I hear you, and that's mostly what I meant by "doing" science. I meant they want to do hands-on activities in addition to reading about the topic, not just read and notebook. Reading for background knowledge and notebooking to retain the info is important, but that's not all they wanted to do and call it their science time, iykwim. I understand the activities they do at the elementary level are not really "experiments" per se but demonstrations of concepts and playing with stuff. 🙂

This approach is very appealing, and DD10 is already a science lover so she already reads lots of books and does experiments from them on her own in her free time. But it scares me at the same time ... what if she decides to only read/learn more about sharks (her current passion) and doesn't know a thing about matter or basic physics or ecosystems other than the ocean? Is that a real concern or not?

I don't know if this is a JAWM or a vent or sincerely asking for ideas ... I'm just really really frustrated. We've tried so many different curricula for 3rd-6th grade science. I like using Magic School Bus for 1st and 2nd and I like Apologia for 7th thru 12th, so I feel like we're set there, but nothing really fits what I want for middle elementary. We started with Apologia but only made it through about half a lesson before being bored out of our minds and wanting to *do* science, not just read about it. So we switched to Science in the Beginning, which I really liked, but when we moved on to the next books in the series that revolve around history we didn't like it as much. We wanted to do science by topic, not time period. So we switched to God's Design for Science, which was ok, but I felt like the vocab was very challenging for a 3rd grader and while I appreciate a Christian creationist perspective, I didn't like it being so in your face and judgmental about people who believe differently. So I switched to Mr. Q and while I really liked the earth science I am not loving the chemistry AT ALL. I've looked at Noeo and Elemental Science and while there are aspects of them that appeal to me, I don't want to have only 1 experiment a week and then just read from science books and notebook. My kids already read from a lot of science books for fun, and we do better with having a program where all the pieces are in one place. So now I'm sitting her wondering what to do next ... I'm thinking doing Exploration Education next year for physical science for DD who will be in 6th grade. My next DD will be in 2nd so I'll still do Magic School Bus for her. But what should I be looking at in the future for her when she gets to 3rd-6th? As I type that out, I realize I'm borrowing trouble from the future and I have no way of knowing what will be right for her a year and a half from now. But I like having a plan and knowing that I haven't found anything I really like to stick with is bothering me. Does anybody else struggle like this for elementary science? If so, what do you do about it???

I usually just poke and shove DH til he rolls off his back, as he doesn't snore when he's on his side or stomach 😁 But DH also heard of a pillow that somehow detects when you snore and automatically inflates/deflates to such a position that makes you stop snoring that he is considering buying. Sorry I don't have a link, he was looking into it, not me.

Yes! This! I also don't think it necessarily means you're making fun of or discounting an entire generation when you notice what makes their perspective different from your own. In fact, doing so probably makes you more able to empathize, not less.

I get it that many people regardless of generation feel they have been sold a lie about the American dream and what it takes to attain it. But here's the thing - to have been sold a lie, someone has had to have been willing to buy it. People you trusted may have given you bad advice about college loans or whatever, but they didn't make you sign the paperwork. Every single person in this world regardless of generation was born with a human brain and the capacity to think for themselves, whether they actually do it or not. It is perfectly possible to examine something someone (or even everyone) has told you and say, "Nah, I don't buy that." Or alternatively, "Ok, that might be true but I refuse to live my life like that." So so so many people today (and milennials in particular I think but by no means is it limited to them) are simply not willing to swim against the culture.

