Good luck! I hope it goes well! :) DH confirmed that parts of town do have residential natural gas, and it's expanding. It's still more expensive than other parts of the country, but at least it might be an option depending where you locate.

My son has always been active in sports, starting with hockey at 3. When he was 8 we put him in (aka strongly encouraged) a rec department running club, because it was becoming apparent at soccer that the child could.not run--he'd skip about and hop after the ball but not RUN like the other kids. I have to admit I was terribly skeptical, but that decision turned out to be the best. Today he's a competitive runner--just completed his first 10k--and it's overtaken hockey as his favorite sport. We've been told he's a marathoner in training due to his natural pacing ability and endurance. If we hadn't been firm with that decision to make him try it, I'm doubtful he would have taken it on himself. So force...no! Seek out something appropriate for your child's temperament and interests...yes! And I definitely agree it shouldn't be just for the child. Involve the whole family and it will become a natural way to spend time together and stretch and grow in new ways together. Once you start looking, you might be surprised what your community offers.

We use History Odyssey and just skip the Story of Mankind. We use the encyclopedia and a standard textbook instead. In two years using HO we haven't had any problem with this method, nor is there anything questionable about the program. Other than the one easily skipped book, it is entirely secular. I wouldn't let that one thing stand in your way of an otherwise solid program.

I grew up using electric but switched to gas as an adult. There was zero learning curve--really. One is just as easy as the other, IMO, though most people prefer gas. Just be mindful of the live flame.

We looked closely at the Fit and really wanted to like it for DH's commute, but in the end we bought a Volkswagen Jetta. The Fit seemed rough, and it's true they don't often don't get near the marketed mpg. In weather like ours in Maine, winters make a big difference. DH regularly gets over 40 mpg in the much larger Jetta. Plus my DS is a car fact junkie (he literally made salesmen scramble when he'd ask questions, and impressed them so much with his knowledge he was offered a job at every.single.dealership we went to) and the Jetta won ands down from a safety standpoint. I think the Fit would be fine for short trips like most of yours, but not so much for distance driving. It's cute for sure and I loved the inventive seating/storage configuration in the back; it really depends what you're looking for.

Hmm, safety in what way? It sounds like she knows her way around the kitchen? To be honest, I'm not a fan of "kid" cooking (or specific kid-only anything, really, in the sense of being simplified or dumbed down). We learn to cook by watching, experimenting, following directions and trying it out independently (ideally with supervision, either direct or indirect). Regular adult cookbooks have simple recipes she can work with; there doesn't need to be boiling oil involved. :). Unless she's averse to regular food, I don't see the benefit of using anything else. At 11, my son makes pancakes and waffles (from scratch), cornbread, the very best pumpkin pie, and a mean mushroom cheese omelette. He can make lasagna, enchiladas, and cookies. He's getting more confident using the oven on his own and dealing with boiling water (like draining Mac and cheese). He's risk-adverse; I could cook whole meals with no issues much younger. I think teaching her basic kitchen skills and then letting her go will pay off in spades. The cooking class sounds amazing--maybe you could justify the cost by making it a Christmas present?

This. We didn't do anything special; DS just learned on his own. Other than knowing when to support and when to back off, theres not much you need to do. She's likely to just go with it on her own schedule. Have fun!

We went through a very rough patch for about 6 months--it started and ended suddenly, totally out of the blue as far as I can tell. My main mantra was Damage Control, Damage Control, Damage Control. There were times I would leave the house because I couldn't stand his attitude, times when I'd banish him from my sight until he could be less abrasive, and times when I'd just cry privately and wonder where my sweet loving kid went. And just as suddenly as it happened, the attitude and ugliness disappeared overnight (literally) and our relationship is back to normal. For that matter, HE is back to normal and then some--he's even MORE than he was, if that makes sense. Hello hormones! Hold in there, ride it out the best you can in the moment (it's not always going to look right later, but that's okay), and make sure the relationship suffers minimally. Be his safe place, no matter how hard it is. I think it's totally appropriate to be honest with them at this age -- "Your behavior/attitude/words/snarkiness are not acceptable. It is acceptable to feel frustrated/angry/confused, but you may not take it out on me/dad/your coach/the rest of the world.". Keep the focus, when possible, on the attitude and not on his person. If he doesn't already have a book on the special hell that is puberty, this might be a good time to quietly place one next to his bed. Some kids want to talk about, others don't, but if they can understand the biological reasons that it feels like they've been possessed by aliens, it might reduce the discomfort a bit. Good luck. It IS a phase, it WILL pass. And copius amounts of chocolate for you are totally justified.

Have you looked at CPO? We are using Eath science this year, but they have biology and physics as well. It's a standard textbook, is totally secular, and has section reviews and chapter tests. There is a ton of extras on the website, if you felt like you wanted an extra lab or worksheet here and there. They are totally optional, but are worthwhile, I think. Otherwise it's all self contained. :)

My primary goal for the middle school years is to provide the required readiness for higher rigor at the high school level. Depending on her ability, she might want be through Algebra 1,2 and geometry by the end of middle school, or be comfortably along that track at any rate. Writing needs to be solid. Mastery of several forms--essay, persuasive, etc--should be introduced. Depth of analysis. I think now is the time to concentrate on deeper level critical thinking skills. For me, knowing that DS has a solid grasp of classical history and science cycles is essential. At the high school level, I want him to be prepared well enough that he can choose whatever path he desires. That will be his time to dig deeply into his areas of passion because his foundation will be solid. (of course he chases his passions now as well, but a solid foundation is my goal). HTH

My son has them because he plays hockey (for contact sports they are generally required for safety), but he wears them as much as his regular glasses. We had Transitions lenses put in--best decision ever. He wears them biking, running, skiing etc etc and having the sunglass option has been hugely beneficial. We got them at LensCrafters. Not inexpensive, but essential for his active lifestyle.

We heat with a pellet stove, but they are power dependent. I desperately want to trade it in for wood, but I haven't had any success in getting my DH to change his mind. Maybe after we lose power for a week and all our pipes burst :( Have you seen Hearth.com? It's a fabulous resource for all things wood heating--inserts and stoves. The guys on the forums are incredibly helpful and very kind to newbies. I highly recommend it as a place to start.

That's awesome, EndOfOrdinary. My DS recently surprised me with a rant against his version of King Arthur because there's insufficient character development (something we haven't talked about yet). :) High school is weighing on my mind too. I've decided to put blinders on for the remainder of this year and hopefully next (6 and 7) and not worry about it yet. Easier said than done, for sure. When I start to question, I try to remind myself about my middle school goals--primarily, to make certain he has a solid enough education that he will be ready for whatever happens in the high school years. I want to know he's been through the full history and science cycles, and that his writing (the big bugaboo) will be solid enough that he can take and thrive in any classes he wants. We have many options here--traditional high school, community college, sitting in on private liberal arts college classes, a STEM high school, some combination of several--and right now, I want all of those to be viable options when he reaches that point.

I wake up at 5:30 to get some quiet time in before the day starts. Shower, the DH wakes DS up at 7. 7: breakfast while watching CNN Student News 7:30: DS shower and morning primping 8:30ish: time for table work. He always starts with math--his favorite After math, spelling and writing. Then a snack break. 11ish: history 12ish: lunch 1ish: science After science, we are usually done with the school day. 2 or 3ish: go for a run together, or after school sports. Nothing is written in stone, but DS likes routine and to know what to expect next. This is his schedule-- it's what works best for him-- so it tends to be really smooth and effortless. I'm just along for the ride. :)

Thanks!

Can anyone suggest less controversial groups that organize something similar? We would love to participate, but this doesn't sound like an organization I could in any way support. It's fine if the groups are religious (even though we are not), but the message must be positive and not...icky. Hope that's okay if I ask here! I think the idea sounds fantastic.

When DS was very little we made the unfortunate decision to have the Advent Elves fill the daily pocket, so now even though it's supposed to be just silly and fun, I'm stuck with it. The calendar fills me with such dread every year. DS is too old for little craft ideas or going to lightings and daily sweets or little toys just aren't his thing, so it's a real struggle to come up with ideas. I'm always on the lookout for creative, appropriate things that won't add up to too much $ or time. I'd declare him too old for the elves to visit, but it's one of his favorite things about the holiday. The stress makes me feel like a grinch.

Panic! The Advent calendar causes me so much stress every year...I'm definitely following for ideas. Is it really that time already?!?

Have you checked eBay or Amazon for used copies? I think I paid around $35 for Jacobs and maybe another $15 for the TM. I was impatient or I would have waited for an even better price. :). I feel like a broken record recommending Jacobs for younger algebra students, but we've been SO happy with it. It's worth the hunt and the money, IMO. (that said, I've never used Saxon or supplemented math programs, so I don't know how that will work out for you. Jacobs is plenty on its own, for whatever that's worth).

Your son sounds like mine! :). I did have DS go through MM6 (old version), but in retrospect he could have just skipped it. It was mostly review and thus pretty boring for him. Jousting Armadillos, I think, would have been a lot more fun, or just moving on to algebra. The one benefit to a dull year was that he was able to really focus on not making so many "clerical errors"--simple mistakes or miscomputations. I think that was mainly due to maturity and has mostly worked itself out. He didn't have any problem going straight from MM6 to algebra and despite my pleas, he still does most of the questions in his head. :) I highly recommend Jacobs Elementary Algebra for younger students. He's getting a huge kick out of it.

I didn't do anything formal with my DS at this age, just read to him and encouraged him to try out words when we were out and about (and lots of LeapFrog videos). At some point I labeled things around the house, I think he was 3. At 2, he knew his way around Whole Foods and would point to all the things we normally bought. Sometimes I'd play games like pick out a different yogurt and he'd correct me by picking out the Stonyfield or whatever instead. I don't think he was actually reading all the labels, but still practicing with visuals. He had speech issues also, but had no use for his therapist. She talked down to him and didn't recognize or even inquire about his strengths, so he had no repect for her and refused to practice. He couldn't see the benefits of blowing bubbles for this awful sing-songy woman, so we stopped going. Despite her dire warnings about his "speech appraxia", he outgrew it all at 5. We felt there was more going on in his head than he was able to physically sort out. We now have a similar problem with writing. :) I think kids like this are going to absorb anything you put in front of them (and more), so just have fun with it. Give him what he wants, but be prepared to stop or change whenever he gets reluctant (but you know that already).

I don't care for audiobooks either, and DS grew out of being read to by the time he was 8 or so. I do read his history text out loud because we do lots of discussion, but that's it. He actually IS an auditory learner (I am definitely not), but still prefers to read to himself. As others have mentioned, it's so much faster, and IMO age appropriate. I can't imagine being read to as a middle schooler! :)

I think we paid $25 or 30 for it on eBay. Plus the teachers manual which was maybe another $15?

I wear a thin Smartwool hat that goes over my ears. It's cold here too, but I don't like bulky layers since we get warm when we play outside. I wear my hair in long braids to keep it out of the way and from getting too snowy.

Completed work goes right back/stays in the binder it came from. Twice a year I pick out "best" examples and stick those in his portfolio. At the end of the year, I recycle everything in the binders. Who wants to look at old math worksheets (or as it is now, just answers in a spiral bound notebook)?