Glimpses

Lessons from Outer Space

Well, wasn't that a nice little discussion we had in the previous post? I think we set a new Web record for no mud-slinging. It's because we all have large brains.

Yesterday we celebrated Liam's 6th birthday. I put a moratorium on toys, especially loud, obnoxious ones that our parents think is SO FUN! to get the boys so long as we never bring them to their house. In their stead I requested educational things: books, maps (Liam loves geography and carries pocket-sized maps with him everywhere we go), and puzzles. I really like some of the things at Uncommon Goods, so we ordered these maps for his bedroom and the boys' playroom. He also received a book all about outer space, his new obsession.

Something fun that we've just recently implemented into our daily routine: checking out the Astronomy Picture of the Day! A professional astronomer includes a caption with each shot. I also like to check out different photos and movies on the Hubble site. I printed out this shot of the Orion Nebula; Liam wants me to frame it and hang it on his bedroom wall.

(This photo is amazing.)

Rocking the Cradle

Shea asks:

"Dana, I really see what you are saying on the whole homeschooling issue, however when you say that about a tax credit for schools you are paying for and not using, I guess I wonder...should childless individuals be forced to pay for failing schools? Just wanted to get an opinion on that...thanks! and good luck with the move!"

I can't really answer this without first explaining my view on government and education. I personally believe that the two are separate and should not be symbiotic. I'm a staunch "tiny government" sort-of girl. I don't want to feel as though I'm dependent upon our government to teach my kids. I think education should be led by the parents. I don't mean to say that EVERYONE should homeschool; I think parents can set up co-ops and still use a teacher's association, etc. to administer to their children without the government involving itself and screwing everything up. I think we can regulate ourselves and establish our own standards.

I understand that not everyone shares the same viewpoint as me, it irks me that I have to punctuate my answer with a disclaimer but there are some who show no signs of reading comprehension and take my opinion as personal offense. It's not. So don't.

Obviously, I believe that parents are first and foremost responsible for their children's education. I think that if others wanted to contribute their time, talents, or cash, WOO! Give them a tax deduction. But I don't agree with the notion that everyone should pay for the choices of others. I chose to have two kids. I don't expect Shea to pay for their healthcare or textbooks. I also don't buy into the "it's all for the good of society/those kids will run our world someday" assertion. It's a fabulous assertion but I think that if we want a better society we should put the time and effort in ourselves to make it one and not depend on the government to create our utopia. And yes, I'm fully aware of the word's Latin meaning, which is why I used it.

The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. My two cents. Thus, I want to rock my own cradle. METAL!

If that doesn't make sense it's because I still have moving-lag.

I realize that my opinions would work in a perfect little kittens and sunshine world where we all live in gingerbread houses with roads made of candy canes. A world where politicians are honest, where teachers' associations stopped the political affiliations, where people weren't inherently selfish and could see the greater good. Because the world is not like this and because our society is in some sort of live-to-work mode, we have a Big Babysitter.

So! After a huge tangent, no, I don't think you should pay for a school unless:

a) you are using it. This will spark competition and competition equals progress and better services. Don't believe it? How would you rate the services from the USPO or the DMV? 

b) you want to contribute and help.

Again, I totally get that not everyone thinks what I think and I want those commenting to realize that not everyone thinks what you think, so I think we should all be nice. This isn't an invitation to slam anything. This is a big, diverse world.

Yet Another Reason Why I'm Hard on Area Schools

Or, why you don't hire a skeeze to run a school district.

Where's My Easy Button?

It’s aggravating that the best time to teach your kids about faith occurs at points when you need it the most. It occurs at the times that are better suited for doubt than for assurance. It’s at these times when, as a parent, you want to fall apart and curse and wail and shake your fists but this is when little eyes really watch. Why it can't happen when everything is unicorns and puppy dogs just ISN'T FAIR. But life isn't fair. Durr!

The past several days have tested us. They’ve tested our resolve, our patience, and I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t make me want to question God's motives. Our first loan fell through in the 11th hour. We’d already sold our house to very difficult buyers who inched the closing date up on us at the last minute and declined any extensions. The loan fell through because the bank had lied and said they sent another appraiser out (which they hadn’t) and that the house only appraised at $70,000 dollars. After Chris nearly had a heart attack and I a panic attack (we’ve been staying with my mom until it closes and we feared we’d be totally homeless), we spent a day on the phone and this morning the situation was resolved. We got a loan that’s two whole points lower than the one we were closing on; it closes tomorrow and we were apologized to and assured that we won’t get screwed again.

I still feel off, though, not because of this, but because I said some angry prayers. I wondered aloud where the point was in all of this. I skipped past a lengthy list of things to be grateful for and just railed. I verbally attacked the people who bought our house, I screamed on the phone at the realtors, I showed up at the office of a broker ready to raise hell, the broker who turned out to be the hero in it all.

I haven’t been able to sleep, I ran to a coffeeshop to grab a wifi connection so I could work for the first time since Friday. Afterwards I sat in the dark parking lot and bawled. I can be very combative and will speak up rather than shy away from conflict. This has taken its toll on me this week; I have taken a toll on myself. I am tired. I hid it from my kids, but even to them I’ve been testy and short. I tried hard to exemplify grace under pressure and I didn’t hit my goal.

