Television perspective

I've posted time and again about the societal issues with breast feeding. It's one of my pet topics, just because it comes up so frequently, and there's never a lack of debate when it does. I have learned to state my piece and move on, because most people won't change their mind based on what I have to say anyway.

Today as I watch TV, "Toddlers and Tiaras" which is not generally a show I watch, I'm a mix of appalled and baffled. My issue here is, these people take away the primary reason most anti-breastfeeding speakers have. We shouldn't share breastfeeding (showing, telling, dolls, books, shows, etc) because it robs our children of their youth. I'm in complete disagreement with this statement, but let me tell you something I found today that I believe actually robs our daughters of their innocent childhood.

I watched a two year old be held down, screaming, so that her mom could airbrush her with a spray tan, wearing more make-up than a drag queen would ever wear,  pounds of fake hair piled on their heads, acrylic nails or shellac nail polish.

These girls shouldn't have to worry about all of this at such a young age. That to me is making them grow up faster than they need to.

Birthday Questions

I came across this list on Pinterest, and since I didn't know anything about it on his actual birthday, here it is.

1. What is your favorite color? Blue
2. What is your favorite toy? Captain America
3. What is your favorite fruit? Grapes
4. What is your favorite tv show? Wow Wow
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Fruit
6. What is your favorite outfit? Captain America costume
7. What is your favorite game? Throw a ball
8. What is your favorite snack? Snackie bars
9. What is your favorite animal? Giraffe
10. What is your favorite song? I can’t remember
11. What is your favorite book? The Bravest Knight (Mercer Mayer)
12. Who is your best friend? Logan
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cocoa Pebbles
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Slide
15. What is your favorite drink? Chocolate Milk
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Georgie Porgie
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Fruit
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? McDonald’s Chicken
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? I don’t want to grow up


You are supposed to ask these questions each year starting with their third birthday and see how they change over time.

Get the help you need.

While reading in the blogging world last night, I came across a blog talking about self-harm. The author had recently openly discussed her depression and self-harm issues and was replying to the thousands of comments and emails she received telling her that they had been through the same thing or that they had needed to hear someone else admit what they were keeping a secret. 

In our society, we are all so judgmental of each other, comparing ourselves to everyone; when we know that we are all so very different. As different as we appear from each other on the outside, our minds and chemical make ups are just as different. Our experiences, culture, family, values are all different from other people. And that's okay, it just means that some people deal with things differently. They make decisions differently based on a different mental/emotional framework than our own. 

We see mental illnesses as something dirty, something not to be discussed, when in reality many more of us deal with anxiety, depression, compulsions, personality disorders (I could go on and on) than the outside world will ever know. 

This excerpt came from that blog, and I love it. 

Last night an email came in from a woman whose twin daughters had both committed suicide because of depression.  One had died only a few weeks ago and her mother made sure her obituary explained that depression had taken her child’s life, because she wanted people to know that it was okay to talk about it…because the more we admit these things the less we hide them away from the help we need.

It is so true and so necessary that it not be considered bad or swept under the rug. If the depression driving suicide wasn't considered to be such a taboo thing to talk about, if depression was really out in the open (meaning, considered to be real by all people-an actual issue, accepted that it's a common thing, appropriate ways of dealing with depression were openly talked about we would be in a much better place. Our world would probably still have just as much mental illness, but it would be addressed, people could get the help they need; and maybe there wouldn't be as many suicide cases. 

If you are reading this and suffering from untreated depression (or you're unsure) know that you aren't alone. Those feelings you have are extremely common, but they aren't necessarily normal. You don't have to deal with them unrelieved. There is some help out there. That doesn't mean you are broken, it just means you're different. And that's ok. At least in my book it is.

Source: The Bloggess

Letter to my Nanny

Dear Nanny,

It's been so long since we last talked. You've missed so much. There's so much I want to tell you, so much I want you to know, that I'm sure I'll forget most of it before I'm finished writing.

Not long after you went home I graduated from college. I only had one grandparent come to see me walk across the stage, but I know you wouldn't have missed it for anything. You would have been there if you were still here.

A year later, we took ownership of the house you lived in, the house you got married in. My bedroom now is the bedroom you slept in. I know you would be so proud of the house coming back together, and you would visit often. Mom says it still even smells the same. 

We moved into the house in June of 2008 and our only baby was born in August. I wish you could had been here to hold him, to sing to him, to snuggle with him. I was off work that whole year, so I would have made sure to come pick you up so that you could come to my house and love on my baby boy. 

It's really hard for me, knowing that Archer won't ever get to know you. You played such a huge role in my childhood, and I wanted my children to know the undivided love you managed to give each of your five grandchildren. 

I often try to remember the stories you told me and the songs that you sang to me so that I can sing them to him. He loves "You are my Sunshine" and we sing it all the time. He's starting to get the words down on his own and likes to sing it to me. He sings to me, "I love you, a bushel and a peck" a lot too, but he forgets how it goes and it usually ends wrong, but it makes me so happy to hear him say your words.

He's so talkative like I was, except he's pretty wild like his daddy was. He will tell a story to anyone who listens, which always reminds me that he's a Rogers boy just as much as anything else. I tell him stories about you and show him your picture, just because. He told me a few weeks ago that he loves going to Poppy's house, because that's where his family is and I wished that you were there too. 

There are days when I want to call you and tell you about my day, tell you about my life and ask for your advice. I keep your email address in my contact book because I can't seem to delete it. 

I'm sure this will sound silly, but because I drive so far to work that I listen to books every day. I used to love laying in bed with you in the old house listening to your books. If you were still here, we could swap books and talk about them. 

I hate that you're not here, that I didn't get the chance to share my family with you, but I know you are so happy where you are. So much has changed since you've been gone. My life is totally different. And I wish I had a grandma here that loved me as much as you did, that would love Archer as much as you could have. 

But you'll be happy to know we're all doing pretty good. Poppy is healthy, your daughters spend time together and help each other out like they were raised to do. Your grandchildren still gather on Sunday to spend time with family, and we include our own children in the mix. It's almost like it used to be at your house, with kids every where. Almost. 

It's been five years today since you went home, and I still miss you so much. I know we'll see each other again someday, and it will be a glorious reunion. Until then....

143

Sally