I just posted my weekly report for the first week of school, and there is a pic of mine on the first day. I love to compare the first day pictures to recent years. My kids laugh when there's a group shot that's missing someone because they weren't born yet.

I wasn't going to post a WW, but then my kids went hunting for ladybugs in the backyard.

Just wanted to let you know that I am in the exact same boat as you. I haven't watched the DVDs yet either. I think the reason I was interested in IEW was that it felt like my kids would actually be writing, and when I opened it up it just looks like a bunch of summarizing. I think I'm looking for a creative writing program! We've been using WWE and we're so bored with it. DD can handle it, but just groans when it comes out and both of us just grit our teeth so we can get through it and get on with our lives. I've been telling myself that we just need to be finishers instead of quitters, but it's been getting pretty bad. DD used her birthday money to attend a Young Writer's Workshop in June for two weeks. She was so committed to her writing, which got me thinking about trying a new program. But now I've spent $250 on something that doesn't appear to teach anything too terribly different from the program I was already using. Perhaps it boils down to asking the question of "What is the point of Writing as a subject in the grammar years?" Is it just about learning to summarize information? That's so dry, and my daughter can do that already...she's been narrating, copying and dictating for science, history and literature for three years now. Do I really need to add a "writing" program on top of that? It seems like we're doing a whole lot of narration and dictation on our own, thank you very much. I am sticking with FLL, though--we're actually learning new information with that program and the layout works for us.

I try to avoid the library during the summer, period. We do not have the problem of low numbers of patrons here. It's so weird--during the school year, the shelves are overflowing with books, and then summer starts and the shelves are practically empty. I can always tell when the school district is having a school break because the books disappear from the library! And Summer Reading programs are way too lame for my kids...twenty minutes a day tops? Seriously? We have a mandatory one hour free read plus the other hour of read alouds before bedtime...it's frustrating to my kids that all six of those twenty-minute increments don't count towards their quota. They're doing the work and not receiving the rewards. I'm thinking about instituting my own Summer Reading program next year that encourages them (especially my eldest) to read longer and more difficult books. (She's the queen of blasting through thin twaddle books and complaining about a book longer than 100 pages...ugh!)

We're heading into our eldest's 3rd grade year and our youngest is 2yo. I guess that's sixteen more years. We've barely started! (And the potential for resetting is high.) I tell everyone that I'm going to go to medical school once I'm "done" raising my kids. If we don't reset, my youngest will be heading on out when I'm 46, which I think is a perfectly acceptable age to conquer med school. Realistically, I have no idea what I'll actually do. I was Pre-Med when I met DH in college and I shelved that dream because I wanted to have my kids while I was young. On the rough days I promise myself that I can realize that dream once I'm done with this chapter. Odds are that I'll be up to my eyeballs in grandchildren and I'll just bounce around from house to house helping with post-partum stuff. (PPD was a beast for me, so I'd like to be on-hand to help my daughters.) The point is: I'll be pretty young still when I'm done with homeschooling. I'm almost vain about that fact. Ha ha. I can do whatever I want, except be a serious contender for a gold medal in gymnastics or a prima ballerina. Beyond that, though, I think my options are pretty much wide open.

Ha ha, this is happening to my SIL right now. Nine months before the wedding she said she'd be a bridesmaid, and then promptly got pregnant a month later so she'll be eight months prego on the big day. She had already bought the (non-returnable) dress, it won't fit now. So she purchased a maternity-friendly dress in the right color yesterday. It's not the end of the world. If the dress is salvageable (literally or financially), I'd get back into that dress shop and do some explaining. If you are hypothetically pregnant, then just deal with it in whatever manner makes the bride happy and yourself as well.

