I had to get a library card last week as part of the handful of things I'm required to do to establish residency. This was actually the best task on that list - quick, free, and ending with me having access to all sorts of books and such!
Keeping with my affinity for non-fiction, I've now finished Stolen Innocence. It was a fast read and filled me on some aspects of the FLDS that I didn't fully understand. Of course it's one person's perspective, but I still liked it.
I'm about halfway through Parenting, Inc., which I grabbed because I saw that it was reviewed by David Elkind - a developmental psychologist and researcher who wrote an excellent book called The Hurried Child. Parenting, Inc. is interesting so far. It's pretty... anti. Like anti- whatever "parenting" thing seems to be the thing of the day (which, according to the author, includes the everything-must-be-organic bit, the endless research on every concievable product, etc. etc.). I guess the main idea is that going "back to basics" and, more specifically, spending far less, is the way to go when parenting. There have been a few points where I've thought to myself, "Yes. Awesome. I will have to read this when we're planning to have kids to remind myself of what I do need and what I don't need (which is almost everything, it seems)." But there have also been times when I wasn't fully convinced...
I do like one of the first things the author discussed, which was current societal views on needing to afford to have children, and making the decision of whether to have children (or to have more children) based almost exclusively on finances. I'm not a big fan of this mindset because I firmly believe that children can and do turn out alright even with very limited financial resources. There are more important resources that can make up for not having a money tree in the backyard - instilling curiousity, a love of learning, and resourcefulness to name a few.
Speaking of money and learning to live with less (was that was I speaking of?), we're thinking about becoming a one-car family in the very near future. My trusty car didn't pass the state inspection and I'm not really sure that it can without us spending more than it's worth - so we're looking into donating to NPR and I'm learning to ride the bus. This morning's ride was pretty uneventful, but this afternoon I will have to transfer busses and I won't have Jonathan waiting in the car, watching me to make sure I'm okay... Yes, I'm 25 and I'm skeered of the busses. Maybe I'll have some good bus stories for you soon. Until then, I'm off to class.
Keeping with my affinity for non-fiction, I've now finished Stolen Innocence. It was a fast read and filled me on some aspects of the FLDS that I didn't fully understand. Of course it's one person's perspective, but I still liked it.
I'm about halfway through Parenting, Inc., which I grabbed because I saw that it was reviewed by David Elkind - a developmental psychologist and researcher who wrote an excellent book called The Hurried Child. Parenting, Inc. is interesting so far. It's pretty... anti. Like anti- whatever "parenting" thing seems to be the thing of the day (which, according to the author, includes the everything-must-be-organic bit, the endless research on every concievable product, etc. etc.). I guess the main idea is that going "back to basics" and, more specifically, spending far less, is the way to go when parenting. There have been a few points where I've thought to myself, "Yes. Awesome. I will have to read this when we're planning to have kids to remind myself of what I do need and what I don't need (which is almost everything, it seems)." But there have also been times when I wasn't fully convinced...
I do like one of the first things the author discussed, which was current societal views on needing to afford to have children, and making the decision of whether to have children (or to have more children) based almost exclusively on finances. I'm not a big fan of this mindset because I firmly believe that children can and do turn out alright even with very limited financial resources. There are more important resources that can make up for not having a money tree in the backyard - instilling curiousity, a love of learning, and resourcefulness to name a few.
Speaking of money and learning to live with less (was that was I speaking of?), we're thinking about becoming a one-car family in the very near future. My trusty car didn't pass the state inspection and I'm not really sure that it can without us spending more than it's worth - so we're looking into donating to NPR and I'm learning to ride the bus. This morning's ride was pretty uneventful, but this afternoon I will have to transfer busses and I won't have Jonathan waiting in the car, watching me to make sure I'm okay... Yes, I'm 25 and I'm skeered of the busses. Maybe I'll have some good bus stories for you soon. Until then, I'm off to class.
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It was SOOOOOOOOOOO good to hear your voice.
I love you.
xoxmom
You'll do fine with the busses - Lisa uses them all the time - and she's got issues with balancing. I'm not saying that a keen sense of balance is necessary for a little bus ride - I'm just saying that you're a leg up on the situation.
As far as the parenting stuff goes - word up. Felix doesn't do much research on anything and hasn't had a dime since K-Mart distributing laid him off. He's still happy.
:)
Busses are good so far. I'm surprised how few people use them. I LOVE not having to drive myself.