Isn't it funny!

I know it's been said before but girls grow up very often thinking their mom's are crazy. I loved my mom and still do but there were times growing up that I thought she had walked away from all reason. She seemed so dogmatic about anything and everything that concerned my brother or I. Now that I'm a mom, I think she's the sanest person I know.

So, in honor of my mom, who does actually read this blog, here is a note about just one of those things that I have changed my tune on so far...meaning that I'm sure there will be many more revelations in the coming months and years.

My mom has always been the letter writing type, especially when it comes to homeschooling issues. While I have always wanted to homeschool my children someday, until my little one came, I wasn't the type to ask anyone to join me in that support. Now that my baby's future education is being threatened, I will stop at nothing to get the word out. I am willing to risk alienating friends even to make sure that I will have the freedom to choose the manner of my child's education.

Just goes to show how little you know until you walk in their shoes.

I couldn't have said it better myself

I am indebted to A Wise Woman for bringing this video to my attention. It is well worth the 2 minutes to watch it.



Enough said.

An Update on a Time to Take Action...

The California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell has now stated regarding the Feb. 28 count decision, “I have reviewed this case, and I want to assure parents that chose to homeschool that California Department of Education policy will not change in any way as a result of this ruling. Parents still have the right to homeschool in our state."

To read the complete story, click here .

Let this be a lesson to all of us to continue to stand up for our freedoms and the freedoms of those who are too young to speak for themselves.

Time to Take Action

"A California Court of Appeal recently decided that homeschooling is illegal in California unless a parent is a certified teacher.

The case arose in a confidential juvenile court proceeding. The family was represented by court-appointed attorneys and HSLDA did not become aware of the case until the Court of Appeal case was published on February 28, 2008.

The Court could have restricted its decision to the facts before it, but instead, it issued a broad ruling that effectively outlaws home education in California. The Court also certified its decision for publication, which means that the decision can now be cited as legal authority by all other courts in California.

The family and their California counsel are planning to appeal to the Supreme Court of California, which could result in reversal.

Another option to keep homeschooling free in California is to petition the Supreme Court of California to “depublish” the opinion. If the opinion is “depublished” then it cannot be used by other California courts and this threat to homeschool freedom will be neutralized for other California homeschoolers.

HSLDA will be formally petitioning the California Supreme Court to depublish the opinion. We would like to show that many other people, both in California and across the country, care deeply about homeschool freedom in California."

Please take this opportunity to stand up for the freedom to chose how your children are educated, whether you live in California or not. You can sign the petition to request the depublishing of California Court Case in re Rachel L here .

Don't wait to stand up until they are knocking at your door.

Inspiration

I found this quote on someone else's blog (to read the whole post, visit here .) I wanted to share this inspirational and encouraging thought with all of you.

May the Lord help me to live this way each day.

"A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble." C. Spurgeon

Who knew?

So I have made an important discovery; that a surprisingly large part of the process of being a new mother is putting together what seems like a hundred pieces of new furniture, toys and gadgets. There are cribs, playpens, carriers, car seats, bouncy chairs and I'm sure I have only begun to scratch the surface. And each one of these wonderful "mother's helpers" has a 25 page instruction booklet that is just as easy to read as can be...as long as you don't try to make the pictures match the written instructions.

But by far my favorite one so far is the wrap. Now I was expecting something that would wrap around me. I wasn't expecting a fabric boa constrictor. A warning to those with claustrophobia; beware! What you are about to read is about as comfortable as walking through a turn-of-the-century mine.

First you start by unwrapping it from the plastic packaging...and unwrapping...and unwrapping. I began to wonder if I was going to discover an ancient mummy inside all of that material. But thankfully I finally reached the center. Then comes my favorite part; in order to use the wrap, you have to watch an instructional video. Yes, there are written instructions for one way to use the wrap but that only works for an older baby and besides, there are 4 other ways to put your baby in, all depending on the baby's size and what you find more comfortable. Who knew there were so many choices in the world!

Once you have unwound it, you start the process of re-winding it, around yourself. You start with it around your stomach (which, as a side note, really helps hold in that after baby tummy paunch.) Then you cross it over your back and cross again over your chest but under the piece over your stomach. (Another side note, once you are done wrapping, you won’t have a baby tummy paunch but you will have one made out of yards and yards of knit fabric.) Once you have that base, you finish by wrapping it around and around your stomach until you run out of fabric, then you cinch it up by winding it around 2 rings. This results in you feeling like the afore mentioned boa constrictor has made you its next meal.

My mom told me when I was a baby there were only three options: a baby carrier that would be uncomfortable to carry a lightweight doll in, much less a 10 lbs baby, use your arms and pray you don’t wear out half way through or call for back up. Ah, what a difference about 30 years makes!

But after all this, I have learned at least one benefit of all these "helpers"; you learn to be really thankful for simple things like staying home, where you don't need a wrap to carry your baby in and grandparents, who don't require a 25 page instruction manual to get to help out with the baby. That, I think, is real mother’s helper.