Monty Python Clip

OK most of you all know that i am a home birth advocate. there is a time for hospitals, but only 5-10% of births need them. everyone else would be safer, yes, SAFER at home where there is less stress, mommy is already immune to the germs, the midwife stays in the room the whole time instead of popping in and out like a doctor, and techy "interventions" that cause complications (pitocin, cytotec, pain killers, stirrups, forceps, vacuums, etc.) are not available.

everytime i watch this video, i can't decide if i should laugh or cry. it is done by monty python. their humor is to take something normal and tweak it just barely enough to make it funny. this is a skit of a hospital birth and i am not sure they tweaked it enough (or at all) to not make it real. I have had four hospital births and three home births (#four will be this october). this clip is way too close to the truth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arCITMfxvEc

Child discipline is on my mind today for some reason.

I have seen many parents in fast foods and at parks who thought their small child's disobedience was normal or even cute. By the time the children are in their preschool years they aren't so cute, but the parents are bigger and act like they are long suffering martyrs and "anyway what can you do? this is the way children are."

I find this incredibly sad.

a child only behaves in the way they are taught to behave. If you give in to their whining, you have taught them that whining is the way to get what they want. If you ignore their disobedience you have taught them that obedience is unimportant. and the saddest thing of all, how a child responds to their parent is how they will respond to God as adults.
So look at your child. I mean really look at how they respond to you. would you want them to treat God that way? and more immediately, they won't grow out of any of these behaviors. what they are at two they will be more so at sixteen. Do you really want to deal with a teen that throws fits? It might be cute in a one year old, but a twenty year old????

God told children to obey their parents. parents are fallible, but God knew that when He gave the command. We parents are to teach them to obey us so they will obey God. If they don't obey us they are also disobeying God; they are sinning. It would make me tremble if my children behaved as some I see who throw fits and down right ignore their parents. What will God do to those children when they act that way to Him?
If your child behaves in an inappropriate way (whines, pitches a fit, ignores you, argues, does what you say but with a nasty attitude, grumbles, etc.) give them the opposite of what they want. Make it so uncomfortable for them to choose to behave badly that they will choose to behave correctly. and make no mistakes about it, obedience is a choice even in a small child.

For example, I saw a child throw herself on the floor kicking and screaming because she wanted more french fries. Her father just shrugged and said that is why they weren't having any more children. If I had been him (since this was in a private home and not out in public) I would have paddled her bottom (made her uncomfortable and got her attention) and taken away her hamburger. I would then have explained that the proper way to behave is to ask with a sweet spirit (she was four; more than old enough to understand). I would also watch carefully for any opportunity she gave me to praise politeness and good attitudes. It would only have taken two or three times to change that behavior.
Never, Never give a disobeying child what they want.

I do choose to spank because, when done with love and not in anger, it is the fastest most effective method of discipline. The event is over-with in a matter of minutes and life can go on, unlike corners, time outs and restrictions which make the child be the bad guy for an extended period of time. Spanking should never be done when the parent is angry. It should always be done solely for the child's benefit.

Just like God balances discipline with reward we should also. A hug or a thank you when a child is extra nice will go a long way. Just the "stick" approach will create rebellion. Just the "carrot" approach will create an entitlement attitude. You MUST have both.

Who should teach you?

This is an article I read many years ago but lost track of. It was recommended today on the MOMYS (mothers of many young siblings) loop. This woman has a lot of wise councel to offer. Can't wait until I have the time to read all her newsletters too:-)

http://www.themotherscompanion.org/newsletters/womantowomansample.php

Get rid of public school?

Here is an interesting question: why do we need public schools in the first place? This question is addressed in the LA Times article linked below, and it is a good question. literacy rates were higher before public school (99.8% compared to 85% today) despite large amounts of illiterate, poor immigrants from Ireland. Free market works in every other area in life. why not here?

Actually, the free market system is the most compassionate system in the world. you only get rewarded if you successfully meet other people's needs. for example, there was a need for cheaper groceries. some of us couldn't afford to eat. along comes the super wal-marts and suddenly our grocery bill drops 50%! Wal-mart makes a bundle and we can afford to eat AND buy clothes.I know many don't like some of wal-marts policies and practices, but the fact is if they were not meeting a need they would go bankrupt. simple as that. just mistreating your employees is not a good enough strategy to make a profit (honestly, all the employees I meet in there are happy and eager to help. kmart employees were always surly, and target employees are in between. I worked at target for six months and had a friend who worked at kmart. I can tell you that target is a better place to work. This makes me think those upset with wal-marts employee polices are either 1)disgruntled EXemployees or 2)those that lost their jobs at other stores because wal-mart put them out of business.)
Anyway, interesting article on getting rid of public schools.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-goldberg12jun12,0,4683079.column?coll=la-opinion-rightrail

Thinking of staying home

I was pondering last night on reasons to be a homemaker.

First of all, my children are precious, innocent, eternal souls crafted by the Almighty Himself and trusted into my care. How cold I possibly entrust them to someone else!!??? No one can care for them like I can. No one loves them as much as I do nor knows them as well. This is the most important work I will ever do with my life. Oh I could have been a brain surgen, or politician, scholar, or anything else. But all those things put together don't equal the importance of molding these precious children into responsible citizens and worshipers at the feet of my God. This is my carrier.

Secondly, caring for my home is a dance of thanksgiving to God for providing us this home and at the same time a ministry to my hubby and children. Hubby works hard and needs a clean, pleasant place to rest, rejuvenate and recover in when he gets home. the better job i do providing that, the better job he can do at work providing for us and ministering to those God has place in his path there. My children also will grow up to be better people if they are surrounded by beauty and order. Now, I am by no means a perfect house keeper. far from it. but i am improving. and having older children helps. I have begun teaching all my children when very young to help out (chores) and they are now a tremendous help.

and thirdly, i am freer to help others when they need it. people's problems don';t always happen after business hours. I can be available to minister to others during the hours most people are too busy earning a buck.
Our society has lost a great deal by not valuing jobs that make no money. The fact is that it is the things done by the house wife that reduce stress, bring beauty, heal the body and soul, in short, make life worth living. two income families that i have known are always on the brink of nervous breakdown and disaster. I don't' want to live that way.