There was an interesting thread on the forums the past few days that centered around the role of gov't in education (and, of course, spiralled off from there). I didn't have much to add to the discussion that others hadn't already said, so I didn't join in, but I did thoroughly enjoy the discussion and felt that it was handled incredibly well. Then I had to go and say something... *d'oh* WHAT was I thinking? I attract controversy like this house attracts ants.

I wanted to make two points, both of which center around this poor hypothetical uneducated woman who (if her education is left unchecked by THE STATE) will end up "stuck on welfare forever with no way of improving her circumstances". How many public schooled children become adults on welfare??? Also, I don't believe anyone is ever "stuck" and I don't know when welfare became a permanent occupation...

Of course, there was a dissenting view, but it was going ok- I thought- we went rounds, but politely enough.

Then, since I evidently don't know enough about NC's welfare program (I was not aware that AFDC has been renamed TANF), and since I don't believe that the only way out of the pit is by government dole, she hit me with

"have you ever been poor? Just curious."

Guys, I got so angry I began to shake! I'm talking seriously, deeply pissed off over this. I think I was so offended because I have a feeling what she was getting at was, "Have you ever been in a situation that would cause you to have one iota of empathy for the less fortunate, you heartless sod?" I responded as best I could, explaining a small part of my background, but wish now that I'd waited to respond. I wasn't ugly, but I wasn't eloquent, either. Whether I have ever been "poor" has no bearing on my ability to do the math! I'm not as offended as I was originally, but the board has archived, and I have a feeling that nothing I say is going to change her mind or soften her heart, so I don't want to drag a potentially poisonous situation over.

When someone asks you "have you ever been poor?" HOW do you answer that? "Are you talking abject poverty or just below the Federal income guidelines for the poverty level?" WHAT?!? The answer to both for me is a resounding YES, and I repeat that it has no bearing, so what kind of a question is that? Having experienced a situation may give a person a unique perspective, but it does not make that person any more or less qualified than someone else with a different experience (or education). The funny thing is that although she was so heavily focused on how the gov't won't help, I think we actually agreed that it's not the State's job. Funny, isn't it?

Hey, if you know an adult who cannot read, what's your problem? Get off your butt and help that person learn to read! If you know a child who could use a little read-aloud time and encouragement, don't be stingy. It costs you nothing but time, and the benefits to all are tremendous! Good grief, people. If you have children coming out your ears and don't feel you have the time to mentor even one other child, fine, then do a little legwork and donate to a local organization that helps people. There are plenty that are not Government-Funded (I would recommend that you specifically seek out non-g-funded charities, actually.) These aren't the jobs of some nameless entity on far off Capitol Hill! (They're not good with money, anyway.)

For what it is worth, even when we were all crammed into an aluminum trailer, doing the abject poverty thing (and believe me, we are talking serious poverty), my mother never failed to offer what little she had: an extra seat at our already overcrowded table, shoes I'd outgrown but which could be used by someone who didn't have even that, her time to watch a co-worker's child so the mother could pull double shifts and be able to buy groceries AND pay rent that week. We were dirt poor, but she never went to the Government to beg for help, she instead looked around to see who else needed something more than we did, and she did something about it. Maybe if more of us quit wondering about each other's qualifications, stopped looking toward Capitol Hill to help our own people, and started looking around and wondering who nearby we could help, we'd be amazed at the ways we could make our world a lot better.

Anyhow, that's my .02. Possibly only worth a penny and a half, but keep the change. I just had to get it off my chest.

~Dy

What a way to blog!

OK, so I'm composing in Notepad since I have tried four times this morning to blog, and each time something bizarre has happened that's erased my entry. I give up. I am changing topics and leaving well enough alone! There.

Last night I finished The Man Who Would Be King (by Ben MacIntyre)- it's a phenomenal book! I recommend it highly- this would go under "stew" in my food-guided recommendation table. It's a great book for chilly evenings with a hot cup of somethin' good, that you can really chew on, enjoy, think about, and in the end you are full, yet could have kept going if there'd been more of it.

