Appalling…but not surprising: http://www.howobamagotelected.com/
Our Decision to Home School
I’m a lucky woman. I get to stay home with my children and raise them myself. Not because it’s easy, or because I can’t get a job, or because we don’t need/want a second income. I do it because I believe that my most important role that I will ever fulfill is that of mother. I believe that NO success can compensate for failure at home.
Am I perfect? NO. Do I have days when I wish I could go to work and leave the chaos at home? YES. But don’t we all.
Now that my oldest child has reached school age (she’s 5 1/2) I’ve had to make some really tough choices about her education. When this September rolled around and it was time to enroll her in kindergarten, I just could NOT do it. I felt at my core that it just wasn’t the right place for her. There are lots of reasons to both love and hate public school. And sometimes it’s hard to really put your finger on those reasons. If you’ve ever had misgivings about having your children in public school, it might be for one of the following reasons:
1) You worry that your child’s academic needs are not being addressed. They may be way ahead, or way behind. In either case they aren’t getting the attention they need and deserve. The schools do NOT cater to the fast learners. Unfortunately, the “no child left behind” movement also means that “no child can move ahead of the pack”. Teachers have to bring up the rear, not blaze trails for the gifted learners.
2) Your child experiences social injustice, ridicule or harassment at school which impedes the learning process and pretty much makes life miserable for you and your child.
3) Your child’s love of learning is being squelched and you can’t stand to watch a thriving spirit slowly go numb and die.
4) You are concerned that your children will not be taught correct values or principles at school and will be exposed to demoralizing behavior, practices, theories and personalities.
5) You are concerned about what else your child is being taught in the classroom besides the 3 Rs. Some conservatives go so far as to call public schools “liberal re-education camps”. That may be a drastic statement, but I support it…at least to a degree. Just take a look at this clip from a Finnish documentary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSwgerG34s0
WOW! Yeah, Glenn Beck had a few comments to add to that. You should check his site at www.glennbeck.com and go to the archives for November 7, 2008.
Now, I am not saying that every teacher and every classroom is bad! I have some really fond memories of my education as a child. I went to public school until I graduated at age 18. And I lived! And I learned. And for the most part, it was an acceptable experience. But, at the risk of sounding very much like your grandparents, I have to say that the public school system has continued down a liberal, unionized path over the past few decades that I cannot endure. School just isn’t what it used to be even 20 years ago. And my gut told me that public school is simply not where I want my children to learn.
It was a tough decision, but I listened to my gut and did NOT enroll my daughter in public school. So then I had to look at my alternatives, which included private school and home school.
Well, like I said, we’re a one-income family and private school is pretty pricey, especially here in the Seattle area. And I had misgivings about home school. I just didn’t know if I could do it. I didn’t think I could be patient enough, or knowledgeable enough, or fun enough, or dedicated enough, or organized enough to get it right. I mean…..this is my child’s education we’re talking about! Shouldn’t I just leave that to the experts?
I agonized over this decision for a very long time. I consulted friends, teachers, parents, and also my daughter to get her input. Here’s what we ended up doing: First, we learned that kindergarten is totally optional in the state of WA. Our state does not even require a child to be in school until age 8.
ISN’T THAT RIDICULOUS? Yes, but true nonetheless.
We ended up taking a multi-faceted plan of action. We made some adjustments in our family budget that allow us to put our daughter in a private Montessori school for just 2 mornings a week. And we also take advantage of a home school program provided by our school district at no additional charge. They will tell you that the program is “free”, but really it’s just your tax dollars being spent in a different way. You pay for school whether you are there or not! Again…ridiculous. Who else but the government can get away wtih forcing you to pay for something that is unwanted because it is so subpar?
But this new trend of “public school at home” does seem to be on the rise as parents demand more control of their tax dollars and their children’s education.
We chose this path because 1) our daughter is vivacious and extremely social….almost to a fault. And I do have concerns about being able to meet all her social needs with out regular contact from her friends at school. 2) While paying for 2 days at the private school is a stretch, it’s doable with a few adjustments to our current habits. However, paying for five is completely out of our budget. 3) I like having 3 days a week when I don’t have to rush out the door to school. We can set our own pace and take our time doing home school! So it’s been a terrific blend for our family. A really incredible balance of a brick and mortar “school” setting combined with our home school.
