Our Children Are Becoming A Me-Now Society: But Who's Raising Them?

One of the things I hate about our society is how we are a society that wants the world and wants it now! We want to watch our shows, we want to have air-conditioning, we want to have a car that has all the modern amenities, even my own infertility issues is because I WANT IT AND I WANT IT NOW!

The thing is, I often hear people, myself included, talking about this generation as a bunch of spoiled self-indulged people. The thing I have to ask is, well, who is raising them to be this way? Maybe we as parents need to step back and take a good look in the mirror before we start judging this generation that has not yet shown its potential.

This generation has so much promise, they have so many things they could accomplish, so many technological advances, transportation that would allow them to change cultures that are struggling. You know what, they may just do that! They may change this world... but, what have we done?

If we want our children to become active world-changers then what better way than to become active in changing the world ourselves. Pave the way, be the example.

Let's face it, our children do have a lot of luxuries most of us did not have. My own daughter on our recent trip to California was bummed when we switched hotel rooms from a luxury spacious suite to a luxury less-spacious suite. Although these children have a lot of things that make life "easier" they have a lot more that makes life harder.

Yes, we had bullying, we had gossip, we had cliques, but these kids are facing a generation where
one stupid decision can travel through the school in less than 24 hours via texts and the Internet. Yes, we had pressures to look good, be thin, etc, but take a look at what was considered beautiful in the eighties then what is considered beautiful now. In the eighties you'll find tv moms with frizzy hair, average to good looking face, bodies that were beautiful, but attainable. But now, the tv moms are flawless, thanks to advanced make-up and hair products, good lighting, plastic surgery, and the wonders of photo-shop. Our children's idea of what they should look like is so unrealistic.

My point is not to digress, but point out our children have it hard. They may be pampered in many ways, but that's only because they are losing sight, just as we have on what is important. They are put at risk for a lot of things in a way, we can't truly relate. But it's not too late for the children that are growing up, they have so much potential. They just need more people to look up to who truly make a difference, rather than just another good singer with flawless skin (after hours of make-up and photo-editing).

So what does this mean for me? Well, I think I have some things I need to be reanalyzing in my own life. Walk away from this me-now mentality, and maybe just maybe I'll be able to teach my daughter how to do the same.

San Diego Trip: Part Two: Why I Love Weddings!!!!!

 These happen to be two of my favorite people, and two of my three college roommates. The third is also still one of my best friends and we hang out weekly, unfortunately these two have decided to live on the other side of the country. Good in that it gives me a destination to travel, sad in that I don't get to hang out with them often. Man, it was good to see them. I wish I could bring them home with me. They are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside.

So what brings me all the way to the other side of the country, well aside from these two beautiful gals, Amy was getting married. (The one on the left).

 Her wedding was gorgeous, outside in the beautiful weather. It was a Buddhist celebration and had certain decorations that were specific to their culture. I love being able to enjoy other cultural celebrations than my own. I wish I could have picked somebody's brain to ask the symbolism of the fruit in the front. I know it must have had significance. 

 Erica was her photographer. She had a baby six months ago, doesn't she look great! 

 These two lovely ladies are Amy's best friends from childhood and also two of her bridesmaids: Melissa and Kim. The coolest part is, because Amy is so special to me, I have gotten to become friends with them as well. I actually took one of my all time favorite week long trips with Kim in college when I went to Toronto to see the Lion King (play not a movie.) Amazing!

 More great photos, just hold your computer sideways, totally wish I knew how to turn them on this blog. Ugh! 

Yay!!! I love marriage. I love weddings! I love friends! I love memories! All my favorite things! 

Trip To San Diego: Part One: San Diego Zoo

Man did I have fun at the San Diego Zoo. It might not have been my husband's favorite, but I loved seeing all the different animals. Of course the monkeys and apes are so fascinating to me since they seem to have the most personality. This guy cracked me up because he likes to cover himself with the bags.

We were lucky enough to be able to talk to a lady here who knew the orangutans and other monkey/apes personally. The guy with the sack over the head is grumpy with the other ones at times, since they normally live by themselves in the wild. There was one that likes to put leaves on her head, that is the one below. She's pregnant. Sorry the photo is sideways, I don't know how to fix it in this blog. So just tilt your head. Then there is a mischievous girl that picks on the guy. Oh, I loved hearing the back story. It made the zoo that much more fun. 

 

 There were lots of birds, here is one of the more unique ones. 

 And of course the gorrillas. I took tons of pictures, but this is the only nice one. I don't have a very expensive camera, so you have to take what you can get. 

 Little Miss and I played around with a lot of the statues and stuff. If you want to see more pics of  her, you'll have to go to my Flickr account. Not a fan of showing pictures of my daughter for the world to see. 

