Post partum tea/red raspberry leaf tea Mothers milk tea. Arnica gel. (Keep in the fridge and rub on the nether region. Way better than the witch hazel pads ever were.) Grocery list for DH or another to shop for a couple meals if you don't feel up to it any time in the first six weeks. Crockpot/freezer meals. Emergency hospital bag: one change of clothes for mom/baby, shower stuff, books/phone charger. Three or four receiving blankets for the car seat on the way home. Keep it simple. If you have to transfer, you're likely to be there a couple days. Send DH with a list of things if you find you need something else after that.

On Netflix is the documentary "cooked". That may give some guidance and info as well.

We use it as is, except for multiplication/division facts. I have them do fact practice for those until they know them cold. If you don't quite understand the instructions, Khan academy videos are great for you as a teacher. Occasionally I need to use manipulatives, but it's usually a matter of using real units/tens/hundreds instead of the illustrations in the lesson. On a daily basis, I sit in the middle on the couch and go back and forth between them. I require them to read the instructions, say it back to me in their own words, then move onto the problems. I started this in first grade, so it's not new, but expect some growing pains if RS is teacher led. My boys were teacher led in school, so it was an adjustment. But it was worth it. Math now takes as little as 10 minutes. Even for 5th grade, it takes about 45 minutes for an entire lesson. The only reason we are even doing full lessons every day (3-4 pages each), are due to being behind from diligence issues at the beginning of the year. The schedule would normally be 1-2 pages per day. Another bonus: there are no excuses for lost papers. I just reprint, and a chore for wasting my time and paper. They don't bother trying that anymore. Math is the least of our worries now.

Five years ago we put a laminate from Home Depot in half of our house. This was the living room, kitchen and hallway that ran from front door to back and was the car/train/riding toy track. We spent $0.56 a sq ft, plus underlayment. When we moved, it still looked really good. Considering this was the everything spaces other than the bedrooms and bath, it was amazing. No issues with buckling other than an installment error (bil didn't listen to me), did well when wet, cleaned up very well, and is being kept by the new owners. I did use area rugs for noise but at least our dishes didn't break like they do here on the tile. I hate the tile.

Oh wow! Trouble with vehicles is no fun! (Mommyiffive, instances almost exactly like that were how my mom and I each found out we were prego with our thirds. I was laughing/commiserating) Groceries: for two weeks, I budgeted $400. We still have the rest of this week, and we have $100 left with two to three days worth of food in the fridge. I may be able to put that on debt this week! I walked into Target for rx twice and spent...$0! Medicine: because I had some target gift cards...$0. Starbucks: I'm an online student and it's one of the only places open late enough for me to work out of the house. So, $70 over the last three weeks. I don't feel like it's money badly spent, since I often take a child with me and I'm going at least three times a week.

I was thinking of going. I'm really only going for the curriculum hall and prefer a secular one. I'm thinking of taking either my dad or my brother so they can see how many options we have. I'm absolutely not taking the kids though. Do you know if Thursday afternoon will be free entrance to the exhibit hall?

We have it and we do! Granted I am paranoid and the kids all know the wrath of mom includes grounding from visiting the library for a month if they lose or break a piece. They can be requested throughout our system, but are not renewable. They are fun for a break from mommas lesson plans and we usually pick one up once a month. If you want to see more, PM me and I can send you the link to our local system.

Seeing the realistic issues of other moms around the world makes me feel like I'm not alone. Opening my eyes to curriculum options I have never heard of, nor would have considered, but have come to love. Also, they have helped me see when to make a change or when it's time to put my big girl panties on, pull up my bootstraps, and have a cup of Tea, (the brewed stuff...) and just deal with it cause sometimes life isn't fun.

Biggest trick? Let your cleaners work for you. Whether it's hot soapy water for dishes (get a sink full going with the hottest water, then wipe the already sprayed table) or the bathroom (Spray the mirror, the sink, toilet, bathtub, squirt the stuff in the toilet, then go back and wipe.) let the stuff work! I learned this when doing commercial janitorial. Spray all, change paper goods, then wipe. No scrubbing needed most of the time.

Take a class in developmental psychology. I didn't take one until you second son was 3, and I wish I had taken it sooner. It made me a much better parent.

I have used Clorox 2, borax and enzyme detergents previously, but I didn't realize biz has all of them. We did also live in an area with soft water, so it wasn't hard to get clothes or diapers clean. But maybe this will help with the issues I'm having here. The water is so hard! I've never had to descale anything. Ever. Vinegar is now my friend.

*adding biz to the shopping list*

omg. I'm right with you. Like nearly in tears with her today.