Screw the phonics, the math, the reading, and writing. That comes secondary to being a good person, in my book, and I think I sold my kids short on the lesson.

I am very thankful. That’s what I should teach.

(P.S. Thanks for the luv.)

Dana and the Big Bad, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Move

Things are going to be a bit touch-and-go chez Since Eve for the next several days. Long story short, we're moving, it's a nightmare because of some ignorant factors involved, blahblahblah, and I'm spent.

Seriously, I am totally exhausted. All classes have been suspended until Mommy hops back on the sanity wagon. We move or things into the new house tomorrow but we don't physically, ourselves, move into the house until WEDNESDAY. We're passing the days at my mother's house (she who lives without internet. What is wrong with her? Gawd, I would DIE. Is that sad?) and I'll be at the coffeeshop Monday and Tuesday afternoons cracking myself out with espresso and working.

Please send telepathic love.

The REAL Noah

The other day while waiting for his shot in the pediatrician's office, Liam met a baby. He walked up to a woman rocking her baby and said "Hey. Nice baby you got there."

"Why thank you," she said, in a slightly surprised tone. "Nice baby you've got yourself." She motioned to Ewan.

"So what's your baby's name?"

"Noah."

At this point Liam's eyes grew wide and practically bulged out of his head. He acted like he was totally starstruck.

"Is that," Liam asked with utmost reverence, "the REAL Noah? Did he come out of his ark?"

Everyone in the waiting room burst into laughter. The woman tried to compose herself and replied "No, he's not the REAL Noah, but he's got the same name as that Noah."

"Oh." Liam shrugged, the wonderment immediately drained from his eyes. "Well, he's still a nice baby anyway."

Missouri Moves to Control Kids, Homeschooling?

I find myself increasingly aggravated at the actions of the state to assume control of our children and our lives.

Example: SB303, the “midwifery bill” in my state of Missouri. The bill passed out of committee; however it needs to become law. Missouri has the most restrictions on midwifery than any other state in the nation. I place more faith in a midwife to deliver a child than I do a politican.

This next example is something we’re currently facing in Missouri but heads up fellow homeschoolers! You may find yourselves in similar situations if you haven’t already.

Let me begin with saying that I appreciate that I am not required by law to notify my local school district that I am homeschooling my children. It’s none of their business. Besides, I’m not incredibly concerned with the opinion of a superintendent that sends a welcome letter rife with grammatical errors and two misspellings to every family in the state. But I digress.

Legislation (HB 708, pdf) was recently introduced here in Missouri which would require every homeschooling family with teens to register with the state "file a certificate” stating that their student has adequate attendance and decent grades. This must be done to receive a driver’s license or to acquire a learner’s permit. HB 694 (pdf) – this is where it gets interesting – gives school districts the power to create the standards that the student would have to meet in order for the student to get their permit or license. If they fail to meet those standards they are labeled as “failure,” they basically must register and subject themselves to public school standards. Even if that student meets parental standards.

Current law puts parents in the driver’s seat; these two bills would take that away and give that power to the state. I am so unbelievably not cool with that, I can barely speak. These bills are the first steps to take education away from the parents and place it in the hands of the government.

You know, because our government has done such a BANG-UP job with everything else.

I view this move by our legislators in two ways:

1) It’s a move to place more of home education under state control. Currently, Missouri has the most relaxed laws on homeschooling.

2) It’s a reckless and poorly thought-out law designed to protect kids. Yes! I do understand that maybe this legislation was conceived out of concern for the welfare of our children, YEAY. However it limits our constitutional freedoms and parental control. These committee members do not understand the implications these bills will have on homeschooling families.

Regardless, these bills are very bad news. And you know what else? I find it positively offensive and enraging that the state wants to dangle drivers’ licenses as bait and use them as a tool for enforcing social policy.

I stay out of politics but this is the second of a one-two punch by our state congress. Whenever legislation affects my family and my way of life, I’m going to say something.

If you would like to say something with me, here is a list of those in the transportation committee who will vote on these bills soon. There is a public hearing Tuesday morning (March 6th) at 8 a.m. in Hearing Room 1 in the basement of the Capitol.

Tell the committee below: “Do not support H.B. 708 or H.B. 694. These bills will have unintended consequences for homeschool families and reduce the ability of parents to supervise their children.”

Contact Information for Members of the House Transportation Committee:

St. Onge, Neal C., Chair, 573-751-5568

Faith, Sally, Vice Chair, 573-751-1452

Daus, Michael, 573-751-6736

Denison, Charles, 573-751-2210

Fallert, Joe, 573-751-7735

Kuessner, J. C., 573-751-2112

Meadows, Tim, 573-751-1311

Munzlinger, Brian, 573-751-7985

Onder, Jr., M.D., Robert F., 573-751-3572

Quinn, John, 573-751-2917

(HB 708 is sponsored by Jim Guest and Gayle Kingery. HB 694 by John Quinn and Rod Jetton.)