I know, I know.....I should have really GOTTEN this by now....but was still living under some fear here and there about the fact that I might hold my son back if I didn't teach in some way the same way the public school does.  But today, I GOT it.....LOL  (granted it may not be there tomorrow), but today it is there :)  Before he ever went to school, I was always getting some something or other that was teaching him in some way.  In fact, like when he was about 4, he was doing Jumpstart 1st grade and working with money, etc.  It seemed just whatever I saw an interest in in him, I would get for him to keep him entertained.  I don't think I really looked at it as "homeschooling" per say.....it was more or less a way for me to be able to get him new things to keep him entertained all the time without having a guilt trip laid to me that I was buying way too many toys ! LOL  Yes, I rotate toys, books, games, etc., quite a bit, cause it seems if I don't he just loses interest and is TOO bored.  So, yes I am lightning up on myself...lol and stop worrying if we DON'T spell every day, or we DON'T do math every day...and it seems he learns more that way....Go figure :) 

And, as a matter of fact, last night while goofing around and looking on the 'net for English stuff, I found 2 great things that I am pretty sure I am going to use with him.  We are currently using another grammar program, but it seems to move too slow for him and it jumps around too much for me to really keep track of EXACTLY what it is that he is learning.  I guess I like the concept of learn all about one thing first, then, once you have that mastered, move on to the next.  Anyways, I found Straightforward English and then on that website, the lady that sells this book also recommends books by Ruth Heller, which, upon looking at, I think would be a great way of grammar, as her books are supposed to go into great detail about each part of speech, etc.  And that is just what I was looking for.  I have read on here and other places, time and again, that I should be the one to set the goals of what I want MY son to learn, then once I have those goals in place, go digging for the materials which achieve that goal. 

So, yes, a lot of you on here may say, well DUH (and possibly,.....they let Her lose with children in public???) LOL  I know, it's just soo goofy, but it was sooo exciting for me when that light bulb finally clicked in my head and I wanted to share it with some of my favorite people in the world....you guys!

Thanks!

LOL Applause for your lightbulb moment. Refreshing and liberating, isn't it?

Yes it is!  Now, if I can get science kinda down, I think I might have it licked!  LOL  (I have been trying to use a basic textbook to do this with, but it is no go so far......He really gets more into things and I think would learn more if I just found books for his age group that just did like the intro thing to like geology, weather, biology, etc.....then good science experiments to go along with it......we would be licked!  You know, kinda like a unit study each week on the different aspects of science, until something glimmers in his eye and we dive deeper!  Cause, am I wrong here, but am kinda getting the grasp that I was taught about the same thing over and over again in school year after year, just going deeper into it each year?  It's been so long, I forgot, but am I like wrong on this?  Everybody keeps telling me, it's ok if he doesn't get something right now, maybe he's just not developed enough in that area yet and you can always go back and get it later on when his interest does develop.  Is this really truly so?  Cause basically, I would just like to kinda skim over science here and there until we hit a lightbulb moment, then dig in deeper into it.

Thanks!

Good for you! It took me at least two years to figure that one out. The more kids you have the more difficult it is to do lessons all day. I just wish I hadn't pushed so hard in the beginning. My poor son...The first born kids have it so tough sometimes. : )

Keep walking in freedom! It is a battle to stay there, but I am hoping it gets easier and easier to fight those insecurities.

Peace to you,

Renae