As I sit here in my bed at 2:30 am with insomnia, I thought maybe I should finally write something in my blog. I started to title it, then erased it. Titled it again and the erased it again. Hopefully I'll have a title by the time I'm through typing. Right now I'm just rambling. But that's okay sometimes.
We just got home from vacation last week. Our family went tent camping in the foothills of the BlueRidge Mountains in Upstate South Carolina. We explored the area alot but also found out there is much more to do. We stayed at Oconee State Park literally just 2 miles from the NC state line and 5 miles from the GA state line. It was peaceful and relaxing. We took the kids to SixFlags over GA one day. Colleen LOVES roller coasters but was a little down b/c she had no one to ride them with her. Jerry hates roller coasters and I was pregnant at the time so I thought it best not to. Unfortunately, once again this turned out to be a, If I knew then what I know now, moments. Oh Well. She still had fun. Connor got to see Thomas the Train and Sir Topham Hat although he wouldn't go anywhere near him! Connor is terrified of anything in a costume! It is actually quite funny to his Dad and me. He won't even shake hands with Chuck E. Cheese. He keeps asking to go see Mickey Mouse but I know it would be a total waste of time & money because he would never want to leave the motel room because of ALL the people in costume! LOL
On another day we went up to Bryson City to the Great Smocky Mountain Railroad and booked passage on there 4 hour excursion. Both of the kids had a blast! Jerry & I had fun too! It is something I would encourage everyone who has kids that like trains to do. Although Connor likes Thomas and enjoyed that he has still yet to stop talking about riding on the deisel! Other days we spent hanging out at the campgrounds, hiking, riding bikes and pretty much just enjoying being alone as a family with no pressing responsibilties. It was quite refreshing.
We spent one day in Atlanta going to the Zoo, the new American Girl store and to Ruth's Chris. It was AMAZING! Not something I would do again with kids but amazing still.I was so impressed with how they accomidated us with our children even though you could tell it was not a "kid friendly"kind of place. We will definately go back one day sans kiddos!
Now we are home and back in the saddle.Much to do much more to plan!
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Stay At Home, Mom!
I have debated on posting this but after arguing with myself for several days (Don't act like you don't do it too) I have decided that well...this is my blog and so here it goes.....
I have heard several women & men lately make the statement or a statement on the order of - "In this day a family has to have two incomes to make it." I have not only been shocked by this statement but also angered. I have been shocked because the very people who have made these statements are the same people that give a personal testimony of a relationship with Christ. These are not worldly or even what some would consider back slidden people. Does Titus 2 no longer say that women are to be keepers of the home? Does it not apply to the families of the 21st century? If not, I want a pair of jeans and a glass of wine! Because if part of the Bible doesn't apply to the 21st century family then none of it does.
I think it is just an excuse and selfishness on the parts of the parents to say that Mom has to work in order to make ends meet! There are other ways to accomplish that goal. Sell your house, buy a smaller one. Don't buy new furniture. Don't finance a car. Eat at home. Eat PB & J for lunch instead of take out pizza. Purchase only if you must have it and preferably only if you have a coupon. Instead of going to the salon and spending $50 - $100 every 6 weeks on hair color go to WalMart and spend $8 - $10. I'm not saying you have to make these or other sacrifices but don't tell me your family can't live on one income. Of course you can. My family lives in the same country and in the same time period. We live on one income with a small supplementation from a few piano students that I teach out of my home. I do so because I want my children raised by their mother, not a daycare worker, not their Grandmother, not the Christian school teacher but by me! God put my children into my womb because He knew that I was the best person to raise my children. And yet time after time I see mother after mother send their children off to someone else to raise because they HAVE to have a job to pay for this, that, or the other thing. How about you just not buy the this, that, or the other thing.
