Friday, March 28, 2008

Spring is here. At least that's what the calender tells me. But today it has been snowing. Not enough to stick, just enough to keep everything sloppy, wet and cold. I walked up to the store today to pick up a few things, planning to get home and do the paperwork that has been hanging over my head like a wet, depressing, fog. I know I'll feel so much better once I get it done, but somehow I keep thinking of other things I need to do first. Grocery shopping, dishes, and hey, I haven't undated my blog in a while. Truly. When I'm done with this I will go and get started on it. Ugh.

I've been so tired lately. Maybe I have the residue of the cold/cough thing that seemed to linger over us for the past couple months. But I don't feel very motivated to do anything. I'd like to just turn the telly on and sink into mindlessness. It seems like I always mosey to the computer when I'm tired. Ya'all probably think I'm always tired!

I saw at Marbel's site a meme I thought was pretty good. It was from site and invites us to share our thoughts on this quote:

"Clearly there is an appropriate kind of sheltering. When those who are opposed to homeschooling accuse me of sheltering my children, my reply is always, 'What are you going to accuse me of next, feeding and clothing them?" ~R.C. Sproul Jr

That always kind of strikes me as kind of a "duh" moment, when people accuse me of sheltering my children. Of course I'm sheltering my children! Haven't they kind of noticed that this culture is just eating children alive? If I don't protect them, who will?

I'm protecting them from bullying, abusive teachers, over zealous social workers, and math phobias. I'm also sheltering them from having to walk top the bus in the cold morning, that noisy, obnoxious bus ride itself, classrooms with no windows, cafeteria food, and most especially, the gym locker room. From not having time to read the books you want to because your teacher said you HAVE to read Flowers for Algernon. (A most depressing book.) From the sinking fear that comes over you on Sunday night because you realize you are having a quiz in the morning and you completely forgot. The humiliation of having a teacher berate you in front of your whole class because you haven't figured out how to borrow in math. Hiding under the bleachers during PE because the boys in your class play dodge ball rather roughly and it scares you. And especially those politically motivated movies about global catastrophes like global warming, nuclear war and the clubbing of seals in Canada. From kids who thrash on other kids to hide their own insecurities, and from BECOMING one of those kids.

Yeah, I guess I shelter my children a little.

8 comments:

Joyce said...

Hi, Keri,
I know what you mean about paperwork. Sometimes it seems like the most difficult thing on earth to do! I would much rather clean house, cook, or do almost any domestic chore than do paperwork, but that's part of my job, and I try to not be intimidated by it.
Keep posting!

Mrs. Darling said...

I dont know if this was meant to be funny but it was!

Flowers for Algernon....the clubbing of seals in Canada...

While its all true and I totally agree with you I just about spit my coffee at the screen! You're funny when you're tired. Or maybe..Im tired and thats why I thought this was funny...

kerri @ gladoil said...

Have you read Flowers for Algernon? It was a most depressing book!! And you were spared those seal clubbing videos, sheltered off in those Mennonite schools. :) They were horrifying. Sad big seal eyes...

Roberta said...

Flowers for Algernon...we not only read it, we were fortunate enough to get to watch it in class. Jr High! Rather intense yet intriguingly odd at that time of ones life. And I was/am such a compassionate person so this really disturbed me deeply.
"The Glass Menagerie" too, although high school then. I watched to Katherine Hepburn version on netflix a little while ago...again much odder than I recall during that time in my life where I was drawn to odd things.
Oh yes, and let's not forget "Sybil"! at age 17 that was far more information than I needed to handle. Heartbreaking story...but too much, sitting there watching with other classmates, not really discussing it...I may have developed another personality just to process all she went through!!! (okay not really)...not sure if my parent's even know I saw it.
So yeah..I'm all for sheltering.

MyKidsMom said...

I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about (Algernon who?)...I was one of those sheltered kids, LoL.

I remember a little old lady (a retired school teacher) I used to visit because...I'm not sure why. Anyway, she told me (I couldn't have been more than 10 yrs) that MY parents were making a huge mistake my sheltering me by sending me to a strict Christian school (I'm not sure if they make them that way anymore; I mean the schools). She said I wouldn't know how to function in the REAL world.

So now I am a married for 15 years stay-at-home homeschooling mother of 3 (not perfect mind you; I mean me, not my kids)...and compare that to many of my generation (what's the divorce rate now?)..quess the REAL worlds not all it's cracked up to be!

I like this post, it has spunk;)

By the way, I could no longer control my political urges and have started a NEW blog for that purpose. I just posted a new post that made me think of your You-tube changes clip, which I told hubby I have to look back up for him to see. Anyway, stop by and visit sometime. And make sure you poke fun at someone when you do..it's so easy these days:)

MyKidsMom said...

Sorry about the super long comment...

kerri @ gladoil said...

Oh, I don't mind super long comments. I don't know why anyone would, it's not like we're paying for the space! :)

Marbel said...

Tell us how you really feel about it, Kerri!

I'm with Mrs. D - it was kind of funny, reading your list...