Also, if you don't mind me asking, why did you guys decide to home school? How does the whole home-schooling thing work?

I'm not quite as much in favor of the home schooling as my wife. However, Missouri law doesn't allow our daughter to go to first grade this year (she's six) and she is way beyond kindergarten. Private school is just too expensive, so that pretty much leaves home schooling. It's kind of a free year in way, even if our daughter didn't learn a dang thing she can't go to first grade until next year anyhow.

She's actually enrolled in a Texas extended school district, so her lesson plan and materials is set by that school district and she gets graded on her work by a teacher in Texas.

No clue, Gud, but I'm impressed. We've been hemorrhaging money in the stock market recently

Energy sector stocks have been good to me.

Gud, if your family finances allow, I'd suggest looking into this idea. And if once a week is too expensive, maybe once every other week is doable.

That might be something to look into, but it's almost like we have to get the place clean enough to clean. There's too much clutter. The kitchen is just crazy because it's a kitchen, a plant nursery, and a school.

Raq, I homeschooled Nick for a year here in Ohio and a year in Florida, when I couldn't keep him in school because of the gluten allergy. In some (maybe all, I'm unsure) states you do have to make sure they take the standarized tests, either by getting the children to the public school when other children their age are taking the tests, or paying for them yourself. Arizona requires homeschooling parents take part of the teacher examination test, or used to, Florida requires nothing but a note to the board of education and Ohio requires that you file a teaching plan for the year with the local school board, so it varies by state.

I don't know if it's entirely too late to mention this, but t's favorite color is purple and her favorite stone is amethyst.

And good timely greetings. In an hour and a half we meet Aidan's new teacher. I'm nervous.

Gud, a suggestion--get Rubbermaid lidded bins, and trash bags. Take a weekend to throw out the stuff you know you can, and for the stuff you don't know what to do with, put it in bins, and put them in the attic, cellar, or garage, then just have the cleaners in. No matter how bad your house is, they will have seen much worse.

After it's all sparkly, you'll be more inclined to put stuff where it belongs, or get rid of clutter you've just been unready to toss. That would be a terrific use of that $700 and you'd probably have plenty of money left over.

That might be something to look into, but it's almost like we have to get the place clean enough to clean.

Our experience was, the first cleaning was more expensive ($125 compared to $75 for the regular every-other-week for a townhouse) and more thorough.

Though it sounds like a lot of your problem is clutter as opposed to mess. In which case, I second Cindy, at least for a first step on getting things under control.

I was asking about the homeschooling in part because if the States go ID, we'll be considering it...but I was also asking to see how big a workload that was adding to your family, Gud. Seems like you guys have a lot to deal with, and a couple of rampantly smart kids, which also complicates things (although it's usually a good complication).

Interesting tips, Deena. Good luck with Aidan's new teacher!

And yeah, what Cindy said. They'll have seen worse. And they are getting paid to deal with it.

{{{Gud}}}

but t's favorite color is purple and her favorite stone is amethyst.

This makes me very excited to hear. I've been making a prayer shawl [link] I was going to keep it for myself, but went through all of the ritualistic stuff in case I decided to give it away. It's purble, blue and black, and beautiful, if I do say so myself. When we decided to do the care package for t last night, I decided that that's who was meant to get the shawl.

I think I'll call it the "~ma shawl". She won't be offended that I was praying for the her while making it, will she? I mean, mostly it's the same thing as thinking good things for her.

Deena, good luck meeting the new teacher! Yay!

Timelies!!!

vw, I'm sure she'll be touched.

for further inspiration, t is allergic to almonds; likes spice scents (cinnamon, frankincense, cardamom), dark chocolate, silver, lady grey tea, and her favorite animal is the penguin.

I'm going to drink my coffee and then vacuum, assuming my vacuum works this morning.