A Few Favorite Quotes That Resonate With Radical Responsible Mothering

"Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees."
- J. Willard Marriot


"I live ...
For the cause that lacks assistance,
For the wrong that needs resistance,
For the future in the distance
And the good that I can do."
~ Elizabeth Cady Stanton


"... The point is to live with courage and boldness, in the face of those things that terrify us. The point of life is to live fully, to engage in life with gusto and with faith, instead of quaking and trembling, crippled by anxieties and fears. Life is to be experienced in all of its wonders as the exquisite gift it is, and not missed because you're too scared of what might happen or what you might catch, who might hurt you or how you might lose what you have!"
~ Jeanie Miley, FaithStreams Archives


"If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace."
~ Thomas Paine, 1776


"If you think in seasons, plant cereals. If you think in decades, plant trees. If you think in centuries, educate your children."
- Chinese Proverb

Homeschooling/Unschooling Teleconference for Mothers for Liberty Moms and Friends

Mothers for Liberty Meetup Groups across the country are joining together for Quarterly Teleconferences beginning Tuesday, August 4, 2009. Our first teleconference will feature Mothers Institute Advisory Board Member, Lori Loranger, who will speak on the subject of Homeschooling/Unschooling. Lori is as a long time and successful unschooling mom herself.

I first "met" Lori back in 2005 when I started the Mothers for Liberty Yahoo Group, in an effort to connect up with other like-minded, liberty-loving, out-of-the-box-thinking moms. Lori's experiences, wisdom and philosophy-put-into-action made her a welcome addition to that early group and today she continues to provide valuable input to The Mothers Institute via her writing and now through her speaking.

The teleconference begins at 7:00 pm Central time and Mothers for Liberty Members (and their guests) are invited to join us on the call.

For more information, visit and join The Mothers for Liberty Meetup Group nearest you (links for all of our MfL Meetup Groups are available via The Mothers Institute Mothers for Liberty page at: http://www.themothersinstitute.org/mothersforliberty.htm or post your request for more information here.

Jan

Our Mothers Institute Forum

In an effort to make The Mothers Institute a more "hands on" resource for moms and families, we have created our own MI Forum/Discussion Board for sharing information, experiences, and a general Q and A for Radical Responsible Mothering.

We currently have a wide range of topics being discussed which include:

* Pregnancy and Birth
* Mothering/Parenting
* Homeschooling/Unschooling
* Schools: Private, Charter and Public
* Children's Books, Magazines and Websites
* Health and Wellness
* Gardening/Homesteading/Self-Sufficiency
* Hobbies/Talents
* Recipes (from A-Z)
* Mothers for Liberty Meetup Group Activities
* Politics - Local, State and National
* The Mothers Institute Book Club
* General information and news about The Mothers Institute
* And More!

Our forum is open to mothers (and others) and is a great place to converse with like minded moms who support the time honored traditions of reason, logic, creativity, civility, discourse, debate and dissent.

Come join the conversation at: http://themothersinstitute.org/forum

Jan

Can You Give a $1 to The Mothers Institute Today?

Can You Give a $1 to The Mothers Institute Today?

The Mothers Institute Needs YOUR help!

We all know that non-profit organizations rely on donations. And we also know that with an uncertain economy, many families are watching their budgets a bit more closely these days.

That said, expenses still go on at The Mothers Institute and donations are still needed! So we've come up with the "Can You Give a $1 Today" idea which hopefully will be do-able for most individual pocketbooks and family budgets.

If all of The Mothers Institute's members, readers and friends would chip in and give just $1, MI would have some much needed funds to help cover our ongoing expenses such as rent, utilities, advertising, educational and promotional workshops/events, office supplies and more.

So, for all the mothers (and others) out there who appreciate the work The Mothers Institute is doing, and can contribute $1 today -- it would be much appreciated!

To give your $1 online, visit our website's homepage at: http://www.themothersinstitute.org/ and click on the "Support The Mothers Institute Today" Donate Button at the bottom of the page.

Thanks for considering this --- and as always your support is greatly appreciated!

