Consuming Kids

Last Night I attended this documentary. WOW! I had no idea the consumerism aimed at our kids was so deliberate. At one point the documentary accused them of being like a pedofile.I can definitely see the comparrision

In the documentary the children media experts state that the parents are the ones who dictate what influences their children. In many ways I agree with this. Although, what makes me mad is that marketing to kids is so manipulative. It's one thing to manipulate adults, even teens, who are able to process, and filter these messages, but children, particularly babies, don't have these skills. The parents who allow such abuse (yes strong word, but I believe the advertisers are doing this) to occur aren't the ones openly discussing these messages with their children. So who speaks on their behalf if the government doesn't regulate these messages. One could make a good case against a parent who makes their daughter believe she's not worthy or beautiful or the son who is taught to be agressive and controlling. We wouldn't look kindly on it happening between parent and child, but when it's masked behind hunour, animation, toys, and creations that are scientifically pleasing to the sight of a child one (particularly parents and the government, because surely these advertisers know what they are doing) no one realizes. Gee, they have even blinded adults in believing this is all 'appropriate' for the general good of our children, our future.

I've been really interested in attachement in babies/children since having my own kids. It's amazing that these advertising researchers actaually get this! They create these attachements between child and 'image'. They know kids will be loyal to these 'loved ones'. This makes me sick. Our children are watching these characters, building relationships with them, obviously one sided, and not nurturing or real so that when I take my kid to the store they will see such 'loved one' on a box, or toy, and want to buy it, being loyal to their friend.

Anyhow, my kids are into the TV, best they build actual relationships rather than one sided, false, ones with the characters on tv who were created by toy makers to sell products.

Beautiful People

'The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.' ~ Elizabeth Kubler Ross (from an Unraveller)

This is a quote taken from Ink On My Fingers. I am contemplating taking her Unravelling class. We'll see!

I think of many people I have known, know, who are beautiful people, many of them have faced difficult trials. I think of my family member mentioned in my last post, and how the trials she has faced have made her beautiful, and anticipate this next leg of the journey will form her even more. Me too. What's that called? Refiner's Fire.

Here's a picture of a beautiful woman in my life. She left to be with Jesus this past year. She was kind, gentle, loving, always accepting, spunky, loved life and the people in it. Baba, we miss you.

Stuck

For days her favourite game was climbing on the doll high chair, up on the play table. She'd get on the table and take the leap onto the cough with great joy, with laughter, always looking back to check that we were watching her. She did this over and over. She never tired of it, however, we did.

Today she went back to the doll high chair once again to partake in this great adventure, in this pleasure. Things were different this time, she could not get her knee up on the seat. It had to be the jeans she was wearing that inhibited her. She was ignorant of that and tried over and over to get her knee up to no avail. I wanted to go and hoist her up, cause even though I was not a fan of this game, it was hard for me to watch her distress. I wanted to go and solve her problem. To assist her in the journey she had come to love. But I didn't. Instead I remained silent, still, as I realized a parallel in my own life.

A dear family member of mine has been 'stuck' so to speak. I really want to help her. I give her advice, and resources, pep talks, offer help. I think I can 'save' her. I cannot. This is her journey to live. It's her life. She has the right to make the choices she desires. Who am I to rob her of realizing her own path. So I am silenced, still, in agony as I watch her try and try again to no avail. I so want to go and give her a little push. But when she'd try again on her own she won't know how to do it herself. She won't realize that it's her 'jeans' that are getting in the way. She'd be dependant on others, and not able to journey free and with power.

I am grieving. What? I am not so sure. I guess I grieve the fact that I can't save her. I am powerless. I am afraid that she might not get through this. I want her in my life. I want her to have a joyful life, a healthy life. But it is her life. I have my own to work through.

Jesus, into your hands I commit myself. My fears. My longings. My love. My loved one. The journey of life is full of bumps and obstacles. I have lived long enough that if it is not one thing, there's another that can leave you stressed, and afraid. It's finding joy midst those times. Midst the chaos that is life. To find beauty that comes through ashes. To find God, and a meaning far greater than my meager existence.

