PARENTING FREEDOM

Carol | May 28, 2010

Son sues mother for ‘failing to protect him from father’s beatings’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1281380/Son-sues-mother-failing-protect-fathers-beatings.html

Take responsibility, submissive wives.

‘Working mothers are to blame if their children misbehave’ says a leading psychologist
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1280400/Working-mothers-blame-children-misbehave-says-leading-psychologist.html

“‘As a parent of a child of this age, you need to realise that if things go pear-shaped it is actually always your fault, in the sense that if you keep a close enough eye on them you can prevent atrocities.’”

“The author claims that young children ‘need to be in the presence of a responsive, loving adult at all times’, warning working mothers that daycare is associated with more boastful, disobedient and aggressive children.”

How 20 books at home can help your child to soar
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1280398/How-20-books-home-help-child-soar.html

“Even parents who own just 20 books can significantly increase their children’s success… Researchers found those who grew up in a ‘bookish home’ –with around 500 books –remained in education for three years longer than those born to families with empty bookshelves.”

Books in Home as Important as Parents’ Education in Determining Children’s Education Level
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100520213116.htm

“In some countries, such as China, having 500 or more books in the home propels children 6.6 years further in their education. In the United States, the effect is less, 2.4 years, than the 3.2-year average advantage experienced across all 27 countries in the study.”

Home Libraries Provide Huge Educational Advantage
http://www.miller-mccune.com/culture-society/home-libraries-provide-huge-educational-advantage-14212/

Germs in Soil Might Give Learning a Boost
http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/639398.html

“The mice who ate the bacteria ‘navigated the maze twice as fast and with less demonstrated anxiety behaviors as control mice.’”

Copycat Behavior in Children Is Universal and May Help Promote Human Culture
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100503135705.htm

Watch out for children copying teachers and peers!

Video: Chris Christie vs. the teachers union — director’s cut
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/05/27/video-chris-christie-vs-the-teachers-union-directors-cut/

Parents’ Physical Inactivity Influences Children
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100525094910.htm

Refusing kids’ vaccine more common among parents
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-05-04-vaccines04_ST_N.htm

Tylenol recall: Serious side effects investigated
http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/25/news/companies/tylenol_recall_adverse_consumer_complaints/index.htm

Study: Many Sunscreens May Be Accelerating Cancer
http://www.aolnews.com/health/article/study-many-sunscreens-may-be-accelerating-cancer/19488158?ncid=webmaildl1

Category: Books, Movies, Television, Health, Homeschooling Academics, Parenting Discipline, Parenting General, Public School, Science Technology, Vaccination | No Comments »
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Carol | May 28, 2010

New born babies learn even in their sleep
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/7737623/New-born-babies-learn-even-in-their-sleep.html

“Even though infants may stay awake for just a few hours a day, their brains keep working around the clock, scientists said.”

“They believe that the brain is constantly adjusting and adapting to the physical world despite appearances that they are dozing.”

Babies are ‘helped by delay in clamping umbilical cord’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1281688/Babies-helped-delay-clamping-umbilical-cord.html

“Clamping the umbilical cord in newborns should be delayed for a few minutes to allow more vital stem cells to flow from mother to baby.”

Prenatal Development
http://www.ehd.org/movies-index.php

Mum Knows Best? Research Suggests Pregnant Women Are More Likely to Follow Their Mothers’ Wisdom Than Medical Advice
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100514075155.htm

Category: Parenting General, Parenting Pregnancy | No Comments »
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Carol | May 28, 2010

Bristol Palin’s Solo Act
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/feature-articles/bristol-palin-interview-0610

“Both parents gave advice, including her father, Todd, who used to braid her hair every morning before school. ‘He taught me how to swaddle, which is the best trick in the world. I swaddled Tripp for like the first eight months.’”

“He [Tripp] is learning basic sign language to communicate with Trig, including stop, which Trig signs when Tripp tackles him.”

