I was homeschooled K4 through sixth grade. Being bored to tears with Abeka math for 6 years (I adore math). I loved third grade Abeka history. It was a year of studying individuals, and it was amazing. I still picture the book often and hope to replicate that love in my kids. How incredibly awesome my grammar education was. How very much I hated the dry health, science, and history (Abeka again), except for that third grade history course. How amazing it was to finish school in 2-3 hours and have hours and hours to read or create my imaginary worlds. Homeschool YMCA or skate days. Coming into my tween years at the skating rink with my best friends. The friendships that endure to the day, even though I went to PS. "Racing" the public schools to finish the year first. As a year-round homeschooler now, my kids won't have that fun. Loving being a homeschooler so much that I couldn't wait to educate my own kids.

Thanks for starting this topic. I've had this book on my shelf for about 6 months. I'd say it was gathering dust, but I've moved twice in those 6 months, so, no dust. :-) I found the initial chapters to be interesting because they put some of my own experiences and recent thoughts on those experiences in perspective. I was notorious for my scattered brain as a child. I distinctly remember working ever so hard to improve my organization and focus, reading countless books on the subject, in high school and college, and I succeeded (well, mostly. I still procrastinated). I got so good at it that I FORGOT that I was scatterbrained. :-) Then, I had kids (and moved 5 times). I've spent the last 7 years of my life trying to figure out what happened to my calm, organized way of life. The systems that I had worked so hard to develop stopped working within my new life (except where I put my keys. I never stopped using that one), but I couldn't figure out WHY because I had forgotten that I used to be scattered and only stopped that when I set up iron clad routines and systems to manage myself. It wasn't until I began to be frustrated by my kids' scattered behaviors that I realized that they hadn't fallen very far from their Mama's tree (or their father's, to be fair, but we'll keep this one about me). So, I'm hoping this book will help me help them, but also help me help me.

Hugs. I have one of these. I'm tired and at my limit most of the time. I watch his diet like a hawk because he reacts to dairy, gluten, and legumes, and all cause mood/behavioral changes in addition to physical problems. Food coloring, which has no impact on his brothers, turns him into a crazy man. What I mean is that when not exposed to food coloring, he tantrums for a minute or two, a hundred times a day. On food coloring, those tantrums are 30 minute of screaming and kicking, with barely a break between. He cannot turn them off. Intense exercise (3 hours at the park) calms him a bit, but it's hard to fit in to our lives.

4 mile run today. I think I just committed to a 10K in December, and I'm excited about that challenge!

My kids are younger than yours, so I can't weigh in on when the tantrums stop, but I also have a childless friend who believes that my children "get something" out if their meltdowns. To be fair, almost everyone I know, parent or childless, has an opinion about my parenting. DS2 (age 3) is a challenging child. When he was less than 24 hours old, the postpartum nurse asked, "What is WRONG with him? I've never heard a newborn cry like that!" The unsolicited opinions about his behavior and our obviously inferior parenting have been constant ever since. :-) Your daughter sounds perfectly age-appropriate to me.

Oh, and turning on a musical soundtrack and singing at the top of my lungs.

Running. I start feeling really good at the 30 minute mark, so I try to run for at least 45 minutes to get a good dose of the runner's high. To a lesser extent, I feel good when I hike or bike, especially on a deliciously cool and sunny day. Mountain views (and hiking among them). And reading, especially deep, mind-absorbing study. I love to bury myself in a new topic and research it extensively. Curriculum planning works this way for me too.

(I can't figure out how to multi-quote.) My family is riddled with food sensitivities and allergies. As a result, I cook whether I want to or not. I used to like cooking, but I don't enjoy it now that I have little people. I would be upset if my husband chose to eat out without us. Edited because grammar.

Yep. My youngest has been 5th percentile since birth. The doctor has refrained from advising that I stop nursing (never gonna happen), but she really wants him on butter and ice cream. Ice cream.

I LOVE Katy Bowman's work. She's my intellectual crush right now. We moved on Sunday, and both my aching muscles and my Fitbit think I've taken 35,000 steps between Sunday and Monday.

I ran today and Wednesday, with lots of squats and push-ups in between. We're moving tomorrow. Since this is the second time we will move (ourselves) in only 4 months, I'm counting the workout for this week too :-).

Negin, the Warrior Workout looks interesting! Kim, I'm sorry you can't run. A good hike is a nice consolation, I hope. I ran for an hour today. I don't think I've ever done that before, even back in my really fit days before kids. I'm so excited!

My DH surprised me with a fitbit yesterday, so I spent today learning how to use it and obsessing over 10,000 steps. I made it, but it will definitely be easier to hit the goal on my running days. I did knock out 50 squats and 50 push-ups today, in addition to my hour-long walk.

My DH surprised me with a fitbit yesterday, so I spent today learning how to use it and obsessing over 10,000 steps. I made it, but it will definitely be easier to hit the goal on my running days. I did knock out 50 squats and 50 push-ups today, in addition to my hour-long walk.

I managed a really slow, creaky run this morning. I'm glad I did it, but it wasn't fun! Knocked out 40 squats and 40 push-ups too. Now, if only my children would sleep through the night.

Ran again today and did another day of my squat/push-up challenge.

I think I've finally kicked my calf injury! 43 minute run today, the longest I've run in, oh, 8 years!

I'm a long-time lurker joining because it's silly that I feel like I know all the regulars on this forum and have never introduced myself (now if I could just figure out the signature thing...). I'm taking exercise seriously again after being sidelined with injuries following the birth of my third. Your thread has been encouraging me (seriously, you ladies are awesome!), so I hope it's ok that I jump in here. Monday - hiked and yoga Tuesday - 25 minute run, 15 minute walk, yoga Wednesday - 20 minute run I'm on week 7 of Couch to 5K and feeling good. I missed running do very much!!