I was having a discussion with some friends about kids-shirts. So often when I see a nice shirt it has a text like "I love Rock and Roll" or "I'm a rebel". Well, for me that is not something I want my kids to wear so I don't buy it (even though it might be a real nice shirt). The ppl I spoke with really didn't understand that. Come on.....is their reaction. From that I was thinking, can you help me make a short list of things that 'the world thinks of it's normal but when you think more you - as a christian - see that it is not normal'. Going to ps for example is the 'norm' here, ppl don't even think about 'is school normal?'. Or when I hear ppl talk about nursing / bottle feeding you hear that bottle feeding is the norm (standard) and not nursing (while I think nursing should be the standard). you see it in sentences like 'mothermilk is better for your child' In that sentence formula is the standard and mothermilk is better than the standard. In my view we should say 'formula is worse'. Know what I mean? Could you help me think about these things?? I would love to grow myself in these things and see things more Gods way ;-)
While I understand what you are saying and asking, I'm not sure if I'm giving an answer you are looking for (I know, I know, that doesn't make sense....lol). I'll give it a go, anyhow. I've noticed that the norm for a mom is to classify herself based on her job to mother status. We use terms like "Work at home mom" (WAHM), "Stay at home mom" (SAHM), and "Work outside the home mom" (WOHM). These are the normal classifications when introducing ourselves, especially online. When I tell people that I am a 'housewife', I usually get funny looks. (caution, I'm about to be SOOO not politically correct here.) Biblically speaking, I think I should classify myself in relation to my husband, rather than my children. Our marriage is more important than my relationship with my children, even if only slightly more so. I am a wife first. I was a wife before my children and I will be a wife after they have left my care. If my relationship with my husband is not strong, I can't possibly adequately mother my children. I am secure enough with my self esteem that I have no problems defining myself through my husband. Though I can't fully grasp how defining ones' self through their children is somehow better. For the record, I don't think that I "need" to define myself in relation to anyone, but if I'm going to, it should be my husband. Anyhow. That's my two cents. Please put away your rotten tomatoes. This shirt is dry clean only.
oh yes, this is exaclty what I mean...and what you say is so true!! the other day (really) I was on a dutch forum and someone asked to put the follwing in the right order: I - husband - children - family - friends My contribution was: God (smile, I added that one) - marriage in which husband first than me (not so much cause he is the man, cause in his 'list' I would be before him) - children - family&friends I was the only one who put husband above children.... THANK YOU!
I agree with the shirts that have saying on them. There are some that we think are cute, but when we pull them out they have evil looking things or saying that I don't feel are appropriate! I agree, too, Amie with identifying myself with my husband. That, to me, is the way God set it up when we were created, and I feel very comfortable with it! We actually don't feel comfortable with the Harry Potter series of books. Witchcraft is not a part of God, and not something that's good to play around with! We are SOOOOOO different than most others because of that. But that's how we feel, so we don't get the books or see the movies, while many to most people we know do. Now you can put away your rotten tomatoes, cuz I'm going to get on my dry clean only clothes!
Well I suppose I am a bit different because I do allow some shirts like that but it depends on what they say. Samantha and her friend have matching shirts that say "Caution: Severe Mood Swings Possible" with little hearts and smily faces on it. Now I do not allow those stupid bunny shirts that say rude things. I forget what they are called. I take it on a case by case basis. I would put God first, then husband, children, friends and then last would be extended family. Some of my friends are closer than family. I guess I would add that some people think shows like Family Guy and American Dad are funny. I think they are crude, crass, tacky and totally not going to be viewed in my home. Also vulgar music, or racial slurs. I HATE that and it isn't okay with me at all. I do believe nursing is best. Although I didn't nurse Grace because I was going to college and she was being kept by her grandma during the day. I think staying home with your children and being a helper to your husband is best. Keeping a clean home, cooking nutritious meals, raising your own kids is way better than two parents working two fulltime jobs while kids are in daycare until 6pm. But that seems to be the norm and those of us who stay home are often considered lazy.
It's normal to: Allow the world to raise your children without batting an eyelash. To allow a 4 year old to dress sexy AND encourage it. To say that being beautiful is better than being smart. Oh I could go on but I'm just getting angry! The world is NOT NORMAL!!!! CHEERING those of us who go against the flow! PS ActressDancer - LOVED your reply regarding how to classify yourself! I'm going to start calling myself a Housewife and Mother! LOL
I know Krista thinking of those things kinda makes me mad too! It makes me mad that we are the ones who are thought of as strange. I especially don't like it when people put their kids in daycare all dang day and then think we are strange for hs'ing.
I know this is a little off topic but my boys came home from their public high school on Friday and told us there is a new rule at their school. No flags of any type, including the US flag, on clothes, cars or jewelry, no religious symbols or clothing, including my kids youth groups tees and hoodies which they adore and wore all last winter. I was just floored when they told me this. I asked why and it seems a kid came in with a shirt with a Rebel flag on it. The shirt said "100% cotton and your mama picked it". I was speechless. I don't know where this will end but I expect it to get worse before it is over. The ones with the Rebel flags say they are all going to bring/wear them to school tomorrow. I would take mine out of school but they are seniors and want to finish at their school. We will see what happens tomorrow. Please pray for a peaceful solution.
