mcmama's comments

Adoptive Mothers Breastfeeding? Yes!

27 Nov 2007 06:57 PM

Thank you for this article. It is very important to get this information out there fore those who would choose to breastfeed an adopted infant.

When Kids Feel They Have to Choose for the Holidays

20 Nov 2007 08:30 PM

We can't avoid the choice thing. I am so holidayish and my ex is a real grinch. So the kids for years were in a codependent thing of making him TRY to have a good Christmas. Now they are pretty much out of it.

For years they were forced to go along with the so called schedule. It divided Christmas day right in half. Then my oldest decided he'd rather spend Christmas cooking at the homeless shelter. Something HE wanted to do. My ex actually took us to court to force him to stop, since I was obviously encouraging him to be so difficult. The judge said she heard that the shelters are just lovely this time of year, and refused to forbid a 15 year old kid to volunteer.

After the first year, I volunteered when my kid did, whether it was my "turn" or not. My ex never did.

Now we pretty much do what we want. If they want to do something with him, great. All I ask is that they tell me.

Ask a Homeschooling Blogger: Why Are You So Against Government Involvement? Part 3

20 Nov 2007 05:35 PM

Actually Val, I'm surprised that someone who appears to be opposed to home schooling would want to see government involved. After all, homeschoolers are supposed to receive benefits from state and local school districts that are available to all children - but public schools are often pretty stingy with these. Seems to me that if someone wants to encourage certified teachers to supervise you, they should encourage certified teachers, school boards, superintendents, etc to treat you as they would any other parent in the community.

Oh, wait. That IS how they treat parents. Especially those pesky involved ones. At least in my experience.

Is It Okay To Be Angry With God?

20 Nov 2007 05:22 PM

I would hope it is ok to be angry with God. I've done it. And that crying out in anger is often done in a spirit of openness where you actually hear the answer coming back at you.

It's a time we are really honest with God, and God is honest right back.

Taking God For Granted

12 Nov 2007 07:00 PM

Thank you for this. Each day is a blessing.

"Christian" Healing and Mental Health (3)

10 Nov 2007 07:42 AM

This is an interesting series Beth, and I am surprised that no one has commented with their experiences. I know of some folks who have gone through some non Christian "New Age" healing rituals, and when those fail are told they have to buy more crystals, herbs, candles, etc. I also know families who have been left out in the cold by "reparative therapies" aimed at gay husbands, only to find when they do not work that they are shoved aside as not having prayed hard enough and now must deal with another layer of deception and shame.

Christian response to illness is rooted in a believe in spiritual healing - and faith - and the support is not in "love bombing" but in doing the difficult job of sustaining faith in time of need. For some this is short term, for others (such as those with mental illnesses) it is a long term thing. When I was diagnosed with cancer, many people I did not know prayed for me. Prayed real hard. And my surgery was one of those "miracles" which could be explained away, but I believe it was a miracle. It was AFTER the surgery that I needed the prayer and support, and it was truly God's revelation where I got it - totally unexpected again.

My Son's Science Project Is Out of Control

05 Nov 2007 07:51 AM

My experience in public schooling a gifted child was that I had to do quite a bit of "home schooling" to counter the effects of boredom and bullying.

Most home schoolers I know evaluate the plan for home schooling at least annually. If you have resources available when they are in high school which are more beneficial than home schooling, then by all means use them. But if not, then the gifted homeschooler is definitely going to come out ahead.

Watch Using the Term "Dead Beat" in Front of Your Kids

29 Oct 2007 01:14 PM

It is hard, and I did not have difficulty with this particular issue. But I do have friends who have had to get state sherriffs to catch up with the dad - and it is very stressful to be raising kids, living in reduced circumstances, working overtime, and just able to scrape by when if the deadbeat lived up to his responsibilities you could afford the extra medical care, or rent a more liveable space in a better area, buy clothes someplace other than Goodwill, and not be so dependent on the charitable goodwill of others. Living in reduced circumstances affects a familie's ability to dream big, and set high goals because so much is just consumed by just getting by.

7 Common DIY Mistakes (6)

29 Oct 2007 01:08 PM

Thank you for this excellent series. As a realtor and homeowner (who bought a fixer upper) I really have seen all these mistakes. Expensive upgrades that are misplace, overestimating ability and underestimating time, and figuring costs of guarantees are all in there.

Why Homeschool?: Public Schools Have No Obligation to Educate

25 Oct 2007 08:18 AM

This is why we have to have NCLB, for all its flaws. And it is flawed. But there is absolutely no accountability otherwise.

I sent my kids to private school. Actually, they received very generous scholarships. At this point, it really is charity. But you know what? Those schools have always been accountable to me. There are expectations - they communicate them, they fulfull them, and they expect parents and children to do the same.

All I ever got from Public schools was excuses for why my son with the 142 IQ was doing so badly. Always my fault or his.

In private schools, we got clear expectations, plans, remedies for the problems. And discipline. Gifted kids tend to live up to their potential in an environment that is not chaotic.

Gee, I always thought the problem with appropriate education in public school was that my kid was one of those inconvenient gifted students. Now we find out that all kids are inconvenient if they want to learn something, or if their parents expect it.

So much for the politicians who think we should not homeschool or private school, but that good parents like us should support public schools because they need people like us. Yup.