May 2007
May 31, 2007
Chicken Soup for the Soul story call-out: Home Improvement
This just in - I'm sure some of you have some stories - this is a great way to get published. And they pay $200! Shannon of Rocks in My Dryer recently turned a blog into a Chicken Soup story. So if you're so inclined, don't just think about...10:09 AM in Writing | Permalink | Comments (0)
May 30, 2007
Domestic violence is often closer than you know
Many of you know Kansas Milkmaid and the struggles she's going through. For those of us who've not experienced it, domestic violence can seem almost unbelievable. Though I was abused as a foster child and my mother was involved in several abusive relationships, I have never experienced abuse as an...8:29 PM in Domestic violence, KS Milkmaid | Permalink | Comments (9)
May 29, 2007
Montessori at Home - Encouraging independence
"No, lemme doowit myseff!" Sound familiar? It's the rallying cry of toddlers everywhere. At this very moment, throughout the world - in thousands of languages - children are telling their parents they want to do it themselves. Every child is born with a God-given potential (Maria Montessori called these...11:48 AM in Montessori, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (2)
May 28, 2007
Homeschool - my curriculum choices
Barbara, I was curious what curriculum/curricula you used when you used to homeschool your children? I’m often curious what Montessori teachers would recommend past preschool/reading age in terms of type of curriculum. Thanks! Agatha Hi Agatha - When I started homeschooling I thought over the approach I wanted to use...7:34 PM in Homeschooling | Permalink | Comments (5)
Memorial Day round up: military blogs
To fill in the gaps of the Mainstream Media - which doesn't want us to know what's really going on in Iraq - I'd like to do a round-up of blogs by real soldiers and their families. Please leave your blog address and I will add to the list....5:22 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
A repentant radical leftist observes Memorial Day
I was 38 years old when I finally understood and appreciated the sacrifice which gave me the privilege of living in a country where I had the freedom to express my beliefs - no matter how filled with hatred and ingratitude. As an anti-war activist during the VietNam War,...1:27 PM in Holidays | Permalink | Comments (5)
You know you're a mommy when. . . . - part 2
Hi Barbara, (First, let me thank you for the books! I love them! And Anya (26 months old) really liked the idea that you signed the book to her and Abigail :) So funny you should post this "you know you're a mommy when" list. I had actually started...1:12 PM in Humor, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (0)
Because I'm the mom :)
HT to Suzanne who spotted it on For Where Your Treasure Is...10:52 AM in Humor, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (2)
May 27, 2007
The Economist: the relationship between marriage and success
Barbara, I received this Economist article from a public health mailing list I'm on. I thought you'd also enjoy reading about the evidence on the benefits of marriage. J (persimmon) Marriage in America: The Frayed Knot is worth reading to understand how the weakening of the institution of marriage is...3:36 PM in Marriage | Permalink | Comments (4)
Gardasil: Three deaths, 1637 adverse reactions
Hi Barbara, I'm a reader of your website and thoroughly enjoy your commentary, tips and wisdom. I just came across this press release from Judicial Watch and was horrified -- Judicial Watch Uncovers Three Deaths Related to HPV Vaccine. I'm familiar with the ethical and philosophical arguments against the...3:20 PM in Big Pharma, Girls, Health, Vaccines | Permalink | Comments (2)
May 26, 2007
A Spiritual Approach to Weight Loss
Last year on the road to losing 75 pounds I realized that without a spiritual makeover we can never hope to achieve and maintain weight loss. For me it was a personal journey where God led me through many realizations about the bondage I was in - and all the...1:31 PM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (2)
May 25, 2007
Barbara's adventures in journalism, laundry, and strep
In case you noticed a little less conversation from me the past few days, it's because I was covering a story for Citizen magazine. It will be a more in-depth piece on the American Legion challenging the ACLU's attacks on veterans' war memorials (and other uses of Judeo-Christian symbols in...10:48 PM in Current Affairs, Family, Writing | Permalink | Comments (5)
Discount on crockpots
I started using a crockpot 37 years ago - yikes, that's embarrassing! - and have used it at least a few times a month ever since. See my entry What's in your crockpot? for some of my ideas and some from readers. So when I got this in my email...8:21 PM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (0)
Moving on to gmail - write me at my new address
My technomarvelous son-in-law Kip and my equally marvelous son Zach have been urging me for years to get rid of AOL. But while I'm usually quick to embrace something new (I own my own name as a domain name - which means I thought of it before the hundreds if...7:53 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (2)
May 23, 2007
Little things mean a lot
This made me smile this morning: Hi Barbara, Yesterday morning, I went to flush my toilet by lifting the lid to the tank off and reaching into the tank to pull on the chain manually. This is how my husband and I have been flushing our toilet for about a...12:55 PM in Inspiration, Marriage | Permalink | Comments (7)
May 21, 2007
"The talk" - part 3 - Book recommendations
For Christian parents, the most important thing to remember when teaching your children about sex is that it's imperative that God's plan be part of what you teach - from the very beginning. Sex isn't a bad thing we say no to, but a wonderful gift we can all look...7:40 PM in Resources | Permalink | Comments (7)
