I came across this today, and it fits.

I get told sometimes that by home schooling I'm doing a disservice to my kids. They aren't getting enough socialization and what not. i came across this conversation this morning on one of the home school chat groups I belong to and thought it appropriate to share here. 


Two women meet at a playground, where their children are swinging and playing ball. The women are sitting on a bench watching. Eventually, they begin to talk.

W1: Hi. My name is Maggie. My kids are the three in red shirts -- helps me keep track of them.
W2: (Smiles) I'm Terri. Mine are in the pink and yellow shirts. Do you come here a lot?
W1: Usually two or three times a week, after we go to the library.
W2: Wow. Where do you find the time?
W1: We home school, so we do it during the day most of the time.
W2: Some of my neighbors homeschool, but I send my kids to public school.
W1: How do you do it?
W2: It's not easy. I go to all the PTO meetings and work with the kids every day after school and stay real involved.
W1: But what about socialization? Aren't you worried about them being cooped up all day with kids their own ages, never getting the opportunity for natural relationships?
W2: Well, yes. But I work hard to balance that. They have some friends who are homeschooled, and we visit their grandparents almost every month.
W1: Sounds like you're a very dedicated mom. But don't you worry about all the opportunities they're missing out on? I mean they're so isolated from real life -- how will they know what the world is like -- what people do to make a living -- how to get along with all different kinds of people?
W2: Oh, we discussed that at PTO, and we started a fund to bring real people into the classrooms. Last month, we had a policeman and a doctor come in to talk to every class. And next month, we're having a woman from Japan and a man from Kenya come to speak.
W1: Oh, we met a man from Japan in the grocery store the other week, and he got to talking about his childhood in Tokyo. My kids were absolutely fascinated. We invited him to dinner and got to meet his wife and their three children.
W2: That's nice. Hmm. Maybe we should plan some Japanese food for the lunchroom on Multicultural Day.
W1: Maybe your Japanese guest could eat with the children.
W2: Oh, no. She's on a very tight schedule. She has two other schools to visit that day. It's a system-wide thing we're doing.
W1: Oh, I'm sorry. Well, maybe you'll meet someone interesting in the grocery store sometime and you'll end up having them over for dinner.
W2: I don't think so. I never talk to people in the store -- certainly not people who might not even speak my language. What if that Japanese man hadn't spoken English?
W1: To tell you the truth, I never had time to think about it. Before I even saw him, my six-year-old had asked him what he was going to do with all the oranges he was buying.
W2: Your child talks to strangers?
W1: I was right there with him. He knows that as long as he's with me, he can talk to anyone he wishes.
W2: But you're developing dangerous habits in him. My children never talk to strangers.
W1: Not even when they're with you?
W2: They're never with me, except at home after school. So you see why it's so important for them to understand that talking to strangers is a big no-no.
W1: Yes, I do. But if they were with you, they could get to meet interesting people and still be safe. They'd get a taste of the real world, in
real settings. They'd also get a real feel for how to tell when a situation is dangerous or suspicious.
W2: They'll get that in the third and fifth grades in their health courses.
W1: Well, I can tell you're a very caring mom. Let me give you my number--if you ever want to talk, give me call. It was good to meet you.


We have yet to bring home a total stranger and family from the grocery store, but we have had a friend of a friend from Pakistan join us and share a little about her Country with us, and that was interesting. Maybe one day we will meet more interesting people like that.

Considering moving my Blog

I blogged on MySpace for a couple of years and while the format was okay, it wasn't "great", if you know what I mean. I didn't have a lot of the features I wanted and I do like the way this is all on one page. You can see a little bit about me, but the main juice, the blog, is right there on the page as well, no clicking to find it, read it, go back to the profile, etc. I like Twitter for the simple fact that you can tweet little stuff about what you are doing on a constant basis, but I haven't totally mastered it and how you talk to other Tweeters, yet. I love Facebook, I really dislike the newest layout, but hopefully we'll be able to go back to the original if enough people complain about it? One can hope. And I've connected with so many lost friends, family and what not. But I can't blog on it. I can use notes, but it's again with the flipping back and forth between pages and whatnot. And while I blog mainly for me, so that I can get my thoughts out there and maybe try to make sense of things, when I get on my soapbox, it's nice to be heard, even if no one agrees with what I say, lol. So, I don't get here enough to actually blog, though. My conundrum continues. I guess eventually I'll figure out what I want to do.


