We have to laugh and focus on the good - it's a biblical truth. The peace and joy of family life is a primary motivation for me as a parenting coach. As I treasure the many funny and touching stories of our children, shared by the parents I work with, I find that I much prefer to stay in that frame of mind. Aaah, the joys of parenthood. It is good. Even when it is rough, and you feel like you are losing your mind.
Though I prefer to focus on the good, there are some things we cannot ignore in our world, as we parent. A biggie is the industry driven culture that we live in. All around us we are being told what to buy, that we have to have it to be happy, that we have to have it now, and to buy it now, even if we don't have the money for it. As if that isn't bad enough, sex is being used to sell everything around us, including self image, via cosmetic surgery. I was saddened as I read yesterday's newspaper containing an article about the trend of eighteen year old teenage girls getting breast implants. That is not the worst of it.
When the target audience is our kids, of all ages, which is what is happening more and more, parents need to take action. As a whole, we can move mountains.
I wrote an article awhile back about leaving a legacy for our kids. We do not have to climb Mt. Everest to accomplish that. I believe that it is more typically in the little things we do that make a difference in the world for our kids.In the last two weeks I have had the following topics cross my desk.
"Thongs for 10-year-olds that say candy. Shirts with slogans like "Who needs brains when you have these?"and "Do I make you look fat?" Ads touting group sex to sell clothing to teens and preteens. When it comes to sexualizing children, Abercrombie & Fitch is among the worst corporate offenders.
That's why it is so egregious that Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio is planning to rename its emergency room The Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center in exchange for a $10 million donation. These naming rights will entwine an institution of healing with a company whose advertising is notorious for undermining children's well-being and will promote the exploitative Abercrombie brand to children in a hospital setting.
Please take a moment to tell Nationwide Children's Hospital not to sell naming rights to Abercrombie and Fitch. (Commercial free Childhood)".
"HarperCollins Children's Books recently announced plans to publish a new series of books targeted at 8- to 12-year-olds featuring a character called "Mackenzie Blue." Although touted by the publisher for teaching kids about protecting the environment and promoting global understanding, the Mackenzie Blue series actually aims to be a vehicle for delivering commercial messages, through product-placement hidden advertisements, product tie-ins, and affiliated multi-media corporate sponsorships. The author of the series, Tina Wells, is chief executive of Buzz Marketing Group, which specializes in marketing to children and adolescents. Book publishers should not be exploiting children for commercial gain. Books should educate and entertain children - not encourage them to buy a particular brand of shoe or soft drink.
Please click the link below to tell HarperCollins not to publish "Mackenzie Blue" unless all product placements and tie-ins with external advertisers are removed.- Jennifer Wedekind, Commercial Alert"
As a parent and as a professional, I have found that by being on certain notification lists, I feel kept abreast of what is going on and also that I have a simple mechanism that makes it easy for me to get my voice heard and to take action that will support my worldview. (thanks to modern technology)
There are many ways we can make a difference as parents. Maybe we cannot fight every battle due to time and energy. I believe we each need to find ways that help us feel good about what we are doing to make a difference. As for me, I sent the e-mails pertaining to the two topics above. I also included the above articles in my monthly newsletter from my organization, The Parenting Path®, encouraging parents to do the same and to pass it on.
That took me only a few minutes. Together we are a force to be reckoned with.
These are little things we can do, that will make a difference.
As always, I wish for peace and joy for all parents and satisfaction
as you face the giants.
Lori Jo Kemper is a PCI Certified Parent Coach® and speaker.
Copyright 2008, www.TheParentingPath®
