Bummed out Day
I thought all was going well with the finances, until I balanced the checkbook! It turns out that one of the credit cards we had paid off was not actually paid off. This was the last payment to come out. Between the mortgage, land taxes, insurance, dentist bills and medicine... we'll have $124 left over for food gas and whatnot. I'm giving most to my wonderful hubby in CA because he needs it. I only need $68 by the 11th of the month to pay for Angel Food Ministries boxes. And I might just plan to do 1 box and 1 special so it's only $43.
But let me be grateful
At least we have enough food in the house for 3 weeks (I think, might be two), we aren't going anywhere since the van and truck are messed up and we'll have plenty of time to get things done. We'll at least have Spiral Scouts on Friday night this week and Saturday night the next week. Besides, I've needed a good long cry!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Yes we actually leave the house Thankyouverymuch!
Another annoying Homeschool assumption debunked!
Today I took Mendel to the Dentist. I wasn't too horribly pleased with the entire experience though. The major thing that made my day was that they agreed to payments and he is not in pain anymore... Yep, that about ends the happy feeling.
I went back to their little office and spoke to the Dental Assistant and she acted like I was a HORRIBLE mother b/c OHMYGAWD!! My son has a cavity! Actually, his teeth are like mine. I told her point blank, we don't have insurance and can't afford to pay for dental care. He DID go to the dentist and I knew of ONE tooth that needed dealt with. Apparently, obviously, it is worse now. I explained that we have well water and he can't use flouride drops because it burns his mouth... Then she burned my BEEEEP when she acted like that was the strangest thing she ever heard. It wasn't as bad as when she asked if we get out any since we homeschool and stated that even IF he got a little flouride from another water source, then it would be better than none but since we homeschool... I coulda... I guess with a school name of HomeLife Academy it is obvious.
SO... MYTH:
Homeschoolers lock themselves into their home never to leave except for the ONE dentist appointment they make their kids each year to see how rotten their teeth have gotten.
Reality CHECK:
Homeschoolers aren't any different from anyone else. We don't lock ourselves away from society. We aren't hiding our kids from the world. We do go outside the confines of our homes on a weekly/ daily basis. There are many things outside our homes that we do. Church, Homeschool groups, Family get togethers, Park days, Band, Concerts, Ballet, Meetings, Family get togethers, etc etc... Anyone want to name what you do outside your home? Email me if you would like. Your name will not be posted.
Despite the popular belief of my family members (a few, not all) and apparently several people I have run into this week, I do NOT lock myself and my children in the house to do "school". School didn't work for us and I not going to emulate it inside my house. Education happens everywhere! The grocery store, driving down the street, at the lake, walking down the sidewalk, laying in the grass to watch stars, at a friends home, at Nana's house, in the country, in the city, in a suburb, in a nursing home, in the commisary, etc. It happens everywhere. Education is not gained merely from reading print in a book. It is gained through experience, trial and error, and DOING what you are learning. Even math has become a hands on learning experience for us. We are not merely SCHOOLING our child, we are EDUCATING them. There is a difference.
Furthermore! Homeschoolers can run anywhere from filthy rich to dirt poor and anywhere in between. Simply because we have busted our butts to make ends meet because of decline in the economics of this area, does not make us bad parents because we can't afford dental care. We are doing good to afford health insurance and you see where my husband is so we can get that? (Across the country!) Just because they punish intact families by offering NO help where it is truly needed does not mean we are bad parents. It means we are struggling to make ends meet, but bad parents, we are not.
Comments you want to added to this post? Email me and I will add them here (Anon. if need be)
Another annoying Homeschool assumption debunked!
Today I took Mendel to the Dentist. I wasn't too horribly pleased with the entire experience though. The major thing that made my day was that they agreed to payments and he is not in pain anymore... Yep, that about ends the happy feeling.
I went back to their little office and spoke to the Dental Assistant and she acted like I was a HORRIBLE mother b/c OHMYGAWD!! My son has a cavity! Actually, his teeth are like mine. I told her point blank, we don't have insurance and can't afford to pay for dental care. He DID go to the dentist and I knew of ONE tooth that needed dealt with. Apparently, obviously, it is worse now. I explained that we have well water and he can't use flouride drops because it burns his mouth... Then she burned my BEEEEP when she acted like that was the strangest thing she ever heard. It wasn't as bad as when she asked if we get out any since we homeschool and stated that even IF he got a little flouride from another water source, then it would be better than none but since we homeschool... I coulda... I guess with a school name of HomeLife Academy it is obvious.
SO... MYTH:
Homeschoolers lock themselves into their home never to leave except for the ONE dentist appointment they make their kids each year to see how rotten their teeth have gotten.
Reality CHECK:
Homeschoolers aren't any different from anyone else. We don't lock ourselves away from society. We aren't hiding our kids from the world. We do go outside the confines of our homes on a weekly/ daily basis. There are many things outside our homes that we do. Church, Homeschool groups, Family get togethers, Park days, Band, Concerts, Ballet, Meetings, Family get togethers, etc etc... Anyone want to name what you do outside your home? Email me if you would like. Your name will not be posted.