Bristol Palin: The Photo Shoot
http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/bristol-palin-pictures-0610

Just When Ya Think It Can’t Get Any More “Interesting”… Welcome, Neighbor!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/notes/sarah-palin/just-when-ya-think-it-cant-get-any-more-interesting-welcome-neighbor/392687973434

“Upon my family’s return this morning from endorsement rallies and speeches in the Lower 48 states, I finally got the chance to tackle my garden and lawn this evening! So, putting on the shorts and tank top to catch that too-brief northern summer sun and placing a giddy Trig in his toddler backpack for a lawn-mowing adventure, I looked up in surprise to see a “new neighbor” overlooking my property just a stone’s throw away.”

I did the backpack thing for years until N was old enough to mow the lawn himself.

Update:
the new Palin fence
http://gretawire.blogs.foxnews.com/the-new-palin-fence/

Category: Parenting Attachment, Parenting Babywearing, Parenting General, Politics Sarah Palin, Sex Education | No Comments »
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Carol | May 25, 2010

CA Lets Communist China Supply School Curriculum

Category: Politics, Public School | No Comments »
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Carol | May 24, 2010

I have adamantly refused ultrasounds for all of my pregnancies, in spite of doctor and social pressure. It takes a lot of courage to say no. I would have consented if there were specific complications during my pregnancies. I have been telling mothers my concerns about ultrasounds since 1993 (during my first pregnancy when two landmark scientific papers were published). My babies’ birth weights have been in the 8, 9, and 10 pound range. Now, there are new studies that point to the risks of routine ultrasounds.

Ultrasound ‘may harm foetuses’
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ultrasound-may-harm-foetuses-1509275.html

“Frequent ultrasound scans during pregnancy may result in growth restriction in the womb and the birth of smaller babies…”

“‘Prenatal ultrasound by itself can no longer be assumed to be entirely harmless’.”

“Ultrasound is widely used, but has never been studied through large controlled clinical trials.”

Scientists to test ultrasound as a male contraceptive
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8674380.stm

(I saw this when it came out and was thinking how ultrasound must certainly negatively affect unborn babies.)

If ultrasound destroys sperm, why is it safe for a fetus?
http://www.naturalnews.com/028853_ultrasound_fetus.html

“Ultrasound is extremely damaging to the health of any unborn child (fetus).”

Ultrasound: More Harm than Good?
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/ultrasoundwagner.asp?q=ultrasound

“Although ultrasound is expensive, routine scanning is of doubtful usefulness, and the procedure has not yet been proved to be safe, this technology is widely used, and its use is increasing rapidly without control…”

“The World Health Organisation stresses that health technologies should be thoroughly evaluated prior to their widespread use. Ultrasound screening during pregnancy is now in widespread use without sufficient evaluation. Research has demonstrated its effectiveness for certain complications of pregnancy, but the published material does not justify the routine use of ultrasound in pregnant women. There is also insufficient information with regard to the safety of ultrasound use during pregnancy. There is as yet no comprehensive, multidisciplinary assessment of ultrasound use during pregnancy, including: clinical effectiveness, psychosocial effects, ethical considerations, legal implications, cost benefit, and safety.”

“WHO strongly endorses the principle of informed choice with regard to technology use. The health-care providers have the moral responsibility: fully to inform the public about what is known and not known about ultrasound scanning during pregnancy; and fully to inform each woman prior to an ultrasound examination as to the clinical indication for ultrasound, its hoped-for benefit, its potential risk, and alternative available, if any.”

Ultrasound warning: procedure may harm babies’ brains
http://www.naturalnews.com/019910_ultrasound_infant_health.html

“Ultrasounds could pose a threat to the development of unborn babies’ brains.”

