CM Elementary Math VS Strayer-Upton Practical Arithmetic Books

I would love some advice and ideas about using the Strayer-Upton Practical Arithmetic Series VS using the Charlotte Mason Elementary Arithmetic Series books. I am beginning to use Life of Fred with my children, and I am toying with the idea of using those books, along with one of the above mentioned books and perhaps ditching traditional math curriculums all together in an effort to have a more realistic and practical math education for my children (ages 10 and 9 and 3). Here are the issues: I am a poor math student. I can learn, but I have to have instruction on the concepts. I have done fine with basic stuff, but now that we are getting into fractions, long division, and such, I am getting challenged. SOOOOO….which of the above books do you believe would afford better instruction for this situation. I can’t help but think the newer ones by Richelle would be, because it is written for this generations parents, and I am sure I am not alone in my struggle with math. I suffered through elementary math in public school, and was then handed a calculator. Please advise. Also, do you know when Richelle’s third book will be released?