Category Archives: Current Events & Money

Keeping up with the 21st century and living debt-free

Who’s Harder to Shop For, Boys or Girls?

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Now that we’re into November, I’m finally starting to think about Christmas gifts.

I’ve always found it easier to buy for the girls than the boys. Maybe I’m just really good at tapping into the little girl I used to be, but buying for my daughters and my niece is always fun.

But those boys….it takes more time to find good gifts for them. Of course, they’re always willing to tell me exactly which Wii game or Lego set they want. But I like to surprise gift recipients instead of just buying from a list they’ve written.

So, how about you? Who’s harder to shop for, boys or girls? Let’s have some fun with this. Leave your answer in the comments on this post and you’ll automatically be entered in a drawing for a new copy of Shovelhorns, the Biography of a Moose, and Black Bruin, the Biography of a Bear, two classic wildlife novels for boys in one book. It’ll make a great Christmas gift for your son, grandson or nephew.

Deadline for qualifying comments is this Friday, 11/12/10, at midnight.  Winner to be announced Saturday, 11/13/10. U. S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

11/13/10, 12:00 AM: end of contest. Winner will be announced later today.

Homeschool Parents Running in Tomorrow’s Election

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Two closely watched political races that come to a vote tomorrow include candidates who have been homeschooling parents.

Sharron Angle of Nevada, who’s put Harry Reid in danger of losing his Senate seat, homeschooled her children for many years. And Dr. Art Robinson, the scientist and homeschool dad who created the Robinson Curriculum, is giving longtime rep Peter DeFazio a run for his money in Oregon’s 4th district of the House of Representatives.

I often talk about homeschooled kids doing well, but it’s also exciting to see homeschooling parents who want to serve their country in high-profile political races. I guess it just goes to show there is life after homeschooling (hear that, all you veteran homeschool moms?)  🙂

How iPads are Helping Kids with Special Needs

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Years ago, we were acquainted with a boy who couldn’t speak due to birth defects. Thanks to a piece of equipment called a Dynavox, he was able to touch a screen so a computerized voice could tell us what he wanted to say.

It was a very expensive piece of equipment that many families couldn’t afford. Another young man we knew used a wooden board with pictures of faces; he’d point to the sketch of a face expressing the emotion he was feeling.

Times sure have changed. Now there are apps for the iPad that fill the same purpose as a Dynavox for youngsters with special needs. Wish we’d had something like that for our son when he was young.

The advantages of an iPad for kids with special needs go beyond supplying them with a voice. In a recent discussion here about the iPad, read Karen’s comment that explains all the ways she uses an iPad to educate her daughter with Down syndrome.

We do live in interesting times, don’t we?