Barbara Curtis's Blog, page 193

How many families are like yours?

Jen sent this interactive from the New York Times - just click the image to get started:

Published: June 17, 2011How Many Households Are Like Yours?<="" a="" height="148" width="340" />>

Media, Obama exploit Irene for campaign

Following up on my initial post with a view from across the pond. You'll never hear the truth from our Propaganda Press, which is intent on one thing and one thing only: keeping Obama in office.

Check the UK Telegraph for a more realistic perspective:

Perfect Storm of Hype: Politicians, the media and the Hurricane Irene apocalypse that never was

By Toby Harnden
World
Last updated: August 28th, 2011

A
Cape Cod store owner took precautions but seemed to anticipate that
Irene might be more benign than billed. Photo: Toby Harnden

For the television reporter, clad in his red cagoule emblazoned with
the CNN logo, it was a dramatic on-air moment, broadcasting live from
Long Island, New York during a hurricane that also threatened Manhattan.

"We are in, right, now...the right eye wall, no doubt about that...there
you see the surf," he said breathlessly. "That tells a story right
there."

Stumbling and apparently buffeted by ferocious gusts, he took shelter
next to a building. "This is our protection from the wind," he
explained. "It's been truly remarkable to watch the power of the ocean
here."

The surf may have told a story but so too did the sight behind the
reporter of people chatting and ambling along the sea front and just
goofing around. There was a man in a t-shirt, a woman waving her arms
and then walking backwards. Then someone on a bicycle glided past.

Across the screen, the "Breaking News: Irene Batters Long Island"
caption was replaced by stern advice from the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA): "Stay inside, stay safe."

The images summed up Hurricane Irene - the media and the United
States federal government trying to live up to their own doom-laden
warnings and predictions while a sizeable number of ordinary Americans
just carried on as normal and even made gentle fun of all the fuss.

There was almost palpable disappointment among the TV big guns rolled
out for the occasion when Irene was downgraded to a mere 'tropical
storm". In New York city, CNN's silver-haired Anderson Cooper, more
usually seen in a tight t-shirt in a famine or war zone, was clad in
what one wag dubbed "disaster casual".

He looked crestfallen and fell briefly silent when a weatherwoman
told him that the rain was not going to get any worse. "Wow, because
this isn't so bad," he said. "It's an annoying rain but it isn't even a
sideways rain."

Read more at UK Telegraph

Obama exploits Irene as campaign stop

Would someone please explain to me why Obama is making this grandiose effort to be involved in the "aftermath" of Hurricane Irene - which is essentially just another storm - when in the past three years he completely IGNORED the Tennessee floods, Arizona and Texas wildfires, and numerous Midwest flooding and tornadoes?

It makes me wonder whether the Propaganda Press purposely exaggerated the hurricane's threat to provide him with these photo ops as part of the gearing-up of Obama's 2012 campaign.

Or is it because it was the Northeast and not flyover country?

Obama wasn't concerned with financial aid for those who were truly devastated in the above-mentioned disasters, and yet he's promising the gubmint will take care of all those who got a little too much rain. I think the MSM were secretly hoping it would be another Katrina so they could contrast Obama with the voodoo doll they made of Bush after Katrina.

Never forget we are already in full campaign mode. Every move Obama makes will be carefully scripted to play into his re-election campaign, certainly not to do what is best for our country.

Jo Malone Wild Bluebell Cologne

What do you think of this ad? It came in a package I received the other day, with a sample of the cologne.

I thought it was hideous - an emaciated corpse surrounded by beautiful flowers and *bunnies?*

No matter what I thought of the cologne, I doubt if I would ever buy it now. Sorry, I just don't identify with corpses.

Elisabeth Elliot: the lust for security

The Lust for Security

Once we have set ourselves to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth, which is what Christians are meant to be, it is incongruous for us to continue to insist upon the sort of security the world tries to guarantee. Our security lies not in protecting ourselves from suffering, but in putting ourselves fully into the hands of God. The desire for physical and material security makes us sly and hard. No. We must be like little children. The child in its father's arms is not worried. It lies quietly at rest because it trusts its father.

We disobey sometimes because we say it is impossible to do what God asks. Impossible? Perhaps what we mean is impossible to do that and keep our security, impossible to obey without tremendous cost, or at least tremendous risk. Where, then, will we find safety? Is it likely that we will find it elsewhere than in the arms of the Father?

