Toy Scary 3

When Desiree was 2 she was the biggest Buzz fan ever. I bought her Toy Story Pull Ups and when she was potty trained she refused to give them up for Winnie the Pooh undies. I finally found a package of Buzz underwear that had been marked down in a discount bin. I'm sure Buzz underwear are everywhere now, but four years ago I was worried my daughter was going to stay in boys Pull Ups forever.

When Elijah came along he naturally ended up loving Toy Story too. For Christmas 2008 we gave Elijah a Buzz and Woody and Desiree a Jesse and Bullseye. Desiree spun her Jesse around in a circle and sang "When Somebody Loved Me".

So -- we are big Toy Story fans. Or maybe, more accurately, we are big Toy Story 2 fans.

We have waited with anticipation for Toy Story 3 to make it to our local cheap theater. Sure it wasn't in 3-D, but it saved us money. The kids wore their matching Toy Story t-shirts and brought their toys clutched under their arms, eyes filled with anticipation.

The intro of the movie had Elijah laughing enthusiastically and we settled in to watch. It was like a reunion with a fond, old friend.

How had no one told me how incredibly scary the movie was?!?!? Elijah ended up crying frantically half way through the movie and I had to carry him out of the theater and hug him till he calmed down in the lobby. We went back in when the scary part was over and left with Elijah in tears again (and again). I'm shocked that Desiree stayed with Daddy in the theater instead of fleeing with me and Elijah. However, at bedtime Desiree, who is a sensitive soul, couldn't stop talking about the scary part over and over.

It seemed like Toy Story 3 was aimed at the original Toy Story audience who are now in their 20s and not at the current batch of children. Or maybe they felt they had to make it more intense for the newer generation. Either way if you have kids who are unsure about loud noises, scary expressions, intense music etc... preview it when it comes out on dvd before letting your kids watch it.

If you've already seen it --let me know your thoughts.

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

Things My Daughter "Learned" in Grade 1

I've vented throughout the year -- mostly to myself -- about my daughter's grade one experience. This is me trying to look at the things that she's learned from a positive point of view (really, I'm trying...).



Things my daughter learned in grade one:

1. My daughter learned that there are all kinds of teachers. Some hug you if you cry. Some yell at you if you are too talkative and don't care if your necklace breaks and the heart locket that matches your mom's is lost on the playground (presumably forever).

Desiree brought a rubber stamp to school for show and tell. I asked her after school if she gave the kids stamps on their hands or work. She replied "No -- my teacher isn't the type of teacher who says 'Oh, and can you show us how that works?'". Unfortunately she also isn't the type who lets creative kids read stories aloud to the class that they have written and illustrated themselves in their free time...

2. My daughter learned that it's okay to stand up for what you believe -- even to an adult/teacher. Not everyone believes the same as we do. You can be put in situations where you have to say something or else you end up watching "The Snow Queen" and visions of witches spying on you and children turning evil against their will may be irrevocably etched in your memory.

When I talked to the teacher about it she said "Desiree never said anything...". Yeah, but I did... in October... prior to Halloween. I made a point of meeting with the teacher and listed off the things we do not agree with: witches, ghosts, anything evil... I didn't think I needed to have the "we don't agree with evil" talk again prior to Christmas.

3. My daughter learned that you can show kindness and encouragement to people you are certain hate you. In fact you should. It may or may not change how that person treats you, but it will gradually change your outlook. "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." Matthew 5:44

We prayed a lot for this teacher throughout the year. As well, I told Desiree she needed to think of ways to encourage her teacher. We bought her a vase and every week picked her fresh flowers from our garden.


At the end of the school year Desiree drew a picture for her Mon-Thurs teacher and for her Friday teacher. She showed great mercy by doing a lovely job for both of them.

And in Desiree's work of art, her Mon-Thurs teacher was happier than I'd ever seen her before.

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~

The Judgement of Strangers

I regularly experience the judgement of strangers. It's like I have a sign on me that says "Judge me" because I have active children.

Just the other day I went to the mall and my three year old son ran off on me (still in my sight) to the ride on cars. I insisted he come back (and he did not). As I hurried towards him, a lady, who had been watching, says to me in a condescending tone of voice: "That's how children get kidnapped, you know".

Clearly this lady (if she ever had kids!) had been the perfect mother of perfect children. Just because my kids are active doesn't mean I'm an incompetent parent.

Another time my neighbour (dad of two docile girls) phoned to bawl me out when my son (who had just turned three) climbed a bush in our backyard and jumped our five foot fence into his yard!!! I hadn't expected he would do that! In the time it took me to run around to the front yard to their yard to get my son, the neighbour phoned me up and left a message saying that I needed to watch my children better and that he and his wife were capable of watching their two children even though they both worked so why couldn't I watch my two properly as a stay at home mom. (I guess it slipped his mind that they have a babysitter!) When I called him back (why did I do that?) I tried explaining to him that all children are different, but he figured he had two children and I had two children and so it was the same. Nevermind that his docile girls would never dream of climbing a bush or jumping a fence. To imply that all kids are the same and that parenting is the same for everyone is crazy.

Children are all different. What works best for one child doesn't work for another (even in the same family). That's what makes parenting such a challenge! I'd love it if people would stop judging me as a parent based on what kind of kids they themselves have. My kids may not be docile and submissive all the time, but they're creative and a lot of fun. I may not be the best parent ever, but I'd like to think that I'm the best parent for them.

How have you been judged as a parent? (cause I know you have...)

~❀~ Chelsey ~❀~