In my English class, we were given the assignment to look over a cartoon, and answer questions about it. The cartoon showed a child, with a pile of junk food all around him, while he's holding a giant soda. There is a person in a suit with a clipboard, telling the child that his vital signs are all great. In the background, it shows the child's vitals, and they are all over the place.
The questions we were asked to answer are as follows:
What is your perception of how children are targeted by advertisers today? Have brand awareness and demand for branded products increased since you were a child? Explain your answer.
In your opinion, what limits, if any, should be imposed on advertising for the children’s market? Explain.
What is this cartoon’s claim about the trend toward marketing to children? What is the cartoonist trying to achieve?
I was shocked at how many of my classmates responded that advertisers are targeting children more, because the parents just buy the children anything they want. One classmate said that parents feel guilty that their children can't have everything, so they buy it for them anyway. Another stated that children will always be begging for new toys, and the parents will always give in. They also went on to say that parents will buy their children name brands, because that's what they are begging for.
Does anyone else see something wrong with this? Aren't the parents supposed to be the parents, and the children be the children? Are we really raising the next spoiled generation? Why do parents give in to their children's whinings and begging?
I get that my children will beg for things, but I'm the mother, for heaven's sake. I'm not going to just give her our debit card and say, "Here Emily. You saw commercials for things you want, so go ahead and just go buy it. You have control over our finances."
I have to wonder if these classmates are the one that agrees with the new-ish law to take the toys out of kids meals, unless it's under a certain amount of calories, because the toys appeal to the kids too much. (Again, I am the parent. I will decide where and what we eat. Please don't take the toy out for my own sanity!!)
I think parents need to gain a backbone, and stop raising children that are overly spoiled and pampered. It's no wonder why children are growing up wanting everything handed to them on a silver platter.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Adventures with (and without) Little Miss
So, it's been way too long (if ever) since I wrote anything on here, and it just seemed like now would be a good time. Since the beginning of this month we've had some adventurous adventures, and some not-quite adventures, and we're planning on a few more crazy things before the summer's through.
I guess the best place to start would be the fourth of July, where my wife was the parade director's assistant for the second year running. Had a little more trouble this year because the equestrians weren't quite set up right and of course since I had work I couldn't be there to be the runner. She still managed to do a stellar job and had everything figured out for the parade, and this year there weren't even any riots between the dems and the repubs. Later on in the day, she bungee jumped the Grand Canyon. ....okay, so that's a bit of an exaggeration, but if it had been there she would have! She actually almost took our four month old (my wife is correcting me: 3 1/2 month old) up in the hot air balloons. She totally would have but was told there was some kind of rule saying that kids had to be at least a year old. So definitely next year. We're also going to move by next fourth, because the Stadium of Fire is just too much for our littlest princess. We could look out our living room window and watch the bigger ones reflected from the doctor's office next door, and the noise was of course more than adequate. That was Emily's latest night in a long while. Parenting is fun, but not when you have a cranky baby who can't get to sleep.
One of our best not-quite adventures would have to have been when we DIDN'T go up to PCMC for another of Emily's checkups. The docs said in June that since she's so obviously healthy and since there still aren't any symptoms, that at this point we could drop it down to every other month, which is a HUGE relief, because then we don't have to worry about the long drive to SLC followed by a couple of hours with doctors followed by another couple hour drive back. Kinda makes it into a day trip, but not the kind that you get to enjoy much. We also tend to disagree with the nurses and the doctors there a lot, since they're all about just drugging Emily up for the rest of her life, and we'd rather see more natural type treatments. Giving drugs to someone who's still healthy seems a bit much, especially when there's not much to indicate that she will get drastically sick. We're going back up at the end of August for some other tests and such, and if she can make it a whole year without showing symptoms, it's possible that they'll change the diagnosis from CF to a "CF related disorder".