Another area that I have seen lately rearing its ugly heads in many churches is the belief that Moms need to put their children into the daycare or the Christian school so that she can minister to others during that time. Let me offer an illustration if I may, suppose I spent several hours a week planning a menu, shopping for groceries, cleaning the kitchen and cooking and serving a wonderful meal to have my children sit at the table and I then say "Let's give this to the starving kids in Africa and I'm gonna make y'all some toast!" How does it grieve our Heavenly Father when He has given to us His children to raise and teach and train for Him, for us to then dump them off at the daycare center or the school building and say, "You watch them while I go give my time and service and love to somebodyelse's kids all day." How ridiculous but yet almost every week I hear in our churches that same statement. Oh, its not quite put like that - its usually more in the form of, "I need a break from these kids, somebody else needs to take them for a while, I need 'me' time, I want to serve the Lord in the school or the office, staying at home would be a waste of my talents." I shudder to think what God is thinking in heaven when statements like this are felt and made by the mothers of today. Do we not remember that He could see ahead to the 21st century when He inspired Paul to pen the very words that say our hearts, our time and our talents are to be at home? I think that He purposely put in Titus 2:5 for [women] [to be] "obedient to their own husbands," . As a teen and even as a younger wife and mother I have thought that a little redundant and a little humorous. What woman would think that Paul is talking about someoneelse's husband? Well that is exactly what she is doing by dropping the kids of at the daycare and running off to work. She is obeying some other woman's husband all day long. I wonder if that thought ever crosses the minds of Mom who say they must work for whatever reason?
The Devil is very sly. He is using every area he can to convince the Godly Mother that she should not be at home. Our families are the backbone of the church. Without good, Godly families you can not have a strong church. Without strong churches you can not propagate the Gospel. Let's let our men till the garden and let's keep our desire and our work at home. BTW, the home is not the building you live in but the husband and children you live in the building with. Just in case you were wondering.
I have heard several women & men lately make the statement or a statement on the order of - "In this day a family has to have two incomes to make it." I have not only been shocked by this statement but also angered. I have been shocked because the very people who have made these statements are the same people that give a personal testimony of a relationship with Christ. These are not worldly or even what some would consider back slidden people. Does Titus 2 no longer say that women are to be keepers of the home? Does it not apply to the families of the 21st century? If not, I want a pair of jeans and a glass of wine! Because if part of the Bible doesn't apply to the 21st century family then none of it does.
I think it is just an excuse and selfishness on the parts of the parents to say that Mom has to work in order to make ends meet! There are other ways to accomplish that goal. Sell your house, buy a smaller one. Don't buy new furniture. Don't finance a car. Eat at home. Eat PB & J for lunch instead of take out pizza. Purchase only if you must have it and preferably only if you have a coupon. Instead of going to the salon and spending $50 - $100 every 6 weeks on hair color go to WalMart and spend $8 - $10. I'm not saying you have to make these or other sacrifices but don't tell me your family can't live on one income. Of course you can. My family lives in the same country and in the same time period. We live on one income with a small supplementation from a few piano students that I teach out of my home. I do so because I want my children raised by their mother, not a daycare worker, not their Grandmother, not the Christian school teacher but by me! God put my children into my womb because He knew that I was the best person to raise my children. And yet time after time I see mother after mother send their children off to someone else to raise because they HAVE to have a job to pay for this, that, or the other thing. How about you just not buy the this, that, or the other thing.
