What this home schooling mom is thankful for...

With Thanksgiving just a day away, it seems especially appropriate to reflect on what I'm thankful for. Thanks to Break Time at Home School Inc. for reminding me of these blessings...

Give Thanks for Homeschool Freedom!
As parents, Thanksgiving brings to mind the many things we have to be thankful for in our homes, our families, and our country.

While you bask in the glow of your festivities, consider for a moment the freedoms we still have as homeschoolers. Certain states require greater accountability, with some predicting that their laws will become more strict, in the future. But even in the most highly regulated states, homeschoolers still have these freedoms:

- The freedom to read whatever we like. If your young reader prefers graphic novels to the classics, together you can still choose which they will read (hopefully peppered with some works of greater depth). No one is standing over your shoulder to tell you what to read. Don't take this freedom for granted.

- The freedom to think whatever we like. We are not forced to adopt a worldview. We can, indeed, immerse our family in the worldview that resonates with us.

- The freedom to disagree. Some homeschoolers choose to homeschool because of specific educational goals and perspectives. Some choose homeschool so they can also teach their faith. Some choose to homeschool because of what they perceive as a negative indoctrination prevalent in the school system. Whatever our motivation, we still have the freedom to choose.

- The freedom to choose our comings and goings. We can start "school" at 8 a.m. or 11 a.m. We can pick vacation times that make sense for our family. We can even go to class in our pajamas!

Educational choice for our children today and tomorrow -- it's what homeschooling is all about. It's what freedom is about. Live it, love it, celebrate it, and guard it.

At War With The Media

It is impossible to not notice that Hollywood is poisoning an entire generation against God and the Christian lifestyle. Every time I flip a channel there is foul language, fornication, homosexuality, and lust for money, sex and power. Oddly enough I find that even the Disney Channel shows are indoctrinating our children to believe that adults are dumb, talking back is cool, and dressing immodestly is fashionable. Appetites for dating relationships are even being encouraged in pre-pubescent children. What's a Christian mother to do? Well, as unthinkable as it may seem, we are done with random TV watching. Somedays it just doesn't even get turned on.

With the invention of TIVO and DVR I can record what I consider appropriate and we watch it at a convenient family time. We record shows like "I Love Lucy", "Little House on the Prairie", and "The Brady Bunch". We also check the History Channel for shows that enrich what we may be studying at the time. The point is that I don't have to feel forced by the media to teach my children anything I don't want to teach them. I don't care about what everyone else is watching. I want to build strong foundations in my children and I want to keep their hearts towards God.

I was surprised when I found a Catholic website for renting films, sort of like Netflix. It makes me feel good to know that I'm not alone in my philosophy.

Piusmedia.com is a Catholic DVD Rental Membership Club! They are a source for movies depicting the lives of the saints, children’s movies, educational tools for Religious Education teachers, conversion stories from the greatest apologists, Catholic-friendly Hollywood movies, and some great old television series.

As stated from the Catechism of the Catholic Church 2525-

Christian purity requires a purification of the social climate. It requires of the communications media that their presentations show concern for respect and restraint. Purity of heart brings freedom from widespread eroticism and avoids entertainment inclined to voyeurism and illusion.