 This little guy was super sweet, and probably my favorite. He interacted with people the most. He kept extending his hand out to people to get things from them. This guy kept handing him sticks, and then Kevin and Little Miss followed suit. When a big group of people came, the other guy was still handing him stuff, and this guy, who was not a Zookeeper mind you, said, "There is no interacting with the animals." Okay, there were signs at certain cages, but none at this spot, and this guy wanted fun. He'll never go back to the wild, what is the harm of him having a little fun with the people. Whatever... He still is my favorite little dude. 

 Love the big cats! 

 This guy is in fact smiling! Love it! 

 There is a huge line for the pandas, and they have you take your picture really hyping up the exhibit. Cute, yes, but worth a half hour wait.... okay yes... because I would so do it again. LOL

 This was not an exhibit, just a joy along the way. 

 This one is the guy, which in the wild can be 1700 pounds, he has his fat intake limited so he's sadly only 1100 pounds to keep him from getting too hot. Poor guy, can't be as big as he could in the wild. He has never been a father, but has been attempting with another of the polar bears, which was hiding. They are hoping she is pregnant, but they don't know for sure yet. It's doubtful since she is 19 years old, and they are only fertile until like 20 years old. Also they have been mating for the past 16 years (his entire life) and has not been successful. 

 This girl is the other one's twin sister. She was on birth control when she was younger, for some reason, and then became infertile. So it's possible the San Diego Zoo might never have a baby polar bear in their midst. Let's pray her brother succeeded. 

 Again with the big cats! 

 This is not a llama or an alpaca... but I cannot remember what it was. Anyone else know? 

 Lots of Elephants. What's the difference between an Asian and African elephant? Asian ones have small ears, African ones have big ears, plus they are bigger in general. 

 Little Miss thought it was funny to act like this monster attacked her and was carrying her. :) 

 He's a happy dude! 

 Awww... This one is Miha. She is a sweet girl. 

 Big cats, love the big cats! 

 And we ended the day with reptiles and a camel. Poor camel, one of it's humps is empty. 

Postponed In Vitro Until At Least May

Well, I've been thinking a lot about in vitro, especially since I realized that the funds will NOT be with us in January as originally hoped. I don't want to do in vitro while I have a class, because there are days of bed rest. Since I will be taking Spanish 202, that will fill up my entire spring semester, which means May will be the first time I am free.

Fortunately, for me, my sister-in-law will have a baby in March or so. Maybe she will let me cuddle with her baby, to get my fix. Who knows, maybe we will have a foster child before then.


This will not be us for at least a year...
If ever...

I was feeling very negative and having some sadness, which was in part due to an infection that was causing me to sleep ten to fifteen hours a day, but now that I am on antibiotics, sleeping normal periods, and was given a proper perspective on life, I have decided I am happy about this change.

Okay, let's be real, maybe happy is not the right word. But I am content with the change. Now if we miraculously have fifteen thousand dollars fall into our laps with no debt involved by January, we will gladly proceed, but as that would be very very unlikely, I am looking at a May or June start date.

Emily still is praying to become a big sister. This makes me smile. Then again, there are days she informs me she wants to be an only child forever, but I'll take what I can get.

A New Perspective after Spending the Day with Severely Cognitive Impaired

Friday I spent the day in an adult special education class. I have done this many times, but never in this particular room.

One of the classes I have spent time in, they learn how to fill out online job applications. Some of them can fill them out, others are only learning to point and click in each of the spots and typing the first letter of their name. In another class, I sit down and give them a bunch of socks and evaluate how well they sort them. Then there are many other activities in between of varying difficulties.



For some caring for the cognitively impaired
is a daily reality.
Bless those people.

The latter group is considered severely cognitive impaired. I knew that the classroom across the hall had the same classification and had stepped in that classroom long enough to fulfill the staff requirement while someone else stepped out, but never truly spent time in there.

Well, Friday I subbed for that classroom all day. These people ranged from 13 to 26, and only one out of eight was potty trained. He couldn't button up his own pants. The rest had to be changed. One I had to feed, and what surprised me was that the simple task of swallowing food was not automatic for him. He had to be coaxed to do something that six-month-olds do automatically.

Then I saw the lessons we had for them. They were such things as pick this item up, hand it to me. Then they were graded on how well, they managed this task. Another was to look at an item and compare it to pictures of the item. This was a rather difficult task for one particular individual and he was of higher functioning than many of the others.

This experience made me realize I have been very self-absorbed lately. I have been dwelling on the fact that my house, despite having a beautiful little girl, a husband, my sister-in-law and her husband living there, feels empty. The thing is, I forget too often how blessed I truly am. I can walk, talk, have complex thoughts, eat without problems, use the bathroom with ease, have relatively good health, and yet I always, always want more.

My expectations on God exceeds what I deserve. I am a sinner. I am a human. I am a mom. I am a wife. I am a daughter to two living parents. I am a granddaughter to one living grandma. I am a sister to numerous people, all of which are still living. And most of all...
I am blessed.