Another area that I have seen lately rearing its ugly heads in many churches is the belief that Moms need to put their children into the daycare or the Christian school so that she can minister to others during that time. Let me offer an illustration if I may, suppose I spent several hours a week planning a menu, shopping for groceries, cleaning the kitchen and cooking and serving a wonderful meal to have my children sit at the table and I then say "Let's give this to the starving kids in Africa and I'm gonna make y'all some toast!" How does it grieve our Heavenly Father when He has given to us His children to raise and teach and train for Him, for us to then dump them off at the daycare center or the school building and say, "You watch them while I go give my time and service and love to somebodyelse's kids all day." How ridiculous but yet almost every week I hear in our churches that same statement. Oh, its not quite put like that - its usually more in the form of, "I need a break from these kids, somebody else needs to take them for a while, I need 'me' time, I want to serve the Lord in the school or the office, staying at home would be a waste of my talents." I shudder to think what God is thinking in heaven when statements like this are felt and made by the mothers of today. Do we not remember that He could see ahead to the 21st century when He inspired Paul to pen the very words that say our hearts, our time and our talents are to be at home? I think that He purposely put in Titus 2:5 for [women] [to be] "obedient to their own husbands," . As a teen and even as a younger wife and mother I have thought that a little redundant and a little humorous. What woman would think that Paul is talking about someoneelse's husband? Well that is exactly what she is doing by dropping the kids of at the daycare and running off to work. She is obeying some other woman's husband all day long. I wonder if that thought ever crosses the minds of Mom who say they must work for whatever reason?
The Devil is very sly. He is using every area he can to convince the Godly Mother that she should not be at home. Our families are the backbone of the church. Without good, Godly families you can not have a strong church. Without strong churches you can not propagate the Gospel. Let's let our men till the garden and let's keep our desire and our work at home. BTW, the home is not the building you live in but the husband and children you live in the building with. Just in case you were wondering.
Friday, January 9, 2009
I'm Baaaaaaack
Hello All,
I haven't blogged in forever and that has been a personal issue. In December I was confronted with the possibility of breast cancer. I did not find a "lump" but had an overall "bumpy" feeling that had constantly gotten worse over a 6 month period. In November I also started having a discharge from one of my breast with an itching and burning irritation on the nipple as well. One night the pain was just too bad to deal with anymore. I finally made an appointment with the MD. I thought maybe some kind of an infection but she was concerned about the very real possibility of breast cancer. I had never heard of breast cancer apart from a women finding lump so this floored me.
The type of cancer she was concerned with is called Paget's Disease. I had all the classic symptoms from what I researched. After a mammogram, an ultrasound, and 2 appointments with a Dr specializing in breast cancer (I didn't even know they existed, I thought a cancer doc was a cancer doc), I have been diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease.
The name is actually quite deceiving. It's not a disease per say but a very painful nuisance. It like PCOS but for the breast instead. My breast have several (I think the tech said 10-15) cyst. They are hard, they are painful, and they cause swelling and drainage of the breast. But they are not deadly which is GREAT news. FBD is manageable but not treatable or curable. I have also been told that it does give a slight increased risk of breast cancer but not so much as to be worried about.
So pretty much I am free from mammograms for 2 more years. If that one is fine then I don't have to have another until 40. Thank you to those who have know and who have prayed for my health. Thank you for being patient as I took time to handle my emotional health as well as the physical.
This weekend Jerry and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary. Our actual anniversary was the 5th but he had to work on Monday so we will be off to Myrtle Beach for a couple of days.
Will be talk more soon,I promise!
I haven't blogged in forever and that has been a personal issue. In December I was confronted with the possibility of breast cancer. I did not find a "lump" but had an overall "bumpy" feeling that had constantly gotten worse over a 6 month period. In November I also started having a discharge from one of my breast with an itching and burning irritation on the nipple as well. One night the pain was just too bad to deal with anymore. I finally made an appointment with the MD. I thought maybe some kind of an infection but she was concerned about the very real possibility of breast cancer. I had never heard of breast cancer apart from a women finding lump so this floored me.
The type of cancer she was concerned with is called Paget's Disease. I had all the classic symptoms from what I researched. After a mammogram, an ultrasound, and 2 appointments with a Dr specializing in breast cancer (I didn't even know they existed, I thought a cancer doc was a cancer doc), I have been diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease.
The name is actually quite deceiving. It's not a disease per say but a very painful nuisance. It like PCOS but for the breast instead. My breast have several (I think the tech said 10-15) cyst. They are hard, they are painful, and they cause swelling and drainage of the breast. But they are not deadly which is GREAT news. FBD is manageable but not treatable or curable. I have also been told that it does give a slight increased risk of breast cancer but not so much as to be worried about.