Our latest adventure was a complete surprise (okay, so Yannie told me about it before we actually went, but only cause it was such a good surprise she couldn't hold it back any more!). She used her amazing connections and got us both a hotel room (free breakfast included, change of scenery, swimming pool, and not having to clean up after ourselves) and a babysitter (sleep all night, don't have to get up early, and just some time to be us again). Needless to say it was a perfect start to the weekend, and we both really enjoyed ourselves. The pool had too much chlorine, but that didn't stop us from having fun together. Getting away every now and again is a key part to staying together.
Last is the one we have planned: going on the annual Powell trip with my parents! We're still hoping I can get time off work, but that shouldn't be too hard to get taken care of. Could be a bit of a crazy adventure with a really young baby, but it's so much fun we don't want her to miss out! Besides, Yannie needs a chance to actually water ski...rather than having a lot of fun ("it's not fun till you get up! I appreciate the enthusiasm but that wasn't fun"- Dad last year) getting pulled over and dragged by a boat. Oh, and this will be the first chance my brother Daniel will really have to get to know my wife and child.
Lots of good times behind and plenty more ahead!
I guess the best place to start would be the fourth of July, where my wife was the parade director's assistant for the second year running. Had a little more trouble this year because the equestrians weren't quite set up right and of course since I had work I couldn't be there to be the runner. She still managed to do a stellar job and had everything figured out for the parade, and this year there weren't even any riots between the dems and the repubs. Later on in the day, she bungee jumped the Grand Canyon. ....okay, so that's a bit of an exaggeration, but if it had been there she would have! She actually almost took our four month old (my wife is correcting me: 3 1/2 month old) up in the hot air balloons. She totally would have but was told there was some kind of rule saying that kids had to be at least a year old. So definitely next year. We're also going to move by next fourth, because the Stadium of Fire is just too much for our littlest princess. We could look out our living room window and watch the bigger ones reflected from the doctor's office next door, and the noise was of course more than adequate. That was Emily's latest night in a long while. Parenting is fun, but not when you have a cranky baby who can't get to sleep.
One of our best not-quite adventures would have to have been when we DIDN'T go up to PCMC for another of Emily's checkups. The docs said in June that since she's so obviously healthy and since there still aren't any symptoms, that at this point we could drop it down to every other month, which is a HUGE relief, because then we don't have to worry about the long drive to SLC followed by a couple of hours with doctors followed by another couple hour drive back. Kinda makes it into a day trip, but not the kind that you get to enjoy much. We also tend to disagree with the nurses and the doctors there a lot, since they're all about just drugging Emily up for the rest of her life, and we'd rather see more natural type treatments. Giving drugs to someone who's still healthy seems a bit much, especially when there's not much to indicate that she will get drastically sick. We're going back up at the end of August for some other tests and such, and if she can make it a whole year without showing symptoms, it's possible that they'll change the diagnosis from CF to a "CF related disorder".
Our latest adventure was a complete surprise (okay, so Yannie told me about it before we actually went, but only cause it was such a good surprise she couldn't hold it back any more!). She used her amazing connections and got us both a hotel room (free breakfast included, change of scenery, swimming pool, and not having to clean up after ourselves) and a babysitter (sleep all night, don't have to get up early, and just some time to be us again). Needless to say it was a perfect start to the weekend, and we both really enjoyed ourselves. The pool had too much chlorine, but that didn't stop us from having fun together. Getting away every now and again is a key part to staying together.
Last is the one we have planned: going on the annual Powell trip with my parents! We're still hoping I can get time off work, but that shouldn't be too hard to get taken care of. Could be a bit of a crazy adventure with a really young baby, but it's so much fun we don't want her to miss out! Besides, Yannie needs a chance to actually water ski...rather than having a lot of fun ("it's not fun till you get up! I appreciate the enthusiasm but that wasn't fun"- Dad last year) getting pulled over and dragged by a boat. Oh, and this will be the first chance my brother Daniel will really have to get to know my wife and child.
Lots of good times behind and plenty more ahead!
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Addictions
Addictions are things that you just can't shake. Even if you work hard at overcoming them. And addictions don't have to neccessarily be drugs and things like that. Recently, I've been wanting to self-harm again. Thankfully, I have not given in to this urge.