Teach me to rest in your everlasting arms. Make me know that all other security is illusion.

You can subscribe to a daily dose of Elisabeth Elliot here.  Or find my favorites here.

May you sing like no one is listening

If you can endure an obnoxious but mercifully short commercial:

May You sing Like No One Is Listening

HT: Tripp

Jonny the Bagger

Dorothy Vining (Musings at 88) sent this - something I've published before, but good enough to publish over and over:

Northern VA: Women's Self-Defense

This summer, Tripp researched and signed our daughters up for the best women's self-defense course he could find.  We required them to go twice a week - even though they were sometimes exhausted after putting in a day working at summer camp. 

It was well worth the time and money and I want to recommend this particular course - offered in Alexandria and at Dulles -  to any woman who wants to avoid being a victim (I also recommend owning a gun to level the playing field):
 

She'Safe

Sexual assault and violence has touched all of our lives in some way.
Some of us have been victims, some of us have had loved ones who have
been victims and all of us have heard stories of victims. Just the
thought of it makes us feel uncomfortable, vulnerable and even afraid.
It is the goal of Capital Jiu-Jitsu™ to empower women to be proactive in
order to prevent attack situations, and, in the unfortunate and rare
event of an actual attack situation, to provide women with a plan of
action and the necessary training to successfully defend themselves and
get away.

Capital Jiu-Jitsu She'Safe classes are specifically tailored for
womens' self-defense. A She'Safe class teaches women basic self-defense
strategies - such as prevention, posture, perception, protection and
creating space - as well as proven techniques from standing and on the
ground.

Read more at Capital MMA

Men believe discussing problems a waste of time

Boy, does this explain a lot. As so often happens in our post-feminist culture, women have been deemed the norm and men the aberration from that norm.  So women's compulsion to talk things over has been labeled healthy and men's reluctance unhealthy.

Glad someone has shifted the cultural paradigm to take a more balanced approach - one which respects men and recognizes the need for balance.  And I think the advice is great: stop pressuring boys to talk about their feelings and start enlightening our girls that relationships can wither and die from their compulsion to talk things over. But didn't we all know this in our heart of hearts?

Males Believe Discussing Problems Is A Waste of Time, MU Study Shows
Psychology study contradicts popular idea that males need to feel safe to share feelings

Aug. 22, 2011

COLUMBIA, Mo. - A new University of Missouri study finds that boys feel that discussing problems is a waste of time.

"For years, popular psychologists have insisted that boys and men
would like to talk about their problems but are held back by fears of
embarrassment or appearing weak," said Amanda J. Rose, associate
professor of psychological sciences in the MU College of Arts and Science. 
"However, when we asked young people how talking about their problems
would make them feel, boys didn't express angst or distress about
discussing problems any more than girls. Instead, boys' responses
suggest that they just don't see talking about problems to be a
particularly useful activity."

Rose and her colleagues conducted four different studies that
included surveys and observations of nearly 2,000 children and
adolescents. The researchers found that girls had positive expectations
for how talking about problems would make them feel, such as expecting
to feel cared for, understood and less alone. On the other hand, boys
did not endorse some negative expectations more than girls, such as
expecting to feel embarrassed, worried about being teased, or bad about
not taking care of the problems themselves. Instead, boys reported that
talking about problems would make them feel "weird" and like they were
"wasting time."

"An implication is that parents should encourage their children to
adopt a middle ground when discussing problems. For boys, it would be
helpful to explain that, at least for some problems, some of the time,
talking about their problems is not a waste of time. Yet, parents also
should realize that they may be 'barking up the wrong tree' if they
think that making boys feel safer will make them confide. Instead,
helping boys see some utility in talking about problems may be more
effective," Rose said. "On the other hand, many girls are at risk for
excessive problem talk, which is linked with depression and anxiety, so
girls should know that talking about problems isn't the only way to
cope."

Rose believes that the findings may play into future romantic
relationships, as many relationships involve a "pursuit-withdraw cycle"
in which one partner (usually the woman) pursues talking about problems
while the other (usually the man) withdraws.

 "Women may really push their partners to share pent-up worries and
concerns because they hold expectations that talking makes people feel
better. But their partners may just not be interested and expect that
other coping mechanisms will make them feel better. Men may be more
likely to think talking about problems will make the problems feel
bigger, and engaging in different activities will take their minds off
of the problem. Men may just not be coming from the same place as their
partners," Rose said.