If you live in WA and want to check out the “free” online school (virtual academy) you can go to www.wava.org
I know they do have online schools for various other states (such as Colorado and Georgia for example).
It’s been harder than I thought it would be to home school. We got off to a very rocky start and I’ve had a huge learning curve during these first couple months. But it’s getting better, easier, and more fun. And if I had to do it all over again….I would! I can definitely see making home school a permanent lifestyle choice for our family, as long as we continue to find ways that supply social experiences for our children as well.
If you’ve thought about homeschool, but you’re not sure if you can do it I would just recommend that you start researching, talking, and praying about it. And remember, you don’t have to do it forever! You can do it for one semester and see what you think. But do think about it. This is serious stuff that we’re up against in the public schools and parents MUST take an active, central part in their children’s education.
“You Americans”
If you follow my blog at all, you know that I met and married my husband while living in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2000. He is a native Brazilian and was naturalized in August 2005. So he’s been a US citizen for about 3 years.
While I lived in Brazil, I used my native English Language to earn a living teaching English to company executives. I spent all day riding the bus around the city giving private English classes to top executives at places like Johnson &Johnson, Gillette, American Express, etc. It was NOT my favorite job. But it was the most lucrative and immediate work I could secure while living in Brazil.
I’ll never forget one class discussion I had with a student of mine that loved to pick my brain about life in America. One day he noted, “You Americans” (as he always called me and my country men) “are different for one major reason”.
My ears picked up and I was anxious to find out what his ONE reason would be for noting a difference between “us Americans” and Brazilians. “You Americans had to fight for your liberty. You had to STRUGGLE for it. It was not given to you the way our indepence was granted to us from Portugual. And so I think you value it more. You are proud of it. And you honor it.” (I’m paraphrasing obviously. It’s been several years).
How interesting. I had never thought of it that way. I was impressed by his insight and felt that he was DEAD on with his assessment. And yet….. I wonder how true his statement is today.
Do we honor, value and take pride in our freedom? Do we understand what it cost to secure our freedom and continue to secure it? I have a dear friend who’s husband suffers innumerable consequences from the Agent Orange he was exposed to during the Vietnam war. She recommends that we all take a trip to a VA hospital to gain better understanding of the sacrifices that our men and women in the armed forces make to keep us and other nations free and at peace. I would have to support her recommendation. You can use this site to locate VA facilities: http://www1.va.gov/directory/guide/home.asp?isFlash=1
How is it that we are so cunningly seduced into handing over our freedoms, one by one, to the government; The same government that our founding fathers fought so desperately to limit?
Food for thought.
Obama Showing Anti Gun Cards Early
| President-elect Obama’s Web site stated he would make permanent the expired “assault weapons” ban of 1994, a ban on firearms that was based on cosmetic appearance, such as the type of stock on the gun, and not functionality. The expired ban did nothing to reduce crime while it was in place.
President-elect Obama’s Web site intentionally misled the American people by referring to these firearms as “weapons that belong on foreign battlefields.” These firearms are not machine guns. In reality, these commonplace firearms that President-elect Obama wants to permanently ban are used in shooting competitions and are found in homes and hunting lodges all across the country. They fire only once with each trigger pull, no spray firing, and they shoot the same ammunition as other firearms of the same caliber.
