I agree with PP. Don't buy it. If BBQ chips are in the house, I will not resist them. They call to me....Sorry, back on track. Have you checked out cookinglight.com. Tons of great recipes and articles. As far as substitutes, we make our own french fries, baking them in the oven with cooking spray. Way less fat. Also can use sweet potatoes. I love brown rice, bulgar and quinoa - my family, not so much. So for them, when we do have rice, we use basmati with benefiber in the cooking water. Not all the nutrients, I know, but it's a baby step. Instead of chips (our nemesis on long car trips and we take a lot of long car trips) we now eat beef jerky or roasted sunflower seeds. Both are high in calories and sodium, but then so are chips. These just also have other nutrients and seem to fill us up more. We also cut up orange and yellow bell peppers and have a big ol' bag of them in the cooler on trips or in the fridge while at home. Fruit bowl - keep it stocked. I am amazed how many fruits and veggies we go thru if I just have them in the house. There are only 5 of us but we can get through a Sams size bag of grapefruit, apples, bananas and berries in two days. Find a veg dip that you like - hummus, lite ranch, anything. Keep fav veggies cut up and ready to go with the dips. Poptarts? Have you tried toast with a jam they really love and maybe even pb? Around here we love toast with pb melted on it (use way less of it then, too) and honey. Takes just as long as poptarts and still sweet, too. What really helped with my kids was discussing how good we feel when we eat healthy food and how awful we feel when we eat junk. Also, I had them start a nutrition chart. They looked at the pkgs of their fav foods and listed fat grams, calories, sugar, etc. Amazed at how much more aware they are now. Really. Amazed. You don't usually hear an 8 year old tank of a boy tell you to put the crackers back and get the blueberries, but mine does that now. Lastly, I have a friend who tried to radically overhaul her family's horrible junk food eating habits. She simply implemented a healthy eating plan and told her family they had to stick to it 6 days a week. On Sat they could eat whatever they wanted. Worked very well for her. Good luck with it. Stay strong. You know you're doing the right thing for you family.

One question to ask is do you want to be challenged in your view of history. I love reading a history book (or any book) that challenges my view on a subject. It fires me up and makes me tear into the original documents and any other source I can find to come to a better understanding of the matter. Case in point - Civil War, Lee v. Lincoln. You can read books that will tell you Lincoln is a saint and Lee is a demon, or vice versa. You can read books that will tell you the Civil War was fought about slavery alone or not about slavery at all. All those books are simplistic,one-sided and ignore reality. One of the joys of homeschooling is having the opportunity to self-educate while you're teaching the kids. Plus, I don't think it can hurt for your children to see you really get into researching, learning and trying to find answers. I love getting to share what I've learned with my kids and see them get fired up and start searching, too. Back to the main topic - haven't tried the resources you named, but I agree with PP who mentioned SOTW, or Sonlight. I'd also add TOG. (Christian ones since you mentioned Christian ones in your post) SOTW - I think it is written from a Christian worldview but with a very careful handling of other religions. We've used it as a springboard to delve into other world religions. I think she does a good job of trying to include many religions and treat them respectfully, but I agree with PP that it is def. written from a Christian frame of reference.

I think men who think like that (that a woman should obey like a child) misunderstand scripture. There is a very good commentary on submission here: http://www.christian-thinktank.com/not2obey.html I think the writer does a pretty good job of answering a lot of questions. If you really want to get into it, or just want to read a fantastic book on marriage, try Love and Respect in Marriage. http://www.amazon.com/Love-Respect-Desires-Desperately-Needs/dp/1591451876

Have you tried contacting more frequently? We move around a lot and I'm not always the best at calling and keeping in touch, but I do always intend to do better (darn those good intentions paving my way to...) I have a few friends who are great about calling me and as a result, I call them more often. Those friends who are more in the front of your mind will get more contact, kwim? If that doesn't work, do remember that everyone is busy. Your friends probably want to keep in better touch, think about calling and then, LIFE happens. They get distracted and two weeks go by and it happens again. It's not that you don't mean a ton to them. Trust me. They love you for contacting them, they feel guilty and wish they could be better at it.

We had a similar exp. DS was bored in school and began picking up bad habits. I tried to fix them, but the school influence was too strong, so we pulled him out early and began our hsing journey. Any chance you could pull her out early? I think you're right to be concerned. If this is a behaviour shift, as you indicate, then it's not a good one. You're right to want to correct it. I'd def. focus on her attitude and performance. We also used what a PP suggested about circling the best item on a page and praising good work. It's really a great technique - they get a chance to evaluate their work and you get a chance to praise them. You may also want to start using a chore chart with her to get her back in the habit of cleaning up after herself (DLTK has some great free character ones) You mention that she's not getting much attention at school. Show her that she will get lots of attention from you when she behaves properly and tries her best. (in order not to create a perfectionist, may want to look for opps to praise effort and good attitude and not always results.)

I LOVE Jim Trelease's book. I even got an autographed copy of it. Hmmm, does that make me a nerd? Yep. Great suggestion.

