The rights of the child - here we go again!

Even tho it wasn't ratified by the Senate, a U.N. treaty, signed by Madaleine Albright in 1995, is to be reviewed by President Obama. God help us all if this treaty is okayed by Congress.

According to the Parental Rights website, the substance of the Convention on the Rights of the Child dictates the following:

• Parents would no longer be able to administer reasonable spankings to their children.
  
• A murderer aged 17 years, 11 months and 29 days at the time of his crime could no longer be sentenced to life in prison.
  
• Children would have the ability to choose their own religion while parents would only have the authority to give their children advice about religion.
  
• The best interest of the child principle would give the government the ability to override every decision made by every parent if a government worker disagreed with the parent's decision.
  
• A child's "right to be heard" would allow him (or her) to seek governmental review of every parental decision with which the child disagreed.
  
• According to existing interpretation, it would be illegal for a nation to spend more on national defense than it does on children's welfare.
  
• Children would acquire a legally enforceable right to leisure.
  
• Teaching children about Christianity in schools has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.
  
• Allowing parents to opt their children out of sex education has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.
  
• Children would have the right to reproductive health information and services, including abortions, without parental knowledge or consent.
  

Additionally, the CRC could remove the ability of parents to choose the method of their child's education - effectively making home education illegal.

While we believe that children should have some rights, parents are the best determinators of what is "in the child's best interest". NOT the government!

The homeschool community will be watching this closely. It is believed, tho, that even if the treaty is reviewed, it will not be ratified due to the opposition of American parents.

We've just been introduced to a website devoted to Boston Terriers and how amusing they are.

Check out LOLBostons!

Many of the captions are funny, even if written with a "Bastan" accent. The mobster motif (Iz stealin yuz ___) gets old fast. Anyone can upload pics, as it is for Boston lovers.

W hope you enjoy. Maybe you'll even see a dog that reminds you of one you've known.

The Life of a Dog

Lazing around in the sun - instead of parking on Mommy's lap!

What a life!

It's Sprung!

We purchased a starter garden kit for Jules & Kitty. It's early to start planting yet, but these are flowers and it is an educational tool as well. We started them three days ago. Look at the progress so far. The girls are so excited!

Snow People, part 2

Today was warm - 40F. The snow warmed enough that the girls could make a snowman. Of course, their ideas were bigger than their muscles, so Mommy had to help with the biggest part. We found a long, curved pinecone to use as the smile, an eaten corncob from the squirrels that we broke into pieces for the eyes and nose. We even added a very little sprig of pine needles to use as a touch of hair.

The girls so love the outside!