Jan Stover
Founder and Director
The Mothers Institute

The 20 Daughters of Liberty

The 20 Daughters of Liberty
By Anonymous~ 1768 ~

Since the men, from a party or fear of a frown,
Are kept by a sugar-plum quietly down,
Supinely asleep--and depriv'd of their sight,
Are stripp'd of their freedom, and robb'd of their right;
If the sons, so degenerate! the blessings despise,
Let the Daughters of Liberty nobly arise;
And though we've no voice but a negative here,
The use of the taxables, let us forbear:--
(Then merchants import till your stores are all full,
May the buyers be few, and your traffic be dull!)

~~~~~

Stand firmly resolv'd, and bid Grenville to see,
That rather than freedom we part with our tea,
And well as we love the dear draught when a-dry,
As American Patriots our taste we deny--
Pennsylvania's gay meadows can richly afford
To pamper our fancy or furnish our board;
And paper sufficient at home still we have,
To assure the wiseacre, we will not sign slave;
When this homespun shall fail, to remonstrate our grief,
We can speak viva voce, or scratch on a leaf;
Refuse all their colors, though richest of dye,
When the juice of a berry our paint can supply,
To humor our fancy--and as for our houses,
They'll do without painting as well as our spouses;
While to keep out the cold of a keen winter morn,
We can screen the north-west with a well polished horn;
And trust me a woman, by honest invention,
Might give this state-doctor a dose of prevention.

~~~~~

Join mutual in this--and but small as it seems,
We may jostle a Grenville, and puzzle his schemes;
But a motive more worthy our patriot pen,
Thus acting--we point out their duty to men;
And should the bound-pensioners tell us to hush,
We can throw back the satire, by biding them blush.

This poem was published anonymously in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1768. It is thought that it was written by a Quaker lady who lived in Philadelphia. It was dedicated to the Daughters of Liberty during the Revolutionary War.

The Value of a Mom

The Value of a Mom

A father came home and found his three children were outside, still in their pajamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn all around the front yard.

The door of his wife's car was open, as was the front door to the house and there was no sign of the dog. Proceeding into the entry, he found an even bigger mess.

A lamp had been knocked over, and the throw rug was wadded against one wall.

In the front room the TV was loudly blaring a cartoon, and the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing.

In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled onthe counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled onthe floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sandwas spread by the back door.

He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles ofclothes, looking for his wife. He was worried she may be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls.

As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife still curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel.

She looked up at him, smiled, and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, "What happened here today?"

She again smiled and answered, "You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world did I do today?"

"Yes," was his incredulous reply.

She answered, "Well, today I didn't do it."

~ Anonymous

What is The Mothers Institute?

What is The Mothers Institute?

In an effort to describe how The Mothers Institute began, I’d like to offer a quick look at a few of my personal interests and endeavors. I have always had two great passions in life - Family and Freedom. I had the good fortune of successfully melding those passions together during the years I raised and homeschooled my two sons. After my children headed off to college, the time was right for discovering new opportunities to honor these same passions.

My husband and I chose to become involved in politics. During that time, our efforts focused primarily on spreading the message of individual freedom and personal responsibility through a variety of political campaigns, promotional events and local activities. In addition, I began looking for a viable approach to bring the ideas of freedom to the next generation. With that goal in mind, I initially organized a Mothers for Liberty Yahoo Group which served as a discussion board for mothers choosing to raise their children with a self reliant, independent, libertarian spirit!

As like-minded mothers from across the United States discovered the new group, membership increased and soon included a blend of everything from political activists to apolitical moms who simply shared the philosophy of individual freedom and personal responsibility.

The age-old quote, "The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world" by William Ross Wallace resonated with our Mothers for Liberty members as did the inspirational quote of anthropologist Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."

In January of 2007 after a short illness, my own mother passed away -- but before her death, she and I discussed the idea of an organization which could successfully promote an approach to mothering that would encourage the principles we women had already been discussing and practicing. My mother, who was also my mentor and friend, had been my business partner in prior endeavors and was a successful businesswoman along with my father for over sixty years. Knowing she had given her "thumbs up" to such a project assured me I was on solid ground.

In March of 2007, hoping to network with more like-minded mothers throughout the country, I organized another online discussion group and its membership grew quickly - today reaching over 750 mothers and representing almost every state in the U.S. Again, some of the members are politically active while others simply live a philosophy that promotes peace, prosperity and freedom while enjoying a connection with other mothers who are seeking to practice similar life tenets.

