No suggestions, just glad to hear I'm not alone. I thought my kids had a special disease prohibiting them from remembering to write "in a complete sentence".

I like to buy produce in even number lots.. . .6, 8, 10 . . never 5 or 7. (I do sound weird.:glare:)

:grouphug:

And (while I'm venting) why is it that I turn to food for comfort on these tough days? You'd think by my age I'd know better but no, I bake peanut butter cookies! Thankfully I've only had 2 . . .so far . . . I'm going to put on my runners and go for a run. Maybe I'll pass said child on my run (I sent him on a long walking errand). (I know it sounds like I'm whining. I am. I shouldn't. I have many things to be thankful for.)

I had a terrible night's sleep. That probably doesn't help my seemingly endless dealings with my youngest ds's extreme stubbornness. It is draining. I know there are strategies to deal with it and we do employ them and they do eventually work but sometimes it would just be nice if he just be more (immediately) compliant. He's a good boy in so many ways. He's extremely bright (which I think contributes to the problem). This stubborn streak in his personality is exhausting me. He knows everything and has an answer for everything. I know it's my job as a parent to keep parenting. I just needed to vent.

Thanks for your comments. It's good to know I'm in good company. This afternoon I'm going to work through a plan of attack. I think I may work through some of my ideas during my long run this afternoon. I just want to figure out a way to compartmentalize my time somewhat otherwise it seems like I'm doing school every free hour, all week long. I get all my routine housework done but I never have time for the extra jobs (clean out the basement). If anyone has any suggestions, I'm open to hearing them.

The older my kid's get the more I am enjoying homeschooling. I love to learn. I have huge goals for self-education that are cushioned in my goals for my kid's education. Sometimes, however, I feel like my brain is going to bust open. Like right now I have a million books I'd like to read myself, in preparation for teaching (apart from reading to prepare for their regular curriculum). I've got a stack of reading for pleasure. On top of all that I'm trying to work out a good writing plan for each one of my unique kids using the various materials I've collected over the years. I know there's no easy solution. Just venting.

For months. It was terrible and very distressing. He saw every kind of specialist under the sun. Finally our GP discovered my dh has low blood sugar. Once we had that under control with diet he was a new man.

Over the years that is one thing I have learned. Sometimes the curriculum doesn't fit the teacher and then it's okay to move on.

Thanks (I might need more than luck though :001_smile:)

I have to say that I balance out my IEW training/teaching with Bravewriter's The Writer's Jungle. What I have concluded is that to a certain extent I have to use my knowledge and common sense to teach writing and not solely rely on curriculum. Make it fit for my family is my motto.

I've got a confession to make. I bought the TWSS dvd's a few years ago and never got around to listening past the first dvd. Then I purchased SWI for my kids when they were younger. I don't know if it was circumstantial (I was not in great health at that time)or if the kids just weren't developmentally ready but it didn't really take off in my home. Well after two days of watching (and I plan to finish watching over the next week or so) I feel inspired to try again. In fact, I think I will work what I learn from TWSS across our curriculum choices. This is my plan anyways. I'll let you know how it works out.

There's no place to hide in my house!

I'm of the camp that it's no big deal. In our case it didn't cause any dental distress and it provided her a lot of comfort. She gave it up on her when she was about 8.

My kids (all adopted) are a bit older so we have crossed some of those roads before. My only advice is to answer as honestly as you can and love them. (I know that sounds overly simplified but I tell me kids every day that I love them and am blessed to have them.) My children do not have international backgrounds although one has a different cultural background from the rest and one has a family history of mental illness and they all have backgrounds of addiction. So we've answered tough questions. We are always honest and then as Christians we point them back to God. Our favourite verse is Ephesians 1:4 that talks about God choosing us before the foundation of the earth. I use this verse to tell my kids they are no accident or after thought. Oh and btw, I so understand your comment about not wanting them to be like those after school specials with the sad and depressed kids . . . trust in the Lord. As a Christian that's the bottom line.

:001_smile: but here's my suggestion . . . a Bosch machine. Love, love, love my Bosch and I bake all my family's bread and other things in it. I use it virtually daily. Best investment I ever made.

I toyed with watching it with a group of parents, I toyed with watching it one whole weekend. It just never happened. So I have made a commitment to squeeze it in over this next week or two whenever I can. I watched the first hour Friday and hope to watch some tomorrow (it's Thanksgiving here so Monday is a holiday and my dh is working so I might have time). I'd say realistically squeeze it in whenever you can, as soon as you can, or it'll sit on the shelf for too long (ask me how I know). :001_smile:

Thanks for your response.

Yesterday I was reading how much vitamin D some of you take which got me to wondering do you take it once a day or spread out throughout the day? I have just started taking it combined with magnesium and calcium. My primary purpose was to help with sleep so I've taken it at night. But yesterday I was reading how much vitamin D has improved other areas in people's lives so I was thinking of increasing the amount I take (which is very low dose). We are heading into the dark, dreary winter months and last year was very difficult for me. I'm planning ahead and trying to be preventative in order to reduce the dreariness related to darkness. Thanks for any comments.

It's very yummy.

:iagree:

In most ways I would say he was a typical boy but it might be more accurate to say he needed more time to mature. I am in no way endorsing slovenliness. And I have already agreed that there are some people who do neglect teaching their kids and their kids would be better of in ps. I am also saying sometimes, even "normal" kids need extra time to meet milestones and that this is not the equivalent of a lack of teaching in the home. For what it's worth, I too am unhappy when bad homeschoolers give good homeschoolers a bad name. (There's a tongue twister.) I guess I would just say you have to be careful when judging other people.

I have a child who I know, without a doubt, would not have managed in ps. We do not live in a an area where "the system" does does a good job of handling struggling learners. My child would have been labeled and probably sent for Ritalin. (I'm not saying there isn't usefulness in this drug but I am of the opinion it is over prescribed.) I also know this same child would have benefited from me lightening up in the early years. I am a driven, goal oriented person and wanted him to meet high standards year after year. He is now in Grade 8 (still schooling at home). I have come to realize that some children develop later. I'm not saying parents should neglect their children's education but I am saying that for some children not reading until a bit older, not developing strong writing skills until older, etc., goes hand in hand with their natural development. I would have saved our household a lot of grief if I hadn't been so hung up on being able to read at 5, write in Grade 2, etc. I think it's hard to make blanket statements because everyone's circumstances are different based on their family differences and their geographical location differences. While I agree there are hs families who do not do a good job the same can be said about ps.

:iagree: My 13 dd is like this. It's caused me to ponder at times because she's serious about many things in life that not too many other 13 yrs would care about. I've got the flip side too . . . a carefree, live in the moment boy . . . sometimes I don't know which is worse! :001_smile:

I'm thinking it's not the geographical location that is attractive to him, more likely Tom's lifestyle and adventures. You know, sneaking out the window at night to prowl around. Finding a bag of money to fund your smoking habit . . . wait a minute I better have a talk with that boy today! :001_smile: