We are a non-denominational Christian family. What could I do for daily devotions/Bible study for a 2nd grader and 1st grader (with a Pre K'er who tags along a bit)? Any resources to use with them, or books I could read that discuss the subject? We've done a children's doctrine book published by Moody called Devotions for the Children's Hour, and The Children's Book of Virtues, and we've read through Luke and Matthew and most of Proverbs. We sing a couple hymns and pray together but haven't found a good rhythm since we finished our doctrine book. Christian families, what do you do? Read straight from the Bible, or a children's Bible, or use another book or curriculum? Also, when do you start having your kids read a Bible on their own? Do you require it? TIA. â˜ºï¸ Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I got food poisoning while dh and I were shopping after lunch yesterday! Dh had to call an ambulance, they picked me up outside Barnes and Noble, and I spent the afternoon in the ER. At least I'm mostly recovered and no one else was sick. But I feel so badly for not finishing my shopping. Dh said he can wait til his birthday in February, and my mom gave me the toys and candy she was going to put in my boys' stockings. So thankful that we just finished wrapping the presents. I feel guilty for not doing the extras this year - no Christmas cards sent out, no real tree (a kind of pathetic fake one instead), no fancy stockings, only one large gift per child plus one book. Dh's company is having a tough year so he didn't get a commission in December like he usually does, and we try to be wise with our income. We have 4 kids, ages 7,5,3, and 6 months. I'm so thankful for my family and God's provision, and I tried to make fun Christmas memories like family movie nights and baking lots of treats. But it feels like I'm not doing enough this year, and I don't know why. Anyone have any ideas of something special I can do for or give to my dh in the next month or so? I feel like I dropped the ball with him. Although we did come to an agreement to have a shopping date after Christmas and buy some new clothes (it's too hard to clothes shop for each other!), but still... Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Thank you, this is very helpful. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Thank you for these responses. I'm going to read these over again tomorrow with my husband, talk with my son some more, and probably try a rewards chart and see if it improves. Although what would that look like in this specific case? I'll also look at that book. I appreciate all your advice. Keep it coming 😉 Thankful Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I'm starting to worry about my 5 year old. He will NOT stop telling us (every few minutes) that he might have something on his hands or he will. He frequently holds his hands like a claw to keep from getting"stuff" from his hands on things. Even when he watched a show at my mom's this weekend, his brother told me he kept sneaking in the bathroom and washing his hands. I'm praying with him when he brings it up now. And trying to reassure him. But it's so constant that I sometimes have to say, "You're fine. There's nothing there." And move on with reading or school or whatever. Help! Dh and I are starting to get worried. Do we schedule an appointment with the pediatrician? What is going on?? It breaks my heart to see him like this. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I need some inspiration besides our usual roll-out sugar cookies. Favorite recipes... Go! Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

In my 2nd grader's words, intensive means "so hard you want to throw the book at the wall." 😂 (This from a child who enjoys math and shows minimal resistance to this book as well as the tb/wb and EP. I would never have guessed he'd say this lol) Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

We're finishing up SOTW Ancients with my 2nd and 1st graders. My plan was to do SOTW 1-4 in order, then continue the 4-year chronological cycle. But... My mother-in-law is passing down to me the D'Aulaire books, and I'm super excited about reading them with my boys. They both love history, especially my eldest. We've read The Children's Book of America and a few biographies and he continues to be very interested in American history. He and his brother do also enjoy SOTW (I suspect the coloring pages have something to do with this, although they are interested in the book as well.) I'm wondering if I should deviate from my plan and do a BFB Early American study, or supplement SOTW with the D'Aulaire books and others from BF, or continue with SOTW and wait on American history? Or try the audio of SOTW and supplement that? I might invest in this anyway because we like Jim Weiss's recordings. I guess I'm confused which path to take. I like the SOTW book, but I am not crazy about the extra readings. Are they better in SOTW 2? Maybe I'm just bored lol. The books in BF seem so rich and lovely! (We are a family who could spend hours reading good books together and looking at an atlas and globe, and we do this regularly, but with a toddler and an infant now is not the time for projects, if that helps.) Any input appreciated.

We love this one! Marpac Dohm-DS All Natural Sound Machine, White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HD0ELFK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_w5drybYV0WQQA Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Yes! We painted ours a couple years ago, and we love our kitchen now! (And we have young kids in the house btw.) We did a warm, soft gray on the bottom cabinets that has slightly bluish undertones and cream on the upper cabinets. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

What did you end up using? I'm looking into both options for my 2nd and 1st graders 😉 Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I want to begin working through Drawing with Children with my kids. In the book, she recommends using markers for drawing. What brand do you recommend? Or would you use something else? And, considering that I have 4 young kids, the oldest being in 2nd grade and the youngest 3 months old, and I really want to teach them to draw as well as learn myself, is this a good book or would you use something else instead or supplement with anything? TIA. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

How about using Rose as a middle name? We named our daughter Cambria Rose but call her Rosie. We're really not sure what we'll call her as she gets older. We like Cambria, Rose, Cammie and Rosie. Right after she was born I started calling her Rosie, which we had never talked about doing, but that solidified our decision to name her Cambria Rose. 😊 Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

This is so helpful, inspiring and encouraging to me to hear how you all bring beauty into your homeschool routines. It's like getting a snapshot of a part of your family's learning. Some of these ideas we are beginning to do, some I've heard of or we tried in the past but I want to try again, and there are many resources and ideas I haven't heard of but I'm going to think about. Keep the ideas coming 😊 And thank you, thank you! Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Thank you for the great suggestions! I'd love it if you shared your booklist with me 😊 Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

We used The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading. I was teaching my 4yo at the kitchen table, and my 2yo was around, listening in. I didn't sit down with him one-on-one to learn until he said, "Mom, look! I can read, too! See - C..a..t. Cat!" I then began going through the book with him, starting at that place in the book, and he finished the book a few months after his older brother 😊 They've both become excellent readers and are now 7yo and 5yo. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I'm evaluating this school year as are 3 weeks in. What I'm seeing is I'm happy with our core subjects and our history (SOTW) is a favorite. But I'd like to find more resources we can just delight in. Things that will enrich our homeschool, where we can appreciate those things which are true, and beautiful, and good. This year I'm homeschooling a 2nd grader and 1st grader. I also have a 3yo and 3 month old. I use WTM recommendations for pretty much all our subjects, and academically things are great. Teaching these subjects comes naturally to me. Going on a nature walk does not. But I want to take time to refresh our home with poetry, nature study, music, drawing, literature, and other science studies. Morning Time has been key to our homeschool the last month, but I want to add to it. Help. What are some good resources I can look to for direction in these areas? For poetry, we have A Child's Book of Poems. I need to read it more consistently. Any other suggestions? I want to teach my boys to draw (and learn myself!) What is a good resource? I believe I have Drawing with Children on my shelf. Is that easy to implement and teach, and is it beneficial? Or is there another good resource for beginners? We have Artistic Pursuits but I feel like we need more instruction in the basics. Or maybe I just need to dive into it. We went through My First Classical Music Book and loved it. Where do I go from here in music and composer study? We read lots of science books from the library, but my sons and I would prefer more structure and more hands-on projects. How in the world do I do nature study? Lastly, what do you use for booklists for literature and Bible? We do SOTW books and those are good, but I'd like more enriching literature. What resources would you use for 1st and 2nd graders? I've heard a few friends mention Ambleside, and I know they have recommended resources that cover these areas. Would this be a good resource to look into for us? Thanks for your input. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Once I give my boys (ages 7, 5, and 3) coloring books and crayons/markers/pencils, it's hard to get them (and me) to stop so our morning time is pretty long - usually an hour to an hour and a half. We do something like this: 1. Bible/devotional, prayer and hymn 2. Memory Work: Memoria Press recitation, books of the Bible, verses, math facts 3. Read Aloud: 1 or 2 books, either history, science, or literature. 4. Once or twice a week, we do art cards and poetry from Memoria Press Enrichment. A few times a week we read My First Classical Music Book and The Children's Book of Virtues. Occasionally we'll do an Aesop fable. We occasionally do Story of the World in the morning but usually it's in the afternoon. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

We are doing 3 days this week and then officially start Monday. But now dh wants to take Monday off so I'll probably push it to Tuesday. We like starting early around here so we can take time off for vacations or out-of-town relatives in the fall and spring. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Any particular ring slings to recommend? Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Thank you for this! I tried the Moby again and literally said to myself, "Okay, 286 times tighter... 286 times tighter..." and she's asleep in it right now. It feels so much better! Woops!! Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

(Deep breath...) I just had Baby #4 two weeks ago. I know the first 6 weeks are always tough. But I have the feeling that in order to keep my sanity, be with my family (especially the other kids), and get a few basic things done around the house, I want to get more comfortable using a baby carrier. So, what are your recommendations?? I have an Ergo and a Moby, which seem to be popular choices so I'll definitely be trying them again. The Ergo never felt very comfortable to me and it didn't seem too comfortable for my other kids either, but maybe that was just my perception. I like the fit and feel of the Moby much better, but it doesn't seem as supportive of her neck and head so I end up supporting her with one hand constantly. It also is time-consuming to set up and is difficult to set up out of the house, and it seems loose in certain places - this may be my own fault in tying it on, but I just can't seem to make it feel secure enough. I'm 5'3 and short-waisted. So, is there something else I should try? A ring sling or other carrier? Or use the Moby for a bit and then switch to the Ergo when she's bigger? Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

My parents bought their coffee table and 2 side tables from them, and we bought an iron bed. We've all been happy with these purchases :) Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

I agree with Kumon and checking Target. We also liked The Big Preschool Book on Amazon and Rod and Staff preschool workbooks.

I'm pregnant with #4 and due in a couple weeks. I'll homeschooling a 2nd grader and K next year, and with having a newborn I'm concerned about my 3yo son. His birthday is Aug 25 so he'll be a young 3. This year he is my biggest challenge, along with pregnancy sickness and tiredness. He sits and colors with us, but that only lasts so long. I've tried putting lots of his toys away and pulling things out just for school time. He just gets tired of not having my attention and is such a disruption. Of course I love him and try to give him attention beforehand or later in the day, but I'd love to hear your ideas for this age. (My 2nd son's personality was much more calm and he just wanted to be doing what his older brother was doing, but this little guy has his own ideas ;) ) TIA!