A homeschooler here in Washington wrote this article. I thought it was pretty good, so I'm sharing it with you. The only thing I think I would add is that actual involvement in pornography is not the only danger of cell phone and internet use (although that's a high enough risk all in itself) and just because we homeschool does not mean our children are protected from these dangers. There are scales of grey regarding what we choose to center our minds on and the internet (and texting and movies and what we see in stores and what we listen to on the radio, etc.) are all real dangers. They can also be a blessing. Let's go for God's best. Let's honor Him with our lives.

Thinking about Giving a Cell Phone, iPod, or PDA for Christmas?
Protect Your Family from Pornography
By Lori from WA

 
While technology can be a fantastic tool for worthwhile endeavors, it can also be an instrument for engaging in grave evil.  Advancing electronic technology has made pornography and sexual content readily accessible on cell phones, iPods, and PDA’s (and basically any other wireless or mobile entertainment device).    If that’s not bad enough, individuals can buy long distance phone cards at the grocery store to use for anonymous “phone sex,” and download music mp3s with explicit content.  In other words, we’re not just talking about protecting children from internet porn any more.   Even if your family doesn’t own any of the previously mentioned electronic devices, your friends do and your children’s friends do too.  Most of us have a TV­an electronic device that will become more problematic as it continues to morph and merge with other technology. 
 
Pornography is a global problem, but America owns a lion’s share of the blame.   According to Michael Leahy, recovering sex addict and bestselling author of Porn Nation: Conquering America's #1 Addiction, pornography is “a 57 billion a year global industry and America is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of porn in the world.” Leahy is an expert on emerging tech trends in pornography and has been featured on ABC's 20/20, The View, USA Today, and numerous other major media sources. 
 
According to the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families, children are often exposed to pornography between the ages of 10-14, if not before.  I would add that today’s pornography is exponentially worse than what my generation saw in 1970s magazines (featuring women).  The Internet contains the most vile filth of every kind, including the sexual exploitation of very young children, sodomy, bestiality, and horrors that would be inappropriate to mention here.  All of these images and video are just a mouse click away.
 
Approximately 60 percent or more of the Internet is made up of sexually explicit content.   According to Family Safe Media, 72 percent of males and 28 percent of females (yes, females) visit pornography sites.   Pornography is easy to access and easy to engage in privately and secretly.  The same goes for explicit conversation via texting (or “sexting”) which can be typed out right under a parent’s nose. 

Here are four reasons I’ve heard from parents as to why they are not safeguarding their children:

(1)   “I’m computer/electronics illiterate--I don’t know what these devices are capable of doing and my kids know way more than me. I don’t feel equipped to figure out how to install or administer filtering software or parental controls.”

My response:  Hold off buying or allowing your children to have these electronic gadgets until they become necessary.  And, when you buy, consider your children’s needs­not wants.  For example, there are cell phones on the market without picture/video/internet capabilities (research and ask about them).  There are also “stand-alone” electronic organizers you can buy as opposed to a PDA (does a 15-year-old really need to sync their schedule with a computer?).  If you decide to consider a mainstream electronic device, ask retailers and service providers if you can shut down certain capabilities (learn also if the phone can connect to internet via other wired/wireless connections outside your home, and if the device can download and upload media).  In summary, get informed with the basics.  Then, get help from on-line resources, friends, and your local retail/computer store to be sure you can put filtering or specific parental controls in place.

(2)   “I trust my children.  They can only go on the Internet when I’m at home, otherwise they know they’re not allowed.”

My response: My husband and I don’t trust ourselves not to sin, and we don’t trust our kids not to sin.  I recently read a quote from a pastor named Bill Perkins that pretty much sums it up:  "If you think you can't fall into sexual sin, then you're godlier than David, stronger than Samson, and wiser than Solomon.”  The stakes are high with pornography so my husband and I take serious precautions to reduce the risk of exposure.  Here’s what we have in place:  We log on to our computer with a parental password (important:  it’s not written down anywhere).  I have an administrative password for our filter which only I know (important:  it’s not written down anywhere).  Our filtering company sends regular Internet activity reports to my husband and me (he and I are both accountable to each other as well as with the kids).  We have a separate user account for our oldest who needs access to the internet for classes.  His user account is filtered down to a “white list” of preapproved sites with no search capability.  Further, his email may only receive messages from pre-authorized senders.  Now, you may think all of this is extreme, and your family may choose do the filtering differently (it’s a personal decision and it’s up to you).  However, I’m trying to stress that I’m much more concerned about limiting the risk of exposure to pornography than other less “risky” areas where my children might disobey me.  If a device poses a risk, it’s either treated as a “controlled substance” or it’s out of here.
 