Read more at the University of Missouri News Bureau

Mommy Matters: Back-to-School

Available at my Constant Contact archives.
This was pretty much the same as last year's because of our recent move and getting Sophia and Maddy off to college.  But I did add a few things and I hope there are some tiomely reminders here.

Receive my eblast every month for free by subscribing at the top of my far right sidebar.

















August 2011   
Back to School Special



Mommy Matters     





Back to School . . .

It's
that time again!  With 38 back to school seasons under my belt - from
Montessori to homeschool, special ed, public school, Christian and
Catholic schools - I still love the feeling September brings of new
beginnings.

Even for homeschooling moms, the pattern with which
we were raised - new clothes, new school supplies, new teacher, a fresh
start - makes September feel more like a New Year than January.

Let
that feeling be the wind in your sails as you make decisions and set
goals for the coming school year.  Learn to encourage yourself just as
you encourage your kids.  Take time to try new things, to have fun.   Be merciful with yourself when things don't go perfectly. 

This
issue of Mommy Matters - an encore of last year's - is meant to
encourage homeschooling families with some fresh links and resources,
but there's stuff here that any mom or dad can use. Be sure to share
with other moms and teachers - just click the link at the bottom.

Praying for your new endeavors. . . for you and your families. . . for all God's best in the year ahead!










Free resources:

Sheppard Software 

Free tools, quizzes, games  -
check out geography!  HT: Marian 
************


Homeschool Diner
Homeschooling resources -
served up with a smile!
************


Montessori Mom
Oodles of free printables
************


Free Montessori resources
No matter your homeschool style, you will find lots of helpful stuff here!
************

BlueBonkers
Puzzles, math facts, activity and coloring pages galore!
************

Right at Home

 Sign up for their monthly newsletter, always chock full of links to make the most of each season/holiday/remembrance.

************

Donnayoung.org 

Calendars, planners, lesson plans

************

 

MommyTeachMe.net

Based on my books, Mommy, Teach Me! and Mommy, Teach Me to Read!, this website has loads of links and resources too.  When you have time, feel free to explore!


Encouraged by MommyLife and Mommy Matters?   I finance both through your support via Amazon purchases and Paypal donations to BarbaraSaysSo@gmail.com.









F
20 Great Reasons You Homeschool (click to enlarge)
YouTube Homeschool Humor


Homeschool Family(Tim Hawkins)

I Will Survive (Homeschool Mom)

You might be a homeschooler if . .

14 Days of Homeschool



One
of the first things I bought for our homeschool was a laminator, which I
still have today and for some years shared with my daughter Samantha -
now homeschool mom of six.

64% off - plus free shipping at Amazon

Your
laminator will pay for itself in many ways:  you can laminate
worksheets for erasable markers.  Especially if you have a big family,
you can extend the life of educational materials.

And it's fun to laminate your children's art.  Check out Maddy's circa 2000 portraits of her dad and me. 
mind with an open one.

~ Malcolm Forbes
~
More Free Helps:



LaVista Church of Christ offers hundreds of classic Bible illustrations for free download


 



Amazing Incredible Handwriting Worksheet Maker



Jan Brett's generous world of printable
activities and games

The Bible in Pictures

Be inspired:

Prayer of a Homeschool Mom















My fellow parenting pilgrims:

If
you're thinking deja vu, it's because most of this newsletter is an
encore of last year's Back-to-School edition.  August has been a busy
month for the Curtis Clan - moving from Bluemont to Lovettsville,
sending Sophia back to Liberty University for her senior year (last
week) and Maddy off to Catholic University for her freshman year (next
week).  Which reminds me: do you think we might be the only family in
history to have children at these two schools at the same time?

I
checked all the links and added a few.  Mostly wanted to get this to
you in time to make a difference as you start the new school year.  It
means so much to me to have this opportunity to encourage you as you go
about the most important work of all - raising the next generation.

Please know that I pray for you daily.  And I hope you will pray for me.

Enjoy
the last weeks of summer - don't forget to have fun!  I know it's a
cliche from older moms, but honestly - it goes by too quickly!

Love,
Barbara

Barbara Curtis
MommyLife 


















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