My previous post and its comments brought up another issue: Why does anyone care about Katy Perry and Sesame Street's debate, when there is so much more to worry about regarding our nation right now? Our country's immigration issue, health care issue, economic issue, and education issue (getting some great attention right now) all should be a priority. Yet, we are focused on Lindsay Lohan's latest admittance to a drug rehab facility and other pointless news.
Detachment? Do people want to detach from what is really "real" in our society? News about bankruptcy, upcoming elections, the high percentage of American's without work are all scary and stressful topics. Have you ever noticed on your Facebook feed that when a person shares an article regarding the latest massacre by Mexican cartels, it receives very little feedback? Yet, when one posts personal pictures, a cheer for a local team or "which Jersey Shore character are you?" it receives tons of comments or endless re-posts? Are we using the media to just disconnect from reality? And using fake reality to amuse us and start a conversation? Why are we more comfortable doing this?
Those who know me, I have an opinion about everything. But I also love to hear what people have to say about crazy topics such as the Japanese denying Paris Hilton entrance to their country. I want to know about the latest books, the latest movies. I want someone to really sit and explain to me the new health care rules that started last week, who this Cuomo guy really is before he becomes our new governor here in New York, and yes, I want to know if Sesame Street is creating controversy because I have a young son.
I don't believe "ridiculous" topics take away from what else is in dire need of attention. Everything gets attention. You want to know about education reform right now? Go see "Waiting for Superman". Those who can't, tune in to NBC and MSNBC this week because they have dedicated all week to "Education Nation". Let's read a little bit more national news on-line rather than the gossips blogs or pick up a new book. We have time. We need to make time. We can't change the economy over night, but we can educate ourselves about the recent credit card "read the fine line" push and raise hell when we don't like what is being done. Things are happening, we have to show that we are interested as much as we are interested in Katy Perry's boobs. We need to reconnect and now and then enjoy a little detachment.
xoxo
Sesame Street's Boob Boob
Should we be offended by Katy Perry's boobs bouncing up and down in a low cut, stunning, yellow dress?
If you YouTube "Sesame Street and Katy Perry" you will immediately be directed to the video that is creating a lot of controversy. The news broke late last week and The View was still talking about it on Monday morning (I saw the women ranting on it via PerezHilton.com). I went to look at the video again and was not surprised to see that it had over a million views. Katy Perry was also on SNL this weekend acting out a hilarious parody regarding the situation.
Having witnessed children playing on the beach with their topless mothers and grandmothers (!), I believe a lot of cultures would think this argument is hilarious. Then there are cultures that would shelter their children from images like these. It's a fine line. What should Sesame Street do?
As a parent of a 3 year old boy and another baby boy on the way, I have felt that if I am caught undressing or I am surprised in the bathroom while getting out of the shower, not making a big deal out of the situation is how I will handle it all. My son has asked me questions like, "Where does your pee pee come from?" and I honestly explain to him the difference between his body and my body. I don't run around naked in the house and neither does Jose, but many times we change with the door open and it is never an issue for Diego. I would like Diego to not be obsessed with boobs, I don't know if by seeing mine while I dress or in a bathing suit in the summer he will just "get used to them" and not ogle at the breasts that happen to pass him by. I want my son to be mature about nudity and not snicker while passing a naked statue at a museum or stare at a girl walking New York City streets in a tight and revealing mini dress (as if it won't happen when he's older).
The guide "What to Expect-The Toddler Years" suggests to "end cross-gender nudity" the minute a little boy starts asking mom about the differences in male and female bodies. They even state that family nudity could become a problem by age three but okay to do see the same sex parent nude. I'm not comfortable taking a shower with Diego anymore, but I think it's more about not wanting to answer too many questions...I am guilty of this. Jose on the other hand has no problem showering with him and answering anything Diego's little mind is pondering. I also plan on nursing my new baby, am I supposed to hide from my almost 4 year old from a very natural action?
Would it be different if we had a girl? Would it be more of an issue about what Katy Perry was wearing and sending the wrong message to little girls?
