Two Kid Schoolhouse
Don't you think Hillary... Jan. 9, 2008
would be the first one to attack a woman for breaking down emotionally and crying? Don't you think she would say such a woman was weak, manipulative, and unfit to be President?
I am a crybaby. I get teary-eyed over the stupidest things. It's not manipulative crying. which I know some women engage in. Sometimes I cry when I'm in a difficult conversation and I'm nervous. I even cried when I was quitting a job I hated and couldn't wait to get out of! So I understand when a woman breaks down a little and can't hold back the tears. Some of us are like that. I just don't think Hillary truly is.
But it sure worked for her, didn't it? |
Comments (
3
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
Fear of offense part 2 Dec. 1, 2007
I was asked what prompted my last post. That is one of those posts that had been brewing a long time. It's just something I see more and more when I talk to people, when I post on message boards, and read blogs. Of course Christmas brings it out more. A school changes the name of a gift-exchange program because "Santa" is a religious symbol and might offend. (Really, Santa a religious symbol? I can't comprehend the thought process.) People complain about store employees saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." (No cite on that one but I recall a lot of Christian indignation and talk of boycotts last year.)
As I think about this some more, I come back to two things:
1. Self-esteem. Has the emphasis on self-esteem killed discussion and debate? Are we afraid that if we say to someone "I disagree with your opinion" that we will harm their self-esteem? Or are people so fragile that any disagreement harms their self-esteem? Do people have to be right all the time in order to feel good about themselves? Why are people so sensitive?
2. Opinions can't hurt you. Really, there are few situations where someone's opinion can harm you. In everyday life, I mean, not extraordinary circumstances like, oh, giving a stuffed toy a name that's offensive to a huge group of angry people who like to execute anyone who they perceive as insulting them. (I wasn't even thinking of that when I was writing.)
Recently I was in a gathering of people, all Christians but with decidedly different views on various topics, including a hot one: the drinking of alcoholic beverages. Some drank, some didn't. When dinner came, some had cider, some had wine. A toast was raised and everyone shared. It was a wonderful dinner. Conversation and opinions flowed freely. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, even as people disagreed. It was a very satisfying event because it was full of good talk.
Friendly disagreements are part of what makes life interesting! Debate helps us think about our own position, figure out why we think the way we do, learn how to express ourselves to explain and "defend" our position, open our eyes to another point of view. If no one ever challenges our opinions or interpretations... we just roll along in life, dumb and happy, confident in our own superiority... and afraid to open our mouths if it means we might disagree. Ready to be angry if someone disagrees with us.
I'm not talking about that sort of brutal honesty that some people think is required. When your neighbor gives you a pie, and you hate it, but she asks if you liked it, you don't say "that was some nasty pie you gave us!" No no no. That's a whole 'nother topic - the art of social lying. (And man can that be hard to explain to kids.)
Why do you think people are this way? Do you think there's any hope for the future? Are people going to become more and more sensitive or will there finally be a backlash? |
Comments (
3
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
This Christmas, resist one thing Nov. 22, 2007
So many people are already talking about how overwhelmed they are with Christmas shopping: how much they have to do, how much money they expect to spend. I overheard one woman tell another that she had only about $1000 to spend on her kids this year. She has 3 kids, one of whom is a toddler. Her kids already have every toy I could imagine. Others talk about getting out for black Friday shopping early to get some deals on the popular toys this year. They are worried that they will miss out on some toys their kids are dying to have. They don't know how they will survive the holidays.
Then there are the women who are anxious about what they might expect from their husbands or boyfriends. They want jewels but can't come right out and say so, so they drop hints. Ladies, men are basically clueless about gifts and hints. I am not male-bashing - my husband would tell you that. So many women will wake up Christmas morning full of anticipation and will be upset that their man didn't catch the hints. "I shouldn't have to tell him what I want, he should just know!" Please.
It's Thanksgiving in America but so many people don't seem very thankful, just worried about making this a perfect Christmas for themselves and their families.
I wish this Christmas season everyone would resist one thing they think they should do or buy. One thing to say no to: One toy. (How many will your child really appreciate?) One scented candle for an obligatory office or hostess gift. One trip to the mall. One party invitation. One new pair of boots for a Christmas party. One expectation of a gift from someone else. One oblique hint for a gift. One new decorative item for the tree or the dinner table.
