At Considerable Cost

In my earlier post about our children going to public school after home schooling exclusively, I shared our  first day experiences in my usual voice.   At the same time, I was working on this post.   This is a more matter-of-fact post that lays out our personal experiences in a very cut-and-dry manner.   That wasn't my mood last week, but now I am ready to re-visit the topic. Our Reasons for Choosing to Home school:   From my classroom experience and research, I understand that American public schools, with the best of intentions, teach too many topics, too early.   It is overwhelming to look at the amount of objectives (those specific skills/tasks you want children to master) at each grade level.   For example, I still firmly believe--and this is shared by experts who know more than me--that the math topic, re-grouping ("borrowing" from old school days), should be introduced in third grade.   In most states, it is always i...

"Is she in there?" "I think so.  Should we knock?" This was part of the conversation from my fellow teachers outside my classroom door the morning I returned to work, two months after the birth of my first child.    My locked classroom door.   I managed to get into the building with no contact with others, cover my window on my door, and lock myself in for a good cry.    I did not take separation from my baby very well.   I called my husband and told him I just couldn't stay.   He called the personnel office and asked about my leave options.   Then, he called Mama.    "I know it's hard, Joey, but you have to let her face this; she just has to do it." Later, when I talked to Mama, she told me how she felt when she took me to my first day of school.   She said leaving me at that poor, old south Louisiana school building was one of the hardest things she ever did. ...

Here's a recipe for one of our family's favorite meals.   Don't let the name throw you off; this Louisiana dish really is delicious! Typically, this is for Sunday brunch, but it manages to find its way to our weekday table, usually as leftovers, and occasionally this is the meal I bring to a new mom.   In New Orleans, it is a popular brunch dish. Sunday brunch is my favorite meal for entertaining.     It's already a relaxed day and the assortment of foods you can set out for brunch usually ensures something for everyone.   This dish, grillades (pronounced GREE-yods or GREE-yod), is usually the main dish at brunch.   It is accompanied by an assortment of fresh fruit, buttermilk biscuits, muffins or another breakfast bread, juices, coffee, and a yogurt bar with fruits and toppings, like granola, for the children (and adults).   Grillades are simply bits of round steak (or cube steak for more tenderness) simmered in a bro...

A confusing menu item for visitors to the deep south is macaroni and cheese.   Well, it's not the item itself that is so confusing.   It's the placement.   You will often find macaroni and cheese listed as a "Vegetable" choice.   I have two recipes I use, but the kids like this one best.   I usually use sharp Cheddar and whole wheat pasta.   Skim milk works well, also. 1 (8 ounce) pkg. dried elbow macaroni, cooked 3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese, divided 2 large eggs, lightly beatedn 1 1/2 cups milk 3/4 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. ground white pepper Freshly ground black pepper (optional) Layer one-third of macaroni in a lightly greased 2-quart casserole; sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.   Repeat layers with remaining two-thirds macaroni and 1 cup cheese, ending with macaroni layer.   Reserve remaining 1 cup cheese. Combine eggs and next 3 ingredients, stirring with a wire whisk or fork until blen...

The girls went to dance camp held by the local high school dance team.   It was a four-day camp with dance routines, daily little performances for parents, a t-shirt, trophy, and a final night performance.   They had so much fun!   It was a huge crowd, but seemed well-organized.   I was impressed with the overall behavior of the high-school girls, especially since the little girls seemed to look up to them so!   It was E's first dance camp in three years and it was C's first one.  It was my first experience with parking, dropping off, picking up in a school parking lot situation (as a parent).   By the last day, I was better!

I just want to share this for anyone who might stumble upon this little blog.   I just want to keep this here, for my children to read.   I just want to keep this here to refer back, time and again.   I just want THIS :   http://shirtofflame.blogspot.com/2011/02/why-i-avoid-both-catholic-left-and.html This is one of my favorite written pieces from any Catholic author, or otherwise for that matter.   It expressed what I longed for when I first read it.   My heart hurt so when I read posts by a pro-lifer which began with, "Oh, yeah, well, if you think that then you..." directed at those who commented in disagreement on a post.   The standard justification for such a  lack of civility was "I just tell it like it is."  I had to hide the posts from my Facebook newsfeed.  I almost cried when a Catholic posted on Facebook that he had to sit by a gay couple and included the comment, "Gross." in his post. ...

Even though it's been three days, I'm still blown away by the Olympic Opening Ceremony.   The director, Danny Boyle, left no doubt as to his talent and artistic genius.   I've seen some of his films and I was able to see a broadcast of the play, Frankenstein , he directed in 2011.   The opening ceremony had his artistic stamp all over it.   The "set" was incredible, with a lush agrarian landscape that changed before our eyes to industrial England.   As the set changed, so did the characters and performances, reflecting the incredible history of England during those years since the Industrial Revolution. Boyle has an incredible ability to see meaning and beauty in that which might be dismissed as ugly or messy by others.   Then, he portrays it with his unique sensibility which manages to combine urban and industrial with beautiful.   Surely, his working-class upbringing in Manchester influenced him. ...