(3)   “I’m so busy, I don’t have time.”

My response:  Please make the time and let something else slide for a while.  Our children are an inheritance and a gift from the Lord.  They deserve our responsible and reasonable protection.
 
(4)   “Sooner or later my children are going to be exposed to pornography.  I can’t control their sinful hearts, or their temptations.  If they look for something hard enough, they’ll find it.”

My response:  While there are many aspects of our children’s lives that we cannot control, including the sinful nature of their hearts and the sin that surrounds us, it’s important that we don’t assume a fatalistic attitude that equates to laziness.  Our children may gain access to pornography elsewhere.  But, my husband’s and my personal goal is to make it as difficult as possible for our children (or anyone else’s children) to access pornography in our home, or on a device someone in our family carries around with them.  As parents, we must also pray consistently for our children’s hearts, their pursuit of holiness, and for the restraint of evil in this world. We also must pray for the salvation and/or rescue of those who are trapped in the slavery of pornography, which is an addiction that affects non-Christians and Christians alike. 
 
Parents, you can do this!  Please visit the National Coalition for the Protection of Children and Families (NCPCF) at http://www.nationalcoalition.org/home.asp  You will find a wealth of information including opening lines of communication with your children regarding pornography, and how to be a wise shopper (learning about the capabilities of electronic devices before buying).  You’ll also find information about filtering software and applications for the Internet and portable electronic devices, statistics, and other excellent resources.  The two filters recommended on the website have filtering for internet and mobile phones whereas most others do not. 
 
A sister-section of the NCPCF website has a page that’s an excellent starting place: http://www.icarecoalition.org/icarepurpose.asp
 
Lastly, if you have a child who has, or is engaging in the sin of pornography, here is an excellent article for parents about a Christ-centered approach to helping them:  http://www.crosswalk.com/parenting/teens/11600384/

We don't really have changing of the seasons in the desert, at least not where I live. This tree outside my mom's window is so pretty. The picture does not really capture the deep burnt orange color. My dad came to visit today too.

We're officially on Thanksgiving break!!    *insert gleeful dancing here*  I wasn't very focused this week on what I was doing.....honestly I was daydreaming far more than I should have about what I'll be able to get caught up on over our break.  Still, I managed to do official Tot School four days this week, with a very, very light 5th day.  So light I probably shouldn't even count it.....and yet I will.

Monday:

• ABC-123 page
• File folder game: Falling Leaves
• extra time with speech homework

Tuesday:

• File Folder Game:  Harvest Patterns
• Ladybug stickers on letter L page
• Classifying/sequencing:  Little to Large

Pictures from Tuesday:

"I did it!!" is what he's saying here.  This is the first time Peanut has been able to do an ABABA sequencing exercise and not have a problem with it.  He topped that stunt farther down the file folder by doing an AABBAA sequence!  We were all sooo excited!!

Little to Large.  These are from a pool noodle, they'll make great star paint stamps when we get to the letter S!!  Can't remember whose blog I swiped this from.  Whoever you are, I thank you.   Oh, and he's also letting all of you out there in blog-land how many stars he counted.

Little Ladybugs on the Letter L.

Wednesday:

• ABC-123 page
• Lacing blocks onto a shoestring (He finally figured out how to do this!)
• Apples: Little to Large

Pictures from Wednesday:

See the steely determination as he figures out how to get that little string through the hole. 

Sequencing apples, little to large.

Thursday:

• Handwriting Without Tears page
• Little Hands to Heaven page -- Letter review
• Make a Ladybug craft

Pictures from Thursday:

Friday:

• Played with play-doh
• Went to the river front park with cousins & got to visit with Aunt & Uncle we don't get to see very often......okay that was really mommy :)  Peanut played with his cousins.

Really, this was a great week for Peanut, and I didn't even realize it.  He was able to sequence from little to big, string the blocks onto string, and complete patterns he hadn't been able to do before.  Three things he's not accomplished before now.  I guess that's a nice perk of blogging all of these things.  With the business of this week, these accomplishments didn't stick out to me before.  What a nice way to begin our vacation.

Also this week, our little Peanut turned the big 0-5!  When did my baby boy get so old?  We celebrated with the necessary balloons:

Presents:

And his very favorite birthday cake:

Brandon and I made it to WA after a 4 hour plane delay. Sigh.. For those who don't know, about a week ago my mom fell and broke her ankle. She had surgery on Monday. They put in some hardware and she is not to put any weight on it at all for many many weeks.She is wheelchair bound for now.  Brandon and I came up to help take care of her and the house. She is doing much better than last week.  

I apologize for my previous post.  I wrote it half-serious and half tongue-in-cheek.   I am over my self-pity party now.  

