Just Not the Best Use of My Time

Hey, as a Christian sister I’m reaching out. You could call my bluff on any number of things: how much time I spend on the internet (I read THIS, didn’t I?), how little time I put in to meal planning, how I could spend more time in the Bible… 

And so I respectfully disagree that I should continue a meaningless tradition called Santa Claus. An early childhood professional could tell you that pathways in the brain are set at an early age. I feel if a child is old enough to learn about Santa, he’s old enough to learn Jesus. 

I spent oodles of $$ making sure my child could sign, and communicate with me.  I even tried some Baby Einstein videos.  Classical music, too... I have spent way too much time trying to communicate well with my child and foster brain development to throw a wrench in that with a falsehood.  That I would be responsible for creating and fostering, no less!

I can instead choose to honor how very much they absorb by using this precious time to create pathways of joy. Joy that we are saved no matter what. Joy to me in this case also means not having to be weirded out by a dude coming in to my home when I’m asleep (let alone a fairy who picks up my head to deposit money! Hehehe).

We are also told to worship only one God. Worship is attention. I definitely put a lot of attention on my prayers to Santa as a kid. So I am trying not to misdirect my children’s attention, either accidentally or on purpose. 

I choose not to perpetuate a myth: because there is no explanation for it.

Now, I love explaining the sacrifice of St. Nicholas – he was made a saint for a very good reason – and it’s awesome! The Santa dude, not so much. 

And the ever-present patriot in me loves the cute effort of America to "unite" around this thing, since we can't agree on much else.  But I refuse.  Let's unite around the Bill of Rights or something civic like that - basic human rights - not lies. [Snark: leave that to some politicians!]

You say it’s to bring magic in the home? Children have their own imagination – to make something up for them stifles that. 

You need to have traditions? Yes, we all do!!  How about a birthday party for Jesus? Or a Las Posadas? These are very honoring traditions that elevate Him. 

There is no need for balance when we have an awesome Savior who went all the way! WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

"The Winners Always Write History" "And Now We Must Over-Compensate"

My daughter was so excited her teacher let her have this book today and bring it home.  I rejoice in that her teacher is generous. 

So we took a look at history together.  The following is a discussion with a friend.  But I deleted her part of the discussion out of respect for her family.

Just had a heart to heart with Ellie on a Scholastic book on Chris Columbus. We talked about inflammatory word use in "history" books as inappropriate.

Good for you!

And the complete lack of respect for the dead the book portrayed of him.

And I asked her could we get away with talking about people in our class that way? No!

I didn't even touch on right or wrong ideas. I told her to bring me more books like this so we could discuss. I also asked her a ton of questions, like, "Did you put that Spanish flag on America? " She said, "No." I told her, "Then don't take responsibility for it. Don't ever let someone make YOU feel guilty about it, because of the color of your skin."

"And what did we call our town before we moved here?" "Our new town." "Yes. And so was it ridiculous that they called it the New World? " "No." 

"But do you see this wording leads the reader to mock them?"

"Are we allowed to mock people in class? No? So why is it okay when they are dead and we disagree with them?"

"Because who will they choose to mock next? Do we know? No. And so we do not associate with mockers."

Back to now:  

My beef, as you see, is the tone with which this book was written.  I don't think I can judge anyone.  I'm told not to, actually.

And I am certain I cannot judge someone I have never met, anachronistically, against whom history rails like the fifth grade bully.  And even this: how can a school teach respect, when respect toward someone who is even dead is not a value?

And I am not a historian, but I am a mom.  

That means my BS meter is fantastic.

It also means I have a responsibility to teach my girls the way Ms. Portwood taught me about journalism, the power of the phrase, the use of leading questions and leading sentences.

I must activate their BS meters early.  

So at the end of the evening, I told her, "Bring books home.  Let's just sit here again and ask tons of questions.  I will try to have a more level head next time, okay?"

What do we have?

A lot is changing for those in the service.  There are plenty of Facebook meme's to show how that is changing.  Benefits gone.  Higher co-pays.  The list continues.

Yes, they're taking away a lot.  But from my perch in civilian world, may I just tell you what they can't take away?

These are things I celebrate about the majority of my military life.  I celebrate these things, because they are unique, and Congress and voters can't vote them away.

1 - Friends will come to the homecoming ceremonies with you and wait forever.  Four or five hours, if necessary.  Stopping their lives to celebrate your amazing gift of that one moment.

2 - A spouse is gone and you're truly sick of it: you'll get compassion (unless you have the unfortunate circumstance of conversing with a one-up-game spouse, in which case, keep your trap closed).

3 - Not only that, you might get to spend some time with friends whose spouses are also gone, and who see it not as a time to mope, but as a time to connect!

4 - A commitment to support big life events.

5 - A commitment to host celebrations of big life events.

6 - A residual honor - that just won't go away - for traditions.

So keep the faith.