I wonder, if we treat body conversations with honesty, teach our kids to respect their bodies and other people's bodies and not shaming them when they ask questions, does it really matter if a young woman in a low cut dress is dancing around with Elmo and her boobs are bouncing? Or is the issue here really about Sesame Street's responsibility and parent's trust on the show to not bring up questionable issues? Tough one. I'm interested to hear what moms of little girls think of the debate!
xoxo
If you YouTube "Sesame Street and Katy Perry" you will immediately be directed to the video that is creating a lot of controversy. The news broke late last week and The View was still talking about it on Monday morning (I saw the women ranting on it via PerezHilton.com). I went to look at the video again and was not surprised to see that it had over a million views. Katy Perry was also on SNL this weekend acting out a hilarious parody regarding the situation.
Having witnessed children playing on the beach with their topless mothers and grandmothers (!), I believe a lot of cultures would think this argument is hilarious. Then there are cultures that would shelter their children from images like these. It's a fine line. What should Sesame Street do?
As a parent of a 3 year old boy and another baby boy on the way, I have felt that if I am caught undressing or I am surprised in the bathroom while getting out of the shower, not making a big deal out of the situation is how I will handle it all. My son has asked me questions like, "Where does your pee pee come from?" and I honestly explain to him the difference between his body and my body. I don't run around naked in the house and neither does Jose, but many times we change with the door open and it is never an issue for Diego. I would like Diego to not be obsessed with boobs, I don't know if by seeing mine while I dress or in a bathing suit in the summer he will just "get used to them" and not ogle at the breasts that happen to pass him by. I want my son to be mature about nudity and not snicker while passing a naked statue at a museum or stare at a girl walking New York City streets in a tight and revealing mini dress (as if it won't happen when he's older).
The guide "What to Expect-The Toddler Years" suggests to "end cross-gender nudity" the minute a little boy starts asking mom about the differences in male and female bodies. They even state that family nudity could become a problem by age three but okay to do see the same sex parent nude. I'm not comfortable taking a shower with Diego anymore, but I think it's more about not wanting to answer too many questions...I am guilty of this. Jose on the other hand has no problem showering with him and answering anything Diego's little mind is pondering. I also plan on nursing my new baby, am I supposed to hide from my almost 4 year old from a very natural action?
Would it be different if we had a girl? Would it be more of an issue about what Katy Perry was wearing and sending the wrong message to little girls?
I wonder, if we treat body conversations with honesty, teach our kids to respect their bodies and other people's bodies and not shaming them when they ask questions, does it really matter if a young woman in a low cut dress is dancing around with Elmo and her boobs are bouncing? Or is the issue here really about Sesame Street's responsibility and parent's trust on the show to not bring up questionable issues? Tough one. I'm interested to hear what moms of little girls think of the debate!
xoxo
Mother's Love
Mother's Love. What is Mother's love? To me, when a mother can shed a tear for other children who are not her children, that's mother's love. When news about a baby suffering, a nation under catastrophe, or a teenager misguided stabs your heart...that's mother's love.
A friend of mine just recently stated on her Facebook status that her eyes teared when she overheard her son having a conversation with his great-grandmother. He didn't know his mother was listening and the exchange he was having with his great-grandmother must have been so sweet or so powerful that it made my friend cry with what I can assume was pride. Someone commented "Mother's love" after her post.
This morning I watched yesterday's Oprah on the new movie "Waiting for Superman". I have been thinking about it all day because I was crying my eyes out when I was watching snippets of the movie, a controversial movie about our nation's education system, that comes out this Friday in NYC and L.A. I cried watching how one little girl wasn't allowed to graduate on stage because her mother was behind on school payments. I learned that her mother was working several jobs to pay for a private school because her neighborhood schools are so bad and yet she couldn't give her daughter the gift of walking on stage...that proud moment was taken away from both of them.
