Hi Maija!

I've just been reminded by my favorite SIL that I've neglected this blog once again. Summertime does pull me away from the computer. This isn't a bad thing however really. Here's what we've been up to since recovering from Strep throat:

Garage Sale!! We hid away from the heat in our basement going through container after container of toys. This sure did cure my "afluenza." The boys made close to $100.00 and I freed up several containers for storage. My long term goal is to bring organization to our basement.

We've also been working on a project for H.E.A.R.T.S- Homeschoolers Educating And Reaching out Through Service. We've been turning in cans for money to buy school supplies for needy families. We don't use many school supplies ourselves as unschoolers. We seem to be able to reuse what we have.

We installed a basketball hoop and we're all enjoying it. I had to convince DH to allow us to spoil him with this gift for Father's Day. He didn't want us to spend that much on him, but when I pointed out its use for "homeschool P.E", he reconsidered. It was more of a project putting together and cementing it in than I thought it was going to be, but being unschoolers we figured it out. Of course having a DH with an engineering background helped! Now the family hangs out on the driveway when dad gets home from work. I have yet to win at Horse.

Our DK (dear kitten) is quickly becoming a DC (dear cat). She is turning out to be a brute. Her favorite kitty fight club move lately is a head lock on poor old Kita. I'm feeling guilty now for exposing my senior citizen cat to a young wild thing. Kita has lost weight though which she needed to do.

As far as my soap box, I'm upset the circus is coming to town. I don't believe animals should be chained up and whipped for our entertainment. This circus even has an elephant which breaks my heart.

I'm also upset about spanking. Its the anniversary of my life changing moment at the WI State Fair. Years ago I witnessed a man beat his son at the fair and it awoke in me a desire to stop child abuse. Last week I witnessed a mother spank her naked daughter's butt because she wouldn't put on her swimsuit. It broke my heart. I'm ready for an anti-spanking law.

Many people say child abuse education is the key, not laws. I've been asked, "As a homeschooler, how can you say you want the government making parenting decisions for you?" The way I see it, education and child abuse are two separate things. Law currently prohibits us from spanking the obnoxious person in front of us. You'd be arrested and made to register as a sex offender if you spanked anyone under the age of 18, unless of course, they are on your tax return.

Parents have the right to establish their own discipline, but slapping your kid across the face or the butt is not discipline. I'm so sick of Right Wingers trying to use the Bible to justify it. They need to learn Hebrew and learn the true definition of "the rod."

As a Christian myself, I prayed about how to help my DS behave. He was strong willed and time outs didn't seem to phase him. After prayer, God didn't lead me to spank him. God told me to give my son a mission, a job, a responsibility. Redirection really does work. DS went from troublemaker toddler to responsible helper. He thrived on the direction and it gave him self esteem.

Well, I suppose this is plenty of blogging for now. I'll get down from the soap box and actually pick up a literal box of soap to wash clothes. Peace and blessings!