Practically Speaking

I received this very unique Christmas card and ornament from Papua New Guinea. My cousin Jason and his wife Kellie are missionaries there to the Tobo people. I found Kellie's explanation about the ornament touching.

"One day as I was sitting in a hut with some of the women from the Tobo Church, we got on the subject of traditions. One tradition that they just thought was SO funny was our American tradition of putting a dead tree inside our house at Christmas time and decorating it with "balls" and hanging things.

"Once the laughter finally died down, I explained that the ornaments we hang on the tree remind us of places we have been and the special people who had given them to us.

"The Tobo women made this miniature replica of the string bags they weave and carry their food and babies around in for you to hang on your tree, so that you may remember them and know that you have fellow brothers and sisters in Christ celebrating Christmas with you this year!"

 
The idea that these tribal people were celebrating Christmas too warmed my heart, and it struck me how the angel's message, some 2,000 years ago, was being carried out.

 Fear not: for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:10, 11)

May you and your family have a Merry Christmas, or as the Tobo people would say, May you and your family have a merry "Yesu Winneyep Muat Nalia" (Time of Jesus Birth)

If you would like to read more about Jason and Kellie's experiences with the Tobo tribe in Papua New Guinea, they have chronicled their contact with the tribe since 2001 at Claypots.org  Kellie writes most of the postings, complete with pictures.  It is an amazing look at how the other half lives.

A number of years ago, my family decided to quit giving Christmas presents to each other. As my witty husband said, if I want a personal gift, I will buy it personally.

Seriously though, we decided that we already have so much, what else could we possibly need? It seemed foolish to rack our brains trying to come up with gift lists, so we decided we would no longer exchange Christmas gifts. The time and aggravation saved from eliminating all those frustrating shopping trips is priceless. (You could say that is the best gift ever--not needing to shop!) The money saved can be put to better use: donations to your local church, favorite charities, wounded Vets, or supporting missionaries.

We were not total Scrooges though. Since our son was young at the time, we decided he would be the only one to receive and give gifts (he paid for them himself). Now that he is older, he still gives and receives a few gifts, but at least he does his own shopping!

When I still have to go to the mall or stores this time of year, some of the conversations between shoppers seem to be all the more glaring since I am not in the frenzy too. I want to suggest, No, Aunt Peggy really won't like "The Clapper", or Don't get that set of scented candles just so Margie has something to open. 

The Christmas oriented ads of I'm giving such 'n such salon gift certificates, I hope I get some too seem to go against the whole spirit of giving. 

Another benefit of not doing the gift thing is that you'll never have to say, You shouldn't have (because it is the ugliest thing ever) and you don't have all that stuff to find places for after Christmas has passed.

Evidentially, we are not the only family thinking along these lines. In Martha Stewart's December issue (page 184) she had some "hassle-free" holiday suggestions. Here are her tips on gifts:

Before Thanksgiving or soon thereafter, send an e-mail to your family members: "Buying gifts for everyone has gotten overwhelming. Does anyone else feel that way?" Then suggest alternatives--pulling one name each out of a hat, filling stockings for everyone with little things, or instituting a spending cap. You might also think outside the holiday box. What about forgoing gifts altogether and putting the money toward a family trip next summer of a big dinner at a great restaurant?

These are still pretty much self serving, but at least if gives some ideas of how to broach the subject. Maybe the family could pick a charity or project and all donate to that cause? Or pool their finances to fly Grandma and Grandpa to see their grandchildren?

If you can't bear the thought of Christmas with no gifts to open, how about a White Elephant exchange? The gift you bring can either be the tackiest thing you have around the house or a very nice item that you just don't have a use for. (Be sure to designate ahead of time which type of White Elephant it will be.) Sometimes they call this White Elephant exchange "Nasty Santa." It is a gift game where guests pick the gifts one at a time. Each picker in turn then has the option of picking a new gift or one already opened. If your opened gift is taken, then you can pick another's open gift or select an unopened one. At the end, the first opener has the option of exchanging with anyone's gift. My homeschool group had a lot of fun doing this.

Stopping the gift frenzy was the BEST decision for our family. It has helped us put the focus on the real meaning of Christmas. I can only encourage you to think about it and maybe discuss this idea when you gather with your family this Christmas. It could make your Christmas 2009 the merriest ever!

(This is just a quick post--I am in the midst of cookie baking.)

Remember when our legislators passed the Border Fence bill and we were all so relieved the US was finally going to do something about the open border?

Well, now they are gutting $3 billion from funding the Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill to build the fence.

I have also heard that the appropriations bill for misc. spending now before our congress has language in it to build not a real fence, but a virtual fence. (That way, we can watch the illegals crossing the border on closed circuit TV--that is if it is working.)

That Omnibus Bill also includes Million$ for legal representation for the illegals and removes the suggestion that English be our official language in the workplace.

