We have one TV in the house--a large one in the living room. When the kids are awake, we are basically all watching the same program or at least know what they are watching. Certain stations like Nickolodeon and PBS are allowed and particular family shows we approve of. I don't worry too much about these shows, and the random attitude or inappropriate scene can be discussed as a family and be used as a learning and discernment activity. My children are now in public school, and I think our years of sitting around the TV discussing issues we see as they have arrived have helped my children be discerning of attitudes that are appropriate and not. The world is filled with bad things, and if they are exposed in small increments with me nearby to guide their thinking, I feel that I am able to do my job as a parent more easily. For instance, we have just recently let them start watching iCarly. I do not like Sam's attitude, but it is a funny family show we enjoy in many respects, and Carly almost always tries to do the right thing. Both characters give us examples of good and bad behavior to discuss. TV helps me teach my children when the shows are chosen wisely but without extremes.

I tend to think that since the husband and wife are one flesh, the husband's calling will be the wife's calling whether God will ask her to join him in his work or sacrifice his presence that he may serve God in a greater way. If that calling requires the whole family to sacrifice and walk by faith, I believe that God would grant the grace and faith to the whole family to take that step of faith. Now I believe a wife could be unwilling to follow that difficult path just like the husband may be unwilling to give up his "calling." The key is, are both parties willing for the will of the Lord no matter the cost? If not, there will be tension. If so, the Lord will provide the grace for either one to give up what is not of Him. Scripture tells us that a true disciple will be willing to leave wife and children if need be; however, many men may take that verse and use it wrongly to fulfill some personal dream which they take to be their "calling." Remember, Scripture also says that one who does not make a point to take care of their family is "worse than an infidel." A man and wife should be in unity about any step of faith that requires a tremendous amount of faith in God's daily provision. I think these kinds of decisions should be made together as a couple subitting themselves before God and seeking His will and not their own. My husband and I try to make a habit of seeking His will together and waiting until we are in unity about a decision; it gives us that humility and cushion of assurance that we are in God's will and not seeking our own will. Unity should be sought at all costs with much prayer and fasting if need be.

This sounds very interesting to me. . .hmmmm. . .it got me to thinking. . .how about a rich vocabulary curriculum? You teach the vocabulary for the week, and then the child is required to use the vocabulary within the coming weeks in his/her writing assignments? You could add the new vocabulary to the lists you mentioned each week. Then you have the confidence that they know what the words mean, and you have a ready made list to add more depth to his/her own working vocabulary. You would also have a ready made curriculum where the words are chosen for you and geared for the child's specific level while building on the previous level. I may try this idea with the kids in my classroom. . .hmmm. . .

I used it for a year, and I did like many things about it. I liked that it was flexible, and I could teach math most any way I liked. I liked that I could easily add in the Living Math approach (using literature to teach math) to it. I also loved the way they set up math fact practice with the 9's down. However, with three children to homeschool, and younger children to care for, it just became overwhelming. It required more work to do math right than I was able to handle. I have now had to put my children in school and go back to work due to my husband's health issues. If I had had the time and had been able to keep homeschooling, I might have tried it again, albeit with some good problem solving supplements like MEP math, etc., but I am planning on selling it soon due to not having a need for it anymore.

So many of you had great things to say concerning how parents should react, ect., but only a few people touched on what really bothered me about this article. And this article really bothered me. Not because I don't sympathize with people who genuinely have to deal with undisciplined children and the parents who don't care, but because it appeared that the article is lumping all children and parents with children into the same category. Our society is supposedly all about "tolerance" and anti-discrimination and not stereotyping, and yet, that is what is happening to children. They are, in my opinion, one of the "minorities" that are still discriminated against in our society. I mean, what if this restaurant banned blacks or asians or muslims? That would not go over at all! This "children are not acceptable in public places attitude" is one reason why I personally have such a problem with birth control--not because I feel that everyone who uses it has this attitude, but because I've seen too many instances of people advocating its use because "children are inconvenient." We are discriminating, as a society, against our most precious commodity. This attitude as a whole is wrong. Now restaurants, in my opinion, could deal with the issue so much better by providing nursing rooms and family sections where these children's needs can be catered to without distracting everyone else. As far as all out running around the restaurant wildly and complete out of control behavior, managers have the right to ban those particular families and kick them out just like they would any customer who behaved in a very brash, rude, and disturbing manner. Singling out children in general is not the answer.

