So, it has come to my attention that apparently it is the opinion of some that I am "spoon feeding" my kids when it comes to homeschooling my kids. When I first heard this, I was feeling very defensive. I was angry. I was ready to fight. Not exactly the most Christian reaction, I know. I've given much thought to why someone might feel that way, and in what I presume to be a negative way; why I reacted so strongly; and I've reflected on how I'm handling homeschooling my kids.
There are some things that I need to work on. I need to be more patient. Okay, I need a lot more patience. *chuckles* Especially with Bryan. I had very high expectations with him, and well, he's not living up to my expectations. I should have kept the same philosophy for this as I try to everything else, and I didn't. Afterall, the teachers had been telling me that Bryan would be a "straight A" student if he only did the work. My experience was that he would barely do his homework if I knew he had it and wouldn't even bring it home if he thought I didn't know about it. So why did I expect much more from him with homeschooling? But now that I have lowered my expectations a bit, hopefully I can be less frustrated and more patient.
In thinking about why someone would feel that I were spoon feeding my kids, I realized that honestly, if anyone who has actually watched me work with the kids on a consistent basis, and still thought I spoonfed my kids frankly didn't know what they heck they were talking about and didn't understand what teaching was really about.
I did not choose an easy curriculum for my kids. It's a very involved curriculum that requires many more hours of work than most homeschooling curriculums. My kids average 5-6 hours of hardcore academics everyday. That's not including PE, Art, and Music. The reading comprehension is a bit tough, even for me at times. The English curriculum, is actually teaching my kids how to diagram sentences, as well as parts of speech that are much more detailed than what the public schools teach these days. The Catechism is more concise and detailed than any of the CCD classes have offered; in fact I'm considering not sending them to the CCD classes because of the misinformation and inconsistencies they've been taught up until this point. Anyway, I am not sure why, but I felt compelled to share that. Take it as you will.
Now, I have to ask, what is a teacher? Or more importantly, what makes a remarkable teacher? Is she someone that rushes through the curriculum, with the main agenda being to touch on everything, with little concern on whether the student gets the information? Afterall, that's how our public school systems are set up. A teacher in a public school must cover a predetermined amount of information, and undoubtedly, some of the children do get left behind. Or is a teacher, a truly remarkable teacher, one that gets to know the student, his stregnths and weakness, and tries to accomodate those to optimize the learning?
So what does spoonfeed teaching mean? Am I giving the information too freely? How is that possible when I am the teacher and he is the student? First of all, my idea of spoonfeeding, is what I had when I was in school. I rarely opened the textbook in most of my classes. Now, I did take good notes. But I wrote down what the teacher told me, studied it (or reviewed it before the test), and did fine. I felt like that was spoonfeeding me. Now that I'm going to school online, where I am responsible for reading the material and learning it on my own, it's HARD! I have to do all the work. Now with that said, I don't spoon feed much to Ana. This is because she has the self-discpline to sit down, do the work, study the material and learn it. I do help her with her history. Some of the review questions require her to read the chapter as a whole and then deduce an answer from many points made in the text. The kids are not used to this kind of comprehension. It's not "spoonfed" to them by having the answers in the text word for word. So yes, she still needs help with that. Bryan, on the other hand, if I left him be, he's not motivated to get it done. I do need to hound him to make sure it gets done. And there are some subjects, like English, particularly the compositions, that he flat out will not do without me sitting with him coaxing him. I do read alot of his stuff to him, similiar to how I'd be lecturing. Bryan is a stronger reader than Ana, and so I'm not as concerned with him not getting enough practice reading. My concern with him is that he be exposed to the information and that he learns it. If that means I have to "spoonfeed" it to him, then by all means, I'm going to do it.
So with that said, is there something wrong with the way I'm handling it? Should I just leave my kids to do the work on their own, even if I know that if I don't help them, read it to them, explain further, etc that they wouldn't get it, or even do it? I know my kids. I know which subjects they can work on by themselves and which ones they need a little nudge. I'm determined to give them the best education they can get. Am I letting them down? That is my biggest fear, of course! But rest assured, no matter how I choose to go about it, I'm keeping their best interests in mind and doing what I feel needs to be done for them to get the education they need to succeed.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Bring back Prayer!
There are many arguments supporting the view of citizens who favor the return of prayer to public schools.
First and foremost, prayer in school is constitutional and supports the principle of freedom of religion on which the U.S. was founded. In banning school prayer, the U.S. Supreme Court has misinterpreted the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. A simple and voluntary school prayer does not amount to the government establishing a religion, any more than do other practices common in the U.S. such as the employment of Congressional chaplains, government recognition of holidays with religious significance such as Christmas or the proclamation of National Days of Prayer. Furthermore, in banning school prayer the U.S. Supreme Court has mistaken the principle of “freedom of religion,” guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, for freedom from religion and any observance of it. School prayer would allow religious students the freedom to observe their religious beliefs during the school day. The U.S. Supreme Court has urged school cooperation with religious authorities for “it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs.”
Moreover, prayer in school acknowledges our religious heritage. Our country was founded by people who believed in freedom to practice one’s religion openly and who used their religious beliefs to create the backbone of this nation. Our children should be able to participate openly in this great heritage, seeking help, strength, and endurance from God as did their forefathers. Our system of education also has a rich spiritual heritage. Of the first 108 universities founded in America, 106 were distinctly Christian, including the first, Harvard University, chartered in 1636. In the original Harvard Student Handbook, rule number 1 was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the Scriptures: "Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, (John 17:3); and therefore to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning."
Finally, prayer in school offers many societal benefits. School prayer would instill moral values. Schools must do more than train children’s minds academically. They must also nurture their souls and reinforce the values taught at home and in the community. Founding father Samuel Adams said, "Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity. . .and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system." The public school system is tragically disintegrating as evidenced by the rise in school shootings, increasing drug use, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, and HIV transmission. School prayer can help combat these issues and is desperately needed to protect our children. School prayer could lead to increased tolerance and less bullying in school since it can instill a sense of right and wrong and a love for others above oneself. School prayer will promote good citizenship. Founding father John Adams said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." The founding fathers believed this should be taught in school. George Washington stated, "What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ." School prayer may cause students to acknowledge a power greater than themselves on which they can rely for comfort and help in times of trouble. This will lead to decreased reliance on drugs, alcohol, sex, and dangerous amusements as well as decreased suicides.
First and foremost, prayer in school is constitutional and supports the principle of freedom of religion on which the U.S. was founded. In banning school prayer, the U.S. Supreme Court has misinterpreted the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. A simple and voluntary school prayer does not amount to the government establishing a religion, any more than do other practices common in the U.S. such as the employment of Congressional chaplains, government recognition of holidays with religious significance such as Christmas or the proclamation of National Days of Prayer. Furthermore, in banning school prayer the U.S. Supreme Court has mistaken the principle of “freedom of religion,” guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, for freedom from religion and any observance of it. School prayer would allow religious students the freedom to observe their religious beliefs during the school day. The U.S. Supreme Court has urged school cooperation with religious authorities for “it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public service to their spiritual needs.”
Moreover, prayer in school acknowledges our religious heritage. Our country was founded by people who believed in freedom to practice one’s religion openly and who used their religious beliefs to create the backbone of this nation. Our children should be able to participate openly in this great heritage, seeking help, strength, and endurance from God as did their forefathers. Our system of education also has a rich spiritual heritage. Of the first 108 universities founded in America, 106 were distinctly Christian, including the first, Harvard University, chartered in 1636. In the original Harvard Student Handbook, rule number 1 was that students seeking entrance must know Latin and Greek so that they could study the Scriptures: "Let every student be plainly instructed and earnestly pressed to consider well, the main end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ, which is eternal life, (John 17:3); and therefore to lay Jesus Christ as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning."
Finally, prayer in school offers many societal benefits. School prayer would instill moral values. Schools must do more than train children’s minds academically. They must also nurture their souls and reinforce the values taught at home and in the community. Founding father Samuel Adams said, "Let divines and philosophers, statesmen and patriots, unite their endeavors to renovate the age by impressing the minds of men with the importance of educating their little boys and girls, inculcating in the minds of youth the fear and love of the Deity. . .and leading them in the study and practice of the exalted virtues of the Christian system." The public school system is tragically disintegrating as evidenced by the rise in school shootings, increasing drug use, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, and HIV transmission. School prayer can help combat these issues and is desperately needed to protect our children. School prayer could lead to increased tolerance and less bullying in school since it can instill a sense of right and wrong and a love for others above oneself. School prayer will promote good citizenship. Founding father John Adams said, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." The founding fathers believed this should be taught in school. George Washington stated, "What students would learn in American schools above all is the religion of Jesus Christ." School prayer may cause students to acknowledge a power greater than themselves on which they can rely for comfort and help in times of trouble. This will lead to decreased reliance on drugs, alcohol, sex, and dangerous amusements as well as decreased suicides.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Double Standards
So recently I found myself arguing over my opinion regarding immigrants in the work force in this country. It turned ugly, not my doing, and so I stepped out. I will argue with the best of them, but if the participating parties want to make personal attacks towards me, I don't have time to grace them with my thoughts.
I have an issue when I go into Target or Wal-mart and can't find a sales clerk that speaks enough English to understand me well enough to tell me where to go to find an item; is too busy speaking about, presumably, personal subjects in their native tongue with a fellow employee to pay attention to the fact that a customer is standing there waiting to ask a question; or worse yet, that won't practically push a customer out of the way to restock an item. All of the above, has personally happened to me many, many times.
