tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post8290162364318688732..comments2024-03-18T20:50:36.597-07:00Comments on Rural Revolution: Minimalist parentsPatrice Lewishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06012022335047974670noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-57306171716745247402011-06-20T10:49:28.781-07:002011-06-20T10:49:28.781-07:00As a female teacher in a 10K+ a year private Catho...As a female teacher in a 10K+ a year private Catholic high school that caters to a very wealthy clientele, I can say with utmost certainty that 90% or more of my students (all males)are materially wealthy but spiritually bankrupt. They have everything money can buy but are so miserable, bored, selfish, etc. that all they can do with themselves is to do drugs and live off their parents' money. They have no idea how to be real MEN and have no work ethic. If these are supposed to be our future leaders, then God help us.<br />I grew up scrimping, saving, wearing handmedowns, and working since age 14 to help my single Mom keep us together and food on the table. I've had to struggle for everything I have, but honest to God, I'm know I'm better off for it.<br />MaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-67700297346359294062011-06-18T19:56:50.581-07:002011-06-18T19:56:50.581-07:00DH and I raised our kids. He worked the day shift....DH and I raised our kids. He worked the day shift. I worked nights and weekends. There weren't very many times that we needed anyone other than just ourselves. <br /><br />We waited and shopped the sales for what we needed, or we did without, or sometimes we got what we needed at yard sales & thrift shops. If we had to, we got by with one car. <br /><br />Our kids did go to public school (the private one in town offered discounts & scholarships, but honestly, they weren't any better than the public school). We supplemented their education at home. ("No - that is not how it happened! Grampa [or Dad] was there at that time in history. Here is what happened.... [etc.]) Of course, that was a few years ago, and schools have not gotten any better, and I agree that homeschooling is the best idea these days. (I could not get my kids to clean their rooms, let alone think about what they would do with their homeschool assignments; but homeschooling wasn't as thought-of at that time, many years ago.)<br /><br />-TaylorAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-29482918124520382452011-06-18T12:32:17.847-07:002011-06-18T12:32:17.847-07:00YOu summed it up.
As a result of the choices we&#...YOu summed it up.<br /><br />As a result of the choices we've made<br /><br />That is what it comes down to are the choices you make for you or for your children?<br /><br />I once was silly enough to express my opinion at work that I felt that my boys were best served by having their mother stay at home with them through High School graduation, you would have thought I broke wind in church. The single mothers were quick to explain that their children were just fine, even with the multiple piercings, tattoos and drug and/or alcohol use. Go figureAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-74088739826488063672011-06-18T12:16:25.219-07:002011-06-18T12:16:25.219-07:00AHA!!!
So I've only been partially correct ab...AHA!!!<br /><br />So I've only been partially correct about you and why you do like you do.<br /><br />You're not just in it for the glamor.<br /><br />You're in it for the LUXURY!!!<br /><br />Girl, you are SO busted!!<br /><br />A. McSp.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-61941770795241005052011-06-18T10:53:12.292-07:002011-06-18T10:53:12.292-07:00When we decided to get married, my husband said hi...When we decided to get married, my husband said his desire was for me to stay home and raise our kids. My mom was a SAHM for all 7 of us kids, even after my dad left us, (the oldest was 15, the youngest was 6 monts old). She raised us for nine years by herself, (then met and married an amazing man). If she could do it, so could I. <br />I am not the best homemaker/housewife but I love staying home. Our daughter was 4 years old and begged me to get a job so she could go to daycare with all her friends. I enrolled her in the preschool part of the program for 2 hours 3 days a week. After a couple of months, she didn't like it anymore and has never wanted me to get a job since! She will leave for college in August and we have one son who will be a sophomore in high school this Sept. <br />I helped out in their classes when they went to elementary school and was always available to run them around, bring books, lunches, p e clothes, backpacks etc to them when they forgot.<br />Our kids have played sports but only when they were little and it didn't cost much. We camp in tents and a tent trailer, we do have one 4-wheeler, only because Dad thought he needed it for hunting lol. The toys we have bought for our kids include rifles, .22s, shotguns, fishing poles, etc. We have also bought dvd players for our Jeep, (very long trips with only old, black & white movies), mp3 players loaded with Christian music, and we only had one computer until we bought our daughter a laptop for college. Because we were only blessed with 2 children, we have walked a middle path between giving them every toy and advantage their friends have and keeping them grounded in poverty, lol. <br />We have never taken them to Disney Parks, but we are taking them to Six Flags next month. It will be their fist time. And we won't stay in motels, we will stay with family who have the same values as we do. <br />This year, we are homeschooling our son, because we felt he would learn and grow better in constant contact with parents. He has earned a reputation in our town for being a hard worker. We have only lived here for 3 years and he is known for his work ethic. Same thing with our daughter. The local cafe calls her to come and work anytime they need someone. <br />If you looked at our income during our marriage, you may wonder how we were able to have me be a SAHM, but we have been so blessed. We may not have all the toys, but our lives are overflowing with amazing blessings.Tricianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-31137739351662869282011-06-18T09:46:38.457-07:002011-06-18T09:46:38.457-07:00Amen, and amen, Patrice.
