Dumbing down America!

This is a real warning label! 

DUMBING DOWN AMERICA...

     I can't even begin to express my frustration with this!  I really don't know why it bothers me so, but it does!  I wish I could just let stuff like this go but I just can't wrap my mind around this.  I wonder if no one else notices or cares that our country is being dumbed down faster than going through the drive through at McD's.  I'm a little bit of a conspiracy theory person, ok ok maybe a big conspiracy theory  person.  I wish sometimes I could live in what I like to call "the bubble" but once you know something you can't un-know it.  My dad used to say that thinking was hard, I didn't really understand exactly what he meant but it's becoming more and more clear.

     Did you ever stop to think that the marketing people are doing a great job at keeping us so focused on buying or getting more stuff that we stop thinking for ourselves?  It's all about whatever sells...basically it's all about the money!  Yes that's right, it's all about the money!  So we've become so worried about making the buck that we can no longer think for ourselves?  We are too busy working at a job that we probably don't really like to make the buck to buy the crap that we really don't need and it's a vicious cycle.  We have become the hamster on the wheel going round and round.  Why?  Why have we allowed this to happen and why do we allow it to keep happening?

     So this little card, that someone had to write and proof and print, is job justification for someone.  We have become a society that has to have warning labels on everything!  Why?  Because we might get hurt?  Because we might get sued?  Or because we might have to actually think!  Oh my, thinking for yourself...now that's a novel concept!  This is just the beginning of Dumbing Down America and I'm afraid that it's going at warp speed.  Warning labels...really?  I'll stop there because I can go on and on and on...this is where you should feel sorry for my hubby for having to listen to me go on and on and on!

Trinity

Parenting...toughest job ever!

Boys new phones...at least til school's out!

Parenting...toughest job ever!

Why is it so hard to be a good parent?  I thought the hard part of parenting was when they were little.  I was wrong...it's all hard.  Well, I guess it's only hard if you do what really needs to be done.  I can remember my parents telling me that what ever my punishment was, was way harder on them than on me.  I was thinking to myself, yea right!  Well now that I'm the parent, I think once again they were right!

The big boys have had a year of adjustments to say the least.  It's almost been a year since my dad, their Papa, died.  He was their babysitter from the very beginning and was their number one fan but also was hard on them too.  We homeschooled for the first nine weeks or so before starting at public school and last year they'd been at the private christian school.  So they've had quite an adjustment to add to their day to day lives.  We've tried to be understanding about all these changes but there comes a time when you just have to suck it up and deal with it.  My dad used to tell me this a lot, "Suck it up, buttercup!"  

So this is the boys first real dose of "Suck it up, buttercup!"  They didn't do anything just terrible or wrong but you know when things aren't going the direction you're trying to keep them going then something has to be done.  I know every parent thinks their child is the best and I'm really no different.  The boys had been slacking, not doing their best work at school (as in they've barely cracked a book!), not doing their chores the first time they were told, and kinda just taking on a lazy attitude.  We had put up with it long enough and I knew something had to get their attention.  So I went to the Wal-Mart and bought 2 go phones and sat out to get their attention!  

They woke up last Friday morning to a new world, one without their iPhone!  I tied bows on them and wrote them a note.  I wanted the element of surprise to get their attention and I got it!  I thought to myself, finally I'm getting their attention!  But man oh man was it so hard to do and watch.  I wanted to make it all better and give them back their iPhones but I knew that would be a huge step in the wrong direction.  I had to take a stand on what our family is all about and it had to be firm!  So with a smile on my face and a little bit of laughing, I stayed the course and stayed strong all the while thinking some day they'll thank me.  And if not then we can go to therapy together when they're 30!

So as the boys are loading up to go to school I ask them if they have their phones and my oldest says, "No, not taking it!"  Oh that was the icing on the cake for this momma!  I began to spit words out as fast as I could explaining that his phone is for MY convenience not HIS!  How dare you to be so ungrateful for all that you've been given.  Then I hugged him even though he was fuming mad at me and told him just how much I loved him.  My heart was breaking even though I knew I was doing the right thing!

Why is it so hard to do the right thing?  Why?  Well I don't know but I'm standing my ground.  Praying that we are making the right decisions and being the uncool parent...yup that's us and we are proud of it!  So I've decided that being a parent is the hardest job ever but so worth it.  I've been given the responsibility to mold and shape these boys into men and productive citizens of society, ones that can live on their own without me, stand up for what they believe in, and be awesome husbands and daddys.  This is not to be taken lightly and I will do whatever it takes! 

Trinity 

Learning more...

     I'm learning more and more each day, after all everyday is a training day!  At least that's what my dad taught me, that everyday is a training day.  In some way, shape, or form we all learn something everyday.  Now what we do with what we learn is left up to us as individuals.  I've decided that I want to use whatever it is I learn everyday for the betterment of me and my family.  With that thought process, I realize that this isn't the easy road!  Sometimes I wish I could go with the easy road because it's exhausting to stand for what you know is right.  At times I feel like I can't keep fighting for what I know in my heart and soul to be right but giving in is NOT an option.  I couldn't live with myself if I gave in just because it was easier.  I can hear my dad, "Suck it up buttercup!" So I will because that's what a daddy's girl does!

     I've come to the realization that not everyone can or will stand up for their beliefs.  I don't understand this and believe me I've tried!  So here's my thoughts...if you love someone, be it your family or friend, then you love all of them.  You don't just love them when it's convenient for you or when they believe or think like you, you love them for who they are.  What I don't understand is that most people don't feel like they can be who they really are for fear of hurting someone's feelings.  Really!?  Have we become a society so worried about hurting someone's feelings that we will sway whatever direction to make them feel more comfortable?  It seems to be more and more that way.  Well let me just say that's not me!!!  If you're my family or friend then I'll love you for who you are, not for who I want or think you should be.  My dad told me on more than one occasion that if I didn't agree with him, then he'd done his job as my parent to teach me to be an independent thinker and not be a sheep!  So why do I keep fighting the good fight?  Sometimes I wonder but I can tell you this much...I KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON because that's one of the amazing life lessons that my dad taught me and I must teach that to my 4 boys!

     I will teach them to be independent thinkers and then kick myself when they grow up and don't think just like me!  I will teach them to love those that are close to them no matter what their differences may be and I will teach them to have a "set"!  This is a whole other post about having a "set"...by this I mean teaching my boys to be men, real men.  I'll stop there and write about that later because I could go on and on about this topic!  But most important I will teach them by my actions to KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON!

Trinity