"The talk" - Part 2
This is an excerpt from my book Dirty Dancing at the Prom and Other Challenges Your Christian Teens Face: How Parents Can Help. It follows a discussion about the importance of keeping the list of things you don't want your teenager to do short - and letting things like piercings...7:02 PM in Teens and Tweens | Permalink | Comments (1)
"The talk" - teaching kids about s*x
Hi Barbara, I'm writing to ask for your advice on a very volatile issue. My husband (J) and I agree that it's time to have "the talk" with our seven year old, for a few reasons. I know it probably sounds like we're rushing this, but I told J that...5:43 PM in Mothering, Teens and Tweens | Permalink | Comments (6)
Two fun kids' books - and the joys of amazon shopping
I love this book - which teaches kids about waiting in a very simple, joyful style. Now out of print, but you can find used copies at Amazon for as little as 1.00. Also out of print, with used hardback copies available for as little as one cent (yes,...11:34 AM in Books | Permalink | Comments (1)
May 19, 2007
Up close and personal - an update on me and my family
Wow. Life comes at you fast. I typically have three things I want to post here for every one I have time to. But I do want to catch you up a little on my own little mommy life. Here is Jonny leaving this morning for a Boy Scout canoe...5:15 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (8)
American Legion challenges the ACLU
I'm covering the press conference scheduled for May 24 at which the American Legion will announce its partnership with the Alliance Defense Fund and Liberty Legal Institute to protect and defend all war memorials - and the Boy Scouts - against onslaughts by the ACLU. This is in preparation for...3:01 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (0)
Kids with disabilities - coping with the stress on marriage
Dear Barbara, I appreciated your post today, May 18th (99 Balloons update). I needed to hear what you said about marriage to know that my husband and I are not alone in this sometimes crazy world! :) We had 3 children diagnosed with disablities in a 12 month period,...11:57 AM in Disabilities | Permalink | Comments (0)
My computer and I kiss and make up
According to a study by SupportSoft: 65 Percent of Americans Spend More Time with Their Computer than Their Spouse - 8 in 10 Americans More Dependent on their Computer than 3 Years Ago - HT to Citizen magazine This line cracks me up: -- A majority of Americans (52%)...9:52 AM in Humor | Permalink | Comments (0)
Gifts: Mothers Reflections on Children with Down Syndrome
Just released: a gorgeous book with touching stories and photos by the real experts on Down syndrome - mothers! Forward by Martha Sears, wife of Dr. William Sears and mother of eight, including a son with Down syndrome. From the back cover: This fine book helps dispel the fear...9:19 AM in Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (0)
May 18, 2007
99 Balloons - update
When I blogged this moving tribute to Eliot, whose life lasted 99 days and is touching thousands of hearts, a reader wished there was a way to know what's happened since in the lives of his parents. Spunky has once again come through for us, finding the blog 99...2:38 PM in Babies, Disabilities, Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (2)
Divorced mom seeks advice
This from a reader looking for our suggestions. Also, let's agree to pray for her, her son, and his father: Dear Barbara, I just stumbled on your website while I was searching for a good book for my 11 yr old son to be assigned (by me) to read over...2:30 PM in Boys | Permalink | Comments (8)
May 17, 2007
Celebrating BOYS! A Salute to Future Fathers
The Mother's Day Album - A Down Syndrome Celebration - is now up and running. This is an album that will be forever under construction. Please feel freeto send me more pictures. I just added two today. So on to Father's Day! The inspiration for this project came from this...5:01 PM in Boys, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (7)
Teaching kids to tie shoes
Rerunning this for the benefit of new readers: Meg asked about teaching kids to tie shoes. I have to admit, I find this one of the most daunting requirements of being a mother. I personally have always tied my own shoes the "wrong" way: by making two loops and then...9:48 AM in Preschoolers | Permalink | Comments (2)
If You Give a Homeschooling Mom a Cookie
Letitia at Cause of Our Joy published this from her email. You must read it! Hilarious! It begins: If you give a Homeschooling Mom a cookie, she'll want the recipe. She will plan a complete unit study on the History of Cookies. The family will take field trip to a...9:34 AM in Homeschooling, Humor | Permalink | Comments (1)
Akiane: Christian artist blooms in an atheist home
. This is an amazing story. I've linked to Akiane's site before, but the CNN piece captures the story of this 12-year-old prodigy so well -- a testimony to God's presence where He might be least expected. Click to view: Akiane...7:08 AM in Art, Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (1)
May 16, 2007
Jonathan of Equality Loudoun asks "What does it mean to be a Christian?" and I try to answer
Jonathan wrote this as a comment on Lisa Miller/ Janet Jenkins custody battle - can a child have two mothers? and my answer became so involved that I'm moving the whole exchange up here for anyone with the dogged determination it will probably take to read it through :) Hi...9:08 PM in Religion | Permalink | Comments (9)
99 Balloons - God uses the weak and the small
I share a lot of stuff here, but I must say I feel PRIVILEGED to share this. Get out your hankies. You may be crying the rest of the day. This film touches something DEEP that can't be put into words: Thanks, Spunky!...12:38 PM in Disabilities, Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (17)
You know you're a mommy when. . . .
