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March 31, 2006
I suppose it's a bad thing ...
When, years later, you find your Flylady cling in the muck under your refrigerator.
Posted by lynx at 4:37 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Punishing the Educated SAHMs
You see, when the government pays for your education, they think they should have some say in what you should do with it. Imagine that.
I don't think they are wrong. If the government provides that education with the expectation of training a workforce, then the person who takes the education and chooses to not work probably should pay up. However, it shows just how flawed the Dutch are in their understanding of the importance of raising one's own children.
I'd prefer to pay for the education, thanks.
HT Mungo
Posted by lynx at 4:10 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
March 29, 2006
Family Pictures
Posted by lynx at 9:58 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
March 27, 2006
Semi-what?
You worry about whether they're learning enough. You fret about which books they're not reading. You despair over the fact that you've not done any formal science in well over a year.
And then you tune into the fact that your 10-year old is explaining to you the uses of semi-ablative glass in non-tank combat vehicles.
Mom sure did learn a new definition for the word "ablative" today.
Posted by lynx at 7:24 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 24, 2006
Stress
I've been remarkably calm about this whole moving thing. Have you noticed? Remarkably calm.
The calm is fading. Stress level is rising. And rising.
We leave in less than two weeks, folks. Two weeks, and I can't finagle all the playdates my kids want. Two weeks, and I don't know how to help them transition away from their friends (and why do I feel the need to? I don't remember my parents worrying about how or whether or not I said good-bye).
Almost everything is packed. Half the furniture is actually in the garage. The furniture and the lion's share of the boxes leave in a week. We leave a few days after that.
The house is not yet on the market, for various and frustrating reasons. No, it's not even ready to be put on the market yet.
And oh, by the way, we do have hail damage to our roof, even though a roofer told us we did not after the last hail storm. So now we may have to replace the roof before selling. And our move date is in less than two weeks. Did I mention that? And the washing machine broke today.
Stress.
Posted by lynx at 9:20 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
March 22, 2006
Why does this even need to be said?
It's so mind-bogglingly simple. Really. It is.
If you, as a parent, cannot get, say, your four-year old to do what you say without beating them with plumbing tubing or forcibly restraining them by wrapping them in sheets, you have a problem, you don't know how to parent your kid, and you need help.
If you cannot manage a young child's behavior without resorting to tools like this, the problem is you. You need help. Please, please get some.
If you cannot manage a baby without resorting to spanking and slapping, you need help. You're not doing it right, or well. No, you're not.
It's a shame that the commentor on this post is one of many who doesn't get the fact that yes, you can raise well-behaved kids with well-defined boundaries without resorting to the methods espoused by the Pearls in "To Train Up a Dog Child." It might be easier to turn to punitive discipline, but it's so worth it to find another way. Can you imagine what Lynn Paddock feels about her discipline methods now?
If you own the Pearls' book, or the Ezzo book, please, throw it out the window (better yet, burn it) and go to Joanne'sPositive Discipline Resource Center instead.
Posted by lynx at 3:56 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
March 21, 2006
Am I Crazy?
Certain arguments circle and re-circle through the homeschooling community. One that has reared its head on one of my message boards today is "What level of homeschooling oversight should there be?"
To which my answer is, of course, none.
The arguments for oversight are all predicated on the idea that we can't trust parents to work for their children's education. We can't trust that they are smart enough to teach. We can't trust that they'll teach the right things. We can't trust that they'll teach at all. We can't trust that they are not abusive or neglectful. And so the government must step in to make sure that all is well.
Today's argument stems from a fear that if there were no homeschooling regulation, and/or no compulsory attendance across the board, a large percentage of parents would just not bother. Kids would stay home in droves, and our society would suffer. We'd become (?) a nation of illiterate idiots. One poster asked me if I truly believe that the overwhelming majority of parents really do care enough about their kids' education that the above situation would not happen.