Before my wife and I got...Amen, and amen, Patrice.<br /><br />Before my wife and I got married, we had no real plan about kids because her doctore told her she couldn't get pregnant. Just a couple of months into our marriage, she DID get pregnant, and our first child (of four) was born shortly after our first anniversaru. At the time my wife was working full time and going to school working toward an MBA. She put all of that on hold to be a full-time mom. With the drastic cut in our family income, we merely adjusted our lifestyle, and did without nonessentials.<br /><br />That was almost 30 years ago. We have bought "handyman specials," vehicles that we could pay cash for, shopped at thrift stores, and joined a food coop. We've done what we could to stay out of debt, and resuse what we can. This sort of discipline has helped when I lost my job in 2006. Unemployment isn't nearly as devestating when you aren't under a crushing mortgage or credit load.<br /><br />As a result, our kids have not really "done without." Good food, shelter, adequate clothes, and parents who are around to help them navigate growing up.<br /><br />Continue to be "in your face." Most of us love connecting with a kindred spirit.Steve Herrhttp://www.docstoc.com/profile/newcreature52noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-49649304163894125912011-06-18T04:10:39.028-07:002011-06-18T04:10:39.028-07:00Wealth is not always measured by how much money yo...Wealth is not always measured by how much money you have or spend!S. L. Hayneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16012327962519044953noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-38867513373060519892011-06-18T03:16:26.336-07:002011-06-18T03:16:26.336-07:00This reminds me of when our niece had to do a repo...This reminds me of when our niece had to do a report for a class on the cost of raising a baby in the first year of its life .I believe it was meant to scare them away from having babies too early.We had a year old at the time and she asked me to write down all our costs for everything that year.4 trips to J C Penney for photos , co pay on healthy baby check up a few pretty dresses bought full price for those photos...a couple bottles to give my milk in when I couldn't be present...everything else was gifts or hand me downs from relatives oh and an exersaucer which she loved and has been continued to be handed down in the family to other babies.Our neice looked so disappointed because the report was supposed to show the High Cost of babies!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-74273262984058746232011-06-17T22:17:15.895-07:002011-06-17T22:17:15.895-07:00Whenever I wonder if I'm doing the right thing...Whenever I wonder if I'm doing the right thing by not contributing to the household budget with a salary of my own (as opposed to contributing to the household budget by pinching pennies and keeping us in a lower tax bracket), instead of staying at home, I just look around and note that the neighbor's kid spends almost as much time at my house as he does at his own, and he'll do anything to keep on my son's good side so he'll continue to be invited over.<br /><br />He needs adults who will actually sit down and talk to him (which we do - new kids are always a little taken aback by this. I suspect they are too used to being ignored). He brags about the new toy he's getting, but I can see what he'd really prefer are Present Parents. <br /><br />I suspect he's a little jealous of my son, but won't admit that he'd give up playing football at school in exchange for a mom who was actually there for him.<br /><br />I was a full-time working, day care mom, then I woke up. Having gone both ways, I can say without hesitation, that it's cheaper for mom to stay at home, and it's so much better for the home atmosphere as well. <br /><br />Who needs new stuff? The new stuff is really garbage anyway, so buy the really good old stuff, save your money and have belongings that will really last.<br /><br />As others have said, what it really boils down to for most people, is where do your priorities lie? If your priority is keeping up with the Jones', then you'll both work long hours and pay someone else to raise your kids.<br /><br />If having smart, stable, enjoyable kids is your priority, then you will FIND A WAY to make sure that at least one parent is with them at all times. It's as simple as that. Even some single parents have options that will achieve that - can you say Grandma? Aunt? Uncle? <br /><br />As long as everyone has the same priority, there will be a way to make it work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-27132273515620946722011-06-17T22:04:26.518-07:002011-06-17T22:04:26.518-07:00Yes, I've gotten similar comments over the yea...Yes, I've gotten similar comments over the years for various things. For the short while my husband was off working in a different state (we were laid off and expecting #4, having some income to pay the mortgage and have health insurance just in case was a good thing at the time), his coworkers were constantly blown away by us. <br />We refused to pay for two entire households (here and there) because we flat out couldn't afford it, and hubby rented a little room in a house while working there. I continued to be a stay at home, homeschooling mother, continued our garden as best I could, continued canning to some degree and we kept to our budget. <br />Then one month the transmission on our (paid for, 9yo) van went out, and we had the savings to pay our transmission guy with a check and move on with our lives. Even hubby's old boss, who was making an obscene-to-me amount of money, said he wouldn't have been able to come up with the cash to deal with that kind of expense. Hmmm. <br /><br />I do have to admit, we're still at the beginning of our homeschooling journey (my oldest is 7yo) and books are my downfall. If the kids clamor for one that looks good to me, I have a hard time saying no. Or if I come across some screaming deals at consignment/yard sales, I'll pick them up. What's really fun is that a friend of mine opened up a consignment shop last year, and she gets all kinds of neat things through the door. :)LannaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14072980040369333704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-6116719822708551812011-06-17T21:29:28.479-07:002011-06-17T21:29:28.479-07:00Even to this day, I have to tell my mother that I ...Even to this day, I have to tell my mother that I never ONCE felt deprived as a child because I had only one Barbie doll or because my winter coats came from Goodwill. It just never occurred to me.