Hi Y'all,
Well, I'm off to go camping this weekend til Monday night, but my dh will be here sleeping. We have a baptism to attend at the rather unholy hour of 7:30 am followed by breakfast, then off we go into the mountains of WA tomorrow. Hooray! We're meeting several other families up there for s'mores and camping for two nights, and lots of time at the lake. Today is packing day.
We also bought a car. YES! We have two cars now! It has been six years since we had two healthy, working cars. This is beyond cool. My husband has a 2010 Prius III now, and that gets 50 mi/gal. on his long commute to work and back. And now I can go where I want, when I want. Finally!
I really don't want to pack. But I guess I'd better. Time almost to start the day. Oddly, it's 7:15 and only one child is up, and it's not the youngest. Only on days when I'd like to get in that room, of course. Oh, wait, I hear another one! Time to make breakfast!
Have a super weekend!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Obama's birth certificate
Strange how this just doesn't go away. Obviously he proved his citizenship to SOMEONE, or paid them off, in order to become president. But I don't know why he won't make this go away. He writes folks off as kooks instead of explaining it. I know I have to prove more than this just to drive 3 hours north of here... to Canada with my kids.
Current status report:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=101892
Current status report:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=101892
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Fatherhood post
Happy Father's Day!
We need more "real men". Please father your boys as such!
If your children don't see their father, find someone nearly equivalent to fill in the gap!
http://donotbediscouraged.blogspot.com/2009/06/thoughts-on-fatherhood.html
We need more "real men". Please father your boys as such!
If your children don't see their father, find someone nearly equivalent to fill in the gap!
http://donotbediscouraged.blogspot.com/2009/06/thoughts-on-fatherhood.html
Saturday, June 20, 2009
I got a blog award.... but I have to work for it!
Holly, at Scattering Agates, has awarded me my very first blog award. Awwww.... :) Thanks, Holly!
Holly and I went to college together and she has a blog I need to check to ground myself once in a while. Really good reflections on falling down, getting up, and trying harder in the Christian-Catholic life as a wife and mom. Holly likes mine, because she likes the material, but it's not really her style to post it. So we help each other out!
So, these are the rules from what she posted:
If I sent you the Honest Scrap Blog Award, here are the guidelines:
1) Say thanks and give a link to the presenter of the award.
2) Share "ten honest things" about myself.
3) Present this award to 7 others whose blogs I find brilliant in content and/or design, or those who have encouraged me.
4) Tell those 7 people that they've been awarded HONEST SCRAP and inform them of these guidelines in receiving it.
Ten Honest Things About Myself:
1. I love being Catholic and cannot imagine giving it up. Ever. World Youth Day 1993 has something to do with that.
2. Honesty is one of my favorite attributes. Fairness is another one. And yes, I am a Libra. If you want to see me mad, do something really unfair.
3. I never thought I was going to have more than, say, three kids. But I have to say, five doesn't look that much harder, and I'm glad we're going there.
4. My home is really California, strange a place as it is. But since my ultimate home is Heaven, I can call WA my home, also. Sorry, Oregon, you never really were home to me.
5. I love my husband dearly, and am very, very glad I married him 10 years ago on July 10th.
6. I always love my family, but sometimes I don't like them very much.
7. I vascillate between lazy and frenetic cleaning periods at our house. Maybe that's why it looks like a tornado went through it most of the time.
8. I'm thankful for being close to dirt poor at times, and for all our woes we have gone through, because I have learned what it's like to be poor and also how to manage my money before I have any (thank you, www.daveramsey.com). God knew I needed to learn that a few times before I got it right, and so I thank Him. It is only on reflection that one sees the hand of God.
9. I am enjoying these next ten years or so to the fullest, because I can foresee another stage of life that is not nearly as fun -- high school/college aged children and aging parents. It will be more difficult, and my life is so good right now, I want to enjoy every single moment.
10. My family fits surprisingly well into 967 sq. ft. They even like each other. Most days.
Ok, now for the seven other blogs:
The Common Room
http://www.heartkeepercommonroom.blogspot.com/ It was the first, and the best. I check it every day.
The Pioneer Woman
http://thepioneerwoman.com/ So much good stuff, and reminds me of my childhood on a ranch. Not nearly as big of a ranch, but I do get it when a cow's uterus falls out. Been there for that one!
The McKillip Klan
http://www.mckillipklan.typepad.com/ This family is one I corrected papers for a while back, and we became friends. They are a neat family, on a farm in Colorado. They've been having an AWFUL weather year, so please pray for them and their mom's sanity!
