Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Danger, Will Robinson, Danger!
Why the Homeschooling Community Needs to Get Over Itself
I am no fan of HSLDA, prior blog posts have made that clear. If you wonder why, first I'll say: I am a SECULAR homeschooler and HSLDA is a
Christian group promoting Christian homeschooling to the degree that it seeks to have only Christian homeschooling recognized as 'legitimate' homeschooling. Then I'll say, go through the archives and
read what I've written before regarding HSLDA.
I'm not a fan of Christian homeschooling groups. Again, read through the archives. (Personal Note: I have several Christian friends who have no problem with me not being a fan of the religion and I have no problem with them because they are the folks that are living their faith - which includes recognizing that my spiritual belief system is my business.)
I'm not a fan of Christian homeschooling groups. Again, read through the archives. (Personal Note: I have several Christian friends who have no problem with me not being a fan of the religion and I have no problem with them because they are the folks that are living their faith - which includes recognizing that my spiritual belief system is my business.)
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I'm enough of a realist to recognize that not everyone's life is set up in such a way as to support homeschooling. Women have to work or want to work. Men have to work or want to work. That's the reality and the 'stripped down to the core' reason why everyone doesn't homeschool. Both parents have to work or choose to work. Other reasons that some give like "I can't teach my children" or "I couldn't spend every moment with my children" are superficial reasons that are based in insecurity or fear. But I'm digressing big time.
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So, here's the thing - because I am such a HUGE fan of homeschooling, I totally and fully support anyone who homeschools no matter how they homeschool or why they homeschool. Whatever reason you have for keeping your kids at home, under your care and tutelage, is a legitimate reason. Whatever method you choose to educate your children while they are at home with you is a legitimate method.
Guess what? THAT is how we should ALL feel toward one another. Support homeschooling no matter what and for the love of all that is holy, support every parent who chooses to homeschool no matter HOW they do it. Otherwise it's a slippery slope folks.
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You can read OCHCE's statement here: http://www.ochec.com/Categories.aspx?Id=The_Truth_About_Virtual_Online_Schools
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Here's how we should recognize homeschoolers as it pertains
to allowing them to attending homeschooling events, functions, or field
trips: Are you home during the day as
opposed to being locked in a B&M school?
Do you have the freedom and flexibility to attend events, functions, or
field trips outside the home during 'normal school hours'? If the answer is yes to those two questions -
Congratulations YOU ARE HOMESCHOOLING!
Christian homeschooling groups can turn people away for not
subscribing to their proclaimed religious beliefs, but to turn kids away
because of the method they use to school in their home is the most asinine form
of discrimination I've ever heard!
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, secular
homeschoolers need a national alliance to work for the betterment of ALL
homeschoolers and I'm rededicating myself to making that alliance a reality.
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~Mari B.
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Lessons Learned From a 5K Run
As some of you know, I began training in June with the goal
of getting into better shape and losing some weight. A month later I incorporated weight training
as well. I don't know how in the world I
finally got the gumption to do this, and then stick with it, but I did - with
help from my friend who was my training buddy
My goal was to run 3 miles in under 45 minutes and lose 25 pounds. For three and 1/2 months I
trained.....diligently. I reached the
point where I was clearly seeing muscle definition and feeling increased
strength from the weight training and I was able to run 3 miles in just over 45
minutes. I did not, however, lose a
freaking pound. It nagged at me mentally
and emotionally and I had to fight to keep that from discouraging me and I will
admit it became harder and harder to find the will to keep going.....but I
did. Then 'life' started happening.
Seven weeks ago Punky began rehearsals for her first major
role as Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Counting driving time, our entire evenings, from 6:30 until 11pm or
later were taken up with preparing to perform and then performing. I was no longer able to make it to weigh
training class - which is only offered in the evenings and I was exhausted in
the mornings and getting up to run was more of a struggle than ever. I did keep training, working toward running 3
miles in 45 minutes or less, because my training buddy and I had decided to
register to run our first 5K marathon - Run of Dye. I was determined to run and not die.
About four and a half weeks before Marathon
day, I did something to my left hip while running. Whatever it was that I did it hurt like a son
of a bitch. I was already battling some
pain from my left knee (I tore the hell out of it in a bicycle collision when I
was 15) and swelling and pain in my left ankle, which I had severely sprained
Spring of 2012 in a bad fall. Did I mention
that I have fibromyalgia? Training
became more and more of a struggle and I really missed my weight training -
which really had helped with the 5K training.
I went from running 3 days a week to 2 days a week and then only here
and there. The day after a run my hip hurt
so bad I could barely walk. Finally one
morning while running I 'blew my hip out'.
I say that because that is exactly what it felt like. That was my "hit the wall' moment
because I was never able to run again.
It took several days before I could even power walk and the last time I
power walked the pain in my hip didn't disappear until a day before the
marathon. I didn't run again. At all.
I couldn't. To tell the truth I
wanted to skip the 5K marathon all together.
I was still walking with some pain and a slight limp.
Yesterday was the marathon and I didn't skip it. I did it.
Not only did I do it, but I actually met my goal. I finished in 44:57. That's a 14.37 minutes mile. That's my best time ever. While I'm not surprised I finished, I'm a
little surprised I finished in my goal time.