1. You double knot your own shoelaces. 2. You say "Ooops!" when you drop something. 3. The song running through your mind is most likely something along the lines of "The Wheels on the Bus." Hey, let's make this a collaborative effort! How do you know you're a mommy?...11:53 AM in Humor, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (20)
Jerry Falwell - A former radical says farewell
. . . . . Zach called me yesterday from Liberty University to tell me that Jerry Falwell had moved on to be with the Lord he served so faithfully for so long. When I first heard of Jerry Falwell I was a radical leftist. Naturally, I had only contempt...10:44 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (4)
Elisabeth Elliot on motherhood
I love this EE reflection on our calling as mothers. Believe me, ladies, your work is the most important and sacred work on the planet. As I told Maddy this morning - she just bought a cross necklace for herself last night while shopping with Sophia - the cross does...10:31 AM in Inspiration, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (1)
May 15, 2007
Lisa Miller/ Janet Jenkins custody battle - can a child have two mothers?
12/29 Update: Lisa Miller ordered to give up daughter, disappears with her A month ago, I carried a prayer request from Lisa Miller, an ex-lesbian whose custody of her biological daughter is being challenged by her ex-partner Janet Jenkins. Though both are native Virginians, they were joined under Vermont's civil...9:11 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (10)
May 14, 2007
Curtis Boys at the Challenger Little League Tournament
Where we were last weekend - enjoy: Second Annual Challenger Little League Worldwide Tournament - Virginia Beach 2007...10:32 AM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Family | Permalink | Comments (1)
Guest blog: A mother's reflections on her daughter with Down syndrome
This is from my dear friend Gloria in California, who asked me to publish it here. Our family was very privileged to spend many glorious hours together with the Glorias: May 10, 2007 Dear Friends, Gloria Jr. is my third and youngest daughter. Born May 5th, 1982, 25 years...6:17 AM in Disabilities, Down syndrome | Permalink | Comments (4)
Geocaching
Barbara, I have enjoyed all your ideas about boys being boys. One thing our family enjoys is geocaching. I don't know if you are familiar with it. We use our GPS to find things that people have hidden in a wide variety of outdoor locations. We find the caches on...6:10 AM in Boys, Fun Stuff | Permalink | Comments (3)
May 13, 2007
Mother's Day blessings to you all!
