Opening Day!!!

Ok, so I am a few days late posting this. But, I have been so busy that I really haven't had much time to sit down and tell you all about it. But, here I am now! :)


Friday night, Mikayla had her buddy Shira spend the night. We had a great time having dinner with her father and sisters as well. Her mother had to work, so she couldn't come. That meant that the only one without a playmate was me...***sigh***

Saturday morning, at 7:15, we hit the ground running. Of course, our 80* weather was gone, the sun was gone, and in their place was a cloudy, cold, icky day. The kids were all shivering in their uniforms out there for pictures. We had to break out the winter coats again as well...bummer!

Well, Shira didn't want to sit in the cold with us (can you blame her, really?) and stayed in the van to watch movies. Aaron was at home with a sitter so that he could take a nap and not have to be in the cold. Karl and I sat on the metal (cold!) bleachers with cups of hot coffee and blankets wrapped around us.

Nick's game was first. My son hadn't hit the ball more than twice in 6 weeks of practice, so it was a nice surprise when he got 3 hits from 3 pitches and scored 3 runs for his team! His team lost 12-6 (and my baby made 1/2 those runs!), but Nick got the "MVP" of the game and won the game ball from his coach. His smile was a mile wide for days afterwards.

Mikayla played next. She got a couple of base hits and actually stole second base a couple times...something she never did last year! I was so proud of how she kept cheering on her teammates and was really working hard in the field. Her team also lost, but not by much. The score was 9-8. And it was only the first game of the year, she said. It was okay to lose one, since they aren't planning on losing any more. Love that confidence! They both have games again tonight, so I'll try and get the results up tomorrow!

CVS Trip

I am sorry that I don't have pictures today, I got all the stuff put away before I remembered to get the camera out. But, here is my CVS trip today:

Transaction #1

2 Cover Girl TruBlend foundation-$18.98

1 Cover Girl Lipstick-$7.49

minus coupons

$3/$15 CVS

$4/$20 Beauty CVS (in my email)

$13.99 ECB

Total OOP $3.72
ECB earned-$15.00


Transaction #2

3 Scotch Brite pads (3pack)-$5.00

1 3M lint roller-$2.50

1 3M hook-$2.50

1 3M Paper cutter-$5.00

minus coupons

$3/$15CVS

$12 ECB (from CoverGirl in #1)

The cashier rang up the ECB's first, then then $3/$15 coupon, so for some reason, there was no tax!
Total OOP $0.00
ECB earned $5.00

Just Hand Over The Chocolate.....

Have you ever had one of those moments? You know, where you got some disappointing news that broke your heart and you didn't know what to do except cry? Maybe you felt like kicking and screaming and making a scene?
Well, my daughter had one of those moments today. As a homeschooler, it has been more challenging to teach her sports skills. She can do it once taught, but it hasn't come more naturally to her. She really has to work very hard at it. And maybe that's why this was a "scare those M&M's" moment.

See, our town has a youth baseball league. From T-ball and coach pitch, to girls softball and boys baseball, it's THE thing to do here. Why, opening day is the biggest social event of the year in our town. People who don't even have children playing come to the events and watch the games. This season is the second season that my children have been involved in it. Both boys and girls also have a "traveling" team that plays the other small towns in the area. Diamond Kings, Diamond Queens, Diamond Jacks.
Well, in order to play for these teams, you need to try out for them. The competition is fierce at times, and only the best at tryouts get to play. My daughter has wanted to play on the Diamond Queens for 2 years now. Last year, at tryouts, it was her first attempt at any organized sport, but she gave it her all. Heart and soul, she did! Well, needless to say, she didn't make it. But, she has been working her tail end off this whole year, practicing her catching and throwing, running and batting. Even her pitching. And she has remarkably improved.

See, she spent 2 grueling hours trying out for this team again this year. There were 13 other girls there, and she was awesome! She didn't miss a pop fly, a throw, or a good pitch at bat. She was aggressive and ran for the ball, and was one of the faster runners out there. She was so sure that this was the year she would make it. A purple Diamond Queens shirt with MIKAYLA emblazoned across the back was hers.
Now, for the chocolate moment.

