First Tooth!!

Kedrick lost his first tooth!! Front, bottom left.
He complained that it hurt about two weeks ago, and he's been faithfully wiggling it ever since. It fell out when we were snuggling, watching movies. Sweet moment!
The pictures turned out kinda goofy...

Wiggling it...

A Rant

I don't rant about many things, but occasionally, I need a platform to express my displeasure. This is for all of the opponents of homeschooling, who think young children need to be "socialized" through public education.
I'm not sure why anyone would think that putting large amounts of six-year-olds together, to run free and play, with very little supervision, a desired way to develop socialization. Instead of socialization, an immature culture forms, lacking in the development of values, character, and appropriate behavior. The book Lord of the Flies best illustrates my point.

My six-year-old son has been in public school for not even three months. This is a small sample of what he has learned:

• To be mean (especially to his little brother).
• To say, "You're not my boss!" to anyone who crosses his will.
• Authority should be disliked and resisted, for it is there to keep you from doing what you want, rather than to guide and protect you.
• To have "extra" friends. Extra friends are people who are your friends when your regular friends are absent.
• If someone cuts in front of you in line, you don't have to be their friend anymore. 
• Hate people who are mean to you.
• Boys relate to girls by chasing and being chased. And beautiful girls are better than not-beautiful girls.

Perhaps these don't seem like that big of a deal. But these are not things that I desire him to learn, nor is it behavior that I would allow. I do not consider this to be socialization, or preparation for the "real" world. I don't want my kids to behave the way the "real" world behaves. I want them to stand out in character and purpose.
I want to instill in my children appropriate behavior that is clearly not developed in public school: loyalty, kindness, respect for authority, compassion, friendliness, forgiveness, and respect for the opposite gender. I want them to have the conviction that all people have equal value regardless of their beauty, intelligence, coolness, or possessions. I want them to love people selflessly, and not think that other people are there to be used and discarded.
Socialization comes from parents teaching their children how to behave appropriately. It comes from character development. It comes from supervised play time, where correct behavior can be taught, and the right habits of behavior formed.
It does not come from throwing them to the wolves to figure it out themselves.
I'm not opposed to public education, as I am currently taking advantage of it. Just don't make the mistake of thinking the school is there to socialize children. It is my job to un-do the wrong behaviors and worldly thinking developed in my children at school, and replace it with correct behavior and values.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  ~Romans 12:2