Confronting School Socialism One Teacher At A Time

Yesterday, Red Ant with Pincers, our eight year old, got written up at school for coloring on his cap erasers. He has gotten in "trouble" for doing this twice before. First a little background, my mom is a retired teacher/counselor and our kid's teachers have my full support as a parent and should be paid a whole lot more...

I noticed that on the short form, that he was written up for "Improper care of school property". Well, I sure remember paying for his school supplies out of my own pocket. When I asked Red Ant about it, he said that the supplies that he brought to school were put together and the classroom shared the supplies. Classic Socialism. I often voluntarily donate items to the classrooms as our budget allows. What I do mind, is the incorrect thinking that these items no longer belong to him.

I send a note along with my signature on the short form to his teacher.

"Mrs teacher,

We talked with Red Ant about marking on the erasers, but more importantly not listening to your instructions. I do however have an issue a concern with the reason for the short form - "Improper Care of School Property." Red Ant brought two packages of cap erasers to school, you can correct the form to "disobedience to classroom rules" which would be HIS property.

-K"

My sweet wife in her wisdom, made a few changes before it was sent off to school. I have a  problem with poking the bear sometimes.

I could go into a long diatribe about the indoctrination of our kids at school, but it is the parents responsibility to teach our kids, not the school. Get involved in your kid's education, be aware and take moments like these as teachable lessons.

Thoughts?

Keep Right On Prepping - K

2016 Wrapup

Hello! It's been a long while since my last post, but I have been very busy and accomplished my major task on December 29th, 2016. I passed my national registry exam for MRI with an 85. This means that I'll be able to work anywhere in the United States as an MRI technologist. My end goal is to work at the VA providing veterans with first class care and compassion. This last test is by no means the last step in my education, as my field requires continuing education. I have jokingly told Sweetheart that I would like to get a degree in history, and add another piece of paper to my office wall. A good friend and I will be taking our  HAM radio license this year. Now, I can study for fun stuff!

The kids are growing fast. The Doctor had his first real haircut after Christmas, and lost his curls. He is two and a half, and his vocabulary is exploding. He knows most of his colors and shapes, and figures things out rather too quickly like moving the chair to reach things that he wants. We are hoping that this is an indication of his intelligence.

Red Ant with Pincers, our eight year old, has enrolled in martial arts, or Marshal's Art if you have Red Ant tell ya. He has show an interest for over a year through his after school program, and it was time to officially find him a Dojo to advance his skills. The Sensei is very good with kids, and doesn't nickle and dime the parents like ATA. Red Ant is currently being tested for the Talented and Gifted program for his school district for scoring in the 95th percentile on an abstract intelligence test given to all 2nd graders.

Row has been growing by leaps and bounds and stands at my shoulders now. He is still making all A's and made the Principal's List (again!) by the first semester. Only a few students make the list each quarter. He still shows a natural adapt at art, and encourage him to explore new formats.

Sweetheart and I will continue to co-lead our church's Dave Ramsey program to help people get out of debt and handle their finances. Sweetheart stills runs marathon and half marathons, and I'll be adding more movement to my lifestyle for a healthier me. The future of this blog will be less frequent, as I direct my energy towards more substance. I've got a series of posts in the think tank about long term hoarding, as Pioneer Preppy calls it. I'll also be doing another review for Ammo To Go on a battle pack of ammunition.

The dynamics of prepping haven't changed since a new President will be taking the reins this month, so now is not the time to become complacent. The fundamentals of our economy aren't any better, and the world seems to be spiraling into continued madness.

Keep Right On Prepping - K and Family

Tea for Two

A few Sundays ago we were at the lunch table having burgers, and the origin of brunch came into the discussion. It's combination of breakfast and lunch, so Red Ant wanted to know what the combined word for lunch and dinner was...logical question. We quickly quipped that it was snack, but we both saw an opportunity to bring preparedness into the equation. Remember the tea brick topic [LINK] ?

We talked about the history of tea bricks being shipped across the ocean on wooden ships instead of loose tea for higher profits, the trade routes, and how tea is dried and pressed. (economics, history). The Boston Tea Party (history). The traditional British tea time at 4:00 with hot tea and cakes,scones, and/or cookies (culture). How to make hot tea with the tea brick (cooking, preparedness). The shelf life of the tea brick (Long term Storage)  The proper way to drink tea, no slurping (manners).