So pretty much I am free from mammograms for 2 more years. If that one is fine then I don't have to have another until 40. Thank you to those who have know and who have prayed for my health. Thank you for being patient as I took time to handle my emotional health as well as the physical.
This weekend Jerry and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary. Our actual anniversary was the 5th but he had to work on Monday so we will be off to Myrtle Beach for a couple of days.
Will be talk more soon,I promise!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A lesson from a 3 year old! Part 1
In my quest to be the parent that God would have me be to my DD & DS, I have been doing a bit of meditating on a little quip relayed to me by a friend in Illinois. About 2 years ago Bianca was telling me about a time when she and her DD Sarah were out running some errands and that while driving down a neighborhood street they spotted a dog in the back of a pick up truck parked on the side of the road. Sarah remarked to her Mom that the dogs was just sitting there and didn't try to jump out. Bianca made the comment that, Yes that dog is being very good isn't he. Well as they drove past, Sarah noticed that the dog was tied up to a leash strapped to the pick up truck bed. Upon noticing that the dog was tied up Sarah rebutted, "He isn't being good. He can't jump out."
That phrase has stayed with me for 2 years now and every time I discipline my children that phrase comes back to me. I have learned so much from the 3 year old daughter of my friend. When my children are being taught and directed to do or not to do something, are they doing it because of fear of punishment or are they being good? We all know the reasons as to why that dog wasn't trying to jump out of the back of that pick up truck. One could be that the dog knew if he jumped out he would hang himself. Another reason could be that he just assumed, like times before when he was tied up, that it was no use to fight it. He wasn't going anywhere anyway. As Sarah said, he wasn't being good. See to be good is to choose to do good. Even this 3 yo little girl knew that. He wasn't given the choice. I wonder if he had been given the choice, what would he have chosen.
Am I teaching my children to be good or to just do what they are told? Yes, obeying is good and yes I believe that the obedience I teach my children to have for me they will probably be transferred to God when they are out of the house but that is not a guarantee. But if I teach my children to be good and not to just obey, they won't have to be told what is good or bad to do. Don't get me wrong, I am all for leadership and following the man of God but there needs to be foundational relationship with that God or they may end up drinking the Kool-Aid one day. What is going to happen when there is no authority. Will they choose to do good or will they be like that dog and jump and run for it as soon as the leash is loosed.
So how do I handle this. Love is a strong component. When someone loves you, they will do almost anything for you. I have been purposely trying to help my children fall in love with me, their Dad, the Bible, The LORD, their Pastor and help to compel them to want to do good because they love the LORD not just because they fear Him. Yes they should fear Him but as the song goes,Praise Him Praise Him all ye little children, God is Love,God is Love. Love is a much greater constrainer than fear.
Am I giving my children the tools that they need in order to unconsciously do good or are they just not jumping because they are tied down?
That phrase has stayed with me for 2 years now and every time I discipline my children that phrase comes back to me. I have learned so much from the 3 year old daughter of my friend. When my children are being taught and directed to do or not to do something, are they doing it because of fear of punishment or are they being good? We all know the reasons as to why that dog wasn't trying to jump out of the back of that pick up truck. One could be that the dog knew if he jumped out he would hang himself. Another reason could be that he just assumed, like times before when he was tied up, that it was no use to fight it. He wasn't going anywhere anyway. As Sarah said, he wasn't being good. See to be good is to choose to do good. Even this 3 yo little girl knew that. He wasn't given the choice. I wonder if he had been given the choice, what would he have chosen.
Am I teaching my children to be good or to just do what they are told? Yes, obeying is good and yes I believe that the obedience I teach my children to have for me they will probably be transferred to God when they are out of the house but that is not a guarantee. But if I teach my children to be good and not to just obey, they won't have to be told what is good or bad to do. Don't get me wrong, I am all for leadership and following the man of God but there needs to be foundational relationship with that God or they may end up drinking the Kool-Aid one day. What is going to happen when there is no authority. Will they choose to do good or will they be like that dog and jump and run for it as soon as the leash is loosed.