Despite the popular belief of my family members (a few, not all) and apparently several people I have run into this week, I do NOT lock myself and my children in the house to do "school". School didn't work for us and I not going to emulate it inside my house. Education happens everywhere! The grocery store, driving down the street, at the lake, walking down the sidewalk, laying in the grass to watch stars, at a friends home, at Nana's house, in the country, in the city, in a suburb, in a nursing home, in the commisary, etc. It happens everywhere. Education is not gained merely from reading print in a book. It is gained through experience, trial and error, and DOING what you are learning. Even math has become a hands on learning experience for us. We are not merely SCHOOLING our child, we are EDUCATING them. There is a difference.
Furthermore! Homeschoolers can run anywhere from filthy rich to dirt poor and anywhere in between. Simply because we have busted our butts to make ends meet because of decline in the economics of this area, does not make us bad parents because we can't afford dental care. We are doing good to afford health insurance and you see where my husband is so we can get that? (Across the country!) Just because they punish intact families by offering NO help where it is truly needed does not mean we are bad parents. It means we are struggling to make ends meet, but bad parents, we are not.
Comments you want to added to this post? Email me and I will add them here (Anon. if need be)
MOM! Read this poem!
Jan's ramblings: Ode to the Roomba (Sorry everyone, Jan's blog is now a private blog and by invitation only)
I am posting this just for mom! There is a thing out there called a roomba. It's a vacuum that is automatic. You set it up to vacuum and then you stare in awe as it vacuum's while your drooling over the coolness of it all from the couch. A fellow homeschooler (and fellow poet, really cool mom and great person all around) wrote this poem about hers. And here is a link to it so you know what to add to my Christmas list *twinkle*
Irobot Roomba (AKA Dotchi's new obsession)
Jan's ramblings: Ode to the Roomba (Sorry everyone, Jan's blog is now a private blog and by invitation only)
I am posting this just for mom! There is a thing out there called a roomba. It's a vacuum that is automatic. You set it up to vacuum and then you stare in awe as it vacuum's while your drooling over the coolness of it all from the couch. A fellow homeschooler (and fellow poet, really cool mom and great person all around) wrote this poem about hers. And here is a link to it so you know what to add to my Christmas list *twinkle*
Irobot Roomba (AKA Dotchi's new obsession)
Monday, February 27, 2006
Add to the joy!
The vans power steering went out yesterday. It isn't safe to drive right now. I CAN, but only if it's a straight drive with very few turns and no off ramps. It's awful! So I am stranded in the country with two kids, a dog and a cat. At least we can concentrate on home education and start preparing to sell stuff on ebay. I can't sell my teacher edition books there anymore though so that is going to HURT!
On top of that, the dryer finally died. I have to check the breaker box, but I have a feeling that isn't going to help. The dishwasher finally broke all the way too. It started pouring water and soap on teh floor so I have to hand wash ALL the dishes. yea.
Tomorrow Mendel has a dentist appointment in Hixson and I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do to get us there. Scotty? Hello? Beam us over! No? Darn! Blasted transporter broke to... and it's about tuh blow! Does anyone read this blog?
Anyway, this week we are learning about garbage in science. We're making a compost heap too! That should be oodles of fun! The boys built a boat called sea crawler and I sewed a flag for them to raise. They are pleased they have the right ballast and it didn't flip over. They had to FORCE it to flip over. *sigh* boys.
I am going to go for now and will post more later.
The vans power steering went out yesterday. It isn't safe to drive right now. I CAN, but only if it's a straight drive with very few turns and no off ramps. It's awful! So I am stranded in the country with two kids, a dog and a cat. At least we can concentrate on home education and start preparing to sell stuff on ebay. I can't sell my teacher edition books there anymore though so that is going to HURT!
On top of that, the dryer finally died. I have to check the breaker box, but I have a feeling that isn't going to help. The dishwasher finally broke all the way too. It started pouring water and soap on teh floor so I have to hand wash ALL the dishes. yea.
Tomorrow Mendel has a dentist appointment in Hixson and I am still trying to figure out what I am going to do to get us there. Scotty? Hello? Beam us over! No? Darn! Blasted transporter broke to... and it's about tuh blow! Does anyone read this blog?
Anyway, this week we are learning about garbage in science. We're making a compost heap too! That should be oodles of fun! The boys built a boat called sea crawler and I sewed a flag for them to raise. They are pleased they have the right ballast and it didn't flip over. They had to FORCE it to flip over. *sigh* boys.
I am going to go for now and will post more later.
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Just Lovely
My dryer is dying a slow death. I am waiting for the clothes to DRY b/c we need them tomorrow and they are not drying. This just freaking stinks. Now I need to save up for clothes line or racks and actually keep up with laundry on a daily basis *sighs* Will it never en... Never mind. Don't answer that!
My dryer is dying a slow death. I am waiting for the clothes to DRY b/c we need them tomorrow and they are not drying. This just freaking stinks. Now I need to save up for clothes line or racks and actually keep up with laundry on a daily basis *sighs* Will it never en... Never mind. Don't answer that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)