Stoney Creek Digest
http://culbreath.wordpress.com/
We met through a recommendation from the first blog, and then last year we met in person. I don't always agree with Jeff, but he sure does make you think. His family is loverly, and we dearly enjoyed our meeting. They took us to our first Latin Mass in Chico, CA of all places. Let's just say Chico State is not known for it's Masses! And since it was nearby, I just thought that was funny.
Gladdest Hours
http://houseofgallus.typepad.com/cedarsandroses/
Suzanne is a lovely person in person, too! She focuses on the Liturgical Year, and how to celebrate it. It's just wonderful. Her site has soooo many links, you could be there all day.
Who Says 8 Is Enough?
http://bouffard11.blogspot.com/
I adore this blog, but don't check it as much anymore. She's just amazing. Watch the video of how their family came to be. It's partly by birth, partly by adoption, and she keeps basically a scrapbook online. It also links to lots of other blogs, many of which are about adoption, christian families, and multiples. The slideshow at the beginning is a must, did I mention that?
Sardonic Catholic Dad
http://sardoniccatholicdad.blogspot.com/ This guy reminds me to have a sense of humor. Seriously, I love this blog, and it's good for the guys out there. I think the next baby makes an even dozen kids. He lives in NJ, I think. He's very honest, and that's a nice thing to see in a PC world. So funny, it might be sinful.
Now I have to contact all these people?? Holly, why, oh why did you do this to me? :)
Have fun, peeps!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Defending Anti-Catholic free speech
Urr, you say???
Well, it was a good article, that makes a good point.
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6254&Itemid=48
Well, it was a good article, that makes a good point.
http://insidecatholic.com/Joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6254&Itemid=48
Thursday, June 18, 2009
What I've Been Reading
I really should name a new blog that name, but I think what I will do instead is just start doing that as often as I remember. The problem is that I read at night, and I blog in the morning. But I will start with one quote from a Little House on the Prairie book.
It's the last one -- The First Four Years. It takes place in the late 1800's, when Laura and her husband Almanzo "Manly" Wilder, were first married. She had said she'd not marry a farmer because she was tired of the constant state of not knowing if they'd survive from year to year. She was 18 when they married. They had a little girl, Rose, and then a boy, who died when he was weeks old. She was never able to have more children, and Rose did not have any children either, it turns out.
In any case, there is a part of the book where they are made an offer of a herd of sheep. They figure it's a good investment, because you can always sell wool, they have a place to graze them, and they are working with a relative who will keep an eye on them. It does turn out well, but get a load of the reason why the owner of the sheep sold them in the first place! I cracked up!!!
Cousin Peter came one Sunday to tell Manly and Laura that Mr. Whitehead wanted to sell his sheep, a hundred purebred Shropshires.
A presidential election was coming in the fall, and it looked as though the Democrats were due to win. If they did, Mr. Whitehead, being a good Republican, was sure the country would be ruined. The tariff would be taken off, and wool and sheep would be worth nothing. Peter was sure they could be bought at a bargain.
They ended up splitting the cost with cousin Peter, at two dollars per sheep, and wool nearly paid for them the next year. In addition, the sheep all had lambs, and the herd nearly doubled in size in one year.
I think I'd call that a wise investment, and proof that fear is not good for anyone.
It's the last one -- The First Four Years. It takes place in the late 1800's, when Laura and her husband Almanzo "Manly" Wilder, were first married. She had said she'd not marry a farmer because she was tired of the constant state of not knowing if they'd survive from year to year. She was 18 when they married. They had a little girl, Rose, and then a boy, who died when he was weeks old. She was never able to have more children, and Rose did not have any children either, it turns out.
In any case, there is a part of the book where they are made an offer of a herd of sheep. They figure it's a good investment, because you can always sell wool, they have a place to graze them, and they are working with a relative who will keep an eye on them. It does turn out well, but get a load of the reason why the owner of the sheep sold them in the first place! I cracked up!!!
Cousin Peter came one Sunday to tell Manly and Laura that Mr. Whitehead wanted to sell his sheep, a hundred purebred Shropshires.
A presidential election was coming in the fall, and it looked as though the Democrats were due to win. If they did, Mr. Whitehead, being a good Republican, was sure the country would be ruined. The tariff would be taken off, and wool and sheep would be worth nothing. Peter was sure they could be bought at a bargain.
They ended up splitting the cost with cousin Peter, at two dollars per sheep, and wool nearly paid for them the next year. In addition, the sheep all had lambs, and the herd nearly doubled in size in one year.
I think I'd call that a wise investment, and proof that fear is not good for anyone.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
California Farmers
Thanks to the Common Room and Ragamuffin Studies blogs, we have the following video. This is very, very important.