We may be able to get together this weekend with another WTM family, and I am really, *really* hoping it comes together! The Mom and I have been emailing and chatting on the phone for months- she is just wonderful- and I cannot wait to meet her wonderful family (and her) in real life! Here's to the scheduling powers that be! I hope we can make it a "go"!

Um, it hit me this morning (during a lucid moment? I'm beginning to wonder...) that Jacob's first birthday is in just under three weeks. How horrible a mother am I that we haven't made any plans or arrangements for the celebration? *sigh* I'm really losing my grip. The boys will all be well-educated, but they'll be quite surprised to learn birthdays are normally celebrated at the same time each year.

We've had a good day getting things done. Need to make a Wal-Mart run, but... well, ya know, it's just hot 'n sticky out there. Too bad they don't make deliveries.

*argh* Anybody out there have a bossy almost-six-year-old??? This is normal?

Time to squash the rebellion. Talk to you later!

Dy

ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

So, evidently it's wise to keep the Upsaid habit of copying/pasting a post into a Word document before hitting "publish"...

I'll try again later. That just raised my hackles.

~Dy

Jacob is napping.

John is upstairs with his dinosaurs and Green Army Men, playing some take on Land of the Lost.

James is inventing new knots and trying to decide between nylon and kevlar for his favorite rope material.

I thought I'd blog. (Lucky you!)

Do y'all feel like you're wasting most of your lives waiting for something that never comes, singing the Song that Does Not End? (Tried to Google the lyrics for that, but no luck, sorry.) Or have you found your niche and learned to taste and savor each season of life in turn? Everyone is so busy, busy, busy right now. This time of year is filled with activity, it seems. Yet when I step back, and look at the overall scheme of things, there is always something coming up or winding down. (Usually it is a combination of both.)

Summer activities kick in and everyone is out 'n about, the under 18 population seems to quadruple since most are not in school for the summer. There are swim lessons, camps, baseball, VBS, vacations... and we all fall in a heap at the feet of August, praying for our routine and an end to the hectic pace.

As that's winding down, here comes the "back to school" frenzy for some (and the "not back to school" frenzy for others). Halloween/Harvest... Lessons... Thanksgiving... suddenly it's "The Holiday Season" and then nobody seems to slow down until January, when a great majority of the earth's population goes catatonic. (I'm beginning to believe this is an instinctive measure, designed to keep us from hurrying ourselves into oblivion, something akin to The Magic Shoes.)

While all the leading magazines tell us this is good, I know that doesn't ring true with many people. You see it in the proliferation of "Simple Living" style publications, books, seminars and Yahoo! groups. People seem to rebel against the hoopla, but don't know how to get out of the throng. I'm thankful that I have Zorak, and you can't hurry him along to save your life. He gets it, on a cellular level, and has been quite a calming, focusing force for me.

SO, all the money-making products and icky supermarket trash mags aside, I would love to hear your methods for savoring Life The Way You Want It. After all, by the time we rouse from the January-coma, there's a brief lull, then suddenly Spring is upon us... and oh, look, here comes Summer! Quick, hide!

Dy

Dear Anonymous

HI! I'm so glad you posted! First of all, thanks for coming by and for commenting. I know not everyone reads the comments, so I hope you don't mind that I'm bringing it to the main page, but I think you made my point very, very well and since I'm hanging out my geocentric laundry, I figured I might as well put this out, too.

Anyhow, here's the comment (I'll put the comment in italics and my replies in blue- anyone please let me know if that just doesn't help on your browser, ok?)

You wrote:
"Ponderosa Pines grow only above 5000 ft. elevation...."

Really?