<br /><br />I tell her it always meant more to me just to know she was there.<br /><br />Just MeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-83004872697444729712011-06-17T19:54:13.230-07:002011-06-17T19:54:13.230-07:00I feel the same way. I agree entirely with everyth...I feel the same way. I agree entirely with everything you said. I have my "luxuries" too. I think we have a far better life then most around us who cannot afford to keep mothers in the home because they need to be in three sports each moms get their nails done, dinners out daily....yada yada yada. <br />Nuff said- MelissaKids and Canning Jarshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04794388845414644018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-30254075097711631382011-06-17T18:51:02.844-07:002011-06-17T18:51:02.844-07:00"It's all about priorities in a culture t..."It's all about priorities in a culture that creates entitlements out of what used to be luxuries."<br /><br />Actually, isn't society trying to create a luxury out of what used to be almost an entitlement -- a stable family life for kids?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-36225178631138939452011-06-17T15:13:33.983-07:002011-06-17T15:13:33.983-07:00That's my biggest pet peeve too! Can't be...That's my biggest pet peeve too! Can't believe how often I hear people saying they wish they could afford to stay home with their kids. My husband and I talked about this before we were married. No daycare, no public school. (Is that redundant?) we survive on one income. It's not a big one, but it's steady, and provides health insurance. We have 5 kids under 10. I spend more hours in the kitchen in a day than many mothers I know do in 4 days. I know the difference between home made, and home assembled meals. We don't buy convenience food, we eat out rarely, buy used, do as much as we can ourselves, raise our own meat, eggs, veggies, milk. We are tied down by our lifestyle. Many people express envy at what we have, but they could have it too if they were willing to sacrifice luxury things like going out to eat, designer clothing, movies out, fancy vacations, modern gadgets, cable tv on a plasma screen, etc. My social life is primarily through church, some family gatherings, and wonderful neighbors. All of our kids need from us every day in various degrees; school, laundry, meals, potty training, reading books, discussing current events and funny questions, nursing baby. The list is long. I'm tired of hearing someone complain about income, and every time I visit they have new furniture, appliance, clothing, travel trailer. Our furniture is second (third, fourth) hand, I'm wearing the same clothes I wore in high school, and we camp in a tent. One guy says "We can't afford another kid." They have one. He makes the same salary as my husband and his full time working wife more than that. It's all about priorities in a culture that creates entitlements out of what used to be luxuries.<br /> Our house isn't tidy, we have animals scattered about the property, life is noisy and busy. But it's full. And rewarding. And I'm never bored. I don't have time. <br /> Thanks for posting your passage. The truth in it is still up to date.<br /><br />AimAimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11616323242384729438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-13578382184661971162011-06-17T14:18:38.725-07:002011-06-17T14:18:38.725-07:00I'm at the office and just read this.
Very fun...I'm at the office and just read this.<br />Very funny.<br />I posted this to our in office group chat:<br />"(02:17:28 PM) Gabe: At lunch I was reading articles ... one was written by a stay at home mom .. this line from the article; "Every so often I fantasize about working in a nice clean tidy office where coworkers won’t constantly be tugging at my clothing, whimpering, and soiling their undergarments. "<br />(02:17:32 PM) Gabe: can I work in an office like that?"<br /><br />The response was co-workers telling me if I find an office like that to let them know.<br /><br />We work for the government.<br /><br />-GabeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-67384047149767797012011-06-17T14:16:12.584-07:002011-06-17T14:16:12.584-07:00Dear Patrice, no doubt that wasn't the first t...Dear Patrice, no doubt that wasn't the first time you'd been frustrated by the ignorance and unreasonableness of liberal progressives. No, that host did NOT hear what you said, because it wasn't what he wanted to hear. He had his liberal agenda and he wasn't going to let you muck it up with sound, common sense reasoning! <br /><br />You've said many times that liberals can't be reasoned with, and you're right. They only hear what they want to hear. They've been deceived and conditioned to think that way. Add arrogance, self-centeredness, a penchant for lying and belligerent defiance to the mix and voila! You've got today's liberals.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-71084373539177758182011-06-17T13:34:50.478-07:002011-06-17T13:34:50.478-07:00And that's a GOOD story! You stick to it!
A.M...And that's a GOOD story! You stick to it!<br /><br />A.McSpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5526768924178592295.post-47823182083977912702011-06-17T12:53:50.991-07:002011-06-17T12:53:50.991-07:00Thank you for posting that. I would have never bee...Thank you for posting that. I would have never been able to articulate that as eloquently as you did, but it sums up our philosophy in raising our children.SusieQThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07472123869920926206noreply@blogger.com