With the enthusiastic support of so many dedicated women, the time was finally right to organize The Mothers Institute along with our "boots on the ground" aspect of the organization - our Mothers for Liberty Meetup Groups. Together, we are practicing and sharing with others the message of Radical Responsible Mothering ... bringing the concept to the forefront of today’s parenting conversation.

And as The Mothers Institute continues to grow - with the help of many talented members - it is wonderful to know that my own mother's influence is, and will continue to be, felt and appreciated by mothers of all ages and in all stages of this wonderful experience called motherhood.

Homeschooling Humor :-)

Homeschooling Humor by Melany Noltenius (a homeschooling mom from Tennessee)

Q: How does a homeschooler change a light bulb?

A: First, mom checks three books on electricity out of the library, then the kids make models of light bulbs, read a biography of Thomas Edison and do a skit based on his life. Next, everyone studies the history of lighting methods, wrapping up with dipping their own candles. Next, everyone takes a trip to the store here they compare types of light bulbs as well as prices and figure out how much change they'll get if they buy two bulbs for $1.99 and pay with a five dollar bill. On the way home, a discussion develops over the history of money and also Abraham Lincoln, as his picture is on the five dollar bill. Finally, after building a homemade ladder out of branches dragged from the woods, the light bulb is installed. And there is light.

Creating "Community"

Creating "Community"

Merriam-Webster recognizes the individual in its definition of community, showing such fellowship and organization as a reflection and manifestation of individuals’ needs, desires and interests. Accordingly, communities or groups should be created, sustained and thought of as an adjunct to the individual, rather than an entity maintained for its own purpose.

Merriam-Webster also describes community as “society at large” and, as such, calls to mind these historic words from Thomas Paine’s Common Sense ...

“SOME writers have so confounded society with government, as to leave little or no distinction between them; whereas they are not only different, but have different origins. Society is produced by our wants, and government by our wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil in its worst state an intolerable one ...”

Ron Paul’s Freedom Principles also aid in the understanding of community and groups as they relate to the individual as well as Paine’s assessment of society vs. government.
* Rights belong to individuals, not groups.
* Property should be owned by people, not government.
* All voluntary associations should be permissible -- economic and social.
* The government’s monetary role is to maintain the integrity of the monetary unit, not participate in fraud.
* Government exists to protect liberty, not to redistribute wealth or to grant special privileges.
* The lives and actions of people are their own responsibility, not the government’s.

So what then is community ... family, neighbors, homeschooling groups, churches, political organizations, food co-ops, online forums, our Mothers for Liberty Meetup Groups? Yes to all of the above. And through such communities, we find common ground by way of our shared interests, experiences, goals, strengths, and even weaknesses.

We create community by first recognizing the need for and benefits of joint effort in a given arena and then by inviting like-minded individuals to share that effort and ultimately that reward with us. We build community by bringing the best of ourselves to the group, by giving and receiving resources, tools and talents which enhance the lives of those involved.

Historically, community has been at the heart of our nation’s success, and loosing touch with community has initiated problems that are now becoming evident. In the wake of that realization, Americans are establishing relationships and reconnecting with community on a local and national level. People turning to people for friendship, assistance, information and resources ... and in response people voluntarily offering the same, is as Paine points out, a blessing.

To quote Karl Hess, well known and beloved libertarian writer and activist, “The most revolutionary thing you can do is get to know your neighbors.” And to follow that thought with a quote by Mothers Institute Advisory Board member, Lori Loranger, “A free market in goodwill is the same as an economic free market - the more interconnected we become, the more we really can’t afford to be enemies.” we have a better understanding that through community, we can find solutions that better enable us - as individuals - to live the lives we choose.

Grandma's Apron

Grandma's Apron

"I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.

After the peas had been shelled, itcarried out the hulls.In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know, and love, the story about Grandma's aprons. Or it can be a good history lesson for those that have no idea how the apron played a part in our lives.

REMEMBER ...

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron .... but Love!!"

~ Author Unknown

Our Truest Friend

"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."

--Washington Irving
--------------------------------------

As children we are blessed to have mothers like this and as mothers we are privileged to be our children's truest friends.

The quote reminded me of the following precious personal examples ...

My oldest son once told me that when things are difficult for him -- he simply calls home, I tell him he's wonderful (hopefully with some sage advice thrown in the mix) and he goes back to his business of the day with a different perspective and outlook.