I'm not a proponent of a plain, oversimplified Christmas. I like to buy gifts, decorate the house, wrap with beautiful paper, etc. But every year the stakes seem to get higher and the obligations mount up. Then we find ourselves with no time to really enjoy our families. After the gifts are open, our kids are discontent because even though they received so many things, there weren't enough. Or the thing they couldn't live without wasn't there. Then there are the people who overspend and get depressed in January when the bills arrive.
But if this year you say no to just one thing, you will make it a little simpler, a little calmer. Then next year you can find something else to say no to. And so on, till you reach the point where you truly enjoy the Christmas season instead of just surviving it.
What one thing will you resist this year? |
Comments (
5
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
Holly doesn't have this phone number anymore. Sep. 6, 2007
Everyone has this experience, I'm sure: after they get a new phone number, they get a lot of calls for the person who previously had the number. We're getting a lot of calls for Holly. It struck me this morning that it's kind of sad, isn't it, that Holly changed phone numbers almost 2 months ago and these people weren't notified. Most of them sound like friends by the say they say "Holly?" when I answer. And some sound very puzzled when I tell them I'm not Holly. Even disbelieving: "This isn't Holly?"
Our last phone number, which we had for 9 years, had been the number of a woman who rented out a vacation house. We got calls for her for years. But they were people looking for a cabin to rent, not people who knew her.
I don't mind getting wrong numbers unless the caller seems to think it's my fault they misdialed or the phone number changed. At least Holly's friends don't slam the phone down when they hear "sorry, Holly doesn't have this number anymore." |
Comments (
0
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
Bulk foods wasteland Aug. 4, 2007
Since we have arrived here in PA, I have been checking out all the grocery stores. They are mostly pretty much like grocery stores in Oregon, except most are smaller and older and a little dingier. I've found the Winco equivalent (cheap grocery store in Oregon, but here I don't have to bag my own!) and the Safeway which has another name so people can feel they're shopping at a venerable family-run store (even though it was bought by Safeway a few years ago).
One thing I am really missing is the bulk food section. Maybe I've already ranted about this here. I took bulk foods for granted back home. Maybe someone reading this doesn't even know what I'm talking about. That is a section of the store where one can purchase their desired quantity of any number of goods: flour, rice, cereal, dark-chocolate covered raisins, tea bags, spices, dark-chocolate covered espresso beans, pasta, dried fruit... oh, just typing it up makes me homesick! There are bags and labels and you just get what you want and the clerk weighs it and off you go.
Well, I can't find that here. I asked some of the homeschool moms I met about bulk foods, and they all gave me that "you have two heads" look that I usually get only when I answer the dreaded curriculum question. (I don't use one particular curriculum.) Someone suggested Costco. Another woman did mention a food coop she belongs to, and I suppose I will check that out. But no grocery stores with bulk food.
Doing some noodling around the internet, I came across the name of a store with, a review said "an incredible bulk foods section." Oh! I found it on the map - only 8 miles away, a little far but really, if I could find my bulk foods I could finally relax. I couldn't settle down till I checked out the store, so I bribed my kids with promises of drinks and treats if they wouldn't complain about another grocery store visit.
Well, it is a beautiful store. Just lovely. And huge. Incredible produce and even good prices on some things. It took us a while till we saw the sign for bulk foods. Quivering with anticipation, we went down the aisle. And there it was. All the bulk candy and nuts you could want. But where is the flour? The rolled oats? THE SPICES???? We walked around and around. Bought a small bag of pine nuts and some almonds. Went to the baking aisle, thinking the flours and spices might be there. Did I mention I was looking for spices? No. We did find an employee who looked at me rather oddly as I asked in a desperate voice: "Is this all your bulk foods? Is there more somewhere else in the store?" No, she assured me, this is it.
Feeling defeated, we headed for the checkout counter. Then the kids reminded me I'd promised drinks. In searching for something cold, we came upon the natural foods section. I perked up - I saw more bulk bins! OK, here they are! (But what about that gal who'd said there weren't any?) We found granola, and organic nuts, and more candy (including dark-chocolate covered raisins, but no espresso beans) and a bin or two of wild rice. That's it. No flour, no oats, and, of course, no spices. I did find some little packets of spices that are cheaper than the silly glass bottles, but still.
I knew the east coast was different. I knew the weather and the culture would take some getting used to. I knew I'd have to pump my own gas. (That's illegal in OR.) I knew about the sales tax (nonexistent in OR). But I never, ever dreamed I'd be without bulk foods.
