Who needs real-life, face-to-face relationships anyway?

by Daniel Wildman

Taking part in Works for Me Wednesday!

A lot of toys have come through this house along with 4 kids in 8 years; a lot of toys have gone out too. We have moved 6 times since becoming parents and I refuse to move anything that isn’t worth its weight in gold. Good thing the children have measured up so far.

The best toys (and consequently, the keepers) are ones that:

• can be put together, taken apart and then put back together again (preferably in a new way)
• have some sort of educational value
• will hold a child’s interest long-term
• can handle whatever a toddler can throw at it (or throw it at)

Here are some toys we have in our toy collection and a few I wish we had:

1. Marble Runs - this toy is just plain cool and fun for everyone, adults included
   
2. Blocks - wooden ones for stacking & building and large cardboard ones for things like life-size forts (if you’re little )
3. Lincoln Logs - there are all kinds of cool things to build with Lincoln Logs
   
4. K’NEX - again, hours of enjoyment come from K’NEX
   
5. Playmobil - we don’t have any Playmobil, but loved by many
6. Legos - what can be said about the world-famous Legos?
7. Train sets - like Brio and Thomas the Tank Engine; I got a full set of Thomas tracks, engines, cars (and a table!) for $20 at a garage sale; it was the best money I ever spent (check craigslist too!)
   
8. Play kitchens - in our house, the play kitchen is optional but the pots, pans and utensils are a must
9. Cash register -  this is one we don’t have ourselves, but will be on our wish list this Christmas
10. Playmats - very fun and easy to tote too; one day I’m going to make one like this
    
11. Dollhouses - like this wooden one
12. Dress up - fill a box or chest with thrift-store finds, old halloween costumes and castoffs from Great Aunt Millie’s closet
13. Craft collection - I keep bins of stickers, scrapbook paper, construction paper, pipe cleaners, glue, scissors, clay, crayons, markers, colored pencils, punches, googly eyes, tape, paints, stamps, ribbon, beads, fabric, felt, and anything else that has crafty potential; oh yeah, check your recycling bin first
14. Board games - we like Boggle, Scrabble, Memory, Dominoes, Apples to Apples, Guess Who?, Yahtzee, Sequence, Uno, Cranium Cadoo, Cranium Hullabaloo; (keep in mind that many of these games have editions for kids)
    
15. Books - They may not be toys, but they provide just as much enjoyment.  Here are some of our favorite picture books:

Take for instance one of their latest findings.  You might want to sit down for this piece of news as it is…simply astonishing…no, “groundbreaking.”  In fact, I do believe it warrants a collective cheer from us, fellow morons, as it is undoubtedly something you and I could never have figured out on our own.  I can’t tell you how glad I am that they spent millions finding this out.

Groundbreaking research suggests that pregnancy rates are much higher among teens who watch a lot of TV with sexual dialogue and behavior than among those who have tamer viewing tastes. (read the full article)

I know, I know, I totally would never have put two and two together either.

Anyway, on with my story.

So yesterday in church we were worshipping and it was great.  I was totally into it.  So was Brian.  Well, I assume Brian was into it because apparently no one was keeping an eye on the children.  Because after worship, I turned around and one child (age 8 ) was sprawled on the floor trying to join the other child (age 6) who was completely hidden underneath our seats.  I don’t know what was more disturbing, that those who should have been sitting in their seats were under them or that I could go from being totally in cahoots with God to wanting to bite someone’s head off in about .037 seconds.  Rest assured, all heads remained intact (we were in church after all), lucky for them.  Had we not been in church, however, I’m sure the first words out of my mouth would have been something like, “Oh please tell me, WHO THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA!?  Now come here and give me your heads…”

And where are your parents anyway.

