So it occurs to me recently that I am naive. I don't want to be naive, but you can't be born into experience. I don't mind that I am young, or that I have a young family; hey- that can stay that way for a long time, as far as I'm concerned! But I would like to have the wisdom and knowledge and experience that someone who has lived a little more would have.
I have tried, since early last fall, to begin educating myself in the realm of "politics", or rather, what my viewpoints really are. I don't really care about politics, but I want to know exactly what it is I believe in and why, so that I can share this view with everyone and do it responsibly. This self-education is not as easy as you may think. One of the reasons I find it so important to be informed is my children; yet, I find it takes a back-seat to parenting...kind of a rock-and-a-hard-place, catch 22 sorta deal. Spend all my time with the kids(not hard to do at all) and know nothing more than they do; or spend hours and hours researching and listening and learning about what has already happened and what is going to happen in the world of our messed-up government and in doing so, neglect the fam. My husband has an advantage/disadvantage: he drives alot for work, and subsequently listens to alot of talk radio. While talk radio hosts are not the end-all of informants, they do sorta keep you in the loop. But, the disadvantage to this is that he is gone so much- and he misses us. So there is the catch 22 again- be with the family, or not.
If someone would just send me everything there is to know to be responsibly educated on the viewpoint of being a Constitutionalist or Libertarian (don't mock me for sounding dumb- are they different? I am just not well-versed in these things), then I could read, absorb, and move on. But every time I think I know something, I am reminded I know nothing.
I spent a decent amount of time last fall convincing my brother not to vote for Obama. His opinion was, and I quote "Well, he's (Obama) young, so I have to vote for him. I don't think I can vote for someone who's so much older than me. (McCain or Paul) They just don't understand my generation." In the end, he didn't vote at all. I voted for McCain. Now, slowly, I am realizing- that was a mistake. I would take it back if I could, but alas, it is not to be. I thought, at the time, that I was being responsible. I had never voted before. I wish I could melt into the resolve that "my vote didn't matter anyways," but the knowledge of my lack of knowledge, and the fact that I contributed in such a way at all, makes me ill with remorse.
This is a world where nothing is as it seems, where "people" (they say they are human, but I've yet to see them bleed, so I can't be sure) can say they are one way or stand for one thing; but in reality it's all politics. They don't anymore stand for one thing than they do the other. I just want some honesty, folks. No duality. To me, it seems pretty simple: you have the rules, follow them.
My professor said to me the other day that he finds there are quite a few flaws with capitalism; mainly that it isn't fair that someone who has worked hard all their life could be wealthy while someone else in America is starving. So when I asked him then if he believed in the redistribution of wealth, he said yes. And I then asked if he was a socialist. He answered, no, that his disagreement with capitalism came from a "moral" point of view; he thinks that people should be obligated to give to others because they may not be so inclined otherwise. (at this point, I am trying really hard not to laugh at him). I begin telling him capitalism, like anything else, is a vehicle, and it in itself is not necessarily flawed; it is only to be driven one way or another, and it's there that it becomes flawed. The idea behind the redistribution of wealth is socialism- forcing taxing or what have you on someone who has done well for themselves and giving it to a bozo who doesn't do much more than wait by the mailbox for the next check, and calling that fair. The founding idea behind America is that you come to work for yourself. Not for someone who doesn't care or doesn't want to. The founding fathers are undoubtedly rolling over in their graves at the amount of power we have given our government to take from us. At the point in this little rant where I said something about the "founding idea behind America" my professor smiles this smirky little smile, as if to say, well, we just don't see eye to eye because you are "one of those people" kinds of smiles. This both pleased me and irked me at the same time. I am glad that I presented some thing to him that he opposed- I hate to be a sheep. But it reeally bothers me that he honestly thinks that it is wrong that people like my in laws have the money and property that they work very hard for. Sure, they aren't in Forbes or anything, but in his opinion, they shouldn't have "wasted their lives on pursuing the selfish goal of money." This angered me: they have worked, and they have given, and they have been blessed. God intends for some to have and some not to. God rewards faithful children who obey Him and the law. Why then is it wrong?
Thing is, he's Catholic. He confessed to me that he was forced to vote for McCain because Obama is pro-choice, and his bishop said they had to vote for McCain or else (not really sure what "or else" would have meant.) He is also my age, and this was the first time he and his wife had voted as well. So, perhaps he was floundering, and just took the lead his misguided church gave him. But I think he would have rather voted the other way. I think he idealizes the path of knowledge in the liberalist manner that many professors do; oh, give up, you hippies! Get real. What did you get from "free love"? AIDS and STDs and death. And those stupid little leather headbands across the forehead looked super dumb, btw. (He has also told me on many occasions that his parents were both educators and vegetarian hippies...he really had no hope of becoming much more).