I also never dreamed the local Costco wouldn't carry the 8-pack of Rosarita refried beans... but that's a whole 'nother rant. |
Comments (
6
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
About to give up on hsb? May. 23, 2007
There's not a lot of time for blogging in my life right now, but I like this way of keeping in touch with people and shouting out my opinions. But it's getting really tough to post here. I think I'm going to start using my Blogger account now instead of hsb. I'll see about moving all my old posts over there. Either that or get the resident geek to save this blog to a disk for posterity. Maybe I'll keep the hsb blog up so I can comment there... well, when it'll let me leave comments!
Argh.
In the big scheme of life, this is pretty petty stuff. What did we do without blogs? And, this is a free site, so it makes it seem even more petty to complain. Still, when an organization offers a service, the service should work. Shouldn't it? |
Comments (
7
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
Does your toddler have a TV in his room? May. 11, 2007
Twenty percent of children under age 3 do, according to the Chicago Tribune and Joanne Jacobs.
The link to the Tribune story requires registration. I also found the article in the Seattle Times.
Sad times. Why do parents want to steal their kids' childhoods? Ignorance? Apathy? |
Comments (
1
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
Grief counselors and training issues May. 4, 2007
Yesterday I wrote about a teacher in a town near here who was arrested for stealing a student's jacket and trying to sell it on Ebay. Today there was a followup article. A couple things jumped out at me:
1. The school had grief counselors come in to help the students deal with the sudden disappearance of their teacher (she taught first grade). Sessions included mock trials so the kids could understand what might happen to their teacher. This is tax dollars at work!
I was a schoolkid when JFK was killed. Yes, I remember the day well. I remember that my mom picked me up at school rather than have me take the bus home. She told me about it. I don't remember if we had school the next day - perhaps they closed it in mourning. It was a Roman Catholic school. I can assure you we had no grief counselors on hand the next school day to help us deal with it. I imagine we prayed. And that was probably it.
2. Parents are ticked off because they didn't receive proper notification of the teacher leaving. Well, I suppose I would be too. The school said they spoke with at least one parent of each kid in the class. Of course if there are divorced parents, they might have gotten the one who didn't have custody that day.
3. Folks are calling for a review of lost-and-found policies. Hey, maybe this whole debacle was just a training issue! Maybe the teacher didn't know lost-and-found items weren't free for the taking the day after they appeared! When I worked as a trainer in the corporate world, every time someone messed up at work, the training department was blamed. Yeah, it's always a training issue. Look for consultants to come in and study the issue of lost-and-found. I'm sure coming up with a good policy, and the procedures through which to follow it, will be a long and expensive process.
|
Comments (
1
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
Thinking blogger part 2 Apr. 28, 2007
OK, so I found out tonight that I broke one of the rules of the Thinking Blogger Award. I was supposed to link back to this site, the thinking blog, which is where it originated.
I also learned, after following some links, that some folks don't like the graphics on the award, or don't like the site from which it originated. Fair enough. But some apparently have refused to link back to the original site because they don't like it. But they are keeping the graphic, or putting up something different, or something like that. My head started to spin after a few minutes of reading different blogs and comments about it, so I just quit.
Wow. I had no idea this was controversial. I'm a little disappointed, though, to read that people are enjoying getting the award but refusing to link back to the originator. It's bad enough to be ignorant of the rules by not paying attention (my bad), but what about making a conscious decision to flout the rules? Particularly [ahem] people blogging at a Christian site. It's supposed to be a fun thing, but if someone specifically asks participants to do something a certain way, we should do it that way, or not at all. |
Comments (
2
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
Busy Blogger Apr. 28, 2007
Blogging is fun but it takes time. I have a lot of things I'd love to say, but they're staying in my head right now.
Last week we took a break from packing to tag along with Daddy on a church-business trip. We hadn't planned to but I looked up the location - Poulsbo, WA - on a map, saw all that water and couldn't resist. While he was working the kids and I spent time at the shore, launching driftwood boats, taking pictures of shells, and walking around the cute Norwegian-style downtown. Since we are trying not to spend money unnecessarily right now, we had picnic lunches both days. Hard for us - we don't much like sandwiches. We were tempted by the delicacies in the window of a bakery, but only bought a few, which we had for our dessert on the way home last night.
Otherwise we are packing and fixing up the house. Going through books and other stuff. Trying to see what we can live without.
The troubles I'm having just accessing my blog add to the lack of blogging. I get that dreaded white screen all too often, on my own pages and on others'. I hate to complain about a free site but also hope things improve here soon!
|
Comments (
1
) :: Post A Comment! :: Permanent Link
|
|
|
|
About Me |
|
Musings of a slacker homeschool Mom
|
|
|
|