It was said that I shouldn't blame the employee, but the employer. And to as certain extend, I can certainly understand this. Afterall, it is the employeer who knowingly hires someone who may beable to pass that written English exam but face-to-face obviously can't hold a conversation, much less help a customer in passing. And, around here atleast, it is the employeer who is of a foreign decent him/herself and hires, at best, 98% of the same decent; despite the fact that I know for a fact native-born, English-proficient people who want a job just as badly who would appreciate the job and not mix personal with business at work applies for the same job and never gets hired.
But I do blame the employee as well. I get that there are humble, conscientious and hard working immigrants out there. And to them, my hat is off to them for enduring so much to try to make their life and the lives of their family better. That IS what this country is about. But what I've described above are not the actions of humble, conscientious and hard working people. If you have time to text on your phone or hold a twenty minute conversation in your native tongue with your friend while at work, then you have time to better yourself and practice the language, pick up a dictionary, improve yourself.
And no, I am not wrong for thinking this. When I go to a foreign country, I am expected to try to speak in that language. And I happily oblige. I will most likely be very inadequate. But frankly, if I'm going for two weeks of vacation, then I shouldn't be expected to be fluent. However, if I were to relocate to another country, seek employment and all the benefits of that country, then I should be expected to learn the language adequately enough to do the job as well as the natives and to understand and at least respect the culture. But those coming to this country are not expected to do so, and many of them know they aren't expected and take full advantage of it.
I mentioned respecting the culture, above. Now just because I respect the culture doesn't mean I must take part in the traditions of the culture. But I have no right to go to another country and tell the natives that they are wrong for doing something a certain way. But yet, somehow, it is not only acceptable for immigrants to come here and tell me that my pledge to my country is offensive or my tradition of praying for the safety of the children on the playing field is offensive, but this has become so common place that there are actual American-born people telling me the same thing!?! What the blazes is wrong with this picture?!
My country's entire existance seems to be melting away around me. You better bet your patootie I'm upset. The same people who preach that our suppression of the Native Americans and their culture was wrong, is condoning the suppression of my culture and way of life by "outsiders". The same people that cry for the rights of the minority, are taking my rights away. Our opinions are being squashed to not offend others, with no regard to what may offend us. And afterall, I saying being offended by having the rights given to me by the Constitution takes precidence over someone's offense for my exercise of my rights, which consequently is their right too.
Stop the double standards, the hypocracy and the discrimination. Completely turning the table is not going to do away with the problem, it is only going to prolong it. In this case, resentment occurs and only helps to breed the very problems that we are all trying to do away with. Wake up America!
I have an issue when I go into Target or Wal-mart and can't find a sales clerk that speaks enough English to understand me well enough to tell me where to go to find an item; is too busy speaking about, presumably, personal subjects in their native tongue with a fellow employee to pay attention to the fact that a customer is standing there waiting to ask a question; or worse yet, that won't practically push a customer out of the way to restock an item. All of the above, has personally happened to me many, many times.
It was said that I shouldn't blame the employee, but the employer. And to as certain extend, I can certainly understand this. Afterall, it is the employeer who knowingly hires someone who may beable to pass that written English exam but face-to-face obviously can't hold a conversation, much less help a customer in passing. And, around here atleast, it is the employeer who is of a foreign decent him/herself and hires, at best, 98% of the same decent; despite the fact that I know for a fact native-born, English-proficient people who want a job just as badly who would appreciate the job and not mix personal with business at work applies for the same job and never gets hired.
But I do blame the employee as well. I get that there are humble, conscientious and hard working immigrants out there. And to them, my hat is off to them for enduring so much to try to make their life and the lives of their family better. That IS what this country is about. But what I've described above are not the actions of humble, conscientious and hard working people. If you have time to text on your phone or hold a twenty minute conversation in your native tongue with your friend while at work, then you have time to better yourself and practice the language, pick up a dictionary, improve yourself.
And no, I am not wrong for thinking this. When I go to a foreign country, I am expected to try to speak in that language. And I happily oblige. I will most likely be very inadequate. But frankly, if I'm going for two weeks of vacation, then I shouldn't be expected to be fluent. However, if I were to relocate to another country, seek employment and all the benefits of that country, then I should be expected to learn the language adequately enough to do the job as well as the natives and to understand and at least respect the culture. But those coming to this country are not expected to do so, and many of them know they aren't expected and take full advantage of it.
I mentioned respecting the culture, above. Now just because I respect the culture doesn't mean I must take part in the traditions of the culture. But I have no right to go to another country and tell the natives that they are wrong for doing something a certain way. But yet, somehow, it is not only acceptable for immigrants to come here and tell me that my pledge to my country is offensive or my tradition of praying for the safety of the children on the playing field is offensive, but this has become so common place that there are actual American-born people telling me the same thing!?! What the blazes is wrong with this picture?!
My country's entire existance seems to be melting away around me. You better bet your patootie I'm upset. The same people who preach that our suppression of the Native Americans and their culture was wrong, is condoning the suppression of my culture and way of life by "outsiders". The same people that cry for the rights of the minority, are taking my rights away. Our opinions are being squashed to not offend others, with no regard to what may offend us. And afterall, I saying being offended by having the rights given to me by the Constitution takes precidence over someone's offense for my exercise of my rights, which consequently is their right too.
Stop the double standards, the hypocracy and the discrimination. Completely turning the table is not going to do away with the problem, it is only going to prolong it. In this case, resentment occurs and only helps to breed the very problems that we are all trying to do away with. Wake up America!
Marriage
- 40-50% of marriages in the US will end in divorce if current trends continue.
- 27.6% of women who marry under the age of 20 years old will divorce (11.7% of men)
- 36.6% of women who marry at the ages of 20-24 years old will divorce (38.8% of men)
- 16.4% of women who marry at the ages of 25-29 years old will divorce (22.3% of men)
- 8.5% of women who marry at the ages of 30-34 years old will divorce (11.6% of men)
- 5.1% of women who marry at the ages of 35-39 years old will divorce (6.5% of men)
- The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%
- The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%
- The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%
- In 2009, the where 6.8 marriages per 1,000 total population; 3.4 divorces per 1,000 total population
Do these statistics worry you? Are you surprised? What causes such high rates of divorce?
I've honestly lost track of how many of my friends and associates have had marrital problems so severe that the marriage was seriously in danger or did end in separation or divorce. But I don't want to talk about the statistics or even the causes.
Hubby and I have talked alot the past couple of years. It's been difficult being apart for so long, continually working on our relationship so that it doesn't die down with all the distance, and seeing so many relationships around us fall apart, even some who we both looked to for inspiration. And we've decided that 1) the sanctity of marriage seems to be a moot subject these days and 2) people have unrealistic expectations.
I'm not completely against divorce. And I'm not going to pass judgement on those who choose divorce. We all have to make decisions that we can live with. All marriages have difficult times. But God meant for us to work through those difficult times together. Marriage should be "until death do (you) part".
I just think that people underestimate what they have when they have it and overestimate what they want. The grass is not always greener. Divorce is hard and emotional and expensive. People want to complain about how hard life is....WELL STOP MAKING IT HARD! or atleast harder than it has to be. I think "problems" that arise in a marriage can usually be worked out. And I think that the hardwork that it would take to work those problems out, is actually easier than the work it takes to get a divorce and then live harmonously, especially if there are children involved, after the divorce.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Is it just me? Or is it hypocricy?
So I vent...that's what I do. I guess you can call me a gossip. I don't like the light that paints me in, but if we're gonna be honest, I suppose I am, only difference is I do it on my facebook, or even here, on blogger. Well, and I don't purposely talk badly about anyone, only about my perspecive of the situation.
This isn't the first time, I've talked about my feelings on an online social network and someone got upset with me because I vented about something they did or how they made me feel. Again, I don't intentionally hurt anyone, it's all about my perspective and how I feel.
So, about the situation that I blogged about last. Well, it's no secret that I don't like the way the school handled it. And honestly, I didn't talk badly about the other family, atleast not intentionally. I have said a couple times on my facebook that I didn't feel my daughter did anything wrong, perse, and that the other child did the "crime". Well, this has angered the other mother. I get that she doesn't like hearing that. No one wants to hear the truth when it's not good news, especially when it's about their own child. And I get how it sounds like I'm saying that my daughter didn't do anything wrong. My daughter made a bad decision when she decided to say to her friend that they needed to do something to the third party before he did something to her. I think she gets that. But I've always felt that she was just venting, especially considering as soon as my daughter found out what her friend did, my daughter told her not to do it and to retract her text message to everyone. I also feel that's something that we are all "guilty" of. EVEN THE MOTHER OF THE GIRL WHO SENT THE TEXT. But she doesn't see it that way.
What do I mean when I said that the mother of the girl is guilty? Well, she told me that she wanted to charge a certain someone with slander, and to even stop the other family's PCS!! Aren't these threats? now, did she follow through with them? No, of course not. I can only assume that when she was still upset, that's when she said those things to me, and then when she calmed down and thought about the situation, realized that doing such would not be a good idea. Anastasia did the same thing. She vented to her friend, and then after her friend sent the text message (without asking my daughter about it) Ana decided that it wasn't a good idea afterall. We are all guilty of thinking about irrational things when we are emotional and then once we calm down and revisit the idea, realizing the error of our ways.
*sighs* I make a lot of mistakes. I'm not perfect. But when I decide that I have infact made a mistake, I try to apologize. I've apologized, ALOT, to this mother and I haven't gotten an apology for my daughter's privacy being violated without permission. My daughter hasn't gotten an apology either, from the mother or the duaghter.
Well, it's unfortunate, but I have lost a friend in all of this. So has my daughter. But honestly, with friends like those who needs enemies? Afterall, my daughter's friend lied and deceived her. And then blackmailed her....I ended up just blocking this friend's phone number on my daughter's phone because she told my daughter that if my daughter wasn't her friend, then she'd tell my daugher's secrets to other people. I will not have my daughter threatened like that.