My youngest son once asked me if since he and his brother were born, did I ever do anything without thinking of them first ... then before I could answer he looked me in the eye, smiled, and said "never mind" Knowing he knew the answer before I had to respond assured me my devotion to him/them had been adequately practiced -- and observed.

Knowing this quote may remind other moms visiting my blog of specific moments or situations in their childhood - or as moms themselves - when a mothers' love was the perfect fit and fix for problems large or small, I invite you to share a few of those special moments here.

To a Homemaker

To a Homemaker

Sweetness and soul,
We find joy in your gentle ways.
You nurture all of us: the dog, the bird,
The plants, and people - lucky ones you love;
You're caring, ever caring, here - and far
Where letters send your light to sunny up
A burdened life.
With fierce protective eye
You scan afar for threat to those God gave
You vigil o'er.
From morn to night you work:
You cook, you wash, you sew, you clean, you shop.
What for?
Why just to make a home
For us who come - and go.
You suffer little leavings every day
And bravely bear the pain and think of ways
To make homecomings glad and good, and build
Us strong again.
You cook. Oh, how you cook!
Not as some other women cook, with weariness,
Complaint: "So many years, so many dinnertimes.
"No, you cook like God would cook, I think.
Each meal's a miracle.
Dried beans and rice
Become gourmet for you.
But more than that,
Each meal's a feast of love
Turned into bread and drink.
We humbly take.
There is no way to honor you enough.

by Carla Emery

"Cannot" Lessons Worth Learning

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.
You cannot help small men by tearing down big men.
You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.
You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer.
You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich.
You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income.
You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.
You cannot establish security on borrowed money.
You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence.
You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.

-- William Boetcker(1873-1962) German-born Presbyterian clergyman1916

Participative Leadership

What's Your Leadership Style?

Psychologist Kurt Lewin identified three major leadership styles. Learn which best describes your leadership style in this 18 question quiz at:
http://psychology.about.com/library/quiz/bl-leadershipquiz.htm

My results indicate that my leadership style is predominately: Participative

Participative Leadership ...
Participative leaders accept input from one or more group members when making decisions and solving problems, but the leader retains the final say when choices are made. Group members tend to be encouraged and motivated by this style of leadership. This style of leadership often leads to more effective and accurate decisions, since no leader can be an expert in all areas. Input from group members with specialized knowledge and expertise creates a more complete basis for decision-making.

Monday's Child is Fair of Face ...

MONDAY'S CHILD IS FAIR OF FACE

Monday's child is fair of face,
Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go.
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child works hard for a living,
But the child born on the Sabbath Day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

Do you remember that Mother Goose poem many of us recited as children? Wonder where you fit into the days of the week? Have fun finding out at: http://www.bethanyroberts.com/MondaysChildIsFairofFace.htm

BTW, I'm a Wednesday Child
Wednesday's child is full of woe.
You are a serious person, and try to change things that seem unfair.
You make the world a better place!

Stay-at-Home Mothering

"Stay-at-home mothering is as beneficial for the mother as it is for the child ... each reap the daily rewards of shared and sacred moments." ~ Jan Stover

I'm always quoting others ... decided to quote myself for a change ;-)

Reason, Logic, Creativity, Civility, Discourse, Debate and Dissent

In writing the Mission Statement for The Mothers Institute, I chose to include the concepts of reason, logic, creativity, civility, discourse, debate and dissent.

I asked several friends to share with me what those terms mean to them and found their definitions interesting. Below are their thoughts...

Reason - as opposed to superstition
Logic - as opposed to intuition
Creativity - as opposed to bland conformity with tradition
Civility - as opposed to strident rudeness
Discourse - as opposed to stay silent, not airing problems
Debate - as opposed to unconsidered acceptance
(accepting) Dissent - as opposed to requiring capitulation

Reason= motivating factor for an action or thought.
Logic= reasonable thinking.
Creativity= In studio classes we were always charged with creating our own art, but in art history we were taught there is basically no "new" art. I guess for me it would be my own way of doing something.
Civility= agree to disagree in a respectful manner
Discourse= a conversation, argument
Debate= a civil argument
Dissent= refusal to submit to authority

Reason and Logic, to me, go hand in hand. It is logical to follow what is reasonable. i.e. common sense. If more people just did what made sense rather than doing something that they know is not right, then the world would be a much better place. Be logical, be reasonable and encourage others to do the same.

