, and hopefully it will click at some point. Good luck. If you stumble upon something that works, let us know! Hot Lava Mama

We always do a theme for Halloween. Last year we did the Scooby-doo theme, but our costumes weren't nearly as great as those! Hot Lava Mama

Two of my kids are "high risk" (one has epilepsy, the other asthma) so they need to get it because complications are riskier for them. My other two kids are recommended to get it because they are in a household with "high risk" kids. My husband gets it because it is free at work. Why don't I get it. Simple. If they don't get sick, neither will I. Having little ones in the house, especially one with diapers, I wash my hands millions of times a day. I don't get sick very often. Oh, by the way, last two years, they all got the flu shot, AND they all got sick. Me. Neither the shot, nor did I get sick when they were. Don't know what to make of it. But, since I have had to get "poked" so many times (four kids....lot's of pregnancy blood draws) I figure I have earned a pass on this one! :glare: Hot Lava Mama

out and comes out very clean. Hot Lava Mama

In our grandparents time, that would not have been an issue. I think most parents (myself included) have been so conditioned to be "careful" about everything. My MIL is AMAZED at how many car seats we are required to have. She had ten kids, not a single car seat among them. Plus, there weren't even enough seat for all the kids, so some rode on the floor of the car. We have all grown up with helments, "don't run" kind of signs, car seats, knee pads, etc. etc. etc. Kids are much tougher than we give them credit! Lest anyone disagree, does anyone remember the story of that really young boy who was found wandering around after the hurricane Katrina? He was very young, I want to say 7 or 9ish. He was CARRYING an infant for miles and miles. Plus, he had several toddlers with him that he kept alive. Kids are much more capable than we think. I for one think you are fine letting your child hold the baby. Especially since you are always right there. I think you are showing your child that you trust him. Plus, how far is the baby going to fall if a 5 year old is holding him? Unless your child is 6 feet tall, I don't think severe damage is going to happen to the baby. Your fine. Don't let them get to you! Let the comment roll off your back, or simply give them a "thanks for the advice" comment, and continue what you are doing! Hot Lava Mama

Overheard in the financial industry...one guy says to another guy... This is the worst divorce ever! I have lost half my net worth, but I still have my wife! Tee Hee! Hot Lava Mama

Yikes. Sorry moderator!