New and Improved Tonsil-less Laine! .....and other random stuff...

Laine had her tonsils and adenoids removed today. The sugery was sucessful and she is doing well. She is a wonderful patient.
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Things are great on the HS front. I am happy with what we are doing now, but I keep reading and reading about HS and different education philosophies. I really want a developed game plan for our familiy. It's looking like there is not one style or philosophy that will define our school, but a collaboration of methods and concepts that we will tweak and personalize. I will share some more on what we are doing and what I am hoping to add in later.
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I found this cool idea on my my twins message boards about Letterboxing (thanks Elle!). Has anyone done this? Doesn't it sound cool? I think the kids will like it. We are planning to try it out next month. There are lots of boxes right here in Metro Atlanta!

Homeschooling so far...and MC's first steps!!

First, yes, my baby MC has taken her first steps! It started on Sunday actually while we were at Amelia's first brithday party. She was holding onto an ottoman and then let go and took two steps to me! Two is her current limit. It is so freaking cute, she gets so tickled just practicing those two steps, I think she falls just because she is giggling too much. I have some sorry quality video of this I will try to upload this weekend.

So how is the HS? Everyone is asking and I am happy to say, so far, so good! We are getting the basics (math, reading and writing) done everyday and are easing into extras like art, music and nature. (Speaking of nature, today in the backyard we found a Hole. I took pictures of it. We tried not to get to close, but I needed some good shots to upload and I am hoping someone can help me figure out what critter has made a backyard habitat. The Hole is pretty scary frankly, but a good giggly, mysterious scary. ) Jake is in tennis and Ryan has started flag football. There is just so much I want to do with the kids that I am really having to hold back and give us time to adjust to the homeschooling way of life.

One thing I am so grateful for is the opportunity for time and conversation with the boys. I come from a fairly girly family and have never spent much time with 6 and 8 yr. old boys before. I am beginning to think the whole cootie thing is a myth, but I'll let y'all know when I find out for sure. ;) Seriously, boys this age are so wonderful and I am glad to get in on this part of their lives. Last year I had to pry information about their day from them. When I would hear stories from them before bed or in the car it was a gift from God! Now I know what they have been doing all day and I also seem to ask better questions of them too.

9/12

I couldn't really write anthing yesterday. I spent lots of time looking at the blogs that had profiles of the victims. That concept was awesome and the results were so moving and inspirational. That was good because I really needed that yesterday. I also watched the 60 min. show on Sunday where they highlighted the "Tuesday's Child" group for children of 9/11 victims. As far as other media, I completely and purposefully avoided all coverage.

As long as I can remember I have had a habit of hearing or seeing a situation and then putting myself completely there. It happens in a second and almost unconsciously sometimes. I will picture myself right there in that moment and I even sometimes have actual physical sensations. In simple matters like watching a kid fall off a bike I will feel a pain, an actual pain, at that moment. It is not a pain like a scrape on the knee, but a pain in the middle of my body, the pit of my stomach. It doesn't have to be my kid, it could be someone else's or a grown up. It could be someone just telling a story or even a video. AFV can drive me crazy but it is also good 'therapy', the first few crotch shots really get me then I get more numb.

So even simple things like falls and scrapes get to me, but also heavy emotions like joy and fear. Those emotions affect me physically as well, and not just my own experience of them, but it works the same; witnessing something, a story, a video.
Interestingly, fiction or drama doesn't affect me as strongly if at all. It has to be really, really good to get me to suspend my sense of disbelief. I am just very sensitive to real life situations, no matter how far I am removed from them.

So 9/11 sucks for me. I didn't know anyone who was killed. I don't know anyone intimately who even lost a loved one. I live in Georgia for Heaven's sake. I feel guilty for being so affected by this while being so far removed.

Still, it is close to horrifying to even poke at my memory of that day or to watch media coverage of the events. Yesterday, I accidentally saw a picture of the second plane about to crash and I just was paralyzed, immediately picturing myself on board and imagining all of that sensation. I shudder typing this.

May they Rest in Peace. God Bless the 9/11 families.

Moms For Modesty

Here's an ironic hot topic: Moms For Modesty.

It is not hot because of any debate or controversy though, I mean is there a mom out there that wants her daughter to be objectified? Really? I know some moms seem to dress their daughters in hootchie clothes, but I don't think it is because they think their girls are sexy or that they really desire them to be seen that way. It truly must be ignorance. I believe these moms don't see their clothing choices as immodest. This could be because my generation was basically taught that modesty is a bad word and these moms probably have a limited idea of what modesty is and therefore no clear understanding of what it's opposite is. Perhaps my hypothesis is wrong on they whys of the kiddie hootchie wear, but I will not believe that modern American moms want their daughters to be seen as a commodity, no matter what the child beauty pageants promote, or what some slimy clothing retailers promote (see Abercrombie and Fitch).

I guess the hotness of this topic comes from the moms who are all hot over the limited choices retailers have given us in the last few years in regards to 'cool' clothes for our daughters. Thankfully, my girls are still young and it is not too hard for me to find cute clothes that cover their bodies appropriately, but I have heard many a friend bemoaning the chore of shopping with their daughters who are just a bit older. I know I have some great options, Land's End and Carters are some favorites around here and some chic kid boutiques have some very cute and unique, but modest lines of clothes.

The worst offenders seem to be the aforementioned A&F, but also the cheaper retailers like Wal-mart etc. Remember the trend of pants/shorts with writing on the bottom? That is such a cringe inducer around here, so parents you want your daughter calling attention to her rear? This will sound crude but it is like painting a bullseye on her butt!

Please spare the 'well they shouldn't be looking' excuse, why billboard your butt if you don't want people to look?

Off soapbox now....

I think what is needed is more education on what modesty is. It is not limited to a burkha or a denim jumper. You can look attractive and hip and be modest as well. I do think there are some lines not meant to be crossed, but I am not a burkha or denim jumper lady myself. I am sure I have crossed the line before, but I am going to make an effort to be more mindfull of my clothing choices. If I want my girls to dress and behave modestly I need to hold myself accountable as well.

Here is the Moms For Modesty Mission Statement:
1. As a Mom for Modesty I believe in common-sense modesty for girls and young women.
2. I believe in refraining from sexualizing our girls and young women.
3. I believe that it is unwise and unfair to taunt boys and young men by permitting my daughter(s) to dress in an immodest manner.
4. I believe that true beauty comes from within and I strive to teach my daughter(s) this truth.
5. I will loyally shop at retailers that provide girls' and young womens clothing that is modest, affordable and stylish.

If you agree (and who doesn't?) with these statements, why not add your own button? Be sure to link back to Everyday Mommy
the blogger who initiated this campaign.

This is not a religious or political thing, this is a parent thing. This should be something all parents can come together on and really affect change in the marketplace and the youth culture at large. Let's be the grown-ups, draw the line and say ENOUGH of the sexual marketing of and to the youth of America.