OUR DATE DAY IN PORTLAND!

[@lisal8331]

I thought the car alarm was in my neighborhood when I heard it! That's funny!

[@debtisdum]

Lisa L LOL!!! When I was editing I kept looking out the window! it does sound real!

[@r.annettehoneycutt5974]

Sonlight!!!! Yay!!! That is what we chose for this year! And we're using Apologia Science! 😊

[@Cemommster]

I love Abeka and Bob Jones!!!! Check out the Busy Mom! She's near Portlamd, and she has the BEST podcasts. She's a Christian Homeschooling mom.

[@debtisdum]

Jenny M I will definitely look into her! Thanks!

[@wendyminchez]

Thanks Christine for sharing. We will be homeschooling God willing this year too for the first time and we are SO EXCITED! I am still working on trying to figure out which curriculum will work best for our family...we'll see! Love you guys :)

[@debtisdum]

Wendy J I would highly recommend going to a homeschool conference if you can! I walked in nervous and honestly didn't want to be there and didn't know if I could do it. I walked out SO EXCITED to teach my girls! It was the most amazing experience for this mama!

[@JavaFirst]

I want to say you are doing the right thing by being consistent with your schedule. My advice flat out is if you are NOT consistent you will have MAJOR MAJOR issues with home schooling. No matter how frustrated you get be consistent it will save yourself a lot of trouble in the future. Sonlight is great we have used it and Apologia Science is also great Apologia science used to have CD's to go along with their program but I don't know if that is still something they have. Good luck! Don't forget to count field trips for subjects. Example trips to Washington DC as government especially for high school age.

[@debtisdum]

Life Paths Good to know! Thanks! Consistency...kids LOVE it!!!

[@maureencairney9549]

Zoe is definitely going to have her own KZbin channel soon, she is a natural...

[@debtisdum]

Maureen Cairney I am trying to put that off as long as I can but YES I think she will too!

[@noelleirvine6253]

It has been MANY years since I stepped foot in a homeschool convention! I was like a kid in a candy store with all the curriculum, LoL! We use Abeka for math for both of my kids and the Language Arts for my daughter. As you may find in your journey, sometimes not all of a particular curriculum works for every child. We usually piece together from different curriculums. For History my son has used The Story of the World for history for the last 4 years, I started my daughter with it as well but she just couldn't stand it and wasn't retaining any of the information, she has done better with Moving Beyond the Page. I would agree that having a peaceful house is key to many things. I have enjoyed watching your journey to homeschooling thus far, it brings back a lot of memories (like printing out the schedule). This upcoming year will be our 9th year homeschooling! New for me this year is that my son will be in 9th grade! Yikes, High School! I am conceding defeat with math and looking for a tutor this year. I can do algebra but I am finding it very difficult to teach. We struggled through Pre-algebra this year. Over the years we have settled into our own routine that no longer needs to be printed out but is followed anyway. Our day goes something like this. 7-8am my daughter (12 years old) and I are both up. I enjoy my coffee, she has cocoa. She is allowed 30 minutes "wake up time" to enjoy the cocoa and maybe watch a tv show or check in on her computer. Then she is on to chores and what we call "checklist" which covers things like brushing hair and teeth, getting dressed, etc. and school. I generally prep her schoolwork the night before using a highly modified "Workbox system". If you having looked in to the workbox system, I highly recommend it. You may have wondered where my son is in all this :) he is still sleeping at this point, lol! Where my daughter and I are early risers, my son is not. He is a night owl. At 14 (soon 15) I allow him to follow his natural body rhythms. I think this is part of having a peaceful home. He follows the same pattern as my daughter, just starting at a later hour. My kids are allowed to do chores, checklist and school in any order they like, as long as it all gets done. During the school year, computer games are not allowed until 3pm. My daughter is often done with all her responsibilities by 1pm. My son usually needs until 3 or 4pm.

[@debtisdum]

Noelle Irvine Your words are like honey to my soul. Such encouragement to this mama! Thank you!

[@noelleirvine6253]

What a lovely thing to say, thank you!

[@donnaswank8961]

Our daughter and son-in-law home schooled their 4 daughters from birth through graduation! The program they used (and loved) was A.C.E. (Accelarated Christian Education). My husband and I sent our daughter to a Christian school (expensive) they used the same program called paces. We all highly recommend this program. Just waned to let you know about this option. Love you guys - you will enjoy home schooling ! It gets easier and better every year. P.S. their youngest daughter (age 22) is getting married this Saturday the 27th. Your friend from Ohio - Donna Swank

[@debtisdum]

Donna Swank How exciting Donna! What a great testimony. Thanks for sharing!

[@michelleguzmanphoto]

I loved Abeka and Bob Jones! You are going to be such great homeschool parents!! :) Edit: I commented before I saw that you chose another curriculum. So awesome that you found something that was a better fit!

[@debtisdum]

Michelle G Thank you for the encouragement!!!

[@emiliekennedy8390]

I used Sonlight with my three boys. We loved it!! Our youngest son graduated from homeschool in may. Now I am starting over with our daughter. But we are using heart of Dakota with her. She has special needs, so we wanted to use something with less reading.

[@debtisdum]

Emilie Kennedy :) so good to know! I am excited! Sonlight will make my life so much easier and I no longer feel anxious about homeschooling! What a blessing!

[@emiliekennedy8390]

Yes it will! I love there schedule!! Y'all will do great :)

[@emiliekennedy8390]

Oops their

[@annaleighadams]

Sonlight is great. We love literature based learning! Welcome to the homeschool world.

