[Taking a baby out of the carseat on a long trip? - Update in #96]

I have had children who cried (screamed bloody murder more like it) during car rides; I know what it's like.  The only thing to do is pull over and tend to the child.  In fact, it was safer for me to pull over instead of listening to my child cry because I wouldn't be focusing on my driving like I should.  No way would I take my child out of her car seat in a moving car.

[Kolbe course plans for LTTN 2]

I can't find an online sample of Kolbe's course plans for Light to the Nations Book 2.  If anyone has used their plans, could you give me an idea how they're set up and if they include supplemental readings and essays.

[Nursing in public]

I nursed all 5 of mine in public, wherever and whenever they were hungry! Only one would tolerate a cover. There was no way I was going to breastfeed my child in a hot car or bathroom.  This is one issue I'm passionate about.  If the laws are not conducive to breastfeeding in public, I would be working (and am) to change those.  How anyone can get worked up over a mother nursing her child is beyond me.

[If someone says, "Don't tell anyone"]

 

I was brought up to never share anything that you don't want shouted from the rooftops or announced on the 6 o' clock news.  So it is very unlikely I will tell anyone anything that is sensitive and ask them not to tell.    I don't believe I have ever uttered the words, "Don't tell anyone" past grade school when I liked a boy or something. 

 

This.

[If someone says, "Don't tell anyone"]

One reason I'm not comfortable with people sharing very private confidences with me is because I do not share my very private information with other people.  If something is of a serious enough nature that I wouldn't want the other person to even share it with their spouse, I don't talk about it.  I'm not much of a talker when it comes to private matters. I've got dh and my dds to talk to.  If I were having a serious problem with dh, I would keep that private except for a counselor.  Same with my dds.  I don't share their problems with people other than their father.  I've never been too apt to share private stuff, but since the one time I did share some private information about my dd with my closest friend, and she betrayed that confidence (not with her dh, I wouldn't have cared had she shared with him, but with other people in our homeschooling group), I keep private information inside my immediate family.

 

 

[If someone says, "Don't tell anyone"]

I really don't like it when someone asks me not to tell anyone because I do share everything with dh.  Fortunately I don't have a lot of friends.  :laugh: The few I do have who would say something like this understand that things get shared with a spouse.  Honestly though, no one has ever told me something in confidence that I felt like I couldn't share with dh.  Dh and I have been together longer than any friend I currently have.  It would just be weird not to share something with dh.  I hope I'm never in that position. Also, dh shares everything with me.  

 

On the other hand, there are things I might talk about with a friend that he would have absolutely no interest in and care about in the least.

 

[Munich shooting]

My dd was there a couple of weeks ago.  I'm so glad she's home although, honestly, I'm not sure if she's any safer here.  My heart is so heavy with all this violence.

[Interview Help Needed]

Check out the ebook "Interview Magic."

Perhaps they have some useful tips.

Let me know if you want me to email you the material.

 

That looks like a great resource.  I found a PDF file I'm looking over.

 

Thank heavens my first interview is on the phone.  At least I can have my written notes in front of me.

[Interview Help Needed]

They will likely ask you about your long employment gap, and that would be the appropriate moment to bring up homeschooling. Maybe you can summarize in one or two sentences what the main tasks were: research and select curriculum, organize school year, supervise work, coordinate activities. With clever phrasing you can highlight that this required executive skills that translate into a  work place.

 

When asked why you are looking for work, I would absolutely not mention DH's situation! They don't want to hire somebody who is desperate for income; they want to hire somebody who wants a new challenge, wants to contribute with her skills to the company/organization, wants to explore new fields.  And because the kids are older, that is now possible.

 

Thank you.  I'd also been wondering how to succinctly sum up what homeschooling included without saying too much.  And yes, I know I need to present a positive attitude about my job search.  My frustration and anger over dh's employment situation got the best of me.

[Interview Help Needed]

It's been 20 years since I worked and 34 since I had an interview.  Now I have a phone interview this Friday morning, and I'm trying to get all my thoughts down on paper.  I've read several articles about interviewing, but I have questions pertaining specifically to homeschooling.  I don't want them to think I've been lazing about eating bonbons and watching soaps for the last 2 decades, but I'm not sure whether I should go into homeschooling.  Still, addressing learning needs, choosing and tailoring curriculum, writing lesson plans for 5 children, teaching and organizing the school days has kept me mentally active and required considerable research and organizing.  Also, if they ask me why I'm looking for work at this point, should I just stick to the fact that my children are older and I want to re-enter the workforce and not mention anything about my dh's jobs being offshored 3 times in the last 3 years and that I'm rather desperate for employment.  :laugh:

 

I never had many interviews.  I stayed with the same company I was working for while in school until I quit to homeschool.  My interviewing skills are severely lacking not to mention that I suspect the way interviews are conducted have changed.  At least listening to my dh and dd, they sound very stressful.

