How do I start so late?

If your daughter wants to follow an equine business degree then she will need some math – business and stable management requires math, I know because my daughter is doing the horse thing as well, although more on the classical dressage side of things.  So perhaps you could encourage her by telling her how important math will be to the degree she wants.  Also how about having her do a study on the history of the horse, it could be an independent reading and writing study, but she would pick up a lot of history while doing that.  My daughter has been keeping a notebook on that subject for a few years now, and she has learned a tremendous amount of history along with horses.   She can finish really strong with CM if you can motivate her, start with her interests and build from there.  In regards to wanting to sleep all day, teens do need more sleep, but not that much lol, when she is in college she will be expected to make classes on time, this home school thing is no different, the habits for the future are important to build.  Also, perhaps going back to a schedule for her, may keep her on track, or at least checking each day to see she has done what she is supposed to.  I was lucky with my daughters, we started homeschool with them at 6th grade – had a lot of things to deal with along the way, including a hurricane and illness for my daughter – which caused a lot of missed school time, while we sorted everything out.  We all decided in agreement with each other that we would graduate a year or two later than average – better that than finish before they were ready.  They have always been strong readers, and so have be able to learn reams, just from that.  One of them loves to write, so that has also helped, I tend to plan to their strengths, andthat way we do not have too many issues. 

For your younger children, read up on this site and read some of Sonya’s planning ebooks, then you will have a great start, and plenty of time for a CM education.

Your statement “she would rather sleep all day” caught my eye.

5 years ago, I had mono but didn’t know it. I just thought I turned into a lazy jerk! I never felt sick. I was just not interested–in anything. When my little kids hurt themselves, I just didn’t seem to care. I didn’t care if we ever did school (this put the younger ones a year behind!) I just didn’t care. Finally after 4 months, I decided to go to the doctor and tell him I must be depressed or something because I didn’t care. He said we needed to test for mono. That really surprised me. I wasn’t sick. So I had had it for 4 months. I’ve never been the same.

So I wonder if your daughter has something physical that has worn her out. Sometimes it doesn’t look like something physical, but it is.

Good luck!

Hi Theresa, to get my daughter involved in history, I had her research the origins and history of the horse, going back to Xenophon – I had her research the creationist view of horses and Answers in Genesis had some great articles ont that.  She traced the origins of the horse and how they were used throughout history – she read about the Mongols and how they became such great horsemen, she studied the history of the Lipizzaners and how General Patton rescued them during the 2nd World War, and how Baroque horses were used in war.  By doing this, she studied a lot of geography and history that she would otherwise not have been particularly interested in.  Now she really likes history, so that is why I thought it a good starting point for her.  If your daughter is also into competition, then she could study that, and how all the different disciplines came into being, she could write essays comparing and contrasting different ideas in the horse world.  You sometimes just have to give them an idea to run with, Unless there is a medical issue with her which makes it difficult, I would also set her goals to accomplish and hold her to them, that is a discipline we all need in life – keep her to a schedule, with her input of course, and start rebuilding the habits that have gone to the wayside.  Working with horses in any capacity is very hard work as I am sure she knows, and getting a good work ethic now, will pay dividends in the future.  My daughter has been and is not at all well, but within her limitations I keep her on track and she accomplishes a grea deal daily.  So don’t despair, just start goal setting and work toward those goals.

Most colleges require Algebra and Geometry and there is a great benefit to both –  I would not let her shortchange herself on the math – my daughters do no enjoy it, but they know it is necessary even for community college.  A good grounding in high school math is important for business math and that includes a minimum of algebra and geometry.  Like mine, your daughter may not become a math lover, but she will have skills which will serve her well in the future.  You are on the right track, now you just need to look into the medical issue and I wish you well with that – then start the goal setting.  Good luck.  Linda