No! No, not really. They really don't. That's my point. I was born and raised in Prescott, Arizona (which is around 5300' elevation). There are beautiful Ponderosas all over the Yavapai National Forest, and they are all over Flagstaff, Arizona, too (even higher up the mountain!) Yet if you drive 7 miles outside Prescott, in any direction except toward Groom Creek, you'll drop just a few hairs in elevation and- *blam* - all ya get is scrub oak, junipers and cactus. So, as if to highlight my ignorance even further- there ya have it, geocentricity at its all-time worst! I just grew up knowing that if you got under appx. 5000' ft., you were in the "high deserts". Let me tell you, the terrain in Minnesota just blew my little mind!

I'm not forester, nor am I sure that's how you spell it, but we've got what the conservation folks call Ponderosa Pine (and what I learned were Ponderosa Pine in jr. high) on our land. Our land is considerably below 5000 ft., in the mid-3000s.

Exactly my point. It's downright embarrassing. Even back east here, where I've seen "high elevation" properties listed with a whopping 1800' elevation, I do believe there may be Ponderosas. At any rate, I know there are pines and there are some big 'uns, too.

Granted the Cartwrights' ranch, the Ponderosa, there near Lake Tahoe, is named after the most lovely tree called the Ponderosa Pines that live on it. And Lake Tahoe is around 6000 ft.

*wistful sigh* Tahoe...

So. I'm wondering what the 5000 rule you quoted is all about.

Not really a rule, just a rule-of-thumb that I'd unconsciously grown up with. Geocentricity is not really about what you know, it's about what you "think" you know.

I'm a 1 on your ignorance scale. I know probably know less than 0.00000001% of all the world's collective knowledge. If someone gave me that much of a candy bar, I'd think they were giving me nothing.

Oh, Anon, perish the thought!! Candy bars for all! (And more knowledge, too!) And coffee- can you imagine 0.00000001% of a pot, or *cringe* a CUP of coffee? No, that's not a good percentage at all.

Statistically 0.00000001% *is* nothing. I'm just lucky that most of the rest of the world is also as ignorant so that I end up looking about average. LOL!

LOL- I love your perspective, Anon, and hope you will stick around and introduce yourself and hopefully stay for coffee more often.

Alrighty, time to get the baby down and finish the day's chores. I'll be back for a longer blog in a bit.

~Dy

Books & Messages

ARGH!

In going through book descriptions to line up a list for our next visit, I have come to the point of near-explosion! Head... popping... vein... busting... frustration. I've read the descriptions of over 50 books today, and perhaps four (maybe? I'm being generous here) did not contain the phrase (or some semblance of the phrase) "little Waldo learns that it's important to be yourself."

OK. Sure, peer pressure is an issue that ought to be dealt with, and perhaps it's starting earlier than I am willing to admit. However, these are picture books and early readers- books geared for the under six crowd. Maybe it's me, but I don't think I've met many four year olds who have any trouble being themselves- or six year olds for that matter. Aren't we just encouraging that self-absorption that we desire to oust from our children's mindsets?

What about books that instill the importance of being kind or generous, of being noble or honest? Could we get maybe a handfull of those, please? It's wonderful to have so many books to choose from that tell kids "it's ok to be ____" (insert oppressed whatever here), but how about a book or two with the message "it's imperative that you be kind TO _______" (insert oppressed/handicapped/different issues here)? Is that just too darned much to ask?

What if a child is selfish? What if he's a jerk? It's ok- BE YOURSELF. Don't work on yourself, and don't strive to better yourself. No, no, you're perfect just the way you are. So, following that logic why don't we just issue a whole series of books that come right out and say, "It's ok if the other kids treat you like dirt, as long as you know it's ok to be yourself!" It's not that I don't see validity in addressing differences and hurdles that children do face, but most of these books don't even deal with those things. They're just all about feelin' good about yourself and few of the ones I've seen today dealt with challenges or differences. They are all so bland.

How much good does self-esteem do if there is no such thing as respect for others? Respect for self (because self-esteem is not the same thing as self-respect!)