Putting a whole huge area of CA and of the US out of business over a minnow, whose endangered species status sounds questionable? I think the Ragamuffin blogger is right. She brings up some very good points about evolution and politics. Smart lady.
We're all connected.
Putting a whole huge area of CA and of the US out of business over a minnow, whose endangered species status sounds questionable? I think the Ragamuffin blogger is right. She brings up some very good points about evolution and politics. Smart lady.
We're all connected.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Shopping List for you!
This website has SO MUCH on it. This is just the kitchen part.
At the very, very bottom, you will see that you can click on and download your very own shopping list. I have used this for a long time, because it remembers what I buy, and then I just drag it over and add it to my list. Isn't that neat? You can add all the prices, too, if you want.
I am too lazy to do this, but I might do it now. You never know.
I think you will all really like this. No need to re-invent your list all the time.
http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/kitchen/
At the very, very bottom, you will see that you can click on and download your very own shopping list. I have used this for a long time, because it remembers what I buy, and then I just drag it over and add it to my list. Isn't that neat? You can add all the prices, too, if you want.
I am too lazy to do this, but I might do it now. You never know.
I think you will all really like this. No need to re-invent your list all the time.
http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/kitchen/
Last weekend, with pictures!
It's time for a camera download, isn't it?
I guess we could do a summary of May and June. Well, late May, anyway. This first one is Dominic's second birthday. Happy Birthday Dude!
This is what we did to our dining room floor. Our carpet was SO GROSS. We'll do the whole downstairs in pergo this summer sometime, but this dining room is the direct path between our front and back doors, as well as where kids drop all their food on the floor, and even my neighbor who cleans carpets said he wouldn't clean it again, just get rid of it.
So we did. Thanks Cathy!!
We went to Joe and Christina's wedding in Portland, OR a week ago. We got a much better picture of my husband and our friend Fr. Jeff Meeuwsen than we did of the bride and groom. He was concelebrating, since we all went to GU together, and it was super great to see him. He offered to hear our confessions, but do you know how weird that would be? I should have had him do our son's, but it was a wedding, and man, those are crazy days, don'tcha know.
Here is the bride and groom, for lack of better pics. We were hushing our children. Both older boys got to be greeters and I got to be a eucharistic minister. Yay us! Way easier than being a bridesmaid. Phew!
This is the inside of the dome, inside The Grotto, in Portland. This is where we went to Mass last Sunday. It is gorgeous, and if you want to see more pics, google it. It's just beautiful in real life. We took a picture of all the bronze statues of the Stations of the Cross which are outside on a trail. We said an Our Father in front of each one. The kids loved it, and the Mass was just gorgeous. I also found out that our Lola is not the only one who gives kids candy to shut them up at Mass. Apparently most Filipino grandmas do this without asking, even if you've never met them. Huh. Interesting.
We went to see my parents in Astoria, OR, and we also went to see the "down the driveway" neighbors, who always have the animals we didn't. We had horses and dogs and cats, and sometimes sheep or goats. These guys have goats and smaller. They are a fun, unschooling family whose kids sometimes go to school. One of them just graduated. Only one out of five to go! They are all doing just awesome. Did I ever mention the one who couldn't read til he was 13 is now working on a PhD in something to do with optical lasers in Florida? Well, he is.
Anyway, here is their trampoline, and this shows how enormously big this one goat is.
This is Flash. He's about 25 now, but I first met him when I was 13 and my friend who was the age I am now owned him and gave me English riding lessons in return for feeding him in the morning before I went to school. He is getting a bit rickety now, but he's happy. She couldn't take care of him anymore, so he's been at my folks' house for years now.
Here are videos of each of the kids on Flash. His registered name is "Chromed Perfection". That cracks me up. Most registered names of dogs and horses crack me up. My old horse, Sebastian, was "Mon Sebastian BD" Ha ha ha. My dad said the BD stood for Bad Dude. No doubt! :) His brains didn't fit in one horse body! Naughty, naughty horsie.
By the way, last November, Dominic wouldn't get on. Now, I can't get him off!
I don't know why I didn't get a Grace video, but I didn't. Here's her cute little self anyway.
And finally, my new facebook picture:
I guess we could do a summary of May and June. Well, late May, anyway. This first one is Dominic's second birthday. Happy Birthday Dude!
This is what we did to our dining room floor. Our carpet was SO GROSS. We'll do the whole downstairs in pergo this summer sometime, but this dining room is the direct path between our front and back doors, as well as where kids drop all their food on the floor, and even my neighbor who cleans carpets said he wouldn't clean it again, just get rid of it.
So we did. Thanks Cathy!!
