euphrasyne

We use number blocks with great success.  It follows Asian/Chinese math methods which are much easier to learn earlier and in more depth.  It has videos, books, and manipulatives.   I did really well in school and had a full scholarship.  My older two aren't really academically minded, but my teen and toddler seem to be.  My biggest priorities when choosing math was success rate and joy.  It works, and they like it.  My 3 year old has a concept of arrays being the same but different.  Ex 3.4 vs 4.3

I was a cashier back in the day for Walmart.  DH bagged groceries at Food Lion.  Both jobs paid the same minimum wage for the time and area they were in (Me in MS and him in VA.)  It is still situation around here.  Of course, this as almost 30 years back, but DD has been looking around since she turns 16 soon.  It is the same at almost all the shops.  

Times change and things change with it. Being able to adapt to the 'new normal' is the best thing anyone can hope for.  Adaption is the best thing possible and I hope to instill that into my kids.   

We do a lot of those as supplements to local education and early education.  I tried home schooling on my eldest and it did not end well.  Then there was covid where everyone was home all the time. Her or me I do not Know , but we do a lot of home education along with local schooling now.  I believe one supplements the other.  I cannot teach German, but they cannot teach baking. So Ivy(DD15) gets the befits of both.  River (DD3) gets what I can teach and she is ahead of the curve because I teach that.  

I have also copied Euphrasyne’s reply in the Edge. Please join the conversation there.  Mother
 

Ambergris, you are absolutely right. One thing leads to another (A...B...C).  It is expected, at least in my household.  

DH used clear caulk the last time he sealed the shower.  JUST NO.  Always use white caulk. Seriously.  USE WHITE CAULK.  

My shopping experience is usually: Aldis, Lidl, Kroger, BJs, Indian (Royal biazzar),  Asian Market.  But I space out which item to which place in time.  I shop the sales and I shop what fresh foods we need in time. Sometimes I pay more than I'd like for fresh foods if we want them.  But that is rarely because i can and have dehydrated and canned on hand.  My best advice is to learn to cook from dehydrated/canned and substitute as necessary.  I know why antique cookbooks  call for baking soda in certain recipes.  You should learn the same.  Chemistry is WAY more important than following recipes to the letter.  

My papaw made homemade sauerkraut that he buried in the back yard.  when I said canned cabbage, I do not mean kraut.  I actually prefer kimchi to sauerkraut.  

Margaret Holmes® Seasoned Cabbage, 15 oz - Kroger

Ball Blue book:

cabbage comes in cans.  Its not preferable, but it is doable.  

I find myself in the sandwich generation. I have young kids DD3, adult kids DD25, parents DM64, and grand parents DGM84 who need tendinging. I also have a brother with 3 kids and a woman. It is a lot to check in with all the family and make sure everyone has what they needs. There is a lot of purpose placed on school, but there is more expectancy placed on family. I did really, really well in school, but I go great in family.  Prepping is my choice and I believe it helps everyone around me.   

Loud.  I remember loud when in MS.  I expect the same here.  

There are set up like a mouse mage.  Seriously every Time I go through it is the same mouse mage.

My  DH was the same. He had quit smoking but 2020 was the year of day drinking and he started vaping then.  We joke about 2020 often as the year of day drinking.  Mentioning Wuhan and Day-drinking can bring laughter to us frequently.

I got the terrarium from Ikea and filled it with rocks and seashells,  then fake flowers from Michaels and the dollar store.  I love to look at it.  

gen X =  get with the currant program..  whatever is happening, deal. It is the best prepping advice I can ever give.  I cannot imagine any better advice for any scenario.  Look at what is happening and respond to that not what you think, but what you see. 

I'm in SE VA so we have a lot of options for shopping.   Many more than I grew up with in MS.   It is one of the perks I got when I married my DH and moved north to be with him.  The NEX/Commissary (Navy Exchange no tax so usually cheaper) also offers some good options, but I rarely count those as most cannot shop there.  DH stops by frequently on his way home and picks up random items.  Most commonly  green tea as it is $1 cheaper and no tax than anywhere else.    

I'm gen X and have raised several gen Z.  We are used to change and tech.  Tech doesn't bother me and I adapt as needed.  I have a lot of apps on my phone and computer and I'm not afraid of them. They are a means to an end.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_X its not wrong.  

