There was a lot of sleeping in shifts last night, but thankfully everyone is 100% today. already took ds to get sand for his project laundry is going grocery shopping done up next: ds's game So not a whole lot of tackling, but we're bouncing back and making sure things get done.

I'll argue that you don't navigate a friendship with them, you take a step back. You don't want to be buddy-buddy with her parents at this stage in their relationship. You move back to politeness, not friendship, so there is no risk of entanglement or oversharing.

So many here! It goes in order of popularity: Online academies TGTB CC Blossom & Root Weird people putting it together themselves And I try to encourage people to really look at the drawbacks of their choices and supplement if necessary (like, dude, you need motor skills and writing practice!!) but it's inevitable they'll do a year or two of online, complain their kids are just clicking through, try to put them back in school.......and find out they're significantly behind in skills/have no real records of progress/didn't learn anything.

Given the timeline now, I'm starting to think this is a stomach bug. It's bad timing, too, because if ds gets it he'll be out tomorrow. They've already lost a teammate due to an extremely bad call taking him out for 3 games. Losing another right before playoffs would be tough. The trash/recycling has been taken to the dump. Laundry did not happen. DS sorted his own things, except what I washed yesterday. Bills are paid. Dinner is whatever. Don't even care. It was going to be spicy stir fry and noodles, but we have all come to the consensus that maybe we should hold that off until tomorrow night.

There is no perfect. 🙂 My oldest did Math U See pre-algebra, Art of Problem Solving's Intro to Algebra, then moved into Texas school books/dual enrollment. His final book was Saxon's Calculus 1 that he worked through on his own because his class wasn't great. He asked for it, which is great because I wouldn't have chosen it. My youngest actually did a completely different sequence. He's in school now (8th), but has spent this year with AoPS' Alcumus on the side and will do AoPS Intro to Counting and Probability this summer. He likes math a LOT and is really good at the mental stuff, but even he printed out a MM unit last year when he was working with a topic he hadn't done much with before. He'll work next year with AoPS still on the side. I tutor a lot of kids, some from the public school (which used Singapore for a long time and then moved to a mostly free program), and some who have been homeschooled with different materials. Most of these kids, by the time they hit high school, are pretty clear about what works for them and what doesn't so they can move into a program that hits those points. Like my kid - he hated Saxon when we first started homeschooling because it made him cry. It was developmentally inappropriate for him at the time. 5 years of Math U See later, he had the foundations down and he was able to see Saxon in a new light and valuable resource. I'd suggest, if you continue through high school, to pick up a copy of Dolciani's Algebra 1 or Jacob's Geometry at a place like AbeBooks so you can read through lessons together at a pretty low cost of investment. They're well done programs and both also have additional aids floating around if you need it. If they don't fit, look at some of the other higher programs.

MM is set up to have review of material by covering the concepts in multiple ways. Everything builds on each other, so if a student get stuck, it's easy to go back to a point where the concept was already covered and see how it relates to the new application. It's also highly scaffolded and while yes, there isn't much guidance for the parents, it's because the materials are written to the student and explain it well to them directly. There is no separate parent book because the material is all covered through the student lessons, with lots of explanations and worked out examples. When I went looking for samples for you to try (and you definitely should), I also noticed a different concern of yours is alleviated. 🙂 There are a lot of free video lessons that go directly along with the material: https://www.mathmammoth.com/videos/

I'd skip the video lessons. For real. I'd find something with solid instruction that incrementally builds so it's not overwhelming. I'd highly suggest looking at Math Mammoth to build skill and letting her read through Life of Fred for fun. If there is ever a concept where she is really struggling, find videos then.

Good morning! I hope your ds has a wonderful trip, @mom31257! Our plans somewhat changed today so we'll be accomplishing the bare minimum. Dh and I may have eaten something we shouldn't have yesterday and woke up today feeling not great. take trash/recycling to the dump wash the towels/bath mats help ds sort his things for the weekend. pay bills I think that's it. I hope that's it. I also hope that it is just dh and I. It would narrow it down to the onion rings and roast beef sandwich we shared yesterday and make it easy to avoid.

