Let Our Children Be

July 6, 2009

This morning…he’s going to camp and I kiss him goodbye.  He waits a minute and then he says, “Can I wipe it off?  It’s really wet.”  I said, “Sure.” and wipe it off for him.  Then he asks, “That won’t wipe away the LOVE, will it?”  I said, “NO WAY!” and hugged him hard.  I blew him a kiss and he sent it right back.  Thank God for little boys.

this picture is of an assignment he had for first grade–use household items like noodles and yarn and draw a self portrait

July 3, 2009

I have heard this question before and though I am currently not homeschooling I know the reason why. Our children are precious and these mothers are trying their best to protect them. From what you may ask? This is what I believe or it is at least the reason I would homeschool.

Children today are being categorized, analyzed and “normalized.” They are not allowed to be unique. No matter what the teachers may say, they are overworked, underpaid and do not want to be bothered with children that are “difficult.”

So, what is difficult? Any child that doesn’t learn using worksheets. Worksheets are the bain of the education system of this country. They are the easiest and simplest way for teachers to get through material and appear to show parents and administrators that children are progressing.

Unfortunately, worksheets don’t work for everyone. In fact, there are a huge number of individuals who learn best in ways that are not measured well with worksheets.

Often when a child in school does not do well with worksheets he or she has recess taken away from them. Recess is one of the most important times for children to learn, to exercise and to get along.

I would love homeschooling moms to join in on this discussion. Please share your thoughts. I would like to share insights, products and suggestions for those who have childern that are not “worksheet” kids. See the Products Page which will also include Product Reviews.

June 22, 2009

And so begins the ranting…I have listened to yet another mother’s story of her son being categorized and diagnosed by a teacher.  I am sorry but I am extremely tired of teachers thinking that they have an MD behind their name.  They cannot diagnose a child and tell their mother that the child   “needs medication.”  They do not have the expertise to make that judgement.  When will children be allowed to be children again?  We were allowed to be shy.  We were allowed to not look people in the eye because of shyness, or to not really want to play with our peers because their actions scared us.  I remember being extremely scared of some of my second and third grade “friends” and feeling better at recess standing close to the adults.  I would probably have been diagnosed with some kind of disorder nowadays.  Then it was just self-preservation.  This ranting will continue….Mothers go to the page on Women Heroes when you are down about injustices and see what women before us have done for their children.

June 20, 2009

I used the book series What to expect when you’re expecting, What to expect the first year and What to expect the toddler years.   These were excellent books and I really used them to gauge my son’s development, especially to determine if  he was meeting his developmental milestones.  One of the frustrations I had was when these books  ended.  I started to look at a series of books Your 4 Year Old:  Wild and Wonderful, Your 5 Year Old:  Sunny and Serene by Louise Ames.  These texts were extremely helpful especially in explaining the differences between ages 4 and 4 1/2 or 5 and 5 1/2 because I don’t know about you but I heard other moms say the same thing:  all of a sudden my 4 year old is shy or all of a sudden my 5 year old is pushing my buttons.  Often that would occur at the half year mark.   

June 14, 2009

They are our hearts running around on two legs.  No wonder they consume our waking thoughts.  This page is for moms looking for answers to important questions from other moms on what has worked and what hasn’t worked for them.

For me I have several must-haves that may be old hat to most mommies-to-be nowadays but were new to me when I was looking at all of this.

FOR INFANTS 

1.  Simethicone drops for infants

2. Bjorn baby carriers

3.  New from my pediatrician–colic babies can be helped with a “baby prevacid”–talk to your pediatrician about this–babies can have “gerd’

4. If you are crying a lot, don’t wait, go to your doctor for some medicine even if its been a bit since the baby was born–post-partum depression

5.  Remember that lullabies like “Rock-A-Bye-Baby were created as a response to feelings of all parents as they listened to their children cry…sing and bond with those mothers from all those generations and smile at that connection

Feel free to add to this list.  It’s important to share information.

June 30, 2009

I’ve placed this banner on this page because I have had some terrific luck with leapfrog products. My son loved the books and he is still using his Leapster. We also have a Leapster Globe which was a surprise from a favorite aunt at Christmas. I saw this sale and thought you might be interested.