Several years ago, my cutting was getting out of control. The last time I hurt myself in that manner, I had to get stitches. It's now been over 2 years. February 9, 2009 was the last time I cut myself. That night, I cut my writst. I wasn't trying to commit suicide. I just wanted to feel relief. Relief from my problems, everything, and cutting seemed to give that to me. At least temporarily.
Each cut only gave me relief for a short time, and then I had to cut again. It was a vicious cycle and I couldn't get out of it. So, what made me change? That night, the last time I cut, that was the worst that I have ever cut. I just kept applying pressure to the blade on my wrist. More and more pressure. That night, I managed to cut a tendon in my writst.
The sight of that, hit me, and hit me hard. So, that was the very last time that I cut, but now it's getting hard to fight that addiction again. I've wanted so badly this past week to just give up. I keep thinking that two years means nothing, although I know that is far from the truth. In my heart at least. It's been getting harder to fight it. Michael has been a great help with this. He hasn't given up on me, and I can talk to him when it gets too hard. I trust him, and am able to open up to him well.
Another thing I've been fighting, is wanting to go back to my old eating habits. If you can call them that. With the warm weather, I want to have the perfect body, which I definitely don't as of right now. I want to go back to the whole not-eating, and working-out too much. I've been trying to convince myself that it would be remarkably easy to hide. From Michael and from his family.
That's another reason that I haven't done either of these. Michael's family. They've all been there for me, and are always willing to help me. Especially Dad. Dad has pulled me aside more than once, and is highly interesting in hearing what I have to say.
I don't know why I'm writing this, but I felt like I should. I haven't given in to either, and I don't plan to. I have people that I can talk to, heck, just writing this, is much better than I was in the past. Maybe that's why I felt pushed to write this. maybe it's more for me than for anyone else. I'm proud of how far I've come, and I'm going to continue working on this. Like all addictions, it won't go away, but I can work on managing it.
Several years ago, my cutting was getting out of control. The last time I hurt myself in that manner, I had to get stitches. It's now been over 2 years. February 9, 2009 was the last time I cut myself. That night, I cut my writst. I wasn't trying to commit suicide. I just wanted to feel relief. Relief from my problems, everything, and cutting seemed to give that to me. At least temporarily.
Each cut only gave me relief for a short time, and then I had to cut again. It was a vicious cycle and I couldn't get out of it. So, what made me change? That night, the last time I cut, that was the worst that I have ever cut. I just kept applying pressure to the blade on my wrist. More and more pressure. That night, I managed to cut a tendon in my writst.
The sight of that, hit me, and hit me hard. So, that was the very last time that I cut, but now it's getting hard to fight that addiction again. I've wanted so badly this past week to just give up. I keep thinking that two years means nothing, although I know that is far from the truth. In my heart at least. It's been getting harder to fight it. Michael has been a great help with this. He hasn't given up on me, and I can talk to him when it gets too hard. I trust him, and am able to open up to him well.
Another thing I've been fighting, is wanting to go back to my old eating habits. If you can call them that. With the warm weather, I want to have the perfect body, which I definitely don't as of right now. I want to go back to the whole not-eating, and working-out too much. I've been trying to convince myself that it would be remarkably easy to hide. From Michael and from his family.
That's another reason that I haven't done either of these. Michael's family. They've all been there for me, and are always willing to help me. Especially Dad. Dad has pulled me aside more than once, and is highly interesting in hearing what I have to say.
I don't know why I'm writing this, but I felt like I should. I haven't given in to either, and I don't plan to. I have people that I can talk to, heck, just writing this, is much better than I was in the past. Maybe that's why I felt pushed to write this. maybe it's more for me than for anyone else. I'm proud of how far I've come, and I'm going to continue working on this. Like all addictions, it won't go away, but I can work on managing it.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Smiling
Have you ever taken the time to really think about what makes you smile? Or the fact that your smile is sometimes all that is needed to make someone else smile? I started thinking about this, this morning as I was looking at pictures of my niece I had taken while feeling little Emily moving around. :) I realized something. I tend to take for granted the things I enjoy. For one reason or another, I take for granted the things I find the most joy in. Doesn't this seem a bit backwards?