5:46 PM in Mother's Day | Permalink | Comments (2)
Two brothers' Mother's Day greeting
We are home from Virginia Beach. Will post more about our trip and the Second Annual Worldwide Challenger Little League tournament tomorrow morning. In the meantime, Happy Mother's Day to all of you! And here is a Mother's Day greeting I received from not one, but two of my sons...5:38 PM in Mother's Day | Permalink | Comments (6)
May 10, 2007
Books for parents of kids with special needs
Shannon drew my attention to this book - which looks very helpful: From Amazon: Book Description Candid, passionate, personal, and heartbreakingly funny, a view from within the whirlwind of parenting a child with special needs Three years ago, magazine editor Denise Brodey’s precocious four-year-old son, Toby, was diagnosed with a...8:20 AM in Disabilities | Permalink | Comments (1)
The Feminine Mistake: Nobody's buying
Cleaning out my inbox this morning. So sorry to anyone waiting for a response from me, but the past few weeks have been hectic. But there is some good stuff here. My good friend Mel (see Mel and Me) of Actual Unretouched Photo and the Amazing Shrinking Mom sent me...7:39 AM in Books, Mothering | Permalink | Comments (5)
May 9, 2007
Mailing my books in Waterford today
Hi Barbara: I love thinking of you going out to your garage to a pile of books and mailing them to me. It's so personal! Could you please insribe them to me and "all the other friends she may lend this to? :) Thanks! Melissa's note inspired me. You like...4:44 PM in Books, Family, Loudoun County | Permalink | Comments (10)
Reader advice needed on over(?)-sensitive child
I didn't feel I had much to say on this subject, so with this reader's permission, I'm printing her letter hoping for suggestions from you: Barbara, I have been reading your site for about a month now and it has been the thing I love to go to when I...3:29 PM in Mothering, Preschoolers | Permalink | Comments (12)
Children with Down syndrome and the mothers who love them
Our Little Extras: A Mother's Day Down syndrome celebration Here it is! Click above to see the whole album - try the slideshow. Please share and rejoice with family and friends. Although this is my gift for Mothers Day 2007, the album will be an ongoing project, so it's...10:32 AM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Mother's Day, Mothering, Pro-Life Issues | Permalink | Comments (16)
May 8, 2007
Mother's Day Reflections
I just have to share these reflections stirred by Zach's recent appointment to the Air Force Academy. They seem fitting for Mother's Day and for a recent theme on appreciating our country - truly a land of opportunity. I was what some people would probably call a poor white...9:44 PM in Mother's Day | Permalink | Comments (3)
Final Call: Mother/Child with Down syndrome pictures for Mothers Day Album
We are going to Virginia Beach this weekend for the Second Annual Little League Worldwide Challenger Jamboree. Challenger Little League is for kids with disabilities and people who have fun playing baseball with them. Jonny started 10 years ago when he was 5 and his three younger bros with Down...4:34 PM in Down syndrome, Mother's Day | Permalink | Comments (0)
Jewish research group finds anti-evangelical prejudice rife on college campuses
You know, for all the minorities still screaming about discrimination in a country that has bent over backwards to level the playing field, recruiting people who don't meet requirements to fill desks and jobs, in which Oprah Winfrey is queen and Barack Obama skips from two years Senate experience to...7:16 AM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (8)
May 7, 2007
Zach is flying high!
It's official! Zachary has just been offered an appointment to the Us Air Force Academy! Zach is our Number 4 Son and from the time he was a little boy he has been preoccupied with military leadership and strategy. When he was only nine or ten his chosen recreational...11:09 PM in Family | Permalink | Comments (14)
Freecycle
Need something? Have something you don't need? There's a place for you - Freecycle. When you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door -- you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the...10:53 PM in Practical Info | Permalink | Comments (4)
Thanks Mom Marrow Donor Drive
Join the National Marrow Registry for FREE from May 7-21, 2007! Thanks to Valerie for passing this opportunity on, via her sister Deena's Blog For the mother of a child with leukemia, there’s no better way to say “Happy Mother’s Day” than to register to become a potential bone...10:26 PM in Mother's Day | Permalink | Comments (0)
Postage rates increasing 5/14
Just received this from the folks at PaperbackSwap: USPS will raise the postal rates on May 14, 2007, so if you have books you have been hoarding, post them and send them out now! The new Media Mail rate for a package under 1 lb (typical paperback) will be $2.13....12:38 PM in Books | Permalink | Comments (3)
The Dangerous Book for Boys
Here we've just been talking about how we moms need to make an effort to nurture our boys' spirit of adventure and along comes a perfect book: The Dangerous Book for Boys! My friend Carol at Parenting Decisions wrote me about this today and I ordered my copy immediately....8:48 AM in Books, Boys | Permalink | Comments (11)
May 6, 2007
Barbara's Soapbox: Americans are unhappy? Or just spoiled?