Would somebody please write some of these books? I'd love to see Little Waldo learn the beauty of giving, or the strength of kindness!

Dy

Wonderful (and not-so-wonderful-but-necessary) Parenting Moments

Music and Latin and Bible and Math!
Oh, what a full, full day.
Puzzles and maps and chocolate and globes.
Yea, yea, yea!

We tore apart a book of mazes today and slipped each page into a plastic page protector. Good thing, too, as every maze had been completed inside of fifteen minutes. I love, love, love dry erase markers. "Here, kids, have a paper towel and wipe 'em clean!" Then we mix 'em up and they're ready to go again. (Because when you are five and four, it's always a new maze, no matter how many times you've done it before!)

It was just good, all the way around. Kitchen looks like hell, but that empty spot in the living room where the desk was moved sure does come in handy! The children are fed, the hubby has clean socks. I have fresh coffee and the house is quiet. Wow. And it's only Tuesday, you say?

Thank you all for your comments about the Carthage/geo-centricity issue. So much insight out there- y'all are just great! Rebel, I giggled until my cheeks hurt reading your comment. I have done the same thing to the boys when I've found something that just fascinated me no end and they were completely non-plussed by it all, just sat there looking at me like something was trying to escape from my head while I bobbed about, gleaming and grinning, shouting, "Isn't this NEAT?!?! LOOK!"

Well, now the boys now want to make glass. Um, I should've seen that coming. What can we use as a crucible for melting the sand? Anyone? Anyone? Please? The boys (Zorak included) are really wanting to try this! (It does sound like fun, but oh, how I'd like to actually be prepared!)

Parenting isn't a job with a clock to punch, or seasons off. It's a nonstop, ongoing, highly demanding endeavor. The benefits, such as a quiet head resting against your shoulder as you read, or the sticky otter-pop flavored kisses bestowed as your child bolts off to another activity, are certainly worthwhile and precious. Sometimes, though, the things that do not feel like benefits or blessings can be quite galvanizing to the heart of a parent, can pull you up short with a glaring reminder that even when you are too tired or whiney to feel like doing your job, you MUST.

The panic and fear that will pass through a parent like a bolt of lightning when you even think something may have happened to your child can yank you from the most self-congratulatory justificational whine fest imaginable. You must be diligent because your children are, after all, only children. They aren't statistics, and they aren't adults. They are children, and they are yours. Defend them, protect them, nurture and guide them. It's your job and nobody will do it as well as you can, if only you will. That's another benefit of parenthood.

On a related note, several bloggers have noted this article, and while it's certainly Christian-based, I think it raises some excellent points on parenthood in general.

Anyhow, we had a great day enjoying the children, and I hope you did, too. See you in the morning!

~Dy

Back on "da list" and "If I only had a brain!"

OK, well first off, my paranoid fears that I had somehow thoroughly irked the Powers That Be were put to their final rest today when Webmaster updated the WTM blog listings and put Classic Adventures on again. Why do I feel like I'm no longer cruising the streets with an expired driver's license? Anyhow, I don't know how the Webmaster manages to juggle it all, but I am, as usual, in awe.

And then, as if to prove my point, I'm gonna have to say this here because I don't want to stir the pot on the board (nothin' like biting the hand that feeds you!)

Some people are soooo stupid...

So, one poster at my favorite virtual living room, who isn't exactly a Bush "fan" had posted a quick apology for unintentionally violating board decorum. It was tastefully done and sincere. And another poster, realizing that she also may have violated rules, in a spirit of decency, also apologized. Very cool, totally understandable. It's a hot year for politics, but I thought the potential for civil unrest was being handled well.

