I found this through Blessed Homemaking:
Author unknown- Taken from the Yankee Kitchen Cookbook, 1969
Blessed is she whose daily tasks are a labor of love; for her willing hand and happy heart translate duty into privilege, and her labor becomes a service to God and all mankind.
Blessed is she who opens the door to welcome both stranger and well-loved friend; for gracious hospitality is a test of brotherly love.
Blessed is she who mends stockings and toys and broken hearts, for her understanding is a balm to humanity.
Blessed is she who children love, for the love of a child is more to be valued than fortune or fame.
Blessed is she who sings at her work; for music lightens the heaviest load and brightens the dullest chore.
Blessed is she who dusts away doubt and fear and sweeps out the cobwebs of confusion; for her faith will triumph over all adversity.
Blessed is she who serves laughter and smiles with every meal; for her buoyancy of spirit is an aid to mental and physical digestion.
Blessed is she who preserves the sanctity of the Christian home; for hers is a sacred trust that crowns her with dignity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:
'Many daughters have done well; But you excel them all.'
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing; But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." ~ Proverbs 31:28-30
October 23, 2009
June 25, 2009
Why Women Are Unhappy
by Phyllis Schlafly
EagleForum.org
The National Bureau of Economic Research released a study to be published soon in the American Economic Journal that shows women's happiness has measurably declined since 1970. It's no surprise that this has stimulated much comment.
This study covers the same time period as the rise of the so-called women's liberation or feminist movement. The correlation demands an explanation.
One theory advanced by the authors, University of Pennsylvania economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, is that the women's liberation movement "raised women's expectations" (sold them a bill of goods), making them feel inadequate when they fail to have it all. A second theory is that the demands on women who are both mothers and jobholders in the labor force are overwhelming.
I'm neither an economist nor a psychologist, but I'll join the conversation with my own armchair analysis. Another theory could be that the feminist movement taught women to see themselves as victims of an oppressive patriarchy in which their true worth will never be recognized and any success is beyond their reach.
Feminist organizations such as the National Organization for Women held consciousness-raising sessions where they exchanged tales of how badly some man had treated them. Grievances are like flowers; if you water them, they will grow, and self-imposed victimhood is not a recipe for happiness.
Another theory could be the increase in easy divorce and illegitimacy (now 40 percent of American births are to single moms), which means that millions of women are raising kids without a husband and therefore expect Big Brother government to substitute as provider. The 2008 election returns showed that 70 percent of unmarried women voted for Barack Obama, perhaps hoping to be beneficiaries of his "spread the wealth" policies.
In the pre-1970 era, when surveys showed women with higher levels of happiness, most men held jobs that enabled their wives to be fulltime homemakers. The private enterprise system constantly produces goods that make household work and kiddie care easier (such as dryers, dishwashers and paper diapers).
Betty Friedan started the feminist movement in the late 1960s with her book The Feminine Mystique, which created the myth that suburban housewives were suffering from "a sense of dissatisfaction" with their alleged-to-be-boring lives. To liberate women from the home that Friedan labeled "a comfortable concentration camp," the feminist movement worked tirelessly to make the role of fulltime homemaker socially disdained.
Economic need played no role in the feminist argument that marriage is archaic and oppressive to women. A job in the labor force was upheld as so much more fulfilling than tending babies and preparing dinner for a hard-working husband.
Women's studies courses require students to accept as an article of faith the silly notion that gender differences are not natural or biological but are social constructs created by the patriarchy and ancient stereotypes. This leads feminists to seek legislative corrections for problems that don't exist.
A former editor of the Ladies' Home Journal wrote in her book Spin Sisters that the anorexic blondes on television are every day selling the falsehood that women's lives are full of misery and threats from men. Bernard Goldberg calls the mainstream media "one of America's most pro-feminist institutions."
According to feminist ideology, the only gender-specific characteristic is that men are naturally batterers who make all women victims. On that theory, the feminists conned Congress into passing the Violence Against Women Act (note the sex discriminatory title), which includes a handout of a billion dollars a year to finance their political, legislative and judicial goals.
The feminists whine endlessly using their favorite word "choice" in matters of abortion, but they reject choice in gender roles. The Big Mama of feminist studies, Simone de Beauvoir, said, "We don't believe that any woman should have this choice. No woman should be authorized to stay at home to raise her children . . . precisely because if there is such a choice, too many women will make that one."
The feminists have carried on a long-running campaign to make husbands and fathers unnecessary and irrelevant. Most divorces are initiated by women, and more women than men request same-sex marriage licenses in Massachusetts so that, with two affirmative-action jobs plus in vitro fertilization, they can create a "family" without husbands or fathers.
Despite the false messages of the colleges and the media, most American women are smart enough to reject the label feminist, and only 20 percent of mothers say they want full-time work in the labor force. I suggest that women suffering from unhappiness should look into how women are treated in the rest of the world, and then maybe American women would realize they are the most fortunate people on earth.
EagleForum.org
The National Bureau of Economic Research released a study to be published soon in the American Economic Journal that shows women's happiness has measurably declined since 1970. It's no surprise that this has stimulated much comment.
This study covers the same time period as the rise of the so-called women's liberation or feminist movement. The correlation demands an explanation.
One theory advanced by the authors, University of Pennsylvania economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolfers, is that the women's liberation movement "raised women's expectations" (sold them a bill of goods), making them feel inadequate when they fail to have it all. A second theory is that the demands on women who are both mothers and jobholders in the labor force are overwhelming.