Why, I wondered, was I able to do
that? I hadn't run, or even walked, for
weeks. My hip had only JUST stopped
aching every day and I have been so busy with Punky's schedule, having company,
and preparing for hubby to get home for his two week R&R that I *never*
thought it was even possible to finish within in my goal time. On top of all that, when we arrived at the
marathon we discovered that the terrain we were running on was more like a
cross country experience than what I was used to doing - running on
pavement/sidewalks. The area had been
mowed down but it was the most uneven terrain - roots sticking up everywhere,
slopes and holes, etc. I had to keep my
eyes on the ground to avoid tripping or worse crashing to the ground like the
giant in 'Jack and the Beanstalk'. True
story.
So, today I'm still wondering: How did I do it? How was it possible? After some thought I have a few answers and I
realize that they don't just apply to my 5K run.
1) Set a goal and work to achieve it. You might fail, you might have to stop and start
again, or you might just might succeed.
It's worth the effort to set the goal and work to fulfill it. Success or failure notwithstanding. The journey really is the most important
part.
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3) Realize that what you do today has a ripple
effect in your life. If you work
hard for days at a time, weeks at a time, even months at a time and then become
derailed remember that all that hard work you did isn't for nothing. It *does* pay off in the end and maybe in
ways you didn't expect. It becomes a
part of who you are and helps you along your path - one way or another.
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So not only did my 5K training journey emphasize these life
lessons for me, they are the reasons I succeeded. I set a goal and worked, as best I could, to
achieve it. I didn't go it alone. The time I was able to work hard and train
paid off for the times I couldn't and still counted. The last quarter mile of the race, when I
wasn't going to finish in time, I wanted to prove to myself I could do it and I
ignored the pain in my hip, knee, ankle and chest and pushed it as hard as I
could and that last quarter of a mile felt like it would be the death of me in
some ways, but I wanted to prove to myself I could do it and the pay off was
huge.
Of course, I'm not the inappropriate homeschooler for
nothing. There were a few inappropriate
lessons I learned doing the 5K:
- I am capable of
being so LOUD that the emcee of the event could hear me yell, "You
suck" over the roar of a VERY large crowd and rock music coming from the
speakers. (In my defense he was throwing
out free prizes and was totally ignoring the folks in the back, where my
friends and I were.)
- When being chastised by the emcee for yelling out he
sucked, I resort to language that wasn't appropriate. It wasn't language that turned the air really
blue - more like robin egg blue.
- I'm brazen enough that when city didn't provide any cops
to help direct the crazy traffic into and out of the parking area I am willing
to take my hat off and use it to direct cars.
So, that's my 5K training journey.
The most shocking thing of all for me though is the fact
that I fully intend to get up in the morning and run. I'm doing it for me, just for me.
~Mari B.
P.S. - Can you believe the chick in the flexible picture??
***10/28/13***
P.S.S. - I didn't think it was necessary, but apparently it is. I KNOW that a 5K is not a marathon. I know that the proper terminology is 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon. I know what the distances are for each as well. I was being IRONIC. ;-) The 5K was my marathon.....you know for me, it felt like a marathon.....see it's not as funny when you have to explain the joke. ;-)
***10/28/13***
P.S.S. - I didn't think it was necessary, but apparently it is. I KNOW that a 5K is not a marathon. I know that the proper terminology is 5K, 10K, half marathon and marathon. I know what the distances are for each as well. I was being IRONIC. ;-) The 5K was my marathon.....you know for me, it felt like a marathon.....see it's not as funny when you have to explain the joke. ;-)
Monday, October 21, 2013
How Scout Finch Changed Our Lives
The Evolution of Punky
Punky has spent the last 7 weeks in a small town in Alabama called Maycomb
County. She has a father named Atticus and a brother
Jem. She's a tomboy with a keen mind and
a bravado that only a 10 year old can have.
She's dealt with folks calling her all sorts of names and screaming at
her about how her daddy defends niggers.
She's been attacked and watched her brother's arm get broken by the most
bigoted, lying scum in all of Maycomb.
She's dealt with the death of one innocent black man and witnessed the
death of another. She's learned valuable
life lessons about courage, empathy, and honesty as well as having the
innocence torn away from her childhood by witnessing the horrors man commits against
his fellow men.
Punky has brought the role of Scout, in 'To Kill a
Mockingbird', to life in a way that has astonished me. More importantly, the leap she's taken in her
own growth and maturity matches her ability to breath life into Scout. Punky's dedication to her craft and her
commitment to the part, her cast mates, and the director rival - in my opinion
- an adult who is a veteran of theatre.
Somewhere along this 7 week journey Punky became a young woman. She's only 12 but she has demonstrated the maturity,
responsibility, and ability of a much older girl. Her composure and demeanor are remarkable for
one so young. She's dealt with a few
personal issues along the way and there has been a marked difference in how she
would have handled those issues 7 weeks ago to how she did handle them.
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Punky has received numerous compliments and extensive praise
from family, friends, and even strangers for her performance. That is what they all see....
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We made the choice to homeschool and Punky made the choice
to go for her dream. Life is all about
choices, good or bad, right or wrong, our destinies will unfold according to
our choices.
~Mari B.
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