Then comes some puffed up snarky chick, who is SO smug and SO... ppffttt, whatever... who posts this irrational nonsense, to the two who had apologized! BWAHAAA. But it gets better. Two minutes later she puts in her (rapidly devalued .02) here- the "ditto" under the other staunchly-rule-abiding-Democrat- and I'm still wiping coffee off the monitor. ROFL! Some people are just doofs. (Dare I call her a "Ditto Head"??) Argh. Doofs galore.

Who cares what side you're on? Get a blog. But if you must throw stones, people, don't go sliding down the rockpile. It's just bad form.

Still learning! (Thankfully...)

OK, I'm not big on the "centric" words. Words such as ethno-centric, gender-centric, and my personal favorite- species-centric (I kid you not, I'm not making that up!) generally indicate to me that the individual who is speaking is someone who is deeply over impressed with every culture and tradition other than the speaker's own. I pretty much tune out when one of the "centric" labels comes spewing from an orator.

However, as with all generalizations, there are exceptions, and one hit me tonight. I was sitting on the porch, enjoying the beautiful evening, boning up on the Phoenicians for this week's history lessons. The story of Dido and the founding of Carthage is included in this chapter of Story of the World. Very interesting. "Hmmm," I wondered, "Where, exactly is Carthage?" *flip, flip, flip, back to the map* Oh, HEY, check it out, right there in North Africa!

Why did this surprise me? Why did I have the feeling Carthage was founded on the northern edge of the Mediterranean? Why is it, aside from my pathetic education at the hands of the government, that even while studying Egypt, Canaan, Greece, Rome... Nubia (!!), "Africa" hasn't clicked with me?

I'm relatively certain I'm not entirely daft. I suppose it is possible that I've become mentally unstable, but as far as I know that doesn't usually attack the geography-region of the brain first... Then it hit me: I'm geo-centric. Just as the terrain here in Maryland has pretty much taken me by surprise (in spite of the fact that I've lived in both North Caroline and Pennsylvania), much of the history I'm learning now seems to come out of nowhere. (Africa, you say? Amazing!)

Now, really, please don't get all disenfranchised and uppity on me and say that it's some plot by "The Man" because, honestly, it took me a long time to find Switzerland on the globe the other day, too. I still think it oughta be closer to the Netherlands. It's not a culture thing, it's a geography thing. The world in my mind is mostly high desert plains. Ponderosa Pines grow only above 5000 ft. elevation, and swamps are mostly found on Hollywood sets. Yellowstone is not an anomaly, nor is the Grand Canyon. After all, these are the things I have grown up knowing and seeing. Mountains ought to be made of Granite and shouldn't be covered with trees! I'll bet those of you who have travelled a bit after you've reached adulthood have found yourselves marveling at the similarities and/or differences in the terrain and climate of various places.

It's a geo-centricity based on what we've always known and experienced. Somewhere in my heart of hearts is embedded the concept that Africa is much farther south than it really is, that Australia is bigger than it actually is, Switzerland is much farther north, The Middle East and "Europe at large" are not nearly as close together as they, in truth, are... the list goes on. I can say with all assurity that my calling is not as cartographer. Europe and Asia would be thoroughly unnavigable if left to my devices.

Fortunately, let's give three cheers for the autodidact! I've found Switzerland, rediscovered the North African coast, and spent five minutes in absolute awe that Italy is so close to the Middle East! Wow. This week's library trip is going to focus heavily on the histories of a few new regions- ones I haven't read or studied in the past. Hopefully, these deficiencies in my education and embedded thought processes will be outed in time to help the boys flourish in their education and geographical knowledge!

I've read that there are different levels of ignorance.
1) There are those who don't know anything and don't know how much they don't know.
2) There are those who don't know anything, but know they don't know anything.
3) Then there are those who do know quite a bit, but think they know everything.
4) Finally there are those who are learning and know they still have quite a bit to learn.

Which one are you?
Which one do you want to be?
And which one do you hope for your children to be?

Model the one you would like you children to emulate, because that is their (and your) best hope.

And I'm off! Have a wonderful evening.
Dy