I'm neither an economist nor a psychologist, but I'll join the conversation with my own armchair analysis. Another theory could be that the feminist movement taught women to see themselves as victims of an oppressive patriarchy in which their true worth will never be recognized and any success is beyond their reach.
Feminist organizations such as the National Organization for Women held consciousness-raising sessions where they exchanged tales of how badly some man had treated them. Grievances are like flowers; if you water them, they will grow, and self-imposed victimhood is not a recipe for happiness.
Another theory could be the increase in easy divorce and illegitimacy (now 40 percent of American births are to single moms), which means that millions of women are raising kids without a husband and therefore expect Big Brother government to substitute as provider. The 2008 election returns showed that 70 percent of unmarried women voted for Barack Obama, perhaps hoping to be beneficiaries of his "spread the wealth" policies.
In the pre-1970 era, when surveys showed women with higher levels of happiness, most men held jobs that enabled their wives to be fulltime homemakers. The private enterprise system constantly produces goods that make household work and kiddie care easier (such as dryers, dishwashers and paper diapers).
Betty Friedan started the feminist movement in the late 1960s with her book The Feminine Mystique, which created the myth that suburban housewives were suffering from "a sense of dissatisfaction" with their alleged-to-be-boring lives. To liberate women from the home that Friedan labeled "a comfortable concentration camp," the feminist movement worked tirelessly to make the role of fulltime homemaker socially disdained.
Economic need played no role in the feminist argument that marriage is archaic and oppressive to women. A job in the labor force was upheld as so much more fulfilling than tending babies and preparing dinner for a hard-working husband.
Women's studies courses require students to accept as an article of faith the silly notion that gender differences are not natural or biological but are social constructs created by the patriarchy and ancient stereotypes. This leads feminists to seek legislative corrections for problems that don't exist.
A former editor of the Ladies' Home Journal wrote in her book Spin Sisters that the anorexic blondes on television are every day selling the falsehood that women's lives are full of misery and threats from men. Bernard Goldberg calls the mainstream media "one of America's most pro-feminist institutions."
According to feminist ideology, the only gender-specific characteristic is that men are naturally batterers who make all women victims. On that theory, the feminists conned Congress into passing the Violence Against Women Act (note the sex discriminatory title), which includes a handout of a billion dollars a year to finance their political, legislative and judicial goals.
The feminists whine endlessly using their favorite word "choice" in matters of abortion, but they reject choice in gender roles. The Big Mama of feminist studies, Simone de Beauvoir, said, "We don't believe that any woman should have this choice. No woman should be authorized to stay at home to raise her children . . . precisely because if there is such a choice, too many women will make that one."
The feminists have carried on a long-running campaign to make husbands and fathers unnecessary and irrelevant. Most divorces are initiated by women, and more women than men request same-sex marriage licenses in Massachusetts so that, with two affirmative-action jobs plus in vitro fertilization, they can create a "family" without husbands or fathers.
Despite the false messages of the colleges and the media, most American women are smart enough to reject the label feminist, and only 20 percent of mothers say they want full-time work in the labor force. I suggest that women suffering from unhappiness should look into how women are treated in the rest of the world, and then maybe American women would realize they are the most fortunate people on earth.
June 19, 2009
Homeschool Interview Questions:
The following is a list of questions from a college student who was doing a report on homeschooling and needed to interview someone as a requirement for his project. Since he chose to interview me, I thought I would post them here as well:
Q1 - How long have you been homeschooling your children?
I have been homeschooling my children for about 5 years.
Q2 -Why did you decide to homeschool your children? What factors influenced you? Was there any particular person who influenced you to choose homeschooling?
Our government has given us the largest bureaucratic daycare and brain washing system in the world…the public school, and I love my children too much to have them become a victim of Darwinian dogma, or be severely dumbed-down with godless government indoctrination.
We decided to homeschool our children primarily for the safety aspect at first, then our main focus became motivated by our religious convictions to diligently teach and train our own children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. One factor that influenced us was Bob Enyart Live, a radio show that exposed the danger and corruption within the government schools and urged parents to pull their kids out. The person who influenced me the most was my late Aunt Debbie who was a pioneer in the homeschooling movement 30 years ago. She home-educated each one of her four children from kindergarten through high school - And I'll tell you that ALL four of my cousins are the most intellectual, sociable, well-grounded followers of Christ I ever had the privilege to know. Seeing the fruit of her hard work has been a great inspiration to me to homeschool my own kids.
Q3 - How did the public school system affect you as a person? Do you think things would have turned out differently if you had not attended it?
I would say that nearly everything I learned that was wrong, destructive, and perverted, I learned in public school! Throughout my jr. high and high school years I spent much of my time following my peers and experimenting with drugs and sexual promiscuity, cheating my way through each grade and conforming to a debased mentality commonplace within the classroom. Despite the efforts of comprehensive sex-education, I got pregnant and had my first child at the age of fifteen. The whole public school experience negatively affected me, not only in the area of academics, but morally and spiritually as well since I learned that standards of right and wrong are relative.
Of course, I do think things would have turned out differently or better if I had not attended public school, but family life also plays a significant role in how well a child turns out. With so much anger and pain from my parents divorce, and without a father in the home, it seems as though I was destined for destruction anyway, no matter how I was educated! The public school was just a breeding ground for delinquents, and I fit right in.