We found out tonight that out of the 13 girls, only 10 were picked. And she was number 11. When her father broke the news to her, she acted like she was okay with it. When he left and I was alone with her, it just took one look and she broke down. All I could do was hold her and let her cry. This is one time that it stinks to be MOM...I couldn't "fix" what was wrong with my child. I couldn't heal this hurt, or kiss it away, or cover it with a bandaid. All I could do is let her cry. When she was done, we walked down to the store and bought a package of Rollos, which are her favorites, and rented the movie, "Alvin and The Chipmunks". Helped her remember that it was going to be okay, that next year is just around the corner.

And she is determined to practice even harder...next year, it's "in the bag".

Saving Day!

My first stop was at the local Meijer grocery store to take advantage of some of their 10/$10 and get the 11th free sale:



The total amount before coupons was $102.56. The total after coupons was $49.97. I got an extra bonus since the lady before me in the "do it yourself lane" left her coupons for $1.50 off next purchase. I asked her if she wanted them, but she told me to just go ahead. Thanks!!!


Then, I stopped at Aldi as they had some things on sale, too:



I really wish that they took coupons, but I will settle for a total of $16.67 here. Not pictured was the juice boxes that I got the kids...they were thirsty and it was cheaper than going to a drive thru!


Target was my next stop! I really did good here!





Total before coupons: $21.00. I used these coupons here

5 $.50/1 mfg coupons for Lay's cracker chips

5 $1.00/1 Target coupon for Lay's cracker chips

2 $1.00/1 Target coupon for toothpaste

2 $1.50/1 coupon for Colgate toothpaste

4 $1.00/1 any size Arm&Hammer toothpaste

The toothpaste was in a 2pack and clearanced out at $1.68 each. The total amount OOP $1.11!!!! That was nice!




My next stop on this escapade was CVS. My first transaction was this:

1 Alavert $6.99

$4.00 off coupon

paid $3.48 OOP and got back $4.00 ECB.

I know that others said that it worked, but I wanted to make sure that the hidden deal worked at my store before I proceded!


Then, I "took off". Transaction #2:

3 Garnier conditioners $9.99

2 Garnier shampoos $6.66

4 Alavert $27.96

3 Boost drinks $20.97

2 Herbal Essences Shampoo $4.19 and B1G1

1 Speed Stick Deodorant

minus coupons

5 $1.00/1 Garnier

4 $4.00/1 Alavert

3 $3.00/1 Boost

1 $3.00/2 Herbal Essences

1 $1.00/1 Deodorant

$10/$50 CVS

$4/$20 CVS

$14.00 ECB

Total OOP $7.78
Total ECB back- $34.99!




Transaction #3 at CVS:

2 24 pack H2O $7.98

2 Neutrogena Sun Block $16.98

3 Reese candy bars (needed as fillers, and earned me "Mom of The Year"> $1.50

(we really needed both for this weekend...opening day for Softball/baseball season for kiddos!)

Total ECB's used $26.00
Total OOP $.43
Total ECB back $7.00.

I know that I "lost" on this deal, but it was stuff we needed, and it didn't have to come out of our other budget!




My next stop was Walgreens:

Transaction #1:

2 Aveeno Lotion

1 Shower/Shave cream

1 Intense healing lotion

4 12 packs pop(we'll sell this at the community garage sale next week!)

minus coupons:

2 $1.00/1 Aveeno lotion

1 $1.50/1 any Aveeno product

OOP $28.00
Register Rewards earned:

$14.00 ($10 from Aveeno, $4 from pop)



Then, transaction #2:

2 Rimmel mascara $6.49 and B1G1

2 Maxwell House coffee

$5.00

3 Walgreens hand soap $4.68

3 Skintimate Shave Gel $8.37

1 8pack Brawny Paper Towels $8.99

1 toy fish (not pictured-kept 3 year old happy :)$1.99 and worth every penny!

minus coupons

2 $.75/1 mfg coffee

2 $1.00/1 Rimmel

3 $.55/1 Skintimate

$1.00/1 Brawny

$1.80 off hand soap (Wags)

$2.50/Brawny (Wags)

$4.98/Coffee (Wags)

$2.40/Skintimate (Wags)

Register Rewards used $14.00

OOP $11.41



All in all, I would say a pretty good day. Here's the overall total:

Total merchandise bought:$352.83

Total OOP $118.85

Total Saved $233.98! And I came in $6.15 under budget! (for a two week time period)

I would also just like to add that the allergy medicine, boost drinks, toothpaste, and many of our other "freebies" have gone to the local food pantry. I would like to think that it's about sharing the wealth, too!