That's something I'm okay with, then. DS did an ad for a tour/travel group one time. Okay, cool. He was on the news for Seuss Day at the large library. Whatever. Neither of those are big deals here because they didn't give too much info about him. We want our kids to be able to decide as adults how much info is available about them publicly. It can help in some job requirements to have a really low online presence - not being able to find out much about someone i a good thing.

I will cautiously say it can be dangerous. We protect our kids' presence in the media as they grow, and it's not that we don't let them do news stories or commercials (both have happened), it's that we make sure that full names aren't used or have other ways to protect them. At the same time, we also make sure our kids always knew the short list of who is allowed to give them rides, pick them up, etc. because that sort of info is usually buckled into kids stories. Their school, their sport/activity, their neighborhood...I don't want that out about my kid publicly and I want my kids to know what to do if it is.

Tutoring done. DS25 and DH are out shopping for taco ingredients. It's a nice easy meal that ds is very confident with, especially because they are "gringo tacos" - one step away from Taco Bell in terms of quality. I don't care. I'm not cooking, and that's a nice feeling.

Last year a $$$ hockey stick was a must-have for a lot of kids. The thing was expensive as heck, and we watched kid after kid get it and have it break so quickly. It's a shame that they charge so much for something that isn't quality.

We found 3 shirt for ds. They're lightweight and he should like them. We also found a long sleeve shirt that'll bridge the gap next year between the ones he is outgrowing and the ones he can borrow from his brother. I picked up a tutoring session today. Weather is still awful. I'm glad I don't have to go out again.

Good morning! Dh and I are headed out in a few minutes to go shop for ds14. We're going on vacation next month and I half joked that we should just pack for him so he doesn't feel the desire to run around in pajama pants and tattered sports wear. 😄 It turned out to not be such a bad idea. Today we'll find him a few shirts, maybe a hat, and then actually take ds into the shops to get shorts and new shoes as we get a little closer. He hates shopping and I don't blame him. At least this way he'll look put together, be comfortable, and won't have to go through the whole process of updating his wardrobe. Other than that, nothing on the schedule. DS25 has offered to cook tonight. It's the end of the week and activities are winding down, so we're just kicking it at home together. Puzzle and Jeopardy night? Maybe!

I don't know if I would do Explode the Code, but I have considered a few others that might do well with modifications. I look at something like the Tennessee Foundational Skills program where you have classroom instruction and things to do at home or something like Reading Mastery/Teach Your Child To Read in 100 Easy Lessons, where you can frontload 2 days of information, do a day of review, and repeat as necessary. I think, though, anything your friend does will probably be a mash up, just like the environment. The classroom would be new information, games, playful lessons, and home would be a separate workbook that reviews the information.

Good morning! My sinuses are going haywire after a hellish meeting last night. The room was so warm that I, who is quite comfortable in a desert, was absolutely miserable by the end. Also, McD's was a bust, again. They wouldn't take our order after the initial greeting in the drive through. DS had a snack from 7/11 next door for second dinner. Today: take ds to school run to the store for milk and cheese type notes take ds to job fair and skills work dinner: usually it's leftovers for me and whatever ds wants on the way home, but there are no leftovers. I'll figure it out later. go over ds's homework with him

Isn't this misleading when we factor in generation size to proportional home ownership? As well as the percentage that neither own a home nor rent, but are effectively homeless due to lack of availability?

I don't like surprise experiences. That would include parties, things like having the photos hung (for the experience of looking at them). I don't mind surprise things like gifts. My kids are the same, with the 14yo more rigid than the 25yo. Always has been. It's why I started the "tradition" of making little daily plan envelopes when we go to Disney. The need to know exactly what would happen was strong with the young one. I didn't mean for it to be a tradition, but here we are now and I'm doing it again, even though everyone has the app.