Q4 - What do you think would be the greatest danger your children would face if they attended public school?
Some of the dangers that concern me as a parent are the obvious cases of violence and school shootings which are becoming regular occurrences in schools today. The homosexual agenda is promoted and sexual harassment is rampant in the hallways and allowed in classrooms. Rape, molestation and other sexual crimes are also ordinary events at schools which I don’t want my children exposed to.
Less obvious dangers are in and around the system itself. Public schools teach gang-rule, severe competition, ultimate peer pressure, chemical dependency, sick vocabulary, horrible eating habits, emotionally disturbed ideas, immorality and a variety of other delinquent and destructive behaviors which are contrary to the wisdom and instructions found in God's Holy Scriptures.
But all those things are mere by-products of godless school teachings. The government’s objective is to completely usurp parental authority, which it is succeeding at. Government schools are by law secular, which means worldly rather than spiritual, or omitting God altogether. Christian kids should not receive an education and be yoked together with thousands of unbelieving kids all day long in a place where God is irrelevant to all aspects of life!
The Nehemiah Institute's worldview PEERS test shows that 83% of the children from committed Christian families in public schools adopt a secular humanist or Marxist socialist worldview by the time they graduate. In addition to that, the SBC's 2002 annual meeting, the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life reported, among other disturbing things, that 88% of the children raised in evangelical homes who attend public school, leave church at age 18.
So undoubtedly, the greatest danger my kids would face if they attended public school is losing their faith in God.
Q5 - What do you believe is the greatest advantage that your children have from being home schooled?
One of the greatest advantage my children have from being homeschooled is the mere fact that we get to spend time together learning as a family and studying the Word of God without the hostility of the secular world corrupting their minds. Our days are flexible, and we are not restricted by school bells and rigid schedules or limited by government policies. This allows us the freedom to operate our day in the best way that will maximize our family’s needs and reap the richest rewards that homeschooling has to offer. We don’t have to call in on sick days or miss school for vacations because we can learn wherever we are and we don’t have to answer to the school authorities.
Q6 - To be more specific, what is the greatest academic advantage that your children have from being homeschooled?
The greatest academic advantage my children have from being homeschooled is to be able to learn in a safe and stress free environment, and to have the one-on-one attention necessary to cater to their individual needs which will nourish their love for learning. They will not be forced-fed humanistic, New Age propaganda or compelled to study subjects that are boring to them, rather they will have the opportunity to study subjects that are of great interest to them, and learn specific skills that will help them succeed in their adult life.
Q7 - How do you choose a curriculum for your child? How do you decide which is the best one?
As Christians, the Bible is our core curriculum. Teaching basic phonic sounds is the primary focus so the children learn to read with ease. Once they learn to read, quality classic books are what we use to learn. For other academic subjects such as history, science, biology, ect., the best curriculum is one that is Christ centered since we believe that God is the Creator of life and He is author all subjects.
The goal for us is not academic success. Education is not just about what facts a child knows; it is primarily about how he becomes equipped for the battle, and how he lives his life once he is grown.
The most important objective with raising children is building their character with a strong moral foundation, not teaching them math, geography, and science. The main goal in child training is to train them to be obedient, respectful, to honor God, to learn His Word and to love each other. Once those things are in place, the academics will naturally follow with ease. (*Note: Homeschooling statistics reveal that children who are taught at home outscore their public school classmates in all areas of academics by a landslide.)
Q8 - One aspect that most people are concerned about is socialization. Some would argue that homeschooling deprives a child of a social life. What are your thoughts on this?
This is a common myth that segregating children by age with very little interaction with other adults, except their teacher(s), for 8 hours a day, five days a week is somehow a healthy and effective way to learn how to socialize properly. When people ask me about socialization, I say that this is the VERY reason why we don’t send our kids to public school. If I wanted my kids to be severely sexually harassed daily, experience fierce peer pressure, have poor self-esteem, pick up a few drug habits, disrespect authority, use foul language, learn about sexual immorality and perversion, embrace relativism, feminism and tolerance as virtues, or possibly get sexually molested by their peers and teachers, then I would send them to public school in a heartbeat. But I actually love my children and care about their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, so that kind of 'socialization' is not an option for our family!
Public education does not have some magical formula for people to deal with the 'real world'. In fact, I believe that the school environment puts kids at a disadvantage. There is no other circumstance in 'real life' where the conditions of a public school are duplicated, other than the prison system.
Q9 - How do you socialize your children?
I socialize my children by having them interact with people of all ages. We go to museums, the zoo, the park, library, the grocery store, a nursing home and other places on a regular basis during the week, which provides them with stimulating experiences where they can also learn how to communicate in a mature manner with a variety of people. I do like to limit outside influences that don’t align with our belief system, so my children primarily learn proper socialization with their siblings, friends, elderly neighbors and other acquaintances that have a strong moral foundation, hold each other accountable, and seek to edify one another in the Lord.
Q10 - A concern that many parents have about the public school system is its tendency to medicate children. What are your thoughts on this?
Parents should be concerned! The most unnatural thing you can do to young children (especially boys) who are growing and exploring is to force them to be confined to a classroom and sit still at a desk for 8 hours a day with little or no relief to express themselves. Despite the potentially dangerous side-effects of Ritalin (or other drugs), public school authorities now pressure parents to give Ritalin to their children so these kids won’t “act up” in school. Public schools across America are giving out powerful, mind-altering drugs to children as if these drugs were candy, yet outside there are signs that read, “Proud to be a Drug Free School Zone”. Such hypocrisy!