I'm still here!

Just very, very busy these days.

Spring is finally here in Northern Indiana, and with it comes the busy season. We have ball practice 3 times a week, TaeKwondo 3 times a week, and 4H once a week. Sometimes, I have to be in 2 places at once! It's worked out so far for us, though.

I was reading the other day Psalm 139. Really neat one.

Where can I go from your Spirit?
where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
Psalm 139:7-10

I would have to say that is definitely my favorite right now. I have often been so busy that my time with God seems to be at a premium. But, we don't have to have a prayer closet to talk to God. Go ahead and re-read that one, I'll wait.

God is everywhere. You can talk with the Lord while grocery shopping (hey, He loves to be involved in what you eat and how you spend your money!) you can talk to the Lord while waiting in line at the bank, or while you are driving your kids to soccer, baseball, basketball, or other sports. You can talk to the Lord while in the shower, getting dressed, doing laundry...you get the idea.


Go on, talk to the Lord today...just like you do to your friends. He wants to be your best friend. And He is the One who can truly understand you and still love you, despite all your faults. You don't need fancy words with your other friends, why do you think we would need them with Jesus?

"Hey, Lord! I am thinking about grilled cheese for dinner tonight...whatcha think about soup with that?"

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Confessions of a Coupon Addict

"Hi...my name is Heather and I am a coupon addict."


Yep...that's me, the one with the large plastic box, riddled with envelopes and sale papers and coupons. At last count, I had over 500. And I knew what most of them were, as well as the amounts. $1 off Colgate toothpaste? Got 3. $.50 off a box of instant potatoes? Got at least 5 different kinds. Toilet paper coupons, dog food, cat food...you name it, it's probably in my box! As a bargain shopper with only $50 week budget for groceries and health items, you have to be able to think on your feet. You just gotta know where those Goldfish crackers are on sale, for how much, where your coupon is, and will they double it?
My kids know that if they are "blessed enough" to be able to carry the sacred coupon box to and from the house (because we just can't go anywhere without it, you never know when you might run into a sale!) that they are doomed if it would be accidentally dropped. Going to the grocery store is not just for necessary items, it's a way of life! So what if the managers know me by name and know what baseball teams my kids are on this year? And what's the big deal if all the cashiers run for their break when they see me coming?

And don't get my children started about CVS and Walgreens!!

I have spent hours each week, researching different blogs and websites, finding out other people's deals and trying to meet or beat them. I have filled my name and address to just about every company out there, offering coupons or free items. I have devoted DAYS to organizing my "golden calf" coupon box so that I am able to find the most valuable ones immediately. Oh, happy days of saving money. I can just hear the heavenly songs playing, and the light of Heaven shining down on me as God smiles approvingly at my earning yet another Extra Care Buck.

And what has it gotten me?

What if the time that I have spent on saving money could've been spent differently? Would my 3 year old enjoy coloring more than eating the crayons? Would my 8 year old be able to finally understand Almanzo Wilder and why he loved horses so much? Would my 10 year old be able to think in terms other than "if I have a coupon, would mom let me have that second dog"?

Knowing how to save my family money is very important to me. In my mind, if it takes my husband 40+ hours a week to earn the money to support us, then I should honor his time by taking at least 10 hours a week to make sure that I am being a good steward of that money. But, for me, it has become an obsession. It has taken the place of what is really important.

The 4 hours that I have spent on organizing my coupons every week, I could have spent some on organizing my prayer journal. The 3 hours that I spend every Sunday scouring the sale papers and plotting my menus, much of that could be spent scouring the Word and plotting my next person to witness to. How about all that time that I spend in the van with the kids, running "scenarios" for CVS in my head? (yes, I plot them as I drive) How much of that could I have spent talking with them and running a scenario for taking in a movie, or a picnic at the park? And the time that I spend on the websites, printing off coupon after coupon, could I have used some of that time just talking with the Lord, instead of putting Him off again due to "gotta save that money, God!"?


But what I have found is that you need balance. Yes, I can spend some time using coupons and searching out great deals. Proverbs 31:13 tells me that I should be doing it. But not at the cost of time with the Lord, or my family. Hard lesson to learn, really. But one that is necessary.

