Posted on 02/11/2005 9:38:27 PM PST by Salvation
God bless you.
**especially during the middle and high school years.**
This was the time I became most active in my children's school lives; president of the local parents' group at the local middle school. Attending all the high school functions!
My kids, at the time, weren't always happy about me hanging around all the time. But now they thank me for exactly that and knowing what was going on with them during these volatile days of middle and high school.
My kids, at the time, weren't always happy about me hanging around all the time. >>
Having mom around tends to be a drag when you're a teenager. It's too bad more moms don't take more of an interest in their children.
I use this argument all the time when discussing home schooling. The first thing they say is that the children need to be with each other for proper socialization skills, etc. NOT,
It's the last thing the kids need, how do most kids turn BAD and pick up BAD habits, from their peers while socializing. There's a lot of dead kids and adults, kids in jails, kids addicted to cigarettes and drugs.
All because of their peers and peer pressure due from the socialization process.
Funny, George Washington and most of our forefathers, Abraham Lincoln and most Americans came out just fine without public schools and peers.
I am a stay at home dad as well. My wife's career was doing better than my own, so for the sake of the kids I decided to stay home full time.
I think stay at home dads are the key to true equality in the workforce. Most women I know recognize this, and applaud our lifestlye. Men are a bit suspicious, like "why does he get to stay home while I have to work these insane hours."
I know a few stay at home dads, a couple who even homeschool. I think its great that you chose such a nontraditional career for your children...they grow up so much more content and self-assured when they have someone at home who's always there.
What I always find interesting is the approach that children are happier when mom is more "fulfilled" or "happier" by working. Same rationale for many divorces... from my own observation, I can say with great certainty that my two children are happy with me at home and my personal fulfillment or professional satisfaction is below zero on their list of priorities! They just want mommy, and how lucky I feel to be here with them.
It's hard to express exactly what it's like to grow up in the virtual absence of parents, or any trustworthy authority figure at all, for that matter.
What is the area of study?
Interesting! I thought you were going to say something related to "liberal arts". :-) And good for your friend!
Oh, your last line just breaks my heart and it is true...so true. Can't imagine sending my child to school ill because I had a "social" commitment.
That's becuase you welcome them into your home and you help and care for them and while there they feel safe and secure. Not to mention "happy." Good for you. Keep up the good work.
Mommy...oh how I love that word. Yes, you are lucky to be there with them and nothing else matters to them in this world except Mommy being with them. You know it's important. The kids feel it but don't know why. Doesnt' matter...the important thng is they love having you there.
I had a girlfriend who home schooled her son. He wanted to attend their church school to socialize. So she sent him. To his horrors, he was not allowed to visit freely with any of the students in the class room. They had to be quiet in the halls and in the lunch room. He hated it and wanted to come back home to study. His dad left him their for a full 9 weeks.
Kassie, have you rented the movie "Mean Girls"? It is a silly movie, but begins with a girl who has always been home schooled, enrolling in HS - there is a funny bit where she gets up to go to the bathroom without permission........ lol
We were not allowed to socialize in the classroom either AFTER classes began but...homeroom was another story. Could, talk, laugh move around. Silence in the halls and so forth was what we had too. It didn't kill us. It taught us discipline.
Yes, I rented that movie. That was a cute part...
Many parents don't accept that their child could do anything wrong and won't admonish or punish their child - it demeans, further, the authority of the teacher and just snowballs until the teachers/principals have absolutely NO control over many of the students -
I remember being terrified of the Principal! lol
Yes, we had discipline. We could raise heck and laugh before the first bell. Then it was all quiet on the western front (eastern front for me). We walked to lunch in silence, stood there until prayer was said, then we were able to laugh, talk etc. while eating lunch. When the whistle blew...everyone was silent. Whistle blew again and we walked silently back to our classes once again but...only AFTER everyone in the cafeteria pused their chairs back into the table
We lived our lives by "clickers" or "whistles." You know, it's sad today that people are so touchy and defensive. When we took a test, we were not only graded for the test answers themselves but also for grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. It all came off your score.
In the lunchroom and walking to the lunchroom in silence it wasn't just the no talking ... it was attention and discipline that they were enforcing. We KNEW when we heard that whistle it was time to get up as lunch was over. So, it taught us to PAY ATTENTION!!!
The silence meant order and calm which is greatly needed in our day and time. It all made sense plus...we used to laugh about it and giggle with friends about it. It didn't hurt us one bit. Between the good manners, teachings, love and respect we were taught at home by our parents then again at school, we all grew up just fine. Our basics came from our home and parents first...then were just reenforced in school.
Don't know what all the fuss is about today. Money I guess. Sue the teacher, school, school district. It really and truly turns my stomach. The kids today don't know discipline.
My husband, brother and son all adjusted smoothy to the military way of life becuase before they ever even arrived at basic training they knew what respect for rules and respect for authority was...because parents taught those ideals to them all the while they were growing up.
God help the kids today. I feel very sorry for a lot of them. Seriously. They only know $$$$, themselves and what's in it for me. Not all but...a good deal. Very sad.I wish they could experience the simple life, values and morals we were raised with so many years ago.
You probably surmised we attended Catholic school. We used to laugh behind the good Sister's backs too but I tell ya, we would have defended them with our lives too because they were good people. Kept in touch with three of them until they all passed.
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