“Pregnant mice exposed to ultrasound gave birth to some offspring that suffered brain abnormalities…”

“Ultrasounds are not only potentially damaging to developing brains,” added Mike Adams, a consumer health advocate, “they’re also extremely loud to the fetus. Amniotic fluid is an excellent transmitter of sound energy, and ultrasounds emit powerful sound waves. The long-term effect of this unnatural exposure to extremely strong sound energy is entirely unknown…”

Category: Baby #6, Parenting Pregnancy, Science Technology | 4 Comments »
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Carol | May 21, 2010

The Limbaugh Victory
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/opinion/20chafets.html

“Mr. Limbaugh stepped into the void with a raucous denunciation of the new president’s agenda and a strategic plan based on his belief that real conservatism wins every time.”

Category: Media Bias Exposed, Politics, Politics Barack Obama, Politics Michele Bachmann, Politics Sarah Palin | No Comments »
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Carol | May 16, 2010

Cosby on Parenting 1

Cosby on Parenting 2

Cosby on Parenting 3

Hat Tip: http://www.politicalcrave.com/

Category: Books, Movies, Television, Parenting Discipline, Parenting General | No Comments »
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Carol | May 16, 2010

Why Is Breast Milk Best? It’s All in the Genes
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100512172342.htm

For Comfort, Mom’s Voice Works as Well as a Hug
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100511201730.htm

Babies know the difference between good and evil at six months, study reveals
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1275574/Babies-know-difference-good-evil-months-study-reveals.html

Toddlers and TV: Early Exposure Has Negative and Long-Term Impact
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/05/100503161229.htm

Study: 1 in 7 U.S. Babies Born to Moms 35+
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/06/health/main6465326.shtml

The Pill at 50: Unhappy Un-Birthday
http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2010/05/09/the-pill-at-50-unhappy-un-birthday/

Flu vaccination ban goes national after fever, convulsions in children
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/flu-vaccination-ban-goes-national-after-fever-convulsions-in-children-20100423-tglp.html

U.S. has 71 million unused flu vaccine doses
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKN0318959620100503

Proposed Law in Mexico Would Send Doctors Who Don’t Suggest Abortion to Jail
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/29/proposed-law-mexico-send-doctors-dont-suggest-abortion-jail/?test=latestnews

Category: Abortion, Family Planning, Feminism, Health, Parenting Attachment, Parenting Breastfeeding, Parenting General, Parenting Pregnancy, Vaccination | No Comments »
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Carol | May 16, 2010

Audio: Sarah Palin’s NRA Speech
http://www.therightscoop.com/audio-sarah-palins-nra-speech/

Full Video: Watch Glenn Beck’s NRA Speech
http://www.therightscoop.com/watch-glenn-becks-nra-speech/

Category: Freedom, Media Bias Exposed, Media Glenn Beck, Politics Sarah Palin | No Comments »
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Carol | May 15, 2010

Video: Glenn Beck’s Liberty University Commencement Address
http://www.therightscoop.com/video-glenn-becks-liberty-university-commencement-address/

Category: Christianity, Inspiration, Media Glenn Beck | 1 Comment »
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Carol | May 14, 2010

Video: Sarah Palin’s Keynote at Susan B. Anthony Celebration of Life Breakfast
http://www.therightscoop.com/video-sarah-palins-keynote-at-susan-b-anthony-celebration-of-life-breakfast/

Category: Abortion, Family Planning, Feminism, Politics Sarah Palin, Special Needs | No Comments »
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Carol | May 11, 2010

I used to post more of my own material for my website, but for the past long while, it seems I only link to other articles with the occasional personal comment here and there. I am sorry that I haven’t had the strength nor the inspiration for creative writing during the past six months. I haven’t been able to blog the story of this pregnancy either because it’s been just too emotional and difficult.

I apologize for either not responding at all or only half-heartedly to the encouraging comments and emails I have received during the past several months. I used to reply every time, but lately it has been exhausting, and sometimes I just don’t know what to say. I do appreciate when you take the time to write to me, and I will try to do better in replying. Thank you!

I am doing better healthwise. I still get extremely fatigued, but unlike the first 20 weeks of this pregnancy, I have been improving instead of getting worse. That was so scary. I can finally cope and even do things which makes me very encouraged and hopeful. I am also beginning to stop worrying about miscarrying.

