Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

This book has been my companion for more than a year. Not that it was long or difficult, I guess I just kept putting it down to start other things.

I would rank it okay...the author clearly had some issues, but does actually try to deal with them. She does certainly go through some things all of go through and has a sense of humor about things. Good to see somone try to heal their life meditating on God, not searching for some energy force inside themselves.

As far as traveling around the world for a year I have my stretchy pants packed for Italy...Who's ready to go?

The Vaccine Book by Robert Sears

I have yet to read this cover to cover, but so far very informative. Since Dr. Sears (no relation) seems to be one of the last level headed (along with other docs of the parenting series) Drs. left I was looking forward to reading this.

What I have really enjoyed are Dr. Sears recommendations for protecting your childs immunity if you decide that you do not want to vaccinate your child. He also recommends a reduced vaccination schedule, highlighting vaccines he thinks are more critical to children. He also included information on international travel. He actually supports parents decisions whether or not they vaccinate and gives further information on finding a doctor that will supportive at the website http://www.thevaccinebook.com/ . He will keep the site updated as research is constantly changing and being done on the issue of vaccines.

The info is presented well. He actually backs up his research and gives both sides. When I visited my pedi on the issue of vaccines (which we have declined) I just got the crooked eye look and a hand out that looked like it was written on the level of a fifth grader from the state health dept. That did not help eleviate my fears or questions about vaccines. After reading this book I am more comfortable with my decision not to vaccinate.

The Socialization Trap Rick Boyer

This book was a little extreme, but you can tell the author is very passionate about his kids education. He is also very concerned with the state of affairs in our great country today. It seems he thinks the best way to remedy this situation is for parents to be very, very involved with their children.
After reading this book I was shocked by some of the underlying themes our schools are teaching (of course I knew they were there but to what extent I was not certain).

I never considered how our sytem (private or public) is so based on age and grade and not at all based on the childs acheivment or understanding.

When you consider the standard that God would like us to uphold and pass to our children and look around and see how things are currently its easy to understand where Boyers is coming from. Our kids have very little if any great role models and Boyers believes that parents should be their child #1 role model. Today with the schools constantly undermining what kids are taught at home, children are not getting a strong foundation from the home they once were.

Boyers is an advocate of homeschooling and spends much of his time helping others to homeschool.

Again a lot of good info in this book for anyone considering home education.

So Why Do You Homeschool? Mimi Davis

Right Now I am finishing up this book. It has been a great eye opening book. I have considered homeschooling for many years and have made the decision that we will do that for our family. Especially after reading this book. It has answered many of the obvious questions and given many sources for further reading.

This book has helped me trust my 'gut' with our decision. Trust myself as a parent and teacher of my children. It has also given me some good information that I can use to combat the world's idea of education. It also has some good answers for the question So Why do You Homeschool?

Welcome

Well I thought I would start posting things I like to read, or what I am reading, which is an idea I stole from Kristi (thanks girl!) I am often reading something and would like to discuss it, but no one is reading what I am reading at the time , thus this blog. At least here I will post my thoughts and if other join in great, maybe we can read so books together. If not I will at least have a place to say what I want to say.

It also seems I will die with a really long list of books I have yet to read. You just never run out of stuff to read. you know. I will post a wish list and maybe y'all will have some recomendations also.