Oh they have theories about those things too. They just like to space their conspiracy theories out over several conversations. You know, to keep me on my toes.

If their crazy conspiracy theories are anything like the ones my brother and mother come up with, then I can understand her eagerness to leave. Last week I listened to about 13 seconds of "AIDS was a disease created by the pharmaceutical companies to kill off Africans" before I had to leave the room. Believe me, I…

I usually (jokingly) tell people the only reason to go back to West Virginia is for the pepperoni buns. I guess I can stop off in Morgantown (since that is where my family is from) and grab some potato skins too.

I hope they do too. Keep trying. My brothers have all managed to branch out, in ways that my parents haven't exactly approved of, but have made them much happier in the long run. My middle brother is currently filming a movie in another state and I keep getting texts from him telling me how much fun he is having. He…

Yeah. I still get miffed when people refer to pop culture music and television from my childhood. We didn't own a television and weren't allowed to listen to "secular music". I recently broke out some of my old journals (I have kept one since I was 11) and was entertained by how desperate I was for visual media. I…

My experience has been that it is all different kinds of people homeschooling for many different reasons. My mother attended some college but dropped out when she became pregnant with moi. My dad has a Bachelor's in electronics engineering. I had friends whose parents had degrees and some who didn't. One friend's…

Yeah. Indoctrination is one tough cookie. I was lucky in that, even though my parents clearly wanted me to believe what they believed, they did not stifle curiosity or creativity. They encouraged me to ask questions and to seek out the answers. That gave me just enough wiggle room to grow, explore, and question. I can…

That is my thought process. I read the book by the girl who left Westboro and another book by someone who left the FLDS and I believe there is hope. They won't all leave, but hopefully a few will.

I reject handwriting as a way to judge someones education. Doctor's are known for their bad handwriting, and I have a coworker with a Master's who has to type all her notes because her handwriting is atrocious. Pretty sure she went to public school.

I agree with you that they are very sheltered. More so than I ever was. My parents didn't shield us from the world, but they also made sure we knew their "take" on it. As an adult, there are a number of things that I am diametrically opposed to when it comes to my parents and their beliefs. I told myself that I would…

I was able to go to college because I learned. Can't pass tests if you aren't actually learning the material. I did that learning as a homeschooler. Do you see the progression here?

Oooh. I have thought of that too. I am just waiting for one of them to branch off because it has to happen, right?

No, I too was homeschooled. But just to be clear, homeschooling is not the same for everyone. My understanding of these kids is that they are very controlled and insulated in what they learn and read and that only recently have the kids been allowed to take on-line courses (albeit Christian-centric ones). My mother…

My sister-in-law has three adopted children, one biological child, one foster baby, and is pregnant. To me, the woman who wants no children, that sounds like a nightmare and a half. I don't even like calling their house because it sounds like complete chaos even over the phone. But she absolutely, without a doubt…

As a child who was raised in an environment that was similar to this (although my parents stopped at 4 kids and mellowed out a bit as they got older), they are not doomed to do what their parents set for them. However, it will probably take one brave child to set aside their parents teachings and go off on their own,…

I don't really enjoy shopping and definitely not at outlet malls, which is why I do find this surprising. I would have assumed that, like books, the remainders (all those hardbacks) that don't sell are sent somewhere. The extra clothes sitting in a warehouse or whatever. I have bought one thing at an outlet mall. Some…

As a former B&N employee, I blame a customer. Most of us didn't give a crap about that kind of thing and it wasn't store policy. But customers are apparently prudes and I was constantly finding books and magazines turned around, covered up, hidden, because some customer didn't like the image on the cover was too…

This is the kind of crap I am talking about. So because I am not skinny, I must be eating buttered steak and donuts? Your condescension has been duly noted and rejected.

Thanks for standing up for me sacredcows.

I do Yoga with my husband because that is the only exercising he can do right now with a bad back. He saw that video where the guy who was told he would never walk without braces and a cane, did yoga and now can run and do headstands. So I do it with him to support him. Yoga really isn't my thing, bike riding is.…