Naturally, most parents don’t want to drug their children just because they are unruly, bored in class, energetic or high-spirited. However, compulsory attendance laws force parents to send their children to public schools, and since it’s a “free” education, parents ignorantly comply. Just as school authorities resort to compulsion to get their students by force, so they apply the same compulsion against children and their parents to pressure parents into giving Ritalin to their kids.
So how do schools pressure parents? They threaten to expel the child, hold the child back a grade, put the child into a special-education class, or threaten the parents with prosecution for child abuse.
Q11 - When you attended public school were you ever medicated? If yes, what effects did this have on you?
No, I was never given medication, but my oldest daughter was from preschool to 2nd grade when she attended public school. I was told by the so-called “experts” that she had ADHD and needed the meds to sit still and focus, otherwise the couldn’t have her in the classroom. Naively I trusted them, and magically the pills worked to the teacher’s benefit. The meds made my daughter in a zombie-like state of mind, she lost her appetite and still failed to learn. We pulled her out after the 2nd grade, took her off the meds and she’s be progressing and doing great ever since.
Q12 - What advice would you give to parents who are considering sending their children to public school?
Well, it depends on if the parents are Christians or not. For the average unbelievers I would simply say, if you love your kids, pull them out of the public school before it’s too late. Oftentimes parents may get discouraged or feel overwhelmed with the thought of homeschooling their own children because the culture says parents are not qualified to teach if they don't have a "degree" in education. But a casual look at the products of today’s public schooled children quickly reveals that the so-called trained professionals are failing miserably at their jobs and producing immoral misfits who can barely read or write.
For believers, I would encourage them to have a biblical perspective when it comes to education, and remind them that it is their responsibility as parents to diligently teach their own kids in the ways of the Lord. I would let them know that God's design is for the family to be together; it was never to send children away from the home all day to be educated, especially to a godless humanistic, pagan seminary – A place where children are surrounded by heathens all day, where God is mocked and abolished from all aspects of life, and a place where all Truth is relative while all morality is tossed out the window.
I would tell parents who are considering homeschooling that if they love God and are committed to doing what is right, they are qualified to teach their children! No one can teach children better than their own parents because no one loves the children and cares more for their children's eternal salvation than mom and dad.
For Christian kids, there is no better place for education than in the home where children are loved, nurtured, attended to, and taught by their own parents.
Every Christian parent who is truly interested in the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of their children, their homes, and the future of our beloved America, should pull their kids out of public school and offer them an exclusively Christian education!
Q1 - How long have you been homeschooling your children?
I have been homeschooling my children for about 5 years.
Q2 -Why did you decide to homeschool your children? What factors influenced you? Was there any particular person who influenced you to choose homeschooling?
Our government has given us the largest bureaucratic daycare and brain washing system in the world…the public school, and I love my children too much to have them become a victim of Darwinian dogma, or be severely dumbed-down with godless government indoctrination.
We decided to homeschool our children primarily for the safety aspect at first, then our main focus became motivated by our religious convictions to diligently teach and train our own children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. One factor that influenced us was Bob Enyart Live, a radio show that exposed the danger and corruption within the government schools and urged parents to pull their kids out. The person who influenced me the most was my late Aunt Debbie who was a pioneer in the homeschooling movement 30 years ago. She home-educated each one of her four children from kindergarten through high school - And I'll tell you that ALL four of my cousins are the most intellectual, sociable, well-grounded followers of Christ I ever had the privilege to know. Seeing the fruit of her hard work has been a great inspiration to me to homeschool my own kids.
Q3 - How did the public school system affect you as a person? Do you think things would have turned out differently if you had not attended it?
I would say that nearly everything I learned that was wrong, destructive, and perverted, I learned in public school! Throughout my jr. high and high school years I spent much of my time following my peers and experimenting with drugs and sexual promiscuity, cheating my way through each grade and conforming to a debased mentality commonplace within the classroom. Despite the efforts of comprehensive sex-education, I got pregnant and had my first child at the age of fifteen. The whole public school experience negatively affected me, not only in the area of academics, but morally and spiritually as well since I learned that standards of right and wrong are relative.
Of course, I do think things would have turned out differently or better if I had not attended public school, but family life also plays a significant role in how well a child turns out. With so much anger and pain from my parents divorce, and without a father in the home, it seems as though I was destined for destruction anyway, no matter how I was educated! The public school was just a breeding ground for delinquents, and I fit right in.
Q4 - What do you think would be the greatest danger your children would face if they attended public school?
Some of the dangers that concern me as a parent are the obvious cases of violence and school shootings which are becoming regular occurrences in schools today. The homosexual agenda is promoted and sexual harassment is rampant in the hallways and allowed in classrooms. Rape, molestation and other sexual crimes are also ordinary events at schools which I don’t want my children exposed to.
Less obvious dangers are in and around the system itself. Public schools teach gang-rule, severe competition, ultimate peer pressure, chemical dependency, sick vocabulary, horrible eating habits, emotionally disturbed ideas, immorality and a variety of other delinquent and destructive behaviors which are contrary to the wisdom and instructions found in God's Holy Scriptures.
But all those things are mere by-products of godless school teachings. The government’s objective is to completely usurp parental authority, which it is succeeding at. Government schools are by law secular, which means worldly rather than spiritual, or omitting God altogether. Christian kids should not receive an education and be yoked together with thousands of unbelieving kids all day long in a place where God is irrelevant to all aspects of life!
