Consider homeschooling.The tips will help you get started with this adventure. 

TIP! Be cognizant of your budget for homeschooling.
      If you know what you need for homeschooling and taking special trips you can save ahead of time for them. Don’t limit your children only to the textbooks when teaching a curriculum. Your kid should learn using a variety of teaching mediums. Discussing current events is a great way to help your child about learning. This also help them to think critically. 

TIP! To find out more about laws and regulations related to homeschooling, get in touch with the state’s homeschool association. 
     You may have to register yourself as a private educator or give your children testing periodically. Set up a place for your kids to have arts and crafts they can use while you are teaching older kids. Older kids can read to little ones or help teach preschoolers
 This lets everyone learn and will instill confidence. 

TIP! When you homeschool your children there are many advantages.

 Even so, it might be a good idea to make sure that your homeschooled children are up to par with the standard system, by having them take the same exams as kids in the public schools. Designate your housework to your kids or hire outside help. It is unrealistic to think that you can do everything all by yourself. You will be extremely fatigued if you try to do everything on your homeschooling work. Accept help if you can get it and don’t feel bad about it.

TIP! Your child needs a quiet and comfortable area to study.

 It should be away from your child’s play area. Be sure to give your children plenty of hands-on learning. You could cook a dish from the country you are studying. An example of this is making cabbage rolls and perogies if they are learning about Stalin. If you are learning about WWII you can make German or a historical site. Learning will allow your child to more fully understand the senses. 


TIP! Give your child enough break time to burn off extra energy and get some exercise. 

This will allow them to better focus on their work. Make sure that you create a budget for your homeschooling. Create a separate account that has an amount for each child. Give a little flexibility with the budget for unexpected needs or costs. 

TIP! Read up on different styles of learning. 

There are plenty of books, magazines, and web sites full of information and lesson plans you can tailor to your own child. Make sure you do some research the process thoroughly prior to deciding to homeschool. There are many resources available which can help you to decide if homeschooling really is the right decision. 

TIP! You need to also realize that homeschooling will not always be fun. 

Unfortunately, there will be times when you have to make your kids read. Your kids count on you to get them ready for their future. Homeschooling is one method of doing that. Use the tips in this article and you can create a successful educational environment for your kids.

Family photos can include only your immediate clan,or also incorporate extended kin as well.The important thing is to keep them relaxed,candid and fin!Here are some ways to make the entire family photo experience a positive one:

1. Schedule the photo shoot when kids are at their happiest. Usually, at least for little ones, this means 5 to 6 p.m. is not the best time. You can’t always get the time you want, but if you have any control over this aspect at all, I highly recommend working your appointment around your kiddos’ routines.

2. That said – lighting is important, so you may have to be flexible. Bright, high noon sunshine is not ideal, so oftentimes, photographers prefer to shoot outdoor photos either in the morning or just before dusk. You might have to go with the flow and let your kids’ schedule be a bit different that day.

3. Speaking of photographers – if you want a professional photo shoot, but it’s out of your budget, try looking in your local Craigslist. Budding photographers are always wanting to expand their portfolio, so you may find someone offering a great deal. You can also try your church, your local university, or word of mouth with your friends – there’s always someone out there who’s wanting to expand their photography business.

4. Do your best to buy a package deal that gives you all the digital files for a flat price. This is much easier in the long run, because you’ll have control over all the printing. It might be more up front, but it’ll probably save you in printing costs over the long haul (especially when every. single. picture. is adorable).

Coordinate, but don’t match. This is just my opinion, as I know many families like to wear the same outfit for their portraits. But in my experience as a holiday photo card designer, photos look better when everyone blends well, but not too much. To be honest, when I see a photo with the entire family wearing denim shirts, all I see is a sea of denim shirts – not the people.

6. Avoid patterns. It’s okay if one family member has a simple stripe or a basic design, but too many intricate patterns detracts from faces. If in doubt of what to wear, go with a simple, solid-colored shirt.
Go casual. Especially if you have little ones. I love photos that look like the family is relaxed, having fun with each other, and basically like they do most any other day of the year. Sure, go ahead and brush their hair and have them in clean clothes – but you’re probably fighting an uphill battle asking preschoolers to sit still more than a minute at a time.

When it comes to the setting, think outside the box. The background is not the most important subject of your photo, so keep your location simple. Many cities have beautiful parks and natural settings, but don’t forget about your backyard. Other fun settings are front porches, old buildings, fences, and even on your master bed – let everyone play around and get goofy.

