A First Step

While emotional abuse is finally starting to get a little recognition/street cred, there's apparently something even more insidious and invisible with which many people are struggling, and probably don't even know it: emotional neglect.  Here's a pretty good article introducing the subject; take a peek, it may just turn your world upside down, or rather be the first step in setting it right side up!

Hope and healing

Taking care of yourself isn't selfish, especially for those who don't think they're worth it.  This article hits the nail directly on the head!  Abuse is abuse, be it physical, sexual, or emotional.  There is hope!

The word that just might change the world

I was riding with a friend the other day and my son was along, she has a little girl a year younger and asked if she needed to spell the word 'cookie,' in my son's presence, as she must in her daughter's lest he throw a fit.  A day later I was shopping for a few small items to fill a shoebox to be sent to a child somewhere in need this Christmas, my son was along and insisted that he should have his share of the gifts in the cart, though he has a house full of toys, he still wanted more.  I firmly told him 'no,' and that was the end of the matter, explaining that he had no reason to doubt or worry that his parents and extended family would not take excellent care of him this Christmas, not that he even needs anything.

Both of these incidents were rather curious, not that they are out of the ordinary in either modern society or human nature, but the different approaches to parenting in the matter say much about our culture and us as individuals.  A child should be able to hear of some delightful or negative (in their mind, think nap) word and not fall to pieces when they do not immediately receive the former or are anticipating the latter.  They should also be able to peaceably complete a shopping excursion without being bribed into compliance with a new toy or a treat.  I fear we are buying momentary peace at the expense of our children's self-control and future happiness.  No wonder kids get to college and need to be 'protected' from everything from Shakespeare to world history to bad grades and poor athletic performance.  We never taught them to endure the word cookie without falling to pieces, how much less can they be expected to  handle the disappointments of the real world?  Do the world and your kids a favor: teach them the word 'no.'

No Knead Oatmeal Bread

I've wanted to try one of these 'no knead' recipes for awhile, I'm not sure what the results are supposed to be like, but it is something of a cross between a muffin and actual yeast bread, tasty but for all the putzing around, you might as well make a 'kneaded' bread!  I'll play with it some more and see what happens, maybe I'll turn it into a 'kneaded' recipe and throw it in the bread machine?

2 cups warm water
1 cup oatmeal
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 tsp salt
1/2 cup sweet sourdough starter (amish or herman)
1 tsp instant yeast
2 eggs
4-5 cups flour

Combine everything but the flour until well mixed, gradually mix in the flour until a firm but sticky dough is achieved.  Cover and let sit 2 hours, then shape into loaves and place in a greased pan or place in a greased muffin tin for buns (I used an ice cream scoop to work with the dough), allow to rise until double and bake at 375 until brown and sounds hollow.

The texture is course and crumbly, but the flavor is nice, makes good toast.