I still bargain shop, and hunt for the best deals, but I don't do it 7 days a week. 3 has been just fine, thank you. My kids appreciate that. They would rather jump on the trampoline or spend time with their pursuits, or friends vs. the cashiers at CVS or Walmart. And I still get to shop and not spend a lot of money. That, my dear friends, is balance.

CVS and Walgreens Deals

Well, there weren't too many exciting deals this week. In fact, none really. But, I did need some milk and a few other grocery items. I was able to take advantage at Walgreens. Here's what I got:

2 Gallons Milk $2.89 each

1 can Pringles (earned me the title Awesome Mom of the Year) $1.29

2 boxes Celestial Seasonings tea $2.99 w/B1G1 deal

2 Dawn dish soap $$2.98

minus the coupons

$2.00off Dawn (Walgreens coupons)

2 $.50/1 Dawn (mfg coupon)

$.50 off Pringles (Walgreens coupons)

$.45 off Celestial Seasonings (mfg coupon)

$10.00 Register Reward (from Aveeno deal)

Grand total OOP $.23!





At CVS:

4 4 packs of Mac N Cheese $12.00

2 4 packs of Chef Boy R Dee ravoloi $9.98

minus

$4/$20 CVS coupon

$12 ECB

$3.98 on Gift Card

Grand total OOP $0.00

Menu Plan Monday

In no particular order:

BREAKFAST

cereal-3x

whole-grain waffles

bagels and cream cheese

eggs and toast

french toast

LUNCH

Chicken nuggets and homemade fries-2x

PBJ's and peaches

homemade english muffin pizzas

leftover spaghetti

hot dogs

leftover sloppy joes

DINNER

spaghetti (extra for lunch leftovers)

BBQ ribs, mashed potatoes, peas

cereal (game night)

chicken wings

beans and rice

BBQ pork sandwiches (with leftover ribs)

sandwiches and chips (game night)

I was able to "score" the ribs for $1/lb. and the chicken nuggets were FREE after coupons! The rest of the menu was made up around what I have in my pantry already, so no grocery shopping this week is necessary. Not that there are any good sales, anyway :)

Super Saturday!

I went to Meijer today and took advantage of some of their sales! Check it out:

2 bags of cat food $7.00(sale)

1 bag of dog food $4.36

2 Cartons of Dole Juice $4.00(sale)

2 Bottles of Pepsi Max $2.00(sale)

1 snack pack of Ritz crackers $4.99

minus

2 $.50/1 dole juice coupons (doubled)

3 $4.00 Purina coupons

2 $.50/1 Pepsi coupons (doubled)

1 Free snack pack coupon (from previous trip)

Grand total OOP $2.36!

Free Chicken Nuggets!!!

And they taste great, too! Just go to Advance Foods and sign up to be a "Fanatic". They will then prompt you to sign in and then you can print off 5 $1.00/1 coupons! Then backspace and refresh, and you can print off 5 more! Then, on their site, you have a chance to get 2 more $1.00/1 coupons!
That's a total of $12 savings. Walmart has them for $1.00 a bag making them free! And these chicken nuggets are really good! My kids just "scarfed" them down! Go on, try them!

Super Savings Day!

Here's my breakdown of savings today:

At Walmart:

12 bags of Chicken Nuggets-$12

12 bags of Malt-o-Meal Cereal-$12

24 coupons-$24

Look on cashier's face at $0.00 total-PRICELESS!

At CVS-

4 Colgate toothbrushes-$27.96

2 Boxes Excedrine Migrane Medicine-$3.98

7 coupons $14.00

Pay with Extra Care Bucks-$21.00

OOP $1.20

Getting $14.00 Extra Care Bucks Back-PRICELESS

At Walgreens

4 Sunlight Dish Soap $7.16

2 Aquafresh Toothpaste $4.00

4 Aveeno Lotion-$10.52

1 Colgate Sonic Toothbrush-$4.99

1 Benadryl Allergy-$4.00

2 Airwick Mini Airfreshners-$9.99

1 Walgreens Chapstick (filler)$.99

10 Coupons-$27.57

OOP $17.38

Register Rewards Earned-$10.00

Rebates Earned

$8.99

Total Net of $1.61 Profit-PRICELESS!

It's Friday, and yes I am still here!

