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Hello everyone, this is my first time on this discussion board. I'm very excited to learn more about HOD. I am going to be using LHFHG for my two younger children, and would like to do preparing with my two oldest, but have a few concerns regarding the time it will take to do all four. I would love to here from anyone who has used two or more different guides at the same time I also have a 2yr. who needs alot of attention.

Melanie

Welcome to HOD!! Glad you are here!

I am using 2 and a half guides I have one in Bigger, one in Little Hearts, and a part-timer doing LHTH (my 2.5yo who needs A LOT of attention to prevent trips to the ER! LOL...Mr. Adventure). Even with our breaks, we're done with all of HOD before lunch if we start by 9 or 10. It's been so wonderfully scheduled that I've easily added in several of our own personal interests as extras (you can see how much in my signature!). It's VERY doable! You just get in the groove and go with it.

To help you get started, you could start both at half pace then pick up the speed once you get that down. Or you could start one and get it going good, then start the other. There are plenty of options to work yourself into it quite easily. I'm sure others will come offer advice soon!

Welcome! I only "found" HOD around Christmas time. I've been using Beyond with my 5 and 7yo for about 2 months. I just started my oldest (10yo) in Preparing this week. I also have a 3 yo and a 9mos old. This week as been a little "off" for us as we all seem to be on the "late shift" - up late and sleeping in (the older two played in the supernational chess tourney over the weekend and were ~midnight getting home!) But even so, it is all getting done

I agree that starting half pace is an excellent option to ease into it.

Lynn

Welcome to HOD! We're glad to have you here! At our house, we are in the home stretch of our year with LHFHG and Preparing Hearts (with a just turned 3 year old running around) and my oldest son piloting much of our new program. We've had a great year! Here's a link to our schedule on the scheduling thread. Just scroll down to see my 2008-2009 schedule under "Carrie".

Link: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2093

Blessings,
Carrie

Wow, I'm encouraged to here the amount of time it will take, that's good news. I think I will start the younger ones first and then add the older kids, once I got into the groove. Maybe if I start now and go through the summer (with a few breaks here and there) I won't feel so overwhelmed

We started this year out doing PHFHG and LHFHG, and we typically finished by 12:30 PM (starting at around 8:15 AM). Then, my middle ds finished his LHFHG, and we began BLHFHG about halfway into the year (my oldest continued on with PHFHG), and we are still done by 12:30, or at the latest 1:00 PM. This is with rotating playtimes with the dog, our feisty little 2 yo, and now the new puppy . Anyway, once you get about a month into the programs, you'll probably hit your stride and have the time whittled down to around 4 to 4 1/2 hours. You will love the combo of doing these programs. It's been a relief to be meeting each of our dc's needs so easily this year, as they are too far apart to combine well. The PHFHG has about a 1/3 of the boxes done independently, and that gives me a good portion of time to be doing BLHFHG with my middle ds. I think you'll be happily surprised at how well this all flows! Just be sure to allow a "training" period for the first 3-4 weeks - and it helped our ds doing PHFHG to learn to use the PHFHG guide himself right from the start. He just checks off corners of the boxes in the guide as he does them.

In Christ,
Julie

Thanks ladies I would have probably started with all the kids at the same time full speed and felt overwhelmed by the first week. Now I know to allow a month to ease into it. I am so very excited to start. I hear such encouraging things from all of you. I also have two friends who have been doing it for the past two years and two more starting now, so I will be surrounded with support. Praise God!

Melanie