We went to Joe and Christina's wedding in Portland, OR a week ago. We got a much better picture of my husband and our friend Fr. Jeff Meeuwsen than we did of the bride and groom. He was concelebrating, since we all went to GU together, and it was super great to see him. He offered to hear our confessions, but do you know how weird that would be? I should have had him do our son's, but it was a wedding, and man, those are crazy days, don'tcha know.
Here is the bride and groom, for lack of better pics. We were hushing our children. Both older boys got to be greeters and I got to be a eucharistic minister. Yay us! Way easier than being a bridesmaid. Phew!
This is the inside of the dome, inside The Grotto, in Portland. This is where we went to Mass last Sunday. It is gorgeous, and if you want to see more pics, google it. It's just beautiful in real life. We took a picture of all the bronze statues of the Stations of the Cross which are outside on a trail. We said an Our Father in front of each one. The kids loved it, and the Mass was just gorgeous. I also found out that our Lola is not the only one who gives kids candy to shut them up at Mass. Apparently most Filipino grandmas do this without asking, even if you've never met them. Huh. Interesting.
We went to see my parents in Astoria, OR, and we also went to see the "down the driveway" neighbors, who always have the animals we didn't. We had horses and dogs and cats, and sometimes sheep or goats. These guys have goats and smaller. They are a fun, unschooling family whose kids sometimes go to school. One of them just graduated. Only one out of five to go! They are all doing just awesome. Did I ever mention the one who couldn't read til he was 13 is now working on a PhD in something to do with optical lasers in Florida? Well, he is.
Anyway, here is their trampoline, and this shows how enormously big this one goat is.
This is Flash. He's about 25 now, but I first met him when I was 13 and my friend who was the age I am now owned him and gave me English riding lessons in return for feeding him in the morning before I went to school. He is getting a bit rickety now, but he's happy. She couldn't take care of him anymore, so he's been at my folks' house for years now.
Here are videos of each of the kids on Flash. His registered name is "Chromed Perfection". That cracks me up. Most registered names of dogs and horses crack me up. My old horse, Sebastian, was "Mon Sebastian BD" Ha ha ha. My dad said the BD stood for Bad Dude. No doubt! :) His brains didn't fit in one horse body! Naughty, naughty horsie.
By the way, last November, Dominic wouldn't get on. Now, I can't get him off!
I don't know why I didn't get a Grace video, but I didn't. Here's her cute little self anyway.
And finally, my new facebook picture:
Friday, June 12, 2009
balancing out the blame game -- Holocaust Museum shooting
I think folks should read this and compare it to commentary on cable news. It's so weird how everything bad that happens is somehow connected to "right wing extremists". Who are those people, anyway? Can't we just call crazy people CRAZY?
Both this guy and the Tillman killer are NUT JOBS. But to hear the news tell it, anyone with a pro-life sticker on the back of their car is likely to do something similar. I'm so done with the news lying and lying. Teach people to educate themselves, please!!
Here's a good link to explain a crazy person.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=35192
Both this guy and the Tillman killer are NUT JOBS. But to hear the news tell it, anyone with a pro-life sticker on the back of their car is likely to do something similar. I'm so done with the news lying and lying. Teach people to educate themselves, please!!
Here's a good link to explain a crazy person.
http://www.frontpagemag.com/readArticle.aspx?ARTID=35192
Peter Schiff -- Comedy Central
My DH and another friend both found this online and put it up on their facebook pages. I stole it, fair and square. I do love Jon Stewart. This is really worth watching. As much as Bill O'Reilly does not recommend getting your news from Comedy Central, well, I can see why they do! It's better than CNN, that's for darn sure. And MSNBC should just implode for pure shame.
I did, by the way, hear exactly this on NPR about 3-4 years ago. I was driving through a town near here, I remember where I was, because I thought, I have got to remember I heard this. I have to remember. I hope they're wrong, but they say this collapse will happen in about two years, starting with subprime mortgages. I can't remember who the speaker was, but she did mention Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being in trouble.
It's not like nobody knew. It's just that nobody wanted to hear. Fingers in ears!!
And people just keep stuffing more cotton in their ears. So much important being said, but not reported. Except on really good blogs.
Sigh.
Enjoy!
I did, by the way, hear exactly this on NPR about 3-4 years ago. I was driving through a town near here, I remember where I was, because I thought, I have got to remember I heard this. I have to remember. I hope they're wrong, but they say this collapse will happen in about two years, starting with subprime mortgages. I can't remember who the speaker was, but she did mention Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac being in trouble.
It's not like nobody knew. It's just that nobody wanted to hear. Fingers in ears!!
And people just keep stuffing more cotton in their ears. So much important being said, but not reported. Except on really good blogs.
Sigh.