The Nehemiah Institute's worldview PEERS test shows that 83% of the children from committed Christian families in public schools adopt a secular humanist or Marxist socialist worldview by the time they graduate. In addition to that, the SBC's 2002 annual meeting, the Southern Baptist Council on Family Life reported, among other disturbing things, that 88% of the children raised in evangelical homes who attend public school, leave church at age 18.
So undoubtedly, the greatest danger my kids would face if they attended public school is losing their faith in God.
Q5 - What do you believe is the greatest advantage that your children have from being home schooled?
One of the greatest advantage my children have from being homeschooled is the mere fact that we get to spend time together learning as a family and studying the Word of God without the hostility of the secular world corrupting their minds. Our days are flexible, and we are not restricted by school bells and rigid schedules or limited by government policies. This allows us the freedom to operate our day in the best way that will maximize our family’s needs and reap the richest rewards that homeschooling has to offer. We don’t have to call in on sick days or miss school for vacations because we can learn wherever we are and we don’t have to answer to the school authorities.
Q6 - To be more specific, what is the greatest academic advantage that your children have from being homeschooled?
The greatest academic advantage my children have from being homeschooled is to be able to learn in a safe and stress free environment, and to have the one-on-one attention necessary to cater to their individual needs which will nourish their love for learning. They will not be forced-fed humanistic, New Age propaganda or compelled to study subjects that are boring to them, rather they will have the opportunity to study subjects that are of great interest to them, and learn specific skills that will help them succeed in their adult life.
Q7 - How do you choose a curriculum for your child? How do you decide which is the best one?
As Christians, the Bible is our core curriculum. Teaching basic phonic sounds is the primary focus so the children learn to read with ease. Once they learn to read, quality classic books are what we use to learn. For other academic subjects such as history, science, biology, ect., the best curriculum is one that is Christ centered since we believe that God is the Creator of life and He is author all subjects.
The goal for us is not academic success. Education is not just about what facts a child knows; it is primarily about how he becomes equipped for the battle, and how he lives his life once he is grown.
The most important objective with raising children is building their character with a strong moral foundation, not teaching them math, geography, and science. The main goal in child training is to train them to be obedient, respectful, to honor God, to learn His Word and to love each other. Once those things are in place, the academics will naturally follow with ease. (*Note: Homeschooling statistics reveal that children who are taught at home outscore their public school classmates in all areas of academics by a landslide.)
Q8 - One aspect that most people are concerned about is socialization. Some would argue that homeschooling deprives a child of a social life. What are your thoughts on this?
This is a common myth that segregating children by age with very little interaction with other adults, except their teacher(s), for 8 hours a day, five days a week is somehow a healthy and effective way to learn how to socialize properly. When people ask me about socialization, I say that this is the VERY reason why we don’t send our kids to public school. If I wanted my kids to be severely sexually harassed daily, experience fierce peer pressure, have poor self-esteem, pick up a few drug habits, disrespect authority, use foul language, learn about sexual immorality and perversion, embrace relativism, feminism and tolerance as virtues, or possibly get sexually molested by their peers and teachers, then I would send them to public school in a heartbeat. But I actually love my children and care about their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being, so that kind of 'socialization' is not an option for our family!
Public education does not have some magical formula for people to deal with the 'real world'. In fact, I believe that the school environment puts kids at a disadvantage. There is no other circumstance in 'real life' where the conditions of a public school are duplicated, other than the prison system.
Q9 - How do you socialize your children?
I socialize my children by having them interact with people of all ages. We go to museums, the zoo, the park, library, the grocery store, a nursing home and other places on a regular basis during the week, which provides them with stimulating experiences where they can also learn how to communicate in a mature manner with a variety of people. I do like to limit outside influences that don’t align with our belief system, so my children primarily learn proper socialization with their siblings, friends, elderly neighbors and other acquaintances that have a strong moral foundation, hold each other accountable, and seek to edify one another in the Lord.
Q10 - A concern that many parents have about the public school system is its tendency to medicate children. What are your thoughts on this?
Parents should be concerned! The most unnatural thing you can do to young children (especially boys) who are growing and exploring is to force them to be confined to a classroom and sit still at a desk for 8 hours a day with little or no relief to express themselves. Despite the potentially dangerous side-effects of Ritalin (or other drugs), public school authorities now pressure parents to give Ritalin to their children so these kids won’t “act up” in school. Public schools across America are giving out powerful, mind-altering drugs to children as if these drugs were candy, yet outside there are signs that read, “Proud to be a Drug Free School Zone”. Such hypocrisy!
Naturally, most parents don’t want to drug their children just because they are unruly, bored in class, energetic or high-spirited. However, compulsory attendance laws force parents to send their children to public schools, and since it’s a “free” education, parents ignorantly comply. Just as school authorities resort to compulsion to get their students by force, so they apply the same compulsion against children and their parents to pressure parents into giving Ritalin to their kids.
So how do schools pressure parents? They threaten to expel the child, hold the child back a grade, put the child into a special-education class, or threaten the parents with prosecution for child abuse.
Q11 - When you attended public school were you ever medicated? If yes, what effects did this have on you?
