Don't feel guilty! Three years ago, I broke my elbow (dominant side) and I couldn't do anything for about 3 months. We had to accept help with meals (that was hard for me, I admit), and we hired a cleaning service to come in every other week. Well, it's been years now, and we still have the cleaning service. ;) It fits in our budget at this time, and my husband and I both have plenty to do and would prefer to spend our time on other tasks. We don't have them do everything -- mostly because we want to have chores/jobs to model for our kids and to have them do -- but they hit the things I dislike the most (such as bathrooms and vacuuming the steps).

No, not even a little bit. My parents only had automatics when I was learning and so I just never learned. Well...I did have a boyfriend in high school who attempted to teach me to drive his dad's stick-shift SUV. That did not go well, and his parents did not appreciate our experimentation. :) I'm guessing I would do a better job at this point in life, but we live in a very hilly area and honestly, I just have no desire to learn.

We're just starting Singapore this year in 3A/3B, and I'm finding the HIG invaluable. It really helps me present the materials in a deeper way, and to incorporate games and manipulatives. It also offers suggestions for enrichment as well as Mental Math exercises. I believe that many people don't use the HIG at earlier levels, but I don't have any experience with those levels, so can't speak to that. We regularly use the HIG, Textbook, Workbook, and Extra Practice book (we're using Standards Edition). I also plan to incorporate some IP or CWP as we get into our groove a little more.

We required piano for two years for both boys (16 & 9), then gave them an option -- they had to do "something" that involved daily (or mostly-daily) practice and interaction with a teacher/coach/mentor, but we wouldn't dictate what that something was. It could be sports, martial arts, instruments, or other activities. Both have stuck with piano, while also dabbling in other things. DS16 genuinely enjoys it, though may drop it soon, due to other activities requiring a lot of time and commitment. DS9 likes when he really masters a song but still moans about the practice fairly regularly. :)

HI there! I've been lurking on these boards since spring. I've maybe made 1-3 little posts, but thought perhaps it was time to introduce myself and say Thank you to all of you. I am new to homeschooling this year, homeschooling DS9 after having him in a small private school up through 2nd grade. I was always "one of those moms" who admired homeschooling but felt like I couldn't do it (didn't have the time, organization, selflessness, etc.). However, toward the end of this past school year, several factors convinced us to take a hard look at homeschooling and after much prayer, thought, and research, we decided (with DS's enthusiastic agreement) to pull him out and homeschool. At this point, we're taking things one step at a time. We'll homeschool this year, and see how it goes, then make a decision for next year, etc. By nature, I'm an over-researcher. After countless Google searches re: homeschooling, I realized that many of them were leading me to this community -- a treasure trove of experience, opinions, and help! I started with the idea that I would "have" to either use a cyber-school option or a school-in-a-box option, since I couldn't possibly figure out how to put together my own plan/curriculum. But that bothered me...One of our primary reasons for homeschooling was to allow DS to work ahead in areas where he's ahead and work at grade-level in the others...or at whatever level best suited him. So a one-size-fits-all approach seemed to defeat that purpose. That's where these forums came in. I quickly learned that I had SO many options. At first, I was overwhelmed with the curriculum choices out there, and my husband will attest to the fact that I have spent an inordinate amount of time downloading samples, reading reviews, and...um...purchasing an abundance of options. :) But over the course of about two months, by reading many, many threads here, I began to narrow in on choices that I felt would best fit DS and me. I went from a temptation to order all Abeka (to "keep in step" with his former school, "just in case" he goes back next year), to feeling the freedom to truly match curricula to our goals and temperaments. (I have nothing against Abeka, and we are, in fact, using some Abeka products. My point is more that my initial leanings were to make curriculum choices out of fear, which is not a very good approach.) In the process, I gained confidence, excitement and a real motivation to make this year a wonderful year. DS9 is excited and motivated, too, and even before we started school, I would catch him in our den, curled up with a Beast Academy book or one of our literature choices. We just wrapped up our first week of school and though it's an adjustment (am I the only one who feels like I could use a nap every afternoon?), it has been fantastic! I love our time together, watching him learn, seeing the spark of curiosity. So thank you, Hive. Thank you for your many reviews, shared opinions, encouragement, experience, and information. Our curriculum shelves are well-stocked, but even more than that, I feel like I *can* do this -- thanks, in large part, to all of you. I'm looking forward to being a part of this community and sharing our experience with others in turn.

They're the only things DH asked for, for his birthday last year. He loves them and will never use anything else!

Can you share a little more of how you blend CLE and Singapore? This will be our first year homeschooling (DS will be in 3rd grade), and I am thinking about possibly combining these two as well -- to keep the conceptual approach while making sure he gets enough review (spaced review, specifically) . Thanks!