Today, Diego went off to his amazing preschool, had a fun playdate with his friend Jake, went to swimming class and is blissfully taking a nap while I write. I get emotional and I feel gratitude, that I can personally witness this everyday. I never take it for granted that everytime he expresses a joy for learning, when his little brain clicks with new knowledge and his face lights up, that we are giving him the biggest gift of all-education. There is nothing more that I value and when I think about going back to work because I feel like I am not contributing to the educational system, to my household income, or to myself, I see how lucky I am and that one day, when I go back, I will be a better teacher because I am a mother to this child first.
The chancellor of D.C. schools, Michelle Rhee, is portrayed in the movie "Waiting for Superman" as a villain for being so harsh (she fired her own kids' school principal!) and for fighting the unions on and off again. She couldn't have stated better on Oprah today that she does her job well everyday because she is a mother first. She will not allow for other mother's children to have to endure poor quality education if she wouldn't allow it for her own children. People fight the chancellor everyday and this woman never gives up.
There are thousands and thousands of great teachers out there who are not moms and there are poor teachers who are mothers. My point here is that today as I read my friend Perla's Facebook update, for me, my whole day connected. Watching Diego, listening to other moms throughout the day, that Oprah episode, made me realize that a mother's love goes a long, long way whether you are a stay-at-home-mom or a working mom. What a woman will do for her children or for other women's children is remarkable. I applaud women like Perla who have taught their children invaluable lessons and women like Michelle Rhee who fight for other women's children. Oprah! Oprah doesn't even have children and with her all mighty power is bringing light to a very important issue, our children and education. I can't wait to see what happens after "Waiting for Superman" is released! Make sure to check it out!
xoxo
A friend of mine just recently stated on her Facebook status that her eyes teared when she overheard her son having a conversation with his great-grandmother. He didn't know his mother was listening and the exchange he was having with his great-grandmother must have been so sweet or so powerful that it made my friend cry with what I can assume was pride. Someone commented "Mother's love" after her post.
This morning I watched yesterday's Oprah on the new movie "Waiting for Superman". I have been thinking about it all day because I was crying my eyes out when I was watching snippets of the movie, a controversial movie about our nation's education system, that comes out this Friday in NYC and L.A. I cried watching how one little girl wasn't allowed to graduate on stage because her mother was behind on school payments. I learned that her mother was working several jobs to pay for a private school because her neighborhood schools are so bad and yet she couldn't give her daughter the gift of walking on stage...that proud moment was taken away from both of them.
Today, Diego went off to his amazing preschool, had a fun playdate with his friend Jake, went to swimming class and is blissfully taking a nap while I write. I get emotional and I feel gratitude, that I can personally witness this everyday. I never take it for granted that everytime he expresses a joy for learning, when his little brain clicks with new knowledge and his face lights up, that we are giving him the biggest gift of all-education. There is nothing more that I value and when I think about going back to work because I feel like I am not contributing to the educational system, to my household income, or to myself, I see how lucky I am and that one day, when I go back, I will be a better teacher because I am a mother to this child first.
The chancellor of D.C. schools, Michelle Rhee, is portrayed in the movie "Waiting for Superman" as a villain for being so harsh (she fired her own kids' school principal!) and for fighting the unions on and off again. She couldn't have stated better on Oprah today that she does her job well everyday because she is a mother first. She will not allow for other mother's children to have to endure poor quality education if she wouldn't allow it for her own children. People fight the chancellor everyday and this woman never gives up.
There are thousands and thousands of great teachers out there who are not moms and there are poor teachers who are mothers. My point here is that today as I read my friend Perla's Facebook update, for me, my whole day connected. Watching Diego, listening to other moms throughout the day, that Oprah episode, made me realize that a mother's love goes a long, long way whether you are a stay-at-home-mom or a working mom. What a woman will do for her children or for other women's children is remarkable. I applaud women like Perla who have taught their children invaluable lessons and women like Michelle Rhee who fight for other women's children. Oprah! Oprah doesn't even have children and with her all mighty power is bringing light to a very important issue, our children and education. I can't wait to see what happens after "Waiting for Superman" is released! Make sure to check it out!
xoxo
