The other day I was watching an interview of some women who were actresses on a certain TV show. They started discussing motherhood. They are all working moms. One of them jokingly said that her child spent the first 18 months of her life in a trailer at the studio. When I heard that, I was sad and disgusted. They talked about how they would shoot a scene, then run back to the trailer, and breast feed for 20 minutes then run back to the set. Wow, I don't think these women get it at all. It seems like they think that they can be gone all day long, and work long hours, but they are good moms if they run back to the trailer and breast feed for 20 minutes every so often, or they pump their breast milk so the nanny can give it to the baby later. It is not the breast milk that baby's really need (it is good and nice), but what they really need is mommy there all day long, and the cuddling and the closeness while they breastfeed or bottle feed. Yes breast milk is healthy for your baby, but more important for a baby is the cuddling and kisses and love. Knowing them so well and being there everytime they need you. I don't know, but I think this is actually helps a baby's physical health more than a pop-over for some feeding. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in breast feeding, but I feel that many working mom's get duped into thinking that they are good mom's if they pump, or work all the time, but only show up to breast feed. Today we have great formulas, and even in Moses' time it was a job hired out if someone could not do it. Yet a woman can still be a great mother and have healthy children even if breastfeeding isn't an option. Baby's need to be with mommy most of the day (hey, mom needs a little time off ).
They also all were working before they had kids, then got pregnant while they were working on the show. So, in my opinion, they should have waited to have kids, or worked until the child was born and then quit. It just seems incredibly selfish. I would hate to have my child spend the first 18 months of life in a little trailer at the set, with a nanny all day and night.
These women also talked about how their priorities had changed. I guess their priorities changed from taking a nap or getting a snack during their break to breast-feeding during their break. I don't really see much change in priorities. Their career and their own selfishness still take center stage. I mean what is it that is sooooo important that they have to work and treat their children like this. Are their families going to starve, no. Are they curing cancer or saving the world, no. Are they saving lives, no. What is this great world changing work they do - they work on a sci-fi tv show. I would hate to tell my children that the reason they lived in a trailer at the studio for the first 18+ months of life is because I wanted to be in a sci-fi- tv show. As far a important jobs go, that is near the bottom. When I was teaching I was doing a more important job then they do now, and it was no where near important enough to not stay home for (is there a job that imporant, no). Being a mom is the most important job a woman can do. All other career aspirations and work should be sacrificed or postponed. When a woman chooses to be a mom, it is a big life changing choice. Do it right. I think that many of these actresses are not so much into "acting" they are into themselves and their career. Even if you stay home with your kids, you can help the school put on a play, or volunteer in the local community theater, etc. You can still do what you like a little of the time, and be a mom. Their love is not acting, it is being famous and making lots of money. There are lots of ways to have personal goals and aspirations, and still be a Stay at home mom. You just have to make sure they don't get in the way of the the needs of the family and the children. Also, when the kids are grown, go and act again, they won't get the same jobs again, but that is the price to pay for motherhood. Other carrers it is much easier to get into a little later in life.
I remember when I was pregnant with my oldest. I was teaching at Indio Charter School. I worked until I was 8 months pregnant, and then I quit. I quit even though things were going well. I quit because I wanted to have a baby for years, and I wasn't going to not take good care of my baby. I planed ahead also so I would be able to stay home. There was never a question about not quitting. Not once did I think about nannys or day care or "balancing" work and family. Even when a women stays home, it is so hard to be a mom, and feel like you are really doing it right. The only way a woman with little babies or children can work and be a mom, is if she absolutely has to, and then I think Heavenly Father helps her out (like if her husband died or couldn't work etc). Otherwise, I think it just really messes up the kids.
I am thankful for a husband who feels the same way as me, and parents who were good examples of this for me. And the gospel that teaches this, as well as other people in society to believe and do the same thing. Being a mom is the most important job in the world.
Sorry this is all disjointed, I was kind of tired when I wrote it.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Things I am Thankful For
It is about time I write on my blog. I am thankful for: my husband, each of my children, friends, my cat, God, the gospel, a living prophet, the temple, the Book of Mormon, the Bible, missionaries, my mom, my dad, the sacrifice they made for us, the lessons they taught us, the example they were to us, each of my siblings, my siblings' spouses and their children. My husbands family members, the fact that my husband is from the Philippines, the food and wonderful traditions of his family. Living in the desert, that my children go to a good school, good friends, that my husband has a good job, that I can stay at home with my kids, that we are all now healthy. I am thankful that my kids love books and reading - really thankful, and that they are well behaved at school. I am thankful that my kids are taking piano lessons at a reasonable price, by a fantastic teacher, that we also get to take taekwondo by a wonderful teacher close to home for a great price. I am thankful that I get to work with the kids in church, they are great, and so much fun. I am thankful for clothes and a safe place to live. I am thankful for finally after 38 years of life discovering a hair cut I like. The opportunity I had to go on a mission to Japan, the Japanese people and the Japanese Language, the wonderful food and culture of Japan. I am thankful for the seasons, the hot and the cold. Food!! Exercise!! The exercise keeps me from getting too fat, and the food keeps me from losing the 10-15 pounds I want to loose. The chance I got to swim in HS. All my past good teachers who taught me a lot, and the bad ones I also learned from. I am thankful for colors, and the sense of sight, touch, hearing, tasting, and being able to smell. I am thankful for sleep, and when my children sleep. Gardens and fruit trees, farmers who work magic in producing so much food. That my kids like to draw and color. Education. The chance to learn. Being able to go to COD and UCSD. The jobs I have had in my life. Learning even with out school. Math, and science. Learning to do things on my own. Beading, cooking, soapmaking, sewing, crocheting, home improvement, etc. My computer! Electricity, running water, showers, baths, toilets, air conditioning, heating, clean water, irrigation. Mountains, the ocean, the beach, snow on distant peaks visible from my home for several months each year (but not on my home). Good people who I know well, and those who don't know me who are great examples to me. Past trials that at the time were really difficult, but looking back were wonderful chances to grow and learn. Cars and bikes, running shoes. Hiking, swimming, surfing (eventhough I am still learning). The many many people who have selflessly helped me in various times in my life. Food. Desks, chairs, tables, couches, dressers, swingsets. Humor, laughing, good clean jokes. Sci Fi, star trek, star wars, SG, etc. Nice weather. Being outside. Really well written well made clean movies and tv shows. Preying mantis's, Lady bugs, all the amazing life around us that is so common place and that we are used to, that we might not even think twice about. Good deals and sales, being frugal, getting prepared. Card and board games to play with my family. History! The sacrifice of all the men and women of the military who have fought and died for our country since the revolutionary war. Also their families and others who have sacrificed for freedom and for the future posterity of this and other nations. The chances I have to serve others. My ancestors.