Oh Imp. I'm sorry. On one side it seems like she's still got a hold of you because you are treading water out of fear of what she will do in regards to Wolf's job. The "angry-daughter-who-IS-NOT-taking-this" part of me says to march on into the office and BE HONEST with the boss. Then you won't have to worry so much? But then the "wife-who-wants-hubby-to-succeed-and-I'd-really-appreciate-that-pay-raise" part says to just lay low until the deal is done. I really don't know what to suggest because I know the fear and the worrying about what "someone" might do to get back at a person for standing up to them. It's just so awful. You bring up the CPS thing a lot--could you go have a talk with them about the situation? (I'd imagine CPS would understand mentally ill mothers quite well.) I'm the kind of person who likes to cover all my bases just so I can live my life without fear. Honesty has yet to bite me in the butt. Keep records. Definitely keep records. Who knows if she tracks you down in ten years? Records are good. I think the idea of having her emails go immediately to a specific folder are great as well. ('Cuz you know she won't remember ever having written anything like what you're saying she wrote...) The way I see it: 1. Suck it up (said in that dreary, horrible tone of voice; not the trite and patronizing tone of voice) and keep her placated for a few weeks until the job goes through. Yes, she will have gotten what she wants for a few weeks, but then you'll disappear off of the planet and it will no longer matter. And hubby will have the job! -or- 2. Cover your bases with all the people/agencies (boss, CPS, restraining order) she may call out of spite and then do whatever it is that you're planning on doing to drive that last nail into the relationship coffin. Because she's &%$#-ing with your husband being able to get a job! Seriously, that's so messed up! (I personally wouldn't go with the email or the letter because then she has that tangible thing to hold onto and fixate upon...verbal can't be preserved in the same way. Although tangible does serve a good purpose of proving exactly what you said instead of the twisted conversation that a person can invent over years of stewing. And Certified Mail does tilt the argument in your favor.) I hope you can figure something out that will afford you the most peace over the matter. You are strong.

This article has totally strengthened my desire to go to grad school. :D (I did like the unschooling part as well.)

I've always been fond of Valancy from "The Blue Castle" by L.M. Montgomery. The story deals with more grown-up ideas than the Anne books, but I came from a stifling family situation (sort of like Valancy's) and I loved how she got over her fear of what people thought and just went out and did the things that she thought would bring her happiness.

All About Spelling. 15 mins a day. After one week my 8yo (going into 3rd grade) started actually spelling words correctly without asking.

What is the point of this flag? Is it just some sort of "New Orleans Pride" thing? I looked around the website and didn't really find an answer. And what in the world is the "Who Dat Nation?"

I do believe that the best thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother. It is a simplistic phrase, but if you look deeply at it and see what loving the mother would do for everyone else, it makes sense to me. If a father loves his children's mother: The children see an example of a loving relationship. The father grows as an unselfish being as he sets aside his wants at times to serve the mother. The father insists on respect for the mother, especially from the children. At the same time, the phrase should totally be used in the opposite sense. "The best thing a mother can do for her children is to love their father." Because, honestly, your spouse/partner is the person that YOU chose to be with for the duration of your life. You don't get to choose your children and your children do not stay with you for the rest of your life and they're not expected to stay with you because they're supposed to fall in love and start their own family, leaving you with your chosen spouse. The marriage is the higher priority. Perhaps a lot of these mother-in-law horror stories wouldn't exist if women were more apt to love their husbands more...would it lessen the tendency to continue to mother their children when the children are parents themselves? We don't stop loving our children, obviously; but we do need to let the fly off and live their lives apart from us. When the nest empties, then we can comfortably cleave to our spouses because the relationship is strong and good. When tragedy strikes, spouses need to cling to each other. They need to comfort their children, but their comfort needs to come from each other as equals. Children shouldn't be burdened with dealing with adult issues beyond their maturity level. Two adults in a loving relationship will be able to figure out the best solutions to problems together, rather than one dictator telling their follower what's going to happen next. If a father doesn't show unconditional love toward his wife, how will the children treat their mother? If the one person who promised to love her above all others in his life places her at a lower priority than that, what message does it send to the children about the importance of their mother as a person? (And likewise for mothers towards fathers.) It's a "ideal" vision for families. Ideally, a mother and father love each unconditionally and respect each other at all times. This behavior is the same towards their children and everyone else in their life. How a person treats their spouse is how a person treats any other person that they are familiar with, once the politeness of "merely acquainted" wears away. Seeing that we are all imperfect beings, we mess up. No one loves other people perfectly all. the. time. But we have ideals to set our sights upon to keep us going in a positive direction. We see parents who fight--whether in respectable civilized conversations or bawdy verbal assaults. Which is the better example for their children? We see parents who get divorced--both parties speak kindly of the other or they spend their time verbally bashing and listing the faults of the other. Which is better for the children? I don't think this simplified phrase of loving the other parent applies only to marital relationships. Even in divorce it's important to show respect for the other parent. Overly simplified? Maybe not. I find that a lot of the most important truths are profoundly simple.

I don't know if it would work, but I had an idea: His lessons cost money, yes? What if he earned the money for his lessons through the amount of time he practices? $5 for every half hour of practicing that can go towards lessons? (Or whatever amount X per minimum amount of time X # of days you want him to practice each week that would equal the amount of money to pay for a lesson.) There's little point in him going to lessons if he's not practicing...it puts the consequences directly upon his shoulders. And he can build reserve money in the account with extra practicing...for weeks when there's not a lot of time, miscellaneous expenses that come with orchestra, upgrades to more expensive teachers, etc. Just a thought.

