We live in turbulent times.  

America needs us to become eloquent advocates for the principles, values, and laws that will preserve liberty.

Our children need us to help them prepare to speak out.  

Even young children can be taught important principles, and how to express their views on things that matter.  

This 15-year-old is expressing her views on guns, but she is learning much, much more.  She is gaining valuable experience that will help her become a capable and patriotic citizen.

  

Each mom has gifts, talents, and passions she can share with her children.  As we share with love, we can increase the happiness and unity in our homes.

Our example can encourage and inspire our children.  We can empower them to create beauty, to accomplish, and to serve.

It’s never too early or too late to start.  Amazing things can happen when we do our best.

This beautiful video of Jenny Oaks Baker and her daughter performing Baby Mine is a sweet example of a mom who is sharing her talents with her children.

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant.

It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."

His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."

His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."

By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper That he got from a grocery bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour.

On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."

"We take choice for granted in our lives in every othere area, but really education is the most important thing.  Especially as a parent, you want your kids to have a solid education."

"School choice is now at a tipping point. In the United States, more charter schools are cropping up, while tax dollars and voucher systems are now allowing the money to follow the child. Evidence indicates that these new educational options are effective, and less costly, in improving the quality of K-12 education. 

"Kids in America have more choices today than they've ever had before.  Every empirical study shows a positiive effect, and no study has found a negative effect."

Little Alana is only two, but she knew just what to do in an emergency.  Her mom had taken some medication and then collapsed on the floor. 

 Alana called 9-1-1 and said, "Momma owie." Then Alana went and got a warm blanket for her mom who was shivering

This is one small example of what kids can do when we take the time to teach them.

As parents, we can think about the situations we want our children to be prepared for, make a list, and create a plan so we can help our children respond effectively.

As Patriotic Moms, we love our children with all our hearts! 

We want to teach them the things that will allow them to be happy and rise to their potential.  

We want to pass on the great legacy we have received as Americans.

But life is busy, and sometimes we don't have as much time as we'd like to teach things that really matter about America.

PatrioticMoms.com wants to help!  We've added a "Teaching" tab to our menu and are gathering great lessons, videos, stories, and activities to teach children about America.

It's still a baby, but this will become a valuable resource for Patriotic Moms and their families!  

Why don't you click on the LEARNING tab on the menu above and take a look?  

Please leave a message if you see something you really like or if you have suggestions that could help your family.  

We have lots of visitors every day.  Your suggestion may help many others too.  Thank you!!!

“Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom." ~ John Adams


"Every child in America should be acquainted with his own country. He should read books that furnish him with ideas that will be useful to him in life and practice. As soon as he opens his lips, he should rehearse the history of his own country." ~ Noah Webster


“A primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government.  In a republic, what species of knowledge can be equally important?  And what duty more pressing…than…communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?”              ~  George Washington

Kids are amazing!  Give them a little time and encouragement, and they can learn almost anything!   

Moms and even Grandmoms can help children learn important facts and powerful principles they will remember forever.  

Never underestimate our potential to love and nurture the children in our lives!

Our guest blogger today, Melanie Angell Elliott is the author of Why Am I Conservative? 24 Topics for Kids or Anyone (www.MelanieAngellElliott.com).

One reviewer of the book wrote, "This little jewel of a book is a must-have for conservative families. It will be particularly relevant in this election year as parents talk to their kids about the candidates and the issues. Don't let the cover fool you - it's not just for kids.  This book can be used to inspire discussion and is a great handbook for talking points for all ages. It encourages readers to think through issues and to talk about what these principles mean with their families. This book is interactive and uses supporting quotes from the Founding Fathers and the Bible. I highly recommend this book!"

Melanie recommends visiting www.ConservativeChildrensBooks.com to find a good selection of books that will help you teach patriotic and conservative values to the kids in your life.

Thanks so much, Melanie, for sharing with us today!

(If you can't see Melanie's article, please click the tiny red "Read More" link below on the right.)

Valentine's Day is a special holiday devoted to love.  It could be a good time to pause and think about how to help our children love America.  

One powerful way to help our children love America is to encourage them to be actively involved in keeping America strong. We tend to love the things we serve and give our time, energy, and attention to.

Allison, a Patriotic Mom with six children, is actively helping her children love America.  Political involvement has been a part of her life for as long as she can remember and now she is encouraging her children to be involved in the process.  

I discovered Allison's blog while doing research for Patriotic Moms.  I loved the things she is doing and asked her if I could share with you.  She graciously consented, and so here is her blog entry telling how she and her family got involved campaigning for a candidate they support. 

If you want a really fun treat and a healthy dose of inspiration, go visit her blog!!!  It's a lively account of her life as a wife and a mother of six children.  She is a woman of faith and a homeschooling mom with "a passion for photography, politics, and natural living."   

Right now she is doing a series on "Learning through the Elections" that is full of great ideas.  

The red link below goes right to "Learning through the Elections."  

I hope you enjoy her wonderful blog as much as I do!!

So, tonight I took the kids to a political rally. 
 It definitely isn't their first but may have left more of a lasting impression than any other.

The rally was for Peter's previous boss Speaker Kirk Adams who is running for US Congress.  
So, this was a candidate that our kids had met on several occasions and recognized. 

They went to rallies for Len Munsil (also a former boss of Peter's) when he was running for 
Arizona Governor but that was several years ago.

Here is a picture of Kirk Adams and his lovely wife JaNae.

  
Vice President Dan Quayle and Congressman Ben Quayle were also there.

The kids were fascinated by the fact that they were looking at a former 
vice-president from when Peter and I were kids and that Congressman 
Ben Quayle was a child when his dad was vice-president.  

But, at this rally, I think they were just as amazed by the fun family atmosphere.  
It was like a carnival.

Wesley had this nice lady make him a doggie with a leash.

This is another way to get your kids involved in the current elections.  
Find a local rally for a candidate that you support and take the whole family....

Now to follow up with the kids about what makes a good candidate 
and how to choose who will get your vote.

I will also have my older three kids write a report on the event...
civics, the writing process, and handwriting all in one:)

Thanks, Allison, for sharing this wonderful entry from your blog with us!!!

Want to raise a great reader?  Give them great books to read!  Reading great books is supposed to nurture a child's ability to read, to write, to reason, and to develop character.

Our family grew up with a glorious library.  We had wall-to-wall book cases in our family room.  My after school snacks were often accompanied by a great book.  And I continued to feast on the books long after my snack had been consumed.

Parents and kids have it a little easier these days.  You can get free ebooks and carry a whole library around with you on your Kindle.  If you don't have a Kindle, the ebooks can be downloaded to your computer.  What a great way to have dozens of cool classics at your finger tips.  

Here are a few favorites from the free list.  There are lots more, but they probably won't stay free forever, so snatch them up while you can!  (I've read these books, but didn't preview these particular editions.  You might want to take a peek before you suggest them for your kids.)

Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Black Beauty

The Call of the Wild

Eight Cousins

Heidi

Jo's boys

Kidnapped

The Life of Abraham Lincoln

The Life of Columbus

A Little Princess

Little Men

Little Women

Pride and Prejudice

Rose in Bloom

The Secret Garden

White Fang