These and countless other things I am truly thankful!!! (I will think of many many more after i finish I am sure!)
Thursday, September 10, 2009
That Evil Walmart
Yesterday, one of my facebook friends put up this article about Walmart. The title,"Project Impact: A Move to Crush Competition." (Link is below.) So before I read this article, I thought, oh, maybe they are forcing suppliers to charge less, or they are cutting prices below wholesale temporarily so they can put other companies out of business, and then when those other companies are out of business, they can jack up their prices. I thought the article would be about that, or some other nefarious business practice that was unfair, but legal. That is also how my friend made it out to be. (She wrote, "Watch out all you small businesses, they are coming after you!!")
But, you read the article, and you find that the evil empire of Walmart is going to crush its competition by ...(ready for it)...making the stores cleaner, more logical in their organization (store layout), better clothes, a better pharmacy, more crafts, and friendlier staff. Wow, that is so evil. They should advertise such horrible plans. They may get more shoppers. The spokesperson for Walmart said that they were just listening to customers.
When did improving yourself as a company become evil. When did listening to customers become so bad. I just don't get it. Don't misunderstand me, I don't worship Walmart or anything, and I think they have a lot of faults, but where are the horrible acts in this article. When has it been evil to give the customers what they want, and have a cleaner, more organized store with nice clothes in it? How dare they!! They have a lot a 'splaining to do!!!
Go for it Walmart!!! The more you improve, no matter what the media says, the more shoppers will go there. You really can't listen to the media, you just listen with people's wallets. If it was so horrible, people would not be there. That is capitalism for you. I am a big fan of that!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Great Day at Church
Today was a great day at church. I got a call an hour before church that one of my teachers would not be there (she got sick), and it didn't bother me. (I am the Primary President.) I didn't have enough time to prepare a lesson, but I knew her class was small and they could just go in another class. Then at church, 2 more teachers didn't show up. Usually I get frustrated when that happens, but today it didn't bother me. I just took all three classes into a classroom (10 kids, about half our primary), grabbed last years lesson book (all the ones for this year are being used), happened to open the book to the lesson on choosing the right. It was the perfect lesson for the day before the first day of school. I think it was the lesson Heavenly Father wanted these children to have. We talked about a story by one of the 70 who was dared when he was 7 by a friend to run in front of an oncoming car. He did it, was it, hurt, and learned how bad it is to give in to a dare. The only dares we should give in to are "Dare to do good, dare to do right". I think we can do some harmless fun ones as well, but that is just me. Anyway, I recently saw the movie Valkarie, and it reminded me of a quote I had heard by a Nazi soldier who was in on the attempt to assassinate Hitler and start a new government that would stop the killing of the Jews and the innocent Russians and immediately give up to the Allies. (Kill Hitler to stop the killing of the innocent). The attempt failed, and most of these men (many of whom were active, devoted God fearing Catholics) were killed for treason. A few of them were not found out. One of them was commanding troops somewhere far from Berlin. His job was to take his troops to Berlin, and help keep the new government in control from Nazis. When he heard the attempt failed, he was on his way over, but stopped his troops and got them back into place before he was found out by Hitler. His family had a motto engraved over the entrance of his home, it said, "Even if all, not I." I told my class this story, and we discussed the meaning of this quote. Even if all (my friends are cheating, etc, ) not I. Even if all (the kids at primary are being irreverent), not I. Fill in the blanks. We talked about many other things. The kids who sometimes have a hard time focusing really liked it, and were active participaters. We talked about peer pressure, and how doing the right thing all the time takes more strength and courage than giving into a dare to do something bad. And how sometimes it is so hard to do the right thing because a bad thing might happen to you like the Valkarie men. But even then they will be setting a good example for others. Those men in the movie Valkarie tried and failed to overthrow Hitler to save millions of future victims, and to save their country. Unfortunately they failed and died because of it. However, these mens families, their posterity, and Germany can be proud of such men and many others who would have done the same if the had the opportunity. They are a great example of doing what is right, even if....
We also talked about how Christ was tempted by Satan and never gave in. How they can also just walk away when they are tempted as well. I also shared some experiences about how doing what is right can help others to choose the right. Then we played a game where they had to answer questions based on the lesson. It was a lot of fun, and I could feel the spirit.
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