So how do I handle this. Love is a strong component. When someone loves you, they will do almost anything for you. I have been purposely trying to help my children fall in love with me, their Dad, the Bible, The LORD, their Pastor and help to compel them to want to do good because they love the LORD not just because they fear Him. Yes they should fear Him but as the song goes,Praise Him Praise Him all ye little children, God is Love,God is Love. Love is a much greater constrainer than fear.
Am I giving my children the tools that they need in order to unconsciously do good or are they just not jumping because they are tied down?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Nothing To Do
Stay at home moms (SAHM) have it made. We get to sleep until 10 every day, our children wake up bright and happy and go about their days w/o a care in the world. They are born w/ all knowledge so it is not necessary for Moms to spend time w/ our little ones teaching them to count, their colors or other such things. Three meals a day are loving prepared by the cook who comes in and the maid makes sure the house is spotless by the time our husbands come home. And for those of us homeschooling, we have gifted children who need no instruction or help w/ school work. They just breeze though Algebra and Physics like they don't have a care in the world. Then while the nanny gives the kids a bath and tucks them in bed, I happily skip off to my bedroom to relax the night away. When the children wake up in the middle of the night, no fear, we have a live in nanny. :-D
Okay, now all you SAHM's can stop laughing and everyone else needs to realize you are WRONG!!! My life is nothing like what I described in the previous paragraph but I don't for the life of me understand why everyone else thinks it is! Just the other day I had someone say to me,"You know it wouldn't be that difficult to do ...x.y.z...All you need to do is...." Then when I said great so you can help me by doing this... the other person laughed and said, "No I can't I have too much on my plate. I was telling you how to do it."
I was quite proud of myself that I didn't automatically scream at this person. Now I understand that this usually knowledgeable and sweet lady does have a lot on her plate and I accept the fact that she can't help with this project because her plate IS full. What floors me is that somehow I have NOTHING to do. Are you kidding me?
Here's a question for all you ladies out there. For the SAHM's, how have you dealt with this in your life. I get the just smile and say, I'm sorry I can't, thing; but, have you ever taken it upon yourself to educate the (what seams like) masses on their error.
For those who are single or married w/o children, what is it you think I do all day. Watch TV and eat bon-bons? I can understand a little about Moms who work outside the home. These ladies take on a lot. They spend 40 hrs a week, mostly, outside the home to come home AND do my job as well. Ladies, just because I don't have as many responsibilities as you do, that doesn't mean that my plate isn't full as well. I have just chosen to put different things on it. Think of it kinda like a buffet, you chose fried chicken; I chose pork chops.
I really would love some comments on this. Even if I don't know you, please leave a response. The more feed back the better. (Watch nobody respond now!) lol
Okay, now all you SAHM's can stop laughing and everyone else needs to realize you are WRONG!!! My life is nothing like what I described in the previous paragraph but I don't for the life of me understand why everyone else thinks it is! Just the other day I had someone say to me,"You know it wouldn't be that difficult to do ...x.y.z...All you need to do is...." Then when I said great so you can help me by doing this... the other person laughed and said, "No I can't I have too much on my plate. I was telling you how to do it."
I was quite proud of myself that I didn't automatically scream at this person. Now I understand that this usually knowledgeable and sweet lady does have a lot on her plate and I accept the fact that she can't help with this project because her plate IS full. What floors me is that somehow I have NOTHING to do. Are you kidding me?
Here's a question for all you ladies out there. For the SAHM's, how have you dealt with this in your life. I get the just smile and say, I'm sorry I can't, thing; but, have you ever taken it upon yourself to educate the (what seams like) masses on their error.