I don't stop and think about the immense joy my family brings to me. Granted I do think about my family, and what they do for us, but I don't actually think about all of the amazing times I have with them. I don't think about how much I would feel blank if they suddenly were to disappear. I tend to take them for granted.
Another thing I'm great at taking for granted is education. I tend to complain sometimes that it's too hard or whatever my complaints may be that day. What about the day when women couldn't go to school, and only the high-class males could? What about the instructors that put so much time into teaching us different principles? Do I ever thank them? Or how about all the different resources out there for me learn from- do I ever stop and ponder how much time and effort went into them?
For me, these are two things that bring me immense joy. My ever-growing family, and education, and yet, these are two things that I take for granted. Isn't that ironic? I feel I could and should be doing much better on this. On saying how much I appreciate both of these things, and how much I appreciate what goes into it, and the people that are always there.
Anyway, that was my little smiling/grateful/takes for granted tandgent. Until next time.
I don't stop and think about the immense joy my family brings to me. Granted I do think about my family, and what they do for us, but I don't actually think about all of the amazing times I have with them. I don't think about how much I would feel blank if they suddenly were to disappear. I tend to take them for granted.
Another thing I'm great at taking for granted is education. I tend to complain sometimes that it's too hard or whatever my complaints may be that day. What about the day when women couldn't go to school, and only the high-class males could? What about the instructors that put so much time into teaching us different principles? Do I ever thank them? Or how about all the different resources out there for me learn from- do I ever stop and ponder how much time and effort went into them?
For me, these are two things that bring me immense joy. My ever-growing family, and education, and yet, these are two things that I take for granted. Isn't that ironic? I feel I could and should be doing much better on this. On saying how much I appreciate both of these things, and how much I appreciate what goes into it, and the people that are always there.
Anyway, that was my little smiling/grateful/takes for granted tandgent. Until next time.
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Life...whoa...
You know how they say that life comes at you fast, yeah, we've really been experiencing that lately. Quite frequently actually.
About two weeks ago, we were driving to the temple, and when we stopped, we started looking for a pack of gum. We couldn't find the gum pack, so we looked in the glove box, only to discover that all of the papers we had in the car were gone. Not just- oh we misplaced them. Like- oh crap it's been stolen. We were going crazy that night trying to figure out how to handle this. Ok, more me than Michael. We finally called the police department, who had an officer come and take a report. He gave us a card with the case number on it, and said that if we should get pulled over in a routine traffic stop, that that should be good enough to say, "hey we really do have registration!" But that we could still get a ticket. Fabulous. Thankfully we haven't been pulled over yet, but I can't help but feel that we're kind of playing with fire on that one, so this coming Monday, we're going to go to the DMV, to get a copy of our registration. Thankfully, that won't take too much doing.
I started school again as well. I'm back at Provo College studying Medical Assisting. I kept feeling like there was something I was needing to do, which included being back in school. I was talking with Michael, and he said to go for it. I called the school on a Wednesday, and the very next day, I was in classes again. I feel absolutely grateful and amazed to have the opportunity to be back in school. I love learning, and I love teaching that which I learn to others.