No, I was never given medication, but my oldest daughter was from preschool to 2nd grade when she attended public school. I was told by the so-called “experts” that she had ADHD and needed the meds to sit still and focus, otherwise the couldn’t have her in the classroom. Naively I trusted them, and magically the pills worked to the teacher’s benefit. The meds made my daughter in a zombie-like state of mind, she lost her appetite and still failed to learn. We pulled her out after the 2nd grade, took her off the meds and she’s be progressing and doing great ever since.
Q12 - What advice would you give to parents who are considering sending their children to public school?
Well, it depends on if the parents are Christians or not. For the average unbelievers I would simply say, if you love your kids, pull them out of the public school before it’s too late. Oftentimes parents may get discouraged or feel overwhelmed with the thought of homeschooling their own children because the culture says parents are not qualified to teach if they don't have a "degree" in education. But a casual look at the products of today’s public schooled children quickly reveals that the so-called trained professionals are failing miserably at their jobs and producing immoral misfits who can barely read or write.
For believers, I would encourage them to have a biblical perspective when it comes to education, and remind them that it is their responsibility as parents to diligently teach their own kids in the ways of the Lord. I would let them know that God's design is for the family to be together; it was never to send children away from the home all day to be educated, especially to a godless humanistic, pagan seminary – A place where children are surrounded by heathens all day, where God is mocked and abolished from all aspects of life, and a place where all Truth is relative while all morality is tossed out the window.
I would tell parents who are considering homeschooling that if they love God and are committed to doing what is right, they are qualified to teach their children! No one can teach children better than their own parents because no one loves the children and cares more for their children's eternal salvation than mom and dad.
For Christian kids, there is no better place for education than in the home where children are loved, nurtured, attended to, and taught by their own parents.
Every Christian parent who is truly interested in the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of their children, their homes, and the future of our beloved America, should pull their kids out of public school and offer them an exclusively Christian education!
May 17, 2009
How I Homeschool:
(Or at least how I strive to homeschool.)
This was a note I got tagged in on Facebook so I thought I would post it here as well:
1. What time do you get up?
Not as early as I would like to. Fortunately the kids aren’t early risers either, and they entertain themselves until mom & dad wake up – we are totally spoiled! Generally speaking, I like to have the coffee pot running & Bible time started by 9:30am. I know, I'm bad!
2. What do your children wear to school?
Usually comfy play clothes (not always matched), jammies, or the outfit from the day before since they either didn’t change before bed, or didn’t get dirty enough to change. If they can manage to keep their clothes clean, I’ll let them wear it all week – the less laundry the better. It’s nice not to have to conform to social pressures and school dress codes.
3. What curriculum have you tried and hated?
I only really hate anything that is teaching godless principles. I also haven’t really tried a wide variety of curriculum, but I do like the book “Learning at Home” – by Ann Ward. And I also adopt "The Moore Formula" which works well for our family.
4. Who is your most inspirational homeschooling role model?
My Aunt Debbie ~ The Most Virtuous Woman I Have Ever Known!
5. Charlotte Mason, unschooling or Classical?
Right now we do more of the unschooling method, but as the kids grow & mature, we will do more Charlotte Mason and Classical type learning.
6. Favorite response to “what about socialization?”
”Socialization” is the VERY reason WHY we don’t send our kids to public school. => So What About "Socialization"?
7. Favorite subject?
Theology & Home Economics.
8. Favorite field trip ever?
Road Trip across the country to Washington DC for Grandpa Kekoa’s memorial service was the best, but the children's museum & the zoo are fun too.
9. Best thing about homeschooling?
The freedom & unity in our family, opportunity for activism, along with the awesome responsibility of teaching my children Truth & watching them grow and learn in the Lord.
10. Sports, music, or art?
My oldest goes to horse back riding therapy once a week, the younger girls play piano, and everyone loves to color, draw pictures, paint, garden, do holiday crafts or sidewalk chalk.
11. Best one stop shopping for school books?
Dollar Tree, Thrift Stores, the Library, Amazon.com & used curriculum sales.
12. One subject you didn’t get to this week:
Geography.
13. What will you do when you run out of kids to teach?
Hopefully write articles & books, and do more pro-life activism, while enjoying grandkids on the side.
14. Ever give school books as Christmas or Birthday gifts?
Sure – We consider all learning materials to be a gift.
15. Better late or early (delay formal education at home, or start as young as possible?)
Better late than early from my experience & understanding. Forcing kids to learn concepts pre-maturely often cause kids to struggle or start developing “learning disabilities.” Delaying formal learning of allows children to understand concepts and retain info. in a fraction of the time.
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in TRUTH." - 3 John 1:4
This was a note I got tagged in on Facebook so I thought I would post it here as well:
1. What time do you get up?
Not as early as I would like to. Fortunately the kids aren’t early risers either, and they entertain themselves until mom & dad wake up – we are totally spoiled! Generally speaking, I like to have the coffee pot running & Bible time started by 9:30am. I know, I'm bad!
2. What do your children wear to school?
Usually comfy play clothes (not always matched), jammies, or the outfit from the day before since they either didn’t change before bed, or didn’t get dirty enough to change. If they can manage to keep their clothes clean, I’ll let them wear it all week – the less laundry the better. It’s nice not to have to conform to social pressures and school dress codes.
3. What curriculum have you tried and hated?
I only really hate anything that is teaching godless principles. I also haven’t really tried a wide variety of curriculum, but I do like the book “Learning at Home” – by Ann Ward. And I also adopt "The Moore Formula" which works well for our family.