I am saddened that he thinks this way. In many respects, he and I are alike, and I thought we might be friends even after these classes are over. But he made it clear that he didn't agree with me, and since then, has been avoiding more conversations with me than are necessary. Oh, well. Hippie.
Our exchange may have put a wedge between us, but it also opened my eyes to how little I still know, and how much more I need to know to be able to converse with confidence. I might feel a certain way, and believe in certain ideology, but without the words and knowledge to put behind it, I am nothing more than a hippie with "feelings."
The pursuit of knowledge continues. I am planning on watching Glenn Beck's show on Fox on Friday- he is going to unveil the "We Surround Them" deal he's been working on with people across the country. That sounded interesting. I am going to research Chuck Baldwin and try and not think about the other Baldwins...
It is long overdue that I begin taking responsibility for my own views.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Friday, March 6, 2009
I really don't understand...
Why can't any technology just function correctly for once? First, my laptop died, in the middle of a busy week with a paper due. Now, out of three digital cameras, we have lost one and the other two refuse to work. The oldest of the bunch was on it's way out, we knew that. But that is why we just bought the new one to replace it. Now the new one doesn't work! What gives??
I wanted to show you my daughter's first spelling test, but instead I will have to tell you. I think, first of all, that having impromptu spelling tests for half-day kindergarteners is a little much, and apparently so do most of the other mothers. Especially when the kids are graded, and then given their tests back with big ol' red x's all across them. Lilly came home almost in tears. Give me a flippin' break!! It would be ideal if she could spell all those words, and had this year been given a little more thought and consideration, I can guarantee you she would be able to spell all those words, as well as read them! But she can't. Neither can any of the other kids in Miss Helton's class. That is partially my fault (for letting her go) and partially Miss Helton's fault (for being a teacher who doesn't know how to teach). I am a little bit flustered by this situation, as you might have detected.
So, she comes home with this spelling test last week. We look it over, and she tries again, and guess what! She spelled every word correctly, at home. Twice. When she had a little time to think about it. She is entirely capable, and actually is doing quite well at the basics--at home. But when Miss Helton evaluates her...not so much. She always scores very poorly. The only thing her teacher will tell me is that she does "satisfactory" work. Pshaw! Whether it is a combination of teaching style, Lilly's nerves, or who knows what else, the learning just isn't happening. This is a child who has memorized nearly 100 verses for AWANAS-- and she is only there 1 night a week! One night a week, for two hours, and she can learn a boatload more than Miss Helton has even tried to teach her!! She can recite off the top of her head all the books of the New Testament (granted, she sings the end of the song a little differently than it goes..."1,2,3 John, Rude and Violations!" I giggle every time) and can easily sing each of the AWANAS songs, or tell you any of those 100 verses from memory. Folks, she can remember how to say "Thessalonians" but gets a bad grade on a spelling test for "we"? She has a brain! She can use it! But whatever Miss Helton is doin', it ain't workin'.
So today, Daddy went to pick her up. She came in, brought me her homework folder (yes, homework. They have also had to do presentations and dioramas and posters...ridiculous!) She pulls out today's spelling test and hands it to me with a downward cast face. She was afraid to show me that she missed two words!! My heart ached.
Today they had to spell, impromptu, from verbal commands only, these 7 words : me, my, to, be, the, said, and we. Except Lilly had written "Wii." And her teacher marked it wrong! I know it technically is wrong, but she did spell "Wii" right! I showed Jon, and we could not stop laughing. Finally, Jon hitched up his pants and said "Well, that there is how we teach 'em around here!" My mom called, and as we were chatting, I told her about the spelling test, and she thinks Lil should get credit- hey, she did spell it right after all!
That is my daughter, child of a video gaming generation; bright, witty, and maybe a little bit out of the box. I'll take her.
I wanted to show you my daughter's first spelling test, but instead I will have to tell you. I think, first of all, that having impromptu spelling tests for half-day kindergarteners is a little much, and apparently so do most of the other mothers. Especially when the kids are graded, and then given their tests back with big ol' red x's all across them. Lilly came home almost in tears. Give me a flippin' break!! It would be ideal if she could spell all those words, and had this year been given a little more thought and consideration, I can guarantee you she would be able to spell all those words, as well as read them! But she can't. Neither can any of the other kids in Miss Helton's class. That is partially my fault (for letting her go) and partially Miss Helton's fault (for being a teacher who doesn't know how to teach). I am a little bit flustered by this situation, as you might have detected.
