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What Are Schools Really Teaching????

February 21, 2009 By 11 Comments
The cigarette is the most common method of smo...
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I had an odd conversation with Abigail the other day which made me wonder what are schools teaching my child.  Abigail, who is now 8, and I were driving in the car and she said the oddest thing to me.  This is how our conversation went…

A.  “Mommy, I hate that Daddy smokes”

Me.  “I know I do too but he only smokes once in a while and never around us.”

At this point I figured that the conversation would end but with Abigail the conversation never seems to end.

A.  “Well why do people smoke?”

Me.  “I think that people start because they think that they look cool and then it is hard to stop.”

A.  “Well Daddy must be stupid then.”

Me.  “No Abigail a lot of people used to smoke.  They did not know a long time ago that it was bad for you.  Even your grandma smoked right up until mommy was in college.  It was just something that was not thought of as a bad thing for your health like it is today.”

A.  “Oh wow mommy, did grandma do drugs the whole time you were growing up?”

OK this is where I am questioning what my kids are learning in school.  Since when is smoking considered being a drug addiction?  From this point I quickly tried to explain that people who are called drug addicts do drugs that are not legal.  Cigarettes and alcohol are legal but you have to be an adult to buy them.  So by the end of this conversation I was wondering if she raised her hand in the middle of class and told them all that her dad is a drug addict?  You never know with that one.  I am walking on eggshells just waiting for the school to call about my drug addict husband.

Perhaps this makes it clear that 3rd graders are confusing the messages that they are getting.  Perhaps their young minds are just not ready to tell a difference between a smoker, a drug addict and an alcoholic.  My concern comes in that no one is clearing all of this up for them!  They walk around thinking that their father is a druggie because he smokes a cigarette every few days.  Oh and to top it off Emma, my 5 year old, hates Obama because he smokes.  She has learned in school that this means we should not respect our president.  Oh the things that they are learning are astonishing to me.  I would settle for some good old reading skills.  I think that this is an important lesson in assuring that your children get the messages being pushed on them.  You do not want to be a druggie in their eyes like my husband apparently is!

Becca

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Outside Will Get You?

February 12, 2009 By 18 Comments

abby-in-leaves

As a child I can remember going out to play.  Yes it is true!  We would play in our yard or a friends yard.  We would even take a walk around the neighborhood.  We would do anything to get out of the house.  You know we would be kids!

What is going on with the world today that a child can no longer be a child?  Why is it that we do not feel that our children need outside time?  Why have we let the media taint how children grow up?  These are all things that I have become passionate about.  There really is no more risk for bad things then there used to be.  There are just as many bad people out there but lets get real.

  1. The bad guys do not out number the good guys.  I know that the news that we watch would make us think that the bad guys are all just waiting for us to open our doors and let our kids out.  The truth is that they are not!  I do not want you to misunderstand there are bad guys.  There are men and women who take and hurt children.  How many are there really though and why do you think that they want your child?  Statistics do show though that these men and women who abduct children often know the children!  So where is the danger?
  2. The kids are safer inside.  Oh here is an arguement!  You are right it is much better to have your kids cooped up in the house playing video games or watching TV then it is to open the door and tell them to go play.  I do not know the exact numbers here but I am pretty sure that the number of kids who die a little everyday from childhood obesity are much worse off then the kids who are out climbing trees.
  3. Kids will go with anyone.  I am sorry but I know that Abigail and Emma are smart.  I know that they would not talk to anyone or approach a car.   This is because I have taught them if there is stranger danger to say no then go and tell someone you trust.  They have street smarts and are a pair.  They use the buddy system daily.  They know what to do and I am never all that far away.  Not to mention I peek outside from time to time to see where they are, what they are doing and why!

Now I know that some of you will come back and have a lot to say and for you, all I can say is remember.  That is right, take a moment and remember when you were a kid.  You played outside until you heard your mom calling you for dinner.   I think that it would be fair to say that we are keeping our kids back by not affording them the same opportunity.  So if you need to call DSS go ahead but my kids will play outside without me… EVERY day!

Becca

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Sick

February 10, 2009 By 7 Comments
Do you see any hives?
Do you see any hives?

I think that my favorite kids poems ever is “Sick” by Shell Silverstein.  I used to love this poem more then anything and I cannot tell you the number of times I have read it in my life.  I sit here thinking about this poem for a few reasons:

  1. Abigail keeps faking being sick.  This is what the poem is all about.  It is about a girl who has everything wrong with her until she finds out that it is Saturday.  She is then by some miracle better.  This is now Abigail starring in the role of the faking little girl.  She has gotten one over on me a few times in the past few weeks but now I am on to her.  I do not know why she is avoiding going to school.  It used to be something that she loved!  All I know is that no more children will be staying home with mommy unless they have a fever and cannot move off of the couch.  I do not want to entertain all day.  I want to see Abigail and Emma off to school and play with the baby.  I want to work when the baby is sleeping not entertain an imitation sick child. 
  2. The baby is sick:  Yes it is true I think that we have an ear infection on our hands.  This would be the first for baby Analiese which is impressive being that we are moving closer to two with each passing day.  I hate when babies are sick.  They cannot tell you what hurts.  They cannot tell you when their fever is creeping back up.  It makes it all so hard to have to watch them hurt and be sad.  It just breaks my heart how Analiese still wants to be a trooper and has not learned better yet.  She still wants to play even though I know that it hurts for her to hold her head up.  She still wants to come to dinner even though she does not want to eat.  I just find it all so heartbreaking.
  3. I want it to be Saturday:  Yes I know that the week just started but in the poem it is all better because it is Saturday.  I sit here wishing for one of these magical Saturdays!

** oh and to top it off I just picked Emma up from school.  She had one hive and this was apparently a reason to come home urggg**

I hope that you are having a better time this February with your sick little ones!  I am just looking for Saturday!

Becca

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