President-elect Obama has also promised to repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, a law which restricts public access to sensitive, law enforcement-only firearms tracing data. Public release of gun trace data outside law enforcement has and will continue to jeopardize ongoing criminal investigations, putting the lives of law enforcement, witnesses and others at risk. This is why Congress, ATF, and law enforcement, including the nation’s largest police organization, the Fraternal Order of Police, agree on the importance of securing this sensitive data. Access to gun trace data should only be available to law enforcement taking part in a bona-fide investigation, and law enforcement already has the access it needs for this purpose. No law enforcement agency has ever been denied access to trace data as part of a criminal investigation. The Obama-Biden Web site also called for “childproofing” all firearms, despite firearm-related accidents being at their lowest levels in history, including a 60 percent decrease over the last 20 years, and a federal law that requires firearms dealers to provide a lock with each handgun sold and to have locks available for consumers to purchase. Firearms industry members have a long history of supporting the safe and responsible use and storage of firearms through programs such as Project ChildSafe, a campaign developed by the NSSF that has distributed over 35 million free gun lock safe storage kits throughout the United States. For years, manufacturers have voluntarily provided a free locking device with each new firearm. Thankfully, the National Safety Council reports that childhood firearms accidents now comprise less than 1 percent of all fatal childhood injuries. Finally, the appointment of Rahm Emanuel, the strident chief architect of the Clinton-Gore gun control agenda, as President-elect Obama’s chief of staff sends an unambiguous message to gun-owners and members of the firearms industry. “The increase in firearms sales was predictable,” said NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence G. Keane. “It’s clear from President-elect Obama’s voting record, and the promises that he continues to make, that gun control will be coming back to the White House. Eloquent rhetoric notwithstanding, sportsmen, gun owners and prospective gun owners recognize this and are reacting accordingly.” For more information on gun sale statistics, legislative issues and general firearm related questions, please visit the NSSF Web site at www.nssf.org — the media’s resource for all things firearms. Source: National Shooting Sports Foundation Jim Kouri, CPP is currently fifth vice-president of the National Association of Chiefs of Police and he’s a staff writer for the New Media Alliance (thenma.org). His book Assume The Position is available at Amazon.Com. Kouri’s own website is located at http://jimkouri.us
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Everybody wants Something for Nothing
Growing up, my parents never had health insurance.
I take it back. I think they had that catastrophic plan where you get 15% of you medical bills paid if they’re over $50,000,000,000,0000. Yeah, something like that.
BUt you know what? We made it just fine. And there were four of us kids. No….we didn’t go in for our check ups each year until we were 18. No….we didn’t run to the ER on SUnday night for a low-grade fever. No…we didn’t get elective dental work done. And believe me, if we did need any dental work outside of the regular checkups, my dad made us pay for it with our own hard earned money. He made us line up every night before bed and he would scratch our teeth with his fingernail. If he wasn’t happy, boy, we had to get back in there and brush again till those gums were shredded.
My parents learned to only purchase medical care when we really needed it. Yes, my sister had a 2-week hostpital stay when she was two. NOT CHEAP. My brother broke his ankle jumping out of a moving vehicle. NOT CHEAP. But we made it. And we weren’t rich. My dad was a self-employed salseman. He worked from home for most of my childhood. And he still does.
Pay-as-you-go health care for only the most essential treatments and procedures was the creed my family followed when it came to health care “coverage”.
So I have a hard time “getting” this Entitlement craze where everyone and thier dog “deserves” free health care.
What the…..????
When did people start DEMANDING highgrade fancy-shmancy health care coverage and expect to pay nothing for it….HUH? Where the heck does that come from? Haven’t you ever heard that “there’s no free lunch” or “you can’t get something for nothing”. Everybody wants something for nothing.
I’m so fed up with the entitlement movement. “GIVE ME THIS” and “I DEMAND THAT”. It sounds like my three-year-old throwing a temper tantrum. You want it? You earn it! That’s all there is to it.
Yeah, medical care is expensive. I get it. TRUST ME….I get it.
When my husband was hired on contract to work at Microsoft by a third party employer (with the “promise” of a permanent position within 3 months…ha! never happened) the health coverage for our family of 4 was mediocre at best. And the kicker was that it cost us $400/mo and it didn’t cover Me on the plan.