Of course, we had to have tea...

Row wanted to make sure this got to the blog.

Red Ant wanted be on the blog as well, but while taking a sip.

We also had a teachable moment of family history. Grandmother's china was used, and I got to talk about her homemade meatballs, what a great cook she was, and how she was their Great Grandmother from my Mom's side of the family. I'm trying to pass along my memories of their relatives so that they aren't forgotten.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Snow Day Tradition

I've mentioned a few times that my Mom used to make homemade bread on snow days when I was a kid. Well, I decided to carry on that tradition with my kids, and today was a snow day with a little under 4 inches for our first snow fall of the year. This is a good amount where I'm located.

Row was up at 4:30 this morning excited about the snow, and had to wake up Red Ant. Sweetheart heard them in the living room playing on their Ipads, and of course, I had to sleep stumble into the living to ask them "who are you two?", considering that it takes forever to get them going on school days. "It's a snow day", Row replied with all smiles. I stood in the doorway for a minute. I thought to myself "it's a logical response, and it wasn't causing any harm", so I told them to be quieter, and I headed back to bed.

After breakfast, we built a snow fort, a snowman, slide on a few hills, and had a snowball fight. We need to be making memories for these kids. They aren't going to remember the Smash mouth action figure they got for their 4th birthday, but will remember the time Mommy and Daddy had a snowball fight with them and lost. I got nailed in the face a few times, and someone [Red Ant] actually made a shot down the back of my pants!

My bread recipe

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Veteran's Day 2015 & Update

From our family to all those that served or are currently serving, we are grateful for your service to our country.

The kids are doing great. Row won the Principal's award [based on character, grades, attitude, and performance] at school and the A & B Honor roll. Red Ant made the all A honor roll, and both boys also had perfect attendance.

The rent house is still on the market, and the showings have dropped. Our agent had another open Realtor house with 30 agents looking at the house with our agent throwing in a $500 bounty from his commission for anyone that brings a buyer.

Sweetheart and I are winding down our Dave Ramsey class at church, and are considering taking a break due to various reasons.

My classes are going well. I should finish my last 8 hours towards my Bachelor degree with all A's. I'll graduate with high honors in May.

This Halloween Row, pictured above, went as Waluigi a fictional character from Mario Bros. Red Ant went as a Ghostbuster, or as he used to sing "Who ya gonna call?! Ghostmustard!".  Daddy dressed our sweet doctor as Chucky.

Our little doctor is already a computer expert because he changed a lot of my settings on my computer that I have no idea how he did it. He is currently happy to drag the mouse [unplugged] around the house, reading books, and using his baby sign language skills.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

The Meanest Dad Award Goes To Me

I get home yesterday, Red Ant is in trouble for general kid stuff with the boy next door. Red Ant heads inside through the garage and he throws his Nerf guns down in the garage, and I tell him to come back and pick them up. He keeps walking, but faster. I pick up my pace, and calmly tell him that "I know you heard me, go pick up those guns".

Red Ant makes it to his room and shuts the door behind him. I try to open it but its locked. "Open the door." He opens it, and quickly shuts it again. Well, it's unlocked, but he blocking me from entering the room. At this point, I'm fairly irritated. I head back to the garage and grab a hammer and flat blade screwdriver. I push my way into the room and start to take the hinge pins out. Red Ant is pretty perplexed since I'm not saying anything, or yelling. He finally gets the idea when I pop the door off,  stash it under my arm and head to the garage with the door.

According to Red Ant, I'm "the meanest Dad ever." I told him that I loved him and that if I was the meanest Dad ever I wouldn't care what he did. Always an adventure at our house...

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Red Ant Antics

We were getting ready to leave for school this morning, and I hear Red Ant whispering to Sweetheart that he needs a dollar. I figured it was for school. As I was making one last sweep of the area to make sure no backpacks were being left behind, I noticed that Red Ant had left a dollar by his breakfast area. You see, we have been telling that them that this isn't a restaurant and that they need to clean up after themselves. Red Ant figured out to leave a tip like we do at restaurants.

I love my boys. It's always an adventure. I'm sure he won't notice that the dollar is going back into his allowance jar.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Never Too Young To Start Training

Red Ant and I were talking about his Nerf guns. I think he probably has about 10 or so...so far. I was kidding him since I have a few guns myself.