I agree with the other posters. Great ideas. Here are some other ideas. Date with mom at the bookstore - I take one kid a month , just the two of us, on a date to the bookstore to get one book. We spend a lot of time there, talking, looking at lots of books, making lists of books we might get next time... It's been fantastic and I figure one book costs less than a date meal out with a child. If you're short on cash, I bet you could do this at the library. We go to the library tons, so we started the bookstore thing to make it more special. Books on tape in the car - we listen to tons of books on tape in the car. For some reason, that has really helped my kids get into reading. Book marketing- After one of my kids finishes a book, he will try to pitch that book to us or the other boys. If he can convince someone else to read it, he's won. (the kids don't win anything and it's not really even a contest. They just get excited and feel like it's a victory for them) I have no idea how this started. Book rec's from friends. My kids will give a shot to any book that certain friends recommend. If J. recommended it, you can bet my kids will devour the book. Use peer pressure to your advantage, right? :) FYI - if you do this, be careful and do screen the books a bit. One friend is more mature and allowed to read some books that are not appropriate for my kids yet.

Thank you for posting that link. I'd searched but must not have hit the right search term. My kids and I both thank you since I enjoyed reading it this morning and the kids enjoyed their extra play time. :) I'm enjoying all the posts. Thank you all for taking the time to post. I'm learning so much.

My boys are in the beginning of the logic stage. Looking back, what do you wish you had done in the logic stage? Certain skills to work on? Classes to take? Field trips, experiences, etc? Basically, if you could have a do over, what would you do differently? Along with that, what would you not change at all because it worked out so well? Any advice you have will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

You've clearly been at my house. My boys would have so much free time if they'd just knuckle under. We follow WTM fairly closely in most areas. Our school day varies from 3-7 hours. (for 8 and 9 yr. old) This doesn't include free silent reading time which I require but don't consider part of school. I'm interested to hear the responses you get. I've been planning for next year and am overwhelmed by the amt of work that we'll need to accomplish in logic stage.

Sounds like my hair - sorry for your dd. :) I wash every morning 'cause I work out daily and ew if I don't shampoo. Shampoo and use a conditioner (or creme rinse for those who like that word) made for curly hair. Run fingers through hair when the conditioner is in to get out tangles. Rinse and squeeze dry, no turban twirling. Do not brush or comb. Put a little bit of curl defining product in, hand twirl a few clumps, air dry. Do not blow dry. This works for me so I do not have 70's frizz, but instead controlled ringlets (well, until summer humidity and then it's all disco here). My advice if she has to bathe at night - pony tail or baseball cap. That's why I have to do. :) Braid at night will only give kinda odd kinks.

I think it's very easy to give advice and very hard to know the specifics of the situation. I hope you are not feeling attacked. We all get passionate about parenting b/c we know that any one of us could be in your shoes. I'm taking notes as we're coming up on the teens way too fast. Sounds like you are trying to do the best with a very difficult situation. I just have one suggestion. Have you read the book You Can't Make Me? http://www.amazon.com/You-Cant-Make-Persuaded-Strong-Willed/dp/1578561930/ref=pd_sim_b_25 I read it and it has helped me understand my strong willed child more. I was not strong willed (though I think I'm becoming more so in my old age) and I couldn't "get" him and his choices. This book, written by a SWC who also is parenting a SWC was very illuminating. Good luck with it. If you can, I would like to hear an update from you about your daughter. Your experience could really help all of us. You and you family are in my prayers.

At least not while a war is going on. Isn't that an amazing family history? I love stories like that. Families overcoming and excelling. Hopefully, the family bad luck has run its course. Sadly, I'm sure there are many more stories like that out there.

Ok, this is a little off topic, but I just got this email from my family and thought y'all might find it interesting too. My sister found the first part on a website and my dad, West Point grad and military history buff, knew the rest. My kids were fascinated by this story. Basically, it follows one family's too up close and personal encounters with the Civil War and beyond. When the American Civil War erupted in 1861, Wilmer McLean of Virginia was too old and "whatever" for warfighting. Unfortunately, he also happened to live smack dab on the road between Washington, DC and Richmond, VA, the respective capitals of the Union and Confederacy. The first battle of the Civil War pretty much happened at this guy's place. The Battle of Bull Run, broke out on July 21, 1861 near Manassas, Virginia--McLean's hometown. Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard needed a building to serve as headquarters for his staff and many initials, and when he saw Wilmer McLean's cozy house, he figured "what the heck..." and camped there. This immediately subjected the building to artillery fire, and one cannonball somehow found its way down the poor guy's chimney. The entire building should have gone up like the Death Star, yet miraculously no one was hurt. Where it Gets Weird: But, hey, an insane amount of fighting occurred along that road. A lot of people between Richmond and DC could say a battle happened on their front lawn. And, after this narrow escape with the Reaper in his very own home, McLean figured that moving his family out of No Man's Land would be a smart bet. However, the man took so long to skip town that when 1862 rolled around, a battle nearly twice as large and four times as bloody exploded just outside his front door again--the Second Battle of Bull Run. After dodging this second bullet the size of Civil War battlefield, McLean finally sold and moved his family as far away as he could afford. Where it Gets Even Weirder: When Wilmer settled on a cottage in Clover Hill, Virginia, the town that later changed its name to Appomattox. On April 9, 1865, General Lee officially surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the American Civil War. The site for his surrender: the parlor of Wilmer McLean's new home. Once the two armies left (and helped themselves to some furniture as souvenirs), the now-bankrupt McLean remarked: "The war began in my front yard and ended in my front parlor," which is probably the classiest way a man can handle the worst luck in American history. Wilmer's daughter, Elizabeth McLean, married a southern boy named Josiah Eldrige. They moved to Cuba and established a farm at the base of Kettle Hill. The Rough Rider's misnamed "Charge up San Juan Hill" actually passed through their farm causing great damage. Josiah and Elizabeth's son, Robert E. Eldrige, hated Cuba. He moved to Mons, Belgium, the birthplace of his great grandmother, where he lived in a small house next to a linden tree orchard and worked a lock on the canal. He and his family were there when the Germans "visited" in August of 1914. After the destruction of his home, he and his family fled as refugees. They made their way to England and settled in Coventry where the family lost its home during the Luftwaffe raid in November 1940. Wilmer Eldrige, whose ancester was Wilmer McLean, is a political appointee in the Obama administration's Department of Health and Human Services.

