Baby Names -- Desitin -- Homeschooling/Unschooling

[Penny Linsenmayer]

Hi everyone --

My daughter caught her first cold, learned to roll over & began
teething all on the same day .... hence my absences from most all but
the Mods list for the last few days!

BABY NAMES: David asked why we don't just abandon the family tree for
names.  Well, because I'm an amateur genealogist, so the idea of using
family names appeals to me, and Bryce is a traditionalist, so it
appeals to him too.  He's just sorry that he can't nix the name Harry
since it's not only in the family tree, it's prevalent & prominent
(not the middle name of some great-great-great grandfather for
example).  :--)

I like the suggestion that we might get some freebies from the Harry &
David company.

DESITIN -- Jen I sent you a virtual hug, and have made a mental note
to get rid of the Desitin (and the Vaseline) when Elizabeth becomes
mobile.

HOMESCHOOLING/UNSCHOOLING -- I followed this thread with interest (I
think it's been debated here before but with different players).
Homeschooling is *so, so, so* not an option for us.  We are both
complete dunces in mathematics (and science for that matter but math
especially).  We are words people.  I majored in History & English
Lit; Bryce in History & Int'l Relations.  It doesn't appeal to me much
either I must say, but then, I had a good experience in public schools
for the most part (typical adolescent angst aside).

I agree strongly with everything Ebony wrote, but then, while I'm not
a public school teacher myself, my sister is.  She's complained loudly
too many times about homeschooled/unschooled/Montessori kids who find
themselves in her 3rd grade classroom, many times without even the
most basic of skills (such as *reading*!).

I also agree completely that removing the kids who, because of
involved, committed parents, will succeed regardless, is no solution
to our public school problems.  If these same super committed parents
were to get involved in the public schools, this, IMO, would go a long
way toward correcting many of the problems.

But, my sister influences me greatly, and she is a very progressive &
innovative public school teacher.  I've got her researching the
Houston schools already!  <g>

Penny