I didn't read the whole article (whew that was long!) but I had a couple of thoughts about what I did read. #1: A lot of the drive to always be working applies to non-milennials as well and in my experience came along with cell phones and Wi-Fi and constant availability, not just to emoyers/customers but friends and family and social media too. I am old enough to remember the days when I had tons to do and errands to run but when DH came home at 6pm he was off the clock and things like the post ofdice were closed and no websites to do paperwork on and so we did life together. We still do, but it sure looks different now! Lol #2 The mental burden she describes is primarily self imposed. We *choose* to buy into the thought that our kids every waking moment has to be "an experience" and that our jobs have to be thrilling and rewarding. It's pervasive, yes, and it's difficult to live counter culturally, but it is a choice. That's what my DH has noticed most about milennials he works with. They somehow miss the fact that they are responsible for their own choices and think if life (or a project or whatever) doesn't go the way they think it should then it has nothing to do with their own choices and the fault lies outside of themselves and is somebody else's responsibility to fix. Much like the author blames the economy, the parenting style they were raised with, politicians and political systems, etc. I agree that politics and policies can affect quality of life (duh) and sometimes systemic change is needed. But that seems to be the "go to" response of milennials instead of first looking at how they themselves could be contributing to their own unhappiness.

My parents are (and have always been) heavily invested in my kids. They email and text and make an effort to visit every month or so. Phone calls are nonexistent, that's just not how my teens communicate. My folks are pretty realistic that teens will not be as excited about time with their grandparents as they were when they were little and spoiled, but thankfully my older kids still make an effort to be around at least a little while when they visit for a weekend. They are interested in my kids' activities and they all like to talk politics together 🙂 Relationship with DH's parents is very different. The same amount of love investment is there, but their family dynamic is just not comparable because they have about 34 grandchildren vs my parents' 7 (5 of which are mine 🙃). They are also older and have less income for travel and gifts. My kids make an effort to go with us when we visit them, but it's not as often as we see my folks (me and DH's fault, not DC's). They are also not as technologically "with it" as my parents, so not as much texting and emailing. I was thankful for Jean's reminder that I should be more proactive in encouraging my kids to reach out instead of receiving.

Thank you for this great reminder!!!

I learned that ordering real Salsa Lizano from Amazon and adding about a quarter cup or so to regular ole rice and beans makes it taste like Costa Rican vacation food and everybody in the house likes it!

Every year we have a "Blessings Jar" sitting on the counter and periodically when anybody in the family feels particularly thankful about something they write it on a slip of paper and drop it in the jar. Then on New Year's we read them all and start over with the next year. I read this one from DD (age 10): "I am thankful for the ability to be edjecated even thogh I don't like it." 🤣 So keep on keepin' on mama's ... they appreciate it even when we don't think they do!

My goals are modest. I want to be more consistent about taking a walk every day. I take one on most non-yucky-weather weekdays but I would like to be more consistent. I would also like to not gain a bazillion pounds when this baby is born in April and I start nursing. I know many women say that nursing just sucks the baby weight right off them but that has not been my experience. I am so freaking starving when I'm nursing that I can't seem to stop eating ALL. THE. THINGS. So my goal is to only eat some of the things and if not lose weight then at least not gain any either.

I would be pushing it too. My kids were all 3 and a little over when they finally potty trained. At that age it's really not a matter of not being ready, it's usually (with a neurotypical kid) a matter of being properly motivated. We did all the positive reinforcement stuff like M&M's, a sticker chart, woohoo-ing and clapping, etc. For one DS we even had a family friend call as Buzz Lightyear and congratulate our Space Ranger on a mission accomplished lol! But here's where we got pushy and where some on this board will disagree with me so YMMV ... We also used some negative consequences because the only positive approach wasn't working. Clean up time was no big deal to them and not unpleasant at all, so they didn't try to avoid accidents. Mom was just going to take care of it, so who cares? So I made cleanup time ... less pleasant. As in, I used cold water in the tub to wash them off, not a nice fun pleasant warm bath. I didn't make them sit in cold water or anything like that, but I simply splashed cold water on them with a washcloth instead of warm water and matter of factly told them this is part of having accidents when you're 3. Just a few times of that combined with all the positive stuff usually worked.

