Okay, so I'm hearing great things and you guys have me thinking one question: what is a good reason for PS? What would your child have to say for you to think that they would/could benefit from the experience.?? I mentioned this situation to my friend and she said she couldn't think of a good reason for PS. :confused: That really made me think that I was looking at the situation all wrong. But, then, what if her kids never, ever asked or wanted to go? And, what might I be doing WRONG to make mine want to go? :glare: Then, I would go back to him, and HIS personality. He is completely different from my other older boys. He is nothing like them. So, this is his deal. I don't think there is a single. thing. I can do or say to make him not want to go. We've talked about it, I've added fun things to his day, I've given him more school subjects, I've tried my best to really keep him engaged and content, but I just think he isn't going to be happy until he branches out and tries school. And, I guess my biggest fear is....well, that he will LOVE it and not want to come back home. I think he might very well stay. :001_huh: I guess I just never thought I would be in this position. I'm stumped as to how to handle it and the emotions that are involved in letting him go (if I choose to do that).

Well, his reasons are as well thought out as any third graders! :lol: I can probably do better by describing his personality: ~ highly organized, jumps up and does school right off the bat- highly motivated, loves sports, activities, people, achieving, competing, talking, talking (did I mention talking!?) sports, and showing off. :)) So, I keep him busy with school work as much as possible. He takes a drama/theatre class once a wk. This allows him to channel a LOT of his personality traits. He gets to have his own thing, perform, achieve, etc... Our public schools do NOT allow for hs kids to participate in sports or classes. I have three school aged kids and I allow each of them 1 activity b/c that is all i can do. That alone is a LOT of running around with a two yr old. :001_huh:

I do believe he *really* want to experience ps. I think that he might resent me (at some point) for not allowing him to go and try it out. However, I've fought this thought for some time b/c I didn't think it was *enough* of a reason to consider ps. But, here we are...three yrs strong and the requests are still coming from him.

I don't think so, but I guess that is worth checking out. Good idea. :)

My son has continued to ask for PS. We are entering our third year of his asking...it just doesn't seem to go away. He really wants to go. I never thought this would be a problem. I never expected it- silly me! However, he does and now, I am wondering if I should just let him experience it. Have any of you dealt with this before with your own kids? I have so many mixed emotions about it. I know that homeschooling is the right choice for many, many different reasons. But, does right make it the BEST choice for HIM.? He is extremely social, competitive, and I think he wants to be 'seen' with his own peer group. He just likes to be involved in so much. I do feel like he could be more stimulated, but I just can't provide that at home...and, I have too many children to run around and try to keep him active. Well, I guess that doesn't sound quite right, but I do have four children and the youngest is two and I'm not willing to run around all evening to keep him busy. So, what to do...what to do? We happen to live less than two miles from a very good elementary school and brand new 'good' middle school. *sigh* The elementary school ranks high in our district. I'm not sure about the middle school. I guess i should add that he is in third grade this year. :) This has been going on since 1st grade. There has never been any doubt or change in his mind about it. He just simply wants to go and try it. So, what would you do? I just need some guidance, or perspective? I'm feeling like this desire is just not ever going to go away for him. Advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!! So, I'm just being completely curious here...would you allow your child to experience PS?

mus zeta- fractions. It's a whole course study, but he will certainly master fractions- all kinds! HTH!

honestly, that is just too many mistakes for me! I don't know if I've been really lucky or what, but I've NEVER been given the wrong the medicine. :confused: I wouldn't hesitate to try the other pharmacy. I can't see why it would be a problem. good luck!

Well, I can't really help with the 'what to expect' part, but I can say that chances are if you go in asking about it, expecting it, they will more than likely put you on medicine. HBP runs on my mom's side. I had preclampsia with my first pregnancy and HBP on and off as my weight would fluctuate over the years. What really helped me was losing weight w/exercise. I began walking every day- rain or shine, cold or hot. I was walking. I lost 30 lbs, came off of anti depressants, and my bp ranged around 120-118- 60-70'sh. I was great. I wouldn't have gone the medicine route at first. If, after doing that, I still had a problem, I would certainly go on HBP meds. I imagine your dr will probably ask you to make some lifestyle changes at first and then, see you for a check up. See if any of the changes helped you. If not, I would think he would put you on med's. I would also guess that everything would really just depend on your dr. (as far as, if he is conservative with med's) Not sure that really helped. But, I would really try to do it on my own, if you can. I think it's worth a shot. It sounds like you are on the right track already. Good luck!:001_smile:

Well, this is an educational board for the most part. I can't imagine anyone having a problem with that. My dh spends a good deal of time on his sports boards reading, laughing and commenting on his favorite college team. I don't mind. Now..if this were a chat room- no way! If I found out anything like that was going on...not cool. That is different. The two examples- the one here and the sports board are very specific in topic. I don't think you can get in too much trouble with either one. Just my 2cents!:tongue_smilie:

:grouphug: I haven't moved tons in my life, but I've moved near family and away from them. It is nice to have a support system. The only real advice i can give you is trust your instincts when you made the decision to move. Knowing how much you love your friends and home and life you have now, there must have been some very strong reasons for you to change your life. Trust that. Good things are to come!!!! :grouphug:

Thanks Lori D!! I really appreciate the time you put into posting all of this great info! I will begin reading!!! :) This is wonderful! Thank you everyone!