I guess in order to respond to the original post is that we do what I create.  I'm not following any particular method.  I look at what she needs to know in the future and I try to teach her things to get her there.  Some days she wants to color and I try to provide images that help move her on that way,  other days she wants to talk and we do repetitive things that teach rhyming or new words.  Each day is tailored to what she is acceptive to learning.  I think that is important to kids and adults alike.  You can best pass on what is willing to be learned.  I have learned that much with my older children.  Some days need to be adapted.  I have DD26, DD20, DD15, and DD3.  Yes we are crazy and DH is drowning in the estrogen ocean.  

I have apps for every store and I use doordash.  I download all the coupons for many years now.   I haven't had a problem.  I am also agoraphobic, so I think nothing of paying extra to not have to leave my house.  

I even use google wallet to keep my membership to zoo, aquarium, and science museum.  It was weird at first, but I got used to it.  You just open the app and it scans on entry to local memberships.    

Our main carb is rice, rice noodles, and rice flour.  We eat it all sorts of ways.  I used to do mostly bread, but it doesn't sit well since my GI surgery.  

Aside, DD15 has German 4, Pe, Science and History this semester at her local school.  They do 4 classes separated by 2 semesters per year here for a total of 8 classes per year.    

At home, she has learned;

Sewing and pattern making

crochet

canning and jelly making

cooking/baking (advanced)

budgeting

childcare

cleaning

philosophy

logic

Even if you do public or private schools (we've done both) it should be supplemented with other things at home.  

DD3 has so much energy.  She runs laps around the kitchen island and around the house through my office, the living room, and entryway as the ground floor is 'open concept' and basically one big space with columns.  

I bought a bunch of posters off amazon and we go over them every day.  Numbers, letters, time, clothes, animals, shapes, weather,  etc.  I hung them on my office wall with binder clips so I can change out with posters we go over.  It works out really well.  

Todays wall:

DD15 is in 10th grade at the local school; I've only got DD3 doing things at home right now.   DD3 is doing very well. 

She can:

count to 20

knows most of the alphabet

recognizes numbers and letters out of context

can name almost all animals and pictures

recite at least 4 simple poems without prompting

Sing and dance to songs

stack and build with blocks (legos and wooden.  very creative building too)

Is currently OBSESSED with dinosaurs, paw patrol, and trains in that order    

We went to BJs and Lidl today.  We spent an obscene amount, but we got some extras and a few toys to put away for gift holidays.  The price on everything has gone up, but they were the cheapest option for what we did get.  I like BJs because it is bulk, but contained bulk that breaks down nicely as smaller items packaged together.  So we get a better price per oz/lb while still being able to use the item before it spoils.  We also splurged and bought 2 cases of the mini sodas.  I can't drink a 12, and when I try it makes me sick.  The little 8oz are just perfect for me to have a few a week.   I got two cases of gogurt (my toddler's favorite side dish) for 32ct at 6.99 and a $2 off coupon per box.  That is roughly .16 per tube.  Walmart is 16ct for 4.97 which is .31 per tube.  Our walmart is like that for pretty much everything I buy including staples like tomatoes and lettuce.  

Homemade poptarts are easy!

Make a pie crust.  Roll into a squares.  Fill half each square with jam.  Fold over and bake.  Frost and cool.  The best pie crust are made with lard, but half butter/half crisco turn out well also.  Remember to let it rest in the fridge after mixing before rolling.  If your hands run hot, chill them in some ice water before working with pastry.  

I think if it comes down to rationing, it will be a set food type allotment rather than a dollar amount. Specific items that run short or are needed for other things....pork, Margerine, milk, etc.  The EBT cards out now are because the government outsourced the program to local stores. If they take it back up, it is unlikely to be as outsourced.  My prep for that scenario is to learn how to cook without certain items or know substitutes.  

I hate Walmart, it is by far the most expensive place to shop for groceries in town.  I check the prices, but it is always the most expensive along with Costco and Sam's Club.  Even Harris Teeter or Whole Foods are cheaper around here.  I mostly stick to BJs, Kroger, Food Lion, Aldis, Lidl, The Royal Bazar (Indian Grocery,) or the Asian Market. I spend about one or two hours a week cross referencing prices.