9. Get closer than you think. If you’re going to take the photos (with a timer, or when it’s just the kids), I can’t emphasize this enough - get much, much closer to faces than you think you should. Faces are what you really want to see – so get right up there.
The beauty of digital photography is that you can edit, retake, retouch, and experiment in all sorts of ways. Have fun taking that family memento, and keep it relaxed and light-hearted.

Have you ever met Debbie Downer, Negative Nancy or Pessimistic Patty?  These people can be so entrenched in the bad things that there isn’t any room for good things to grow.  They inhabit our families and social circles.  It can be emotionally draining just being around them, and you must be careful because their attitudes are contagious.  Negativity perpetuates itself, breeds dissatisfaction and clutters the mind.  And when the mind is cluttered with negativity, happiness is much harder to come by.




Here are 10 ways to defend yourself against negativity:

1. Don’t take other people’s negativity personally.  Most negative people behave negatively not just to you, but to everyone they interact with.  What they say and do is a projection of their own reality – their own attitude.  Even when a situation seems personal – even if someone insults you directly – it oftentimes has nothing to do with you.  Remember, what others say and do, and the opinions they have, are based entirely on their own self-reflection.  Read Learned Optimism.
2. Spend more time with positive people.  You are the average of the people you spend the most time with.  In other words, who you spend your time with has a great impact on the person you eventually become.  If you are around cynical and negative people all the time, you will become cynical and negative.  Does who you are and who you want to be reflect in the company you keep?  Start spending time with nice people who are smart, driven and likeminded.  Relationships should help you, not hurt you. Surround yourself with people who reflect the person you want to be.  Choose friends who you are proud to know, people you admire, who love and respect you, people who make your day a little brighter simply by being in it.
3. Be the positivity you want to see in the world.  Lead by example.  You can’t always save the world, but you can make the world a better place by practicing what you preach – by becoming self-aware, tapping into your compassion, and protecting your positive space.  Doing simple things like talking about positive daily events, common friends, hobbies, happy news, make for light conversations with negative people.  Keep the conversations focused on optimistic areas the person can relate to.  You can disarm their negativity, even if it’s just for a little while.
4. Change the way you think.  The one thing nobody can take away from you is the way you choose to respond to what others say and do.  The problem isn’t the events that are negative.  The problem is the way you react to those events.  The last of your freedoms is to choose your attitude in any given circumstance.  Complaining, blaming and criticizing aren’t going to change the situation.  It is not always easy to find happiness in ourselves, but it is always impossible to find it elsewhere.  Regardless of the situation you face, your attitude is your choice.  Remember, you can’t have a positive life with a negative attitude.  When negativity controls your thoughts, it limits your behavior, actions, and opportunities.  If you realized how powerful your thoughts were, you would never think another negative thought again.
5. Focus on solutions.  Negative people have an endless supply of pityparty invitations.  Don’t RSVP.  Oftentimes people use negativity as a barrier to protect themselves from the world, which in turn blocks them from solutions that could improve their life.  Instead, identify solutions.  Don’t dwell too much on what went wrong.  Instead, focus on the next positive step.  Spend your energy on moving forward toward a positive resolution.  Remember, when you focus on solutions, by thinking and acting positively, sound becomes music, movement becomes dance, a smile becomes laughter, and life becomes a celebration.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
6. Love whoever is around to be loved.  Practice acts of kindness.  It’s a lot harder to be negative when you’re in the presence of love and kindness.  Be that presence whenever possible.  Let your guard down.  Talk to someone you don’t know straight from your heart.  Compliment them.  Don’t anticipate awkwardness.  Just be you in that beautiful way only you know, and give them the chance to smile and connect with you.  Sometimes a kind word and some attention from a friend is all that’s needed to turn a negative attitude around.
7. Provide support when it makes sense.  Some people complain as a way of crying for help.  They may not be conscious of it though, so their comments come across as negative complaints rather than requests.  Show some concern.  Just a simple “Are you okay?” or “Is there anything I can do to help you?” can do wonders.  Resist the urge to judge or assume.  It’s hard to offer compassion when you assume you have them figured out.  Let them know they are not alone.  People overcome the forces of negative emotions, like anger and hatred, when the counter-forces of love and support are in full effect.
8. Realize that life is a series of ups and downs.  Acknowledge the negativity, accept it, and let it pass through your consciousness, thereby teaching you a lesson but not ruining your day.  Life is full of highs and lows, but you don’t have to go up and down with them.  We develop from the negatives when we accept them and learn from them.  This cycle is all part of the human experience.  Relax, let go a little, and enjoy the ride. Read Happiness Is a Serious Problem.
9. Concentrate on today.  Too often, we carry around things from our past that hurt us – regrets, shame, anger, pain, etc.  Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.  Don’t let these negative points from the past rob your present happiness.  You had to live though these things in the past, and although unfortunate, they can’t be changed.  But if the only place they live today is in your mind, then let go, move on, and be happy.  You can decide right now that negative experiences from your past will not predict your future.
10. Let go and move on when you must.  If all else fails, remove yourself from the wrong situations and relationships. Some people are like dark clouds; when they disappear, it’s a brighter day.  Know when it’s time to let go.  Letting go of negative people doesn’t mean you hate them, it just means that you care about your own wellbeing.  Every time you subtract negative from your life, you make room for more positive.

