Help! My 15 yodd and 13 yodd just left my presence in tears. I've insisted that they get their science tests done TODAY and ASAP. We are using Apologia, and the tests can be tricky sometimes. They just dread tests and they take so long to get through them. This is my 11th year HSing (gulp) and we have always struggled with this. Honestly, we have never gotten through a complete year of science. On top of this, my 15 yo has to finish Dante's Inferno today and she is really feeling the pressure. Week 7 of Year 2 is pretty grueling, I think. I am trying to get them up to speed, though. Starting to feel inadequate here! Blessings, Barbara

Hi,
I can tell you my story
My son did 1/2 of the Apologia Biology last year. With all of the other kids to teach I did not have adequate time to give to him and he really struggled with the Biology. So this year we are using A Beka DVD's for Science and Math. I have found it a HUGE help, and my son really likes the DAILY instruction. He is doing very well this year.
Last year was kind of my "I just cannot do this" year. (and I meant it)
A lot of guilt everyday for all that did not get done. It is hard to be the one responsible for their education. Anyway, things are MUCH better this year. I do not feel the guilt of "one more day I did not check his work" and he is getting the instruction he needs and deserves. Another thing it has eliminated is using me as an excuse for....well, everything
I just say, "that's why I bought you a teacher!" LOL
I know it is more expensive and believe me we do not have a lot of money. But I was very desperate and it was either that or public school.
I hope that helps a little.

Bee Jolly -

In my opinion, HSing is more about developing character (mostly mine) than it is about academics...

I have 5 of my 8 dc in the home this year, 4 that are being educated. The 2 R level are both taking English(IEW)at a local co-op and the oldest of those 2 is taking Biology at the same place. I gave the co-op route a trial run last year and we did Chemistry (they use Aplologia). I had used Abeka Biology the year before, but we never did any tests or labs, as it was my first year of TOG and I was overwhelmed in too many areas of life to cover the bases with his science. So we backtracked, and he is doing Bio. again this year, and it's going very well.

I think I finally came to the conclusion that this journey isn't about me doing it all - rather, we carefully delegate and make choices about their studies based on the Lord's leading and then trusting Him to do His will (i.e. provide the funds to farm out a few subjects - money is always in short supply). I can be so task-oriented, driven, a Type A personality, that it's easy to take on way too much to prove that I CAN DO THIS . It's been such a relief and a load off my mind to have them be responsible to someone else for just a few subjects, even though we've put out $300 per class. I'm not saying this is the right fit for anyone else, just wanted to share our experience and let you know you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed and guilty at the end of the day for not getting all the stuff you wanted to do accomplished that day. I'll tell you what - I still have too many days I feel like that even WITH the absence of Eng. and one science class. TOG in itself is a big load for us to carry and do a good job with. I had a mom tell me last year, in the midst of a conversation about educating highschool level - "We moms have such a hard time with trust... and that's really what it's all about, isn't it." That, and asking for prayer support. This online community is a gift in that area - I will be praying that the Lord meets all of your needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. He is able to give abundantly more than we could ask for or even imagine. To Him be the glory.

Grace,

Laurie