........ This piece is currently making the email rounds under the heading "Jay Leno hits the nail on the head." I liked it a lot, but before passing it on, I ran it through Snopes to check on its accuracy. Snopes is a great resource for people who receive...8:01 PM in Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (6)
Montessori and preschool language enrichment at home
Little children absorb language the way a sponge absorbs water. Would you be surprised to know they can learn the names of birds and fish and reptiles easily at three and four years old? They can, as any Montessori teacher could tell you: it's part of the everyday curriculum in...5:31 PM in Homeschooling, Montessori, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (3)
May 5, 2007
Encourage a mom in prison for Mother's Day
"Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." - Hebrews 13:3 (NIV) Prison Fellowship is offering an easy way to comfort and encourage mothers in prison - simply by sending free ecards: Angel Tree moms...8:43 AM in Mother's Day | Permalink | Comments (4)
May 4, 2007
How a young man with Down syndrome is making the world a better place
This is a very sweet movie about a young man with Down syndrome who's found more purpose in his life - and could teach us all a thing or two about life: The story of Johnny Thanks to Mama Says...9:23 PM in Disabilities, Down syndrome, Inspiration | Permalink | Comments (0)
Just say no to preschool! Mommy, Teach Me! is here!
Hooray! My new books are here! In my very own garage! Waiting to be sent to mommies everywhere! You can read more about them - including the recommendations from Dr. and Martha Sears at Mommy, Teach Me! If you would like to order them direct from me, I will...11:37 AM in Books, Montessori, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (19)
Spirtual abuse - resources for those recovering
When Tripp and I were beginning to recognize that the church we were involved with in 1990 had cultlike tendencies, as the church machine - the system that dealt with wayward members - began to bear down on us, we sought help from books like these (click on any icon...11:08 AM in Spiritual abuse | Permalink | Comments (2)
Characteristics of cults
Anyone wondering about the health of their own church should check out The Cult Test. Here are the first 22 of 100 questions: 1. The Guru is always right. 2. You are always wrong. 3. No Exit. 4. No Graduates. 5. Cult-speak. 6. Group-think, Suppression of Dissent, and Enforced Conformity...11:07 AM in Spiritual abuse | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tripp on Christian leadership
My dear hubby sent this as a comment: Having been through these trials with you....seeing firsthand different styles of leadership, I have this humble observation: During Our Lord's last 24 hours at the Last Supper - which He knew were His last, so He spoke of and demonstrated what He...10:26 AM in Church Issues | Permalink | Comments (4)
Doug Phillips - Take 5
I received an email from Jennie Chancey about the fact that I had published her first email. I would like to print that email here as it is very sweet in tone and is the best representation of how she feels, but I feel constrained as it was marked personal....10:17 AM in Church Issues | Permalink | Comments (2)
The Doug Phillips controversy: What does it mean to be a Christian leader?
People may wonder why I would consider myself worthy to even comment on the Doug Phillips controversy. Who am I, anyway? A not-so-famous Christian writer who admittedly hasn't even thoroughly read all the documents in this He Said/She Said controversy. I also am an obedient follower of Christ. Every...8:56 AM in Spiritual abuse | Permalink | Comments (7)
May 3, 2007
Classic books and movies for boys
My reply to a reader who asked about books for boys really just scratched the surface. For one thing, I noticed that some readers who suggested books for boys (and I got a few in private emails too) missed the point I was trying to make about books that...8:03 AM in Books, Boys | Permalink | Comments (19)
Diets work: my Before and After
Yesterday, my daughter Maddy took this picture of me outside our front door under the cherry tree - which blooms gloriously like this for a couple weeks each spring: This was taken same time last year. I'd been dieting three months and had lost 35 pounds: I never used to...7:20 AM in Diet | Permalink | Comments (26)
May 2, 2007
Tony's 911 call: Four year old hero gets help for mom
Listen to Tony's 911 call. Here's the story from the Fairbanks News-Miner: Going by the book: 4-year-old calls 911, stays calm after mother falls ill By Amanda Bohman, Published April 29, 2007 Deidre Savarino was wandering the toy aisle, as grandmothers do, at a St. Louis store when she came...2:40 PM in Boys, Current Affairs | Permalink | Comments (5)
The Doug Phillips controversy - Take 3: Why my link was removed from Ladies Against Feminism
[Warning: if you are not interested in self-defeating Christian squabbles, just ignore this entry and go on to the next. This is not a main focus here, just something of peripheral interest] From a reader: Hi, Why has your link has disappeared from the Ladies Against Feminism homepage sidebar? H....1:43 PM in Spiritual abuse | Permalink | Comments (40)
May 1, 2007
Montessori at Home - Developing Concentration
"The first essential for the child's development is concentration," noted Maria Montessori nearly a century ago. When she observed Italian slum children absorbed in manipulating bread crumbs, she concluded that the drive to learn was so intrinsic - and so strong - that children would learn to focus on anything...4:13 PM in Homeschooling, Montessori, Mothering, Preschoolers, Toddlers | Permalink | Comments (6)