Immediately after lunch. It started as a way to keep 2 lively boys from being so loud as to keep DD from getting to sleep. I read with her in my arms, and it was over when she was asleep. That meant if the boys had other things they wanted to do, they had to be quiet to make it happen faster. They did enjoy it, but on those off days, they realized a tired little sister was much worse for them than waiting for her to sleep. I have also just done it at bedtime. Two boys, same room, and a backlit kindle. Or an audiobook and a Bluetooth speaker connected to my phone so they had no control and when it was over, it was over. They wouldn't sit for an audiobook if not in car straps or in bed in the dark. Both options have happened at various times at our house and I have adjusted according to the needs of the rest in the house or if I think the book is boring. :D

I do believe we must be twins, and you have now presented me with some options to consider. (Searching Where's Toto?'s previous curriculum posts)

These comments from experienced homeschoolers are all so wonderful, I feel like the door mouse piping up here. I wanted to recommend particularly Cathy Duffy's 102 homeschooling picks book. It breaks down very well the educational philosophy's out there, and resources to research them further. She also helped me find that one of my boys was not a "Wiggly Willy" like his brother, but a "sociable Sue." Cathy's reviews then put it together, and gave me points of reference in looking at other curriculum options. Not all of our choices are in her book, but at least I am well aware of what is available. I had researched so much, (and lurked here for so long) that what were my first picks, ended up being our best. (While trying to save money, I went for a second or third pick. It was not worth it.) My research had trained my gut towards what was best for my boys because I stepped out of "what do I want?" Into, "how can my boys best learn what I want/need them to learn?" The process of looking at educational philosophy will bring out those aspects that are important to you. Write them down! Even though mine are younger (10, 8, and 3), don't underestimate the benefit of a homeschooling contract, creed, pledge or something similar. It sets the expectations out in front, and when those bad days hit, rereading the rights, responsibilities, and reasons for homeschooling you made in a moment of sanity help refocus. On a bad day, I will have them read, out loud, their contract. Usually it's a great attitude adjuster, for them and me.

Start Exploring: Gray's Anatomy: A Fact-Filled Coloring Book https://www.amazon.com/dp/0762440732/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_dlUFybBS2VKKC Found it!!

Oh! I also remember that glass and stars are great for studying chemistry and a little easier to find examples of than fireworks. The amount of chemistry involved and the history of Venetian glass, baking dishes, and windows is just so facinating!

First was a boy. I still wasn't sure at birth and had to check. Second was unknown until birth. I am the most bonded with him because I focused on his personality as he was, not attributing something he did to his sex. DH had gender disappointment for the second half of the pregnancy, and I refused to be surrounded with such negativity. Third we found out early because of life at the time. I did have them check each of the five ultrasounds to be sure, and it was obvious. Because we knew girl, we had clothes for her entire first two years from others who were not going to save clothes for the next four months in case we had a girl. We were given a car seat, clothes, etc that were girly which greatly pleased my husband.

Keeping: MM 3 and 5. FLL 3 WWE 2, but we skipped ahead a few weeks since DS was arguing about it. It was too easy, but he's doing better. With the broken arm however, extended writing lessons are paused for another month. So we have a built in buffer. (Omg it is so boring! I don't know if I can handle Level 3 next year.) IEW-SWI A. For my reluctant writer DS10, this has proved helpful to get him in the habit of writing, but I think we may change to something else next year. (Any thoughts?) History- read-aloud SOTW 1, with Kingfisher, maps, and timelines for DS10. We have many public and home library books on the topic and they devour books so I just grab what we are studying and they make the connections. Horrible Histories in particular have been a hit lately. My brother didn't realize they would be so helpful when they bought the entire series for them five years ago. Swimming lessons: DS10 just made level 2. He loves it. DS8 has a cast for another month, so we will see about different outside activities him. Change: Does buckling down on school count as a change? We did well in August and September. October and November we spent most mornings out in the woods, reading the afternoon away. December was a break. Time to get some habits back. Also, I've found afternoon school works better for the boys. DD3 doesn't bother them as much and they have less need to expend energy. DD3: Getting her preschool materials out and doing them regularly after breakfast, then play time for all until afternoon studies for big brothers seems to work better. Removing formal science for DS8. DS10 loves it, so I am pushing him to finish the book. However, I require two non-fiction books read per week, with a verbal narration. Plus, Bill Nye and Magic School Bus. Considering they got me through much of my freshman college science classes, I think it's plenty. Computer Studies: Two birds, one stone. DS10 needs a direct, daily incentive. if all other things on his list are completed with a good attitude, he has computer time. Last week he made 3/5 days. I'm hoping it continues. It also enables me to add math review, grammar, and computer programming through Khan Academy. He's doing much better with these than with books and *its on the computer*.

I don't know about specific curricula per se, but what if she were encouraged to use a more traditional science notebook like we do in college/professional labs? She could record what she is learning in detailed drawings, with written explanations. There are anatomy coloring books that would probably strike her fancy. She doesn't get out of learning it, but she is able to present what she learns in a format familiar to her. Another option would be for her to research the science behind some of her art. Pigments to learn geology, sheep/alpaca/llama for biology (yarn arts), astronomy (Van Gogh's starry night), fireworks for chemistry, paper art for botany, planes and air shows for physics.

Now there's the quote for the T-shirt.

Nothing to share other than I can relate. My Friends are the people who are the same kind of weird. Perhaps that's why I feel comfortable here.

Old spice - grandpa. A guy I was interested in walked away because I told him it reminded me of my grandfather. He didn't speak to me again. Dial handsoap - grandmas house. Chanel no 5 - the best teacher I ever had and her husband. 4th and 5th grade. Beth and Body Works cucumber melon anything. Middle school then High school marching band. The girls had the stuff, the guys used the stuff on the bus, but I never had it. Cigarette smoke and car exhaust: going to the racetrack with my dad during the summer.

BIL had an open secret. My nephew killed himself two years ago next week as a result of finally being told combined with all the other behaviors over the years. We had to move across the country due to the fallout of it all. My family is an open book. The worst we can find is that first cousins married about six generations back. My mom found out my stepdad has a half sister, but they opted not to pursue it.