So anyway, I guess I'm "talking ill" about these two people (mother and daughter). It's how I feel. The way I see it, if the mother of the girl had not believed that her daughter "would have never sent the text if Ana had not asked her", then my daughter never would have been brought into the situation. I felt like from the very beginning, the other mother didn't want to accept the fact that her daughter did something wrong. When the truth of the matter is her daughter either 1) liked the boy in question and was jealous that my daughter has his attention or 2) was jealous of the time that my daughter was spending with the boy, because for weeks she had been telling my daughter that she didn't like the boy and was interfering with their relationship. I think when my daughter came to her about "getting them before they got her", this was the opportunity that my daughter's (ex)friend was looking for and she took it. I wish she hadn't. I hate that all of this happened. Maybe I should have said something to the other mom before? I am not sure I would have gotten anywhere. You see there's so much history here...like for example that the (ex)friend's mother didn't like the boy long before this. *sighs* But I guess that's another story for another time.
This isn't the first time, I've talked about my feelings on an online social network and someone got upset with me because I vented about something they did or how they made me feel. Again, I don't intentionally hurt anyone, it's all about my perspective and how I feel.
So, about the situation that I blogged about last. Well, it's no secret that I don't like the way the school handled it. And honestly, I didn't talk badly about the other family, atleast not intentionally. I have said a couple times on my facebook that I didn't feel my daughter did anything wrong, perse, and that the other child did the "crime". Well, this has angered the other mother. I get that she doesn't like hearing that. No one wants to hear the truth when it's not good news, especially when it's about their own child. And I get how it sounds like I'm saying that my daughter didn't do anything wrong. My daughter made a bad decision when she decided to say to her friend that they needed to do something to the third party before he did something to her. I think she gets that. But I've always felt that she was just venting, especially considering as soon as my daughter found out what her friend did, my daughter told her not to do it and to retract her text message to everyone. I also feel that's something that we are all "guilty" of. EVEN THE MOTHER OF THE GIRL WHO SENT THE TEXT. But she doesn't see it that way.
What do I mean when I said that the mother of the girl is guilty? Well, she told me that she wanted to charge a certain someone with slander, and to even stop the other family's PCS!! Aren't these threats? now, did she follow through with them? No, of course not. I can only assume that when she was still upset, that's when she said those things to me, and then when she calmed down and thought about the situation, realized that doing such would not be a good idea. Anastasia did the same thing. She vented to her friend, and then after her friend sent the text message (without asking my daughter about it) Ana decided that it wasn't a good idea afterall. We are all guilty of thinking about irrational things when we are emotional and then once we calm down and revisit the idea, realizing the error of our ways.
*sighs* I make a lot of mistakes. I'm not perfect. But when I decide that I have infact made a mistake, I try to apologize. I've apologized, ALOT, to this mother and I haven't gotten an apology for my daughter's privacy being violated without permission. My daughter hasn't gotten an apology either, from the mother or the duaghter.
Well, it's unfortunate, but I have lost a friend in all of this. So has my daughter. But honestly, with friends like those who needs enemies? Afterall, my daughter's friend lied and deceived her. And then blackmailed her....I ended up just blocking this friend's phone number on my daughter's phone because she told my daughter that if my daughter wasn't her friend, then she'd tell my daugher's secrets to other people. I will not have my daughter threatened like that.
So anyway, I guess I'm "talking ill" about these two people (mother and daughter). It's how I feel. The way I see it, if the mother of the girl had not believed that her daughter "would have never sent the text if Ana had not asked her", then my daughter never would have been brought into the situation. I felt like from the very beginning, the other mother didn't want to accept the fact that her daughter did something wrong. When the truth of the matter is her daughter either 1) liked the boy in question and was jealous that my daughter has his attention or 2) was jealous of the time that my daughter was spending with the boy, because for weeks she had been telling my daughter that she didn't like the boy and was interfering with their relationship. I think when my daughter came to her about "getting them before they got her", this was the opportunity that my daughter's (ex)friend was looking for and she took it. I wish she hadn't. I hate that all of this happened. Maybe I should have said something to the other mom before? I am not sure I would have gotten anywhere. You see there's so much history here...like for example that the (ex)friend's mother didn't like the boy long before this. *sighs* But I guess that's another story for another time.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Betrayed
So this past Wednesday, I received a phone call from my daughter's on-again-off-again boyfriend. Honestly, they are very good friends who are very fond of each other. Anyway, when she said she wanted to come over, I figured it was about the argument my daughter and her son had had a couple days before. Things got heated, and her son called my daughter a terrible name. But I had things under control, and figured she just wanted to make sure we were on the same page, as far as what we were teaching our kids.
However, that wasn't what she wanted to talk to me about. In fact, she had worked late and didn't know, yet, about the breakup, so we had to chat about that as well. But what she wanted to talk to me about, was far much worse. Her son, had received a text message from one of his friends that said, "don't worry, I got your back" and then a forward. This forward was a very disturbing text from my daughter's bestfriend. At that time, we were both very concerned about how this text message could affect her son's day. We agreed that I'd follow up with her after I spoke with Ana and that she'd go to the school to check on her son. At this point, we were both hoping the text message hadn't gone very far and that no one would act on what the text message was asking.
Unfortunately, the situation quickly got worse. The friend of the boyfriend, who received the text message, immediately showed the teacher when he got to school. So, at that point, the cat was out of the bag, and there was no way we could keep this between just the parents of the children involved and the kids.
At this point, I knew very little and had to wait until my daughter got home from school that afternoon to read the text messages on her phone to know if she had anything to do with the text message that went out.
I was relieved when I read the text messages, that it appeared that Ana had nothing to do with the text message, but it was bittersweet. It turned out that my daughter's best friend had taken it upon herself to try to rally a day of bullying against my daughter's ex-boyfriend. Her friend also lied to my daughter, telling her that she was the only one to whom the text message went to. This was after my daughter told her friend that she didn't like the text message and that she needed to tell everyone she sent it to, "nevermind", and to not do anything to the boyfriend. My daughter's friend said that it was just a joke between the two of them, when she knew that she had already sent it to other children. Also, she admits that she had sent out similiar text messages atleast once before, trying to get others to call the boyfriend names, and that she had gotten into trouble for it. Finally, she said that if they did get into trouble, she'd just say that she got the message from someone else. To which my daughter replied, "no lying".
I was devastated that my daughter's friend had done this and disappointed that she lied to my daughter. I wanted to do what I could to help her parents, which included letting them borrow my daughter's cell phone so they could read the text messages themselves. I thought I was doing the right thing, and I trusted them. That was my mistake.
Over the next two days, I kept waiting for the school to call me. The school never did. I now know why. The parents of my daughter's friend had taken photographs of the text messages of the conversation on my daughter's phone and given it to the school. I didn't find this out until after the school was done with their investigation, after they had interrogated my daughter without my presence; after one of the school administrators had told my daughter that her friend told him that she sent the original message and that he felt my daughter was lying. (GRRRRR)
My daughter was betrayed by her best friend. And I feel that I was betrayed by her parents. I feel like I should have been told that they took pictures of the conversation. But by violating my trust, they took me completely out of the picture. By giving these pictures of the text messages to the school, the school didn't call me for the conversation, and didn't give me a chance to protect my daughter from illegal and shady interrogations. I didn't get a chance to give the school my take on the whole situation prior to them making a decision.
My daughter didn't do anything wrong. She was venting to her bestfriend. We all confide in our friends. She didn't do anything different from what the majority of us do. We are all "guilty" of saying that we want to do something to someone else when we are angry or frustrated. We have all done it. And the majority of us never follow through with those wishes, because we know it's wrong. Ana knew it was wrong, she was just venting, and when she thought her friend had done something wrong, she tried to stop her, only to be lied to her by friend.
That's not to say that I don't understand why the school is punishing Ana for. They feel that Ana's words enticed the actions of her friend. Ironic, really. Everyone likes to talk about how we all need to take responsibility for our own actions and that we have no control over the actions of others, but we need to react responsibly. Well, my daughter reacted responsibily to her friend by telling her that what she was doing was wrong. But yet, my daughter is also taking partial responsibility for the actions of another person. The hypocricy is so frustrating.
In fact, much of what the school system has done in the past few weeks is contrary to what they claim to teach and support. But yet, I'm made to feel by many of my peers that I'm doing something wrong. Why? Because I expect the system that is employed to TEACH my kids to live up to a high standard of values? Because I expect the adults that are respected and adhered as role models in my children's life to conduct themselves in a professional manner, which includes acting with integrity? It's all a learning opportunity alright. I will continue to teach my children that they are responsible for their own actions. But I also intend to use these adults' bad behavior as learning tools too. My children are not ignorant or oblivious to the mistakes that are made by those around them. And I can point those mistakes out as things that my children should not do.
However, that wasn't what she wanted to talk to me about. In fact, she had worked late and didn't know, yet, about the breakup, so we had to chat about that as well. But what she wanted to talk to me about, was far much worse. Her son, had received a text message from one of his friends that said, "don't worry, I got your back" and then a forward. This forward was a very disturbing text from my daughter's bestfriend. At that time, we were both very concerned about how this text message could affect her son's day. We agreed that I'd follow up with her after I spoke with Ana and that she'd go to the school to check on her son. At this point, we were both hoping the text message hadn't gone very far and that no one would act on what the text message was asking.
Unfortunately, the situation quickly got worse. The friend of the boyfriend, who received the text message, immediately showed the teacher when he got to school. So, at that point, the cat was out of the bag, and there was no way we could keep this between just the parents of the children involved and the kids.