I have a Forester, too, and they're just as common here. DS25 tried to follow me one day across town and lost my car as 3 other Foresters joined us on the road - all the same color and within a year of each other. 😂 It took me a while to convince dh that we needed a Subaru, but once I did he has been thrilled with it. No real issues, though the windshield wipers threw me for a loop when I first tried to replace them. They have a distinct connector that not all wipers come with. It's roomy inside and has enough cargo space for a large hockey bag, a goalie bag, and a Box o' Crap (containing extra gear, water, etc), though I will put down one side of the bench if I only have two players in the car. The seatbelts do NOT overlap on the bench seat, which is a problem with several newer cars. It means that I can absolutely put three people (or 3 car seats) in the back and not sacrifice safety. My one pet peeve is that the coin tray doesn't sit nicely in the center console. It fits and has a home, yes, but it's too easy to knock the darn thing in when looking for something in the console.

Full disclaimer, we don't buy a lot of bread. I just threw out half a loaf of what my family calls "normie bread" (sandwich bread) because nobody was touching it. But a loaf is about $3 at the grocery store. However, I found out that our grocery store sells cut baguettes for $1. They slice them in half to fit into a smaller bag at the end of the night. I can buy one of those each week for a few meals with garlic bread, toast, or a quick sandwich, and then we can buy other kinds of bread for something more tailored to the meal (like grilled cheese on sourdough or na'an with curry). I miss being able to buy sourdough in bulk. We used to get Bountiful Baskets and one option for an add on was a bulk order of boules. It was pretty good and great even after being frozen.

Good morning! Good luck to any and all taking the National Latin Exam this week! take ds to school print out materials for tonight clean out my car violin 10,000 steps get ds started on his homework pack up the car first dinner: guac burgers grab an extra kid round of activities second dinner? Possibly the McD's that is nearby since last night was a bust finish activities collapse

Grocery shopping done, sheets washed, helping ds accomplished. I remembered that we were getting a meal box today so I stuck to my short list at the store. Well that was a mistake! The box arrived, but one of the meals was planned for Wednesday night (soup) since it's lighter, and one was a mistake. That left the third, which sent the ingredients but not the card. I gave in and took ds to McD's. We arrived to find it shuttered, dumpsters out front, and giant "closed" signs. So, uh, that didn't work out. We turned around and hit up the grocery store, only to walk in and also see dh! He had taken his food to work but forgot a prep bowl and utensils. He also threw in the towel, went to McD's, and, well, followed the same plan we did. So, dinner tonight? A mix of things from the grab and go section from the grocery deli area and frozen food. Probably healthier than McD's and ds still got to eat int he car, lol.

Same. I think about the vloggers like American Road Trip Family that has something like 8 kids in an RV. They have no real home and the only personal space the children have is their bunk. It's just not sustainable as toddlers become teens and need more room just for their bodies, let alone any sense of privacy. We lived in what I used to call The Shoebox due to its size and lay out. It worked because it was never meant to be long term. We lived in it for a little over a year, and then moved on. It was well laid out and functional, but we didn't have many personal things with us when we lived there. It would not have worked nearly as well if we were there for 5 years or so.

Good morning! 10,000 steps grocery run. We need yogurt, oatmeal, and olive oil. If I don't write that down I will forget one. wash the sheets turn in notes for tomorrow respond to emails normal afterschool stuff with ds: sit down, organize, go through the steps... dinner: no clue. Might pick that up at the store, too. violin

I do. Family of 4, living in what can be described as the size of a vacation cabin, the kind at like National parks to rent for the weekend. There's a loft, small kitchen area, living area, bathroom, and tiny bedroom. It is tight, but for them, doable. It's on the grandparents' property and they live in the main house. They're willing to have their home act as an extension as the kids get older. There is more privacy there to escape to, more room to store the kids' sports equipment and toys. I think it only works for them because they have that flexibility. I knew another who stuffed 5 into about 700sq ft. No loft, two small bedrooms. The kids had no escape and nowhere to store things, so they just didn't. You can only cut down so much, and even trying to be minimalist there's just too much that five separate people need to fit in a small location.