So, I probably should have listened to that inner voice that said something about, “hey, it's weekend-ish right now… Shouldn't I be writing up a {b&p} post?”
Because I distinctly remember hearing that voice. I don't, however, have any recollection of how I responded to it. Must have been something along the lines of, “nah.”
Sorry to be anticlimactic: No, I did not go into labor over the weekend. I was here, having a fairly leisurely time. At 38 weeks, Finnabee is still feeling pretty snug where s/he is, as far as I can tell. I guess my best explanation is that I got thrown off by Thursday being a holiday (and yes, I know that means that I should have been ahead of myself rather than behind myself… let's let that one slide).
Without further ado, here are some links for your perusing pleasure; just as perusable despite being late!
- That other time, when I was complaining about wanting donuts, I almost made mention of the infamous cronut. Perhaps because I already felt a little extreme, I decided not to. But now my mom informs me of a recipe for a DIY cronut, so we decided we really had to share. (Anyone who actually attempts this will get major brownie points. I have not yet reached this level of desperation, but if Finnabeee is a long time coming, who knows what might happen?)
- In the spirit of the Library Project, here's a very cute toy idea: a story book box! (This one is Little Red Riding Hood.) I bet creative little minds could truly take this toy idea and run with it in a dozen ways.
- I was interested in this little reflection on the struggle with the iPhone. I don't have an iPhone, but I don't need one to have a temptation towards addiction to technology. Getting away from my computer screen is already hard enough!
- I have every intention, when Finnabee (and any accompanying siblings) reaches the age for advanced education, of finding a better way to approach that challenge than the standard debt-inducing college plan most of us have these days. I would love to hear about clever ways that you readers have gone about this with your kids, especially considering that saving up for college isn't likely to pay off. I think my parents did a good job with those of us who have been through the college experience, but then again prices just keep rising at that inflated rate! Sometimes I think about the libraries at Universities, and whether, if I were to shut my kids in them for a solid four years, they might come out with better educations than if they were to attend all the classes…
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Melissa Diskin says
I love the story book box — but when I saw it I immediately thought of Rosie's mouse in The Box Formerly Known As An Altoid Tin. How fun to combine the two ideas! You know, as if she had nothing else to do. Or combining the story box with a lap book… my 7YO is one of those kids who cannot get enough of scissors, paper, ink, and string, but I'd like to be a little more directed in our use of so much of it!
Carol says
Melissa, I have a 7yo with the same inclinations (only add tape….lots of tape). I wish I could direct it, or coral it at least. But I don't want to squelch it! Would love ideas!
_Leila says
Melissa and Carol, do check out the link for the story board. Doing this activity will help so much! Why? Because then the child has been shown HOW to act out a story, in this instance, using little more than stiff paper, glue, and something to color with.
The child then thinks of other books he must illustrate and act out in a toy theater! And he's off!
_Leila says
Another great thing to spark young folks who are obsessed with paper crafts is paper dolls. Look at these: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Little-House-Paper-Dol…
After a while, say something like, “You could make paper dolls for such and such story…” and see what happens!
Melissa Diskin says
I think when I clicked over in a pre-caffeinated state this morning and commented, I thought this was something to buy, not make. I love the scenery changing aspect of it! I think I'll print it out now for some afternoon fun.
…And Auntie L, my girl is the kind of kid who says “I'm making some puppets” and then makes 10 of them, all different African mammals, out of a stash of paper bags. Last week she spent an hour making pirate costumes for her brother and sister — belts, hats, swords, eyepatches with skulls on them that tied on with yarn. This morning she cut up boxes and paper bags and built a racecourse for her brother for his Hot Wheels in the hallway and kid bedrooms. I don't know where she gets that kind of artistic stamina!
Lauren says
The plan for my kids is to homeschool and when they get to be like 16 have them start taking Junior college classes. Then they can live at home and work while attending a local state college after that. I took AP classes and junior college classes at my catholic high school, then went to an affordable catholic college where I was able to finish in 3 years because of my credits. I graduated practically debt free ($3000 loan from study abroad year), through academic scholarships, working, and a little help from my parents. My husband followed baseball scholarships so he also finished debt free with no help from his parents. He took 6 years though and had to go to 3 colleges. That is our plan for any sons that are super athletic. Either way we won't help our kids a lot and we won't encourage them to go into debt, but we do feel college is important.
Nadine says
My original plan was similar to Lauren's, with kids starting community college at 16, and having a 2 year degree at 18. Then I wanted them to learn a trade, getting their journeyman's license. Then they could pay their own way through whatever else they wanted to learn, and they would have both practical and book learning. I liked the plan, but none of my older kids so far have. One didn't feel like passing the college courses, and the second decided to leave college and just do public high school in our teeny-tiny farming town. The third is, so far, on course, however.
Jamie says
So yes, I was one of those thinking maybe you were busy with child and therefore “Bits and Pieces Saturday” wasn't posted. Thank you for sharing these links. I like the shutting up of children for four years in a college library. Great idea. Maybe instead of a Masters or Doctorate one could get a Universitarium Librarium degree.
Helene says
The downside about making plans for your college age kids is that when they get there you realize, “Oh my, they have a will of their own!” That darn free will again!