Thank you, Lisa! I will check out everything you said. It gives me a good place to start and a LOT to think about! :) I realize I have 'some' time, but I want to really be prepared! Thanks again!

Ok, it's scary as I am now posting on the HS board. :001_huh: What happened to the years?! :confused: Anyway, I haven't really, well- not at all, thought too much about high school. I have a seventh grader this year. I feel like I have to have a plan by next year. I might actually be late on this; I don't know. I know it completely overwhelms me!!! Could some of you hold may hand and offer some advice as I begin this journey? I need to know where to start? What should I be doing? Are there favorite websites that you've used to get you started? ARe there curriculum that you find outstanding? What about online options? We've been doing a mix of everything through elementary and middle school. I've used BJU for reading, Apologia and BJU for science, MUS, a little Latina Christiana:001_smile:, Bibblioplan...you get the idea. This year I had to switch to PACES to get a grip on our home. I've got a two year old running around and it has been crazy!:001_huh: So, that is where I am...just need to figure out where I'm going!:lol: I want to really be prepared and have my research done before we start down this road. I'm sure you all understand my concerns as you've been there too. Thank you all so much for your advice!

Baked spaghetti is really easy. :001_smile:

Honestly, I think you might want to get some thick skin b/c you are going to hear a lot of things like what your mom said. I know I did. I think they've finally decided that I might know what I'm doing and many of my family members are on my team now. Most of them are really encouraging and I no longer get this silly questions about socialization, books, etc. They just see the fruit and say, "job well done!" :D As time passes, it will get more comfortable for your family. Don't worry!:grouphug:

Congratulations!!!!!:party:

My 'bestie' is over weight. She would probably fall into your weight range that you mentioned. She is the greatest person in the entire world. Just simply awesome! I never, ever ask her why she is over weight. She has talked with me about it and I know some of the reasons. However, I love HER. I don't care how big she is. I just listen and if she asks, i will help her out any way I can. But, there is one thing I've learned about ppl, they do not want to change until THEY want to change. I will be the first person holding her hand, walking with her, or encouraging her in ANY way I can when she is ready to make a change. I will also be the same person standing right beside her having an ice cream! People know their problems. They can see and acknowledge them when they are ready. They don't need anyone 'helping' them. Or, at least, that has been my experience. Alcoholism runs in my family, but you couldn't get a person in my family to acknowledge it. If ppl own it, they have to do something about it. I don't know who this person is to you, but I would recommend just loving them for who they are. We are NOT what ppl see on the outside. Though, some of us are wrapped up in pretty packages. :) Some are not, and they are just as worthy of our love and attention as anyone else on this planet.

I don't take my husband for granted. We both have our roles to fill. He does his job and I do mine. If I didn't show up for my part, then, I think I would be taking him for granted. I know this sounds like a buisness proposition, but you know what I mean. I have read so many books and jumped through so many hoops over the years, and I have just come to the realization that I am here for good. I do my very best that I can- every.single.day. It does not involve wining and dining my husband, or greeting him at the door in lingerie, or date nights. I have kids and that's not realistic and personally, I just don't think that is my responsibility. As grown ups, don't we all realize there is a time for THAT and then there is a time for THIS. The day to day living that has to be done? We've been together for 20yrs this year. Married for 16. We've grown up together really. I know all his issues as he knows mine. He also knows my character. He knows I'm here, I'm not a cheater, I'm a God fearing, Christian woman that does her best. I also realize that he isn't always happy with 'where' I put in my all, and I work on that. I try to always keep communication open. I just want to add a very important point here. I don't think your friend had any way of preparing for this sort of thing. Something similar happened to a friend of mine. She was blown away- and beautiful I might add! I think that as much as it's not popular to admit this- can't we just say that some guys are really jerks!? Even if she wasn't the most attentive wife, he doesn't have the right to do that. To treat her that way. He made a commitment. She has no business owning this. If there was something lacking their marriage, he owed her the opportunity to work on it, or divorce her. He had NO right to start a relationship BEFORE that point. I think that is so disrespectful. A friend once said, "men ONLY leave when they've met someone else!". YOu know what? I think she is right. I don't think I've ever met a man that left b/c he was JUST unhappy. I'm sure they are out there, but when her theory was put to the test, I have to admit it was accurate in my experiences with couples. I think your friend is obviously better off not having him around her. I mean what a loser to talk to his child like that. In my opinion, it's just a complete act of selfishness. The trail of destruction he is living behind is sad. I hope that they find a good support system, but I do believe that she is better knowing this now. She has time to still make changes and be a happy woman!

