I may not agree with the attitude showing in some of these, but the sentiment is valid!
The Bitter Homeschooler’s Wish List
by Deborah Markus, from Secular Homeschooling, Issue #1, Fall 2007
1 Please stop asking us if it’s legal. If it is — and it is — it’s insulting to imply that we’re criminals. And if we were criminals, would we admit it?
2 Learn what the words “socialize” and “socialization” mean, and use the one you really mean instead of mixing them up the way you do now. Socializing means hanging out with other people for fun. Socialization means having acquired the skills necessary to do so successfully and pleasantly. If you’re talking to me and my kids, that means that we do in fact go outside now and then to visit the other human beings on the planet, and you can safely assume that we’ve got a decent grasp of both concepts.
3 Quit interrupting my kid at her dance lesson, scout meeting, choir practice, baseball game, art class, field trip, park day, music class, 4H club, or soccer lesson to ask her if as a homeschooler she ever gets to socialize.
4 Don’t assume that every homeschooler you meet is homeschooling for the same reasons and in the same way as that one homeschooler you know.
5 If that homeschooler you know is actually someone you saw on TV, either on the news or on a “reality” show, the above goes double.
6 Please stop telling us horror stories about the homeschoolers you know, know of, or think you might know who ruined their lives by homeschooling. You’re probably the same little bluebird of happiness whose hobby is running up to pregnant women and inducing premature labor by telling them every ghastly birth story you’ve ever heard. We all hate you, so please go away.
7 We don’t look horrified and start quizzing your kids when we hear they’re in public school. Please stop drilling our children like potential oil fields to see if we’re doing what you consider an adequate job of homeschooling.
8 Stop assuming all homeschoolers are religious.
9 Stop assuming that if we’re religious, we must be homeschooling for religious reasons.
10 We didn’t go through all the reading, learning, thinking, weighing of options, experimenting, and worrying that goes into homeschooling just to annoy you. Really. This was a deeply personal decision, tailored to the specifics of our family. Stop taking the bare fact of our being homeschoolers as either an affront or a judgment about your own educational decisions.
11 Please stop questioning my competency and demanding to see my credentials. I didn’t have to complete a course in catering to successfully cook dinner for my family; I don’t need a degree in teaching to educate my children. If spending at least twelve years in the kind of chew-it-up-and-spit-it-out educational facility we call public school left me with so little information in my memory banks that I can’t teach the basics of an elementary education to my nearest and dearest, maybe there’s a reason I’m so reluctant to send my child to school.
12 If my kid’s only six and you ask me with a straight face how I can possibly teach him what he’d learn in school, please understand that you’re calling me an idiot. Don’t act shocked if I decide to respond in kind.
13 Stop assuming that because the word “home” is right there in “homeschool,” we never leave the house. We’re the ones who go to the amusement parks, museums, and zoos in the middle of the week and in the off-season and laugh at you because you have to go on weekends and holidays when it’s crowded and icky.
14 Stop assuming that because the word “school” is right there in homeschool, we must sit around at a desk for six or eight hours every day, just like your kid does. Even if we’re into the “school” side of education — and many of us prefer a more organic approach — we can burn through a lot of material a lot more efficiently, because we don’t have to gear our lessons to the lowest common denominator.
15 Stop asking, “But what about the Prom?” Even if the idea that my kid might not be able to indulge in a night of over-hyped, over-priced revelry was enough to break my heart, plenty of kids who do go to school don’t get to go to the Prom. For all you know, I’m one of them. I might still be bitter about it. So go be shallow somewhere else.
16 Don’t ask my kid if she wouldn’t rather go to school unless you don’t mind if I ask your kid if he wouldn’t rather stay home and get some sleep now and then.
17 Stop saying, “Oh, I could never homeschool!” Even if you think it’s some kind of compliment, it sounds more like you’re horrified. One of these days, I won’t bother disagreeing with you any more.
18 If you can remember anything from chemistry or calculus class, you’re allowed to ask how we’ll teach these subjects to our kids. If you can’t, thank you for the reassurance that we couldn’t possibly do a worse job than your teachers did, and might even do a better one.
