So, as I indicated a couple posts ago, dh and I decided we needed to deploy some princess in order to keep them from gaining even more power. I keep picturing Thing 1 morphed freakishly into Smeagol/Gollum from Lord of the Rings, lopsidedly lumbering, knuckles dragging, after someone wearing a Little Mermaid backpack, seething woundedly after it,”my precious…”
Since I saw it as a strategic decision, part of my larger project of keeping childhood freer, I was okay with it. But the other day I stood in Sears, looking at the “stuff” and I was just dumbfounded. Read the complete Post.
Tree of Knowledge dropped a little goodie from heaven, two lists of alternative princess books that I thought many of you with daughters (or little gift recipents, anyway, in Eszter’s case) might also be happy to know about.
First, an anti-princess reading list (you have to look for it on the sidebar, it doesn’t pop up) that includes many ideas that some of you have mentioned along the way as well as several new finds. Super.
Second, a best princess list. Eureka! Tree, where have you been all my life?
Okay, so I know Christmas is supposed to be about love, family, and the birth of Christ and what not, but it’s also about PRESENTS!
I know this sounds odd from someone who has issues with consumerism, but over the last couple weeks I have been thinking alot about my daughter and how much I want her to have that moment when she walks downstairs Christmas morning and sees IT. The gift she has always wanted from Santa.
Don’t you remember that? Oh, the rollerskates! Oh, the Barbie dream house! I wanted that Barbie dream house so badly and there. it. was. In my living room. Thank you Santa.
Don’t get me wrong, I want holidays that are a much more than gifts, and I want the gifts to be in moderation, and I do want them to be gifts I feel good about.
Here is where I found the challenge. Read the complete Post.
Well, many smart bloggers have me thinking about the holidays. Mom Unplugged has really been posting great, thought-provoking stuff that asks us to reconsider what holidays are and what they can be (Man, does she make some good points I’d rather not hear, remincent of Candace’s post on bloggy guilt). I know she’s right and it hurts a little. And the Not Quite Crunchy Parent has several posts addressing toys toys toys and good buying for smart, healthy, creative play.
I’d like to add to the discussion a little by highlighting a few goodies we can all take under advisement. The first is that the teachers’ org. TRUCE has released their annual toy guide. It’s a nice resource for parents and also a gentle nudge we can forward to well intentioned relatives who are filling your house with things you don’t really care for.
Some of you might want to get into the a healthier consumption mindset by checking out What Would Jesus Buy. At least we can laugh at the insanity. I can’t wait to see it. I heart me some Reverend Billy - I tip my hat to him and all the other culture jamming activists out there who make us smile and keep dissent fun and photogenic. Read the complete Post.