New user, new pool, lots of questions, poor grades in Chemistry 101

Thanks for welcoming me to the forum. I have 2 kids that I wish were better swimmers. So I've put up a 16' intek pool in the back yard. I live in new england and the season is short.
The pool is now filled. Been reading tons. Enough to get totally confused. I come here for answers and direction.
The pool looks great so far. I used the on-line calculators and dump almost a quart of chlorine in every day (1/2 am and 1/pm). I accidentally added a box of borax (misreach the dosage) and brought the ph down with MA.
I have a sock full of CYA dangling over the pool on pole. The chlorine is not at all stable yet (been 2 days) but everything looks sparkling. I ordered the Taylor test kit and until it arrives I have been using test strips and making runs to the local pool supply house (they use a computer).
About 20 people used the pool the day is was half full. Nobody has been in since while try to get things straightened out. Run the tiny 1500 gph intex paper filter around the clock (plan on turning it off while people are in the pool).
Lots to learn.