I agree with those who said bras. I can by no means afford many things of quality, but bras are one thing I do not buy cheap!

:iagree: 5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency. I Corinthians 7:5 I clearly respect the Catholic church's stance on life. I am not Catholic, but I do not use birth control. However, I do not practice NFP regularly due to the above verse. For certain periods of life I may use NFP--periods of life that require prayer and fasting, for instance. If my health was in danger, I may abstain for a time to pray concerning what God would have me do, and I may get sterilized for life or death issues if God gave me a peace and my husband requested it. To me, the real issue is following the spirit of the law which is about respecting life and respecting the marriage bed. My purpose for getting sterilized would have to be in order to protect life and not to prevent it. (And this I would only do after serious prayer). However, if you cannot do so in faith that it is the right thing, I do not suggest it, but to seek out God's grace to help in your time of need. There is something He is wanting to teach you in all this. And I say that, all to say this, I am now four months pregnant. I did NOT want to be pregnant at this time. My husband has fibromyalgia, and when I got pregnant, I was actively looking for a job because he could not work anymore. I knew that if I was to get pregnant, it might inhibit me from getting a job. My cycle was off that month, and I got pregnant. Even though I was turned down for one job because of my pregnancy (which I know is against the law, but it still happens), I was hired at the last minute at a wonderful school, and God has protected my family. I was tempted to prevent out of fear, but fear is the opposite of faith. And I believe that is often what it comes down to--are we living a life of trust and love and faith, knowing that God's grace will help us? Or are we living merely dutifully out of fear? God's grace cannot only help us do His will but desire His will from the heart as well. Remember perfect love casts out fear. Seek his will, ask for His grace to desire His will yourself (since you've admitted you are rebellious in some way). It is often when we let go of our own desires and willfullness, whether it is for regular s*x or the ease of life without another little one to consider, that God's will and the grace to accept it becomes clear.

Yay, I don't feel so alone!

Anyone know of any cheap or free assessments in reading and math that will help me determine the levels and skills at which my children are currently working? I do not rely on a specific curriculum so I do not have testing materials that come with a program. I want to see what directions I need to head for the coming year and see where any gaps might be sprouting. Thoughts or ideas?

I just try not to be a stickler about it, but each of my children have a different favorite color, and if we are buying them all bags or school crates, etc, I try to buy them in their colors: blue, pink, yellow, purple, and green (at least we think she likes green; she is only one, but she only picks out the green cereal or balloons, etc.) Sometimes, if there is no pink, I use red since it is similar in shade. Before my youngest was born, I sometimes chose light green if there were no yellows. I try to be flexible. The stickers and colored tape were good ideas too if you can't find something in a color. I think I need to get cups in my kids' colors because I never know whose cup is lying around!

I always felt that "The Secret Garden" had to be read at the end of Winter/Beginning of Spring to correspond with the seasonal change that takes place in the book.

I agree with the above posters--doing what you are both most equipped to do. Not always about who's doing more, but each doing what you can for the good of the team and for each other. I believe many women are often better at household and childcare matters and men are often (not always) more equipped for the day in day out work world. That's where we were for a time until my husband got fibromyalgia. Now, he is not as equipped for the work world, and he is making a great transition to taking over household and childcare duties while I finish up schooling and look for a job. He cooks, and I do dishes, and he now does all the laundry. It is a flexible thing for us now as life changes, and I think it's great that we're learning to be what the other needs for the sake of each other and our children. It all comes down to love and giving of ourselves.

My husband and I really enjoyed the West of Ireland, the Connemara region specifically. Beautiful!

I personally think the real issue is our society's attitudes toward children and parents. Parents are not respected by society--those who are out working and making money, "getting the job done" etc. are. Just ask numerous women who have been discriminated against in job situations because of motherhood or pregnancy. I have been there. So when people decide to have children, society treats those who make their children priorities as irresponsible or not serious about their career, etc. Rude comments to families with more than 2.3 children are a case in point. I struggle with happiness sometimes (I have going on six children) not because I don't enjoy them, but because I feel so little support and respect for what I do from those around me. If you are a woman dedicating yourself to your family and children, you begin to feel that society doesn't value your skills or intelligence anymore. I'm sure that men and women all over America feel the pressure by their un-family friendly places of employment, childless friends, or kid uncomfortable family that their choice to have children is stupidity. When children are treated merely as a commodity to perfect and trophy around, we put unnecessary work and pressure on ourselves, but when we begin to see them as a lot of fun and joy, that's what they become. Pardon my soapbox all! :001_smile:

I'm not a teen, but I hated Wal-mart's too. I am not the mall shopping type, but the only type I buy now are Victoria's secret. They are comfy, have great selection, and are well made. To me, the extra cost is worth it. I'd rather have a few great bras than a bunch of sub-par ones.