So…as luck would have it, I got pretty sick with a common illness that is easily treatable: strep throat. I tried to avoid the Dr. by taking care of it at home. But it progressed to the point of absolute danger and I finally went to the walk-in clinic. I paid $180 for the visit and got a prescription for something that didn’t work at all. So a couple nights later at 2am, crazy with pain and faint with dehydration and hunger, (I hadn’t been able to even swallow my own spit for quite some time) I drove myself to the ER praying for an end to my misery. Two hours later I came home rehydrated, loaded with penecillin and holding a bill for nearly $2K. Nice.
yeah….and then I got pregnant with our third child while I was not covered by any medical plan. Of course, our wonderful insurance system considers pregnancy to be a preexisting condition and NOBODY would cover me after that. We qualified for no state assistance. No programs. No help of any kind. It was a totally normal pregnancy with zero complications. I even opted out of most of the basic tests and screens because I was a “self-pay”. Wow, when did they come up with that term? Shouldn’t we all pay for ourselves?
When it was all said in done, our baby came with a $15,000 price tag stamped on his forehead. We thought about naming him Fifteen K. Araneda. But decided against it.
But you know what? We sucked it up and we paid for that baby without any government assistance whatsoever. Yes, we had to clean out our savings account. And we had to sell one of our cars. But damn it, we paid for it. And we paid for it fast. We knew that child was our responsibilty and was a result of our own choices. So why should anyone else pay for it?
I understand how hard it is to pay for medical care. Baby, I get it on a very personal level.
Here’s my solution to the whole problem: GET THE GOVERNMENT’S NOSE THE HECK OUT OF OUR FREE MARKET AND LET CAPITOLISM WORK ITS MAGIC ON THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY!!!
Some may not understand my position, especially after I just got screwed by the system and paid $15K for a perfectly normal, perfectly healthy preganancy and delivery and spent less than 24 hours in the hospital.
But if you understand how royally screwed up the system is, and that governement is to blame, then you’ll get my reaction right away.
When has government EVER been efficient on any level? They haven’t. By mandating that employers provide coverage, or by providing coverage for so called “low income” families, they artificially inflate market pricing. See, why should the consumer care how much he/she is paying for a checkup, or an x-ray, or a colonoscopy, if the government picks up the tab?
THEY DON’T! So, not only do they not check the price tag on their treatment options, they OPT for ALL treatment options. Heck, why not? Uncle Sam is paying, right? So, yes Dr.! LEt’s run EVERY test. Let’s get FOUR opinions. Let’s stay one more night in the hospital to make sure the rash is really gone. Let’s get an extra prescription, let’s cover ALL the freakin bases. I am not paying! My fellow Americans are!
If governement would just get OUT of the picture all together and let consumers price shop for medical care, don’t you think prices would come down considerably? If hospitals, medical centers, private practices, and clinics had to ATTRACT their clientelle based on price, customer service and results….DON’T YOU THINK THAT HEALTH CARE WOULD IMPROVE IN EVERY SINGLE WAY IMAGINABLE???? HECK YES.
The problem right now is that the health care field doesn’t have to compete for your business. Oh no. They don’t have to be better, cheaper, or faster. Insurance has them and you covered, Right? You’re not really the one they have to please. They just need to milk your insurance coverage for alllllllllllll its worth.
Take for example my recent visit to a chiropractor. Now, since my last child was born, my husband swtiched jobs and we all have health care coverage with Aetna. We still pay through the nose for it. But at least we’re covered now.
I experience extreme vertigo due to malalignment of my cervical spine and chiropractic care can often alleviate this symptom for me.
So I decided to check out a new chiropractor that was conveniently located near my daughter’s Montessori school. (We can discuss what I think of public education on another ocassion). Of course, one of the first questions you get when you walk into any clinic is “Do you have insurance?” Oh….and believe me…they are more than happy to call the insurance company for you to find out what your benefits are and how many visits you have left before the end of the year. And trust me, they’ll set up as many of those visits with you just as soon as they can. I’m not against them making a buck. That’s the nature of business and I support small business. It’s just the system in whcih they are encouraged to make a buck by pleasing insurance companies, and not clients.
Continuing with my own scenario here: I happen to know that my symptom can be controlled with periodic visits…maybe twice a month. But every chiropractor is just SURE that I won’t get relief unless I maximize my insurance plan and get in at least 40 visits over the next 3 months. Hmph. They know that I only have to pay $15/visit instead of the regular $50. Oh, and they forgot to tell me that my insurance plan also covers physical therapy, so wouldn’t I also enjoy a session in the massage chair with an icepack? Yeah baby, they milk it hard. They work for the insurance companies…not for you.