Creativity to me can be many things. There may be an insurance salesman who uses loopholes in company policy to actually help customers. There may be a painter or an artist using their craft to make the word a better place. There may be a writer, telling stories or researching to tell the truth. It may be a child- everything they do is creative. It is their own, before they are shaped by the world and before many of them let their peers tell them who they are.

Civility to me is a hard one. Civil as in not arguing or voicing your opinion in order to keep the peace? (Not in my house, lol) Civil as in politically correct? (not so much) Civil to me means that you are polite and can deal with others in civilization. It is important to do this on a daily basis with children- especially home schooled children. This is what people mean when they cry "Their socialization!" in opposition to homeschooling. As if every child who is not brought through public schools will either be a robot answering questions as such with no spirit or a wild animal. It is up to us to show that children can have freedom of expression but behave, they can be socialized with their peers but not be dependent on them, they can use reason and logic without being an automaton, and be civil about it.

Discourse, debate, and dissent all rule my life. Why? Because to most, the concept of personal responsibility and freedom are alien ideas. When I talk about the changes I would like to see, I get a mildly horrified look. So, I am prepared to debate. My choices politically, and of course the ever present debate on parenting. It takes alot of energy to constantly explain why you are not vaccinating, why you are homeschooling, why you don't like the people in charge... and on and on. It is all about educating people on your point of view so at the end, they understand what you mean even if they don't agree. The path to peace is paved with understanding.

To hear Richard Dreyfuss speak eloquently on a number of these same issues watch his appearance on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher at : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fd7p1SGMuqU&feature=related

A Virtual Tea Party

What do you do when you have a community of moms scattered across the country who would love to spend a leisurely afternoon chatting with each other over a cup of tea or cappuccino (if distance wasn't an issue)?

The answer's simple ... you host an online tea party :-)

And that's just what Mothers for Liberty moms are doing this Wednesday, January 28th.

Between 2 and 4pm central time, moms will "gather" at Mothers for Liberty National (an online group via CafeMom) and share conversation, inspiration, information and more! Some moms will be able to join in for the whole event, others will only be able to drop by for a while ... but whatever their schedules permit, this online tea party is a great way to spend an afternoon with long distance friends.

To share a cup of tea with this community of moms simply join the Mothers for Liberty National Group online via CafeMom. Go to: http://www.cafemom.com/ -- Type in the words "Mothers for Liberty National" in the search bar -- This will take you to the group's homepage where a link is provided to register at CafeMom so you may join the group. Note: If you are already a member of CafeMom, simply click on the following link: http://www.cafemom.com/group/54702/

Another novelty is the tea-party, an extraordinary meal in that, being offered to persons that have already dined well, it supposes neither appetite nor thirst, and has no object but distraction, no basis but delicate enjoyment. ~ Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, The Physiology of Taste

Sister City Camp Outs!

Plans are in the works for a Mothers for Liberty "Sister City" Camp Out in June. With two of our Mothers for Liberty Meetup Groups located in communities named Greenville (what are the odds on that one, eh?) we've decided to have a little shared fun and each group is planning to host a Camp-Out the same weekend. Our MfL group in Greenville, Illinois has been discussing a theme for the event - "Old Fashioned Family Fun" - and knowing the mama who is in charge of planning MfL events in Greenville, Michigan - that will be right up her alley too :-)

A little "Old Fashioned Family Fun" might include sack races, egg tosses, a rousing game of horseshoes, crafting, singing 'round the campfire and more!

Hubby is a ham radio operator ... thought it might even be fun to see if our Sister Cities can connect up via the airwaves during the event as well.

Looking forward to a good turn out as we will be inviting Mothers for Liberty from across the country to join us ... heading to the Sister City Camp Out nearest them.

To learn more about our Sister City Mothers for Liberty Meetup Groups, visit

South Central Illinois Mothers for Liberty at: http://moms.meetup.com/3107/

and West Michigan Mothers for Liberty at: http://moms.meetup.com/3675/

Camp Out details to follow!

Sunflower Seed Pancakes ... Yum!

When my oldest son was little, he had many food allergies ... so I was always searching for (and concocting) new and tasty recipes.

In the process, I came up with the recipe for Sunflower Seed Pancakes (which we still eat and enjoy today). Thought folks might enjoy giving them a try ...

