Not wanting to tread on toes…thoughts please??

It is nice to see the varied views on here – and it goes to show that people with different ideas can get along really well – taking with them from the group what is helpful and leaving the rest. I consider myself conservative politically but not to any extreme I do not personally like too far to right or left, those areas can be dangerous and I prefer a more tolerant middle….but each to his own. Questa 7 we were a military family as well, though my husband retired just over a year ago now after 20 odd years and he now works as a civilian on the base. It is hard to make and keep friends with so much moving about – so groups like this are valuable. I am glad that you will stay – you will not always agree with the views here, especially the ones on the Mom’s Porch part where there is just more lifestyle chat – I don’t agree with all views either – but in general one can glean a lot from everyone here – even people we think we disagree with. One of the biggest learning curves I have had to deal with since coming here, is over religion – in England/Germany we do not have anywhere near as many churches or denominations as here – we have the main denominations but not all the offshoots -and people who have faith in what is a more secular place of the world, go about their faith quietly, which is not because they are afraid or anything, it is just that we are a more reserved people in many ways. So I never heard anyone bad mouth another’s religion until I came here – and I was shocked when a friend of mine told me I was damned because I followed the wrong religion and I hear people being rude about other faiths too, which I do not understand. I cannot abide such intolerance in people – it is that attitude which leads to the horrors like the holocoast and other dreadful things. That lady is still a friend of mine by the way, I told her I thought she was crazy and intolerant and we now don’t discuss that anymore we have agreed to differ. I think that the labels we put on ourselves can easily be misconstrued – feminism for example at the start was a good thing to protect women and their rights, it has now become something rather strident and unpleasant with little tolerance for others. When I find intolerance, I am upset- it is that which causes most of the problems of the world, that and ignorance. So I don’t label myself a feminist, I don’t have a denomination but I have my Bible and am interested in all the faiths, and the one thing I hope to have taught our girls, is that you need to be tolerant of people differences in this world, and you need to stand for right anytime you see an intolerance, that is what is important to love one another, no matter the differences. I like that this is a welcoming group, that does not insist on anything other than politeness, that is the greatest strength and something I treasure. So enjoy this group and take what you can – just leave the rest..vive la difference – I say:)))) Linda

By looking at this thread, it’s occured to me that the “HS norm” or the “CM norm” is up to interpretation; we’re all using CM in some shape or form, and yet, everyone here has different beliefs.  Could it be that we come up with these “norms” just as we do the “standards” by which we constantly measure ourselves?  I would argue that there is no “norm”, but only a common thread here: the desire to do the best we can by our children, with whose well-being we have been given stewardship over for their time as children on this earth. And with the exception of the front porch forum, our discussions are on CM methods, only one aspect of our lives and homeschools. Just a thought.

BTW, this is coming from a dress-wearing, head-covering, make up free, 12 passenger van driving, wheat milling, bread baking, made from scratch everything including animal crackers, home birthing, home schooling, 2nd generation homeschooler, who still can’t keep up with dishes and will not give up the use of words like “just sayin'” and “holy cow”, and who stays up into the night to watch Oceans 11, 12 and 13- actually entertained and amused.  Oh, and I have a 4 year degree from a *gasp* state university!  But guess what- I’m the only woman in our church who wears a head covering, I’m the only woman in our church who wears dresses or skirts all the time, we’re the only family who doesn’t send our kids to Sunday school, and we’re NOT the only homeschoolers.  My point is, just as there will never be an author you agree with 100% of the time, there will never be a “group” you will fit into 100% unless you and everyone there decides to become a clone.  And last time I checked, clones were man-made, not God-made, so I’m pretty sure that wasn’t His intention… My mom always said “there are as many ways to homeschool as there are homeschoolers”.  Smart chick, no?

Welcome to the group-I’d love to have you stick around, even if we can’t make ourselves smoosh into the exact same mold.

Oh, and I’m pretty sure I have a workbook or two in my stash, while we’re confessing…

LillyLou

Everyone here has given wonderful responses. I just want to add that we all have one thing in common for sure, and that’s love for our families. We all want the best for kids, and CM is a big part of that in my opinion. 🙂

Blessings!

Hi Quirkymama, I spent many, many years living in Germany – in Northern Germany, Frankfurt, and then Ramstein -I also have family there and speak the language – but I know how isolating it can feel and I know how some send their children to German Kindy – so no wonder you are feeling a bit left out. I am glad you are encouraged by these posts, I don’t think anyone on here really would dislike any of the differences we have – disagree with choices etc, but not dislike us – to start with that is not Biblical and not very CM – I think sometimes the discussions can get a little heated because we are all learning from each other, and I am sure some of our ideas are shocking to others from time to time – but that is ok – we all have to live with our own choices and goals for our families. I love that I can glean information from people who live differently to me – I love hearing about the different faiths when it comes up – I don’t always agree but I love to learn. The peer pressure doesn’t just affect kids does it,lol, we are prone to it as well. I am now pretty content in walking to my own families beat and don’t pay much attention anymore – but it is still there. So I too am glad to see that there are others who have in the last few days found common ground in this forum – Sonya and Doug and the rest of the team do a fabulous job in allowing us the freedoms to speak on here – they are what makes this work and it is wonderful. I hope that everyone is feeling more at home now – I consider this forum a home from home, and it is the only forum I am a member of except for a curriculum selling one and HEO, but I seldom go there anymore. This place is the best…Hope you enjoy Germany, I love it and miss it so much….Linda

How timely! Just bumping up this incredible thread so we can all remember to enjoy and be thankful for this forum and our delightful differences. Wanted to make sure in particular that following the election, we haven’t alienated anyone. Let us all polish off our welcoming attitudes.

Have a joyous and blessed Thanksgiving all!

Jenni

ps: blog update coming soon

I would also like to add that sometimes there aren’t as many differences as one thinks. Sometimes it’s just the labels and terminology used that creates a preconceived notion based on others use of those terms or it’s meaning changing over time. Also, there are areas of common ground where we can meet, though not agreeing on everything. That’s okay.

As much as possible, assumptions should try to be avoided as result. Although there are wonderful cultural differences between people-which should be cherished- try to get to know the individual.

Happy Thanksgiving!