At this point, I knew very little and had to wait until my daughter got home from school that afternoon to read the text messages on her phone to know if she had anything to do with the text message that went out.
I was relieved when I read the text messages, that it appeared that Ana had nothing to do with the text message, but it was bittersweet. It turned out that my daughter's best friend had taken it upon herself to try to rally a day of bullying against my daughter's ex-boyfriend. Her friend also lied to my daughter, telling her that she was the only one to whom the text message went to. This was after my daughter told her friend that she didn't like the text message and that she needed to tell everyone she sent it to, "nevermind", and to not do anything to the boyfriend. My daughter's friend said that it was just a joke between the two of them, when she knew that she had already sent it to other children. Also, she admits that she had sent out similiar text messages atleast once before, trying to get others to call the boyfriend names, and that she had gotten into trouble for it. Finally, she said that if they did get into trouble, she'd just say that she got the message from someone else. To which my daughter replied, "no lying".
I was devastated that my daughter's friend had done this and disappointed that she lied to my daughter. I wanted to do what I could to help her parents, which included letting them borrow my daughter's cell phone so they could read the text messages themselves. I thought I was doing the right thing, and I trusted them. That was my mistake.
Over the next two days, I kept waiting for the school to call me. The school never did. I now know why. The parents of my daughter's friend had taken photographs of the text messages of the conversation on my daughter's phone and given it to the school. I didn't find this out until after the school was done with their investigation, after they had interrogated my daughter without my presence; after one of the school administrators had told my daughter that her friend told him that she sent the original message and that he felt my daughter was lying. (GRRRRR)
My daughter was betrayed by her best friend. And I feel that I was betrayed by her parents. I feel like I should have been told that they took pictures of the conversation. But by violating my trust, they took me completely out of the picture. By giving these pictures of the text messages to the school, the school didn't call me for the conversation, and didn't give me a chance to protect my daughter from illegal and shady interrogations. I didn't get a chance to give the school my take on the whole situation prior to them making a decision.
My daughter didn't do anything wrong. She was venting to her bestfriend. We all confide in our friends. She didn't do anything different from what the majority of us do. We are all "guilty" of saying that we want to do something to someone else when we are angry or frustrated. We have all done it. And the majority of us never follow through with those wishes, because we know it's wrong. Ana knew it was wrong, she was just venting, and when she thought her friend had done something wrong, she tried to stop her, only to be lied to her by friend.
That's not to say that I don't understand why the school is punishing Ana for. They feel that Ana's words enticed the actions of her friend. Ironic, really. Everyone likes to talk about how we all need to take responsibility for our own actions and that we have no control over the actions of others, but we need to react responsibly. Well, my daughter reacted responsibily to her friend by telling her that what she was doing was wrong. But yet, my daughter is also taking partial responsibility for the actions of another person. The hypocricy is so frustrating.
In fact, much of what the school system has done in the past few weeks is contrary to what they claim to teach and support. But yet, I'm made to feel by many of my peers that I'm doing something wrong. Why? Because I expect the system that is employed to TEACH my kids to live up to a high standard of values? Because I expect the adults that are respected and adhered as role models in my children's life to conduct themselves in a professional manner, which includes acting with integrity? It's all a learning opportunity alright. I will continue to teach my children that they are responsible for their own actions. But I also intend to use these adults' bad behavior as learning tools too. My children are not ignorant or oblivious to the mistakes that are made by those around them. And I can point those mistakes out as things that my children should not do.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
FIRE!
My title is multifacted this morning. There is the obvious literal meaning, yes there was a HUGE fire near my home last night. But also, a more abstract meaning is meant to be conveyed as well.
The crime level around me seems to be growing and I find it a bit unnerving, for sure. Last week, the MPs woke Holly up before 8am because she had been one of atleast two dozen victims of someone's sick joke--one of her tires had been slashed with a knife. Certainly not the best way to start the day.
Not long before that, an open field in our neighborhood had been set to blazes, leaving about 1/4 acre of charred grass and bush. Again, this wasn't more than 2 blocks from my house.
Last night, I get a disturbing phone call from Holly, around 12:30am. I was ready to lay into her because she was calling and waking me up. I should have known, since she normally comes home quietly, taking care not to wake the rest of us up when she retires from her very long days in PWC/DCFR, that this phone call was serious. I could hear the panic in her voice immediately. As she tells me what she's seeing, I step out my back door, and I see the horror--quickly raining down closer to my home.
One of the houses in construction in an adjacent village (River village) from me was completely engulfed in flames. The flames I could almost see above the tall trees lining the creek that separates my village from the village where the fire was. Hundreds, even thousands of embers were raining down onto the surrounding areas, spreading quickly across the creek and over some of the houses in my village. I quickly realized how serious this was as the possibility of secondary fires starting due to the embers escaping hundreds of feet above the source of the fire.
As I'm on the phone with Holly, she describes to me how the house was completely engulfed, nothing but the skeleton frame left, how the fire had already escaped to the trees and powerlines around the house and a garage behind the house. This was serious, and the fire department seemed to take forever to respond, a call Holly had made 2-3 minutes before she called me. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the sirens could be heard throughout post and I saw several engines race by my home toward the fire.
Thank God, there was noone living there. Thank God, Holly saw the fire as she returned home and called it in. Who knows how much more could have been damaged if she had not. But now that the climax of the ordeal has come and passed, there are so many questions to be answered. For a fire like that to spread so quickly, one would think that it would have had to have been fueled, purposely. Just days after the tires being slashed all through our village, one can not help but think that this fire, too, is the result of a delinguent running unchecked around the post.
Damn it, parents! Why can't you keep a better eye on your kids? I mean how hard is it? I have a lot on my plate, but I can somehow do it. It's not that hard. I know where my kids are, at all times, and if there's any question, they are not allowed to leave the house without their cellphones, which I promptly call or text, if I need an update as to there whereabouts. As for curfews, my kids are always home by dark. Whether that is 4:30-5pm in the winter or 8pm in the summer, if it is starting to get dark (if the street lights comes on, they are LATE!) they are home. Also, I do not go to bed until my kids are fast asleep in their beds. I sometimes am the "bad guy", because if I am tired and want to go to bed before they are ready to go to bed, my children are not too happy with me. But these recent events are why I have this rule. It helps that I am a "in your face" kind of parent, so as a result I have good kids that know that most of what they do, won't go unnoticed by me. This helps them to keep themselves in check. But again, parents, this isn't too hard! Your children, whether they are two or twenty, need your guidance. Just because your child is fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, doesn't mean you no longer need to parent. The frontal cortex, where the reasoning skills develop, doesn't completely develop until mid-twenties. Your teenagers cannot always figure out the consequences of their actions before they act. They need your help....you did the dirty, not do the duty. When you decide to have children, you make a lifetime commitment to another being: your child. So get off your bootie and take responsibility as parents!
The crime level around me seems to be growing and I find it a bit unnerving, for sure. Last week, the MPs woke Holly up before 8am because she had been one of atleast two dozen victims of someone's sick joke--one of her tires had been slashed with a knife. Certainly not the best way to start the day.
Not long before that, an open field in our neighborhood had been set to blazes, leaving about 1/4 acre of charred grass and bush. Again, this wasn't more than 2 blocks from my house.
Last night, I get a disturbing phone call from Holly, around 12:30am. I was ready to lay into her because she was calling and waking me up. I should have known, since she normally comes home quietly, taking care not to wake the rest of us up when she retires from her very long days in PWC/DCFR, that this phone call was serious. I could hear the panic in her voice immediately. As she tells me what she's seeing, I step out my back door, and I see the horror--quickly raining down closer to my home.
One of the houses in construction in an adjacent village (River village) from me was completely engulfed in flames. The flames I could almost see above the tall trees lining the creek that separates my village from the village where the fire was. Hundreds, even thousands of embers were raining down onto the surrounding areas, spreading quickly across the creek and over some of the houses in my village. I quickly realized how serious this was as the possibility of secondary fires starting due to the embers escaping hundreds of feet above the source of the fire.
As I'm on the phone with Holly, she describes to me how the house was completely engulfed, nothing but the skeleton frame left, how the fire had already escaped to the trees and powerlines around the house and a garage behind the house. This was serious, and the fire department seemed to take forever to respond, a call Holly had made 2-3 minutes before she called me. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the sirens could be heard throughout post and I saw several engines race by my home toward the fire.
Thank God, there was noone living there. Thank God, Holly saw the fire as she returned home and called it in. Who knows how much more could have been damaged if she had not. But now that the climax of the ordeal has come and passed, there are so many questions to be answered. For a fire like that to spread so quickly, one would think that it would have had to have been fueled, purposely. Just days after the tires being slashed all through our village, one can not help but think that this fire, too, is the result of a delinguent running unchecked around the post.
Damn it, parents! Why can't you keep a better eye on your kids? I mean how hard is it? I have a lot on my plate, but I can somehow do it. It's not that hard. I know where my kids are, at all times, and if there's any question, they are not allowed to leave the house without their cellphones, which I promptly call or text, if I need an update as to there whereabouts. As for curfews, my kids are always home by dark. Whether that is 4:30-5pm in the winter or 8pm in the summer, if it is starting to get dark (if the street lights comes on, they are LATE!) they are home. Also, I do not go to bed until my kids are fast asleep in their beds. I sometimes am the "bad guy", because if I am tired and want to go to bed before they are ready to go to bed, my children are not too happy with me. But these recent events are why I have this rule. It helps that I am a "in your face" kind of parent, so as a result I have good kids that know that most of what they do, won't go unnoticed by me. This helps them to keep themselves in check. But again, parents, this isn't too hard! Your children, whether they are two or twenty, need your guidance. Just because your child is fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, doesn't mean you no longer need to parent. The frontal cortex, where the reasoning skills develop, doesn't completely develop until mid-twenties. Your teenagers cannot always figure out the consequences of their actions before they act. They need your help....you did the dirty, not do the duty. When you decide to have children, you make a lifetime commitment to another being: your child. So get off your bootie and take responsibility as parents!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Buck Up!
