Erika Shupe says you need less entertainment

[Maggie Mae]

That sounds so dull and lifeless. I dated a guy once who didn't read fiction because he "didn't see the point." We broke up shortly afterwards.

Just because a book is fiction doesn't mean that there is nothing to learn from it. American Girl books are fiction. Yet many people in my generation learned about immigration, colonial living, WWII, sweatshops, cholera, and victory gardens. Just because it's marked "fiction" doesn't mean that every word in the book is a lie. Maybe no one has cloned dinosaurs from mosquitoes fossilized in amber, but that doesn't mean that cloning doesn't exist. Harry Potter might live in a world where kids go to boarding school but never take a math class, but that doesn't mean Harry Potter doesn't explore themes that relate to our world. And even if you are just reading for fun, what is the harm? Everyone should have at least some leisure time to do something they enjoy. Or to escape into a world that maybe or may not exist. Lot of books are about fictional people (or dogs) who live in places that exist in our world. When I read books that take place in places I've been I often find myself remember things (or thinking "that's not right! Lake Shore Drive doesn't go there!) .

Poor, boring kids.

[FloraKitty35]

That sounds so dull and lifeless. I dated a guy once who didn't read fiction because he "didn't see the point." We broke up shortly afterwards.

Just because a book is fiction doesn't mean that there is nothing to learn from it. American Girl books are fiction. Yet many people in my generation learned about immigration, colonial living, WWII, sweatshops, cholera, and victory gardens. Just because it's marked "fiction" doesn't mean that every word in the book is a lie. Maybe no one has cloned dinosaurs from mosquitoes fossilized in amber, but that doesn't mean that cloning doesn't exist. Harry Potter might live in a world where kids go to boarding school but never take a math class, but that doesn't mean Harry Potter doesn't explore themes that relate to our world. And even if you are just reading for fun, what is the harm? Everyone should have at least some leisure time to do something they enjoy. Or to escape into a world that maybe or may not exist. Lot of books are about fictional people (or dogs) who live in places that exist in our world. When I read books that take place in places I've been I often find myself remember things (or thinking "that's not right! Lake Shore Drive doesn't go there!) .

Poor, boring kids.

:clap:

[Jana814]

Erika Shupe needs a swift kick in the ass, a nice stiff drink (or 3) and STFU.

Agree!

[IronicallyMaeve]

Her post on modest clothing makes me want to :angry-banghead: They wear skirts to protect men?! And it's laughable that she thinks women don't have "temptation".

[16strong]

Her post on modest clothing makes me want to :angry-banghead: They wear skirts to protect men?! And it's laughable that she thinks women don't have "temptation".

I'm not going to lie. My eyes may have come to rest upon a male crotch or two. It might also be true that I have a vagina. :shifty-kitty:

[nelliebelle1197]

That sounds so dull and lifeless. I dated a guy once who didn't read fiction because he "didn't see the point." We broke up shortly afterwards.

Good move and way to go!

[DGayle]

I just checked out her facebook page and it looks like she's trying to sell a backyard slide. I wonder if she's making her kids give up their play set. Also, there are lots of photos of herself on her page, just like on her blog. I get the feeling she thinks very highly of herself, based on the way she poses for the blog. I don't think that's very modest. :naughty: :naughty: :naughty:

She does. She's conceited.

So far I have written over 47 posts for you on the organization of home and family. *smile*

Imagine her reading this. That "smile" would be the cue for her to stop speaking and smile for applause and adoration. She's not just writing. Oh no, she's directing, and her direction includes pausing for the jeeringcheering crowd.

[DGayle]

I just spent almost 2 long, painful hours reading her blog, and her righteous responses to anyone who questions her ideologies and advice for raising a family. I read her response to a blogger who wondered about the reason for producing these mega-families. While most of the quiverful types merely claimed that they love children so much more than the rest of us, Mrs Shupe was aggressively judgmental... and actively claims to raise smarter, better educated, better adjusted children, with more generous and loving hearts who will flourish in the world, while our under-educated, TV watching kids will fail miserably and, within the next generations, will eventually die off.

If this woman Loves children so much more than me and other mamas, other than to see them meet her many conditions and restrictions, I am not feeling it. A very proud and exceedingly awful woman.

I am not joking at all when I say this, but I think this woman is mentally ill. Since we live in a society that will hand-wave positive traits, nothing's going to happen until we hear about a kid leaving shoes in the hall on accident, thereby throwing off her whole routine and schedule so that she snaps. We've seen how she schedules the kids' lives. Every single thing is regimented to a frightening degree.