19 Stop asking about how hard it must be to be my child’s teacher as well as her parent. I don’t see much difference between bossing my kid around academically and bossing him around the way I do about everything else.
20 Stop saying that my kid is shy, outgoing, aggressive, anxious, quiet, boisterous, argumentative, pouty, fidgety, chatty, whiny, or loud because he’s homeschooled. It’s not fair that all the kids who go to school can be as annoying as they want to without being branded as representative of anything but childhood.
21 Quit assuming that my kid must be some kind of prodigy because she’s homeschooled.
22 Quit assuming that I must be some kind of prodigy because I homeschool my kids.
23 Quit assuming that I must be some kind of saint because I homeschool my kids.
24 Stop talking about all the great childhood memories my kids won’t get because they don’t go to school, unless you want me to start asking about all the not-so-great childhood memories you have because you went to school.
25 Here’s a thought: If you can’t say something nice about homeschooling, shut up!
Really… but I’m behind again.
Sarah is nearly 4 weeks now and doing great! She is gaining well, eating well, sleeping well. We all love her!
I am losing weight! I’ve always heard that it’s easier to lose after having a baby - especially when nursing - but never experienced it until now. I’m down to 204 last I weighed.. and I was almost 230 when I got pregnant! Woo-hoo!
Our newest daughter, Sarah, was born 3/27 at 5:19pm. She weighed in at 10 pounds, 1 ounce, and was 22″ long. We are delighted with her!
You can see pictures in the gallery and on her page 
For about a week now, I’ve been wanting barbecue ribs. A few days ago, we bought some beef ribs and some barbecue sauce, but they just weren’t *right*.
Today while my husband was at Walmart, he noticed that the deli now makes barbecue ribs! He bought some and brought them home. THEY really hit the spot!! Delicious!!
I was thinking about drawers and what wonderful/awful things they are. See, a shelf that is 1′x4′ gives you 4 square feet of “stuff space”… but a DRAWER that is 1′x4′(x1′) gives you 4 CUBIC feet of “stuff space” … usually at least DOUBLES what you can fit in there. It’s a great thing for a packrat like me! (And, yet, it’s a terrible thing for a packrat like me… all that extra STUFF…)
I had a dr appt today (see Sarah’s page), after six hours of 4-minutes-apart contractions… with no real progress.
I comfort myself that I can at least get more done around here, and it won’t be more than four more weeks, for sure!
Happy birthday to my friend Cheryl, wherever she is One day, maybe she’ll see this.
Our friends came over and helped us redo our living room, kitchen, and hallway floors! Now instead of horrible beige can’t-get-clean carpet, we have beautiful wood-look vinyl (waterproof, too!) floors!
Closeup of the laid floor
We are very grateful for this much-needed change!
So I was looking at my ticker and it says “48 days to go” … WOW! 48 days does not seem long enough to get done with everything I want to do before Sarah arrives. On the other hand, if I make a point to NOT procrastinate, then it is very possible, though ambitious. And more so if I can manage to get the kids to cooperate, too.
Read here a little more about it… this threatens a lot of things that are a necessary part of life: yard sales, thrift shops, hand-me-downs…
Wow. Starting another year, already! Where DOES the time go?
I don’t do resolutions. They tend to only exist to be broken. I do have a few goals for this year - not the least of which are: To see improvement in my children’s attitudes and obedience. Consistency and self-discipline in myself. Improvement in the condition of the house at any given time. More hospitality shown in our home.
We started today with an earlier arising time. So far, so good!
It’s been busy so far! Sunday evening we had our Christmas play at church. It went much better than we had hoped, considering how late we started working on it.
Crown Him King
Monday, our friends came over and we exchanged gifts, fellowshipped, and about half of us played a new game I got while the other half watched a movie.
Tuesday, we went to my inlaws’ house around 5 for a light supper and more fellowship and more gift exchanging. I have pictures in the gallery.