4. Who is your most inspirational homeschooling role model?
My Aunt Debbie ~ The Most Virtuous Woman I Have Ever Known!
5. Charlotte Mason, unschooling or Classical?
Right now we do more of the unschooling method, but as the kids grow & mature, we will do more Charlotte Mason and Classical type learning.
6. Favorite response to “what about socialization?”
”Socialization” is the VERY reason WHY we don’t send our kids to public school. => So What About "Socialization"?
7. Favorite subject?
Theology & Home Economics.
8. Favorite field trip ever?
Road Trip across the country to Washington DC for Grandpa Kekoa’s memorial service was the best, but the children's museum & the zoo are fun too.
9. Best thing about homeschooling?
The freedom & unity in our family, opportunity for activism, along with the awesome responsibility of teaching my children Truth & watching them grow and learn in the Lord.
10. Sports, music, or art?
My oldest goes to horse back riding therapy once a week, the younger girls play piano, and everyone loves to color, draw pictures, paint, garden, do holiday crafts or sidewalk chalk.
11. Best one stop shopping for school books?
Dollar Tree, Thrift Stores, the Library, Amazon.com & used curriculum sales.
12. One subject you didn’t get to this week:
Geography.
13. What will you do when you run out of kids to teach?
Hopefully write articles & books, and do more pro-life activism, while enjoying grandkids on the side.
14. Ever give school books as Christmas or Birthday gifts?
Sure – We consider all learning materials to be a gift.
15. Better late or early (delay formal education at home, or start as young as possible?)
Better late than early from my experience & understanding. Forcing kids to learn concepts pre-maturely often cause kids to struggle or start developing “learning disabilities.” Delaying formal learning of allows children to understand concepts and retain info. in a fraction of the time.
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in TRUTH." - 3 John 1:4
April 30, 2009
I Am a Domestic Engineer!
This is my job description:
CEO of home management to ensure the tranquility, comfort, safety & security of life for all members within the four walls of our house. I am a wife, lover, friend, mother, relationship expert, master planner, organizer, childcare director, disciplinary, teacher, personal trainer, computer operator, counselor, nurse, budget shopper, van driver, cook, maid, laundry machine operator, administrative assistant, negotiator, delegator & civilization specialist.
There is no greater joy or fulfillment in life than being a good helper to my husband, and raising my children to walk in the Truth!
CEO of home management to ensure the tranquility, comfort, safety & security of life for all members within the four walls of our house. I am a wife, lover, friend, mother, relationship expert, master planner, organizer, childcare director, disciplinary, teacher, personal trainer, computer operator, counselor, nurse, budget shopper, van driver, cook, maid, laundry machine operator, administrative assistant, negotiator, delegator & civilization specialist.
There is no greater joy or fulfillment in life than being a good helper to my husband, and raising my children to walk in the Truth!
April 29, 2009
Child-Training Tips:
I am dedicated to helping parents raise up obedient, respectful, happy & well-adjusted children who are a joy to be around by using successful biblical training methods! Children are a blessing from God and Christians should seek to honor Him by obeying His Word and rejecting worldly philosophies, especially when it comes to discipline! The ultimate goal is to learn how to diligently train up children in the way they should go with the fear & admonition of the Lord so they will not depart from the faith once they are grown. (Proverbs 22:6 & Ephesians 6:4)
Basic principals for parents to remember:
1) If they're old enough to pitch a fit, they're old enough to get the switch!
Parents should never be held hostage by unruly, bratty kids who whine, cry, & throw temper tantrums to get their way! The parents who put off training until the child is old enough to discuss issues or receive explanations find their child a terror long before he understands the meaning of the word.
2) Delayed obedience is disobedience!
Parents should never count to three or offer idle threats to their children because it actually trains them to disobey. As long as the parents remain consistent, the child will consistently obey. This "obedience training" is carried out in the utmost patience and concentration. The frustration experienced by parents is of their own ignorant making. Our problem is not "bad" children, just bad training. There are no exceptions, the "strong willed," the hyper active, the highly intelligent and the easily bored all need training, and training is effective on all.
3) Set the standards high for your children!
When parents are constantly making excuses for the disobedience and self-centered behaviors of their children, they end up justifying this form of domestic terrorism by lowing their standards and tolerating unacceptable actions. When you have such a low standard of expectations, don't be surprised when your children reach those low standards. Expect complete obedience and demand it!
4) Three R's: Right attitude, Right response, Right away!
It's not enough for children to simply obey a command, they need to do it without hesitation and with a cheerful heart. When parents negotiate with toddlers or compromise the rules, it is the making of a bitter, undisciplined, fleshly child--and eventually, adult. Demanding that a child be happy in his obedience trains him in self-control and contentment as well as good behavior.
Children are the hope for our future! As parents, we only get one chance to raise our kids - so we better do it right!
*Read Online: To Train Up A Child - by Micheal & Debi Pearl
Basic principals for parents to remember:
1) If they're old enough to pitch a fit, they're old enough to get the switch!
Parents should never be held hostage by unruly, bratty kids who whine, cry, & throw temper tantrums to get their way! The parents who put off training until the child is old enough to discuss issues or receive explanations find their child a terror long before he understands the meaning of the word.
2) Delayed obedience is disobedience!