NumbersUSA has an online petition to sign by Dec. 21 to urge our Congress to put the $3 billion back.

Contact our Senators Kohl and Feingold and Congressman Sensenbrenner 262-784-1111 or 800-242-1119 too. 

It is so disheartening to call our legislators time after time on these issues, seemingly prevail, and then find out that they are either gutting the funding or introducing yet another measure to carry out their agenda. But call and contact we must; it is our only weapon. As much as we do not like to do it, calling and contacting does seem to get results. (True on the local level too.)
 

Want a Red Kettle? Try the Pick 'n Save!  (See schedule below)

                                                                  
I used to shop at the Elm Grove Sentry store quite a bit--it was an easy place to run into to pick up a few items. Their prices and quality suited me and they had some items that the local Pick 'n Save did not.

One of the nicest things about that store was the willingness of management to support local charities and service organizations.

In the summer they frequently had some group grilling brats for a fund raiser. In the winter, the familiar Salvation Army Red Kettle bell ringer would be just inside the entryway, ready to greet you with a Merry Christmas.

A few years ago I recognized the bell ringer; it was Tom Wacker. (If that name sounds familiar, Tom is married to Mary Wacker, the Forensics coach from East High School.) After a nice chat getting caught up on old times, Tom said he had been ringing the Salvation Army bell for years. In fact, when they used to keep records of who produced the most in southeast Wisconsin, Tom was at the top of the list.

The old Elm Grove Sentry store is now history, replaced by the new Sendik's. It has all the glamor that the old Sentry lacked. But it doesn't have one very important item: the Salvation Army Red Kettle! No Tom Wacker. No bell ringer. No collection site for the needy in Wisconsin.

I asked at the service counter why there was no Salvation Army bell ringer at the store. The woman gave me a vague answer that the store was so new and there were four charities that wanted to use Sendik's, so the management opted to not support any.

I have to admit, that answer made me bristle. That is usually the answer given when a business has no intention of doing anything.

Explaining that this location was a prime site for the charity and that the Red Kettle was an perennial fixture in Elm Grove, I let her know I was disappointed in Sendik's for having such a policy. She quickly said they might allow it next year. I said I would be watching.

Don't despair though, Tom Wacker is still ringing the bell. Starting today, he will be at the Pick 'n Save on Bluemound, just west of Calhoun Road. (See schedule below.)  Tom is sure to get you in the Christmas spirit, so stop by and throw something in the pot!

If Sendik's elimination of the Salvation Army Red Kettle is an important issue to you, please contact the Sendik's store in Elm Grove at 13425 W. Watertown Plank Road, 252-784-9525.  The best way to get a store to change their policy on things like this is to let them know you are disappointed in their position. Disappointment for me usually translates into not shopping there as much. Don't forget to thank the Pick 'n Save for still allowing the Salvation Army to use their locations as a collection site.

TOM WACKER'S BLUEMOUND Pick 'n Save SCHEDULE

TODAY, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 3-6pm

Thursday, Dec. 13, 3-6 pm

Thursday, Dec. 20, 3-6 pm

Saturday, Dec. 22, noon - 6pm
 

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

But to some, it's so delightful.

Since school is now a "no go",

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Today is a rather unique day in the Prast household. It is the first ever official SNOW DAY!*

WCTC's website stated the school is closed today, due to the poor weather conditions.

So, while you are schlepping around today in this horrid stuff, know that there are some out there that are rather glad the weather is fierce.

(I am glad my son does not have to drive to school today, now he can snow blow the driveway!)

*Homeschool kids can always get to school!

My dog just received a Christmas card! He is a popular dog with our local dog sitter. (She was kind enough to also include us.)

When we got our dog in 2001 we were faced with that common problem of what do you do with them while on vacation?

Through word of mouth we found out about a local woman who dog sits in her home. It has proven to be a very nice arrangement for both our dog and us. 

I am sure there are very nice kennels out there, but we really like leaving Zipper, our 13# Maltese mutt, with the neighborhood sitter, who we affectionately refer to as "Grandma". Our pooch has a blast at her house when we are on vacation, which helps us to enjoy ours as well. (It is like doggy camp for him.)

Entrepreneurship is one of the things that makes our country great. I like to support local businesses and entrepreneurs as much as possible. Often they provide a better level of services and do it with a more personal touch--like sending customers personal notes. 

Zipper, by the way, was obtained from the Wisconsin Humane Society. We put in a request for a small, no-shed dog and a few months later received a call that "Walter" was available. (That was the temporary name given him.)

One look was pretty much all it took. He came home with us that day and has been a wonderful addition to our family ever since.

The Wisconsin Humane Society is a very good place to adopt dogs from. They do extensive personality testing to make sure the dog does not have aggression issues.

Just one month before Zipper, we had a very bad experience with the Waukesha Humane Society adopting an older dog. That dog had to be put down for biting. We later found out he was surrendered for aggression reasons. A pretty traumatic experience for the whole family. (He was our first dog.)
 