 

This interview is for an admin position.

[Was/ is any of it worth it?]

When my adult children come to me and say thank you mom for homeschooling us, we loved our years growing up, and we want to do the same for our children.

 

I have no regrets about the choices I made. Doesn't mean there weren't problems, mostly financial, but there are always going to be some problems. Staying home and homeschooling was one of the best decisions I ever made.

[Do you look over your shoulder when reversing your car?]

Yes.  For 41 years.  Even with a back up camera.  Can't teach an old dog new tricks.

[Time for some serious honesty]

I don't have a favorite although my girls are all very different.  The relationships look different but not in a way that favors one over another.  I spend as much time as I can with each of my girls, but what I talk about with one will be different from another one. We've never favored one over another with money or gifts or time.  The help we give them is based on their needs.

 

My dh comes from a very large family, and I have never been aware of any favortism; my dh says he never noticed any one sibling being favored.  In my family, just two children, if I'm brutally honest, I would have to say if one was favored it was probably me.  And that does bother me.  A lot of history there. 

[What is the best part of being a parent?]

I love being a mom.  It really is the best thing I've done.  Trying to think of one part that is a favorite is difficult, but I guess it would be watching them become responsible, caring compassionate adults, and being able to honestly say they are my best friends.  My older dd and I just took a trip together; it was so much fun.  The payoffs for the diapers, long nights, tantrums are so worth it.

[Bridal showers for the old and rich (rant)]

If I like and care about the couple, I will attend, if possible. I buy what I can afford regardless of registries. I go and have fun. Otherwise, I decline and don't worry about it. Personally, I think showers, engagement parties, registries, and weddings have gotten rather ridiculous in some cases. Note, I said that's how I feel, and I wouldn't do it. Other people are free to do what they want, and go in debt for it, if they choose. I'm free to go or not and to ignore the gift registry if I feel is over the top.

[DD is Disgusting and It's My Fault - JAWM? Vent]

Sounds so much like my dd who now has her own house and keeps it quite neat and presentable. That was a battle I didn't have the energy nor desire to fight, but it turned out okay.

[Can you vote for my friend Paula's baby in a photo contest?]

Me. Adorable little girl.

[When naming a child ... (are these things a big deal?)]

1.  Never thought about it so not much of an opinion.  One of girls loves her middle name and says she will go by it when she's grown.  Whatever.

 

2.  Dh always said if we had boys he would never give them his name for a first name.  Maybe a middle name.  He was very opposed.

 

3.  I knew a family where all the kids' names began with 'M'.  I guess I think it's sort of silly, but if someone likes it, fine.  All my girls except the youngest have Bible names.  It wasn't intentional; it was just what we liked.

[Mother always says wear.... what? (DH and I disagree!)]

Clean underwear.

 

Sensible shoes.

[What was your first job?]

Babysitting when I was 12 and up.  Then in high school I cleaned houses.  Made fairly decent money at that, and I figured cleaning a nice, fancy house was better than McDonald's.

[Were you homeschooled?]

I'm fairly sure I'm one of the older members here.  When I was in school, in the 60s and 70s, it was unheard of in my area.  In fact, my first encounter with homeschooling happened after I was married while pregnant with my first.

 

I attended both parochial and public school and a state university.  Dh attended parochial school for 12 years and then state university.

[What is your biggest expense?]

We don't have a mortgage, which is good, because then we couldn't afford health insurance.  That is our biggest monthly expense.

[I do not understand beer culture]

Yeah oddly I don't care for wine.  I like to use wine in cooking, but I don't drink it often. 

 

I really love dark beers, but they do not love me. 

 

I'm excited for our Germany trip mostly because of the beer.  :drool5:

 

Oh!!!  My dd is in Germany right now and enjoying trying their beer.  Most of it seems to be pilsners.  But she sure is having fun.  Then she gets to come home where she isn't old enough to drink. 

[I do not understand beer culture]

mmm beer is the bestest

 

It used to be wine.  But then my dd brought home this guy.  And he introduced me to good beer.  Oh my.  Plus, it doesn't bother my acid reflux the way wine does.

 

I still love good wine, but beer wins out for me now.

[I do not understand beer culture]

My son-in-law is a beer nerd.  He orders beer for the restaurant where he works.  He goes to tastings, new openings, is on top of all local micro breweries.  He and my dd have traveled out of state to breweries to check them out.  This is what I call beer culture.  Getting drunk would ruin the whole experience.

 

I just spent a week long vacation with them,  and they took us to several different breweries.  It's a real experience going out with him.  He has totally turned me into a beer snob.