Articles written by Charlene N.

What is Helium

About me - Charlene N.

Happily married for 22 years, I'm a homeschooling mom to three boys. We live on the wide open prairie. Our nearest neighbor is a mile away and we can see forever. I love astronomy and we get some amazing stargazing here on the plains.

I love to cook, garden,

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Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: The highs and lows of being a housewife: 1 of 29
My choice to be a stay-at-home mom was not an easy one. After five years of graduate school, scrimping and doing without, my husband got his first good-paying job. We were looking forward to finally paying off bills, buying long-deferred luxuries (like a TV!) and maybe even getting ahead. But I'd been feeling sick for several... More..
Politics, News & Issues > War in Iraq Does the US have a moral obligation to stay in Iraq until peace is secured?: 8 of 48
If there was the slightest chance that peace could be established through a military presence, an argument might be made for the US to stay in Iraq. But true peace has never come through force of arms and it certainly can't come at the hands of a nation so woefully ignorant of the cultural, historical and religious roots of I... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Parenting Methods Should parents use corporal punishment to discipline children?: 16 of 52
Oh fer cryin' out loud, of course you should spank your child. We should also put a scarlet "A" on bad girls and put troublemakers in stocks.At one time stocks and public humiliation were very effective methods of getting people to conform to societies expectations. But it was only effective for a small window of time and in ... More..
Hobbies & Games > Yarn & Needle Crafts Choosing the right sewing machine: 1 of 3
Just as clothing makes the man, so does the machine make the seamstress. Choosing the right sewing machine is the first, probably the most important step to becoming an accomplished and satisfied sewer. You can spend anything from $100-$7000 on a sewing machine. The higher priced machines are electronic computerized machines ... More..
Education > Homeschooling Is homeschooling better than formal education?: 39 of 103
Option one: Segregate your child into a room filled with children just like him, close the door and don't let him see the real world. Limit the curriculum to fit your ideology, stifle his thinking and reasoning skills, limit his physical activity and control who he talks to and when. We call this Public Education.Option two: ... More..
Personal Finance > Budgets & Saving Tips to create extra room in your budget: 9 of 19
Our consumerist society is also a stress to the environment-why don't you make a difference? You can save money and save the environment at the same time. *Save electricity. Buy (or make) super-insulated drapes. Install plastic window insulation. You can lower your heating bill as much as $40 for each degree you lower your th... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Helping Kids Cope Determining the right amount of allowance to give your preteen: 1 of 2
Before you ask how much to allowance to give your child, you need to ask what is the purpose of the allowance. If it is just to give the child spending money, then base it on how many candy bars he can eat before getting sick. If you want allowance to teach the child money management, the habit of budgeting and saving, then y... More..
Food & Drink > Cookware & Cutlery Foods you can process in a water bath canner: 1 of 1
Canning is a wonderful way to preserve your garden's bounty and enjoy summer's goodness in the middle of winter. There's nothing more satisfying than looking at a well-stocked pantry, filled with colorful jars of food.There are two methods of canning: Water bath and pressure canning. Water bath canning can only be used with h... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice Which is harder: Getting ready for a vacation or returning home afterwards?: 22 of 33
There's nothing I hate worse than coming home from a vacation and feeling that huge let-down and dismay at having to get back to the regular old grind of life. So I invest a lot of time and work the vacation to make sure that coming home is pleasant.When planning for vacations I have two lists-things to get ready for the trip... More..
Parenting & Pregnancy > Child Discipline Strategies Children and chores: An alternative perspective: 11 of 16
This is not the Hilton. There's no maid to make your bed and pick up your dirty underwear. There's no continental breakfast that magically appears and dirty dishes that disappear. We are a family and we need to work together to make the family function and to keep the house comfortable. That's why household chores a part of l... More..