The husband had to go and buy uniforms over the weekend. He's been getting pieces here and there where he's needed too over the last many years since he came back in, but it's gotten to the point where he's old enough now that his body just does not allow him to be a stick figure anymore. So it was time to make the investment. It definitely hurt, but probably not as much as it could have. He got full blues, full alpha's, and full evening dress and it was all a little under a grand. Of course that doesn't count medal mounting, but there are several places around here that do it on the off season (when it's more than 6 months before the next Ball), for decent prices. At least this way, he is totally prepared for anything that comes up and doesn't have to scramble to get what he needs, and he's got lots of stuff going on this year. 


As for everyone else, well, home school is well, it's going. Sometimes I wonder if I'm cut out for it or not, it tests my patience like nothing else, but I know the kids are better off in the long run. It's me I have to work on.


My goal of reading two books a month isn't quite going as I had planned. I'm finding the books harder to get through than I had anticipated. And it makes a difference when you don't have anyone to talk over the ideas that you are reading with. I'm used to doing that in a classroom or even a chat room, especially some of the material I'm ready, it's not just your regular run of the mill novels and what not. Oh well, if I can get one done a month, I'm going to try to be happy with that, until I figure something else out. I'm also not spending enough time doing my crocheting and getting items ready for my new store I want to open this summer. I am however, finally getting some things listed on Ebay, and if the first few auctions go well, I will continue to list until things stop selling. Maybe I can clear out some of this stuff. I can only donate and throw away so much, it makes sense to sell some things if I can, especially with young, growing children.


Anyway, I guess that's it for now...

Learning

This year is all about learning for me. I received my first set of books from Barnes and Noble and have dug in. I'm pretty much through the Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert W. Sears. I feel that the stance and actions that I have currently been on are good for Brenna and I feel comfortable with the way we are working her vaccine schedule. And if her pediatrician and the Pediatrics Dept at the Naval Hospital continue to try to intimidate me, I may just have to request through Tricare to be referred a PCM out in town. 

I have read the forward and 1st chapter in Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals. It's very interesting so far. I'm curious to see where he goes in the next chapters. So far it hasn't totally explained where these leftist people are coming from at this point because so far it he has said that some of the things they are doing are no-no's if they want to accomplish their mission, which is actually a good thing for the Country in the long run, because we've figured out what they are up to and most regular people are fed up with it all. So, in the end it may not be the Revolution he was looking for that may come about. Like I said, I'm looking to see where the book goes in the coming chapters. And I can't wait to start the other books, there are so many books I want to read/listen to this year. I'm hoping to finish  at least two books a month. I guess we'll see how things go.

I got my iphone, I'm really having a good time with it. I haven't figured out everything yet, and I'm not sure if it does everything I want it to, but for the most part it is everything I was expecting. I like being to use Facebook and some of the other apps, I'm looking forward to exploring a lot of the other applications as well. 

And we are using Netflix to watch movies on the computers and the TV upstairs. They are supposed to be introducing Netflix for the Wii in the next few months and we are excited for that because then we can use it and watch movies on the main TV downstairs. 

Tomorrow is a holiday because we are observing Martin Luther King, Jr's birthday, and while we are not doing anything special to observe, we are thinking about going to Palm Springs for the day since the hubby is off and Meg doesn't have to do school. I guess we'll see how things go.

Being a Mom

Really, I think the title of this particular blog says it all. If I were to end it here and post it, I think there are many many moms out there who would get it, and agree. But I can't just leave it at that but the more I delve into it, you may or may not find yourself relating. I find that maybe I have some really odd ideas about motherhood. I love my kids, but they didn't come with instructions or an on/off switch (and oh, how convenient that would be sometimes). And even worse, when they are tiny it's all trial and error on what might be wrong because they can't even tell you, other than crying, and maybe I'm just not that smart, but I can't always tell what each and every cry might mean. And oh the whining. And when they hurt, you hurt with them, there have even been a few times where I cried with them. I believe I have been blessed, because for the most part, my kids aren't difficult, a few of them have been more needy than the others, but really, they've all been fairly easy going compared to what I've seen some mother's go through. 

