Yes, exercise and a good diet. Also, remembering your se*y self by getting regular haircuts and cute clothes. Generally feeling attractive myself, seems to help thing along nicely. If your general health is poor, it will affect your libido. I am assuming that all is well in the relationship department, or you wouldn't be posting that you WANT to improve this area! :D If there are relational issues, than all this is moot - the emotional intimacy must be repaired. Some practical things: *Spending time doing a hobby together - if you don't, take something new up together. Bonding together through recreation is a super turn-on pver time. Be each other's best recreational buddy! *Spend time in the evening cuddled up in close proximity. Don't spend all night doing separate things in separate rooms, but create real, physical closeness by cudding up on the couch and watching a movie or reading to each other. Back rubs and foot massage is great (with nothing else expected necessarily). A few nights of cuddling and pampering will likely leave you feeling more amorous! *In general, the more reluctant partner should pick the time of day and the, ahem, soup de jour! If that is you, you take the lead on when and how. Make sure it is fun for YOU, and that it's at a time of day when you are energized. What is good for the mama is good for the papa, because the less reluctant partner can pick how often, if it is reasonable. :lol: I am going to recommend a book to you: Is There Really Sex After Kids? All the best wishes for a very HAPPY New Year!

I would look at Christian Light Education (if you want traditional) or Learning Language Arts Through Literature (if you want literature-based). CLE really streamlines our day, since everything is in there, right in one book. The instructions are excellent, and sentence diagramming IS taught, in case you were wondering. There are some reviews of CLE here:http://www.homeschoolreviews.com/reviews/curriculum/reviews.aspx?id=59 and there is also a Yahoo group with samples and active users. HTH!

I would go ahead and place her in Level 3. We work a level "behind" in CLE math, and it's been plenty meaty for my dd! Overplacement will cause you to hate this program. It's extremely important to place correctly so that you and your daughter will enjoy CLE! All publishers are different in their scope and sequence, and CLE math is challenging. With overplacement, it will go from challenging to frustrating. And yes, I would start at the beginning, since concepts are reviewed. If you start in Unit 304, and concepts from 302 & 303 are reviewed, it could lead to frustration. Start at the beginning of level 3, and simply move quickly, stopping where you find gaps. Good luck to you!

Hi Lisa, Just wondering -- do you use something else to teach conventions and explicit grammar?

We've taken a path of emphasizing copywork and dictation in the lower grades. It's simple, and it works! In 3rd/4th we did a year of Shurley Grammar "lite", stretching the Shurley level out over those years. Shurley is an ideal grammar stage language arts program, imo, due to the chants, repetition, and success with cementing parts of speech. In 5th grade we begin CLE Language Arts. I couldn't be happier with it. It covers sentence diagramming, copywork, punctuation, spelling, and study skills. CLE streamlines out day. We do the CLE 2-3 days a week, alternating with either copywork or composition. In 6th-8th grades, we add a couple of literature guides in: Total Language Plus or Progeny Press. We alternates weeks of CLE with weeks of Total Language Plus. Each program is so different, and I love how they compliment one another! It is a toss up between CLE and Total Language Plus as my favorite. Then again, I favor Shurley "light" as an introduction to the parts of speech in 3rd or 4th grade. This is like comparing apples and oranges, but they are all excellent curriculla. I should say that I don't favor a lot of grammar workbooks or literature guides before age 10-11. There has been no downside to waiting a little longer for hard core, workbook-based grammar instruction.

Why don't you just try doing copywork from favorite passages? Have your child choose one to take by dictation weekly, and discuss conventions that come up. For more on how to do this, check out "You Can Teach Your Child Successfully" by Ruth Beechick. Most library systems have this book, and it will outline exactly how to do what it sounds like you are ALREADY doing, LOL! There is also a good article HERE. I'm not a big fan of literature guides for younger kids, as they can make reading tedious. Developing a habit of reading and becoming a real reader is my goal for a child in elementary. Copywork and eventually dictation is fantastic for language arts in the elementary years! It is deceptively simple, but works surprisingly well.

I haven't read the other posts, but cutting and pasting doesn't necessarily keep school fresh. The key to keeping it fresh is to "keep it real." That is to provide real materials to work with, real life experiences, real books, real variety, and real choices. For science: provide real specimens to work with, outdoor experiences, and exposure to nature classes, exposure to science museums For history: a few real, living books and real choices (should we do a project, read a picture book, or color a map today?) For variety: add rotating activities to your days such as: dancing, calisthenics, music, handicrafts, poetry, science experiments, cooking, art with top quality materials, simple sewing, Spanish or French songs, let your imagination run wild here, but take time to schedule something different each day I hope this helps a little!