Ingredients:
1 and 3/4 cup raw sunflower seed flour ( I buy raw sunflower seeds and grind them myself via our coffee grinder)
3 eggs
2 tablespoons water
1/8 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix ingredients and prepare in skillet in the same fashion as more traditional pancakes.
Serve with real maple syrup ... yum!
Recipe makes 6 medium size pancakes

Note: These are heavy, hearty (almost "meaty") pancakes. If you like a lighter pancake, sift sunflower seed flour before adding other ingredients to it and/or add a bit of wheat flour to the mix (adding additional water accordingly).

Mondays with Mothers for Liberty

"Mondays with Mothers for Liberty" is a weekly Live Chat (via our keyboards) with moms across the country who are interested in the philosophy and practice of individual freedom and personal responsibility.

These brainstorming sessions offer like-minded moms a chance to share thoughts and build off each other's ideas and efforts.

To participate in these Live Chats, moms will need to be a member of our Mothers for Liberty National Group. To join, simply visit CafeMom at: http://www.cafemom.com/ Type the words "Mothers for Liberty National" in the search bar. This will take you to the group's homepage where a link is provided to register at CafeMom so you may join the group. If you are already a member of CafeMom, simply click on the following link: http://www.cafemom.com/group/54702/

Looking forward to tonight's chat (Monday, January 12th at 8pm Central!)

Saying NO to Vaccinations ... At Any Age!

Neither of my sons were vaccinated throughout their elementary and high school years (we homeschooled some of those years, but not all, so we did deal with government schools and the pretense that vaccinations are mandatory)

My husband and I simply signed a form that indicated our decision to not have our sons vacinated was religious based.

College was a bit more difficult ... the university (state funded) “insisted” my sons get their MMR vaccinations. Both boys were over 18 at the time, so they were legally/personally able to make their own choice on the matter (even tho I expressed my disapproval and concern). My oldest son’s exposure to the vaccine went without incident. My youngest son’s story was quite different (and confirmed my fears about vaccines in general). He become VERY ill - extremely high fever, the worst headaches he had ever experienced, nausea, etc... - a trip to the ER followed by several doctors visits confirmed his exposure to the vaccine played a significant part in triggering a virus that was possibly laying dormant in his system (or introducing it?) and he was diagnosed with mononucleosis - a similar strain of virus as measles, meningitis, etc. He missed 2 weeks of classes and took several months to really get back on his feet (btw, he still suffers from viral infections much more frequently than the average person).

Later, the university, in its infinite wisdom, decided that despite my son’s initial serious reaction to the first round of the MMR vaccine, he needed to follow up with a second round which was "required" of all students. We were able (at first) to get a medical exemption as mononucleosis had been confirmed via my son’s blood work and our doctor felt comfortable writing a letter stating that “at this time vaccinations were contraindicated”.

The school left no stone un-turned, however, and picked up on the “at this time”. They kept pushing for our doctor to give exact dates as to when he could/could not receive the vaccination, so we began to look for other solutions - and went back to the religious exemption idea. However, we were told that to claim a religious exemption - to satisfy the state - my son had to verify that he was attending a church were such a belief was in fact part of the church's practice/doctrine. He was not, so that option was unavailable to us.

Since we were convinced that another round of the MMR vaccination would seriously affect my son’s health AGAIN - there was no choice but to keep looking for ways to successfully opt out. After researching the subject via the internet, I found that a “PERSONAL religious exemption” was different than a religious exemption ... and so my son took that route, writing the following letter to the university:

"After much thought, reflection and meditation, my personal religious beliefs prohibit the injection of foreign substances into my body. Therefore, owing to the Knowledge that The Higher Power which created us all, rejects this same notion of foreign substances entering into the body, I object to the following vaccinations, including but not limited to, DTaP\DTP, HepB, Hib, MMR, Polio, Varicella, and MCV4. Therefore I am filing this personal religious exemption in accordance with: TITLE 77: PUBLIC HEALTH CHAPTER I: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH SUBCHAPTER k: COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL AND IMMUNIZATIONS PART 694 COLLEGE IMMUNIZATION CODE SECTION 694.210 RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION”

The university finally backed off.

For more info on vaccinations visit: http://www.vaccineawareness.org/aboutIVAC.htm and http://www.thenhf.com/vaccinations.html