It is rare that I go anywhere without my kids, if not all of them, at least one or two. But there are occasions when I do get out on my own, and sometimes, just those 15 minutes, or one, two hours, are an absolute relief, and then I feel selfish. This is one of the big reasons I don't go many places without them. It's not that I can't find anyone I trust to watch them, because there are several people I feel plenty comfortable leaving them with, and when we visit family, I trust them with the kids, but it feels selfish to go out and leave them with other people. They are my kids, their welfare is my responsibility all of the time. This is why the husband and I don't get out much. You wouldn't think once a week, or even once a month, or once every two months would be such a big deal for us to go do something. Well, other than the fact there isn't much to do around here that either of us are really interested in, I just can't shake that guilty feeling that I'm being selfish by dumping my kids off on someone else. So, even if I do get out, as much of a relief as it is sometimes, I have this sense of urgency that I need to get back right away. Whether this is a valid response or not, who knows. But, I look at other couples, parents, who are going out several times a month/week, and I can't help but wonder if they don't feel they are being as selfish as I feel they are. Maybe I'm a little jealous. Who knows. Maybe it's a combination of these. 

New Books!

I just placed an order for books from Barnes and Noble, yay! The last couple of times I've bought books they've all been for the kids. I love books and I don't take nearly enough time to read for myself as I should. I know this would be different if I was taking classes or something, but it's just not an option right now. Right now my focus is my family and teaching and raising them. Later, I would definitely like to go back to school, and I think it will be much better, it will be challenging, but I think I will get much more out of it than when I was younger. 


So, I have decided that until I can go back to school, I will read and learn and do on my own. I have a list of books I would like to read this year, and I'm sure the list will grow as the year goes on, but I've begun to fulfill that list by ordering some books, yay! I am hoping that I can also get some of the books that I am wanting in MP3 format as well, because sometimes I do enjoy listening as well, and it will be much easier to listen to my Ipod (or Iphone when I finally get it!) and tick off some of those books.


Well, I have a picture of dinner from last night.

It is Pork Loin, baby carrots and mashed potatoes with gravy. 

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cook time: 5 to 6 hours

To make the rub for the pork I combined equal amounts of: Sea Salt, Peppercorn, Onion Flakes, Garlic Salt, Cajun Seasoning. Rub evenly on pork loin, paying particular attention to the meaty sections. Use two or three dashes of liquid smoke patted on the loin. Sear all sides meat to lock in the rub. Place seared loin into a baking pan or slow cooker with baby carrots and enough water to cover the carrots. If placing in the oven, cover pork with a sheet of foil. Oven temp should be 285 degrees. Slow cooker on high if you are doing the 5 to 6 hour method, low for 8-10 hours. I used mashed potatoes out of the box and gravy from a packet, which took me about 15 minutes just before serving.

I'm all for making dinners fast and easy being as busy as I am with the kids. So, any short cuts I can take, I do. Making mashed potatoes the long way with actual potatoes is wonderful and tasty if you have the time. Luckily, my family is happy either way. Using some of the pork juices and a teaspoon or two of flour to make gravy would not have taken a long time, but putting a couple of packets together with some water worked just as well. 

Anyway, I will share my meals with you this year as well, at least the ones that may interest you. 

That's all I got for today.

Happy New Year!!

All right, it's 2010. I'm trying to get back into the blogging mode this year. I took quite a break last year, but I'm ready to give the world my opinion, right or wrong, nice or not so nice, once again. There will be a heavy dose of what is going on in our lives here at home at the time, as well as recipes and meal ideas. I cook mainly out of necessity, sometimes I love it, sometimes I don't, but it's what's best for my family, and as easy and pain free as it is to eat out on a regular basis, it's expensive and not what we need to be doing. 


I've been debating on getting an Iphone, and I'm pretty much set now that it is definitely the phone I want, I've side by side compared the Iphone, Blackjack, Solstice, Blackberry, and HTC, the Iphone has everything I want. Now it's just to research how much it's going to actually add to my service because if it's too much, I'll just have to stick with what I've got.