[@debtisdum]

annaleighadams YAY! I am so excited now that I have my curriculum picked out!

[@bbooth7133]

We used ABeka with all ten of our kids and loved it. The video school is the best!

[@debtisdum]

Brenda Booth Good to know! Thank you!

[@ParkerHouseRules05]

I have several friends that use Sonlight and LOVE it! I'm excited to follow your homeschool journey! Do you know where T's water bottle is from that was in her stroller I think during the first clip of the kids? Needing some new ones for my daycare kids!

[@debtisdum]

Our Debt Free Life That is good to hear! I am excited for school to start! I believe it is her baby sippy cup that we should probably wean her from! I found them at Walmart and Fred Meyer;)

[@ParkerHouseRules05]

Okay, I will look at Walmart...we don't have Fred Meyer! I need something that my daycare kids can use when we go outside and on walks without it spilling all over!

[@daisybabie1]

i love ***** too! Good Mythical Morning is a part of my daily morning routine. :)

[@Sahmommy02]

We've used Bob Jones for the last 5 years. Homeschooling is the best decision we've ever made

[@debtisdum]

Sahmommy02 YAY! Bob Jones was recommended by Zoe's teacher!

[@TheVixthemom]

Did you check out My Fathers World Curriculum? The age range is much farther like from 2nd to 8th in the same year vs Sonlights 2 to 3 year age span. Please look at their webpage, you may like them a lot!....Also when you order sonlight or my fathers world consider used facebook pages for different curriculum and ebay! You can save a mint! We love MFW and have used it for our 7 kids for the last 6 years after 1 year of sonlight and the year before Abeka.

[@debtisdum]

TheVixthemom Good tips thank you! I will check out MFW too! It is highly recommended in the comments!

[@bethnelson4394]

Do you have a 1\2 price books? Or see if you can find a home school book fair. Also make sure to join a type of home school co-op for extra classes and socializing. ..

[@debtisdum]

Beth Nelson Ooooo good idea! We are at church 3-4 times a week so lots and lots of socializing there but I do want to get out and meet new people!

[@debib889]

Wow what a wonderful day you had, your always smiling :-) xx

[@debtisdum]

Debi B Life is too short not to! ;)

[@AuntFruit]

How cool to get your curriculum! I'm looking forward to seeing how Homeschooling works in your family :) I would love to homeschool--just have to have some kiddos first ;) lol Glad you were able to go to the convention--thanks for sharing with us!

[@debtisdum]

AuntFruit Awe at least you have a place in your heart to homeschool. My journey was more like beating me over the head with a 2x4 and dragging me! lol...

[@AuntFruit]

debtisdum LOL :) Well, at least you came along ;)

[@michelle10261]

dose it cost a lot of money for home schooling where you live? did you have to travel very far to go to get the information about home schooling?

[@debtisdum]

michelle from down under in bundy it doesn't have to cost a lot. Depends on the curriculum you choose. Still SO much cheaper than private schools!

[@michelle10261]

debtisdum that's good did you plan it in for your budget, and all you babies a big kiss from michelle down under.

[@yvonnejohnson2109]

Just the other day I request one of sonlight catlogs to be sent to me. Nice notebooks for field trips

[@debtisdum]

Yvonne Johnson That is exciting!!!! I got so excited when I visited the Sonlight booth. The mamas there were enthusiastic and excited about their curriculum, even towards the end of a long day. I love that I can teach top down. Meaning I will speak on a subject to both of the girls and Sonlight will send me curriculum to give Grace that reaches her at her level but they are BOTH learning about the same thing! This program is by far the most organized in my opinion at least, making my life so much easier. I can't wait for you to get your catalog!

[@yvonnejohnson2109]

I got my catalog a few days back. We don't have internet at home right now. So I have been missing your videos. We will have again after we move on July 21. Stop by library to use there to pays bills.

[@Deezeelove]

I could never homeschool....I don't have the patience to teach my own....and I'm an educator!

[@debtisdum]

TheZimm4 ...that was ME! I had to be hit upside the head with a 2x4 while I was kicking and screaming! lol! The start wasn't beautiful but here's hoping that it has a happy ending! ;)

[@blessedmomma2280]

I know in the past you shared how much you love the girls school just wondering why you are going to start homeschool?

[@debtisdum]

Blessed momma Yes we loved our school and are so grateful. In a nutshell we are trying to live a simpler life and homeschooling was part of that plan;)

[@blessedmomma2280]

Looking forward to watching the journey I'm sure you and the girls will do great

[@jenthompson8372]

I know it's early days yet, but have you seen any positive changes in graces behaviour yet?

[@debtisdum]

Jen Thompson HUGE! I will film an update in todays vlog that will be posted on Wednesday!

[@jeanlee1911]

Abeka, Bob Jones, I love and miss homeschooler fairs. beware homeschooler moms will either get pregnant the first 2years and don't fall into the jumper blue jean dresses! don't fall into the trap of buying everything you can be inventive and save money. look for a book that has 1001 ways to use the internet to homeschool. also get a big catalog from Rainbow resource it is so affordable. I have homeschooled for 24 years. love to yall

[@debtisdum]

Jean Lee LOL!!! We will not get pregnant, I can almost promise you that! I will check out Rainbow! Thank you!

[@jeanlee1911]

I am so excited for you when they get teenish it isn't too much fun but the ages you have its so much fun. God Bless yall.