Sorry that I haven't been on for a while...did ya'll miss me? My wonderful hubby has been "repartitioning" my hard drive so that I can have dual operating systems.
What that means is that I run on Linux (which is what Karl uses himself) and I also get to have Windows so that I can print off coupons on line. My husband is totally anti-Microsoft, so this was a very big move for him. He is showing me that he does appreciate the time that I spend on planning our budget, and finding ways to save us more money.
That, and the fact that it's been so nice here finally. We have the yard all cleaned up, have the front flower beds ready, and have the things for the garden. I can't wait.
Well, it's 64 and sunny right now, better take advantage!

What's In My Name?

I wonder if my parents knew this when they named me...

What Heather Means

You are truly an original person. You have amazing ideas, and the power to carry them out. Success comes rather easily for you... especially in business and academia. Some people find you to be selfish and a bit overbearing. You're a strong person. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality. You are a seeker. You often find yourself restless - and you have a lot of questions about life. You tend to travel often, to fairly random locations. You're most comfortable when you're far away from home. You are quite passionate and easily tempted. Your impulses sometimes get you into trouble. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

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Money Exchange

Usually, things that seem to be "too good to be true" are. But, in this case, I think that it's a real find. Click on the above link and be taken to the Money Exchange website. They are a bank out of South Dakota (my home state, by the way). And Money Exchange is trying to compete with Pay Pal, except you don't have the fees. And, if you sign up now, you will get a $25 bonus in your account! It only takes a minute and you get the money in there right away!
Plus, you can refer people and earn $10 bonus up to $500!! Come on over!

Money Exchange!

Usually, things that seem to be "too good to be true" are. But, in this case, I think that it's a real find. Click on the above link and be taken to the Money Exchange website. They are a bank out of South Dakota (my home state, by the way). And Money Exchange is trying to compete with Pay Pal, except you don't have the fees. And, if you sign up now, you will get a $25 bonus in your account! It only takes a minute and you get the money in there right away!
Plus, you can refer people and earn $10 bonus up to $500!! Come on over!

Can You Afford That Second Income?

Many stay at home mothers have to work extra hard at making the dollar stretch. For some, like me, it's a full-time job planning the budget each week. I have had many women tell me that they must find a part time job to help supplement their income. Some have stretched each dollar and just can't do anymore, some enjoy their careers, others like the break from the everyday.

What I have found, however, is that many women think that if they go out and get a part time job, they can "save" their paychecks to either pay off debt, or towards some other financial goal or obligation. I would like to challenge that notion. I will use myself as the prime example. (simply because I don't usually learn things the easy way)


To see the rest, join me here at the Heart of the Matter.

10 Ways To Save $10 a Week

1. If you are a pop drinker and you buy your pop at the convenience store on the run, or at the office, you are spending an average of $15 a week on pop. Save $10 a week by buying it on sale at the grocery store and having it in the fridge, ready for you.

2. Wash your clothes in cold water vs. warm water and save yourself an average of $.50 a load. Better yet, hang them on the line to dry and save up to a $1.00 a load. 10 loads a week washed in cold and line dried=$10 saved. Throw towels in the dryer for about 5 minutes first to help keep them soft.

3. Speaking of laundry, why not try making your own laundry soap? The Fels Naptha method only costs about $5 a month to make. If you normally spend $7.00 a bottle for laundry soap, you will save $10 a week easily.

4. Why not try different alternatives with your fabric softener? At $5 for a small bottle, and average use a bottle a week, it adds up quickly. Try using 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. A bottle of vinegar costs around $3 and can last nearly two weeks. Total savings=$14 for the month!

5. I promised $10 savings a week, didn't I? Well, use that vinegar in place of conditioner in the shower and there is your extra $26 a month savings! Just mix 1/2c. vinegar and 1/2c. water and pour over freshly shampooed hair. Rinse well.

6. Do you like to eat out? Well, if you eat out one meal a week, order water instead of pop and save $10 on the bill for a family of 5.