My tolerance levels are certainly lower than usual. I need some extra help with the whole understanding and compassion thing right now. But I guess all I can do is keep *trying* to be tolerant of everyone around me.
I've always tried to live by the belief that everyone's tolerances are different. Just because it seems like the other person is having too hard a time with something that you think is no big deal, doesn't mean that he or she is stretched thin and having a hard time. This helps me remain compassionate for those who, on the surface, do seem to be "just a whiner". Afterall, and I don't mean to 'toot my own horn', god has blessed me with an amazing strength. I surprise myself alot of the time.
With that said, there are times when I see those who claim to be having a hard time I just want to slap some sense into them. There are some people who just don't realize that many of their troubles, or atleast stressors, they bring on themselves. I now this isn't very Christian of me, but enough is enough. You are grown adults! for Pete's sake. Grow up, man up and do what needs to be done; this includes making sacrifices to get the job done.
I've always tried to live by the belief that everyone's tolerances are different. Just because it seems like the other person is having too hard a time with something that you think is no big deal, doesn't mean that he or she is stretched thin and having a hard time. This helps me remain compassionate for those who, on the surface, do seem to be "just a whiner". Afterall, and I don't mean to 'toot my own horn', god has blessed me with an amazing strength. I surprise myself alot of the time.
With that said, there are times when I see those who claim to be having a hard time I just want to slap some sense into them. There are some people who just don't realize that many of their troubles, or atleast stressors, they bring on themselves. I now this isn't very Christian of me, but enough is enough. You are grown adults! for Pete's sake. Grow up, man up and do what needs to be done; this includes making sacrifices to get the job done.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Tribulations
It is safe to say that God has certainly seen fit to test me the last couple of days. I hope I have lived up to His expectations, because I'm EXHAUSTED!
But can I first start with a bit of a vent that has nothing to do with the original intent of this blog?.......
It is offensive, people, at least to me, to 1) ask me if I dye my children's hair and most certainly to walk up to me and say 2) "I know you dye that baby's hair!" I mean seriously? Am I the only one who thinks it is ludicrous to even think about dying a child's hair? But especially a special needs six year old's? I am offended because, yes, I do believe that if I were to do such a thing that would make me one of the most selfish morons on the planet! And while we are at it, it is not necessary to ask me where my children get their red hair. For years, I have excused such questions because some people are just trying to make small talk. I realize this. But anyone who has taken BIO 101 knows that red heads, we are dying breed. Furthermore, red is the most recessive hair color (which explains why "dying breed" is appropriate). Just because my hair is not "carrot-top" red like my boys' hair, does not mean that I must not have contributed to their genes! In fact, for ALL THREE of my children (albeit, my daughters is a much darker red, almost auburn--coincidently, like mine used to be before Father Time got the best of me) to be red-headed BOTH parents would have to carry AND contribute the "red" gene. Again, all of this would have been taught in a freshman level biology class. So please people, when you see me with my children, if you must comment, just compliment on their hair color as being beautiful and leave it at that. It is NATURAL and I am their biological mother, meaning they got it from ME and their father.
Okay....back to my original post.
This week has been one of the hardest weeks I have had in a very long while.
Sunday night, Connor woke up at 2:30am and did not go back to sleep. That was a LONG morning. I did end up sleeping most of the morning away on the couch, which unfortunately meant I was then a day behind in my homework and housework...and errands, I had errands I needed to run on Monday. Woke up just in time to get some lunch and get Connor off the bus for ABA therapy. After ABA therapy it was time for sound/auditory therapy, and then almost immediately after that had to go pick up my daughter from Hayfield Secondary (Honor band practice). Then dinner, homework, baths and BED.
Monday night, was even WORSE with Connor. He woke up just before 12:30am and didn't go back to sleep until nearly 6am. This time, I obviously did not send him to school, and we slept until about 10:30am. Thankfully Holly woke up and got my older kids up and ready for school, because I was out cold. I got Connor up, gave him a bath, showered myself, and the two of us were out the door to run errands. We had a good time, the two of us, although albeit, it's much harder with him in tow. We first went to the post office to mail off the notice of intent for homeschooling. Then to the PX to drop off a box in the FedEx self-service drop off. By this time it was lunchtime and I was famished. So I got to eat lunch with my little boy at the food court. Then to the commissary we went! By the time we got home with the groceries, it was after 1pm. I still had to do sound/auditory therapy with Connor, do a couple loads of laundry and make dinner for the kiddos. Then we were off to the older kids Tai Kwon Do and Jui Jitsu.
Tuesday night was a little bit better. Connor stated to fuss a little bit around 11pm. Fortunately I was still up trying to get some pharmacology homework done, since I was by this time a couple days late on the homework. I ran in to Connor and took his braces off really quick. He did sit up in bed and indicated that his feet were hurting. I concluded that the couple of difficult nights were due to his tendons being tender because of all the extra PT and stretching I had been doing with him since finding out Monday before last that he's in danger of needing another surgery on his feet. Fortunately, after I took the braces off and laid him back down, Connor went right back to sleep and slept through the night. THANK GOODNESS!
Wednesday was nother busy busy day, trying to play catch up. Before 10am, I had already cleaned both bathrooms, including the showers, emptied the dishwasher and reloaded it, finished folding two loads of laundry and put them away, dusted the living room, dining room and library, swept and mopped the luandry room and stripped Bryan's bed and got it in the wash. Then took a shower and worked alittle on homework, but I just haven't had much time to work on homework at all this week. Connor came home, ABA, then we rushed to eat dinner as soon as ABA was over and off to Bryan's baseball tryouts--which went better than I expected, frankly (proud). So then we were home and again it was showers and homework. Ana needed time and "talk" time with me, and I ended up staying up until nearly 10pm with him talking with her, but it was a good talk. Then I was up another hour finishing up laundry and such.
Today, I think has been the hardest day this week. I put Connor to bed with no braces on because of the experiences we had had the previous nights (Wednesday night), so he slept through the night, thankfully. I don't think I would have survived this day without a full night's sleep...well, okay I only got about 5 hours, but it's better then one or two like Sunday or monday night. Alarm went off at 5:30am. Because my kids (older ones) had stayed up later than usual the night before, I didn't want to wake them; wanted them to get a little extra sleep, so I got Connor ready for school and out the door by myself, with no help from them....that is a CHORE. Then I jumped on Skype and was able to talk to the hubby for a few minutes, which was nice because I had not been able to talk to him much all week. Woke the older ones up and got them off to school, and then I left out for a parenting class. The class, frankly, was a bit of a waste of time. I need individualized/one on one time to figure out how to work with Anastasia specifically. These general parenting classes are all the same. I have the fundamentals and basics down. And for the most part, I do mess up from time to time, I follow what all the experts say to do. *sighs* So after the parenting class, which ran for over an hour and a half, I got home just in time to eat some lunch and work on my sociology alittle bit. I got a couple things written for that class, but still have a lot of reading and a couple of quizzes and one blackboard assignment to complete. YIKES! And no, I'm not done with pharmacology and haven't even cracked the history book this week. *frowns* Fortunately, it was exam week for psychology class and I've already taken the exam (took it before spring Break). But these three other classes and the kind of week I have had is not going well at all. So anyway, I left out to pick up Connor from school after getting some quick lunch. I didn't stay in the clinic for OT today. I sat in the car and read about half of the first chapter of two that I need to read for sociology during his session, but the therapist says it was a bit of a rocky session. During the OT session, I got a phone call from the pediatrics clinic saying that some paperwork I had dropped off the day before (Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I ran paperwork up to the hospital on Wednesday to be filled out by the doctor for Connor's respite care) was ready to pick up. So after we left from OT, we went to the hospital, picked up the paperwork and then ran it to ACS/EFMP. By the time all of that was done, it was nearly 4pm and I hadn't even done sound therapy yet! So we came in the back door, dropped off our things, and immediately went out the front door to walk around the neighborhood with our (Connor) headphones for sound therapy. Well, sound therapy is 30 minutes, so you guessed it! Connor finished just in time for the kids to get home from school. I will say that the evening could have been a lot harder. The weather was so nice today and Holly made a delicious meal that I really wanted to sit and enjoy instead of scarfing down like every other day this week, so the kids and I decided against going to martial arts tonight. So I did have a nice hour or so sitting on the front porch, watching the kids play in the neighborhood. Dinner was delicious and Connor, after sitting at the table for about 20 minutes refusing to eat, ended up eating everything on his plate. Meanwhile, Ana was finishing up some homework and Bryan wanted to practice throwing and catching a baseball. I was feeling VERY overwhelmed and torn in a million different directions, so fortunately, Holly took Bryan outside to play with him and throw the ball back and forth. I'm so thankful that she's here. Yes, she's so busy with her school and fire/rescue stuff that there is alot she doesn't do around the house because she just doesn't have the time, but with stuff that counts like having a conversation with one of the kids, to let them know they are appreciated and wanted, or taking them to extracurriculars or throwing a ball back and forth (small stuff, but it means so much!). So I proceeded to shower Connor and get him ready for bed. He smelled so "yummy"! I love the smell of a freshly bathed baby. yes, I know, he's not a baby, but I still use the Johnson's baby bath and lotion because he doesn't know to keep his eyes closed, etc during a bath. Then on to the kitchen. It wasn't too big of a bess, but that took a good chunk of my time. By the time that was done it was nearly 7:45pm and I still needed to vacuum the two bigger kids' rooms desperately. I had meant to do it earlier in the day, but just didn't have the time. I finished vacuuming their rooms right at 8:20. Went to put Connor down for the night, when to my horror, Connor had pooped and dug into it and smeared it all over him and the bed. At least he was laying in bed and it was ONLY on him and the bed. Stripping the sheets and remaking the bed is much much easier than having to scrub and shampoo carpets! So, back in the shower Connor went. At this point, I'm almost in tears, because I'm exhausted and I still have a good 2-3 hours of sociology homework to do, which I still haven't started because frankly, my brain is spagetti and I just can't concentrate on the material. It was nearly 9:15 by the time I got Connor back in bed. Then hubby called. I feel so terrible because I wasn't the best conversationalist. But all I could think of was all the things that I still have to do. I needed a shower desperiately because I was icky feeling, I still had three loads of laundry to do tonight and of course that sociology homework that is lingering over my head.