I went to my first (and only so far) prenatal appointment and heard the baby’s heartbeat. I get Braxton Hicks contractions. I feel the baby kicking some. The hiccups seem to indicate that baby’s head is down. If that is the case, I pray it stays that way.

Me – Almost 25 weeks pregnant
(I can’t get Derek to stop taking worm’s eye view pictures.)

I stuck to the vegan diet for about six weeks, but since I kept getting more sick, I made some changes. I still make vegetable smoothies, almond/grape milk, take all my supplements, and continue to make better choices and avoid most unhealthy foods. I have continued to make Sunday night fruit smoothies for the family, and I bought quite a few containers to make homemade smoothie popsicles, both of which the children love.

Vegetable smoothie that turns into a bubbling crude

Vegetable smoothie and fruit salad

Fruit smoothie ingredients

Homemade smoothie popsicles in the freezer

I haven’t scrapbooked for 3 1/2 years, so I felt bad that I was so far behind with a little baby on the way. Just because this baby is the fifth child shouldn’t mean he or she doesn’t get pictures in an album. Inspired by the very talented Kelle of Enjoying the Small Things, I have discovered the wonderful world of photobooking. Kelle does digital scrapbooking and then has her beautiful pages collected in photobooks. I would love to do digital scrapbooking, yet I can’t figure out how to get started at all. Photobooking has been wonderfully easy with delightful results (not magnificent like Kelle’s, but satisfactory to me right now). I finally feel productive after many months of getting nothing done. That has been very hard on my head since my mind wants me to go, go, go. Just during the past few weeks, I completed three albums (January – June 2009, July – December 2009, January – June 2008), and I almost have July – December 2008 finished. Hopefully all of 2007 will fit in one album. I will then have only January – June 2010 to finish before the baby!  Lovely. I look forward to taking family pictures this fall.

We thought we had our baby names, but it seems there are too many people with the same names. I would welcome any baby names suggestions (in the comments below). I can’t find a good baby names website, so I would appreciate any tips in that area as well.

It has been a sad week in our community with the tragic death of a fourteen-year-old girl who lived up the road from us. She died in a car accident. Her mother is one of the sweetest, friendliest people I know. She is the kind of person who would get voted Miss Congeniality in the real world. What a devastating loss to their little family. Unbearable. http://nethymnal.org/htm/b/e/bestill.htm

The children are continuing to do their school work. Usually they have most subjects finished by mid-May, but this year, most subjects will likely go until the end of June. The 3 R’s will continue throughout the summer because of the baby and Derek’s job situation. The older boys have been dipping into their next year’s book stash. They just can’t help it – especially those Glenn Beck recommendations. They also received a new box of books with Canadian content yesterday. http://www.freedompress.ca/

Jean Chretien: A Legacy of Scandal ~ Paul Tuns
As I See It ~ Michael Coren
Standing on Guard for Thee ~ Michael Wagner
Loyal to the Core: Stephen Harper, Me and the NCC ~ Gerry Nicholls
The Great Canadian Comedy: From Laughter To Tears ~ Joe Campbell
Stop the Presses! ~ Joseph Farah

I bought another Willow Tree ornament because of the new baby. This will be our family in August.

I would love to hear from you. Certain blogging decisions I have made over the past couple years has resulted in less reader feedback, so it is encouraging to hear from those of you who still visit my website.

Now, back to politics as usual…

Category: Baby #6, Books, Movies, Television, Canadian, Food, Health, Homeschooling Academics, Journal 2010, Parenting Pregnancy, Politics Canadian | 16 Comments »
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Carol | May 11, 2010

Here are some of our spring pictures that I am willing to share publicly. Go here for the private pictures: http://parentingfreedom.com/2010/05/11/spring-pictures/ (Send me information about yourself if you want access.)

