I am definitely not normal.
I don't eat chocolate or hot cross buns for Easter and I bought something advertised as 'the worlds best chocolate mouse' warning delicious—and I didn't like it. I need a coffee to get rid of the sweet taste.
Is there anyone else who doesn't like sweet things? Or am I alone with this?

I've met a lot of families who take six months to a year off to travel Australia with their children. Most make this into a fabulous learning experience and with understanding schools and teachers it can become a part of the school curriculum. How most families I've seen have handled the school work  as they travel has been to compile a series of travel journals that involve their children in documenting the trip though writing and art. This is then handed into the school on their return for assessing for their grade.

The Department of Education has set up Schools of Isolated and Distance Education or SIDE. This takes children from kindergarten are until year 12.  Founded in 1918, the school has become a cutting-edge "eschool".

Attending SIDE while travelling is a lot of wok to fit in. Here are some tips to assist teaching children while travelling Australia.  

Minimise travel tips to three to four hours a day and use this time to get the whole family involved in learning spelling, times tables and the history of the surrounding area. A great deal can be learned from discussion. The times following set up can be used for documenting lessons.

If the children are away from school for the full year you can register or home schooling.

Please feel welcome to add any comments or suggestions you can add to this to assist parents who are traveling with children manage the academic side of their children's travel experience.

Don't forget, what you can teach your children though travelling the country for six months to a year is likely to more than make up for any academic experience they miss in a formal school.

I can remember cutting stamps from potatoes when my children were young. Then I saw this natures per-prepared stamp today and had to share it.  Creative arts and crafts are amongst the best experiences I have shared with young children, especially my own.

Powerful message right there. Perhaps you have children who are watching. Perhaps family members. Maybe a neighbor. Or maybe a co-worker. Maybe someone at the gym. You really don't know who you might be influencing with all your hard work.

The phraFrom the song by Billy Ocean, see When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going (song). "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" is a popular Chinese language proverb.

he phrase is a play on words involving idiomatic (Proverb) and distinct meanings of "go" and "tough." In context, "the going" means "the situation," "gets tough" means "becomes difficult," "the tough" means "people who are strong or enduring," and "get going" means "become fully engaged." Taken together, the meaning of the phrase is "When the situation becomes difficult, the strong will work harder to meet the challenge." Another interpretation could mean, "Those who act tough and proud will vacate a situation when it becomes difficult lest they be proven not as tough as they appear to be."

The origin of the phrase has been attributed both to Joseph P. Kennedy (1888–1969),[1] father of U.S. President John F. Kennedy, and sometimes to Norwegian-born American football player and coach Knute Rockne (1888–1931).[2]

Travel Australia With Kids Calling all TAWK families homeschooling their children: Can you please help Mark and give him your thoughts: -

Hi everyone, my wife Jacki has been researching what to do about the WA schooling requirements for our 7 & 10 yr olds while we are travelling around OZ for 1yr.
The Dept of Ed tells us we have to enrol with their SIDE, but so many peeps we have spoken to say it's a ridiculous amount of work to do each day and not practical for travelling.
The other option is home schooling but again problematic as it is designed for people staying in one place, not for travelling
So, can your people who have done the big trip with young kids please share their experiences regards schooling on the road
Thanks in advance! :)

Make a to do list, plan the day but be ready to drop things from the plan. If the shiny kitchen sink appeals to you and makes your day, do it. Gosh, it would be my last ideal as a measure of personal success.  So you to do list needs to reflect on your goals and not other people's goals for you.

"Time is a created thing. To say I don't have time is like saying I don't want to do it." Cheryl Richardson.

Planning to do a course? Write a first draft for a novel?
Write a MIA Notice – Pre-warn friends and family about your ‘Missing in Action’ status until assessments are completed. Ask for their support and encouragement during this time. They will understand and be less likely to pop-in unannounced, plan get togethers or disrupt you unnecessarily.

For those of you who attend online university, Monday is the first day of Session and Study Period 1, 2013- what's everyone going to do to enjoy their weekend before they start?

These are the most common responses.