Wednesday, Christmas Eve, we are having a candlelight service at church. We haven’t decided for sure yet, but we will probably open our presents after church, here at home. Then, Thursday will be a day for relaxing and enjoying our family.
May God bless you and yours this Christmas season!
I. Put your iTunes/Other music device on shuffle.
II. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
III. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
IV. Tag 11 friends who might enjoy doing this.
1. IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Morning Prayer (Eden’s Bridge) Ok, that makes NO sense
2. WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
To Thee The Champion Leader (Apostolos Hill)
3. WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
His Banner Over Me Is Love THAT is rather appropriate 
4. HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Do This Do That (Barry Louis Polisar) Yep, busy day today!
5. WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Fountain of Grace (Twila Paris) Oh, I LIKE that!
6. WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
I See the Lord (Maranatha! Music) Good motto :nod:
7. WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
The Chinese Nightingale Um… okay?
8. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR PARENTS?
Gusty’s Frolics (LifeScapes Celtic Guitar) or not LOL
9. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Christmas Eve at Gildersleeve’s (The Great Gildersleeve - Old Time Radio)
10. WHAT IS 2+2?
Big Ruling (Jack Webb)
11. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Blackmailing Jack Benny (Burns & Allen - Old Time Radio) Eek!
12. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Sur Le Pont d’Avignon (Great American Audio Corp) On a bridge? well, hmmm
16. WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Joy to the World (GLAD) Cool
17. WHAT WILL/DID YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Two of a Kind, Workin’ on a Full House (Garth Brooks) AWESOME! We didn’t dance, but this definitely would’ve been an appropriate song
18. WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
The Election of Thomas Jefferson I guess ’cause it’s somber? LOL
19. WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Start of Something New (Zak Efron) LOL!!!
20. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Who is Like You, Lord? (Adonai) Amen to that!
21. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Hello, Muddah, Hello, Faddah (Allan Sherman) Weird….
22. WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Fruit Salad (The Wiggles) ROFL! Actually, I rather LIKE fruit salad…
23. HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Night Light (Joe Scruggs) So… AT night? or by electrocution from a night light? LOL
24. DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Oh You Can’t Get to Heaven ?????
25. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Ants (Joe Scruggs) Guess I’d get rid of fire ants? :giggle:
26. WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Yes, Jesus Loves Me (Bill Gaither Trio) Well, that doesn’t exactly HURT
27. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR DAY?
Destruction of the Grotto (Disney) If “grotto” = “house”… that could fit :rolleyes:
28. HOW’S YOUR LOVE LIFE?
Richest Man on Earth (Paul Overstreet) Hey! I thought it asked about MINE, not HIS!
29. IF YOUR LIFE WAS A TV SHOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE CALLED?
The Word (Michael Card & John Michael Talbot) Would that my life would fit this one…
30. WHAT’S YOUR PARTY SONG?
Eamonn An Chnoic (LifeScapes Celtic Guitar) Not such a partier, I guess
31. WHAT WILL YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Onward Christian Soldiers (Tennessee Ernie Ford) Good one! Raising children can fit this
32. WHAT WAS THE WEATHER LIKE TODAY?
The Court of Death (Phillips Thomas - Old Time Radio) Well, it isn’t quite THAT bad…
33. WHAT WAS/WILL GRADUATION (BE) LIKE FOR YOU?
Six Men of Wood (Cavalcade of America - Old Time Radio) ??? There was only me - I graduated from homeschool
34. WHAT WERE YOUR DREAMS LIKE LAST NIGHT?
When the Roll is Called up Yonder (Twila Paris) That’s about weird enough LOL
35. WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Stay True to God (Stephen Pearson)
I was complaining to a dear friend that I wanted something but really *shouldn’t* get it… and she got it for me! 
She definitely didn’t have to - I had no intention of *begging* - but I sure am grateful for her kindness!!
It’s nothing major - but they enjoy it. It can be played on PC or MAC and can be played over the internet. It’s called BitFighter. It also has a level editor, where one can make one’s own levels. Kinda neat!