Mama Rachael says
I totally thought, 'she must of had the baby… so no post this week. I hope someone posts about it soon, though!” Alas, first babies are so often a bit late, though hopefully your little man won't be.
My Hubby is working on his PhD, with the desire to teach at a uni or college. We plan to 'unschool' and if Little Man or any others want to do college/uni, they can. We've started a 529 and savings account in Little Man's name with the goal of being able to pay half. Of course, there is the general hope that Hubby, by that point, will have tenure at a school (good one, of course, though what you mean by 'good school' varies person to person) and then the ultimate option is live at home and attend Daddy's school. I lived at home all of undergrad and go out debt free.
Of course to protest what the article above talks about means not patronizing schools that do that. Stick with small, private liberal arts schools, perhaps? Anyhoo, it all is a problem, mostly because the federal gov't got involved with education. And that's its own soap box.
_Leila says
Mama Rachael, the point isn't that some colleges aren't worth it, but that it's not worth it to save for college. Financially speaking. In other words, you could be doing better things with that money.
Kara P. says
I went on a scholarship and had no debt…but also didn't ever work anywhere that needed a degree! My husband went to a private university, paid for by his parents but then began work in the trades…also not using his degree! But I really feel that for him the school he went to played a significant role in the man that he has become (so parents BEWARE of where you send your kids!!). For him this was an amazing gift of God that he was able to get a lot of instruction and knowledge in areas that had really been neglected in his home and church life. So we're conflicted, definitely seeing the benefits but also knowing you can potentially incur a lot of debt and never use your degree..
Tabitha says
Paying for college is a hot topic at our house. Our oldest (of 7) is just three years out and she's definitely an academic kid who will thrive in college. She'd love to go to Catholic University of America,but State Schools (we live in TX) are certainly huge options. I'd love to hear more about how the Lawler family has managed with the college issues. It's disheartening to read that about savings since we've been diligently saving, opening an account as soon as a child is born. *sigh*. It's all so confusing!
Anne-Marie says
In my experience (my three oldest are currently in college) most of the advice for doing college cheaply is based on a view of college as career training. It´s hard to get a liberal education that includes formation in the intellectual tradition of the Christian West without a hefty bill. Two years of community college and an apprenticeship won´t do.
On the other hand, large families living on a single income are eligible for lots of grant aid (rather than loans) from well-endowed colleges.
One resource that helped our oldest was ” target=”_blank”>http://www.questbridge.org, which helps academically talented low-income students apply to, and get aid from, a selection of highly-ranked colleges. Because of our family size, we qualified even though my husband has a very respectable full-time job.
Catie Hb says
Auntie Leila, I must ask… HOW did you manage affording the college experience for your kids?
And I wish the link to that article still worked! Anyone have a copy they’re willing to email?
Thank you!
DeirdreLMLD says
Hmmm. I don’t know about the missing link. Sorry, Catie! We went through a phase of carefully saving all of our links in case something like this would happen, but that was after this post was published. :-/
My mom can answer more thoroughly, as I don’t actually have all the details, but I know that it was a collaborative effort for most, if not all of us, with our parents. In my case, I worked full time for two years before I went to college, so I was able to pay for my first year. I was an RA for the next three years, which cut my expenses basically in half. I had scholarships, financial aid, and some help from my parents. And I still had a lot of debt to pay off when I was done. :-/
Catie Hb says
Thank you, Deirdre! That puts my heart at rest a bit because that’s really the only way I can see it happening for us, too. The babies just keep coming – what a blessing! – but of course with that comes all the unnerving comments about how others *wish* they could’ve had more children but college is so expensive. We DO NOT buy into the mentality that the cost of college should limit our openness to God’s blessings in the form of wonderful people, but at the same time… it can still be unnerving. Especially on hard days. I’m glad to hear of how your (hard working, prudent, reasonable, God-fearing and loving) family
approached it. Thanks again, Deirdre!
Leila says
Catie,
The fact is, if you are looking at top-tier colleges (which of course, all those big family naysayers are surely going to send their children to), who can afford them for ONE child? Seriously, no one has $250,000+ to send one child to college!
They are kidding themselves because they are counting on the wife working to afford the tuition, but think about it! It doesn’t make sense.
So do what you are doing, trust, educate your children well, and don’t worry.
Deirdre worked hard to go to college, and she did it in one particular way. Our other children did it in other ways. I would say it was a bit easier for the older ones, in that our family was clearly in need! By the time it got to the younger ones, the older ones weren’t on our books, so we had to get ingenious; I mean even MORE ingenious!
And who is to say that college is for everyone? Our #6 child found it was not for him; but he is highly successful in a competitive field, just because his skill set is indispensable. He has a job that many an MBA could not handle.
Of course, when you take this “trust” route (rather than “trust fund” route haha), everyone makes sacrifices. But isn’t that what being a Christian is?
Catie Hb says
Good point about the cost and the lifestyle that would require for even one child to attend! I think I bring my own sensitivity to the issue because I am one of 6 kids – a pretty big family – but the daughter of two professionals. So paid-for private schooling was provided for me all the way through. But we have chosen for me to stay home, raising our kids.
So yes, we’ll stick with the trust route. 🙂
Catie Hb says
Actually, now I think I found the original article:
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2013-07-07/colleges-stealth-tax-on-family-savings
God bless!