...using the method described here before simply washing/scrubbing. I'm a huge advocate of local/organic food, but I also understand that sometimes it's cost prohibitive.

I'm with you. Spaghetti straps, etc., don't bother me the same way writing across the rear does, and that actually is something I've made a "proclamation" about. And I don't make too many of those.

Underwear is meant to wear under clothing. Not too short, not too low, not too tight. No belly buttons if you're not wearing a two-piece bathing suit. (Yes, two piece bathing suits are fine, as long as they have more material than string. :D) Honestly, that's about it. But, my oldest daughter (teen, and the only one likely to make choices that would be questionable) is generally pretty conservative.

Taco Bueno was one of the things I missed about OK during our "exile"...that, and Taco Mayo!!

Thanks for the encouragement, lol. :001_smile: There is sooo much to be said for allowing kids time/opportunity to follow passions. I try really hard not to knock other folks' way of doing things, so I hope that my love for how short days work for us doesn't come across that way...I just know that I couldn't have the time and energy to be as encouraging in this area if we didn't have a short "must do" list, for sit down academics. Doesn't mean other folks can't do it, in other words.

Can't decide if I like Jersey Mike's subs better than Subways. (Can you tell I eat out too much, lol?)

:D

We ended up with five hour days, last year; this year might be six. My elementary kids spend nothing close to that, lol. (Maybe a couple of hours on sit down work, tops, not counting read alouds, activities, etc.) But I think this has to do with your philosophy, methods, materials, and how important free time for your kids is to you. (It's very important to me, one of the reasons I like homeschooling).

I thought the question was, "If you were a Biblical Christian, would you..." So...doesn't "What Does "Biblical" Mean?" come into play, there? I guess I was exploring what I might think was right...to explain what I might do. :D (ETA: And I use the word "might" heavily, here, because I have a hard enough time picturing myself not living in the wonderful 21st century, without adding ethical questions to it, lol. Who knows what 18th century Jill would do?!?)

In fact, I think I just read something about sermons during that time (from preachers advocating the rebellion) pointing to America as the New Israel, or something to that effect. I do believe that the Christians who rebelled saw it as God's will. But...(treading lightly here, going tippy-toe, lol)...that doesn't always mean it is, you know. Just because Christians feel that something's right doesn't automatically make it God's Will. (Wasn't "God Wills It!" the cry of the first--or second, or whichever--Crusade?) That's why I think it's worthwhile to examine these types of things in light of Scripture, if we're going to talk about how "Christian" something is. (Not saying that Christians always do things precisely how the Bible directs, or, like you mention, don't ever just act out of our own inclinations...just saying that I think we need to make a distinction when we do.) And again...not saying the Revolution wasn't the Biblical thing to do. Just reasoning out loud, I guess.

I know someone might look at my questioning of the Revolution on biblical grounds and wonder why I would feel justified being an Abolitionist. I've read many Christians' opinion that the slavery going on in 18th/19th century America was under the same sanction that the slavery talked about in the Bible was, and I don't personally believe that. In fact, 18th/19th century American slavery prevented slave owners, in some cases, from acting biblically toward their slaves. There were instances where a person couldn't legally free a slave they owned. I believe the Abolitionist movement in some respects was advocating for a unified system, with regards to slavery (some states allowed slavery, some didn't), and (I know this doesn't sit well with many states' rights proponents) I don't think it's going against the established government to encourage them to bring civil order to all of the states in a union. (Abolishing the type of slavery that was operating at that time was the only civilized option, in my opinion.)

...she means Christians who try to live by Biblical standards. I think it's harder to reconcile some of these things if you're a Christian that attempts to live by Scriptural precepts. If I'm not mistaken, many of the Christian Loyalists (colonists who didn't support the Revolution) cited Romans 13:1 as part of their reasoning. Honestly...I don't know. It's something I've thought about, and I'm glad to see a thread about this, because it's a thought/conversation-provoking topic. As it stands, right now, I don't believe I would have felt good about the Revolution. I wouldn't have felt good about the Civil War, either. I would hope that I'd be in a position to be a part of the Abolitionist movement, had I lived during the Civil War, and while I don't know that I could have encouraged family members to fight against Britain**, I don't know that I could have assisted them against my own countrymen, either. (Sort of an Israelite midwife attitude, I guess, lol. Not exactly rising up, violently, but doing the right thing, peacefully). (**Yes, those of you who are remembering that my husband is a retired military guy are correct; I'm not saying I'd have any pull, lol...just that I wouldn't be happy about it. ;-) I can tell you that my husband wouldn't agree with me on this issue.) I'm not giving a hard and fast answer, I guess, because after all of these years of being a Christian, this is still something I'm sorting out. I'm certainly farther away from the assumption that everything our forefathers did was great, wonderful, Scriptural and right than I was, several years ago, but I wrestle with reconciling that with my strong belief that America ended up being a great blessing to many in this world, precisely because of the type of government that emerged from...revolution. It was softer and more civilized than others (the French revolution, for example), but revolution, nonetheless. When I think of Bible verses, I can come up with plenty that would seem to discourage rebellion against a king. I can't think of any that justify it, offhand. (And I'm talking about clearly...not an implied meaning). Not saying they don't exist...just saying I don't know them. I'd be happy to know about them, though, because honestly...I'd like very much to believe that the American Revolution was the Right Thing. I don't know if our position and place in the world is because of the Revolution, or in spite of it, in other words. Or maybe just a mix of both?

