Kids and burnout

I remember when my boys were young and a few people told me I had them involved in to many things. I didn’t think they were. I saw this on a special report the other night and started to think about it.

This report reminded me of my niece who danced ALL THE TIME. Everyday she had dance. Not only did she have dancing but it was at “the best” dance studio in Minneapolis and wasn’t anywhere near their home. There was a lot of driving involved not to mention the money spent. But it’s all she got to do. Like the gymnast in the story. She finally got tired of never doing anything with her friends so when she got to high school, she quit dance and got to do everything in high school and not just dance.

My kids started out playing an instrument and they both played baseball. Jason played hockey one year and then switched over to basketball. Toby tried a bunch of different things like wrestling, karate and he really liked his guns. They also had Sunday school and confirmation. They only did one thing per season.They both also had swimming lessons all winter at the jr high school. I guess my point is that we didn’t race from one thing to another and they only did the things they wanted to do. I never made them do anything but they did have to finish what they started. Toby hated basketball but I made him finish the season and told him he didn’t have to play again.

Do you think kids now are involved in to many things? Do you think kids just play enough? I always thought playing was very important.

How to prevent sagging

Question of the day from Steve and Laura

Analog or digital watch?

What If We Lost The Internet?

Last night when this came on the news Paul laughed and said “I’d like to see what you’d be like with no computer!” I turned to him and said “what the hell about you?” What about all your farms and your card playing?” We both LOVE the computer and it’s no secret.

What if you lost your Internet? What would you do? When this was on Good Question last night, we both kind of chuckled. If we lost our power and didn’t have the Internet, I’d be okay. If I know it’s going to be down for a little while for maintenance, I’m okay with that too as I know it’s going to happen so I just do other things. If I were going to go somewhere where there was no Internet, I’d still be fine. I’d miss it but I sure wouldn’t die. But I do like having it and wouldn’t want to go back to the days of not having it.

Some of the people were funny. One woman said she loved her Internet but if she didn’t have it anymore, her house would be clean. One man said if they didn’t have it, he and his wife may start talking to each other again. There were a lot of people who they interviewed and it was kind of humorous.

Back before we had it, I did pretty much the same things I do now. I read and knit. I spent time outside. I will admit that I’m online more than I’m not and I really enjoy the interaction with other people and I love looking things up and playing some of the games but I still read and knit and still do spend time outside and play Guitar Hero. Just not as much I guess.

As for husbands and wives taking. Paul and I are having a pretty good time doing the whole farming thing on Facebook and he’s on his and I’m on mine and we harvest for each other and stuff and before we had the Internet, he was sleeping on the couch and I’d be sitting there reading or knitting so for us, I think it gave us something fun to do together.

What about you? What all do you do online and would you miss it if you didn’t have it or do you wish we didn’t have the Internet at all?

A contrast in thinking from Darryl

If a conservative doesn’t like guns, he doesn’t buy one.

If a liberal doesn’t like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a conservative is a vegetarian, he doesn’t eat meat.

If a liberal is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a conservative sees a foreign threat, he thinks about how to defeat his enemy.

A liberal wonders how to surrender gracefully and still look good.

If a conservative is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.

If a liberal is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a black man or Hispanic are conservative, they see themselves as independently successful.

Their liberal counterparts see themselves as victims in need of government protection.

If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.

A liberal wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, he switches channels.

Liberals demand that those they don’t like be shut down.

If a conservative is a non-believer, he doesn’t go to church.

A liberal non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

(Unless it’s a foreign religion, of course!)

If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.

A liberal demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a conservative slips and falls in a store, he gets up, laughs and is embarrassed.

If a liberal slips and falls, he wants an explanation why he fell, safety regulations passed by the Gov’t, and then sues for compensation.

If a conservative reads this, he’ll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.

A liberal will delete it because he’s “offended”.

Question of the day from Steve and Laura

Rare or Well-done?

Doing what’s right for ALL the kids

I’ve always stood behind public schools. Maybe because I worked in one for so many years. Maybe because I’ve had pretty good luck with them and my boys were happy there “for the most part.” I’m not really sure. It was hard getting Toby through elementary school but that wasn’t the schools fault. I blame the people who “evaluated” him and put him in special ed without my permission and then wouldn’t let him out. That’s another post!!