Warning: DO NOT go to a Humane Society just to look! That is how it all starts. We really had no intention of getting a pet until we went to the Wisconsin Humane Society on a homeschool field trip. The rest, as they say, is history!

This is Buddy, I believe one of the dogs rescued from a puppy mill by the Elmbrook Humane Society. Buddy now brightens the days of residents of Fairview Senior Homes. (This picture does not do Buddy justice.)

I know many parents of 4 year olds and preschoolers are upset that the Elmbrook School District failed to implement a permanent 4K program. I do believe the parents who communicated with the board were sincere in their enthusiasm for the program.

But there was a common thread to their comments that saddened me: many acted as if 4K was the only way their child could learn, achieve, mature, and flourish at this young age.

From Rose Moylan’s quote in the paper, "It [4K] stimulates and challenges (my son) in ways that I simply cannot do at home," to Katie, who spoke at the board meeting, They [4K teachers] can pull out an energy and excitement of learning [that I cannot], their attitude is that public school 4K is the only way this can be accomplished.

What a sad commentary on parenting today.

Since when have parents become so hesitant to nurture their own children? So insecure that they think they are not up to the task of teaching 4K skills at home?

I suppose this reluctance or feeling of inadequacy shouldn’t have surprised me. I heard it all the time in people’s voices when they found out I homeschooled my son K–12. Whether it was during the elementary years or high school years or even now that my son is in technical college, people’s reactions were and are always the same: I could never do that!

Some people I knew better than to try to persuade otherwise—their minds were made up. Others, I would encourage with, “Yes, you can--if you really want to.”

Parents are a child’s primary teacher. We teach them how to eat, talk, walk, use the bathroom, etc. But somehow, when it comes to schooling, some very intelligent parents suddenly feel ill-equipped.

HSLDA, Home School Legal Defense Association (naturally, a pro parents can be teachers stance) compiled some very interesting data that illustrates that anyone can teach their own children from a 1997 study.

Pay particular attention to the comparison between the mother’s educational levels and the basic battery test scores on page 2. The mother’s who did not even finish high school scored higher (83) than those who did graduate (80) and just one point away from the mother’s who had some higher education after High School! (84)

If you compare these test score averages to the public school sector on page 1, you see that even the drop out mom’s kids scored 33 points higher than the average public school students.

Another interesting graph shows the test score differences between homeschool parents who had teacher certification and those that did not. Surprisingly, the average scores were equal at the 4th grade level and 1 point higher in 8th grade if the parent had no educational certification!

Now this posting is not about the virtues of homeschooling vs. public education. There are many factors which contribute to those higher test scores of homeschooled students. Mainly that the child receives so much more one on one time and that the parent knows if the child is “getting it” or not. (When a child has to answer each and every question asked by the teacher, there is no faking it!)

Also, just by virtue of a child being at home and being part of the running of a household, there is much more life skills education taking place. Plus, homeschool families usually eat their meals together.*

Homeschooling parents tend to never turn off the teaching either. Everything is a teaching moment. (Many parents do this too, not just homeschoolers.)

I use this homeschool comparison information only to illustrate that if an uneducated parent can teach and guide their child to outperform the public school student, even in upper grades, certainly any parent can teach their child 4 year old kindergarten skills.

If a parent feels compelled to do a 4K program at home, there are a host of curriculum ideas, materials, and plans available. Rainbow Resource is one online source of all manner of materials. But please, don’t overload your children.

Personally, I do not think this is at all necessary. Just being with your child and involving them in your life: grocery shopping (colors, counting, sizes, etc.), meal preparation (measuring, counting, basic fractions, addition, subtraction), reading to your child (if they have a favorite book, point to the words as you read, when you come to a repetitive fun word, stop and let them say it—that is how my son learned to read), singing, art projects, nature study, pretend play (playing store is great—use real money!), going to the park or other special places, etc. Basically, you just take advantage of the teachable moments throughout the day--not in a tiresome, heavy handed way--make it fun.

PAMELAMUNCH left a comment regarding the importance of family time on my blog. Here is an excerpt:

I feel so many people want a 4k so they have some place to put their child for free (no tuition) so they can work. Why not promote less material gain and more importance on the value of our children at home with mom and family meals etc. I agree w/ LISAMCL and TESTOSTERONE that time with our families is our greatest gain.

Instead of your child telling you how they learned their left from their right hand, you teach it to them! (By the way, you can remind them that if they hold up their index finger, like they are pointing to the sky, and their thumb, out at a right angle, it forms the letter L if it is their left hand. Wish I would have known that when I was a kid!)

You are qualified to teach your own child. Don’t be afraid of it, be a part of it.

*Coming up next: Family Time and Family Meals—more important than we think

If any of you are thinking of homeschooling your children and would like some information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.