What time do you wake up and start your homeschool?

My wake up and homeschool start times have varied a lot over the years depending on my husband's shift, his work week, our activities, difficult pregnancies with bed rest, new babies, etc.

Sometimes I was up very early (before 6). Other times, I woke up after 8. I did what worked best for us in our current circumstances and never cared what anyone else was doing. It doesn't matter what "they" are doing. What matters is if I am doing my very best at keeping priorities in check, at staying on top of my responsibilities, and at seeing progress in my children's academics.

I've been homeschooling since 1995 (22 years) and have three graduated children who are doing better than their peers in college and the workplace. My 16 yo will graduate high school in a month. My 14 yo will graduate high school before January. My oldest son is the sys admin over two industrial plants (since he was 21 years old) and bought his own home when he was 23 without any help from us other than opinions on the structure. My seven living children range in age from 25 to 9 yo. I am happy to say that all of them are also serving the Lord.

Homeschooling has built us a strong marriage, parent-child, and sibling relationships. There are SO many ways God has blessed us through homeschooling. I am very, very thankful He led us to this way of living.
Looking back over the years, I do not see where an earlier start time was of any benefit. It was the consistent and mindful effort that gave the results.

Interestingly enough, a friend of mine took a poll on wake up and homeschool start times a couple of weeks ago. Most of them woke up after 9 and started in the late morning hours. Most of them reported they did not make their beds because there were things of more lasting value to spend their time on.

Need Help with Your Flat Stanley Project

Flat Stanley Visits

I love where I live and love sharing our history with others. Feel free to use these images for *your own child's* school or homeschool project. 

I retain the copyright to these images, and if you desire to use them in any other way, please contact me for permission.

If you have not purchased your Flat Stanley book yet, please consider using this link: Flat Stanley Books on Amazon The very small proceeds will benefit my family's homeschooling and sends me a "thank you" for keeping the photo album available to families.

Nausea and vomiting in the first trimester

Help! I am having nausea and vomiting in my first trimester and can't keep anything down!!! I am trying to eat healthy, but I keep throwing it all up!

I had severe hyperemesis gravidarum from 5 to 40 weeks with all of my pregnancies. I was on medication and IVs. Helpher.org is a hyperemesis support group which has a support board with a list of foods that are easier on the stomach. It is called Foodments. There are also volunteers who may be in your area. I was sent books and a list of HG knowledgeable doctors. As a volunteer, I have helped women in my local area. 

I also took Unisom and B6. The sleep center and vomit center of the brain are in the same area. Unisom and Benadryl are safe to take while pregnant, and it does help slow down the vomiting, but you will be sleepy. 

I was told by my doctor that the nutritional stores in my body would carry me through for a good long while. Your baby will get what he/she needs but it will come at your expense. However, if you have been taking care of yourself, my doctor said, it will be a while before you see any of the effects. I was told to do the best I could, eat what stayed down, and not to worry because my body would provide what my babies needed for the short duration.

If you would like prayer support, please drop me a message at the email in the header. Our family will be happy to pray for you and your baby.