7. If you eat out at those fast food places, they are charging $4 and over for those "happy meals". Save $10 a trip by ordering off the dollar menu the same items, and giving kids a hug and kiss instead of those toys that come with it...besides, you will save yourself the headache of clutter later:)

8. Use 1/2 the amount of meat normally called for in a recipe. If you normally use 1 lb hamburger to make spaghetti sauce, try using only 1/2. This doesn't really change the taste of the recipe, and my family has never noticed :) Easily save $10 when you figure that the average family uses 8-10 meat a week at average price of $2.00 a pound. (all beef, pork, chicken products combined)

9. Get all your items from the grocery store in one trip, instead of multiple trips. You will save yourself at least $10 each time, since research shows that impulse buying is 50% of the stores income!

10. Do you like to go to the theater? For a family of 5 in my area, it's $35 just to get in the door! Add popcorn, drinks, or candy and you have another $10! Save that $10 by eating dinner before you go to the movie and waiting until you get home to have a treat. You could bring your own candy in as well, but some places do not want you to do that. Please, follow the rules!:) Or you could save yourself another $25 by waiting 3 months and getting the movie on DVD...

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And who wouldn't love this:

Walgreens Rebates

Here's my Walgreens Rebates for this month:

1 Colgate 360 Toothbrush

1 Soy Joy bar

1 Tums Quik Pak

1 Jane Be Pure Mineral Blush

(not pictured)2 Boxes OB tampons

1 box Carefree pantyliners

Total$-29.86
Total coupons (including register rewards) $24.00
Total OOP $5.86
Total Rebates $32.85
Total amount $26.99 overage
I'd have to say that's a pretty good deal!!!

My Soap Box for the Day

Two Georgia students are under arrest in connection with an alleged plot to attack their teacher.

Police in Waycross say a group of third-graders brought a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items to the school.

The Waycross police chief says the plot involving as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School was a serious threat.

School officials alerted police Friday after a pupil tipped off a teacher that a girl had brought a weapon to school. Chief Tony Tanner says the students apparently planned to knock the teacher unconscious with a crystal paperweight, bind her with the handcuffs and tape and then stab her with the knife.

Tanner says the children, ages 8 to 10, were apparently mad at the teacher because she had scolded one of them for standing on a chair.

Two of the students have been arrested on juvenile charges. A third arrest is expected.

Are you just appalled yet? No?? Read on!!!:

Police say a 9-year-old was in possession of marijuana on Wednesday morning at Marquette School.

According to police, another student told school officials that the third grade student had marijuana. The school officials took the drug and police were called in.

Officers tested the substance and said it was, in fact, marijuana.

Police say they could not get a straight story from the child about where he got the drugs. Child Protective Services were called to assist with the investigation.

The case will be sent to the Juvenile Justice Center, but the boy was not taken into custody.

Officers say the child was suspended from school while they were there. It will be up to the South Bend School Corporation to decide if or when the child will be allowed to return.

This is real, folks. Kids that are the age of my oldest son, who is 8, are doing this! I cannot for the life of me, figure out why anyone with the choice (because I know some just don't) would send their child to public school. This is not the kind of influence that I would like my children to have. I don't fear much, but my sister in law, Heidi, is a third grade teacher in the public school system in Georgia. I am very concerned for her safety.
We have raised a generation of people who believe that we are "owed" whatever we want and the generation behind us is in worse shape. There are some parents out there who are not parenting. There are the ones that drop their kids off at school during the day, and then take them to activities at night. They expect the teachers at school to teach, train, and basically raise their child. I have seen some kids put into activities to help them learn "discipline". Where my son takes TaeKwonDo, I have had parents tell me that since they "can't do anything with the kids to make them behave and listen" that they hope that the instructors can do better. Then, when the kids aren't superstars, and still acting up, they blame the instructors! Yes, I have seen it happen! It's time that we parents stood up and took responsibility for our children. WE are the ones who should be raising them, not the schools. No, I don't believe that every child should be homeschooled, but I believe that learning starts at HOME.

This is the main reason that I would not ever consider sending my children to public school. I know that there are those who have had positive experiences, but I just can't see it myself. I want to protect my children from these type of things, especially until they are older and are able to handle themselves in these kinds of situations. I shudder when I think about it. Would my son have been able to walk away from that group of kids? Would he have been the one to tip off the teacher? Would he have be threatened for doing so? Or worse yet, would he have buckled and gone along with it to "fit in"?

So, this is my final thought: "PUBLIC SCHOOL? SOCIALIZATION? NO THANK YOU!!!! MY KIDS ARE JUST FINE WHERE THEY ARE!!"