It isn’t easy to remain positive when negativity surrounds you, but remember that you have full control of your attitude.  Think of it this way: An entire body of water the size of the Pacific Ocean can’t sink a ship unless it gets inside the ship.  Similarly, all the negativity in the world can’t bring you down unless you allow it to get inside your head.  People who are able to discern the positive points in negative situations are the ones who prosper in the long run.  So defend yourself against the ‘negative way’ and make room for a positive day.

http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/08/08/10-ways-to-defend-yourself-against-negativity/

Advance preparation is the key to a successful barbecue. Most importantly, people should make sure they have plenty of charcoal to last the duration of the party, or bottled gas if a gas barbecue is to be used.

It is always good to have pre-barbecue snacks available for guests as soon as they arrive, to keep them going until all of the delicious char-grilled food is ready.
Snacks such as cured meats, marinated olives and light cheese are perfect pre-BBQ snacks. Less is more, as it is advisable to whet but not spoil the appetites of the guests.
Refreshing summer cocktails, such as caipirinhas or Pimms cocktail always go down well in the summer heat and most of the preparation for these can be done in advance of guests arriving.

Several things can be done in advance of the barbecue so that hosts are free to spend more time with their guests:

Pre-cooking chicken in the oven is advisable, particularly if the host is using a basic coal barbecue where the level of heat can be quite hard to control. Chicken can be roasted at 200°C for between 25 minutes (wings) and 45 minutes (legs,) simply brushed with olive oil and seasoned with salt and pepper. This leaves the chicken safely cooked through, but still able to be crisped-up and charred on the barbecue.

Salads for the barbecue can easily be prepared in advance. Small potatoes, boiled until tender, mixed while warm with mayonnaise, crème fraiche, chopped spring onions, salt and pepper make a delicious and simple potato salad.

Proper oven cooked jacket potatoes are always a good barbecue accompaniment and just require washing, piercing in a few places and placing in an oven at 230°C for one hour. These can even be finished off wrapped in foil in the embers of a charcoal barbecue.

Cooks not experienced in BBQ cooking can invest in a meat thermometer to ensure they do not poison their guests!

Preparing as much food as possible in advance means the cook is free to concentrate on grilling the food when the time comes. Food that can take really high heat, such as vegetables, steaks, burgers and whole fish can go on first.

Pork, sausages and chicken do well at a lower heat so are better cooked slowly once the heat has died down, or at a lower heat setting in the case of a gas barbecue.
Barbecue Considerations for Vegetarians
It is likely there may be vegetarians amongst your guests, so it is good to make sure they are well catered for. There are many recipes available for things such as homemade vegetarian burgers or stuffed mushrooms, or cooks could make interesting vegetarian kebabs with fresh vegetables and Greek halloumi cheese, which is delicious when grilled on a barbecue.

It is important to cook the vegetarian food first on the barbecue, as vegetarians are unlikely to enjoy their food tainted with meat.

If there is still heat left on the barbecue, there are many delicious desserts that can be prepared over the coals. Whole bananas can be thrown onto the grill and served when soft and mushy with syrup, cream and a dash of rum.

Certain fruits also work very well grilled on skewers, such as pineapple, banana and strawberries. Served with a good vanilla ice-cream, these make a delicious light dessert to follow the BBQ feast.

However many people are attending a barbecue party, these tips, along with some advance planning, will make the barbecue a fun experience for all, including the host!