For those who are single or married w/o children, what is it you think I do all day. Watch TV and eat bon-bons? I can understand a little about Moms who work outside the home. These ladies take on a lot. They spend 40 hrs a week, mostly, outside the home to come home AND do my job as well. Ladies, just because I don't have as many responsibilities as you do, that doesn't mean that my plate isn't full as well. I have just chosen to put different things on it. Think of it kinda like a buffet, you chose fried chicken; I chose pork chops.
I really would love some comments on this. Even if I don't know you, please leave a response. The more feed back the better. (Watch nobody respond now!) lol
Parental Rights
Dear Blogging Friends,
As you visited my site I'm sure you noticed the parentalrights.org sign. I want to encourage all of you to visit this sight and learn what it is all about. With the US quickly wanting to become more global, the rights that most of us take for granted may be gone soon. I promise I am not one of those people who read somewhere on the Internet about some family who heard about a friend of a friend who had a friend who was investigated by the state and is now hyper-paranoid! I lived a similar instance in my own life, TWICE!
Once when my DD, who is now 13, was 3 days old, her father (whom I affectionately call the sperm donor)'s new girlfriend called DSS saying I was trying to sell my baby! I had a full blown investigation on me at an already stressful time in my life. Needless to say I was cleared of the charges but still...Then when Colleen was 11 someone called DCFS in WI where we were visiting a friend and actually took custody of her on DCFS authority. I was given a fraction of the time to return home with my children and immediately check her into a hospital for evaluation. BTW, when we arrived at the hospital it was well past midnight! My husband and I had to be there to be evaluated ourselves with our 13 month old son and me 4 months pregnant. The stress of that ordeal, which also cost us $600 in lawyer and Dr bills, I believed also caused me to go into premature labor at only 21 weeks. Our beautiful daughter Cassy was born to early and lived only 2 hours.
These cases are real. Our simple rights as parents are being infringed upon daily. Ask any homeschooler. Most homeschoolers have to abide by more laws than the public or private schools do.
When Connor was born (in Illinois) I was given the option to be tested for HIV during my pregnancy. I did not believe I was in need of it so I turned it down. I found out just 3 weeks before he was born that even though I had the right to deny the test for myself, Illinois law says that ALL babies will receive the rapid HIV test upon birth. I realize you're probably thinking, What's the big deal? Well there are several big deals:
1) It's my business what testing I choose to have done and not choose to have done! What right has the state to stick a needle in my newborns vein w/o my consent or even knowledge. See a Dr didn't tell me this, I found out happenstance. When I asked the Dr he confirmed the information but told me he was under no obligation to tell me about the law.
2)The rapid HIV test has a very high false positive rate. This is because it doesn't actually test for HIV because that takes weeks. It test for an abundance of T cells. Which anyone can have for a number of reasons. Once a positive is received for the rapid HIV the baby is immediately given retro viral drugs and breast feeding is not allowed. Baby is also usually kept in hospital or put into foster care until the standard test comes back at around 4 weeks. (wanna guess who's paying that bill?) Cause see, refusing to test for HIV when you have it (cause how else would the baby get it) is called child neglect in Illinois.
3)I actually had a nurse at the hospital where Connor was born tell me, when I complained about the law, that I was just a parent and didn't have the ability to make such decisions (have my son tested or not) and that that is why Illinois had to pass a law to protect baby's from their (her word was unknowledgeable but I heard STUPID) parents.
These are all instances that have happened to me. I pray I don't have to struggle anymore with others but I sincerely doubt it.
BTW, in other countries, there is no such things as parental rights. Your parenting are judged by "national safety statistics"!
Please go to the web site, please read the information and please educate your self on this very real danger.
As you visited my site I'm sure you noticed the parentalrights.org sign. I want to encourage all of you to visit this sight and learn what it is all about. With the US quickly wanting to become more global, the rights that most of us take for granted may be gone soon. I promise I am not one of those people who read somewhere on the Internet about some family who heard about a friend of a friend who had a friend who was investigated by the state and is now hyper-paranoid! I lived a similar instance in my own life, TWICE!