Nursing is definitely normal to me. But almost everyone I know bottle fed. Dh came home from work one day and told me about a lady who said breastfeeding is nasty, that's why God created bottles! Lol, I never thought of it quite like that. It also seems normal to put your babies in something, whether it's a carseat, swing, bouncy seat, crib, walker, whatever. I think it's completely normal to hold your baby.
Oh, and how can I forget! We were on the way to the farm to pick up some milk, meat, and cottage cheese and we stopped to see BIL on the way. When we were leaving and told him where we were going, he thought it was strange. I guess it's normal to think milk comes from a grocery store!
I was just thinking about the "classifying yourself" thing the other day. My dad does our taxes, and the first time he did them after I had quit working, I noticed he filled in "homemaker" on occupation. I thought that was really nice, because I think it is soooo important that I make a HOME for my family, you know? So, yay for dad!:lol:
Well I guess Im not part of the "norm" Im a single mom who works outside of the house, puts her child in daycare(family)35-40hrs a week and homeschools. Sorry no husband to define myself by but I dont NEED a husband to define myself..I am my own person a dh does not make me who I am. In my "quest" of dating I seem to be on I find alot of men dont want a secure woman, even thou they will tell you they do..why am I a threat? Do I shift the balance of thier "manhood"? I know Im in the majority on this board as being a single mom but hearing women define themselves behind their husbands upsets me. Just my thoughts...
We are pilgrims and strangers on earth--just passing through. We're going to be considered peculiar and will inevitably encounter misunderstandings (and in some countries, even persecution). I'm often tempted to hide my true values, because I dislike to be considered peculiar, even among Christians. You're right, Patricia, the norm is no longer normal. Perversions, sloth, sarcasm, strife, conformity,--all those things get higher ratings than loving one's husband, homemaking, and home-style child-rearing. I guess you could make a shirt that says: I'M WEIRD! I ENJOY MAKING A HOME FOR MY HUSBAND AND CHILDREN! or how about a politically incorrect quote about serving God, pleasing my husband, and training my own children.
Melissa, we must have posted at the same time, and I probably would have worded my post differently if I had read yours first. Never-the-less, I'll amend it now by saying that those of us who are married, because of that fact, define ourselves partially as wives. I think, if I'm reading the posts on this thread correctly, that those of us here who are married believe that that should affect our priorities. That belief is no longer considered "normal." (Not that our situation is any "better" than anyone else's situation, but since this is our situation, we choose to honor our husband's position in our lives.) Just because you don't have a husband at the present time and do rely on family to help provide day care, does not necessarily mean that your values are at odds with this belief. (They might be, though. I don't know.) What you said is appropriate, Melissa. I can see how you could feel uncomfortable with this conversaion, yet it's not about specific situations. It's about beliefs. I hope you feel free to continue to join in!
Technically, it is already disrespectful to the flag to wear it on your person. Ask any marine, army or navy man over the age of 70 what the rules were when they were in WWII. My grandfather (who served in WWI an WWII in the Navy) refused to ever let us wear anything or do anything to the flag. See...now in the "normal" world it's appropriate to do all sorts of things to the flag - they even pardoned the guy who burned it a couple years ago b/c of the First Amendment. Anyway...there are "rules" around the American Flag that I'm not so offended that a school would prevent it - but then again that's NOT the reason their ruling against it, right? Come, Lord Jesus, Come. That's all I have to say anymore when I look at the world. I'm grateful HE is merciful b/c I certainly am not! Working on that one!
Bottle feeding is not normal letting kids watch TV as much as they want and anything they want is not a norm junk food, white sugar and things like that are not normal. More to it- they are really bad for your health! Promoting models, movie stars, being sickly skinny - not normal!!!!!!! And many other things That's why we are not of the world! Thank God!
Just to point out that this was included in my original post. I think that many of my "abnormal" Christian beliefs are also abnormal to most other Christians. I believe that Welfare should not be state run, but church run. It seems that many conservative Christians believe that any welfare in any form is just wrong. If you teach a man to fish and all that. However, I do believe that certain groups of people are supposed to be taken care of. Widows and orphans, anyone? And I believe that a welfare system that is church run, designed to help, not hinder, people to get back on their feet, and see them through tough spots is Biblical. I believe that the foster care system should also be church run. I believe that routinely injecting poison into my children in hopes that it just might prevent a disease is wrong (and yes, I mean wrong from a Biblical perspective. And for the record, most major outbreaks occur in groups of people who have been fully "immunized"). I believe that disposable diapers are a direct act of irresponsibility towards God's creation, as are many other "normal" things. At what point did the majority of Christians decide that they didn't have to do "green" things because of some lame excuse about God's timing and the Earth obviously surviving until He returns? I mean, come on.... The Earth will surely survive, as prophecy would imply, but what state it is in at that point will directly affect us none-the-less. And "survive" is hardly the world I would prefer. "Flourish" would be much better. Considering the Earth, and all that is in it, was one of the very first gifts God gave us, I'd say that if we can't take proper care of it, we're in sorry shape spiritually. [Yes, I am speaking in sweeping generalities here. I understand that perhaps, with this group, I may be preaching to the proverbial choir.] *steps off her soap box and returns to her semi-normal calm self*