Parents should never count to three or offer idle threats to their children because it actually trains them to disobey. As long as the parents remain consistent, the child will consistently obey. This "obedience training" is carried out in the utmost patience and concentration. The frustration experienced by parents is of their own ignorant making. Our problem is not "bad" children, just bad training. There are no exceptions, the "strong willed," the hyper active, the highly intelligent and the easily bored all need training, and training is effective on all.
3) Set the standards high for your children!
When parents are constantly making excuses for the disobedience and self-centered behaviors of their children, they end up justifying this form of domestic terrorism by lowing their standards and tolerating unacceptable actions. When you have such a low standard of expectations, don't be surprised when your children reach those low standards. Expect complete obedience and demand it!
4) Three R's: Right attitude, Right response, Right away!
It's not enough for children to simply obey a command, they need to do it without hesitation and with a cheerful heart. When parents negotiate with toddlers or compromise the rules, it is the making of a bitter, undisciplined, fleshly child--and eventually, adult. Demanding that a child be happy in his obedience trains him in self-control and contentment as well as good behavior.
Children are the hope for our future! As parents, we only get one chance to raise our kids - so we better do it right!
*Read Online: To Train Up A Child - by Micheal & Debi Pearl
March 07, 2009
What Do I Teach My Children About Atheism?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being a fundamental Christian, homeschooling mom, often I am accused of indoctrinating my kids with religion (which is pretty much true), and the question sometimes arises:
"What are you teaching your children about atheism?"
I teach my children that atheism is the disbelief in God, or the denial of God’s existence. I also teach my children that in the Bible it says, “The fool says in his heart, there is no God.”
I teach my kids that atheists are liars. Self-deceived, sadly, but liars nonetheless because they reject Truth - Specifically, the Truth that is Jesus Christ. Deep down in their spirits, the knowledge of the Creator endures, but though much denial, atheists suppress this knowledge and exchange the Truth of God for a lie. Since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes are clearly seen, and atheists are without excuse for their willful ignorance! Atheists have became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts have been darkened.
I teach my children that they did NOT evolve from primordial slime, by a series of random chance events brought on by a “cosmic accident” billions of years ago, as the public schools will teach. Instead, I teach my children that they are fearfully & wonderfully made by the hands of God our Creator, created in His image and likeness, and their life has eternal purpose.
My kids will learn how irrational and illogical atheism is, and that it takes way more faith to be an atheist, than it does to believe in Christ. Our faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. By our faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Atheists look at the majesty of Creation all around them and believe that it came into existence by an accidental, impersonal, amoral, unintelligent force which exists only in their imagination.
I am NOT going to raise my children to be "free-thinkers" and so open minded that their brains fall out, but I am teaching my children of God’s Holy Nature and His Absolute Moral Laws with conviction so that they will be solid in their faith. My kids know what is right and wrong, and that there are severe consequences for sinful behavior.
Our family has a tremendous reverence for God, and we are diligently indoctrinating the principals of God’s Holy Word to our children all throughout the day. We demonstrate our love and obedience towards God, and to each other by the way we conduct our everyday lives, by rebuking the wicked, warning the lost and uplifting fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Once our children are fully grown and out of our home, they will have the freedom to become atheists and live in rebellion if they want. But, I am confident that my children will never embrace atheism because the Word of God is written on their hearts and they will be smart enough to know better!
When parents train up a child in the way he should go, when he is older, he will not depart from it! That is a spoken promise from God Almighty, and Mama ain't gonna raise no FOOLS!
"What are you teaching your children about atheism?"
I teach my children that atheism is the disbelief in God, or the denial of God’s existence. I also teach my children that in the Bible it says, “The fool says in his heart, there is no God.”
I teach my kids that atheists are liars. Self-deceived, sadly, but liars nonetheless because they reject Truth - Specifically, the Truth that is Jesus Christ. Deep down in their spirits, the knowledge of the Creator endures, but though much denial, atheists suppress this knowledge and exchange the Truth of God for a lie. Since the creation of the world God's invisible attributes are clearly seen, and atheists are without excuse for their willful ignorance! Atheists have became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts have been darkened.
I teach my children that they did NOT evolve from primordial slime, by a series of random chance events brought on by a “cosmic accident” billions of years ago, as the public schools will teach. Instead, I teach my children that they are fearfully & wonderfully made by the hands of God our Creator, created in His image and likeness, and their life has eternal purpose.
My kids will learn how irrational and illogical atheism is, and that it takes way more faith to be an atheist, than it does to believe in Christ. Our faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. By our faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Atheists look at the majesty of Creation all around them and believe that it came into existence by an accidental, impersonal, amoral, unintelligent force which exists only in their imagination.
I am NOT going to raise my children to be "free-thinkers" and so open minded that their brains fall out, but I am teaching my children of God’s Holy Nature and His Absolute Moral Laws with conviction so that they will be solid in their faith. My kids know what is right and wrong, and that there are severe consequences for sinful behavior.
Our family has a tremendous reverence for God, and we are diligently indoctrinating the principals of God’s Holy Word to our children all throughout the day. We demonstrate our love and obedience towards God, and to each other by the way we conduct our everyday lives, by rebuking the wicked, warning the lost and uplifting fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
Once our children are fully grown and out of our home, they will have the freedom to become atheists and live in rebellion if they want. But, I am confident that my children will never embrace atheism because the Word of God is written on their hearts and they will be smart enough to know better!
When parents train up a child in the way he should go, when he is older, he will not depart from it! That is a spoken promise from God Almighty, and Mama ain't gonna raise no FOOLS!
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