If a little organization is good, then more must be better, right? Not always, not when it gets to the point of unhealthy obsession. If she was a father who controlled his families' lives so strictly, we'd be really concerned for their safety, even though more kids are killed by their mothers than their fathers.

No entertainment, no room for real play, no room for creativity. What kind of real mental stimulation are those kids getting?

[DGayle]

I guess I understand some of the things she is saying, like retaining math in the summer, etc. but what I don't understand is why the kids can't have unstructured play. She says it is because they get in fights and have arguments (read:annoy Erika) but what she doesn't understand is that fights are learning experiences. They teach kids how to solve problems, how to interact with others, and how to compromise to get what they need. If they are not allowed the occasional scuffle, then they are not picking up those crucial tools for interaction with others. Erika is essentially stepping in to solve all of their problems, rather than letting them learn how to solve things themselves.

Since those kids are limited in interaction with people on the outside of that asylum, I imagine society will be teaching those kids how to interact by sending them to jails with bars.

[IronicallyMaeve]

I'm not going to lie. My eyes may have come to rest upon a male crotch or two. It might also be true that I have a vagina. :shifty-kitty:

I lust after men as well. And women too.

Perhaps I need to go in the prayer closet.

[usmcmom]

I'm not going to lie. My eyes may have come to rest upon a male crotch or two. It might also be true that I have a vagina. :shifty-kitty:

I, too, appreciate a nice man-filled pair of jeans. :wink-kitty:

[nausicaa]

I, too, appreciate a nice man-filled pair of jeans. :wink-kitty:

Two words: Tim McGraw.

I'll see myself to the prayer closet.

[Closed Womb]

So true, Erika! YOU need far less entertainment.

I believe you are entertained by blogging and FB. Mayhap you should quit these vices immediately? The time you waste on the computer with this drivel could be much better spent in prayer. Give your addiction to media attention over to God, Erika, and quit blogging and social media.

(Like others, I really am distraught for her kids.)

[slickcat79]

From her FB page:

HELP WITH PRODUCTIVITY & LEARNING - I was told something at the recent Christian Heritage Homeschool and Family Discipleship Conference that really struck a chord with me, and which I thought you all might benefit from as well. That it's not only good to strive to be more productive and learning with our time, but to *actually have less entertainment available*. I often think we should be listening more to hymns during our days than Broadway musical music or movie sound tracks; that we should listen to messages in the car instead of audio books all the time; that we should have more non-fiction reading in our home than fictional. But so often in my weakness I desire the "dessert" type of time-users rather than the "meaty" ones. And it has so helped me to do what my spirit was leading me to - by not having the entertainment even available! How simple! We don't keep audio books in the car, but albums of messages. We don't check out from the library all the fictional reading (chapter books for older kids - we still get all the little kid's books), but rather non-fiction, educational books. Years ago we removed our TV from our home so it's not even a temptation to vegging out and watching it. There's nothing inherently wrong with Broadway musicals, audio books, or TV - but when used in excess it's a waste of valuable time. So we simply have less "dessert" available and more "meat" and we're all growing again spiritually and in character, catching vision for our future goals, remembering why we're here on this earth, and having rich conversations! Praise the Lord. *smile*

This woman is seriously insane. :wtf:

That sounds like a really good way to make her kids hate reading. I can't imagine what my childhood would have been like if I could only read books assigned at school and the bible. I'm sure I would have read absolutely as little as possible, but instead I read book after book after book and still do. Even if there is nothing in the content of the book that is "educational", your kids will still learn grammar, punctuation, spelling, vocabulary, etc. from reading books they enjoy. Not to mention boosting creativity and writing skills. I mean, we know Poor Sarah is never allowed to read anything fun, and just look at the Moody books :evil-eye:

[lawlifelgbt]

I'm surprised she's barring all fiction- not even allowing classic literature? That sort of thing is important to at least know about in today's world.

No Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Kafka, C.S. Lewis even? How stunting. I love to read, and it's horrible to see someone turned off of reading by not getting material you enjoy.

Reading was always my escape. At lunch when I was a kid and had to sit by myself and was made fun of, I'd have a book, and suddenly I wasn't there any more. I was in Narnia, Oceania, Verona, Hogwarts, or hanging out with Russian nobles.

