Why we can't have nice things. Reason #228

I would love to tell you my boys are responsible for this tragedy, but that would be a lie. *sigh*

Prepping them for adulthood

Recently while participating in the fair, I was pondering what I want my boys to be involved in, how I want them to grow up. I won't lie, I worry sometimes what people think about those kind of activities. Do they think we are dumb because we think it is fun to chase a pig? Do they think we are uneducated rubes?

I'd like to think our children are going to get a unique education. Daddy with a music degree and manager of a Symphony, mommy with an agriculture degree and a love of bugs and plants and cows.

I couldn't help think I want them to learn how to handle animals for a thousand reasons, but mainly because learning how to handle situations that seem impossible, like getting a 2000 lb animal to behave. If you can't muster some self confidence in that situation, you wont succeed.

I want them to play sports and have a coach who pushes them to their physical limits so they understand sometimes we push past what we think we can do physically and triumph. I want them to lose a big game and get back in the play the next one like it didn't happen.

I want them to master an instrument so they can know the beauty and release of music in all it's forms. Whether it be Cash, Mozart,Black Flag, Persechetti, Bob Wills or Metallica (the old stuff). The hard work, the mastering of rhythms that seem to complex on the first try and then roll off the tongue or fingers by the last.

I want them to learn that education comes from experience, while books guide and give direction they aren't a replacement for having been there and done that.

I want them to understand Love, not the sugary candy flavored romantic love sold in the media, but real unconditional love. I want them to understand the grace of God and its transforming power.

Recently I happened upon a blog where a mom said this.. You want to hear a real punk rock mommy parenting tip… I always believed that it was not my job to raise good children but rather to prepare my children for adulthood. Everything you teach them as children ought to be for the purpose of having them be strong, healthy, and independent adults. (Punk Rock Mommy. June 19, 2008*)

I had never thought of it that way, but that is exactly what I want to prepare them for adulthood so they are strong and capable but still know how to have fun. Don't get me wrong, I want to have good kids, but from the inside out, you know not just well mannered in front of the right people.

What did your parents do to prepare you for to be an adult?

*For more about Punk Rock Mommy please see the comment section.

Magnetic Monday -- Tarantula Hawk

Tarantula Hawk: a wasp that gets it's name from using the tarantula spider as a food source for it's young. While large and scary looking, they don't bother much with humans, although the sting is reputed to be quite painful. I had never tried to grab one, but have had been in close proximity often and never felt threatened. Keeping with my New Mexico Hall of Fame theme, I should note that they are our state insect.

Trying on a new dress.

I have been inspired lately, some of you have really spiffied up your blogs. I have spent the better part of the last few hours trying to do that to mine. It didn't take me so long because it was hard but because I was trying to find a background to go with my header. I may have to change it or learn digital scrapbooking and make my own background. You may notice that I added a blogroll over there in the corner. I thought that was cool feature how it shows the last post. I didn't realize I had never put one on here, sorry if you have linked me and then felt left out.

So on to other news or lack there of. Zach and mom survived first week of school just fine. You should be proud to know I sent insects for his first show and tell. Ladybugs because last week they were learning the letter L. Do you think I can come up with a bug for every letter? That might be a tough call, but I may try. His teacher may hate me by the end of the year. She told me she may call me in for when the study insects in the spring. Oh and just a side note for you teachers out there... as an entomologist I have a wee suggestion. Consider having your insect teaching section to the fall. There is a larger variety of insects out now in most parts of the country than in March or even April.

Monkey Toe Momma from Donna Reed in Blue Jeans tagged me to a meme with 10 weird things about myself. I have done that before, right here, so go check it out if you are interested, but it was only six, so here are four more.

1. My mother counts this as one of my weird traits, I have a degree in entomology, plant pathology and weed science. She always snickers at weed science. No, I don't know how to grow cannabis, so quit bugging me, I know how to control pests ya know.
2. I cannot eat pasta, cook pasta or wash dishes where pasta may have end up floating around in the water.
   
3. While pasta gives me the heebie jeebies, I have raised insect colonies no problem. Didn't even make me get the creepie crawlies.
4. I was born in Roswell, New Mexico. My husband claims this is proof I am an alien. Further proof? When we watched Lilo and Stitch the other day, the Man in Black at the end claimed to be in Roswell in 1973, the year I was born. He thinks that completely clinches it, as though that movie is based on some sort of fact.