What did you learn this week?

[hsmom]

I am curious what everyone has learned this week. We always talk about what our children are learning and such, but what have you learned this week?

 

I learned something that most probably already knew, but it was new to me.

 

That passenger trains in Japan float on a cushion of magnetism. (yes, I know it was simple, but something new to me)

[JennifersLost]

I learned that men think about things like not jogging alone on country roads, or going to areas where "troubled youth" might be hanging around, or walking alone at night, just like women do.

 

I was surprised. I thought those were "rules" only women had to think about.

[C_l_e_0..Q_c]

I learned that I am a super-competitive mom and that I need to control myself (thankfully, I did nothing - I just thought it real loud)...

 

Oh, the details, if you're curious... 6 weeks ago, my daughter did a gym competition, and place first of her team (out of 12 girls). Last weekend, she placed last! In 6 weeks, all girls overtook her! My girl is fine with it, mostly. It was hard stuff for her, and she's still afraid of the moves she's learned, plus she took a major spill less than week before the competition, had an allergic reaction a few days before, and may potentially be anemic - gotta go get some blood test done. I'm the one who's not fine with it. Sigh.. And I've always hated super competitive moms .

[WTMindy]

a few more techniques in Photoshop this month. I'm doing the digital scrapbooking thing.

[Mamagistra]

I just learned that, with a groovy router, I can surf the interwebs on the flatscreen via the Wii: very cool! :coolgleamA:

[Remudamom]

I learned that I actually can get the flu, even though I haven't for years and years.

[j.griff]

I learned... Oh snap, I forgot it already. ;)

[Kristiana]

Well, I'm at the tail end of learning the 43-page cello part to Mahler's 5th Symphony for a concert Saturday night and I'm about to go crazy if I can't get a few spots just a little faster!! I'm thinking, eating, sleeping, dreaming Mahler. This is I think, the hardest thing I have ever played. in my life. ever.

 

ever.

 

3 more days, then I can get back to real life, mothering, homeschooling, cleaning my house, thinking straight, sleeping...

[Amy loves Bud]

I learned my first chords on the mandolin. They may also be my last. We shall see.

[Rachel]

I learned that some people have no class and it has nothing to do with how much money they make or what they do for a living.

[Sue G in PA]

:D Okay, so I already "knew" that but I'm just so darned tired of not sleeping, being uncomfortable, not sleeping (did I mention that?), etc. I'm hoping to learn how to "cope" with these last few wks better b/c despite what my midwife says about my going early...I sincerely doubt I will. :glare:

 

I also learned that my already low levels of patience are significatly reduced even further when I'm 8 1/2 mos. pregnant.

[chickenpatty]

I've learned a lot more about diabetes than I've ever wanted to know.:crying:

 

I also learned that my boys broke some glass out of my dear old neighbor's bus/shed windows. :smash::angry:

 

I learned last night that I want to be like David in the Bible when he said he would hope continually and praise God more and more. I sure needed that!

[MomofSeven]

:D Okay, so I already "knew" that but I'm just so darned tired of not sleeping, being uncomfortable, not sleeping (did I mention that?), etc. I'm hoping to learn how to "cope" with these last few wks better b/c despite what my midwife says about my going early...I sincerely doubt I will. :glare:

 

I also learned that my already low levels of patience are significatly reduced even further when I'm 8 1/2 mos. pregnant.

 

I pray that every woman gets to experience the extra 10 days of pregnancy that I had. Yes, sixth child and 10 days past due. THAT will teach you patience. :)

[Sandra in NC]

It's an interesting book, though I liked The Blank Slate better.

 

I'm learning a lot, but true to form, retaining little. One funny part in the book is that he said a colleague of his -- another linguist -- has a theory that people are born with an innate knowledge of 50,000 concepts including "carburetor," "trombone," and "doorknob." He says this colleague will brush off criticism that his theory is outrageous with statements like, "Well, they laughed at Columbus, too"

 

Pinker retorts that people laughed at Manny Schwartz, the person who thought up the "Continental Drip" theory (that continents are pointed at the end because molten lava dripped downward as they cooled!) And people were right to laugh at Manny Schwartz.

[Stacey in MA]

I was reading a coin collecting book with DS9 (trying to find a hobby for him besides Pokemon!). Interesting stuff. Denver and Philidelphia are the 2 places, and it's marked with a D or a P under the date on a coin. (Some other coins are minted in San Francisco and someplace in NY, but they aren't in general circulation - collector's stuff). We may stop in Philadelphia on our way to Williamsburg this May, so perhaps there's a tour or something interesting to see at the mint!

 

:-) Stacey in MA

[CookieMonster]

I always considered myself respectful of children. And perhaps I was way back when I didn't have my own hanging on me 24/7. But, having to watch someone else's children has taught me all over again about how dealing with children in a respectful manner is really the only way to go.

