Nope, My Kids Don't 'Fit In'

This is in response to some comments I read on a homeschooling blog.

The commenter stated "I could always tell the homeschooled kids in our church...they never fit in."

So, here is my response to the comment:

Dear Commenter,

I'm so glad you took the opportunity to judge the members of your church and what you consider to be proper socialization.

I homeschool my children, and I have to agree with you...no, they don't fit in.

Unlike many kids I know, they are completely confident in having meaningful conversation with adults, as well as children.  They don't shrug their shoulders when asked a question. 

Also, unlike many other kids, they aren't bound by expectations to only play with or have friendships with children exclusively in their grade or age group.  They have older friends and younger friends.  They are tolerant of younger siblings, not exclusive.

They aren't embarrassed to be seen with their parents or grandparents.  On the contrary, they are proud of their elders and will more than likely introduce you to them.

They would never bully an elderly woman who would be their bus monitor. (If you haven't seen that story on the news...sorry, but you must be living under a rock.  It was horrible the things those kids said to that woman, reducing her to tears.) 

They wear what they want to wear, wear their hair the way they like it and don't worry about what other people think. 

They don't think it is 'uncool' nor un-Constitutional to proclaim their love of Jesus Christ.

They love to learn new things.  They think Latin is cool.

So, Commenter, I guess I have to agree with you.  My homeschooled kids most definately do NOT fit in.

And I don't consider that to be a bad thing at all.

Sincerely,
A.H.

What's For Dinner

I don't know about you all but if I don't plan out weekly menus, I tend to overspend in the grocery store AND get so overwhelmed in the grocery store that I just grab processed convenient stuff because I just can't get inspired.

So, if you are like me and are looking for inspiration, here is a peek at my meal plans:

1. Butterflied Grilled Chickens with grilled zucchini and quinoa salad. 

(Butterfly a whole chicken by cutting up either side of its spine with shears, cutting out the backbone and pressing the chicken flat to ensure even cooking.  I marinate mine in soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil and garlic.)  The quinoa salad includes mushrooms, green onions and fresh cucumber, and it is dressed in a lemony olive oil dressing.

2. Spanish Omlette (aka 'tortilla') and Spinach Salad

Spanish Omlette is merely frozen O'Brien potatoes and onions stir fried in olive oil till tender, then add about 6 beaten eggs into the pan, stir til it starts to 'set'.  Place the whole pan in the oven at a high temp til the top is set too. 

3. Pan Seared Catfish with homemade coleslaw and German potato salad.  LOVE German potato salad. Bacon makes everything wonderful. 

4.  Homemade Hamburger Helper. 

I despise the boxed stuff, but this is so easy to make from scratch, why bother with the boxed stuff?? I use macaroni pasta, ground turkey, tomato sauce, chopped bacon and cheddar cheese to make a Cheeseburger version.

5.  Grilled Pork Chops with sweet potatoes and broccoli. 

I love to glaze chops near the end of cooking with orange marmalade or peach preserves thinned with a little soy sauce. The sweet potatoes get steamed in the microwave til tender and are whipped with butter and cinnamon sugar. (BAD...I know.)  The broccoli gets stirfried in a pan with olive oil and garlic.

What about you? What is your favorite summer meal? How do you find inspiration for your family's meals?