I am not sure that this all makes sense. I am trying to process these feelings myself. Hopefully through writing down my thoughts I will see more clearly. Right now things are a haze. I so badly want to curl up in Jesus' lap.

Christmas Change

Have you been over to Christmas Change yet? Inspiring ideas! Good to have some encouragement to change Christmas, a longing I have had on my heart for a few years now. It's hard when you have grown up remembering Christmas as Santa and GIFTS. We'd actually use Christmas as a time to get all the stuff we wanted through out the year. Our family didn't have much money, but at Christmas time, that was THE time to get stuff, the only time mom or dad would get us the things we wanted (other than birthdays). Oh the joys, the dissappointments, the greed, the lust, the lack of tradition, purpose, meaning. Oh, it wasn't all bad. I have some fond memories outside of 'gift getting' but they are few. I don't want that for my kids. I want them to celebrate Jesus, their saviour. I want it to be a time for them to grow closer to God who humbled himself, and became flesh. I want them to 'give' of the love Jesus generously gives them each day.

My oldest daughter is now 3. The past few years we've never over did gifts or emphasized it, or asked her 'what do you want for Christmas?' But this year it just happened. We were in the toy department at Winners (I can probably count on my fingers the number of times she has been to a toy department, it's just not something we do) and she spotted it, a BIG, plastic, princess Dora, beautiful, chemical laden, wrapped in a big box, with her made in China side kick, an irresistible to any 3 year old girl, horse! If I was a mom who bought stuff like that, I would have been sneaking it to the till under my coat. Grace's eyes lit up, it was the perfect gift. And then she asked "Can I have that?" "Sorry sweetie, remember what we came to get?" I tried to refocus her on the task at hand, a gift for my nephew. "Maybe I'll get it for Christmas." She adds. WHAT?! How did she know you can ASK for things at Christmas? She's already associating Christmas with getting. Needless to say, we've had the Christmas story books out already! We've gotta get this kid back on track!

All Is Well

She's there again. It's a great feeling holding her. She's close. Nursing. Now that she's a one year old the times where she wants to be so close are becoming less and less. Yes, certainly, we still have many hours close together. I am glad that we co-sleep because at least if all day she is busy going, I still have that, for now. I am thankful that God has given us the beauty of nursing. To share these times. To hold our loved one close. To be still in the moment. It's nourishing her body, but it is also nourishing her soul. She is learning to be intimate. To be held. To give all trust to one who loves her. I desire to be intimate with God, but sometimes it's scarey, sometimes it's not priority, sometimes I wonder if it's worth making the time. My little ones have given me new perspective and hope. I want to know that unconditional love. I desire intimacy, and unwavering trust. I want to run into the arms of Jesus and know that all is well with my soul, just as I know from the peaceful look on my babies faces when they are nursing, that all is well.

A Year Ago

Last year at this time I was in my cozy bed cuddling my newborn baby. My toddler and daddy beside us, or playing in the other room, I can't remember exactly, but they were near. What a special day to remember, to celebrate, Joy's first birthday. We love you Joy who brings such delight to this family. This past year we have shared every night's sleep, many hours nursing, watching you take first steps, say first words, taste food for the first time, first smiles, first laughs, many many firsts. What an amazing year, we look forward to many more. But this present moment, is what really matters. Sitting around our family room, fire is burning, girls are all cleaned up and enjoying some playtime before bed. Daddy playing along side. This is life. This is good! God is good. I am full.

We're Back

So I have not been very faithful in updating this blog :) I've got reno pictures to download and vacation details to share! In time. Right now I am taking in the moment.

Since we've been back all I have wanted to do is stay home. My nice cozy warm home. We have the new fireplace installed, it heats the whole house. It's nice to be home, to be resting, cooking, playing, cleaning, and right now watching the snow fall.

Both girls are really into playing these days. It's nice to see them doing their own thing. Joy absolutely loves flipping through books on her own. Grace is very much into her doll house (she is going to love the new wooden one we hope to get her for Christmas).

We plan to enjoy our home a lot this winter. I'm sure that's what I'll be blogging on. Things we are doing. Ways we are nuturing our family, our health, our soul. Winter is a great time to slow down. Rest. I welcome you!