• I’m not a fan of McCain.
• I’m not a fan of Obama.
• One thing that cracks me up are the headlines which go something like this: “Obama/McCain calls for [enter some demand of some country's leader here].”  As if Obama or McCain have any authority as a presidential candidate to demand anything from anybody.
• I’m a mom.  I’m all about making things simple.  I have an idea for the next election.  First, the election process will last 3 months. Each person who wants to be president gets one blog and one profile on Facebook.  The blog is where they tell us how they would change America; Facebook is where we vote.  The winner with the most friends on Facebook at the end becomes president and gets two years to do what they promised on their blog.  Facebook is consulted again after 2 years.  If the current president still has the most friends, he/she stays.  If one of the other candidates has more friends, the current president loses the privilege and the new one gets a shot at it.  This promotes honesty, integrity and gives everyone an opportunity.  Also, juvenile behavior such as name-calling, excessive and intrusive phone-calling, etc., will result in getting kicked out of the race.  Because if you’re going to act like a child, you’ll be treated like a child.  And children don’t get to be president.  And oh, one more thing.  Maybe all the millions of dollars the candidates would have spent on commercials and private jets and other ridiculous necessary things could be put toward the national debt.  Or food and shelter for the homeless.  Or affordable health care.  Or the failing economy.  Or something.  But what do I know.
• I find it amusing when Obama fans make such a big deal out of Palin’s lack of foreign policy experience when Obama doesn’t exactly ooze foreign policy experience himself.
• I think McCain is too old to run for president.
• I think the hysteria surrounding Obama is creepy.
• I genuinely respect the people who are voting for Obama not only because they “like what they see” (there’s much to like) but because they also agree with what he stands for. To me, this is voting with integrity.
• What makes me want to scratch my eyeballs out though, are the people who are voting for Obama simply because they like what they see and/or because they are reacting to Bush (”I’m so sick of Bush, I just want someone, ANYONE, different!”) EVEN IF they don’t agree with (or haven’t seriously thought about) what Obama stands for on key issues.  To me, this is voting without integrity.
• Speaking of key issues…I honestly don’t get the “I’m pro-choice but not pro-abortion” viewpoint.  “Pro-choice” because they believe a woman should determine what happens to her own body, but not “pro-abortion” because…why?  Presumably it’s because they think that at least on some occasions, abortion involves the killing of a human being.  Right?  I mean, there would be no need to specify “I’m not pro-abortion” if there wasn’t a moral question there.  For those who choose this view because the moral component does not allow you to be pro-abortion while being pro-choice, consider this:

“What would you think if a politician said “I’m not pro-rape, I’m simply prochoice about rape. And though I would not choose to rape a woman, I believe that every man should be free to rape a woman if that is his personal choice.” And what would you do if that politician promised the rape lobby that if he is elected president, the “first thing I would do” is to sign legislation that would invalidate all the state laws that restrict rape in any way? (Randy Alcorn)

I’m voting for McCain.  Below is an outline of my decision-making process, which is basically a summary of this post by Randy Alcorn who said it a lot better than I could ever dream of saying it myself.

1. Does human life begin at conception?
2. If so, I must say then that abortion takes a human life.
3. Is all human life equal?
4. If so, I must say then that taking the life of a human in the womb is no different than taking the life of a human outside the womb.
5. Therefore, taking the life of a pre-born baby is just like taking the life of an innocent 3-year-old or an innocent 70-year-old or any other innocent human being.
6. Over 3000 abortions are performed in the US every day.  What if over 3000 3-year-olds were killed every day in the US?  Or over 3000 70-year-olds?  Or over 3000 anyones?  Wouldn’t that one issue trump all other issues in an election?
7. If so, can I in good conscience vote for someone (even if I like many other things about him) who would fight to keep the killing legal?
8. For me, the answer is no.

So there you have it.  And at no charge!  Why I’m choosing to enter the political fray, I have no idea.  As you know, I often wonder why I do the things I do.

Alright internet friends, let the fiery darts fly.

But spending a fortune isn’t necessary!  Next time you’re out, check in the baby aisle for Enfamil’s ready-to-eat formula (also called nursette bottles).  I just bought a box with 8 6oz bottles for less than $20.  You’ll need to attach your own nipple (well, not your nipple…you know what I mean), but the formula is packaged in heavy glass bottles (make sure you find the glass bottles!).  So after you either use the formula or give it away or (gasp!) toss it, you’ll have a decent stock of BPA-free bottles for only about $2 or $3 each!

This post is part of Works for Me Wednesday over at Rocks in My Dryer.  Check it out!

I admit, it has been fun to reconnect with people I haven’t communicated with in years–20 years in some cases.  (And yes, I realize this confirms I’m old…that I actually had relationships with people 20 years ago.  Where’s the number to the senior living facility?)

On the other hand, it sucks. you. in.  Well, it’s sucked me in anyway.  I have spent more time on Facebook in the last 3 days than I care to admit.

Let me tell you, it’s a cult over there.  I had no idea the extent to which Facebook is taking over the world.  I’ve determined that almost every single person I’ve laid eyes on since the doctor spanked my little bottom on the day of my birth is on Facebook.

Speaking of which, I wonder if I can find that doctor…