There is so much going on in the world today, and I can tell you that I can only take about 30 minutes of news at a time because by the time it's done, I just want to hurt somebody, how can we be so stupid to have put so many of the wrong people in such positions of power and the ones that are riding along the coat-tails that we seem to have no say over. It's just like some of these celebraties (yes I spelled it wrong on purpose) out there, they have people who jump on their coat tails and try to ride their way to fame and a lot of them are unscrupulous bastards with no morals, and none of them, politicians, famous people, etc. none of them live in the real world. They live in some fantasy world and they want to take us all there, well, no thanks. Being rich would be nice, but sometimes money isn't all it's cracked up to be. Of course that's said by someone who doesn't have a lot of it. But then again, neither did Jesus. 


"And Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, I say to you, it will be had for rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished saying, 'Who then can be saved?' But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'  Then Peter said in reply, 'Lo, we have left everything and followed you, What then shall we have?' Jesus said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones,judging the twelve trives of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mothers or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundred-fold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.'


-Matthew 19: 23-30

Thanksgiving and more...

Well, the kids and I drove to Vegas last week for Thanksgiving, with the help of my brother and his girlfriend. Normally, I'm not one to ask for help, but with the arrival of Brenna in September, she being as little as she is, the hubby being in Australia, and everyone not wanting me to travel through the desert alone with all the kids, I let it happen. So, my brother and his girlfriend left at some ungodly hour Thanksgiving morning and then drove back with the kids and I, just in time for Thanksgiving dinner with my parents. Dinner was great, and the kids and I had a good visit, they love being outside and now that my parents are on the same property as the horses, well, that just gives the kids lots more to do.

Of course, kids being kids, they never want to stop, and when the adults were tired, they were still eager to go. It got a little irritating after a while because there really was no where to send them off to play, we were all in the same space all the time. So, as nice as it was to visit since we hadn't been there in almost a year, it was just as nice to get home. 


Now the next few weeks will be spent getting Meg caught up with school so that we are on track for the second semester. I'm still not sure that the charter school is the way to go, I really enjoyed last semester when we were home schooling all on our own. It's a lot like public school, and I really thought that was what I was trying to get away from. I don't know, I just don't know. I guess we are going to tough it out for this year and I will have to see where we are this summer. I'm going to have to make the same decision for Killian since he will be starting Kindergarten next fall. Yipes, why does being a parent have to be so hard?


We are having Christmas at our house this year. We are really looking forward to that. Travelling is so hard on all of us. It's hard to build family traditions when we always do something different. Of course, I don't know how many people actually do family traditions anymore, it seems as though the more electronic and mobile we are, the less we tend to stay home and create memories and traditions. So, we will be working on holiday baking, which will help Meghan with fractions, measuring, and cooking in general, making some home made gifts, the hubby wants to decorate the outside of the house as well as the inside. I'm not quite sure how the inside will work since we have a 2 year old who likes to get into and touch EVERYTHING she's not supposed to. We've only actually decorated for Christmas a handful of times since we've been married. I'm such a scrooge. But, it really sucks to do all the work of decorating, when we won't even be home on Christmas to really enjoy it, and then you get home, not only do you have to unpack, but then you have to take down and put all the decorations away as well. Pointless as far as I'm concerned. Maybe we will make it a rule that while all the kids are little, we will spend Christmas at home, no matter where we are living, and whoever wants to and is able to, can join us. Maybe I wouldn't be such a scrooge then. Who knows, I think it's worth a shot. 


Anyway, today I took the kids to the Winter Festival put on by MCCS here on 29 Palms. The kids got to see Santa and we had a nice lunch. We didn't really do any of the other activities, it was a lot colder than I had originally thought it was, and I just wasn't very well prepared. Plus we stood in line for an hour and fifteen minutes just for the kids to sit on Santa's lap for less than a minute, and Keeley really wasn't even too keen on that little bit of time. She talks a good game, but when it comes to actually doing it, not so much. But I have to wait until Monday to see how the picture turned out. I'm hoping it's not too awful.