I buy the cards and then nag DH until he finally remembers to sign them. I know that I love to get cards on my special days, and it would really hurt my feelings to not get a card, so I make sure to make it happen for his mom. I don't know if she's the kind of lady who cares about that sort of thing, but I also figure it can't hurt anything to make it happen. Win-win: I like to pick out cards, it makes me feel like a caring human being, and DH thinks I'm the most totally awesomest wife ever for keeping track for him. Oh, and then my MIL...gets a card, and if she's into that then she gets the warm and fuzzies, which any DIL can admit works in their favor. She deserves some sort of credit for whatever it was that she did that turned out such an awesome guy like DH. I don't sign the card to my MIL; she's not my mom. DH doesn't sign the card to my mom because of the same reason.

My 8yo dd is the same way. It got so much better when I finally just gave her an alarm clock, told her what time to set it to and that she could just go hop in the shower and have some "waking up time" while she got clean. She takes the world's longest shower, but it's after DH and I have already taken ours, so she doesn't get a lot of hot water. I'd rather run out of hot water than deal with that angry, bursts-into-tears child every morning. And this way she's clean! She's in bed by 8pm, generally falls asleep by 9pm and I ask that she gets up at 6:45am. She also has the option of falling asleep during rest time during the middle of the day, which she never does, so I know it's not a lack of sleep issue. I swore until a few years ago that I was a morning person. I love to wake up early in the morning and get going on stuff. However, over the past few years, I started sleeping in a little later, just because I could, and I've found that I do not like other people around me when I first get up in the morning. Actually, I don't even really like people around until about two hours after I wake up. I've just always been a super early riser and it never occurred to me that I might not be a morning person. I'm an early riser, but not a "Top o' the mornin' to ya!" kind of gal. I've been breaking the habit of sleeping in just so I can be happy to see my family in the morning again. :D

Cayenne Pepper. Capsule-form. Always worked for me. And, as my OB put it, "Remember what got you into this mess to begin with..." *wink, wink, nudge, nudge* The "fluid" helps eat away at the "barriers." ;) But I also agree with a PP, make plans for something fun...babies like to come when you're relaxed about something nice. Hang in there, that Baby'll be here soon!

I've gone from the kitchen table to the basement and now I've moved up into the living room. The basement was too dark and I need my kitchen table and pantry for actual food. I love it that my school room has light now. I moved the TV downstairs into the unfinished basement, because who cares about walls and darkness when you're watching TV? Any advice, it would be to pick a room with lots of natural light. I wouldn't stuff all the kids into one bedroom. Pick the biggest room in your house--be it your family room or living room, and use that one.

I was trying to hang on until the end of May, but I'm majorly burned out as well. We're caught up in everything and ahead in many others, so I'm calling it quits, I think. I want to go outside and do something with my kids before it gets blazing hot around here!

Juliettes! You can have your own family-ish troop. It's what we do here in our home. Girl Scouts has started to put a lot of effort into their Juliette program--our Juliettes meet every few months for activities and we get to go to an overnighter together with our cookie earnings, all expenses paid.

I'm in the same situation as you. I'm opting for "practice, practice, practice." We have an 8 person tent that I picked up on sale a few years ago. It's not hard to put up, just time-consuming. Other than that, we just load up a cooler with ice and a few essentials (milk, hot dogs, granola bars, etc.) and a flat of water. We bring blankets, sleeping bags and folding chairs and call it good. Finding a place with trees is essential for us, as my kids get heat exhaustion super easy and then it turns into bloody noses and vomiting everywhere. (You don't have to go through that too much to learn the lesson.) I've found that I have to actually visit campsites in the area to figure out which ones will work for us, as websites and pamphlets like to exagerate about the tree cover. Hopefully we can get some canoes in the future, as I'd love to re-visit my childhood love of canoeing. The big head-scratcher regarding camping for me is keeping my kids entertained. You can only go on so many nature walks, right? Good luck with your summer camping plans!

Public high school, easy to get. Popular crowd wasn't really into drugs or alcohol. I clicked "other" as well--if I wanted to smoke pot I could have just taken some from my house, as my stepfather was (and still is) a total pothead. It's not just the kids that are smokin' it...and most pot smoking adults see no harm in letting teenagers have a try; some sort of "How can they make an informed decision if they haven't tried it?" I honestly don't see any malice in his way of thinking because he truly believed he was doing kids a favor by having a "safe" place to smoke pot at his house. My children will never spend time along with him, and I highly doubt we'll ever go to his house either. Heart of gold, very few brain cells left.

My community has a Youth Arts Festival for two weeks in June. The classes are every weekday for one hour, so 10 hours of instruction. I pay $30 per class, plus material fees ($0-15). However, the whole thing has a bit of a volunteer feel to it. I'm not sure the instructors are charging their full rate because of the community-involvement aspect of the whole thing. Ah, it does say something about it being a low-cost program on the website: Youth Arts Festival. I hope, if we should ever move, that the town we move to has a program like this; if not, I'm totally setting one up.

I taught my kids to read with Phonics Pathways. We just started using AAS as a replacement for Spelling Workout and both my 8yo and 5yo like it a lot. (But they're girls and it may have more to do with coloring in the "completed" honeycombs than anything else...) I would think it would be hard to learn to read with AAS because they give you all the possible sounds a letter could make right upfront. PP introduces the different sounds over the course of the whole program.

I love this! Thanks for sharing. I use my pantry doors for posting schedules and chores and the like. Doors are great bulletin boards!

Aw, hon. We are very alike. I remember feeling that way when my oldest was almost ready to start Kindergarten. I'd been "doing school" with her since she was 2yo and completely committed to the idea of HSing her forever. I was pregnant with my fourth, woke up the morning that Kindergarten started and rolled over and picked up the phone to register her. She was ecstatic. I brought her back home at Thanksgiving. I can only tell you my story and my opinions, and they are: 1. I noticed a huge shift in her personality during those three months of Kindergarten. She adopted a lofty, "I'm bigger than you and you're a stupid baby" attitude in regards to her younger sisters. Before K, she was best friends with her sisters. It took about three months after bringing her back home before the attitude went away. 2. Sending her to K was so much work. Oh my bob, the amount of paperwork and homework that child had...it was ridiculous. All the "XYZ Awareness Week" stuff I had to remember to do was exhausting. It makes me angry just thinking about right now. Ridiculous, just ridiculous. 3. K so doesn't count. I was worried with my first and I pushed it, but eased a little with my second and now I probably won't really do anything with the third. All that work you do over that entire K year can be done in about six weeks by a first grader. K is about coloring, cutting and having books read to you. The one car thing sucks. I'm dealing with that right now because we also don't want to take out a loan for a second car. We can't walk to anything, so we are HOME each day. I do my errands on Saturday. DH is happy to stay home with as many kids that want to stay home with him so I can be a little more efficient and have the Littles observe their naptimes. You're not missing out on much by not being able to get to a HS group. Most of the ones I've been to inevitably turn into a boring discussion about the miraculous merits of gluten- and sugar-free lifestyles and how people who let their kids eat McDonald's should have CPS investigate their homelives. I was able to hear SWB speak a couple years ago and she mentioned that her own mother had done some stuff with co-ops and how her mother eventually came to the conclusion that, for all the energy she was putting into educating everyone else's kids in whatever activity she was leading, that that energy would have produced far greater outcomes if it had been used just for her kids in her home. Is there any way DH can carpool or take the bus just once a week? How are you getting to your OB appts? Declare one day a week "Errand Day" and expect the car that day every week. That's one suggestion. My DH can carpool with a neighbor who works close to his work, so he'll do that sometimes. My advice, if that's what you're after, is this: Don't stress about Kindergarten. Really, it's just this little blip on the academic radar that you can choose to notice or not notice. Just give yourself permission to play with your kids. Wear them out at the park and read out loud any books they thrust into your hands. If you're like me, you'll sorely regret (in about two years or so) that you focused so much on academics with your oldest instead of just enjoying life with him as he wanted to enjoy it. People told me THEN exactly what I'm telling you NOW, and I thought they were crazy. I went ahead with what I thought was better, and I will testify that they were right. Kindergarten is not worth stressing about. So. not. worth. it. My eldest fought reading. Hard. At the start of the first grade, we were maybe halfway through our reading primer. Halfway through the first grade, we were only about 2/3 of the way through the primer. She did not want to learn how to read. And then something clicked, and she was finished by the end of the first grade and soared through all the easy reading I could find for her. Now she's reading above grade level and can usually be found curled up somewhere with a book. She could not read when she was 5 OR 6, but it worked out regardless. I tell you this to hopefully give you a measure of peace. And you're 9.5 weeks pregnant. :grouphug: I'm always incredibly irritable and nauseous at that stage, and I think everything is horrible. It's temporary. This time next year, life will be a whole lot easier to handle, I promise. Worry about homeschooling then! :001_smile: (And if you still want to do Kindergarten, it's like 45 minutes, max. That's enough time for a sheet of writing, 15 minutes of sounding out phonics, and 20 minutes of numbers. Once again, not even really worth worrying about.)