You may also want to consider Tricks of the Trade and How to Teach Any Child to Spell. We started using them b/c my kids hated spelling books. I will say, though, without a set curriculum, I don't "do" spelling as often. Mainly my kids write and I correct their spelling mistakes and teach them the rule. We do this along with Wordly Wise for vocab and it seems to work well for us. http://www.amazon.com/Tricks-Trade-Gayle-Graham/dp/1880892243/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267016261&sr=8-2

I'm curious about this, too. I can only think of classics. I asked my mom, a middle school teacher, and she recommended this website. I haven't read most of the books listed (though the ones I've read were good), so I couldn't recommend them, but it may be a place to start. http://lmc.foxbay.k12.wi.us/bayside/lmc/bookclubs7.htm

I'm busy planning, but HELP! I cannot see how we're going to fit it all in. My plans look like many of yours - half a page listing just the subjects and curricula choices - not including independent reading and reading aloud together. I would love to see what weekly/daily plans y'all have developed. TIA

:lol::lol::lol::lol: We had a similar though not as violent reaction to spelling workout. :) Abeka Spelling and Language - kids were over it. Prima Latina - too boring LLATL - too light Amanda Bennett Unit Studies - too light This thread is so interesting. We love some of the duds listed. I guess one man's dud is another's treasure. Thank goodness we homeschool and have the freedom to go onto something that works better for our families.

No!! I didn't know there was a sequel. Off to Amazon I go. Just got my Cartoon Guide to Physics a few weeks ago and having way too much fun going thru it. Just remembered another good book - not at all a fun kids adventure book, but a good try to wrap your head around quantum. My dad gave it to me and I do actually use it with the kids. The Quantum World: Quantum Physics for Everyone We also listen to Stephen Hawking's audio books. Fantastic for sparking interesting conversations in the car (plus, then I don't have to find time on my own to listen to them which will never happen!!) Oh - and yes, you need a plane ticket, but the weather is great here in TN now! :)

How 'bout Sue - for a boy or a girl? Boy named Sue? :) Sorry, when I read your post, that was what sprang to mind. A friend named her daughter Pia, which I always liked. (esp. after I heard the story behind it. It stands for Pain In the ...) Other names - Lord of the Rings has some great names, Eowyn, Arwen, etc. Don't know if a boy can pull off Legolas, Theodon or Aragorn, but they were great characters. You could go Jane Eyre - Darcy, Knightly, etc. Or you could go for what my husband wanted to name one of our boys - Wolfgang Genghis. :) (To this day I still think he's bummed we didn't. I told him if we were going there, we should name him Angus Augustus, nickname Gus Gus.) :)

In checking out GEMS - found that a company sells the kits with the materials in them. It looks like they only sell classroom size kits, so it's def. a co-op thing. (unless you can use a refill kit for one student?) Thanks to all posters for the great ideas!! http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/gems/gemskits.html

MelMichigan - you so need to come to my house and talk string theory!! We love to discuss quantum physics. I esp. love the mindboggling/challenging nature of it. It did get me thinking, though, for anyone looking for a good book - not dealing necessarily with the first atom or particle, but just a fun way to present challenging theories - George's Secret Key to the Universe. Fun adventure story, but it makes physics, physicists and learning cool. If nothing else, perhaps it will help OP's son get excited about something different that has an easier answer. :)

We def. put retirement first but also save for college for the kids. I would much rather not be able to pay for all of their college than be a burden on them later in life. Also, you can't take out a retirement loan. :) Either choice, though, I think you're right to teach your kids that money doesn't equal love.

What a great site! How have I missed it all these years?

I don't know if it's normal for kids, but I was allergic to corn for the first few years of life and so was one of my kids. No problem with corn products, just the kernels. No idea. Both of us grew out of it by age 5. That said, are you sure it's the corn? Could there be another allergen? New soap, diaper, other food? Def. narrow it down by eliminating corn, but if it persists, you may need to do some more investigating.