We live in one of the poorest school districts in the state. It’s sad really. We recently voted to pass a referendum that the school desperately needed. The last time we voted for one, it got blasted down with a big fat NO and the school has been operating on the same amount of money since 2006. Since then here are just a few things that have been cut.

*Reduced office staff and /or frozen salaries* I have been a secretary in a building and I was one of 4. There is only ONE of them at the elementary school. ONE!! This ONE person has to answer phones, take lunch count, do all the principal’s work and many, many more things and she’s all by herself. To everyone, whether you believe this or not, the secretary runs the building and to me, ONE??? Can’t imagine.

*Cut the equivalent of 10 and one half teachers* This has left the younger grades of having 25-30 students per class. I feel that’s way to high for those young grades. It’s not so bad in higher grades but the younger the kids, the smaller the class size should be in my opinion.

*Started to charge for all day/every day kindergarten* This is the one that kills me the most. How can you charge people for this? I know someone who can’t afford this and her child can only go every other day. How does this make them equal to their peers when they enter 1st grade? How does this make the child feel? Most kids love school when they start and I’m sure they ask “do I go to school tomorrow?” I know Christopher does. He loves school days. Do these parents say they just can’t afford it? It sure doesn’t seem like a good thing to cut to me. How much does it affect the other kids who have to play “catch up” for them when they do go to 1st grade?

*Cut four paraprofessionals* I know a Para there and have talked to her and I’m not even getting into this one. The extreme special ed kids get the Para’s now and it’s the average students who’re going to suffer and maybe just get over looked. A child who may just need a little help with this or that is going to be ignored and hopefully they have parents who will take over this and help their children.

*Reduced supply budget* I’m going to let Sue tell you what she has to send with the kids each year/month.

*Increased student activities fees by 50% and increased ticket prices*

These are just some of the small things that have been cut in this school district since we moved here in 95. Well, the vote got a NO again. The vote was 49% yes and 51% no. I heard people say “I don’t want my taxes to go up.” “My kids aren’t in school anymore” and “I don’t have kids in public school.”

Don’t you feel we are all responsible for our young kids? Why is it people only seem to care when they have a child in a school? Paul and I went out on a cold and rainy night to vote YES. We didn’t have to. Yes we have grandchildren in this district but we would have done it anyway. How can we possibly make this world a better place if we don’t rank education right up there on top and want the best for the kids we are rearing? I don’t understand why people don’t seem to care about this. Whether you home school or go the private school route, what about the kids who don’t have the choice of that advantage? I feel we all need to help those that have no choice.

When we walked in and saw the people in line, we knew it was going to get a NO. The people were all seniors. We knew! Being the vote was so close; there may be another vote in a few months. I pray it will pass for the kids. Every other day Kindergarten for people who can’t afford to pay appalls me.

It wasn’t even like they’re talking a huge amount of money. Even if it was, if we don’t make our schools a better place, what will happen in the future? This district will close and the town will die off and everyone will wonder what happened.

Stop passing the buck and give these kids a break I say.

Tough Love

Most people nowadays think it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of “those moments”.

One that I have found very effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride during which I say nothing and give the child the opportunity to reflect on his or her behavior.

I don’t know whether it’s the steady vibration from the car or just the time away from any distractions, such as TV, video games, computer, iPod, etc.

Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together.  I believe that eye to eye contact during these sessions is an important element in achieving the desired results.

I’ve included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique.

Question of the day from mssc

Do you exercise regularly?

An Invasion Of Privacy?

This was on our news on something called Inside The Box and I wanted to know what everyone thought about it.

“A teacher in Northfield, MN is now changing a method he used to help motivate his students. After a test, he would post the names and grades of students who got As and Bs on a board in front of the class.

It turns out that was against the law — because it violates a student’s privacy.

The teacher was told to stop doing that and he did.

But it creates an interesting question — how much information is too much when it comes to a student’s grade?

Do you think the teacher was wrong to highlight the kids who did well like that?”

