Protecting the Gift: Babysitting

I've been reading an excellent book "Protecting the gift: Keeping children and teenagers safe (and parents sane)" by Gavin De Becker. So far, it has addressed issues such as the importance of trusting our intuition, teaching our children how to talk to strangers, selecting babysitters, and signals to recognize when someone is trying to manipulate or control before their intentions are obvious.

The timing of my reading coincided with our decision to find a babysitter who could regularly watch our kids while we had dates. I took this opportunity to ask for names and yesterday conducted my first interview. It was a bit awkward and at times I felt like I was making a bigger deal of hiring a sitter than necessary. However, I think it communicated to her than this job is a significant responsibility and it gave me the opportunity to screen for any red flags before I had entrusted my most precious stewardship. I had her fill out an application before hand and she seemed excited to have her first "real" interview. It was a good experience for both of us.

Beginning Money Management

Mary (3.5 yrs) recieved her first allowance this weekend. I felt she was ready to begin learning how to manage money because:
1. she wanted to buy things
2. she wanted to give an offering at church

We decided to give her $.75/week.
She put a quarter in each of three tins (giving, saving, and spending).
This allowance is not tied to her chores.

She took the money out of her giving can to church today and I'll invite her to bring her $.25 in spendinging when we go to the store this week. She has been wanting to buy a gumball at Dillons. For savings, I gave her the choice of saving for a purse or a pair of shoes. She chose a purse. We found a cute blue one at the DAV for $1.50. I took a photo of it and cut it into 6 puzzle pieces. When she put her quarter in savings, I gave her one puzzle piece to put up. This will give her a visual way to see her savings grow toward her goal.

I found a lot of useful ideas about how to get started at Crown Financial Ministries. I especially recommend:
Giving Children an Allowance
Children and Finances Part 1 and Children and Finances Part 2

Clarise is officially a Wildcat!

Saturday the 21st, we took Clarise up to Manhattan to move into her dorm. Thanks to the Cryer Family for letting us borrow their van! We needed every inch for all her things and the whole gang.




This picture was taken before I lost my composure. When it was time to say goodbye, it seemed so weird to just leave her. There was another lady in the hall nearby when I said something to the effect that I was about to cry. She said "She's not even my kid, gesturing into another room, and I'm going to cry." I thought to myself, "They never are (ours)." Even my biological kids are not my own. She is 18 and entering a new season of life, this is a time for transition. Fly little bird!

Photography Class Week 4 (2 of 2)

Here are some more photos meant to inspire!


follow the subject, then snap the picture while panning.


Hold your camera right above the water and you get this smooth glassy effect.


Reflections can add interest. This is of Exploration Place.


Using a tripod, at a slow shutter speed, zoom during the exposure.

Photography Class Week 4 (1 of 2)

For our last class, we went down by exporation place and the Keeper of the Plains. Perhaps this will inspire new approaches to ordinary photos.


Get low and shoot the subject behind tall grass.


Use something in nature to frame the subject.


Lighting is everything. This is right after sunset.


They light fires at 9pm. Reflections can add interest.