Physically I am feeling a little better, and the sun is out today, so things are looking up.  I wonder if I should go get one of those lamps for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder?  My attitude really takes a dive when the sun is gone for 5 full days in a row. 

Ryan is feeling better as well.  No one else is complaining of an ailment at this moment, so perhaps we will be able to have a nice weekend. 

We are planning to go up to see Jeff's mom tomorrow.  If the weather cooperates, we may get to take a walk along the beach.  

Sunday after church we hope to put up our Christmas tree.  We've never put it up this early, but I knew it would make my husband really happy if we put it up early this year.  He's so into everything about Christmas. 

I hope you have a lovely weekend, whatever you are doing. 

Blessings,

Jenn

From the Heart:

I'm loving being with my kids.  Every moment that I get with them fills my heart.  It is so wonderful to hold my son in my arms and hear him say, "I wuv you, Mommy. You're adorable!"  I also love watching and experiencing the moments that my five year old studies her first words and reads them.  Each day she makes so much progress.  My 10 and 12 year olds amaze me with how they are growing into young ladies more each day and becoming individuals.  Life as a Mom is good.

The little ones like to snuggle in the rocking chair after their bath near the wood stove. 

I just finished looking over my blog from a year ago.  I am so glad that I am not in that place any longer!  A year ago my Snow Crystal was having concentration problems, abdominal pain, seizures, weakness, and looked like a little holocaust survivor.  She was depressed and talking about suicide.  I praise God for all my friends who so faithfully prayed, and for the cure of becoming gluten-free again, and avoiding artificial additives.  She is my healthy, happy, seizure-free young lady again.  No more of any of those things, and her school work has improved dramatically this year.  I am so grateful to the Lord!

In the School Room:

Mountain Princess, 12, and Snow Crystal, 10:  Abraham Lincoln was shot again this week (we learned it a few weeks ago, but readressed the reasons this week).  The aftermath of the civil war was anything but nice.  Andrew Johnson may have had Abraham's roots, but he lacked some of Abe's other successful political prowess.  Matter can be in the form of a solid, a liquid, a gas, and plasma.  Old Yeller is my 10 year old's first school book to be taken on without my help, and she's doing a good job.  She even stated that this is her favorite reader ever.   Caddie Woodlawn continues to be a spunky little thing.  Tall tales are fun because they exaggerate a story and hyperboles are perfect to put in them.  Mountain Princess finished up decimals, fractions and percentages, and moved on to tesselations. (Did I learn about these in school?  They are fun.)   Snow Crystal is working on fractions now.

Bubbies, 5, learned about the clothing and culture of the French in the period just before Napoleon's time and about the French revolution.  Birds have feathers, lay eggs, are warm-blooded, and most eat other animals.  We examined an old robin's nest and found an unhatched egg.  Robin nests are made of mud, twigs and grass.  Numbers higher than ten are made with groups of ten and units.  She finished the week by writing her numbers between twenty and thirty.

Little Critter, 3,  is beginning to take himself to the potty and we are having much fewer peeing accidents.  On the other hand, yesterday he pooped in the bathtub again.  Good thing sister wasn't with him this time!

On the Mission Field:

One of my favorite speakers, Graeme from Australia, was here speaking on cultural differences.  We had another India - style dinner too.   The students have only two more weeks before they head out on outreach.  They will spend their first month in New Mexico with the Navajo work there, then the final eight weeks in India.  We saw the Lord bring in a bunch of money toward their outreach expenses.  That is always fun to see.

In the Literary Scene:

I am reading Brock and Bodie Thoene's second book in the Galway Series Of Men and of Angels.

Feeding on His Faithfulness,

Carol

If you would like to join me in this theme, just write up your own weekly summary, using mine or your own categories.  Then sign the Mr. Linky below.  I'd love to read your weekly summaries too!    I hope to post mine on each Friday or Saturday.  At the latest it will be on Sunday.  If you get yours done before I do, just leave your link in my cbox or comments from the week before.  Be sure and check last week's Mr. Linky for any new ones who posted before I did!  It is a great way to meet new people.

There's not much to say on this gloomy day. 

I've not seen the sun since May. 

Well, it seems that way. 

Another child is sick with a cold. 

Being the nursemaid is getting old. 

I think I am catching his cold. 

Oh, won't somebody please leave me a comment to brighten my day? 

~Pathetic Jenn

My dog hates to have his collar off. I took it off because it appeared to be  tight. As soon as the collar is off he will obsessed over it till I put it back on. The first picture is after 10 mins of him staring at it.

Finally I let him take it off the bed..

 He's happy now, I put it back on him.