Before I climb any soap box, I am a mother. I am not perfect. I firmly believe each child and each family are different. So even though my daughter is twelve, we allow her some media (movies, shows, music, books and video games) that is probably not “age appropriate .” She is more mature is some areas than others. So if the rating is for violence or vulgarity, I don’t worry about her. Her whole life, I have kept a close rein on what she watched. She has had leeway to choose.
She chooses horror, zombies and anime, hard rock, and rpg(shooter style). We talk to her. She understands that these are not reality. So we do tend to be less restrictive. I try to guide her towards intelligent programs. Towards a love of music that encompasses all music. Towards an open mind where media is concerned. I have succeeded and failed. After all, her father and her friends are influences as well.
The reason i am rambling, there have been a few instances where I have been accused of not being a good parent because I let her watch anime and play certain video games. I believe my child should have a chance to make her own choices ( to an extent). I keep away stuff that is heavily sexual. Blatantly sexual is more than i think she is ready for. I have forbidden only a couple of video games( gta5, south park stick of truth) and I don’t forbid music or books( most books with questionable content are still above her reading interest level for now ).
Very few shows are disallowed( got, banahee…basically stuff you would see on hbo, showtime or cinemax…) and it’s only if sex is open and blatant. Mind you not all kids are as mature as her. Some see violent or scary and have nightmares. She does not.
Really parenting is as much about knowing what will and will not be appropriate for your child as it is teaching them how to live. People who take their kids and let them watch a movie then complain about the content just ruin it for everyone. Know your kids, and be aware of what you are letting them be exposed to. It’s not that hard.
Category: Life
Homeless
There’s room at the inn,
But I have no money to pay.
The world is cold tonight,
And I have no place to stay.
No I am not lazy,
Nor too awful crazy.
Things just really have not
Been going my way.
My stomach is a growling,
My head has been a spinning,
Yet not a bite can I find
For me to eat.
No jobs available for me to find,
Want a hand up?
must be outta my mind.
There’s room at the inn,
But I’ve no money to pay.
Distorted imagery
You see me
As internet celebrity,
With no sign of lifestyle
Truth in chains.
Not one person
Really knowing me,
Hidden behind an easy profile.
According to you,
Written with naught
But imagination and lies.
Could it be?
that it’s you who
doesn’t see?
Who does not know
The real me?
quietly hiding,
From what you never
Tried to see.
Deeply imbedded
Within us.
Music
Before i start down this road, let me explain. My music tastes are eclectic, in the extreme. I really am all over the spectrum. I listen to classical, country, rock, pop, jazz, reggae, hip-hop, even the occasional rap song. Although i do take moods where i pick a genre or theme. I am always looking for new songs to listen to.
Now that being said there is some amazing music out. I was looking tonight into “girl power ” songs. Sarah maclachlan, Kelly Clarkson, halestorm…etc. I am knocked speechless by the way some of the songs that i find speak my life so clearly. As a writer I wonder if it means everything i can imagine has already been done. However there is peace in knowing someone out there understands….
Oh boy. A b topic i forgot
That would be back aches and spasms. I have a crapton of house work to do and am in too much pain to do anything. Even writing hurts. So….hopefully tomorrow i will be able to squeeze in some writing time. Its my girls birthday so i will be spending as much time with her(and making cake pops for her birthday) as possible. Add in the back issues and i may be crying before the end of tomorrow.
Birthdays
Isn’t life funny? As a child, a birthday is very magical day. It’s always a milestone. However, with age, we stop seeing birthdays with as much glee. I think it’s tied to gifts and responsibilities.
Growing old should be more about becoming wise. Still as an adult it’s often a lonely day where we wonder where happened to us. Another day around the sun. We look at what we have accomplished, and many of us feel bad. I want the wonder back.
I really couldn’t care about the gifts, or lack of. But i would like a day where i don’t look in the mirror and see a failure, for my lack of meeting some grand accomplishment goal. A day where growing older just feels like i am growing wiser. I am glad my daughter is still young enough to relish her birthday. I hope she never loses the magic of it.
Disorganized, headache.
Today has been a busy day. I have been doing chores.( still have many to do tomorrow.) And all i have wanted was to make jewelry. Problem is i have had a sleepover with three twelve year old girls. Recently. And haven’t had a chance to reorganize my craft supplies since. I am quite fond of crafting. I really love making jewelry. To me it’s another art form. So the chores cut into it, and being disorganized really didn’t help. So tomorrow among the chores, is a craft organization. So, though i know i have a new list of topics, i may be Wednesday before i update. And as Thursday is the birthday of a very important twelve year old…. i will be overly busy until next week. I am not saying this to make excuses. I am only explaining, so that the blogs i squeeze in will actually be seen as what they are. Me going above and beyond what i see as my possibilities, to write.
Allowance
How does one teach a child how to use money? By giving them an allowance, of course. It has always been curious to me as to how to decide how much to pay your kids. I chose $1 a day for my daughter. And if she misbehaves then in can cost between a quarter to a full day worth. Yet, I find myself wondering if it actually prepares her for deal with money. After all she doesn’t have bills.
I have seen parenting pages that speak of working it more like a job. Assigning a cost for their chores. This is an option but I feel like that makes chores less responsibility and more a job. So then you need another method of teaching responsibility.
So I am always looking for the best when it comes to raising my girl. And so far, I haven’t found a better way of dealing with allowance. For now, it’s money so she can have a measure of independent thought and learn at least a little lesson on handling money.
Experiments in social media
I am attached to my phone. I use it for everything, from games to writing. So Facebook tends to be something i look to for promotion of my publication and for social interaction. (Not that I am a weird shut in, or something…. lol).
So in order to spark the muse, occasionally, I post things to Facebook. The latest was a challenge to my friends. I explained that I might use the answers for fodder for blogging. If cost wasn’t a factor, what would they want to gift me for my birthday. Would it be serious or a gag? I am not sure what i expected.
I got touching responses. Many were the same. Mostly everyone would give me improved health and happiness, unlimited books and art supplies, and peace for my daughter and I. When I made the post, I think I had a perception of more materialistic answers. Which would not have fit me. I don’t know why I expected it. I am surprised however that there were no gag suggestions. Hmmm perhaps it says something about me that my friends are all wanting peace of mind and happiness for me. I am sure however that I have been blessed in the friends I have.
My thoughts
So much a year can change . Life kicked me hard in the head exactly a year ago today. I am a survivor, so i did what i do. I survived. I struggled and learned. The stability i desired so badly, i have obtained. And what matters most is what i held onto. So for those who are struggling and feel that their world has fallen apart, i say hold on…things do get better.
Pattimouse 