Why Math At The Supper Table Is A Choking Hazard

Why math at the supper table is a choking hazard.

OK...Y'all know I LOVE to shop. And what I love even more than the actual purchasing of stuff is finding a good deal. The thrill of the hunt. I'm cheap (feel free to sugar coat this by using words such as 'frugal, thrifty' whatever makes you more comfortable, I've got no problem with 'cheap'). One of my favorite stores to shop is Kohl's. With a coupon. And a promise of Kohl's Cash (free money, baby). I get all giddy inside when the Kohl's ad comes in the mail and I get to peel the sticker back to see what my savings are going to be. Sometimes the angels sing, sometimes they just hum.

So last week, I end up with a 30% coupon (which is the max amount and the angels sang) AND Kohl's is offering Kohl's Cash (for each X amount of dollars you spend, you receive Kohl's cash). Cha-Ching! (These two things together...I have died and gone to Heaven!) Basically they are paying me to shop. (Just let me have my moment, people)

Tuesday brings shopping. Wednesday brings shopping.

Suppertime Wednesday brings math, and choking.

The family is sitting down to supper, chatting about our day. There's some teasing from the Captain about my shopping. "What did I buy you?" he asks. "This and that, and this...and that." Then I proudly proclaim, "I have $60 in Kohl's cash to spend! This is FREE stuff. I actually get to go to the store and choose $60 worth of stuff and it cost me $0. ZERO DOLLARS!" I am giddy when laughter. Mascot, "Kohl's Cash?" Sk8ter, "Yeah, like for every $100 dollars you spend, you get $10 in Kohl's cash." Invisible numbers start flying. Eyes widen.

GASP! Math...at the supper table is NOT a good thing. Suddenly everyone is adding, multiplying and chewing, all at the same time. I glance at the Captain. He has done the math, and never flinches (he is GOOD that way). Mascot is in shock over the numbers. I am almost choking, trying to quickly correct Sk8ter's mistake. "It's $10 for every $50 spent, not for every $100. AND they gave me an extra $10 in Kohl's Cash. So really, it's not that much. I...."

The Captain laughs, as he is such a good sport. And continues to enjoy his home cooked meal on the NEW stainless steel cookware while admiring my NEW necklace and NEW shirt and thinking about how he wants to take me out while wearing my NEW hot black boots.

(See how I made my shopping all about him? I am GOOD that way!)

Robby

"The Lord carries me in the palm of his hand." ~Robby





I met this gentleman while walking across the Waco Suspension Bridge. Jake and I were checking out the scenery and taking some photos (because that's what I'm doing most of the time) when he passed by, using a cane, and said in a quiet voice, "I don't get along very fast, but I get along." To which I replied, "You are doing a fine job of getting along."
He turned back towards me. That's when I met Robby. I extended my hand to shake his, told him my name and asked his. Robby. Simply Robby. He assured me that anyone around the streets of Waco would know who I was speaking of if I mentioned the name Robby. In our 20 minute conversation, these are things I learned about Robby.

He is a Marine. He is one of 9 children, 4 brothers and 4 sisters. One of his brothers is in the Air Force, another in the Navy. He doesn't know where the rest of his siblings are. He attends Church Under the Bridge. His grandfather lived to be 115 years old. When the grandfather was 113 years old, he married an 18 year old and that's what kept him alive the last two years. (We shared a chuckle) When he was 4 years old, he was sent to the Methodist Children's Home. He lived there until he was 17. Robby is a convicted felon; aggravated assault. Says he should have killed the man, but in having to answer to The Man (pointing toward Heaven), he knew it was against the Commandments. Robby can quote the Ten Commandments. He fell off of a rope bridge over the Brazos River and had to have a steel rod put in his back. Robby is homeless. While in Vietnam, one of his hips was blown out and he had to have it replaced. He has friends, true friends, all over, including Tennessee. He has steel plates in his face and one in his head. If he had lots of money, he'd give it to the Methodist Children's Home. He never wants to hurt anybody, but said "Sometimes you gotta do..." Robby had to fight in the Home and on the streets. He is friendly with the police officers and park workers in that area. They respect him. He could write a book, but there are things he could never put in writing, so his story will die with him. Robby is a survivor.

These are some of the things I learned about Robby. He wanted to talk and I wanted to listen. In all honesty, I could have sat down on that bridge and listened to Robby for a very long time.




And twice, cupping his hand, Robby said, "The Lord carries me in the palm of his hand."









He bid us farewell and instructed me to "Get that boy something to eat and something cold to drink."




It was my pleasure to meet Robby. And I'm sure it was no accident.

~

If I Only Had A Brain...

If I only had a brain...

Oh my goodness. All this talk about the Obama speech being aired at school or not is wearing me out. Here's my take on it.

His speech is supposed to be about staying in school and the importance of education. Who can argue with that? I would not be opposed to my children watching such a speech, even it it was made by a President whom I did not vote for. I also believe parents have the right to not allow their children to watch the speech at school. I did not vote for Obama and I do not agree with some of his ideas. However, he IS our president and I have taught my children to respect him, even if they don't agree with him. I have done a well enough job as a parent teaching my children that they have brains of their own and are able to be exposed to many different points of view and come to their own conclusions. I don't dictate my children's opinions/political views. People (kids) need to be exposed to different views, otherwise it's like parents are trying to shield their kids from the real world, which includes MANY different opinions/views.

(What I would be opposed to is if the speech had a political agenda. That would be highly inappropriate to show at school.)


I didn't even know I had a brain of my own, or my own opinions or beliefs until I was well into my adulthood...Way too far into my adulthood. I am proud that I am teaching my children that they are individuals with their own opinions. It's my job to lead them in the right direction, which is the direction I believe to be right. If/when they ever choose to not have the same opinions as me, because I know it will happen with some issues, I will love them anyway. And I will tell them I disagree, but I will not shame them for it.

I also raise my children to not generalize when it comes to political parties. No ONE political party screwed this country up. No ONE person is to blame for the economical mess this country is in. And for anyone to point fingers at an entire political party is ridiculous. There are buffoons on all sides. We've all seen prominent figures from both parties behave disgustingly.

I teach my children to take the information given, investigate it for themselves, and then draw their own conclusions. They are not obligated to my opinions or anyone else's opinions.

I am raising my children in a home where Jesus Christ is the Son of God and he died on the cross and rose again to save us from our sins. As long as they stick to that, they will be fine.

(OK, after re-re-reading this I acknowledge that I have repeated myself on some points. I'm too tired to care and fix it.)