Time-Outs

Special-Needs Children Forced Into Cells aka "Time-Out" Rooms

The room where Jonathan King hanged himself is shown after his death.

MURRAYVILLE, Georgia (CNN) -- A few weeks before 13-year-old Jonathan King killed himself, he told his parents that his teachers had put him in "time-out." "We thought that meant go sit in the corner and be quiet for a few minutes," Tina King said, tears washing her face.

But time-out in the boy's north Georgia special education school was spent in something akin to a prison cell -- a concrete room latched from the outside, its tiny window obscured by a piece of paper.
Called a seclusion room, it's where in November 2004, Jonathan hanged himself with a cord a teacher gave him to hold up his pants. Watch Jonathan's parents on their son's death »

An attorney representing the school has denied any wrongdoing.

Seclusion rooms, sometimes called time-out rooms, are used across the nation, generally for special needs children. Critics say that along with the death of Jonathan, many mentally disabled and austistic children have been injured or traumatized.

More here.

If you have children with special needs, don't be duped into believing the public school system can do a better job with them than you can.

A Cake for Hitler

Grocery Store Refuses to Make a Birthday Cake for 3 Year Old Hitler (link to article)

Anybody see anything strange about a couple naming their son Adolf Hitler and then saying: It's not like he's going to grow up to do what Hitler did?
If they dont' want him to be like Hitler, why name him after the famous murderer?

He's Legal!

Last night, Pedro came over for his birthday dinner, Zuppa Osso Buco, his favorite. He has just turned 21! (Since he's dieting, we gave him his other favorite- the much-requested oatmeal raisin cookie, in place of the carrot cake he loves.)

It was so great to have all my kids together. It's been two months since Pedro moved out and he'll be out of town for Christmas, so this will be our first Christmas without him. Boo hoo!

Strike a Pose

I wanted to do a post about my love of thrift stores and post some pictures of some great finds, but that would honestly be too many photos. So, I'll just show off one of Elena's favorites. See those fancy shmancy jeans? They looked brand new and they were an 8 slim. Whenever I find anything in slim, it doesn't matter what size it is, I buy it. Slim jeans are so hard to come by, I figure if we don't get to them, someone will.
Here, she's modeling her favorite jeans with her favorite shoes- her prized "cowgirl" boots.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand: I've been shopping at thrift stores since way back when we were a double income family and had no kids. I just love it. I feel like I've just won something. Somebody bought this nice Abercrombie & Fitch shirt, but decided it wasn't the right color and gave it away instead of returning it to the store. I'm happy to benefit from their laziness. Or somebody got these great jeans as a gift, but they're the wrong size and unreturnable. Drat, that Grandma Sue! But I'll take them and thanks! I've gotten so many awesome deals, I've lost count. All I know is, I've saved a FORTUNE. Clothes just feel better when they were a bargain.

Latest Reads

As you know, I'm a book addict. I've been reading Mansfield Park for quite awhile. I'm new to Jane Austen and I absolutely love her satirical style. About halfway through the book, however, I got several non-fiction books from InterLibrary Loan.
So, I'm working my way through Better Late Than Early, Adrenal Fatigue, and Financial Peace.

What are you currently reading?

Everything I Needed to Know about Dating I learned from a 3rd Grader

9-year Old Author Reveals Secrets of Picking Up Girls (Link to video)

Forget the psychologists and relationship experts, guys. If you really want to know how to meet girls, snuggle up to a clever little book written by 9-year-old love guru Alec Greven.

A year ago, Greven was just another third-grader with a writing assignment at Soaring Hawk Elementary School in Castle Rock, Colo.

“We got to write whatever we want, and I chose to write about girls,” Alec told TODAY’s Meredith Vieira Thursday in New York.

Here's an excerpt from his book, "How to Talk to Girls":

If you are in elementary school, try to get a girl to like you, not to love you. Wait until middle school to try to get her to love you. Otherwise, you have to hold on to her for a long time and that would be very hard.

Tip: Most boys in elementary school can hold on to a girl for only 30 days.

Don't you wish your kid was in public school gaining valuable knowledge like this?

Is It Wrong to Gamble?

Well I do! (Judge me if you must.) Every time a baby is about to be born, our family has a gambling tradition. My quiverful sister is 36 weeks pregnant with #4 and is taking bets on the baby's gender, birthday, and weight. Head on over and take a gamble. She's giving away a prize!!