Julie Gentry's comments

Need Last Minute Gifts for Your Kids? Stop By Your Local Pharmacy

18 Dec 2006 11:21 AM

Love Walgreens! And Rite-Aid, too. Don't forget their AFTER-Christmas sales, too. They mark down to 75%.

Toilet Ring Tricks and Tips

18 Dec 2006 11:19 AM

Thanks, Marjorie! I tried the lemon juice/borax paste and it worked!

Parenting Myths for Parents of Defiant Children

18 Dec 2006 11:18 AM

Interesting article. I completely disagree with the book's author, though, on "myth #2". If a strong-willed child is properly spanked when they're younger, they don't BECOME defiant. It goes along with #4, that they need to understand there's a consequence to their behavior. There's nothing WRONG with anger, it's an emotion. What a child DOES with that anger is the key. I *did* like that he provides both positive and negative responses for behavior ("the carrot and the stick"), and that he actually provides examples and real-life situations. For parents who are at the ends of their rope with a child, it's a good resource.

So what Exactly is Relaxed Homeschooling?

18 Dec 2006 11:08 AM

Interesting definition! We're also relaxed homeschoolers -- and I teach them Latin and history. lol. I love that, as homeschoolers, we can seek out experts (some of them other homeschooling moms) to help. I got through high school Chemistry on my looks and charm (*snicker*), so will be farming them out for that one!

The Unschooling Dilemma

16 Dec 2006 05:58 PM

True unschooling negates the wisdom of parents. Yes, there are things my children WANT to learn and need to be able to fully explore. But there are also things they NEED to learn, even if they don't know it yet. Children lack wisdom, regardless of how smart a child may be. Wisdom comes from experience, something even the most intelligent 15 year old cannot possess.

We are relaxed schoolers who follow interest-led learning -- but not to exclusion. They need also rely on the wisdom of their parents to introduce and teach subjects in which they have minimal interest. Not only do they learn, but they develop self-discipline with it as well.

10 Fun Facts about It's A Wonderful Life

16 Dec 2006 05:43 PM

Definitely one of the best movies of all time.

BAH HUMBUG? 20 Ways to Share the Christmas Spirit with Your Kids

16 Dec 2006 05:12 PM

Fantastic ideas! Thanks for sharing them with us. I think we'll go ice skating next week.

Trump To Sidekick: "You're Fired"

16 Dec 2006 05:08 PM

I think the real reason is that people liked HER more than him ;-).

The Homeschoolers' Advent Calendar: The BIG Shopping Day

15 Dec 2006 11:23 PM

Sounds exhausting!! We do the opposite -- shopping ALL YEAR and often online. Of course, I'm cheap ;-). I love your scavenger hunt idea, and may have to steal...er, borrow, it!

The Seattle Menorah Controversy: What is the Issue?

15 Dec 2006 11:11 PM

Miriam, the crux of the issue is that it wasn't a nativity vs a menorrah. A Christmas tree is NOT a religious symbol (well, I suppose there could be a minute number of pagans who actually worship it, but I highly doubt the number is significant), so the whole underlying basis of argument is flawed. It isn't a Christian thing to put up a Christmas tree.

I'm glad you cleared up that the rabbi wasn't the one requesting the trees be taken down. The local news certainly gave that impression. Was he asking for public funds to put up the menorah?

It doesn't completely surprise me, though, that there would be controversy over ANY Jewish or Christian display in King County. Washington is the least-churched state in the nation, and King County is likely the least-churched county in Washington. It is, after all, the place where dead people, felons, and ghosts "voted" forthe current person in the governor's office.