This One's Gonna Hurt

I warned you.

If you love buying your kids video games and think that my children are 'missing out' on life because we don't own an xbox, nintendo, gameboy, atari, or computer games, this post is not for you.You were warned.(I've never in all my life seen Mark pet and call animal intended for market by name. Crazy.)

Wait, I take that back. We one 1 computer game, but it isn't compatible with the infamous Vista, so it just sits on the shelf feeling incompatible with life because it cannot fulfill it's destiny of interacting with modern technology. But if you think I'm a freak,you can just stop reading now and come back a different day or you can hang around and collect some more fuel for my freakiness. By the way, today's photos have nothing to do with video games. It's just for those who would rather see my life than hear my thoughts. I understand. It's okay. Sometimes, I get tired of my thoughts, too.

And for the record, I am not discussing in today's one-sided discussion Grown Men, Adults, or other 20-30 Something Siblings who play video games. That would be a whole other kind of pain, of which I'm not willing to subject myself. We're just talking kids here, okay? And really I'm talking about kids under 12.Ever heard of Richard Peck? Me neither. But he won a Newbery Medal for writing a kid's book. This is one of the statements he made during his acceptance speech.

"Powerful forces divorce the young from their roots and traditions: the relentlessness of the video game that is the pornography of the prepubescent, a violent virtual reality that eliminates the parents who paid for it. And the peer group that rushes in to fill the vacuum of the teacher's vanished authority and an awesome parental power failure."

I'm gonna break that down for you. Basically, he's saying, in his opinion, there are 2 powerful forces that are separating kids from their roots and traditions.
Now, I'm not a big follower of tradition for tradition's sake. However, I'm a really big fan of teaching children to love God and to know that people are always more important than things. I'm gonna call those things traditions because they were taught to me and I'm passing them on to my children.

This phrase has haunted me:

"the relentlessness of the video game that is the pornography of the prepubescent"

Yikes!!!! Hello? Defined this way, I'm pretty sure no one would say that's a "Great Idea for the Young People."

But here's the kicker for me:

"a violent virtual reality that eliminates the parents who paid for it."

Double Yikes!!! But isn't it sort of true? I can either supervise my kids: giving direction, encouragement, correction as needed. Or I can sit them in front of screen and when I say their name they don't even look up. That screen tells them what to do, encourages them to play better and their mistakes are corrected when the pimped out midnight black cruiser blows up after rolling 3 times down the embankment.

" the teacher's vanished authority and an awesome parental power failure."

We all know friends are important to kids. I believe it is my responsibility as a parent to provide quality friendships for my children, so they'll know how to make and keep friends as an adult. But the day that my childrens' relationship with peers vanishes my authority in thier life would be a very sad day for me.

Before, I get bombarded with emails saying, "Wait until you have teenagers! You'll change your mind!" let me say this. I know there will come a day when my relationship with my kids is not based upon my lording authority over their heads. My prayer is that they will still seek out my authority because of the strong relationship that we have. I've seen it work. It worked in my own life.
(I think that animal's pregnant. But nobody believes me.)

So, there you have it. Today's food for thought. If there's a mom or dad out there that has a personal story about how video games have not had this effect in their family I'd love to hear a different perspective than Richard Peck's observation.

Wow. Did you really read all of that? Or were you just scrolling down to see if there were any more photos? If so here's my favorite of the day:

Don't Hate Me if You're a Librarian

Well, since I've been reading and rereading this book, I've become a bit of a freak about books. Who knew it would influence my life so much? But it has. It has been expanding my mind and the minds of my 4 little students.

I'm poring over book lists and reading out loud to my children multiple times a day. We read poetry and picture books and are currently reading Little Pilgrim's Progress
which I now believe should be required reading for everyone. Yes, everyone. Regardless of age, gender, or color of toothbrush. Watch out, this is only the first soapbox I'll be climbing upon today.

It's also made the workload of the local librarians increase by amounts that I almost feel guilty about. I think the librarians think I'm out to work them to death. (Soapbox, number 2)

Here's the story:

Have you ever tried to scour the shelves of a library with a 17 month old who's not quite trained in obedience toddling around? Tried choosing quality books with twin 5 year old boys wrestling, I mean, playing with dinosaurs and puzzles? They're not doing anything wrong, I just like to keep my eye on them, you know?

So anyway, back to the poor librarians. For the occupied mother, hunting and gathering at the library seems to take undivided attention. I could wrangle up our 17 books (Each child checks out as many books as they are old. It's my secret to helping everyone keep track of their own books) myself, but instead I've been putting our books on hold through the internet. That way, all I have to do is walk to the circulation desk, say my name and 17 books are placed upon the counter with a little too much effort. An almost inaudible groan. And an ever-so-slight frown.

You see, ultimately what I'm doing is requesting someone else go hunt down our books and gather them into one location for me. I'm not sure they think this is in their job description.

To my credit, I have asked on two different occasions with baby on my hip and twins around my legs, if it was acceptable to put books on hold in this way for this purpose? And if it was too much trouble for the public servants employed by my tax dollars to collect the books off the shelves for me? Okay, I really didn't say it like that, but I did ask if it was too much trouble? Both times, I was told, "No, it's okay."

But I do feel almost guilty. Almost. Not enough that I'm willing to stop my internet holding, but enough that I wish one of them would say something like, "Ooh, I think it's so wonderful you take the time to read with your kids. Looks like you've got a great selection here." And whereby assure me that this really is no big deal to them. But alas, I think once again the issue lies within me. Those librarians have just never seen such a newly book-freakish changed Mommy of 4 before. At least we always say thank you and clean up the toys before leaving! And it has made me extremely grateful for living in a country where we spend money to offer libraries and all the services they entail to the population at large. God bless America!

Some Things Never Change

Remember last year when we went fishing with Uncle BJ? None of us Robinson's knew that in order to fish with Uncle BJ you have to find your own worms. But once we got there with our shiny new poles in hand and no bait to be seen, we quickly jumped on board the Find-your-own-worms Bandwagon.

After Uncle BJ turned over a few old logs and showed the kids where to find 'em, they really got the hang of it. But from behind my lens, I kept noticing this expression whenever a child would hold up a worm.



Just wanted to let you know, some things don't change. Here it is again this year.
She may have hair that's 8 inches shorter, and may not be dressed in the required "play clothes" designated for Adventures with Uncle BJ, but that face is just the same. Minus a tooth or two.




This time we weren't going fishing with Uncle BJ, though. (Uncle BJ? When are you going to play with us?) Just playing around planting stuff in the back yard. But once you've been acknowledged with praise and photos for finding one worm, you tend to find lots more. And show every one of the them to your Mommy. Hoping she'll take another picture.

Yep, that One's Got it's Tongue up it's Nose.

One of These Boys is Not Like the Others

It has begun to happen. A separation? A definition? A choosing? Or just a passing style? I'm not sure which it is, but we're beginning to see direction between the twins. For so long, people wanted, begged for something to tell them apart.

Who's the outgoing one? Who's the taller one? Who's the cuddlier one? Who's got curlier hair?

And for so long, our answers were nondiscriminatory. They kept changing! Like trading personalities so that only one would be 'the little stinker' at a time. Which was sort of a good thing for me. Because who can really handle TWO little stinkers at time!

One of them was definitely more inclined toward a ball and could throw and catch earlier. And one was 6 months earlier than his brother at being able to put together the 24 piece Winnie the Pooh puzzle. However, in no way would I have said one was more athletic or one was smarter. It just wasn't that obvious. And now they can both throw and catch and put together all of our puzzles.

But we're beginning to see something on a social level. One guy comes home from church and says, "I met a friend today. His name is Shawn." So I ask the other one, "Did you meet any friends today?" The answer, "No."

We went to the park yesterday and this is what progressed.

One of those little men is telling everyone else what to do! He's got them in rank and file and has trained them about when to move and when not to.

One of the unfortunate Subservients is his own twin brother, born 1 minute away from him. The other two boys are random kids they met 5 minutes ago.

So one of the soldiers found this 'Thingy' that only the Leader Boy is allowed to throw.
Then all the peons are allowed to go find it and bring it back to the Leader.


However, this time, Mr. Leader-Boy threw the thingy, and ran and covered it with his foot while all the rest were scrambling around searching to and fro. Whereby, actually sabotaging his own crew from success! And giggling all the while.

He finally did laugh so hard that the other boys came to see what was so funny. But did he relinquish the Thingy into their over-willing grubby little hands? Oh no. Only the Leader gets to throw. And only the Leader chooses who the Leader is going to be.

I LOVE this book!!

I'm not usually into free advertising for people. Once upon a time, when I fell in love with Brandon Heath's music, I told you about it. But besides that brief detour into pushy blogger land, I can't think of a single other product that I've pushed onto you, my easily amused, ever faithful internet friends whom I adore.

The reason is because sometimes I get this creepy little feeling inside when fellow bloggers start describing in paragraphs upon paragraphs of superfluous prose about how this was so cool, or you've gotta get one of these or that was the best thing I've read all week.

Do you get that creepy feeling? Like you wonder who put them up to it? Did they really read the book? Do they seriously believe all people, everywhere regardless of demography, geography, or station in life would really benefit from that particular thing-y? Really? Everyone?

I don't know. Rarely do I buy into blogger product paraphernalia.

However, today, I'm joining the ranks of Pushy Bloggers Pushing Products for a Purpose.
or
PB Ptothe3
for short. It' my own grass-roots organization. I'm sure it'll come to your area soon.

I love this book.
I've been consuming it. Thinking it. Reading it. Loving it.

I'm truly startled that I didn't know about it sooner in my motherhood. A friend recommended it when I was describing my predicament to supply Claire with age-appropriate, yet quality writing to fill her voracious reading appetite.

But it's not for everyone. If you don't have a child living in your house. Or if you don't have grandchildren. Or if you don't have any neighbors with small kids. Or if you had a childhood filled with fulfilling literature and picture books in every genre. Then this book is not for you. Unless you just really like children's books. Then perhaps, you, too would get a kick out of it.

Just thinking about the book, makes my insides go all warm and mushy. And go, "hhhhhhmmmmmmmm, I want to read to my kids."

The first half of the book talks about reading, and why read, and how to read and where to read and when to read and all the benefits and blessings of reading. But to the extent that the previous sentence was boring to that same extent is the first half of the book captivatingly interesting.

Then the second half of the book is filled with book lists for every age from 0 to 14! Perfect for my reading predicament. So now I've got books from the library on hold from now to forever with wonderful, read-worthy books for Claire and Luke and Caleb and Lydia.

I'm officially pushing this book. I love it. I hope you do, too.
Thanks, Jena, for loaning me your copy. I ordered mine today from cbd.

April Fool's Day

Claire: Mommy. . . . Mommy, you have some gray hair.

Me: Yes, I know.

Claire: But. . . .Mommy, why do you have gray hair?

Me: Cuz, I'm getting older.

Claire: Mommy!! You are not!! Is this an April Fool's?! You don't really have gray hair, do you?

Me: Yes, darling, I really do have a few gray hairs right there. But I'm gonna take care of them, don't you worry.

Claire: (silent pondering, bordering on absolute unbelief)

Today, April 1, 2009
Lunchtime