''Lady, go sell crazy some place else, we're all stocked up here!"

I believe Ellie was referring to the legal term of homeschooling. I guess that would also depend on what state you live in at the time. However, she seemed to have enough knowledge that I'm guessing she knows the state requirements for the 'schools' in CA. I would agree with her description as well. I think if you are getting state funds, curricula, any assistance it would be different than those that have their children registered in "their" own private schools as homeschoolers. I don't know. It just seems that would be the case to me. But, again, I think another poster mentioned that homeschooling was becoming much cooler!:lol: Seems as though it's becoming more and more popular and therefore, the classifications, in my mind at least, might need to be tweeked. This in no way implies that those that are using such support or programs are NOT homeschoolers! I guess just a legal option for enrolling, support, and funding? To me, the OP, was inquiring about starting a private school for other students in her home- not necessarily her biological kids. I wasn't actually thinking of it in terms of homeschooling (which legally might be what she has to do). I thought she was inquiring about starting a private school. :confused:

I think so. I've used BJU for several years and we've really been impressed. I will eventually, I think, go to their online program for high school. In the beginning, I found them to be very teacher intensive, but as I've taught the same grades over and over and become more familiar with them, it's not so bad. But, I think they are still pretty hands on. They are really designed for school room settings. But, you can adapt it to what works for you, like everything else. What subjects were you thinking about using? I've used the reading, math, and science. We've enjoyed all of them. We still use the reading and will continue until 7th grade at which point we switch to literature. I don't really have any experience above elementary age b/c we decided to go a different route for middle school, but we will eventually come back for high school. I will say that the math did not work well for my son. When it hit fractions, it was a nightmare. I don't think it was BJU though. He has always struggled with math and we just needed to go to MUS. I always try to combine as much as possible so I just put everyone in MUS. So, I only have 5th grade math experience with BJU. Overall, i think their material is very good. I haven't used a lot of it b/c we use our own history, writing, and lit., but what i"ve used has been very good for our family. I think you can make it work with two kids. I started having trouble wtih three kids and a toddler. So,I think it would be very doable for you! Good luck!:)

I just changed our plans because I was tired of not getting anything done, fighting and constantly feeling like I was failing as a mom and teacher. I can tell you what I did and that it was the best decision for our family-for this yearl I decided to switch entire curricula. We put away all of the demanding programs (swr, latina christiana, Hake grammar,REAL science, and Apologia science). I ordered PACES for each of them. Honestly, it's not very demanding for them. Some is perfectly grade level and other things are just super easy b/c they are use to more rigor, but that is just fine! I am using PACES for all their core subjects and MUS w/the math PACES. We also still have BJU reading/workbook for my 5th grader and 3rd grader. My 7th grader is using ABEKA b/c he is in a co-op for lit/grammar. We use Biblioplan when we can get to it. It's been a great change for us b/c they can whip thru the workbooks w/little need of my help and they actually enjoy them! My bare minimum would be: Eng.-grammar/writing/spelling. math reading science history- as you can hth!! :grouphug:

We just started but it is looking like one pace a month. However, I will say we are also doing MUS as well. So, you would be able to move faster without the supplemental material (I would think). But, some pages have lots of problems and my kids can't do page after page of that. I would feel comfortable saying a month.:001_smile:

:iagree: I am not bothered by it, nor my children. We just look beyond the cartoons and 'life lessons' and look at the work. But, I have boys and chances are unless it was something amazingly entertaining they wouldn't read it unless they had to!!:tongue_smilie: I think it would be a huge turnoff for someone of a different faith. As we are Christian, I can manage through it and not find it offensive. However, if you are another faith, you might want to get your hands on it and look through it first. You might try looking at the samples on http://www.christianbook.com. Good luck!

I have loved Biblioplan. It's everything I wanted and nothing I didn't. I love the companion is just enough without making your kid's eyes glaze over with boredom. I love that they give plenty of reading assignments and great literature books for the kids. I love the cool pages b/c they keep the program hands-on (without too much work) and really cement the concepts and ideas being discussed throughout the week. We love the timeline figures- b/c they are just cool. :) We use a KONOS wall chart and just love adding them in every week. In a nut shell, I just like that the program is really concise. I've tried MFW and TOG, but both were too expensive, too much extra work that I didn't use or need. So, this is just a good fit if: you want an outline for history studies in a TM (not a dictionary), enjoy working with maps/geography, and reading literature either with your kids or having them work on them independently. I will stay with it. I think it's great! HTH!! Best of luck!