* Spending most of the weekend preparing my subjects and reading textbooks.
* I'm spending my weekend, wishing I had another weekend before it all started.
*Preparing for SP4's exams due to poor timetabling... really not happy about having to miss out on the entire first week of SP1. I'll be behind before I get a chance to start.
*Taking a sigh of relief that I managed to lodge my assessment by midnight tonight. This reminds me of my own effort. I lodged my final assignment for study period four early this afternoon. The final relief hasn't hit me as yet. I am waiting to 'feel it.' I suspect I'm going to feel numb about it until my grades come through.
*Spending a nice weekend with my children. Yes, I applaud that action.
*SLEEP!
*Cram for the TWO exams I have on Monday and occasionally wonder where my enrollment packs are for my next two units... Yay
*Cleaning, organising house so I can function with family during next period, no real break between SP'S, and organising materials and study area , reading readings, and taking notes. But sleeping in with the rain.
*Assignment due Sun 5pm, afterwards will crawl under the covers and sob quietly to myself until Monday morning then start over.
* First year uni student, I'm too stressed about Monday to enjoy the weekend.
*Renovations...
*Go jam with my band n get smashed..yep.
*Work

I wish everyone well. I am pleased some people will be able to relax and catch up with family and or friends.  Now I understand why week one work is easy, so many are still focused on exams from the previous term. Best wishes everyone.

 I fully understand the sentiments. Many times I've called the health department when I've seen unsafe materials being sold or spoken to organisers of events when unsafe demonstrations are taking place. Most of all, in the home and garden with loved ones. We often feel like a nag, stipulating safety instructions. Yet how often have we regretted, 'holding or tongue?' Don't be afraid to speak out for safety. You will never regret it.

Protect Our Australia has asked for this to be shared.
We are here not only to help protect our wildlife and environment, but our fellow Australian's as well. A lesson for us all to live by....

I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.
It wasn't that I didn't care,
I had the time and I was there.

But I didn't want to seem a fool,
Or argue over a silly rule.
I knew he'd done the job before,
If I spoke up, he might get sore.

The chances didn't seem that bad,
I'd done the same, he knew I had.
So I shook me head and walked on by,
He knew the risks as well as I

He took the chance, I closed an eye
And with that act, I let him die.
I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.

Now every time I see his wife,
I'll know I should have saved his life.
The guilt is something I must bare,
But it isn't something you need to share.

If you see a risk that others take,
That puts their health or life at stake.
The questions asked, or things you say,
Could help them live another day.

If you see a risk and walk away,
Then hope you never have to say,
I could have saved a life that day,
But I chose to look the other way.

I wonder how many young stay at home parents attempt to or do complete, writing novels. I did not begin to pursue novel writing seriously until I was able to retire from another creative profession.

Before that I had a successful career as a fine artist, and also a non-fiction writer.

With two 105,000 word novels in final editing process I've returned to non-fiction writing and I'm loving my current career. I do wonder where I might be as a novelist if I had started earlier.  Now I would encourage people to begin writing during those early at home years with a family. Not that i was idle during that time and a lot of the skills I developed then assist me now as an author.

I know the working feeling :-) I am working up twelve new blogs to take paid assignment, non-fiction writing and working on paid assignments for five existing blogs while maintaining my remaining tree no paid work blogs, the author, editor and novel blog, maintained. That and study, writing, proofreading and editing and loll, I wonder how many non novelists assume we lead a life of leisure. However, long hours or not, I love it, as I know you do too.

Here are some tips that helped me when I worked from home with young children around. 

Create a Routine.
This is as much for you as for the family. I had structured work hours and stuck to them. I had friends who would dro[ in during my work hours not understanding I worked for a living even though I was home. I simply instructed them to make the tea or coffee and let them follow me around while I collectively kept working. 

As a mature age from home worker I still have this issue of friends assuming I do nothing most of the day and believing I am available at any time. Setting and telling people your work hours is essential for a work from home parent. 

Children can be taught you are there during your work hours for urgent needs but not for minor interruptions. Give them plenty of creativity to do and include them into your work if it suits, as in you can draw or write together sometimes.

Novelist Barbara Kingsolver once said that she has always written while her children were in someone else’s care. That is not always practical. I tried it once and went back to providing that care myself.

Prioritise

You need to be flexible and know that do do lists and action plans are not carved in stone and nor are the goals you set. Often family members needs will take over from your work, but don't allow the housework to do so. There will be slumps in any creative job, you can take care of cobwebs then, during a pressure rush for a deadline, forget the non-essential chores and frankly, forget them all together during work hours. 

I'm not saying working from home with a young family is easy, but it can be done successfully and is incredibly rewarding.

I would love to hear of your experience with it.