At Home

Youth gathered at the Spencer County Cooperative Extension Service on March 31 for the Kids in the Kitchen class. The class was offered as part of the Sharing OurSelves courses, and offered youngsters the opportunity to get into the kitchen and try out their culinary skills.

What? I’m expected to be the “best parent” without a manual to learn from? When I buy anything other than groceries or clothes, there is always a manual or an instructional book provided to help learn how this thing should work, and what to do when it doesn’t.
But, I’m expected to raise this “thing,” or “child,” to make it sound human, and be able to do it with little to no previous experience.

Stacey Babb’s son, Alex, is 5 years old. When he was about 6 months old, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor and went through surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

While the cancer seemed to be gone, her medical bills were overwhelming. She was unable to work and her husband, Tim, had to work from home to care for her and her son.

How much? How many? What am I talking about, anyway?
Well, it’s not (a) how much money is enough, or (b) how many malted-milk balls you can consume, but how many kids is enough? And, how is it that some parents are satisfied with one and others have as many as the Duggar famiIy in the very popular and enjoyable TV program, “19 And Counting”? That’s right, they have 19 children and we, the viewers, do not have any idea how many there will be when they stop “counting.”