Enjoy!
| The Daily Show With Jon Stewart | Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c | |||
| Peter Schiff | ||||
| ||||
Thursday, June 11, 2009
I fixed the link
Ok, John L. Scott lets me do things better with houses. I just like the map you can use on Windermere's site. The post below is fixed so that now you can see my dream fixer house on almost an acre. Anyone? Anyone? Then I can come visit you!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Another house to drool over
I really like this one. If I knew I could sell mine, I think I'd go for it. Seriously. Just what we need, if only not so much work.
http://www.johnlscott.com/propertydetail.aspx?GroupID=200436689&ListingID=300207835&Sort=0
Oh well, I'm sure the right thing will come up when the time is right. Hopefully this summer we're going to revamp the one we have just a bit.
I really need to go make cookies for tonight's Rosary night. I also have to go to the scout office to get things for my new Tiger and Webelos, because we're having a meeting tomorrow already! AAGH! To get us started, you understand. Ok, you guys, no more meetings til Sept, got it?
I am REALLY TIRED from this weekend's galavanting around to a wedding, then my parents' house. We had a wonderful time, and are very happy to be home. Dominic had his first horsie ride. Last November, I couldn't get him up there. This time, I couldn't get him off. Seriously. He was going to camp up there til tomorrow. This horse is not a pony, either. His back is above my head. Dominic was in heaven.
I will post pics when my brain returns. Now to bake cookies.
http://www.johnlscott.com/propertydetail.aspx?GroupID=200436689&ListingID=300207835&Sort=0
Oh well, I'm sure the right thing will come up when the time is right. Hopefully this summer we're going to revamp the one we have just a bit.
I really need to go make cookies for tonight's Rosary night. I also have to go to the scout office to get things for my new Tiger and Webelos, because we're having a meeting tomorrow already! AAGH! To get us started, you understand. Ok, you guys, no more meetings til Sept, got it?
I am REALLY TIRED from this weekend's galavanting around to a wedding, then my parents' house. We had a wonderful time, and are very happy to be home. Dominic had his first horsie ride. Last November, I couldn't get him up there. This time, I couldn't get him off. Seriously. He was going to camp up there til tomorrow. This horse is not a pony, either. His back is above my head. Dominic was in heaven.
I will post pics when my brain returns. Now to bake cookies.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Homeschool Socialization tennis
The Common Room posted a thingy on socialization today, which happens about once a month. We homeschoolers hear a lot about socialization. I could go on and on, but let me link you to this discussion. Some people lost their tempers, but others were very, very thoughtful. I'm linking to the original post here:
http://teacherrevised.org/2009/05/30/the-case-against-homeschooling/
And here is my favorite response. The second half of her reply is most interesting:
Mom2Many
June 1, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Jessica, Jessica, Jessica. Your blog is a prime example of why soooo many parents homeschool. Let me take this comment by comment.
10. How many colleges have you worked at? None? Didn’t think so. I have and as a registrar and having done screening for several programs plus done outreach at public and private schools getting kids into college, I have yet to hear comments such as your’s. I’ve heard, as have the homeschooled kids I’ve helped, “wow, wish I could have been homeschooled.” Now, I have heard geeks/nerds who came out of public schools and private schools mocked and bullied for being geeks/nerds. Seems to be a “normal” part of the “socialization” process of public/private schools. Surely you aren’t too old to remember that and surely you see it on a daily basis if you teach at a school.
9. Well, call me unrealistic but I think people who voice opinions about where classrooms are should actually have some experience about the subject they are talking about. Yes, *some* families use the kitchen table. And, yes, *some* families may use the family/livingroom to study in. HOWEVER, so do public/private schooled kids to do their homework. Are you saying that studying shouldn’t be done in these rooms? Or only by homeschoolers?
8. Now, you say you are college educated. I don’t know this to be a fact but, IF you are then you have to have been in school for at least 17 years. Over all those years you should have learned two things: do your OWN homework, and polls, surveys and statistics say exactly what the person doing the poll, survey or crunching numbers for statistics want them to say. A poll, survey or statistic is only as good as what went into them. Surely you know that.
7. “(Personally I’m agnostic, but I’m just saying…)” Nah, what you were doing there was being obnoxious, sarcastic and making a fool of yourself.
6. All that going to college proves is that you went to college. It certainly doesn’t prove you can teach whether you majored in a subject or not. If this were true then schools wouldn’t be failing the children of America! It is pure unadulterated arrogance for people to think simply because they went to school longer than someone else that they are better at doing something than someone else.
5. Ah, see #7 above.
4. Hmmmm, interesting concept except it’s pure conjecture. However, we do know that public schools breed hate. We do know that private schools are havens of intolerance and the elitist “we’re better than *them*” thinking. Are you perhaps projecting what you’ve seen in private schools?