I was about to waste a lot of money! Thanks for posting honestly - you can't imagine how much I appreciate it. Back to the Life Science drawing board, I guess. Do you have any suggestions? I am Christian, and prefer something that isn't real preachy on evolution. Maybe I will look at Prentice-Hall. Sigh.

There was a time in my life when I thought "self-care" was equal to "selfish." I now know that taking care of myself is the most unselfish thing I can do! Burned out mamas are no good to anyone. I weight train. For MYSELF! I love how strong I feel, and I love how my body is changing. I insist on an early school day so that I can have the afternoon flexible to see friends or to have free time. I refuse to wear ugly clothes or ugly UNDER clothes. I get my hair cut - at a real salon! Yes, I have a modest monthly budget to maintain a professional appearance. (Professional Mom, that is!) I shop clearance, I shop thrift stores, but I do shop for myself and keep up my appearance. I maintain personal friendships. I have a couple good girlfriends that I am so thankful for! I have quiet time to cook and listen to CD's for an hour every afternoon. I limit my responsibilities to what I can do in joy, and in peace. I am not perfect, but I am really happy with my life right now. I let go of the self-imposed matrydom that led to being tired and resentful! It is in everyone's best interest to have a happy Mom, and it is OUR responsiblity to take care of ourselves so that we can minister to our families. Just do it.

I am looking at Rainbow Science for jr. high, and would really prefer the Life Science focus of Year 2 for next year. We just did a ton of physics last year. Would it be okay to use Rainbow Science in reverse order, Year 2, then Year 1?

I was just curious how this answers the poster's question or is supportive to those who are struggling. It would feel like a smack in the head to me. ;) Are you saying that if others were good parents like you, they would have polite and well-behaved children, or what is your point of your post?

I would recommend checking out the resources from Family Tools -- particularly the PEGS board. This can get you an instant program for better behavior with built-in consequences and rewards: Choose-A-Chore and Pick-A-Privilege. Good stuff, and I think it would really help you out! It has been invaluable to our family - we have used it for years, and it can grow and change as your family does.

Not totally on-topic, but did you know that Randy Alcorn has a kid's version of his book Heaven? It's called Heaven for Kids, and my 12 year old has enjoyed it immensely. Mr. Alcorn is not only a gifted writer and theologian, he knows how to communicate to kids!

Also, if you have Netflix, they have these on video. "Case for a Creator" should be in my mailbox today!!!

I highly recommend P-H science! At a bare minimum, I would get: Student Textbook ($18) Student Guided Reading Workbook ($3.50) Lab Zone Planner (check Amazon - I paid $15 for mine) - these have all sorts of extra labs and activities for ALL the Explorer series. You can print lab sheets with and without teacher notes/ansers Optional Extra: Student Interactive Textbook ($1.25)- this is multi-media with 3 video clips for each chapter section. Nice if your child enjoys working on computer. I highly recommend "Inside Earth!" Great stuff, and lots of online support. I am a Christian, but didn't care for the BJU Earth science. I like P-H so much better.

Getting burned out is part of doing something you are passionate about, and doing it day in and day out. When I get burned out, I remove myself from the teaching role for a period of time, and get the house cleaned, or simply take some time off. If dd is not burned out, I have her take over her studies by doing one of two things: http://www.christianadhd.com/learningathome.php OR Time4Learning.com OR a combination of these. Take the time off you need. Your children can keep learning without you, or if they are also burned out, they can take a break as well. Most of us are not focused on school work during the holidays. I take a full 3 weeks off to clean house and celebrate! So, it may be the busy-ness of this time of year. Take care of yourself, and know that you are perfectly normal!

I have it and can't recommend it for the same reason the other posters gave. Two better options are Prentice-Hall or CyberEd, imo. The Project Earth series is another option Jessica gave. All of these are secular. As far as hands-on, I love the Science In a Nutshell EarthWorks cluster. These are fantastic! HTH!

If you want something heavier on application, try Positive Action for Christ.

I just saw your post, Lolly. :iagree:

How about switching to a good electric razor?