So, she comes home with this spelling test last week. We look it over, and she tries again, and guess what! She spelled every word correctly, at home. Twice. When she had a little time to think about it. She is entirely capable, and actually is doing quite well at the basics--at home. But when Miss Helton evaluates her...not so much. She always scores very poorly. The only thing her teacher will tell me is that she does "satisfactory" work. Pshaw! Whether it is a combination of teaching style, Lilly's nerves, or who knows what else, the learning just isn't happening. This is a child who has memorized nearly 100 verses for AWANAS-- and she is only there 1 night a week! One night a week, for two hours, and she can learn a boatload more than Miss Helton has even tried to teach her!! She can recite off the top of her head all the books of the New Testament (granted, she sings the end of the song a little differently than it goes..."1,2,3 John, Rude and Violations!" I giggle every time) and can easily sing each of the AWANAS songs, or tell you any of those 100 verses from memory. Folks, she can remember how to say "Thessalonians" but gets a bad grade on a spelling test for "we"? She has a brain! She can use it! But whatever Miss Helton is doin', it ain't workin'.
So today, Daddy went to pick her up. She came in, brought me her homework folder (yes, homework. They have also had to do presentations and dioramas and posters...ridiculous!) She pulls out today's spelling test and hands it to me with a downward cast face. She was afraid to show me that she missed two words!! My heart ached.
Today they had to spell, impromptu, from verbal commands only, these 7 words : me, my, to, be, the, said, and we. Except Lilly had written "Wii." And her teacher marked it wrong! I know it technically is wrong, but she did spell "Wii" right! I showed Jon, and we could not stop laughing. Finally, Jon hitched up his pants and said "Well, that there is how we teach 'em around here!" My mom called, and as we were chatting, I told her about the spelling test, and she thinks Lil should get credit- hey, she did spell it right after all!
That is my daughter, child of a video gaming generation; bright, witty, and maybe a little bit out of the box. I'll take her.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Obituary
Laptop, 2 years old
This laptop served its functions well. It was lightweight, very portable, and always had a ready battery. It stored photos, research papers, and business documents with ease. It nearly always connected to the world wide web without difficulty. It rarely complained when the children poked its screen and pulled its cord. It suffered only momentarily as a fatal virus worked its way through the system. It leaves behind three children who were just discovering Noggin games, a student in desperate need of Word and email access, and a business owner struggling to work three jobs and research new house plans. A successor has yet to be named.
Memorials can be sent to the borrowed laptop. The viewing has been postponed due to the autopsy. As per request, there will be no burial; the remains will be scattered across Ebay.
RIP, laptop. You will be missed.
Laptop, 2 years old
This laptop served its functions well. It was lightweight, very portable, and always had a ready battery. It stored photos, research papers, and business documents with ease. It nearly always connected to the world wide web without difficulty. It rarely complained when the children poked its screen and pulled its cord. It suffered only momentarily as a fatal virus worked its way through the system. It leaves behind three children who were just discovering Noggin games, a student in desperate need of Word and email access, and a business owner struggling to work three jobs and research new house plans. A successor has yet to be named.
Memorials can be sent to the borrowed laptop. The viewing has been postponed due to the autopsy. As per request, there will be no burial; the remains will be scattered across Ebay.
RIP, laptop. You will be missed.
Did I not warn you my kids are cute?
So, just a very few minutes ago, the girls and I sat down around the table for "nap-time craft time." The girls are quite certain that their purpose in life is to create small bits of cut -up paper and glue and glitter, play-doh snakes and braclets, and new this Christmas, alien goo creatures; these works of art all become a "present" for mom. So I always highly encourage craft time! We have had to add the "nap-time" part due to a dear little boy who doesn't quite grasp the intricate qualities and concept of sitting still and not eating glue; so craft time has been curtailed to nap time. Lilly also hasn't quite grasped the idea of descretion- Lil will come up and ask me "Why can't he take his nap NOW??" while he is sitting on my lap finishing his lunch. Nicky knows something is up, but he's usually too tired to fight it.
So today the craft of choice was "Martian Alien Maker." This is, in my opinion, a marketing scam, a waste of time, any number of ridiculous things. But it was the only thing Lilly asked for for Christmas. Recently, at a friend's birthday party, the little girl opened a refill kit for her "Martian Alien Maker," and I saw the glimmer of realization spark in Lilly's eyes. I told her, a few weeks ago, that when the "goo" was gone, then it was gone. Thinking of course, that's all the money I'm going to spend on this ugly plastic waste; unfortunately, Lil came up to me after the present opening and said, very excitedly "See! I told you they had refills! I can make more even after the goo is gone!" Ugh. Anyways. A lesson in how money is spent in our house is due again about now.