3. Again, besides a brain fart, what are you basing this on? We get that you are ignorant of and biased against homeschooling. However, as a supposed educator shouldn’t you practice what public/private schools preach — do you homework, do your homework, do your homework. For 13 years public/private schooled kids have some adult standing over their shoulders or standing at the front of a classroom pounding them with “do your homework.” Ah, could I suggest you practice what you preach!
2. Do you really teach? You quote *one* person’s *opinion.* And opinion, might I add, loaded with qualifiers of “probably,” “might,” etc. Sorry, so far I see a failing grade on this particular blog.
AND, as far a playing Russian roulette with a child’s future, ah, take a look at the report cards on schools. Take a look at the Department of Justice stats on abuse in public/private schools BY teachers. Take a look at the stats on the potential to be sexually abused in public/private schools. Take a look at the potential for a child to fail who comes out of a public/private school.
1. “And finally, well,” I think you lie. Sorry, I really don’t think you have met many, if any, homeschoolers.
Now, as to your answers to others and your blog in general, as an English teacher, or so you say, it is frightening that you didn’t head for your dictionary before you wrote this blog (geek: a carnival performer who does disgusting acts; eccentric: a person with an unusual or odd personality (Princeton); or Geek is a common term for someone who is obsessed by their computer, and has achieved a high level of expertise in their chosen area (Science Technology glossary); short for computer geek, an individual with a passion for computers; a term similar to nerd). I would think a mother could easily tell if her child was a geek.
BTW, you “get” an education. You “are” homeschooled.
Now, if you are doing a survey, I have homeschooled my children, my nieces and nephews and a couple of dozen “throw away” children that came in all ages, sizes, colors, ethnic groups and races. I am a minority. I am not rich. I’m not a college graduate and I’ve done a better job with the “throw away” kids my children brought home than the public schools they had all dropped out of did. All the kidlets learned Spanish, Italian, French, German (won an award in German poetry) and/or Russian (none of which I speak), sign language, biology, economics, history, chemistry, government, physical science, English (they won Young Writers Awards in national competitions), dance, art, sewing (won many awards and Best in Show), ag (won many Grand Champions), riding (won hundreds upon hundreds of local, state and national awards and championships), auto mechanics, auto body work. Most of them read all of Shakespeare. At least half read War and Peace. They are all proficient using the computer. Oh, and sports — basketball, baseball, football, softball, gymnastics, soccer, tennis and the list goes on and on and on.
Each and every single one of these children were, dare I say, . . . Perhaps you should sit down before you read any further. ALL of the kidlets were UNschooled. Yup, they never sat down around the table from 8 to 3. They were never required to study anything. They all wanted to learn and learn they did. Each and every single one that wanted to go to college went to college. Each and every single one of them that wanted to learn a marketable skill did so. They have gone to community colleges, four-year colleges and universities. Why, even universities in other countries. They have apprenticed. They now manage companies or own their own companies. They are in the Marines and in the Navy. They are accountants and special ed teachers and work with the developmentally disabled.
My house was filled, on a daily basis, with public, private and charter schooled children. Their graduation parties were held at my house because their schools wouldn’t allow them to have a party. My *homeschooled* children went to public school proms. Many went to proms at multiple schools which they couldn’t have done if they were public schooled. They all did volunteer work. They are all politically savy, active and vote. And, before you jump, not necessarily the way I would want them to.
I don’t know where you got your notion that homeschoolers don’t socialize unless what you mean is that they aren’t locked up in an artificial environment where their only social interaction is with children of the same age. Or you define socialization as learning to bully or be bullied. Or you define socialization as being beat into submission where they have to have permission to use the bathroom.
In fact, while I’m thinking about, my life would have been a bit more peaceful if there had been less socialization! Not that I’m really complaining but facts are facts.
Lots and lots of interesting discussion here! I enjoyed it, but I really must move on with my day and write a grocery list now.
Have a wonderful weekend!
http://teacherrevised.org/2009/05/30/the-case-against-homeschooling/
And here is my favorite response. The second half of her reply is most interesting:
Mom2Many
June 1, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Jessica, Jessica, Jessica. Your blog is a prime example of why soooo many parents homeschool. Let me take this comment by comment.
10. How many colleges have you worked at? None? Didn’t think so. I have and as a registrar and having done screening for several programs plus done outreach at public and private schools getting kids into college, I have yet to hear comments such as your’s. I’ve heard, as have the homeschooled kids I’ve helped, “wow, wish I could have been homeschooled.” Now, I have heard geeks/nerds who came out of public schools and private schools mocked and bullied for being geeks/nerds. Seems to be a “normal” part of the “socialization” process of public/private schools. Surely you aren’t too old to remember that and surely you see it on a daily basis if you teach at a school.