Here are a few of the comments from this questions:

• 6:21 PM – cadgma — You could say everything in every situation can be an invasion of privacy. If the teacher did not do it to punish the lower grades then let it be. What about all the High Schools and Colleges that post Honor rolls or Dean’s Lists in newspapers? Like I said if someone wants to find fault they can do that with every circumstance in life. We have turned into a country of whiners and we need to stop.
• 6:17 PM – Nancy — I think the teacher should be allowed to post the scores.  Why are we so afraid to take pride in a job well done?  Many children strive to get on a list like this.  If we did this more often, we might not have so much mediocrity in our educational system.  It is not an invasion of privacy.
• 5:45 PM – Faith — Should we also keep sports stats private? If we publish top scorers in games, does that violate anyone’s rights? What about honor rolls? Should we display great student art work? Should we eliminate 1st chair, 2nd chair, etc. in band? If we learn by imitation and are inspired by excellence, what is wrong with displaying excellent results? Is doing well such a threat to mediocre or poor performers that we need to keep excellence a secret? Scary!
• 5:35 PM – guest — I know people who have had this teacher and it’s not a bad thing at all. People in the class get to see those that understand it and can ask others for help. It’s not like the teacher is posting the names of those who got F’s. The teacher is just rewarding those who worked hard.
• 5:31 PM – Ben — The teacher should receive a fine/punishment as student privacy laws are not new at all.  In fact the school itself should receive fine/punishments as well.  The school should be providing good education as to relevant laws as well as better and approved techniques to  motivate students.  I work in a college and its VERY clear what to share/not.
• 5:18 PM – Andrea — Some students who do well prefer to keep that achievement to themselves to remain humble and maintain relationships. Students will notice the names of those students not listed, which is also not always an accurate reflection on the work put into the class. Some students work very hard to get a “C” in a subject where another student may come by an “A” with very little invested.

What do you think of it?

Dog and Cat Diaries……..from Darryl

Excerpt from a Dog’s Diary……..

8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am – A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am – A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am – Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm – Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm – Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm – Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm – Milk Bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm – Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm – Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm – Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

Excerpt from a Cat’s Diary…

Day 983 of my captivity….

My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.

Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength.

The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a ‘good little hunter’ I am. Bastards.

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of ‘allergies.’ I must learn what this means and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow — but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released – and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe. for now.

Question of the day

Since we talked about this yesterday, I thought I’d ask you this. How much of your holiday shopping do you do online?

People in the drivers seat

I was sitting here one day two weeks ago and a big white truck pulled into the driveway. I thought it was my sister-in-law and wondered why she was here. As I glanced at her getting out of the truck I just thought she must have been in the neighborhood so I waited for her to get to the door. When I went to the door I discovered, it wasn’t her. It was a woman “representing” our power company.

She started telling me, TELLING ME and not “talking” to me that a lot of our trees needed to be cut down. I about had a stroke. She pretty much told me that a path of a good 20 feet wide and a good 50 feet long, needed to be removed from our front yard. Keep in mind that these tree’s were our privacy from the road.

I asked her why they couldn’t just be trimmed and she informed me that the power company can’t afford to come out and “trim” these box-elder tree’s that I didn’t plant there in the first place. She said the birds ate the seeds and took a crap and that’s the only reason the tree’s were there and they were “garbage” trees anyway!!! I’m NOT kidding you. She really said that. Well, I just didn’t quite know what to say to that other than we’ve been watching these tree’s grow for years now and that’s one of the nice things about living on 80 acres in the country. We have privacy and I didn’t want all those tree’s cut down the way she described it. I also told her that my husband would have a stroke when I told him. I asked her to come back when he was home. I knew Paul would flip out.

I even told her I’d be willing to hire my own tree trimming company and pay for it myself and she told me that working that close to power lines, they need a special license. While I know part of that may be true, she was trying to bully me and it really started pissing me off. She told me I had every right to refuse to let them be trimmed but then they’d put some kind of adapter on the pole on the road so if a tree hit any power lines, only our power would go off and if it was the middle of January and we lost our power on a Friday night, nobody would come to help me until Monday!!

This woman was very rude. Sue told me I should have called the power company and tell them this woman was very pushy and a big bully but I knew it wouldn’t do any good. They don’t “really” care do they? I know it had to be done but I don’t like the way I was treated. She also argued with me that she was out here 2 years ago when they trimmed. I called her on that one. I asked her if she ever saw me before and she said no so then I asked her who she talked to as we’ve lived here since 95. She couldn’t answer me so I knew I had her. I also told her if she’d told me 2 years ago I’d lose all these tree’s, I’d have kept them trimmed and we wouldn’t be having this conversation. It turns out they trimmed the tree’s on the road and they don’t need permission to trim those.