We're doing appetizers too, but at a party so everybody is bringing some to share. I'm doing sweet n sour meatballs and salsa/ground beef/cheese sauce with tortilla chips. Probably I'll throw in some cookies too if I can get DD to make some tomorrow. I'm also bringing my homemade hot chocolate mix.

A *lot* of change can happen between 11 and 13 ... My almost 11 year old does most of her work with me. I teach a lesson and watch her a bit for understanding, then she continues to finish practicing on her own. There are a few misc things she does on her own, but all primary subjects are with me. My 13 year olds on the other hand, have done a ton of stuff on their own. I still teach LA and Math at that age, but most other subjects are "here read and do this and come talk to me about it". The leap in maturity between 11 and 13 is huge. Huge! At least is has been for us.

My DD was in a similar situation a few years ago. We went ahead and did the lessons in the teacher's manual but skipped the rest of the stuff - cards, activities, fluency sheets, etc. We did uae the readers for practice. We also used AAS which reinforced those lessons. Just buying the TM and the readers was cheaper than the whole thing.

I use Goodwill because I'm just so glad to get the excess stuff out of my house I don't particularly care what they do with it 🙂 It's so much easier than trying to sell it or have a garage sale or what have you. I'm willing to pay for the service and realize it's a profit making venture and not a charity, which is why I don't take the receipt they offer and don't claim it as a charitable donation on my taxes.

Haven't read that one so I don't know. It was a little hard to get into, but by the middle when he meets the little girl I was so charmed by him that I loved it 🙂

A Gentleman in Moscow, Caroline: Little House Revisited, All the Missing Girls, Educated: A Memoir

If you've liked IEW in the past, they have some great options for high school. We've used Elegant Essay and Windows to the World to explicitly teach essay writing and then just have them read great books and then discuss together and have them write about them. They also have Writing the Research Paper. If Saxon is working for you then I wouldn't change that either. They have an unusual sequence, but if you stick with the same sequence through high school your bases should be covered. Same thing for history - if Sonlight is working, why switch? They have some really good high school cores. Science might be trickier - we love Dr Wile for science but I recognize that he's not for everyone. Shepherd Science I believe also gets good reviews for biology if a Christian science is important to you.

Yes, it's like cake but I tell myself it's healthy because it's oatmeal 🙂 3 c quick oats, heaping half cup packed brown sugar, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp salt, 1 cup milk, half cup melted butter, 2 beaten egg. Mix all and bake in greased 9" square pan at 350 for 30-40 min. Serve with milk and/or fruit. You can do 1.5 recipes in a 9x13.

Egg/sausage/hash brown casserole and baked oatmeal

A really nice frame for a wedding portrait?

You can do this! If you have been hs'ing all the way through you're already practically a pro - I didn't start until my oldest was in 8th and I figured it out, so I'm sure you will too 🙂 We don't outsource much of anything either and my kids are still getting a great education tailored to their interests. If you are willing to learn along with your kids, you will be fine! It's hard to give specific rec's for curriculum without knowing what you've used in the past and what you like and what kind of learners your kids are and whether you like secular or Christian etc ... but yes in general there are many options that are well laid out for you in high school. I would recommend starting with a long term view (keeping in mind that even the best laid plans always should be flexible!) and then adding in subjects and studies that are unique to your student's interests. And get his/her input! 8th grade is certainly old enough to have a stake in determining the course of their education. Generally colleges are looking for the following, although it varies some. (Even if you think your student might not continue to college past high school, it's still best for a neurotypical student to be prepared for that possibility because you just never know.) But there is so much room for individuality in these courses so think outside the box! 4 years each of math, English, science, and history/social studies 3 years foreign language 1 year each of fine arts and PE Good luck and welcome to high school! I know this board can seem intimidating at first, but I learned sooooo much and everyone is very helpful 🙂

Not arguing about effectiveness, I haven't used them so I have no idea. But the people I know whose babies/toddlers wear these tell me that they wear them 24/7 and never take them off. Ever.