9. Well, call me unrealistic but I think people who voice opinions about where classrooms are should actually have some experience about the subject they are talking about. Yes, *some* families use the kitchen table. And, yes, *some* families may use the family/livingroom to study in. HOWEVER, so do public/private schooled kids to do their homework. Are you saying that studying shouldn’t be done in these rooms? Or only by homeschoolers?
8. Now, you say you are college educated. I don’t know this to be a fact but, IF you are then you have to have been in school for at least 17 years. Over all those years you should have learned two things: do your OWN homework, and polls, surveys and statistics say exactly what the person doing the poll, survey or crunching numbers for statistics want them to say. A poll, survey or statistic is only as good as what went into them. Surely you know that.
7. “(Personally I’m agnostic, but I’m just saying…)” Nah, what you were doing there was being obnoxious, sarcastic and making a fool of yourself.
6. All that going to college proves is that you went to college. It certainly doesn’t prove you can teach whether you majored in a subject or not. If this were true then schools wouldn’t be failing the children of America! It is pure unadulterated arrogance for people to think simply because they went to school longer than someone else that they are better at doing something than someone else.
5. Ah, see #7 above.
4. Hmmmm, interesting concept except it’s pure conjecture. However, we do know that public schools breed hate. We do know that private schools are havens of intolerance and the elitist “we’re better than *them*” thinking. Are you perhaps projecting what you’ve seen in private schools?
3. Again, besides a brain fart, what are you basing this on? We get that you are ignorant of and biased against homeschooling. However, as a supposed educator shouldn’t you practice what public/private schools preach — do you homework, do your homework, do your homework. For 13 years public/private schooled kids have some adult standing over their shoulders or standing at the front of a classroom pounding them with “do your homework.” Ah, could I suggest you practice what you preach!
2. Do you really teach? You quote *one* person’s *opinion.* And opinion, might I add, loaded with qualifiers of “probably,” “might,” etc. Sorry, so far I see a failing grade on this particular blog.
AND, as far a playing Russian roulette with a child’s future, ah, take a look at the report cards on schools. Take a look at the Department of Justice stats on abuse in public/private schools BY teachers. Take a look at the stats on the potential to be sexually abused in public/private schools. Take a look at the potential for a child to fail who comes out of a public/private school.
1. “And finally, well,” I think you lie. Sorry, I really don’t think you have met many, if any, homeschoolers.
Now, as to your answers to others and your blog in general, as an English teacher, or so you say, it is frightening that you didn’t head for your dictionary before you wrote this blog (geek: a carnival performer who does disgusting acts; eccentric: a person with an unusual or odd personality (Princeton); or Geek is a common term for someone who is obsessed by their computer, and has achieved a high level of expertise in their chosen area (Science Technology glossary); short for computer geek, an individual with a passion for computers; a term similar to nerd). I would think a mother could easily tell if her child was a geek.
BTW, you “get” an education. You “are” homeschooled.
Now, if you are doing a survey, I have homeschooled my children, my nieces and nephews and a couple of dozen “throw away” children that came in all ages, sizes, colors, ethnic groups and races. I am a minority. I am not rich. I’m not a college graduate and I’ve done a better job with the “throw away” kids my children brought home than the public schools they had all dropped out of did. All the kidlets learned Spanish, Italian, French, German (won an award in German poetry) and/or Russian (none of which I speak), sign language, biology, economics, history, chemistry, government, physical science, English (they won Young Writers Awards in national competitions), dance, art, sewing (won many awards and Best in Show), ag (won many Grand Champions), riding (won hundreds upon hundreds of local, state and national awards and championships), auto mechanics, auto body work. Most of them read all of Shakespeare. At least half read War and Peace. They are all proficient using the computer. Oh, and sports — basketball, baseball, football, softball, gymnastics, soccer, tennis and the list goes on and on and on.
Each and every single one of these children were, dare I say, . . . Perhaps you should sit down before you read any further. ALL of the kidlets were UNschooled. Yup, they never sat down around the table from 8 to 3. They were never required to study anything. They all wanted to learn and learn they did. Each and every single one that wanted to go to college went to college. Each and every single one of them that wanted to learn a marketable skill did so. They have gone to community colleges, four-year colleges and universities. Why, even universities in other countries. They have apprenticed. They now manage companies or own their own companies. They are in the Marines and in the Navy. They are accountants and special ed teachers and work with the developmentally disabled.
My house was filled, on a daily basis, with public, private and charter schooled children. Their graduation parties were held at my house because their schools wouldn’t allow them to have a party. My *homeschooled* children went to public school proms. Many went to proms at multiple schools which they couldn’t have done if they were public schooled. They all did volunteer work. They are all politically savy, active and vote. And, before you jump, not necessarily the way I would want them to.
I don’t know where you got your notion that homeschoolers don’t socialize unless what you mean is that they aren’t locked up in an artificial environment where their only social interaction is with children of the same age. Or you define socialization as learning to bully or be bullied. Or you define socialization as being beat into submission where they have to have permission to use the bathroom.
In fact, while I’m thinking about, my life would have been a bit more peaceful if there had been less socialization! Not that I’m really complaining but facts are facts.
Lots and lots of interesting discussion here! I enjoyed it, but I really must move on with my day and write a grocery list now.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
A pro-life awesome dude! ... and of course, Tianmen Square Anniversary
I saw this link on a homeschooling loop today. Wow. This guy is awesome!
http://www.catholicvoiceoakland.org/09-05-25/frontpage1.htm
Also, today is the 20th anniversary of the massacre at Tianamen Square. To this day, no one knows for sure what happened, except the people who were there. They are not allowed to talk, so we may never know, unless someday China tells us, or someone smuggles something out of the country. The fear is so great, it appears many children in China do not know what happened. 20 somethings say, "Something happened, but I don't know what. Some sort of clash about capitalism and communism maybe?" No really, I read this. I think it was in Newsweek or something.
AGH!
I was only 12 at the time. I remember that year because it was quite a year. At roughly the same time, Russia because Russia again, not the USSR I grew up with. The Berlin Wall came down, and there was once again one Germany, and not two.
ISN'T THAT MIND-BLOWING?? Seriously? I barely remember the Cold War, but it was a big deal! Now people don't even care.
It so does not surprise me how fast history repeats itself. People are just not paying attention.
When I was in 4th grade, I had a pen pal from the USSR, probably Vladivostok, since that was our sister city. We were told as a class that we should not be surprised if not all of our letter got to our pen pal, because the mail would be intercepted, and authorities would black out what they didn't want people to know. I have no idea what we could have said. I imagine a trip to Disneyland would be verboten? I don't know. We were also told that pencils with erasers were like gold to these kids. We were told how lucky we were. And we were! And still are! So far....
In any case, here is a link to wikipedia, explaining what we know of what happened 20 years ago in China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_massacre
Free speech is so important. Even hate speech. Because anything can be construed as hate speech if you start that slippery slope. We must hold tight to free speech, the right to bear arms, and work on our education. The school systems are teaching us to be ashamed of our country, and they are wrong. But people believe it and don't know history. Always check out the facts from differing points of view. It is so very important, and getting more so as people get more vitriolic in their views, and use their brains less.
God Bless America, where at least I know I'm free, to coin a phrase from a song.
http://www.catholicvoiceoakland.org/09-05-25/frontpage1.htm
Also, today is the 20th anniversary of the massacre at Tianamen Square. To this day, no one knows for sure what happened, except the people who were there. They are not allowed to talk, so we may never know, unless someday China tells us, or someone smuggles something out of the country. The fear is so great, it appears many children in China do not know what happened. 20 somethings say, "Something happened, but I don't know what. Some sort of clash about capitalism and communism maybe?" No really, I read this. I think it was in Newsweek or something.
AGH!
I was only 12 at the time. I remember that year because it was quite a year. At roughly the same time, Russia because Russia again, not the USSR I grew up with. The Berlin Wall came down, and there was once again one Germany, and not two.
ISN'T THAT MIND-BLOWING?? Seriously? I barely remember the Cold War, but it was a big deal! Now people don't even care.
It so does not surprise me how fast history repeats itself. People are just not paying attention.
When I was in 4th grade, I had a pen pal from the USSR, probably Vladivostok, since that was our sister city. We were told as a class that we should not be surprised if not all of our letter got to our pen pal, because the mail would be intercepted, and authorities would black out what they didn't want people to know. I have no idea what we could have said. I imagine a trip to Disneyland would be verboten? I don't know. We were also told that pencils with erasers were like gold to these kids. We were told how lucky we were. And we were! And still are! So far....
In any case, here is a link to wikipedia, explaining what we know of what happened 20 years ago in China.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiananmen_Square_massacre
Free speech is so important. Even hate speech. Because anything can be construed as hate speech if you start that slippery slope. We must hold tight to free speech, the right to bear arms, and work on our education. The school systems are teaching us to be ashamed of our country, and they are wrong. But people believe it and don't know history. Always check out the facts from differing points of view. It is so very important, and getting more so as people get more vitriolic in their views, and use their brains less.
God Bless America, where at least I know I'm free, to coin a phrase from a song.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
