7 Quick Takes Friday

1. I dabbled in karma yesterday. Or, to put a Christian spin on it, I did to others as I wished that they had done to me: I visited a friend on bedrest. I HATED bedrest. I came down in the morning, waddling the whole way, got breakfast and then laid on the couch. All. Day. Long. Until it was time to laboriously climb upstairs to bed at night. I was so lonely and bored, words cannot describe. So the instant I learned about my friend on bedrest, I immediately emailed with “I’m coming!” because, really, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.

2. Speaking of worst enemies, here comes my big toe dipping into politics for a second. There has been a LOT of cheering about Osama Bin Laden’s death this week. Which, honestly, saddens me. Are we so inured to death from the media that we cannot mourn a real human being dying? He was a child of God; Jesus died for him. The fact that he didn’t believe is something to be sad about. We KNOW where he is, and I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy, either. Ok, except for Satan. He IS my worst enemy. Yes, bin Laden was the mastermind behind much evil. Yes, he deserved to be brought to justice for what he has done. But the cheering and outright gladness for his death is over the top.

3. Switching back to normal life topics, what is the deal with sticking tongues out? I am constantly hearing “MOM! Catie stuck her tongue out at me!” I’m sure I did it at that age. But, oh brother, am I ready for this particular stage to be done with.

4. We had to have “The Talk” with Catie this week. One of our neighbors’ children has been talking about sex in a very inappropriate way. I talked to his father who talked to him, but unfortunately the damage was done. She and I sat together and went through Book 2 of God’s Design for Sex. Her comment? “Euuu!” Let’s hope she keeps that point of view for many years!

5. Jim’s been working for two months now, but we are still definitely playing catch up with finances. We had some debt before all this started and only added to it, as well as having to borrow money from family. It’s going to take some time to dig ourselves out of the hole. In the meantime, other than our special Friday night pizza and cheap movie, we’re not doing anything extra. I can’t WAIT until we are out of debt and finally able to save some money again!

6. Pursuant to #5, he was able to convince the New Hampshire people that telecommuting made a lot more sense for them financially. It was costing them upwards of $1000 each time he went up. So he’s been home for two weeks and we are very grateful to have him at the dinner table each night, as well as to help put the kids to bed. Splitting the parenting burdens makes things ever so much easier!

7. I’m surviving The Upgrade. I’m still finding my way around everything, but each day gets a little easier. There are still things that need to be loaded on–I keep finding new needs when I go to use a program and there’s a “You Need to Load XYZ to use this”. But, in the end, it will be easier and faster and better and I’ll be glad I did it. I’m just not there yet!

We Knew it was Coming

Yesterday Bennett got called “gay”. We asked if he knew what that word meant. Everyone at the table piped up “Happy” right away, but then Laura said ‘boys kiss boys and girls kiss girls.” quietly. Part of me REALLY wanted to ignore that she even said it, but then there’s that I need to be a good parent part that wouldn’t let me. So I asked her where she learned it. Of course the answer was “at school.” We let it go then, but Jim and I talked later and yes, we’re going to talk to her about it.

I’ll be honest–I didn’t see this conversation coming up for a few more years. I’m going to skim as much as possible (leaving it at kissing because she doesn’t know about sex yet!). What is this world coming to that an 8 year old has to have homosexuality explained to her!?

Sex Education

One of my friends on one of my boards (I post on three) brought up the idea of how and when to start having talks with her daughter about sex and periods and such. Being that I have some strong ideas about this, I thought I would share them with you.

I tend to believe that kids these days are WAY to sophisticated and knowledgeable about things having to do with sex. I half blame the media that encourages it and half blame the parents for allowing the kids to watch the media. My kids are pretty innocent about stuff. The have knowledge that is appropriate for 5 and 6 year olds to have. If they have questions, I definitely answer them, which is why Bennett knows that a baby grows inside a uterus, which only women have (and even the whereabouts of its location–he ASKED!)

We are going through a series of books called God’s Design for Sex. There are four books, one each for the following ages: 3-5, 5-8, 8-11, 11-14. So far I’ve read the first one to Bennett and Laura and need to read it to Catie and Ethan. I’m not sure how much Ethan will understand, but I want him to at least listen to what it says.

My mom talked to me as a kid, well, she says she did but I have no recollection of it. In 5th grade our school separated the boys and girls and gave them each a film. I have no clue what the boys learned about, but ours talked about periods, breasts and hair. As an adult, I think I’m a little blase about the whole thing, but I know that Laura and Catie need to be educated about what all is going to happen. I got my first period at 13, but I know that girls are getting them earlier and earlier now. A daughter of a friend of mine called from school to tell her mother she got her period at NINE. She had no clue what it was. Because who would think to talk about that at NINE? So I want to be prepared.

I want my kids to have more respect for themselves than I did. I want them to know they can ask us anything at any time. I want them to save themselves for their spouses–to respect both themselves and their future mate enough to do that. I want them to have a healthy attitude about sex–to have enough knowledge for their age, and not treat it as something either dirty or shameful or forbidden.

God created sex for us! (Thank you, God!) I hope I can instill His attitude about it in my children.