The girls were bantering back and forth as they worked on their respective aliens. It went something like this:
Lilly: "Look, Grae! Do you like my creation?"
Grae: "What? You made a lion?"
L:"Nooo...I made a 'creation.'"
G:"A bea-lay-ton?"
L: "No, a creation. Everything is a creation- God created it. He created all the animals, and us, and the whole world. A 'Cre-at-ion!'"
G:"Cwe-ma-shun?"
L:"NO! 'Cre-AY-SHUN!"
G:(shouting) "BE-LAY-SHUN! CWE-AH-BUN!"
L:"Ah! NO! It's CREE-AY-TION!!!"
G:(singing and "shaking her booty" as she says) "Cweadulun...beation...cwemation...YEAH!"
L to me: "Is she really in our family???"
At that point, I was laughing too hard to answer. This "shaking the booty" thing, well, that is another story; but seeing how Graecy instinctively got under Lil's skin...oh, that was just too funny. Not that I am happy Lilly was annoyed, but the fact that Graecy knew what would make her mad and undermined Lilly's determination to make Graecy do what she wanted her to. Maybe you think I am a terrible mother for thinking that, but the earlier they learn to accept that they are entirely different personalities, and that they may not always get along or agree, then hopefully they will have a better time of it than if I constantly made them 'kiss and make up." Lilly hates that her brother and sister have their own ideas about things, and she wants to constantly make them fall into line like her own little ducklings. But Graecy is not about to be put in any place...so seeing them interact without coming to blows was funny, as opposed to frustrating.
I have to now go wipe the goo off the kitchen table before it hardens into neon green and pink fossils that chip away the varnish.
So today the craft of choice was "Martian Alien Maker." This is, in my opinion, a marketing scam, a waste of time, any number of ridiculous things. But it was the only thing Lilly asked for for Christmas. Recently, at a friend's birthday party, the little girl opened a refill kit for her "Martian Alien Maker," and I saw the glimmer of realization spark in Lilly's eyes. I told her, a few weeks ago, that when the "goo" was gone, then it was gone. Thinking of course, that's all the money I'm going to spend on this ugly plastic waste; unfortunately, Lil came up to me after the present opening and said, very excitedly "See! I told you they had refills! I can make more even after the goo is gone!" Ugh. Anyways. A lesson in how money is spent in our house is due again about now.
The girls were bantering back and forth as they worked on their respective aliens. It went something like this:
Lilly: "Look, Grae! Do you like my creation?"
Grae: "What? You made a lion?"
L:"Nooo...I made a 'creation.'"
G:"A bea-lay-ton?"
L: "No, a creation. Everything is a creation- God created it. He created all the animals, and us, and the whole world. A 'Cre-at-ion!'"
G:"Cwe-ma-shun?"
L:"NO! 'Cre-AY-SHUN!"
G:(shouting) "BE-LAY-SHUN! CWE-AH-BUN!"
L:"Ah! NO! It's CREE-AY-TION!!!"
G:(singing and "shaking her booty" as she says) "Cweadulun...beation...cwemation...YEAH!"
L to me: "Is she really in our family???"
At that point, I was laughing too hard to answer. This "shaking the booty" thing, well, that is another story; but seeing how Graecy instinctively got under Lil's skin...oh, that was just too funny. Not that I am happy Lilly was annoyed, but the fact that Graecy knew what would make her mad and undermined Lilly's determination to make Graecy do what she wanted her to. Maybe you think I am a terrible mother for thinking that, but the earlier they learn to accept that they are entirely different personalities, and that they may not always get along or agree, then hopefully they will have a better time of it than if I constantly made them 'kiss and make up." Lilly hates that her brother and sister have their own ideas about things, and she wants to constantly make them fall into line like her own little ducklings. But Graecy is not about to be put in any place...so seeing them interact without coming to blows was funny, as opposed to frustrating.
I have to now go wipe the goo off the kitchen table before it hardens into neon green and pink fossils that chip away the varnish.
Monday, March 2, 2009
She comes by it honestly?
Tonight was a bath night. Not unusual; in fact, most nights should be bath night with my kids, but we don't always get around to it before bedtime. But Mondays, they are always bath night. (I love the smell of a clean baby's head- there is nothing better than Johnson's and soft, warm baby hair).