K - "Don't you think you have too many guns. You only have two hands."
Red Ant - "Nope, I just pick them up one at a time."

Smart fella. It's hard to argue with that kind of logic. He also informed me that when he grows up, he wants to be an Army man to fight  the bad guys.

Here he is ready for Nerf Wars at our house.

You'll notice the recoil from the sniper rifle...powerful stuff.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Kids, and so it begins...

Tonight is trash night and the youngest is helping me collect the trash. I reach into the trash can and notice that someone has been leaving their artwork on the cabinets (pictured below). Red Ant is downstairs collecting the trash when the inquisition starts. I've got a fairly good idea who's it is too...

K: Row, come here for a minute.
Row: Okay
K: Did you draw on the cabinet?
Row: No
K: Alright.
(Red Ant comes back upstairs and Row is gone)
K: Ant, did you draw on the cabinet?
Ant: No.
K: Well Row didn't do it...do you think Mommy did it?
Ant: (shakes his head no)
K: I know that I didn't do it, so that leaves you and Row. Do you know who did it?
Ant: Row didn't do it.

Now, I'm not much on four year old logic, but I think that's an admission of guilt.

K: Did you draw on the cabinet?
Ant: (looking down) Yes
K: If you had told me the truth the first time, then I was just going to have you clean it. Since you lied, I'm thinking that I need to give you a spanking and have you clean it.
Ant: (starts to tear up)
K: ( I sit down and tell Ant to come here and I give him a big hug while telling him) I'm not going to give you a spanking this time, but when you lie to me I think that you don't like me. I'll also have a hard time believing you if you lie to me.
Ant: (through the tears) I didn't know that drawing on the walls was against the rules...(sob sob)
K: Well they are against the rules. We only draw on paper.
Ant: (drying up now) Okay.
K: I love you, now take this wet rag and clean up your mess.

He then proceeds to clean up the scribblings. He walks over to the next cabinet, and shows me a yellow marker scribbling that is barely visible. Ant says that "this one didn't want to stay here very good", so he cleans up that one too. For the next few minutes, he goes around the kitchen showing me different marks that he has left on the cabinets while cleaning them up. Yellow highlighter on the stainless steel dishwasher that he informs me didn't "stay very well."

I wouldn't trade my boys for anything - K

Paid In Full

Here's another story about the kids with an important lesson:

A few months ago Row and Ant were finishing up dinner while Mom and Dad cleaned the kitchen. Row decided that it would be fun to use his straw and flick a few drops of tea on his brother. Now,any four year old doesn't take kindly to his big brother getting him wet. Ant protested, and Row got in a little trouble, after all they are boys and brothers! Row was sent to the bathroom to take his bath, and Ant got to watch a little Netflix before it was his turn.

About ten minutes into Ant's bath we hear Row yelling at Ant to "Stop it...Don't", with whiny mode in full effect. I get out of my chair and headed to the bathroom to play bad cop, but the scene is too funny for me to be upset. I walk into the bathroom and see Ant leaned on the bathroom tub's edge with his cheeks puffed out and full of water. Ant is pretending to be a fountain cherub, just punishing and soaking Row, who is sitting on the toilet.  

Row was safely allowed to finish his business while Ant got the talk about how "We aren't supposed to do that."

After Row left, Ant got a high five from Daddy.

Lesson: Make sure the scene is safe while your pants are down.

Keep Right On Prepping - K

Sweet Child O' Mine

Nope, the title doesn't mean that this is about Guns-N-Roses, but rather my oldest son. I picked up my parents at the airport last night, and remember a story about Row and his best friend in the whole world. Dalton and Row have been friends for along time, almost their entire lives, went to the same daycare and now elementary school.

Row and I went grocery shopping about a week ago, and as a thank you, he was able to pick out a candy bar for his help and good behavior. He chose a Kit Kat.

The Kit Kat went into the next day's sack lunch. His School Age Summer Program was going to a local water park. When he got home that same evening, our conversation went like this:

K: How was the water park?
Row: Good.
K: Did you eat all of your lunch?
Row: Yep, ate it all.
K: Did you share your beef jerky or candy?
Row: Dalton and I split the candy bar, and I won!
K: What do you mean?
Row: I got the small piece (smiles).
K: So how is that winning? (puzzled look)
Row: You know. Like Thanksgiving with the bone.
K: You sure did win.

I love my sweet child of mine. The world needs more Rows.

-K