Answer: Nothing! It’s perfectly fine!
Unless, of course, you’re an OBSTINATE 11-year-old girl who, despite being homeschooled all her life and, therefore, PROPERLY SOCIALIZED to know that she shouldn’t argue the details of EVERY BLASTED THING with her mother, insists that she be able to wear her new EXPENSIVE sweater to OIL PAINTING class today.
Isn’t homeschooling supposed to keep brattiness at bay? I’m pretty sure that they say so at homeschooling conventions. Cooperative, helpful, thoughtful, curious children. Isn’t that what we’re promised? If I were an HSLDA member, I’d be writing Michael Farris for a refund this morning, let me tell you.
Granted, we have always “spared the rod of correction” with her (reserving our plumbing supplies for actual plumbing), despite Husband’s upbringing which was all about instilling obedience (with belts and such) and feeding children ”humble pie” (humiliation). But, really, all Husband learned was to keep things from his parents. (You may remember that we’re “practicing” Catholics and go to Mass on Sundays and all “Days of Obligation,” whatever those are.)
Plus, as moms go, I’m pretty popular in the neighborhood because I follow all of the latest parenting advice. Doesn’t that count for something?
But, just recently, I received the following photographs of a great young girl that I’ve been sponsoring (through the secular aid group, PlanUSA/Childreach) for many years. From her letters, Karla sounds bright, happy and hopeful about her future. She sounds the way she looks in this picture:
Now, here she is with her mom:
Yikes. Maybe they were just having a bad day. Maybe right before the picture was taken her Mom made her put on the white shirt and she didn’t WANT to put on the white shirt. That’s what I’m hoping. That’s it’s just coincidental and not my destiny.
Any wise words of encouragement?
Ok, that’s really funny, because my mother just gave Emily what appears to be that exact sweater for her birthday last week! Emily loves it–a friend has one similar to it. She wore it horseback riding the last two lessons. So far, there’s just a drop of chocolate ice cream, which you can hardly see. :)
tip: If you eat strawberry ice cream, it comes in pink, too :)
The brown sweater USED to be a much-loved favorite here, too, until the brand-new, soft-n-cozy, pink and plum striped, easy zip-up, hoodie sweater with extra-long sleeves to keep your little hands warm arrived on the scene!
~Lynn
Oh, the little girl and her mother are beautiful. The white shirt is pretty, too.
Holy Days of Obligation are certain holy days that Catholics must attend mass, or it is a mortal sin: New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter, The Ascention (of Jesus), the Assumption (of Mary, who was assumed to have ascended bodily into heaven), All Saint’s Day, Christmas, and a couple of others that I can’t remember. I went to Catholic school.
Oh, the little girl and her mother are beautiful.
I think so, too.
Holy Days of Obligation
Yeah, there are quite a few, aren’t there? I like the one where you walk around all day w/smudged ash on your forehead. :)
Actually Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation. It does mark the beginning of Lent.
The next Holy Day is the 8th of Dec. celebrating the Feast of the Assumption.
I would want a refund too, after all aren’t we homeschooling so we will have pleasant, obedient, cooperative, children who love to read and help with the housework? Oh. I guess I need to submit my paperwork for a refund too. :)
Oh. Whoops. More proof that I make a lousy pretend-Catholic :)
Yeah, I was really looking forward to the cheerful little helper who pitches in without being asked. Guess I’ll just shoot instead for “no fighting, no biting” (love the name of your blog!) :)
~Lynn
Thanks so much for putting a picture of your sponsored child on your blog. It sounds like you have a good relationship with her. I am sure she loves to hear from you. You can learn a lot from each other.
Anne