Once when my DD, who is now 13, was 3 days old, her father (whom I affectionately call the sperm donor)'s new girlfriend called DSS saying I was trying to sell my baby! I had a full blown investigation on me at an already stressful time in my life. Needless to say I was cleared of the charges but still...Then when Colleen was 11 someone called DCFS in WI where we were visiting a friend and actually took custody of her on DCFS authority. I was given a fraction of the time to return home with my children and immediately check her into a hospital for evaluation. BTW, when we arrived at the hospital it was well past midnight! My husband and I had to be there to be evaluated ourselves with our 13 month old son and me 4 months pregnant. The stress of that ordeal, which also cost us $600 in lawyer and Dr bills, I believed also caused me to go into premature labor at only 21 weeks. Our beautiful daughter Cassy was born to early and lived only 2 hours.
These cases are real. Our simple rights as parents are being infringed upon daily. Ask any homeschooler. Most homeschoolers have to abide by more laws than the public or private schools do.
When Connor was born (in Illinois) I was given the option to be tested for HIV during my pregnancy. I did not believe I was in need of it so I turned it down. I found out just 3 weeks before he was born that even though I had the right to deny the test for myself, Illinois law says that ALL babies will receive the rapid HIV test upon birth. I realize you're probably thinking, What's the big deal? Well there are several big deals:
1) It's my business what testing I choose to have done and not choose to have done! What right has the state to stick a needle in my newborns vein w/o my consent or even knowledge. See a Dr didn't tell me this, I found out happenstance. When I asked the Dr he confirmed the information but told me he was under no obligation to tell me about the law.
2)The rapid HIV test has a very high false positive rate. This is because it doesn't actually test for HIV because that takes weeks. It test for an abundance of T cells. Which anyone can have for a number of reasons. Once a positive is received for the rapid HIV the baby is immediately given retro viral drugs and breast feeding is not allowed. Baby is also usually kept in hospital or put into foster care until the standard test comes back at around 4 weeks. (wanna guess who's paying that bill?) Cause see, refusing to test for HIV when you have it (cause how else would the baby get it) is called child neglect in Illinois.
3)I actually had a nurse at the hospital where Connor was born tell me, when I complained about the law, that I was just a parent and didn't have the ability to make such decisions (have my son tested or not) and that that is why Illinois had to pass a law to protect baby's from their (her word was unknowledgeable but I heard STUPID) parents.
These are all instances that have happened to me. I pray I don't have to struggle anymore with others but I sincerely doubt it.
BTW, in other countries, there is no such things as parental rights. Your parenting are judged by "national safety statistics"!
Please go to the web site, please read the information and please educate your self on this very real danger.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Things are not always what they seem
As a child growing up in church I have heard many sermons both from the pulpit and from the parking lot. Those people who give you a sermon either by cornering you because they must give you their expert opinion on this, that, or the other and then the sermons by observation.
One of the many things I heard both with my ears and with my eyes was parents saying how perfect and wonderful their kids were. I have no doubt that at the times these kids were perfect and most times they were wonderful but I must be honest and admit that these actions and words, although appropriate, gave me a warped opinion about parenting. Part of that because my only source for Godly parenting skills was the church, the other part just being plain immaturity.
I have come to this age in my life, what I call the enlightening age, carrying this and other warped ideas. I have expected my children to be perfect like Susie's kids or Merry's girls or ... well you get the picture. This has caused an unnecessary strain on me, my husband and most of all my children. If I heard it once I heard it a 1000 times! "My teenagers NEVER gave me one moments trouble." I now have a teenager and have learned that there idea of trouble and what I thought was trouble must be two different things! I thought (and still do) that what they meant was that their children were perfect. That they never gave them any worries or concerns and they never again had to be disciplined or reprimanded. I have changed my view greatly especially in the last few days. I think that these parents do think there children are angels and one may even be the christ-child him or herself (little c on purpose, I don't want to give honour to whom it is not due).