So here I am. I've been working on typing this for the past hour and a half now. I've got the last load of laundry in the washer. Connor woke up about 45 minutes ago fussing. He is not doing well with the Dorsal flexors on at night, which is what he needs to wear...those or the Ponsetti braces, but he sleeps worse in those most nights. We have the FRCs, but he's already started to crack the fiberglass on them. I ended up taking him out of them and he is not sleeping in nothing on his feet. Hopefully he can get some sleep and go to school tomorrow becasue tomorrow is another busy day of housework and homework; and of course ABA and sound therapy with Connor and I need to take the kids to pre-bowl for Saturday b/c Bryan has baseball try-outs.
So yeah, it's been tough. I have had no time, other than the time I've spent typing this, to myself all week. I've been running running running with very little breaks and I feel like I'm still so very behind on everything in my life. But time to sign off of here for now. Laundry and sociology awaits, and it is midnight. Hey, TGIF! Hopefully God approves of how I have managed this week. But a clone or some extra help would be absolutely fantastic, Amen.
But can I first start with a bit of a vent that has nothing to do with the original intent of this blog?.......
It is offensive, people, at least to me, to 1) ask me if I dye my children's hair and most certainly to walk up to me and say 2) "I know you dye that baby's hair!" I mean seriously? Am I the only one who thinks it is ludicrous to even think about dying a child's hair? But especially a special needs six year old's? I am offended because, yes, I do believe that if I were to do such a thing that would make me one of the most selfish morons on the planet! And while we are at it, it is not necessary to ask me where my children get their red hair. For years, I have excused such questions because some people are just trying to make small talk. I realize this. But anyone who has taken BIO 101 knows that red heads, we are dying breed. Furthermore, red is the most recessive hair color (which explains why "dying breed" is appropriate). Just because my hair is not "carrot-top" red like my boys' hair, does not mean that I must not have contributed to their genes! In fact, for ALL THREE of my children (albeit, my daughters is a much darker red, almost auburn--coincidently, like mine used to be before Father Time got the best of me) to be red-headed BOTH parents would have to carry AND contribute the "red" gene. Again, all of this would have been taught in a freshman level biology class. So please people, when you see me with my children, if you must comment, just compliment on their hair color as being beautiful and leave it at that. It is NATURAL and I am their biological mother, meaning they got it from ME and their father.
Okay....back to my original post.
This week has been one of the hardest weeks I have had in a very long while.
Sunday night, Connor woke up at 2:30am and did not go back to sleep. That was a LONG morning. I did end up sleeping most of the morning away on the couch, which unfortunately meant I was then a day behind in my homework and housework...and errands, I had errands I needed to run on Monday. Woke up just in time to get some lunch and get Connor off the bus for ABA therapy. After ABA therapy it was time for sound/auditory therapy, and then almost immediately after that had to go pick up my daughter from Hayfield Secondary (Honor band practice). Then dinner, homework, baths and BED.
Monday night, was even WORSE with Connor. He woke up just before 12:30am and didn't go back to sleep until nearly 6am. This time, I obviously did not send him to school, and we slept until about 10:30am. Thankfully Holly woke up and got my older kids up and ready for school, because I was out cold. I got Connor up, gave him a bath, showered myself, and the two of us were out the door to run errands. We had a good time, the two of us, although albeit, it's much harder with him in tow. We first went to the post office to mail off the notice of intent for homeschooling. Then to the PX to drop off a box in the FedEx self-service drop off. By this time it was lunchtime and I was famished. So I got to eat lunch with my little boy at the food court. Then to the commissary we went! By the time we got home with the groceries, it was after 1pm. I still had to do sound/auditory therapy with Connor, do a couple loads of laundry and make dinner for the kiddos. Then we were off to the older kids Tai Kwon Do and Jui Jitsu.
Tuesday night was a little bit better. Connor stated to fuss a little bit around 11pm. Fortunately I was still up trying to get some pharmacology homework done, since I was by this time a couple days late on the homework. I ran in to Connor and took his braces off really quick. He did sit up in bed and indicated that his feet were hurting. I concluded that the couple of difficult nights were due to his tendons being tender because of all the extra PT and stretching I had been doing with him since finding out Monday before last that he's in danger of needing another surgery on his feet. Fortunately, after I took the braces off and laid him back down, Connor went right back to sleep and slept through the night. THANK GOODNESS!
Wednesday was nother busy busy day, trying to play catch up. Before 10am, I had already cleaned both bathrooms, including the showers, emptied the dishwasher and reloaded it, finished folding two loads of laundry and put them away, dusted the living room, dining room and library, swept and mopped the luandry room and stripped Bryan's bed and got it in the wash. Then took a shower and worked alittle on homework, but I just haven't had much time to work on homework at all this week. Connor came home, ABA, then we rushed to eat dinner as soon as ABA was over and off to Bryan's baseball tryouts--which went better than I expected, frankly (proud). So then we were home and again it was showers and homework. Ana needed time and "talk" time with me, and I ended up staying up until nearly 10pm with him talking with her, but it was a good talk. Then I was up another hour finishing up laundry and such.
Today, I think has been the hardest day this week. I put Connor to bed with no braces on because of the experiences we had had the previous nights (Wednesday night), so he slept through the night, thankfully. I don't think I would have survived this day without a full night's sleep...well, okay I only got about 5 hours, but it's better then one or two like Sunday or monday night. Alarm went off at 5:30am. Because my kids (older ones) had stayed up later than usual the night before, I didn't want to wake them; wanted them to get a little extra sleep, so I got Connor ready for school and out the door by myself, with no help from them....that is a CHORE. Then I jumped on Skype and was able to talk to the hubby for a few minutes, which was nice because I had not been able to talk to him much all week. Woke the older ones up and got them off to school, and then I left out for a parenting class. The class, frankly, was a bit of a waste of time. I need individualized/one on one time to figure out how to work with Anastasia specifically. These general parenting classes are all the same. I have the fundamentals and basics down. And for the most part, I do mess up from time to time, I follow what all the experts say to do. *sighs* So after the parenting class, which ran for over an hour and a half, I got home just in time to eat some lunch and work on my sociology alittle bit. I got a couple things written for that class, but still have a lot of reading and a couple of quizzes and one blackboard assignment to complete. YIKES! And no, I'm not done with pharmacology and haven't even cracked the history book this week. *frowns* Fortunately, it was exam week for psychology class and I've already taken the exam (took it before spring Break). But these three other classes and the kind of week I have had is not going well at all. So anyway, I left out to pick up Connor from school after getting some quick lunch. I didn't stay in the clinic for OT today. I sat in the car and read about half of the first chapter of two that I need to read for sociology during his session, but the therapist says it was a bit of a rocky session. During the OT session, I got a phone call from the pediatrics clinic saying that some paperwork I had dropped off the day before (Oh yeah, forgot to mention that I ran paperwork up to the hospital on Wednesday to be filled out by the doctor for Connor's respite care) was ready to pick up. So after we left from OT, we went to the hospital, picked up the paperwork and then ran it to ACS/EFMP. By the time all of that was done, it was nearly 4pm and I hadn't even done sound therapy yet! So we came in the back door, dropped off our things, and immediately went out the front door to walk around the neighborhood with our (Connor) headphones for sound therapy. Well, sound therapy is 30 minutes, so you guessed it! Connor finished just in time for the kids to get home from school. I will say that the evening could have been a lot harder. The weather was so nice today and Holly made a delicious meal that I really wanted to sit and enjoy instead of scarfing down like every other day this week, so the kids and I decided against going to martial arts tonight. So I did have a nice hour or so sitting on the front porch, watching the kids play in the neighborhood. Dinner was delicious and Connor, after sitting at the table for about 20 minutes refusing to eat, ended up eating everything on his plate. Meanwhile, Ana was finishing up some homework and Bryan wanted to practice throwing and catching a baseball. I was feeling VERY overwhelmed and torn in a million different directions, so fortunately, Holly took Bryan outside to play with him and throw the ball back and forth. I'm so thankful that she's here. Yes, she's so busy with her school and fire/rescue stuff that there is alot she doesn't do around the house because she just doesn't have the time, but with stuff that counts like having a conversation with one of the kids, to let them know they are appreciated and wanted, or taking them to extracurriculars or throwing a ball back and forth (small stuff, but it means so much!). So I proceeded to shower Connor and get him ready for bed. He smelled so "yummy"! I love the smell of a freshly bathed baby. yes, I know, he's not a baby, but I still use the Johnson's baby bath and lotion because he doesn't know to keep his eyes closed, etc during a bath. Then on to the kitchen. It wasn't too big of a bess, but that took a good chunk of my time. By the time that was done it was nearly 7:45pm and I still needed to vacuum the two bigger kids' rooms desperately. I had meant to do it earlier in the day, but just didn't have the time. I finished vacuuming their rooms right at 8:20. Went to put Connor down for the night, when to my horror, Connor had pooped and dug into it and smeared it all over him and the bed. At least he was laying in bed and it was ONLY on him and the bed. Stripping the sheets and remaking the bed is much much easier than having to scrub and shampoo carpets! So, back in the shower Connor went. At this point, I'm almost in tears, because I'm exhausted and I still have a good 2-3 hours of sociology homework to do, which I still haven't started because frankly, my brain is spagetti and I just can't concentrate on the material. It was nearly 9:15 by the time I got Connor back in bed. Then hubby called. I feel so terrible because I wasn't the best conversationalist. But all I could think of was all the things that I still have to do. I needed a shower desperiately because I was icky feeling, I still had three loads of laundry to do tonight and of course that sociology homework that is lingering over my head.