 

It was easy to be respectful to these kids, because they weren't mine. I didn't know all their idiosyncracies. Their unique habits didn't drive me crazy. So I showed them the usual respect you show to strangers in your home and was amazed by their response. Their behavior differed greatly from their behavior at home, even after they got comfortable with me. They showed me a great deal more respect then they usually show their parents.

 

And then I looked at how I treat my own children. Ashamedly, I am snarky, nasty, short, and contemptuous with them on a regular basis. Respectful? Rarely.

 

So I changed how I dealt with my children. I'm not perfect yet (old habits die hard) but, I've seen much improvement in the life of my home. I love it.

[Mama Lynx]

I re-learned the Greek alphabet, and a few Greek words.

 

And I learned that the Robin Hood story is about the clash between Saxon and Norman societies in England after the Conquest.

[Jenny in Atl]

I learned how to polish silver with a Flex-Shaft, to see just how strong my kids really are, to see how much I miss old friends, and that I really don't adjust well to Day Light Savings Time anymore. :tongue_smilie:

[Alphabetika]

Instead of whacking the egg against something (like the side of the bowl), you tap two eggs together, one gets a little dimple in it, you break that one open into the bowl, then use the unbroken egg to tap against the next one, and so on, and so on, and so on....

[Mrs. H.]

I learned to do a picot edge on a pair of knit socks.

 

I learned that after all five of your children have a stomach bug, one will choose to get it again after you've caught up on all the laundry.

 

I learned that it takes a family of seven five days to adjust to Daylight Savings Time.

 

I learned how to load, cock, and shoot a .357, and more that I ever wanted to know about reloading ammunition.

[Raders Fan]

My son is reading "General Howe's Dog." He shared a few tidbits with me. In colonial times, people had lap dogs for two reasons--to keep warm and to attract the fleas to the dogs and away from the people. Jack Russell terriers were bred and trained to run on a treadmill to keep the meat turning on the spit. Washington bred his hunting dogs with Loyalist dogs during the war. Somehow, I think George was lucky he didn't have today's media to turn this into a massive scandal.

 

And in reading about Lycurgus in Plutarch's Lives, I learned that even in ancient Greece some people felt that children belonged to the state, rather than to their parents. I don't know whether I'm creeped out that such ideas have been around for so long, or comforted in knowing that it's been an ongoing battle and that we just have to keep standing our ground.

 

Jennifer

[Plaid Dad]

I learned that taking Percocet on an empty stomach is a bad scene. :ack2:

[HootyTooty]

I learned that taking Percocet on an empty stomach is a bad scene. :ack2:

My husband learned that last summer.

 

This week I learned that dehydration is very very bad.

 

That I like listening to audiobooks with my son in the car.

 

And I overthink things waaaaaaaaaaaaaay to much.

[percytruffle]

I learned what adenomyosis is.

 

I learned that I have a new favorite tune: Ashokan Farewell.

 

I learned that drinking Kefir is good for osteopenia.

 

I learned that my son's new favorite author is Alexander Solzhenitsyn

[BMC]

my DD can still find, push and manipulate ALL my hot buttons :banghead:

 

and

 

that small explosions are better than a nuclear explosion :blush:

 

and

 

that I am sooooo ready to stop homeschooling DD :crying:

[momo4]

When you are buying a home that is going to attract lots of potential buyers and you are the first one there, make your offer good and acceptance deadline that night. Don't give them 4days to decide while all the other offers roll in.

 

:banghead:

[Vida Winter]

schadenfreude \SHOD-n-froy-duh\, noun:

A malicious satisfaction obtained from the misfortunes of others.

[ArwenA]

I learnt that I don't have to try to cover everything in K. Just the basics is enough.

[Diana in OR]

I learned to make sure the ground beef is cooked thoroughly. Ds and I have spent most of this week in bed with food poisoning!!! :ack2:

[Diana in OR]

I learned my first chords on the mandolin. They may also be my last. We shall see.

 

Amy, good for you! I love the mandolin. I hope you are able to stick with it.:)

[TammyinTN]

This weeks lesson...is there's only 4 more years to retirement and I can have my own house!!!! I can't wait to paint everything a color other than white!:D

[Laura K (NC)]

I replace caulk every 4 years or so because of mold that seems to come from behind the caulk. A plumber told me that I should get a caulk sealer. Ahhh...

 

I learned that a shower diverter is that little thingy that makes the water go up to the shower instead of through the bathtub spout.

[Frontier Mom]

What Parallel is...

 

What an OEM version of Windows is and that it won't work for me...

 

How to order on Ebay and...

 

Hopefully, that a good reputation on ebay is valid!!