5 March 2009

Well, it appears I've been attacked by trolls again.  Nothing big or new to me, as it has been done before, but the childish behavior that these people partake in is utterly rediculous! Writing nasty things about ones life or family, then, of course, refusing to leave their name along with the comment. Don't you think it may be more efffective to leave your name and a "real" reason behind your displeasure with the way I choose to raise my children? Then maybe we can discuss the issue as true adults would.

As far as my daughter needing to wake up and put wood on the fire, she is 16 years old, and when her father and I both have to work that night (not always the case~ 3 times in the past 6 months), she is nearing adulthood, and a bit of responsibility won't harm her teenage years in the least. What do you propose we do? Call off work and not pay our bills just so one of us can remain here and tend to the fire so she won't have to?

And we do have quite enough money to heat our home. But like many others, we are in search of new and frugal ways of living. Having a wood stove is one of our favorites. Chopping, hauling and stacking wood all year round is quite the chore and of course more time consuming than flipping a thermostat up, but that is the way we choose to live, and we like it. Just as raising our children with a bit of responsibility is our choice. We are not mean or abusive, but we do believe in a family working together as a family, and teaching a child to tend a fire or to cook meals is part of growing up in our book. They also garden, work during canning season, and are expected to hold decent grades in school (and they all do, thank you very much!).

As matter of fact, our 11 y/o son was named to the Honor Roll this past semester, and he hauls wood, chops wood, and helps with inside chores on a daily basis. :) Congrats Babe! I'm proud of  you!

Now, the daughter that responded to your comment, dear troll, is one of a kind. She worked an outside job from the time she was 14 years old, AND brought home excellent grades along with having other outside activities almost daily! How many other parents can say their DAUGHTER joined the Army and went to Intelligence training? And graduated? She is now married, with 2 beautiful children of her own, and raises them with pretty much the same convictions as her Dad and I raised her.

I don't think we are a failure as a family, we are simply different, and love being that way. We want to raise our children to be responsible, caring, God fearing adults, and if it takes a wood stove and getting up to tend a fire in the middle of the night, then that's what we'll do.

Thank you for reading....