I do. I do believe that the overwhelming majority of parents care about their children's education. I believe that the overwhelming majority of parents care about their children, period. And I choose not to live in states in which the government feels I cannot be trusted with my own kids.
I don't think I'm an idealist. We hear all the time about parents who don't bother, who are abusive and neglectful; but we hear about these cases because they are sensational. We don't hear about the millions of parents who get up every morning and take their kids to school, or even about the ones who get up every morning and teach their kids algebra. That would be boring. It's boring because it's the norm.
What do you think? Do most parents care? Would most parents see to their kids' education even if there were no compulsory attendance laws? Or am I a crazy idealist? (Keep your answer pertinent to this question, please. No sense in pointing out all the areas in which we know I'm a loon. Unless you just feel like it.)
Posted by lynx at 9:38 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
March 14, 2006
I love our XM radio!
I just turned it on, and my favorite station is playing "America" by The Nice. The Nice! Who plays The Nice? No one, that's who. Except the XM radio. Which I love.
If you've been considering satellite radio but are on the fence, know that I don't regret a penny I've spent on this. We never listen to the regular radio anymore. The XM stations are phenomenal. The playlists have a depth and breadth that regular radio can't touch.
My favorite channels are:
Fred ("traditional" alternative - the Clash, the Cure, old U2, the Church, etc.)
Fine Tuning (XM just describes this as "Eclectic," and boy are they right. They'll play Sting, followed by Chris Squire solo, followed by Bach.)
Music Lab - the prog rock channel
XM Pops for our classical in the mornings
Cinemagic - the kids' favorite, all movie soundtracks all the time
XM Kids - sometimes irritating, but often fun
We're constantly finding new music, and the kids and I are sharing music we enjoy with each other. Worth every penny.
Posted by lynx at 9:33 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Hey, it's 3-14 ...
Posted by lynx at 1:55 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
March 13, 2006
Read. Laugh.
Chris reminded me about Timothy McSweeney's, a site I haven't visited in ages. Need a laugh? Allow me to start you off with:
Klingon Recipes Best Vegetarian Lasagne ever.
Bruce Springsteen Songs, If the Title More Accurately Reflected the Subject Matter.
That Really Whets the Almond. This is not from McSweeneys but is, apparently, a menu from a Chinese restaurant. I'm not sure if I believe it's real, but boy, is it ever funny. Painful funny. I'd warn you about the strong language, but I don't think they have any idea what they said.
You didn't come here for talk about homeschooling or classical education, did you? You did? Don't worry, it will happen again. Today, I need the laughs.
Posted by lynx at 11:03 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
March 5, 2006
Classical Ed Articles
Mungo has been finding articles on classical education all over the place. I'm passing them along to you:
Traditional Classical Homeschooling, Part I from Heather at Culloden House Farms begins a series tackling this strange, Latin-centered style of homeschooling that I pretend to do.
And here are a couple of op ed pieces from a homeschooling parent: #1 and #2
And do not neglect to stop by Rivendell Press for material you can use in your pursuit of learning. Today you can find stories about ancient Gaul, Alcestis, and the Delphic Oracle (and that's just today)!
Posted by lynx at 11:40 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Still at it
Sorry, folks. We're still packing, and trying to fix up the house, and packing ... I think we're up to 150 boxes. Now we get to start repair work. Woo-hoo!
At this point, I'd give the house to anyone who could assume the loan. Want a house? It needs new paint, new carpets, new landscaping and a new shower wall, but it's in a fantastic location. Walk to the park and the rec center, and possibly the future library. We can give you the scoop on which neighbors are the good ones. House comes with a huge rosemary bush, an even bigger blackberry bush, and a healthy bunch of strawberries, thyme and lemon balm. Come on, couldn't you use a new house?
We do have a rental settled on and approved. It's the nicest house we looked at, on the worst land. It's on a postage stamp in a suburb. Ah, well. I am looking forward to having a basement, though.
I still haven't told everyone that we're moving. Nothing like a little denial, is there?
Posted by lynx at 11:27 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack