Thanks everyone. Sometimes (ok, often times) I am unsure of this kind of thing. I appreciate the affirmation!

Thanks Shannon!

double

Yeah, I'm not sure either lol. It's just a new situation for me, that's all. When I was a teen, I was hardly even home. I wasn't causing trouble, what I also wasn't doing "good things" either. At least he's home, right?

This is all such new territory for me, I could really use some guidance. My step-son is 18 and a senior in high school. His girlfriend is 18.5 and graduated last year. They've been on/off for almost 2 yrs. She's here a lot. If he's not in school or working and she's not working, she's usually here. Is this normal? I mean, it seems like she has no interests outside of him (?). I'm not sure what to think. They don't get in trouble or anything here, so far they listen to the "rules" (basically can't be in his room with the door shut). I'm not sure where this is going...I mean, he's going into the Army next summer (already signed up). It just seems like they're setting themselves up for some heart ache when he does leave, as he's not coming back here. Do I just let this play out and land where it may? I'd love some BTDT wisdom here! Thanks :)!

Yes, thanks!

A swift kick in the butt ;)! Actually, we're *getting* pets this year for the kids. We already have two cats and two dogs (and 18 chickens, but they're not pets). So, two kids are getting guinea pigs and one is getting a leopard gecko.

There are so many good thought on this! Of course everyone is different in what they are comfortable with as far as "busyness" is concerned. I just choose to be on the less busy side b/c I get way too stressed otherwise. I guess, sometimes, I feel like I'm not living up to what "others" think I should be doing. Like everyone else around me is doing MORE, so maybe I should be too. Maybe I'm missing out? Maybe not. In the end, I think it's important that I'm not stretching myself too far. And with a toddler and dh being gone everyweek, that can happen very easily :).

DP

Thanks all! Yes, I am thinking towards more outlining with my 6th grader, especially when he's in 7th grade. He will be totally capable of this. I need to be more diligent in making sure it gets down though. Yes, the maps are important too. Once again, I need to be more diligent in this. Part of my problem is having three kids doing school work and one toddler destroying everything or needing mama allll the time during school. It's tough!

We're doing MFW and have for the whole time we've been HSing, but I got WTM from my library and have been flipping through it. I really like MFW, but also like aspects of what WTM suggests for history. Has anyone here ever done MFW and weaved in some things from WTM? I'd be looking at doing this next year when my oldest ds would be in 7th grade. Possible?

At least your child thought to put clean ones ON. My youngest ds has gotten out of that habit...shudder.

Woah...sorry. I certainly wasn't trying to "condemn" anyone. Really, I wasn't. I didn't mean "good vs. bad". Poorly worded. I guess I just feel too stressed out by being too busy (for me). That's all I meant. Happy a good night. Oh and I edited my original post so that no one else would think that I'm being judgemental. I'm not. Far from it, in fact.

I mean, I have quite a few friends who literally seem to be running themselves (and their kids at times) ragged. Sometimes I feel guilty for not being "busy enough". Like, if I'm not running here, there and everywhere, or I'm not doing tons of projects around the house, then I'm not doing *enough*. Does anyone else feel this way? Please tell me that it's okay to not be "busy" allll the time. Edited to change wording...

I've decided to keep him home. I just can't imagine him gone during Thanksgiving, especially at his age. Plus, he's still not feeling well. He's fine with it. I mean, there is a possibility of us going sometime next year, so... Thanks everyone for your feedback. Other people's thoughts help me sort out my own a lot of times.

Honestly, homeschooling isn't easy to begin with and adding in depression, well, it's down right HARD. I am currently on zoloft, not for depression, but for PMDD. It's helping me. I feel like I can actually function as a person now when I'm two weeks out from my period. Otherwise, I feel like Dr. Jekyl/Mr. Hyde. Have you thought about meds? I know they're not for everyone, but they might help you feel like yourself again.

He doesn't see them very often. We saw them at the beginning of August and we'll see them at Christmas. He's sick right now, so that plays a factor in my indecisiveness.

Yeah, I am really still torn on this. We *may* be going there this summer to visit, but it's not for sure. His friend's mom (who I am friends with) wrote me and said it was her idea b/c her ds really misses mine. He hasn't really connected with anyone down there and he talks about my ds a lot. The boys DO talk on the phone. The best friends dad is military, so they move quite often. Sigh...I need to make up my mind! It doesn't help that I have reservations AND I'm an indecisive person to begin with!

He's almost 12. His friend lives in Witchitha (sp?). They just moved there last summer, before that they used to live 4 miles from us. His best friends grandparents (also our neighbors) are traveling to Kansas (we live in MN) on Wed. and will be gone until Sunday. I totally trust all adults involved, my only hesitation is that my mom and grandpa will be here on the exact days that ds would be gone. I've spoken to my mom and she said to let him go and that it didn't bother her. I made sure that she wasn't just saying that because she knew it would make ds happy and she said she was being honest. He is currently sick, but if it's the same junk my dd just got over, it'll run it's course in a little over 24 hrs (he just started throwing up after dinner). So, wwyd, given the circumstances? I don't know the next time he'll have this opportunity, but my mama heart is already saying...what if...what if...what if...you know?

No, just Thurs. and Fri. We had a week off about two weeks ago. Plus, we're probably taking a week off around Christmas. We've been "doing school" since the beginning of August, if that gives you any sense of where we're at.

Yeah, that would have been bad. When I was pregnant with my first child, it was the smell of the ham my mom was baking for Easter that sent me over the edge. YUCK!

I've tried different pictures to put in my avatar, but no luck. Ideas?

Bumping this up. I posted it and then the forums were down. Thanks!

I've been over at the PHP website and my brain is NUMB. I mean, I've frequented these boards for a few years now, but we've always done MFW. Welll, this year with MFW (Rome to Reformation), they use SOTW Book 2. We just started using it this week and we LOVE it. Even my hard to please 4th grade aspie ds gets it and better yet, he's interested in it. Now that's saying something:tongue_smilie:!! I just went and placed a hold on Well Trained Mind third ed. through ILL. What else should I do? I mean, we wouldn't jump ship with MFW for this year, but I am interested in getting an activity book at least. Not really sure what my next step is. I mean, if we love SOTW, will we like the other curricula they have to offer? Possibly? Thanks for your thoughts!

I wouldn't really worry about the sharing bedrooms thing. Kids do it all the time, even teens. I have a friend with seven kids (four boys./three girls). The boys have their own room and the girls have their own room. Both rooms are really good sized. Three of the boys are teens and it doesn't really bother them to share a room. HTH!