I should also say that I have never, ever, in my entire life, known of human children who love the water more than my kids. It is a bit unnatural. They will sacrifice dessert (even chocolate!) to have a bath instead. They will soak themselves repeatedly while washing dishes (they love to wash the dishes- standing at the sink, scrubbing things with lotsa bubbles- amazing it doesn't hold my interest as much) and have no problem just hanging out in wet clothes.
My mom gave them a toy fishing rod with foam fish for Christmas- they stopped opening presents and insisted she get out a bucket for them to play "fishing. " Which they then did, for nearly 2 hours. We had to bribe them back to opening the rest of their presents! So tonight, I strapped them into their seats so they would be forced to finish at least half their macaroni before the wailing for bath time started (if I don't strap them in on bath night, they will skip dinner all together).
We have also resolved the (occasional) issue of dessert on bath nights- popsicles in the tub! This is another reason why bath night is such a favorite. I have discovered a new kind of popsicle called "minis"- about 1/4 the size of regular pops, and in fun shapes. My kids can eat them (because they aren't too big, they don't melt and fall of the stick before they have a chance to take a few bites, and they are small enough that little hands can hold them), and they do so with vigor. Tonight both Nick and Graecy chose orange, so they would match. And in the tub they went!
Nick's mouth was getting a little cold, so he was trying to find a place to set his orange pop down, and inadvertently stuck it under water.
Me: "Oh no! Don't stick it in the water! It will melt!"
Nick:"Mewt? Mewt mewt!"
Graecy: "Yah, Bayba, and then it will be gone!"
(Graecy has taken to calling Nick "Bayba"; apparently it is a combination of the endearing term "bubby" - which Lilly calls him, and "babe"- which I call Jon.)
N: "Ooh!"
G: "And then that is how the earth makes gets our tummy's full."
M: "The earth makes our tummies full from melted popsicles?"
G:"No, silly mommy!"
Me: "Graecy, move your washcloth. The water needs to drain."
Graecy:"But I don't want to get out!"
M:"Bath time is over! Please hang your washcloth now."
She stands to do so, then turns to me,
G:"But I'm just so sad.'
M:"Why are you so sad?"
G:"Because my toys is going round and round and down and down."
M: "Your toys can't fit down the drain. They're ok; come on, hop out!"
G:"Mommy! Princesses don't hop! They flop!"
Well. That is bath night at my house. They make Mondays a little easier.
I should also say that I have never, ever, in my entire life, known of human children who love the water more than my kids. It is a bit unnatural. They will sacrifice dessert (even chocolate!) to have a bath instead. They will soak themselves repeatedly while washing dishes (they love to wash the dishes- standing at the sink, scrubbing things with lotsa bubbles- amazing it doesn't hold my interest as much) and have no problem just hanging out in wet clothes.
My mom gave them a toy fishing rod with foam fish for Christmas- they stopped opening presents and insisted she get out a bucket for them to play "fishing. " Which they then did, for nearly 2 hours. We had to bribe them back to opening the rest of their presents! So tonight, I strapped them into their seats so they would be forced to finish at least half their macaroni before the wailing for bath time started (if I don't strap them in on bath night, they will skip dinner all together).
We have also resolved the (occasional) issue of dessert on bath nights- popsicles in the tub! This is another reason why bath night is such a favorite. I have discovered a new kind of popsicle called "minis"- about 1/4 the size of regular pops, and in fun shapes. My kids can eat them (because they aren't too big, they don't melt and fall of the stick before they have a chance to take a few bites, and they are small enough that little hands can hold them), and they do so with vigor. Tonight both Nick and Graecy chose orange, so they would match. And in the tub they went!
Nick's mouth was getting a little cold, so he was trying to find a place to set his orange pop down, and inadvertently stuck it under water.
Me: "Oh no! Don't stick it in the water! It will melt!"
Nick:"Mewt? Mewt mewt!"
Graecy: "Yah, Bayba, and then it will be gone!"
(Graecy has taken to calling Nick "Bayba"; apparently it is a combination of the endearing term "bubby" - which Lilly calls him, and "babe"- which I call Jon.)
N: "Ooh!"
G: "And then that is how the earth makes gets our tummy's full."
M: "The earth makes our tummies full from melted popsicles?"
G:"No, silly mommy!"
Me: "Graecy, move your washcloth. The water needs to drain."
Graecy:"But I don't want to get out!"
M:"Bath time is over! Please hang your washcloth now."
She stands to do so, then turns to me,
G:"But I'm just so sad.'
M:"Why are you so sad?"
G:"Because my toys is going round and round and down and down."
M: "Your toys can't fit down the drain. They're ok; come on, hop out!"
G:"Mommy! Princesses don't hop! They flop!"
Well. That is bath night at my house. They make Mondays a little easier.
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