First backyard soccer of the season – April 6, 2010
B11, L5, C8

C8 enjoys listening to audio books on her MP3 player
April 12, 2010

Inspired by a library book

Paint – April 23, 2010

Brushes

Backyard soccer with Daddy
April 25, 2010

We got our trampoline last year, and I am surprised that it continues to be greatly enjoyed by all of them – especially when they use nerf swords and have jumping battles.

The day the trampoline was put together again
May 1, 2010

Father and Daughter
May 2, 2010

Derek and the children at the beach

Note the American Girl doll in the doll back carrier
with foam rollers in her hair while her mother plays soccer.
May 8, 2010

Fiddlehead picking on Saturday (Not so pretty, eh?)

Category: Canadian, Facebook, Homeschooling Activities, Journal 2010 | 4 Comments »
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Carol | May 11, 2010

Obama nominates Elena Kagan to Supreme Court
http://www.jillstanek.com/obama-to-nominate-elena-kagan.html

Category: Abortion, Politics Barack Obama | No Comments »
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Carol | May 11, 2010

Britain’s hidden gendercide: How Britain’s Asians are copying Indian cousins and aborting girls
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1276902/Britains-hidden-gendercide-How-Britains-Asians-copying-Indian-cousins-aborting-girls.html#ixzz0ncSwhsPD

“For the hospital sonographer, it’s just another routine 20-week ultrasound scan. The baby is developing perfectly and, helpfully, is lying in the right position to make identification of its gender straightforward. ‘Would you like to know the sex?’ she asks. The anxious-looking Indian woman who has been staring so intently at the monitor, smiles nervously. ‘Oh yes, please,’ she says, her slight Midlands accent betraying the fact that she was born in Britain.”

“‘Well, you’re having a little girl. Isn’t that lovely?’ If the sonographer had been a little less tired, she might have noticed the slight hesitation before her patient’s reply, the fleeting look of desperate disappointment that crossed her face. But both are gone in a split second. ‘Oh yes, wonderful news, my husband will be pleased.’”

“But the woman is lying – just as hundreds of other British women of Indian origin do every year. Their husbands certainly won’t be pleased by news of another daughter and nor, more often than not, are they…”

“What was it daadi (grandmother) used to say? Bringing up a baby girl is like watering a neighbour’s garden. What her grandmother meant, of course, is that it’s an absolute waste of time and money.”

“As she straightens her clothing and walks out of the hospital, the woman shudders, knowing full well what lies ahead. The long flight to India, the noisy taxi ride through the crowded Delhi streets to the clinic, and the pain and horror of a late abortion. But her husband was adamant; they simply could not afford another daughter…”

“And so, ten days later and despite the fact that abortion on the grounds of gender is technically illegal in India, the life of yet another British Indian baby girl ends on the bloodied operating table of a Delhi abortion clinic before it has even begun. She is killed simply for being a girl…”

“Traditionally, unwanted girl babies are fed opium and left to die; others, I’m afraid, meet far nastier ends as India’s poor do what they have been doing since before the Raj – murdering their unwanted daughters…”

“Estimates vary as to how many Indian women are now ‘missing’ from the population, but it’s thought to be somewhere between ten and 35million over the past 20 years. Female foeticide, gendercide – call it what you will – it’s a terrible and chilling statistic…”

“A British-Indian friend of mine recently gave birth to a daughter and while there was a younger generation of Indian women like me, keen to celebrate the arrival, we were outnumbered by an older generation of female cousins and aunts, some of whom were in tears at the wretched fate that had befallen my friend. It was as though someone had died, not just been born…”

“They pass on to the next generation what they have learned from bitter experience: that they are subservient to men; their usually loveless marriages will be arranged for them; and the size of their dowry matters more than their education…”

“Recently, I was in Mumbai, the heart of India’s booming stock market, and yet in this bustling, metropolitan city the bodies of newborn baby girls were still being washed up on the beach…”

Category: Abortion, Family Planning, Feminism | No Comments »
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