[moodygirl86]

I learn to read by myself when I was 3. I remember reading Redwall when I was 4. And then, I never stop. This and music have saved my sanity. I have no stability, no family, no love, no attention, but I had books. And with books, I had love, family, friends, love, wonderfull journey, discovery. I was always reading. i learn books by heart - first it was a book of poesie - and I recites them in my head when I feel lonely, so I feel I have friends. That's just that. Musset, Rowling, Martins, Carrey, Mieville, Vernes, Rostand, they are my friends.

Poor children. I'm nearly crying for them because books can save your life and they have no this luck :(

Marianne, I feel ya! Books, music and sitcoms have got me through the days when I've been unemployed. I've been inspired to write my own lyrics by the angry, energetic music of people like Green Day, Rancid, Blink 182, Sex Pistols, Distillers, The Clash and Ramones. I've identified with countless book heroes and laughed out loud at Father Ted and The Young Ones. Erika can pry my books, CDs and DVDs out of my cold, dead hands.

[lilah]

I'd like to point out that for lots of people reading non fictional books is their entertainment.

[smittykins]

I lust after men as well. And women too.

Perhaps I need to go in the prayer closet.

I've even been known to write my own porn.(Hey, I'm a widow, I do what I gotta do...)

Hold the door to the prayer closet, right behind ya... :mrgreen:

[DGayle]

I've even been known to write my own porn.(Hey, I'm a widow, I do what I gotta do...)

Hold the door to the prayer closet, right behind ya... :mrgreen:

I've got erotica posted online for the world to read, including pairings Erika would have a heart-attack to know about (all legal, I won't go near kids, animals, or rape). I'll go in the prayer closet if I can take my vibrator. Nope, not even ashamed to say that. Sexuality it nothing to be embarrassed over.

[Loveday]

I'd like to point out that for lots of people reading non fictional books is their entertainment.

That's true, I'm one of those who loves nonfiction at least as much as fiction, maybe more, especially anything to do with British or American history. But the problem in this situation is that the Shupe kids no longer seem to be given a choice in the matter. How will they ever know whether they really prefer nonfiction to fiction if they aren't allowed to read any fiction? :?

[Coco]

And they are going to fall apart (probably, for a little while anyway) once they're out from under the military regime. :lol:

My mom was a lot like Erika and i struggle all the time to stay on top of everything, because we were never without the outside structure. Sometimes i feel like a noodle in a straw with the straw taken away. Sometimes i just have to imagine that i'm on camera like on Big Brother to just get things done. Otherwise it feels like i need years of doing nothing to recover from the structure that was imposed in childhood.

[FloraKitty35]

I lust after men as well. And women too.

Perhaps I need to go in the prayer closet.

Save some room in there for me.

[16strong]

I'm surprised she's barring all fiction- not even allowing classic literature? That sort of thing is important to at least know about in today's world.

No Shakespeare, Tolstoy, Kafka, C.S. Lewis even? How stunting. I love to read, and it's horrible to see someone turned off of reading by not getting material you enjoy.

Reading was always my escape. At lunch when I was a kid and had to sit by myself and was made fun of, I'd have a book, and suddenly I wasn't there any more. I was in Narnia, Oceania, Verona, Hogwarts, or hanging out with Russian nobles.

Kafka and Tolstoy are good, but Chekhov is my Russian author of choice. His shorts are just magical. They're written so clearly and beautifully, like you're reading your own memories. They give me the fuzzies, even when they're depressing. :lol:

[usmcmom]

That's true, I'm one of those who loves nonfiction at least as much as fiction, maybe more, especially anything to do with British or American history. But the problem in this situation is that the Shupe kids no longer seem to be given a choice in the matter. How will they ever know whether they really prefer nonfiction to fiction if they aren't allowed to read any fiction? :?

My son was one of those kids who preferred non fiction. When he was four, he said "Mommy, I want you to read stories to me that are true." We visited the library weekly so I had the children's librarian help me find non fiction for preschoolers. It was tricky, but we did it. The good thing is, he also got to read the "Captain Underpants" series as a second grader because, suddenly, toilet humor was right up his alley :D . It's just so important to let our kids explore all kinds of books. I cannot imagine life without books and not encouraging my kids to read, read, read, whatever they can get their hands on. The Shupe kids are in for a very sad future. I mean, can they not even read Laura Ingalls Wilder books? Little Women? :cry:

[DaffyDill]

No one, but no one can suck every little piece of fun out of a child's life better than a fundy parent. Seriously, is there some course they do before becoming parents that teaches them this wonderous skill? Cos damn they all excel at it. *grimace* *barf*

(I physically cannot read her blog with all that *wink* *smile* garbage)