I do agree with him about expecting some offense, while trying to minimize unnecessary offense. Simple respect for others is becoming a lost art.

...I have NO idea what prefaced this, lol. (Hot topic, flame war in some buried thread I didn't see, etc.) What I'm going to say is therefore not an endorsement of something going on here that I'm unaware of, and it has no hidden, cryptic meaning, lol. I think there's a balance to be found, personally. "The right to offend" is a really popular thing in the 21st century. Civility is all but dead, IMO. And while many folks (even beansprouts, who I think is awesome and I hope won't hold this against me, lol) really believe the "No one can offend me without my permission" slogan...I have to disagree, somewhat. I'll say flat out that there are ideas and people that have offended me, deeply. If no one else is in any way responsible for our responses/feelings, then why do we get divorced? Why do we marry and expect a certain amount of fellowship? Why don't we just talk and associate with whoever happens to be out and about, rather than having "friends"? Because some people "make" us happy, and some people put our teeth on edge. If we could control all of our own responses, we'd be neutrally interacting individuals, able to get along with anyone, wouldn't we? This is coming from a Christian viewpoint, so anyone who doesn't subscribe to that approach will have to take this with a grain of salt, but Jesus both offended people with His message (the Truth) and loved people selflessly. The folks I know who want the "Right to Be Offensive" don't usually hold with the "Loving Selflessly" thing. There's a huge difference between not wanting to have to take responsibility for anything you say, and simply sometimes offending people. And...that's fine. Different strokes for different folks. But you can't have it both ways. If you want to have the right to offend...don't you have to acknowledge that it's possible for you to be offensive? I'm just saying that you can speak the truth, in love. It's a choice to be inflammatory (at least, I believe that it is if you're halfway intelligent), and it's a choice to at least give others a moment's thought, before you open your mouth. That's not to say that you won't offend people, even if you're not trying. But it's always possible to either make it right, or simply acknowledge that this is one of those times where what you believe simply doesn't sit right with someone else. And now, I'm off to put the finishing touches on dinner. I'll be back later to read the 50,000 responding posts telling me how I'm wrong...:D (I'll choose not to be offended, though, LOL)

And, since I have a rising Kindergartener this year...it's like starting the whole shebang all over again, lol.

...and I was, um, 33. :-) People have diaper showers for folks just like they do more traditional showers. I always thought it was more for second or third babies (when people are generally more established, or still have baby items), but, hey...it's a great, helpful idea for anyone.

...book list? It might not be "too much" for some folks, but just in case, you could ask that guests contribute a favorite title (parenting, breastfeeding, etc.) and compile a list of "Friends' Favorites" to give her, at the shower. Those who would be so inclined would probably go ahead and purchase; those who couldn't could still contribute in that way. Just a thought! (And personally, I think it would be a cool gesture even if the mother-to-be wasn't--gulp--sixteen. :-) Not that everyone needs to read a ton of books, but it's a good bet that she'd have some variety in the suggestions, and probably a good balance of types of advice.)

You know, I've never thought about it, but, yeah...delaying vaccinations, homeschooling, eschewing hospital births...many of the things we've chosen to do have that effect on folks. The wide eyed look of concern, and the question "Can you do that?"

I'm willing to be as "weird" as I need to be. Seriously, I'm not going to lie...I like for people to like me. But I'm also pretty convinced about the (seemingly) odd (to some) choices I've made. I don't try to stick out, I'm comfortable in my own skin (I don't have a deep psychological need to be "different", lol), but I am willing to be seen as odd, if it's something I feel strongly about.

I mean, as the child of pseudo-hippy, question-the-establishment folks, I grew up seeing people do things...differently. My parents have been organically minded since before it became part of the common consciousness. My mother homeschooled my little brother. So those sorts of decisions aren't even a blip on my radar. Now, the I'm-not-going-to-use-artificial-birth-control/go-to-a-hospital-for-my-childrens'-births are what set my husband and I a little further down the weirdness road, in my family, lol. (Although, after my mom attended an NFP class with me, and visited the midwifery clinic, she got on board with those choices, too.) So, I would count those decisions, more than homeschooling, as part of what opened our minds up to choices beyond the more common, "normal" way of doing things. (I think that the early decisions about childbirth/parenting probably influenced our decision to homeschool, actually.)

I mean, we're able to be home all day on those days, and that's my preference...doesn't mean we don't go see Grandma, or somesuch. :-) Mondays will be co-op and gymnastics/music lessons, Wednesdays are a second co-op day, for the older kids, in the early morning (1 hr), and Fridays will be volleyball/horseback riding, grocery shopping. I like to go out on Saturdays, so that's probably not a great day to include, but it would be possible to stay home on that day.

3 1/2 years in Europe. (Stationed with NATO). ETA: Not on a military base, etc., but in a little village on the Dutch/German border.

I'm using Christian Light Education Math 1 for my K'er, and a mix of Phonics Pathways and Reading Reflex (my old standbys :))

I don't choose "courtship", either. Your OP seems to group all "conservative models" together, however, regardless of whether they're defined as "courtship" or not.

:iagree: I think folks would be surprised at the variety amongst "parents adopting a conservative model".