So here I am. I've been working on typing this for the past hour and a half now. I've got the last load of laundry in the washer. Connor woke up about 45 minutes ago fussing. He is not doing well with the Dorsal flexors on at night, which is what he needs to wear...those or the Ponsetti braces, but he sleeps worse in those most nights. We have the FRCs, but he's already started to crack the fiberglass on them. I ended up taking him out of them and he is not sleeping in nothing on his feet. Hopefully he can get some sleep and go to school tomorrow becasue tomorrow is another busy day of housework and homework; and of course ABA and sound therapy with Connor and I need to take the kids to pre-bowl for Saturday b/c Bryan has baseball try-outs.
So yeah, it's been tough. I have had no time, other than the time I've spent typing this, to myself all week. I've been running running running with very little breaks and I feel like I'm still so very behind on everything in my life. But time to sign off of here for now. Laundry and sociology awaits, and it is midnight. Hey, TGIF! Hopefully God approves of how I have managed this week. But a clone or some extra help would be absolutely fantastic, Amen.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Earn the Right
Okay, single friends.....
I've been giving a lot of thought lately because it seems a HUGE number of my friends or associates have had failed marriages. And although nothing can be done about that, because what is done is done, I have some advice for those young people who have not yet made the leap to get into a serious relationship and to those who are back in the dating game for a second time. Make him EARN THE RIGHT TO BE IN YOUR LIFE.
When my husband and I were dating, he knew that I had high standards and he decided that I was worth the work it would take to meet those standards. When he decided he wanted to be with me, he quit smoking and drinking....cold turkey. And he was both a heavy drinker and smoker. As our relationship moved forward, I didn't do much. I respected him and let him know that, but he came to me. He would wait for me to get out of class and bring ME clam chowder, mountain dew and mr Goodbar candy bars. He would drive out to my house. He paid for everything.
Now, I know that to today's standards, that is very "old fashioned". But what is wrong with that? What is also old fashioned is a general respect that people hold for each other....it is a dying tradition that is causing havoc all throughout society, not just marital law.
Ladies, you are worth it. You are worth having him work for your affection. You are worth having him work for your time and appreciation. Make him earn the right to spend time with you. This may take time. And he may decide he doesn't want to do the work and walk out. But wouldn't you rather know that he doesn't want you bad enough to do the work BEFORE you give him your heart, soul and life? You deserve this!
I've been giving a lot of thought lately because it seems a HUGE number of my friends or associates have had failed marriages. And although nothing can be done about that, because what is done is done, I have some advice for those young people who have not yet made the leap to get into a serious relationship and to those who are back in the dating game for a second time. Make him EARN THE RIGHT TO BE IN YOUR LIFE.
When my husband and I were dating, he knew that I had high standards and he decided that I was worth the work it would take to meet those standards. When he decided he wanted to be with me, he quit smoking and drinking....cold turkey. And he was both a heavy drinker and smoker. As our relationship moved forward, I didn't do much. I respected him and let him know that, but he came to me. He would wait for me to get out of class and bring ME clam chowder, mountain dew and mr Goodbar candy bars. He would drive out to my house. He paid for everything.
Now, I know that to today's standards, that is very "old fashioned". But what is wrong with that? What is also old fashioned is a general respect that people hold for each other....it is a dying tradition that is causing havoc all throughout society, not just marital law.
Ladies, you are worth it. You are worth having him work for your affection. You are worth having him work for your time and appreciation. Make him earn the right to spend time with you. This may take time. And he may decide he doesn't want to do the work and walk out. But wouldn't you rather know that he doesn't want you bad enough to do the work BEFORE you give him your heart, soul and life? You deserve this!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
The Lost Art of Chivilry
Life, it used to be so simple. Some days I really wonder what I was thinking having children. Life was so easy before. I kept to myself, minding my own business, and stayed away from drama. Don't get me wrong, I love my children. They were wanted then and still are. And the first few years were so GREAT! I had a happy family and we, again, kept to ourselves and life was good. But now, they are older. They are mingling with others of all walks of life. And boy has life gotten complicated! For the most part, I have surrounded myself with people who support me, and I in turn support them. We give each other words of encouragement, and advice when it's needed. But recently it seems that I've run into a top that I feel like I'm standing on the less crowded side of the fence.
I am not a proponent of violence, by any means. I mean, seriously? I am probably one of the most "wimpiest" people out there. I never learned any self-defense, My body is so sensitive to touch that what most people find just pressure, I feel as pain, and I just don't like people to be angry with me or to not like me. I remember as I child, my father flat out telling me that he could not see me really defending myself, even when I needed to...he'd tell me things like "go for the eyes" but then turn around and say, "I don't think you have enough in you to do that; you are just too nice." I, of course, as a child never wanted to admit it, but he's right. I hate it, but even to this day, I really don't know how much "damage" I could do, but probably not enough if I found myself in one of those situations.
But I've been around the block a few times. I've experienced so much, and seen and heard even more. We all like to talk about how we don't know like where the world is going. And most of us even have suggestions as to why the world is "so wrong" and what needs to be done to "fix it". But this is such a complicated issue, that there is no one solution. But I can talk about one cause, grant it it is ONLY ONE.
Men in the last generation or so, overall, do not have the respect they used to for women. Now I'm an equal opportunity person, and it is true that women do not respect men or other women for that matter, as much anymore. Heck, there just is a much lower general level of respect period.
I think this world has made some great advances over the past couple of centuries. Although frankly, when it comes to human nature, I don't think we've evolved into anything better over time. In fact, I think our society in general, has gotten worse. Now sure, we've always had murder and rape and pregnancy out of wedlock. But there seemed to be less patience and tolerance for that kind of thing in the past.
I want to specifically talk about how men think of women. No doubt, women's suffrage and women's role in society has changed a great deal. And these are changes I agree have been for the better. But it wasn't too long ago, men would open doors for women, carry their heavy bags, help them out of a burning building first, etc. And of course, men can argue that with the feminine movement there are many women out there that do not wish for men to open doors or pull out chairs. I understand that. And I understand that not knowing which kind of woman you are dealing with can be a bit nerve wracking.
I was raised in a pretty old fashioned home, apparently. And apparently my parents did a bang-up job of instilling what they wanted my values to be in me because I am still, after all these years, pretty firm in what they taught me. It's not just blind faith in my parents' values though. I have seen the pros and cons of living the way they did and do. And frankly, man are things less complicated that way!
A person's honor is very important. If they don't have anything else, they can still have their integrity. That is if they manage to keep it in a world that is constantly pulling at you from all directions. It's not an easy venture.
I remember growing up hearing something very similiar....your reputation is the most important thing you have. And in addition to that, came the familiar antedotes: "Don't ever do or say anything you wouldn't do or say infront of your mother," "Don't give the milk away for free...make him buy the cow," etc.
Now I'm not saying I haven't done anything that I am ashamed of...of course I have. But I have lived my life by these simple words. And I plan on raising my kids the same way. Grant it, it's not proving to be as easy. they are very strong willed children and are constantly being bombarded with ideas and influences that don't agree with my beliefs.
(I think I keep going off on a tanget, a bit)
I want my boys to be the type of boys that will defend others, especially girls, who need it. Obviously, first and foremost, I hope they will use their intellect to put their beliefs across. But I'm not naive. There are some circumstances where that just won't get it done. Honestly, I hope my children never find themselves in that situation, I really do. But if their honor or the honor of their sister, mother, aunt, girlfriend, etc is being questioned by a big oaf that just won't get the message unless physical force is used, then I don't see anything wrong with it.
But that's the problem isn't it? Gone are the days where boys didn't mess with girls for fear of big brother coming to whoop his rear-end. No instead, we protect the scum bags. They have rights too, it is said. I suppose, but honestly, why do we constantly defend the rights of those who hold no respect for others over those who were violated? Instead, it's the girl's fault. She shouldn't have been there, or shouldn't have been wearing what she was, or she shouldn't have looked like him. Whatever.
I am not a proponent of violence, by any means. I mean, seriously? I am probably one of the most "wimpiest" people out there. I never learned any self-defense, My body is so sensitive to touch that what most people find just pressure, I feel as pain, and I just don't like people to be angry with me or to not like me. I remember as I child, my father flat out telling me that he could not see me really defending myself, even when I needed to...he'd tell me things like "go for the eyes" but then turn around and say, "I don't think you have enough in you to do that; you are just too nice." I, of course, as a child never wanted to admit it, but he's right. I hate it, but even to this day, I really don't know how much "damage" I could do, but probably not enough if I found myself in one of those situations.
But I've been around the block a few times. I've experienced so much, and seen and heard even more. We all like to talk about how we don't know like where the world is going. And most of us even have suggestions as to why the world is "so wrong" and what needs to be done to "fix it". But this is such a complicated issue, that there is no one solution. But I can talk about one cause, grant it it is ONLY ONE.