But what if there was not such thing as health insurance. Believe me, I’d still seek chiropractic care for my vertigo. I find it extremely valuable. In fact, I did pay for chiropractic care when I wasn’t covered and that’s how I know what a regular visit costs. And it’s fairly universal from office to office. Oh, and did I also mention that every midwife and OBGYN in my area charges a nearly universal flat rate of $3K for the prenatal care? Yep. Odd isn’t it? They all say they’re better than the other. And they they all charge pretty much the same? Odd isn’t it? Could it be that they base their rates upon how much they can get out of your insurance plan???? HMMMMMMMMM………….I wonder.
But just humor me and pretend there’s no such thing as health insurance. Imagine that the chiropractors and midwifes and OBGYNS don’t have to check with Aetna before setting up a treatment plan for you. Instead, they meet with just YOU, the patient and client. They find out what kind of treatment you really NEED and/or want and then tailor a plan to suit you and your BUDGET! And they’re all competing against eachother for your business because they know that you might go down the street for a better cheaper treatment plan if you’re not happy with them. Hm. What a different world it would be.
GET OUT OF THE WAY UNCLE SAM. Let the beautiful magic of capitolism find its way into every square inch of the health care industry.
One more thought on this subject: I believe in taking care of myself. I don’t drink alcohol of any kindor smoke. I don’t even drink coke or coffee. I exercise when I can. I eat well. I get sufficient rest. I drink clear fluids and generally avoid dangerous behavoir that would jeapordize my well being.
So why the heck should I have to pay for an illegal immigrant who does crack and just got smashed before he totalled his car and ended up in a body cast? Or why should I have to pay for an illegal who just got here yesterday so her baby could be born on sacred US soil at my expense? WHY?
Does anyone else go insane with the ludicrous ”give-me-now-because-I-deserve-it-damn-it” mentality?
AGH. UGH. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why I am a Conservative
First let me say: THANK GOODNESS the election is over. And I’m sure you’re probably saying that too. Or at least thinking it. My hope is that what I share here will be a reflection of some really basic beliefs and hopefully common ideals, regardless of who you voted for. Now more than ever, each American needs to know what they believe and needs to convey their beliefs in both word and deed. This is not a time for apathy or disinterest. I hope that every person reading this will find reason to believe in the United States of America and be proud of it.
While I invite all readers from all political orientaitons, I won’t try and dress this up or “reach across the isle” or be part of the “mushy middle”. I’ll tell you straight up: I’m a conservative and I’m proud of that. I didn’t realize it until just recently, but my political opinions are very strong and provide a very clear framework for my every day living. They always have. But it took a divisive and revolutionary election like this one to help me draw that line in the sand, choose a side and say outloud what I believe in and why.
Maybe you had that experience too. Maybe you got sick and tired of the rhetoric and had to dig deep inside to discover what YOU believe so you could choose a camp and explain your positoins. Or perhaps you haven’t had that opportunity yet. Perhaps you, like so many, go sucked into the slander, the negativity, the hype, the promises, the claims…and just went along for the ride without really knowing what you feel and what you believe deep down.
Here’s my plan: I’ll share with you why I’m a conservative and how I came to be one. I’ll support my explanation with various postings over time that demonstrate the absolute need to adhere to our Constitution and its original intent. And hopefully in the process, it will allow you an opportunity to really examine how you feel and be able to share that with others in a way that makes you proud.
So, to start….
Let me take you back to my highschool days with a very formative experience I had as a member of a team participating in the Odysee of the Mind. Ever heard of it? It’s kind of a nerdy thing. But I had some good friends that intorduced me to this problem-solving-olympics type event and actually had fun with it. I can’t remember all the details of how it all worked. I do remember that there were hypothetical, futuresque problems that were posed to the various teams and we all had to brainstorm possible solutions. The judges picked the best solutions and winning teams got to travel to the tournaments. Yeah…it was intense. SO, we must have done pretty well because I remember travelling to who-knows-where in Idaho with my Odyssee of the Mind team to participate in a tournament.