I think balance is important. It's possible to have both a social life and academic rigor. Flexibility is part of the reason we homeschool, after all. We school four hours in the morning: 8-12, with only one 10-20 min break, and even during that break we are doing music or phy-ed time. So, I agree with the getting up at 7am or earlier if you want to get school done at a decent time. For us, it starts by having a set breakfast time. Breakfast is at 7:30, and school begins after that. Being late simply results in missing breakfast and beginning school on an empty stomach (gasp!) and that seems to be enough motivation for my middle schooler. There is a written list to be completed every day. Consistency and structure keep us from spinning wheels trying to decide what to do. With a written checklist, we are on the same page. I believe a set amount of work in a set amount of time builds good habits. If dawdling happens, we put away that book at the set time, and it is "homework" that afternoon or evening. That way I don't waste time and energy nagging, helicoptering, or waiting. From 1-4 pm we have choice time. This time may also be a social activity, time at the gym, educational video, or productive activities of dd's choosing. On many days, we are out of the house during this time. This week, for example, she was crocheting Christmas gifts, and listening to an audio of "Call of the Wild". She has also made some Christmas cards for family and friends or practiced for the Christmas play she is involved in. On some days, she also does lots of drawing and singing. This is time for a variety of activities and social times. If dawdling occurred in the morning, she will do her table time rather than activities, but this rarely happens now. :D 4-5 pm is quiet study time. This is where dd typically does book basket reading such as history or literature, or finishes any independent work that was not done. This is my time to prepare dinner, and while I cook, light candles, etc I usually listen to audio lectures that I love. Sometimes I listen to my favorite music or an audiobook -- something just for me. If I am going to be gone during this cooking/quiet time, I prepare dinner in the morning and just reheat it. I also do prep for more than one meal at once by chopping onion and garlic for several meals. It saves so much time to streamline meal prep! Dd has swim team at 6:30-8 on three to four nights. I will usually work out myself after I drop her off. On other nights we hang out, watch a family movie, or have free time. 8:30 is read-aloud time - dh does this and I am so thankful! Anyway, that is what our day looks like. We get about 5 hours of school in, and have plenty of free time. With multiple children it is a matter of scheduling so that you can work with one while another is doing independent work. Getting up early and running a tight schedule has actually given lots of flexibility in the end. I would not be joyful to be stuck in the house bent over books all day without seeing friends. At the same time, I would not feel happy if I felt that not enough school was being done. It's tricky to find a balance! I know you will. Blessings, Tami

I don't find this surprising at all. In our society, who is to say what is right or wrong anymore? Since kids are exposed to sexually charged television, images, music, and advertising, it's no wonder that their inhibitions are low. I find it disturbing that these girls seem so anxious to please boys at all costs. Girls are being socialized to this. This is another topic, but is feminism dead? These days, girls seem to have no concept of their worth apart from their looks and their sexuality. It is very sad to picture that young girl surrounded by a circle of boys, and to imagine what that young girl must ALREADY believe about herself. Heartbreaking.

Actually, we do know for sure -- there are PNEU programmes and schedules that show exactly what her curriculum was. Now, as a modern, forward thinking woman, CM would no doubt use the best of TODAY'S materials, as well as yesterday's classics - she would not allow her curriculum to become stagnant or dusty. I am not one who believes in copying CM's programmes as far as specific book titles, but we can see the high literary standards and time schedules for subjects. I apologize if I am misunderstanding your statement here.

A couple things. First, if someone asked you about how to switch from their unschooling methods to TWTM, what would you tell them to do first? Would you point them to Spelling Workout, History Odyssey, and Abeka Language, and a bunch of Classical-friendly curriculum providers, or would you have them read TWTM first? Simply reading TWTM would give them the "why's" of the method, as well as the "what's." Reading TWTM first would save them a whole lot of time in the end, imo. Similarly, it will save time and energy to simply read Volume 1, rather than researching a myriad of CM reinterpretations and curriculum providers. Secondly, if the unschooler in the first example I used wanted to switch for the specific reason that her child was testing abysmally, complaining all the time, and she did not feel he was learning much with the unschooling method, what would you tell her? If she keeps 50% unschooling and 50% TWTM for the year, and the test scores are still abysmal, how can she judge whether TWTM is working or not? THere are too many variables to be able to assess that. If you want to train attention and habits, the CM method works together as a mosaic to do that. I don't usually recommend that people go 100% anything, unless it is for a specific reason such as yours. In your case, training yourself with volume 1 and going full board CM in January will give you a good idea in about a month or two of whether the CM method will work for your son. As time goes on, bring on the modifications -- we all do! In the beginning, the habit training and focus on attentiveness will be achieved through short lessons, delaying certain subjects, having an active outdoor life, doing handicrafts, choosing only the best literature, and making masterly inactivity a daily habit. Volume 1 will lay out exactly how to do this, and it is really the easiest way to tell if CM is for you. I wouldn't waste too much time on CM curriculum providers and reinterpretations. The research time could be endless. :willy_nilly: CM is not a curriculum - you will likely be able to use most of what you have and your library. Cathy Levison's books would be the exception, as they will help you apply what you learn in Volume 1 quickly. I wish you success and wisdom!

Yes, it applies if I will be around a large group of people I don't know very well. I am so not a party person.;) Hanging out with small groups of friends doesn't stress me at all.