I, one the other hand, realize that these people are delusional and should get some counselling! Kids and teenagers are in NO way as "perfect" as these parents made them seem. Immaturity is just not that pretty. So what's a mother to do? What should my response be to those who still claim to have the most perfect kids in the world while mine *gasp* don't always do what they're told? This is the conclusion I have come to. Every parents has a scale if you will on importance. As a matter of fact everyone does on everything. Something that works at my house you might not ever allow at yours. The only problem is when you make a statement of your child's perfection and don't illustrate what your scale is you give a false impression. That can lead to confusion and great frustartion on those around you who do not have someone to guide them through their learning experiences. Watch what you say around the rest of us who are still trying to figure out this parenting thing. So what next? What bout those who just have to prove how awesome their kids are?
I have decided in my home to lighten up a little bit. The next time someone comes to me with a bit of news about "what my child has said or done" to not freak out about it. It is perfectly ok with me and Jerry if people see our children as they are. Sinners who are trying to serve God but will ALWAYS fail. There is just no way around that. I'm not saying that I will excuse sin. NO NO NO.It will be dealt with but it's no longer gonna be the end of the world because Jon & Jane's children would have never done something like that. Well, I have seen Jon & Jane's children as adults and they don't do much of anything!
So please excuse my imperfect, rowdy, messy, loud, sinful kids. Please don't allow your quiet, perfect, sweet, neat, angelic kids around mine. You kids might rub off on mine and I don't want any part of that!
One of the many things I heard both with my ears and with my eyes was parents saying how perfect and wonderful their kids were. I have no doubt that at the times these kids were perfect and most times they were wonderful but I must be honest and admit that these actions and words, although appropriate, gave me a warped opinion about parenting. Part of that because my only source for Godly parenting skills was the church, the other part just being plain immaturity.
I have come to this age in my life, what I call the enlightening age, carrying this and other warped ideas. I have expected my children to be perfect like Susie's kids or Merry's girls or ... well you get the picture. This has caused an unnecessary strain on me, my husband and most of all my children. If I heard it once I heard it a 1000 times! "My teenagers NEVER gave me one moments trouble." I now have a teenager and have learned that there idea of trouble and what I thought was trouble must be two different things! I thought (and still do) that what they meant was that their children were perfect. That they never gave them any worries or concerns and they never again had to be disciplined or reprimanded. I have changed my view greatly especially in the last few days. I think that these parents do think there children are angels and one may even be the christ-child him or herself (little c on purpose, I don't want to give honour to whom it is not due).
I, one the other hand, realize that these people are delusional and should get some counselling! Kids and teenagers are in NO way as "perfect" as these parents made them seem. Immaturity is just not that pretty. So what's a mother to do? What should my response be to those who still claim to have the most perfect kids in the world while mine *gasp* don't always do what they're told? This is the conclusion I have come to. Every parents has a scale if you will on importance. As a matter of fact everyone does on everything. Something that works at my house you might not ever allow at yours. The only problem is when you make a statement of your child's perfection and don't illustrate what your scale is you give a false impression. That can lead to confusion and great frustartion on those around you who do not have someone to guide them through their learning experiences. Watch what you say around the rest of us who are still trying to figure out this parenting thing. So what next? What bout those who just have to prove how awesome their kids are?
I have decided in my home to lighten up a little bit. The next time someone comes to me with a bit of news about "what my child has said or done" to not freak out about it. It is perfectly ok with me and Jerry if people see our children as they are. Sinners who are trying to serve God but will ALWAYS fail. There is just no way around that. I'm not saying that I will excuse sin. NO NO NO.It will be dealt with but it's no longer gonna be the end of the world because Jon & Jane's children would have never done something like that. Well, I have seen Jon & Jane's children as adults and they don't do much of anything!
So please excuse my imperfect, rowdy, messy, loud, sinful kids. Please don't allow your quiet, perfect, sweet, neat, angelic kids around mine. You kids might rub off on mine and I don't want any part of that!
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