God, how self-absorbed can I be? (very.)
My concerns with the commercialization of childhood have to do with the damage done to kids by socializing them to be not only consumers, but consumerist, to define themselves and others by what the clothes they wear, the cache of their cell phone, the bag they carry, the gaming system they have, the sneakers they own, and/or their MP3 player, Read the complete Post.
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.
The wonderful Lisa Ray, formerly Two Knives, has done something amazing. She has taken what emerged as a parental concern / important political issue for her and taken it beyond the blog! Lisa has founded a new organization, Parents for Ethical Marketing, where those of us concerned with such issues can turn for information and for guidance on how to best take action outside of bloggy land. I am in awe. The site looks incredible and is packed full of great information. Now, Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood and Commercial Alert do not have to bear this burden alone. Lisa is interested in creating a forum that will spotlight the unethical behvior of corporations attempting to reach children. A little bad PR can do wonders, she hopes. Me too!
But, fear not — bloggy land will still benefit from Lisa’s incisive critique and watchful eye, as PEM has a blog, delightfully named, Corporate Babysitter. Be sure to check it out.
Thanks Lisa!
This weekend we had our extended family together in town for my son’s dedication and naming. It was chaotic and a little crowded and at moments undeniably awkward, since I have a complicated family tree shaped in the usual unusual ways by divorces and remarriages. (e.g., I have one brother, one half sister, and three ex-step sisters. Read the complete Post.