Getting bored with my story? Hang on. Here’s the gist of it all: As we were posed with all these different potential problems of the future, I very distinctly remember that the most common and most favored responses from the various teams involved government intervention and government money. Every “solution” to the proposed problem started wtih “The government will establish such and such task force to ensure…..(fill in the blank).”
And at the time, I couldn’t really put a name to the sick feeling I had in the pit of my stomach each time I signed my name to a proposed solution like that. I knew it wasn’t right. But I couldn’t verbalize why. And at the time, I guess I didn’t have enough experience, training, or education to have a better alternative. But somehow, I just KNEW that governement was NOT the solution to every problem. We couldn’t just expect government to be the silver bullet every time society encountered a challenge. And I couldn’t understand why my friends were so avidly supportive of government intervention on every single count. Little did I know it, but I was a budding conservative, and continued to develop instinctive conservatifve viewpoints.
I won’t deny that my background has greatly influenced my views. I come from a heterosexual home with two loving parents that are still married after almost 40 years. I have three siblings and our family was very religious. I attended a private 4-year religious university and lived much of my young life in rural America.
I have a degree in Human Development and a minor in Anthropology. I’ve travelled to Guatamala, Hong Kong and South Africa. I lived and worked in Brazil for 3 years where I met and married my husbnand. In fact, I was living in Brazil on 9-11. Wow. Ask me to tell you about that later.
I’ve been married for nearly 8 years. We now have 3 young children and reside in the Great NorthWest. My husband is a naturalized US Citizen. My husband and I have very different feelings and views on almost every political question, which has made things…interesting…here at home over the past year. But I will say this: At least now we both know unequivocobly, unquestionably where the other stands and why. And I think that is healhty.
So, fast forward a lot of years. Well, not too many. I’m 32 at the time of this writing. And let me tell you about a painfully recent experience that has again demonstrated the great differences between what I think we can call the “do-for-me’s” and the “Do-for-myselfers”.
On Tuesday night, November 4th, 2008 I sat dismally at my computer staring at local and national election results and it hit me like a ton of bricks: Obama had clearly won. In my mind, the Amercia I knew and loved was about to close a chapter and undergo “fundamental change” that I believe will be detremental to the country.
My husband, ever the political opponent, came bounding in the door after winning a raquetball game with a buddy and exstatically declared, “We have a new President!” But he is a good husband and after realizing my dejected state, he sobered up and tried to console me by saying this revealing statement, “Kelly, it’s over and there’s nothing you can do. That’s it. There’s nothing else to be done and nothing you can do. It’s out of your hands.”
Far from the reaction he expected, this last statement of his only confirmed, solidified and intensified my emotional state. WHY? Because it so clearly demonstrates several toxic and cleverly deceptive beliefs that are rampant in America:
The first belief he exposed with his statement is this:
1) That we truly are powerless. And while we may have a “voice” with our vote, it really doesn’t matter. You really don’t count. The higher-ups decide these things and there’s nothing you can do about it. So just relax, do nothing, and accept the fact that you’re a nobody.
2) That it’s over. Democrats are all powerful now. Conservatives must yield to the democrats in all cases and on all counts. We don’t have a prayer and we might as well get used to the Era of Obamunism. No need to be upset. Just slip into the coma of apathy and accept your liberal, left-wing, radical , socialist fate that is sentenced upon you.
Okay….so you see why I got upset. Obviously, I believe that as American citizens and as children of God we have unlmited potential and opportunity to do good works and accomplish amazing things on this great green earth. I support in NO way the notion that we are ever helpless. And refuse to concede my ability to work for GOOD and stand for my beliefs simply because I am out numbered.
What was that? Oh, you think I’m exagerating and that Obama is not that liberal or radical or socialist. Hm….You really believe he’s going to govern from the center?
Well, let me just share this with you real quick:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l46t_nrySg4
I’ll be back later with more.
Kelly
PS: Check out this photo below. It should make your skin crawl to see these Obama supporters celebrate with a communist flag.
A Sad Day for America
