Julie Gentry's comments

I'm Not Pregnant, I'm Fat - Blog Entry

10 Jan 2007 03:01 AM

BWHAHAHA! I feel your pain. lol. I do mystery shops for a maternity store. Pretty sad that I've never been pegged as a phony. ;-)

I think people are probably just trying to start conversation. But on a more serious note, if your weight is all around your belly (mine is), you ought to get tested for diabetes. If for no other reason than to head it off.

It's A Small World... - Blog Entry

10 Jan 2007 02:46 AM

My old roommate worked on that ride, day in and day out. She grew to loathe that song. Her boyfriend bought her this really expensive inlaid jewelry box for Christmas. She opened it up and it played... yep, "It's a Small World." She dumped him soon thereafter. I'm sure that was just co-incidental ;-).

Is Your Method of Discipline Working? - Blog Entry

09 Jan 2007 01:23 PM

"The researchers recommended that discipline be addressed by pediatricians when parents bring their kids in for routine visits." Does that raise a red flag for anyone else? Guess what method is certain to be 'recommended' by most pediatricians? Yep, the one that covers their tush legally.

For us, we used many of the principles of Growing Kids Gods Way. I say "many" because, like anything else, you take what works for you and toss the rest. There's a balance, and that fulcrum changes as they get older. When mine were four or five, I expected unchallenged obedience. On the few occasions there wasn't, immediate discipline was meted out. At fourteen and fifteen, the same rules do not necessarily apply (though I certainly would spank my fifteen year old if it was warranted). The goal is SELF-discipline. The closer they get to that, the less outside discipline needs to be applied. I'm happy to say that three of my four are pretty close to ideal. We were less strict with the youngest (now ten) and it shows. lol.

Time-outs don't work for most children. The natural consequences do, but some are too heavy to bear (think of the natural consequence of your 15 year old hanging around with an unhappily married man). I do like the removal of privileges; for the older kids, especially. The key with any method is consistency, and to build in that actions have consequences (good and bad). We spank for defiance (passive or overt direct disobedience) and for safety issues. We remove privileges for bickering and things like that. One thing that my mom told me, and has worked pretty well is WRITING. Most boys hate the physical aspect of writing. So it's a good deterrent. The occasional inappropriate word (things like 'freaking' in my house are not allowed) gets the offender ten synonyms to look up in the dictionary and write down. The 'mean-words-to-your-little-sister' net ten sentences telling what you like about her.

Every child is different, though, and you have to tailor what works. When my 12 year old is in a hormonal mood, he loses the privilege to talk to me for an hour. For some kids, that would be a blessing! For him, it's a very effective tool.

I know what works. But I also know that you have the right to do with your children as you see fit. That a pediatrician who sees them twice a year would 'recommend' a method strikes me as the proverbial foot in the door.

Five Reasons to Study the Old Testament - Blog Entry

09 Jan 2007 01:08 PM

Very good reminder, Lisa! I & II Kings are GREAT ones to study with your boys, if you have them. It's full of deceit, treachery, battles, kindgoms and all that other "boy stuff" ;-).

Is Madonna Adopting? - Blog Entry

09 Jan 2007 12:36 AM

The baby's dad is still there. That's what I have a problem with. If she was poorer, I doubt the child would've been given to her.

Random Job #217: Buying Books at Thrift Stores - Blog Entry

08 Jan 2007 11:01 PM

That does explain some things! Our local thrift shops have warning signs up that say to notify their security immediately if you see someone scanning the ISBNs. Sounds likes they're not welcome in some places ;-). I know that many of the thrift shops we frequent have raised their prices, trying to find that point where it's unprofitable for the auction resellers!

Thanks for the info!

There Went My Reason - Blog Entry

08 Jan 2007 10:18 PM

Diet sodas contain aspartame, which is really hard on your liver. Guess what the fat-burning organ is? Yep, the liver. Besides, they taste nasty ;-).

Family Tradition : Sheet Notes - Blog Entry

08 Jan 2007 10:16 PM

What a fantastic idea!

Can You Homeschool Through College Too? - Blog Entry

08 Jan 2007 10:14 PM

We're planning to do this. We don't our girls to leave until they're married. There are a lot of distance learning programs for college.

I can't imagine throwing my innocent homeschooled teens into our local high school. It would be better not to homeschool at all than to shelter and protect them from rejection and peer pressure their whole lives, and then throw them to the wolves. At least kids who have grown up in the system have had time to build up thick skin.

Housework - The Bane Of My Existance - Blog Entry

08 Jan 2007 08:11 PM

I don't mind housework if I can do it uninterrupted. It's the constant start-stop that bothers me. When they're all asleep, I can clean the kitchen top to bottom in 30 minutes. When they're awake, it takes two hours. But I live with Felix Unger ;-) so that two hours is a necessity.