Men in the last generation or so, overall, do not have the respect they used to for women. Now I'm an equal opportunity person, and it is true that women do not respect men or other women for that matter, as much anymore. Heck, there just is a much lower general level of respect period.
I think this world has made some great advances over the past couple of centuries. Although frankly, when it comes to human nature, I don't think we've evolved into anything better over time. In fact, I think our society in general, has gotten worse. Now sure, we've always had murder and rape and pregnancy out of wedlock. But there seemed to be less patience and tolerance for that kind of thing in the past.
I want to specifically talk about how men think of women. No doubt, women's suffrage and women's role in society has changed a great deal. And these are changes I agree have been for the better. But it wasn't too long ago, men would open doors for women, carry their heavy bags, help them out of a burning building first, etc. And of course, men can argue that with the feminine movement there are many women out there that do not wish for men to open doors or pull out chairs. I understand that. And I understand that not knowing which kind of woman you are dealing with can be a bit nerve wracking.
I was raised in a pretty old fashioned home, apparently. And apparently my parents did a bang-up job of instilling what they wanted my values to be in me because I am still, after all these years, pretty firm in what they taught me. It's not just blind faith in my parents' values though. I have seen the pros and cons of living the way they did and do. And frankly, man are things less complicated that way!
A person's honor is very important. If they don't have anything else, they can still have their integrity. That is if they manage to keep it in a world that is constantly pulling at you from all directions. It's not an easy venture.
I remember growing up hearing something very similiar....your reputation is the most important thing you have. And in addition to that, came the familiar antedotes: "Don't ever do or say anything you wouldn't do or say infront of your mother," "Don't give the milk away for free...make him buy the cow," etc.
Now I'm not saying I haven't done anything that I am ashamed of...of course I have. But I have lived my life by these simple words. And I plan on raising my kids the same way. Grant it, it's not proving to be as easy. they are very strong willed children and are constantly being bombarded with ideas and influences that don't agree with my beliefs.
(I think I keep going off on a tanget, a bit)
I want my boys to be the type of boys that will defend others, especially girls, who need it. Obviously, first and foremost, I hope they will use their intellect to put their beliefs across. But I'm not naive. There are some circumstances where that just won't get it done. Honestly, I hope my children never find themselves in that situation, I really do. But if their honor or the honor of their sister, mother, aunt, girlfriend, etc is being questioned by a big oaf that just won't get the message unless physical force is used, then I don't see anything wrong with it.
But that's the problem isn't it? Gone are the days where boys didn't mess with girls for fear of big brother coming to whoop his rear-end. No instead, we protect the scum bags. They have rights too, it is said. I suppose, but honestly, why do we constantly defend the rights of those who hold no respect for others over those who were violated? Instead, it's the girl's fault. She shouldn't have been there, or shouldn't have been wearing what she was, or she shouldn't have looked like him. Whatever.
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Education System is Still Very Much Lacking
So if you know me, you know that I've been following the story here at Fort Belvoir ES concerning a young boy with a rare seizure disorder and the difficult road he's been down trying to go to school with his service animal.
This whole circumstance just has me livid. Nevermind that the school was trying to hide behind some bogus regulation that broke federal ADA law. Thank GOD this family has the ability to fight this. But why? Why do families with special needs children have to constantly fight for what should be easy? It's so infuriating.
But now, the school is making "accomodations" by allowing the boy to go to school with his service dog on a trial run. Oh but it gets better. The first thing I heard, from the media was that it was going to be a six week trial period. Then I heard 4-6 weeks. Okay I can see how that could be confused. But then I heard 3 weeks. Then I heard 2 weeks. Don't get me wrong, I understand how information can be lost among the reports. But now it's a two week trial period where the boy will be going for three days a week; oh but the days are only going to be partial day--that's right not even a full day. Not to mention, a parent must be with him at all times. What kind of trial is that?!
First of all the concern supposedly is the boy's ability to "handle" the service animal. Again, trying to look at it from both sides, I understand the school has to think about the safety of everyone involved. But this is NOT A PET. We aren't talking about just any animal. We are talking about an animal who has had over 1800 hours of training, meaning she's clocked some of the most training hours of all trained service animals. This dog isn't going to be jumping on other children. She won't even be asking to be petted from other children. She's there for the boy and the boy only.
The school is scared. And they are pushing their fears off on everyone else instead of trying to educate them. the ignorance is sickening.
Eduation is more than just math, reading and writing. Education should include compassion and understanding. No wonder this world is going to the crapper! No one teaches tolerance, understanding and advocacy. This school should not be trying to keep the boy and his dog out of the school. Instead, they should be educating EVERY SINGLE OTHER CHILD about epilepsy, service dogs, how they should act when they come across these things, how they can help and what actions can be done to help society overall. They aren't eliminating ignorance like our school systems should be. They are feeding the ignorance. The very thing that the school system is trying to avoid, they are perpertrators of: intolerance. The school is worried about liability and what that one a$$hole parent would do, and in the process feeding the problem. Shame on the education system.
This whole circumstance just has me livid. Nevermind that the school was trying to hide behind some bogus regulation that broke federal ADA law. Thank GOD this family has the ability to fight this. But why? Why do families with special needs children have to constantly fight for what should be easy? It's so infuriating.
But now, the school is making "accomodations" by allowing the boy to go to school with his service dog on a trial run. Oh but it gets better. The first thing I heard, from the media was that it was going to be a six week trial period. Then I heard 4-6 weeks. Okay I can see how that could be confused. But then I heard 3 weeks. Then I heard 2 weeks. Don't get me wrong, I understand how information can be lost among the reports. But now it's a two week trial period where the boy will be going for three days a week; oh but the days are only going to be partial day--that's right not even a full day. Not to mention, a parent must be with him at all times. What kind of trial is that?!
First of all the concern supposedly is the boy's ability to "handle" the service animal. Again, trying to look at it from both sides, I understand the school has to think about the safety of everyone involved. But this is NOT A PET. We aren't talking about just any animal. We are talking about an animal who has had over 1800 hours of training, meaning she's clocked some of the most training hours of all trained service animals. This dog isn't going to be jumping on other children. She won't even be asking to be petted from other children. She's there for the boy and the boy only.
The school is scared. And they are pushing their fears off on everyone else instead of trying to educate them. the ignorance is sickening.
Eduation is more than just math, reading and writing. Education should include compassion and understanding. No wonder this world is going to the crapper! No one teaches tolerance, understanding and advocacy. This school should not be trying to keep the boy and his dog out of the school. Instead, they should be educating EVERY SINGLE OTHER CHILD about epilepsy, service dogs, how they should act when they come across these things, how they can help and what actions can be done to help society overall. They aren't eliminating ignorance like our school systems should be. They are feeding the ignorance. The very thing that the school system is trying to avoid, they are perpertrators of: intolerance. The school is worried about liability and what that one a$$hole parent would do, and in the process feeding the problem. Shame on the education system.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The First Post--It's Probably Mediocre, but no Apologies
So it's been a while since I've blogged. I don't have much time to actually blog properly. But frankly, my facebook page has become more and more "too personal". I obviously have things to say. So here I am. I started a blogger account. Don't know if I'll ever have any followers. But who cares, really.
I would bore this page with information about me, but frankly, if I really want to do that, I can make an "About Me" tab and be done with it. So I'll jump right into what's on my mind. History. Yep, you read me right. This week I've been working on my assignmetns for my "History of Western Civilizations II" class. I really dislike history. I can't wait to be done with this class. *sighs* But what can you do? I need it for my degree. And 'bout that. Why am I going back to school? My passion is my family and children. Am I even going to use this degree once I finish it? Possibly not. So why am I putting myself through this? Why is it that important to me to have a "degree". Do I feel that insecure that I have to have this degree to feel worth? I'm not sure if that's even it. I am a darn good mother. An even better friend. I sometimes feel like I am lacking in the wife department. But I am pretty sure, or atleast I hope, that my husband would beg to differ. I'm smart and sometimes funny. Okay yeah I'm lacking in the sense of the humor department. I have high standards for myself, sometimes too high. But I know when to except the faults of my friends. Oooh, I want a hot dog. Sorry, the craving just hit me. Anyway, this is certainly something I need to figure out. But then again, it probably isn't as complicated as I think it is. I probably just want a degree...end of story. Anyway, I told myself that I was going to go to bed early tonight. I'm pretty tired. So like I said, this would probably be a pretty mediocre blog and I didn't disappoint.
I would bore this page with information about me, but frankly, if I really want to do that, I can make an "About Me" tab and be done with it. So I'll jump right into what's on my mind. History. Yep, you read me right. This week I've been working on my assignmetns for my "History of Western Civilizations II" class. I really dislike history. I can't wait to be done with this class. *sighs* But what can you do? I need it for my degree. And 'bout that. Why am I going back to school? My passion is my family and children. Am I even going to use this degree once I finish it? Possibly not. So why am I putting myself through this? Why is it that important to me to have a "degree". Do I feel that insecure that I have to have this degree to feel worth? I'm not sure if that's even it. I am a darn good mother. An even better friend. I sometimes feel like I am lacking in the wife department. But I am pretty sure, or atleast I hope, that my husband would beg to differ. I'm smart and sometimes funny. Okay yeah I'm lacking in the sense of the humor department. I have high standards for myself, sometimes too high. But I know when to except the faults of my friends. Oooh, I want a hot dog. Sorry, the craving just hit me. Anyway, this is certainly something I need to figure out. But then again, it probably isn't as complicated as I think it is. I probably just want a degree...end of story. Anyway, I told myself that I was going to go to bed early tonight. I'm pretty tired. So like I said, this would probably be a pretty mediocre blog and I didn't disappoint.
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