I asked her if I had to give her an answer right this minute and she said no, that she’d come back the following week. I told her I had to talk to Paul and he would NOT be very happy to have a path like that through our trees. I did give her the okay but she really backed off the next time she came out here and the path they cut down was nothing like she told me it was going to be.

It just makes me wonder if any of you have had experiences like this? Why do people “in the driver’s seat” seem to think they can come and just bully you this way? Obviously I didn’t want to lose power in the winter or any other time but couldn’t she have been a little kinder and talked to me like we were equals and not like she was the Queen Of The World? What makes people act like this?

God is the best inventor

Question of the day

Have you started Christmas shopping?

Braingle

Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day

Test your knowledge of cereals. Identify the cereal described by each entry.

The World’s Funniest Real Ads

Believe it or not, these ads actually found their way into newspapers all over the world:

Braille dictionary for sale. Must see to appreciate.

FOR SALE BY OWNER: Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000.00 or best offer. No longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything.

Help wanted, singer for rock band. Must be female or male.

For sale, Hope Chest, brand new, half off, long story.

Help wanted, adult or mature teenager to baby-sit. One dollar an hour.

Lost: small brown poodle. Reward. Neutered. Like one of the family.

For sale: a quilted high chair that can be made into a table, potty chair, rocking horse, refrigerator, spring coat, size 8 and fur collar.

Four-posted bed, 101 years old. Perfect for antique lover.

Wanted: Part-time married girls for soda fountain in sandwich shop.

Man wanted to work in dynamite factory. Must be willing to travel.

Christmas sale. Handmade gifts for the hard-to- find person.

Wanted, man to take care of cows that does not smoke or drink.

Three-year old teacher needed for pre-school. Experience preferred.

Wanted. Widower with school-age children requires person to assume general housekeeping duties. Must be capable of contributing to growth of family.

Tired of working for only $9.75 per hour? We offer profit sharing and flexible hours. Starting pay: $7 — $9 per hour.

Our sofa seats the whole mob and it’s made of 100% Italian leather.

Full sized mattress. 20 year warranty. Like New. Slight urine smell.

Nordic Track $300 hardly used, call Chubby.

Joining nudist colony! Must sell washer and dryer $300.

Open house body shapers toning salon free coffee and donuts

Found: dirty white dog. Looks like a rat… been out while. Better be reward.

Exercise equipment: Queen Size Mattress & Box Springs – $175.

ALZHEIMER’S CENTER PREPARES FOR AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER.

Free Yorkshire Terrier: 8 years old. Hateful little dog.

Free puppies: ½ cocker spaniel, ½ sneaky neighbor’s dog.

Free puppies: part German Shepherd, part stupid dog.

German Shepherd, 85 lbs. Neutered. Speaks German. Free.

Snow Blower for sale…only used on snowy days.

Bill’s Septic Cleaning: “We Haul American-Made Products.”

Cows, calves never bred…also 1 gay bull for sale.

Nice Parachute – Never opened. Used once.

Hummels – Largest selection ever. “If it’s in stock, then we have it!”

1 man, 7 women hot tub. $850/offer.

Shakespeare’s Pizza. Free chopsticks.

Harrisburg Postal Employee Gun Club.

Tickle-Me-Elmo, still in box, comes with its own 1988 Ford Mustang, 5L, Auto, Excellent condition $6800.

Question of the day from Steve and Laura

Mac or PC?

Braingle

Money Talks

Do you listen when money talks? There are many phrases and sayings that talk about money. Speaking of money, see how many of these phrases you can figure out.

You know you’re living in the twenty-first century when…

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven’t played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of 3.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that they don’t have e-mail addresses.

6. You go home after a long day at work and you still answer the phone in a business manner.

7. You make phone calls from home, you accidentally dial “9″ to get an outside line.

8. You’ve sat at the same desk for four years and worked for three different companies.

10. You learn about your job redundancy on the 11 o’clock news.

11. Your boss doesn’t have the ability to do your job.

12. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if anyone is home.

13. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the screen.

14. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn’t have the first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and you turn around to go home and get it.

15. You get up in the morning and go online before getting your coffee.

16. You start tilting your head sideways to smile.

17. You’re reading this and nodding and laughing.

18. Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this message.

19. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

20. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn’t a #9 on this list.

AND NOW U R LAUGHING at yourself.