I believe Ethyl Kennedy had 11 C-sections. And this was many years ago. Surely things are even safer now.

I love my two pugs!!!! They are great with kids, friendly, snuggle-bugs! We even have a Pug calendar with a picture of a different type of pug for every month of the year!

Thanks, Heather!

Heather, if you get an elementary position open up, let me know. I almost have my Master's degree, I have five years experience teaching public school, four years homeschooling, and would LOVE to teach in a Christian international school. Due to my husband's fibromyalgia, he is staying home with our kids, and I am headed back to work. I know you probably already have positions filled for the fall, but if anyone backs out or they need a 1st-6th grade teacher, let me know! Thanks!

Well, first of all, how do you believe God reveals His truth to you? As a Christian I believe He reveals Himself most clearly in the image of Christ who was God incarnate, and He also reveals His truth in His Word. It is important to interpret God's word, the Bible, through the loving Spirit of Christ. The Jews of Jesus time often based so much of their religion on the Old Testament Scriptures, and it was good that they held God's words in such high esteem. However, Jesus often rebuked them for interpreting it in the wrong spirit. Jesus said if you have seen Him, you have seen the Father. My suggestion (with what little I know about you) would be to read the gospels (the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and pick out the stories that you yourself find meaningful and think your children are ready to hear. Just share with them what you are learning about God yourself. Teach them what God teaches you as He teaches you--He doesn't expect anymore than that. When you learn something new, share it with them in a casual real life way. And remember, not all the harsh sounding and negative stories from the Bible are meant to be unloving. When we fail to face the horrible consequences of sin, we cannot value the unfathomable love of Christ who suffered in order to save us from them. In fact, we can only percieve the depths of God's love and forgiveness by facing the horrid results of our sin and how we hurt God, ourselves, and others. Finally, I comfort my children with the verse in I John 1:9 often. It is a grand display of God's forgiveness that can readily be applied to our lives.

Yes, the pet store we bought ours at said to feed them oranges periodically because vitamin C is so important for guinea pigs!

Thanks for posting. I have been feeling for awhile after my second trimester miscarriage and a few other major life trials that I am different too. Not in the same ways or for the same reasons, but it is definitely shaking to not feel like the same person. I am even questioning my faith--not my faith in God-but faith in my particular denominational beliefs. It is really hard to know who you are and how you should act. However, God wants us to change to be more like Him, and I know He wants us to change to see Him more clearly. He can use all these trials to do so; however, I believe that human cruelty and meanness can also cause spiritual wounds that need to be healed. You are wounded, and wounds take time to heal. It is okay to take time to learn to trust again. And it is okay to be a different person. And I know part of our feelings of withdraw is the frustration we feel from those who don't understand our human pain or who live shallow lives. I understand the feeling of not wanting to be around those who talk about "everyday" things when we are hurting so much, and there is so much pain in the world. We want to shake them and say, "Don't you care!" I don't know for sure if this is how you feel, but needing to sit back and reevaluate life after major trials is normal I think.

This is me! This is me!

We don't have any. I usually turn to home remedies or herbs unless it is major. I think I may have broken my finger last week. I went to wal-mart, got a splint, and wrapped it myself. My husband has fibromyalgia, but his dad is a pastor, and there is a doctor at his church that will see him and prescribe him medicine for next to nothing. Now, I know nothing about hyperthyroidism. I would look online for ways to treat yourself with home remedies. But if necessary, you may have to pay for a doctor's visit. You probably won't pay too much more for one visit than you would for a year's worth of insurance payments. I know I wouldn't visit the doctor probably more than once every two years anyway.

Tanya, As an aside--you mentioned your doctor was pro-life? I thought the IUD was an abortificient?