Last night, (October first) Michael and I went to his mission reunion, and they had a testimony meeting. I started thinking about one of the missionary moments I've had that impressed me greatly. I was up in Salt Lake with, then my fiance (no not Michael. Long story.) and I felt very strongly that I should bring an extra Book of Mormon with me. Gratefully I listened to this feeling. We were in one of the museums there by the temple, looking at the Angel Moroni statue, and a lady asked if we could explain who he was, and why he was important. Immediately, I started explaining what I knew, and pulled out the Book of Mormon which I quoted. I asked her if I could leave the book with her. I remember the look of utter joy on her face as she took it from me, telling me that this was the greatest gift anyone had given her. I remember feeling the spirit so strongly as we were talking with her, and it really made me pause. I could feel how much love Heavenly Father had for her, and I could see how badly she had been looking for the truth. To be honest, it reminded me of when I was meeting with the missionaries. I knew, without any doubt, that this is the true church. I just had to get my mom to say okay to me being baptized. Which proved to not be that difficult after bearing my small testimony to her. I couldn't help but think about this woman last night, and where she was now. Did she continue on the path she was pursuing that day, or did she take a different path? Either way, I know that Heavenly Father loves her dearly, as he does for all of us.
So, yes, life has been coming at us rather rapidly, but somehow we're still chugging along. Together. We're doing everything we can to be there for the other, and to support and encourage the other. Sometimes we may stumble, but we always get back up, even if we need the support of other. I love Michael dearly, and am very happy in our marriage. It may not be perfect-our marriage that is- we have disagreements, and disputes. We have hard times. But we talk through them. We rely on each other, and especially Heavenly Father. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of all of us, and our various hardships, and that he wants to help us, but we need to take the first step and ask for his help. I'm grateful for my life, the people in it, and the different steps I've taken to get where I am.
About two weeks ago, we were driving to the temple, and when we stopped, we started looking for a pack of gum. We couldn't find the gum pack, so we looked in the glove box, only to discover that all of the papers we had in the car were gone. Not just- oh we misplaced them. Like- oh crap it's been stolen. We were going crazy that night trying to figure out how to handle this. Ok, more me than Michael. We finally called the police department, who had an officer come and take a report. He gave us a card with the case number on it, and said that if we should get pulled over in a routine traffic stop, that that should be good enough to say, "hey we really do have registration!" But that we could still get a ticket. Fabulous. Thankfully we haven't been pulled over yet, but I can't help but feel that we're kind of playing with fire on that one, so this coming Monday, we're going to go to the DMV, to get a copy of our registration. Thankfully, that won't take too much doing.
I started school again as well. I'm back at Provo College studying Medical Assisting. I kept feeling like there was something I was needing to do, which included being back in school. I was talking with Michael, and he said to go for it. I called the school on a Wednesday, and the very next day, I was in classes again. I feel absolutely grateful and amazed to have the opportunity to be back in school. I love learning, and I love teaching that which I learn to others.
Last night, (October first) Michael and I went to his mission reunion, and they had a testimony meeting. I started thinking about one of the missionary moments I've had that impressed me greatly. I was up in Salt Lake with, then my fiance (no not Michael. Long story.) and I felt very strongly that I should bring an extra Book of Mormon with me. Gratefully I listened to this feeling. We were in one of the museums there by the temple, looking at the Angel Moroni statue, and a lady asked if we could explain who he was, and why he was important. Immediately, I started explaining what I knew, and pulled out the Book of Mormon which I quoted. I asked her if I could leave the book with her. I remember the look of utter joy on her face as she took it from me, telling me that this was the greatest gift anyone had given her. I remember feeling the spirit so strongly as we were talking with her, and it really made me pause. I could feel how much love Heavenly Father had for her, and I could see how badly she had been looking for the truth. To be honest, it reminded me of when I was meeting with the missionaries. I knew, without any doubt, that this is the true church. I just had to get my mom to say okay to me being baptized. Which proved to not be that difficult after bearing my small testimony to her. I couldn't help but think about this woman last night, and where she was now. Did she continue on the path she was pursuing that day, or did she take a different path? Either way, I know that Heavenly Father loves her dearly, as he does for all of us.
So, yes, life has been coming at us rather rapidly, but somehow we're still chugging along. Together. We're doing everything we can to be there for the other, and to support and encourage the other. Sometimes we may stumble, but we always get back up, even if we need the support of other. I love Michael dearly, and am very happy in our marriage. It may not be perfect-our marriage that is- we have disagreements, and disputes. We have hard times. But we talk through them. We rely on each other, and especially Heavenly Father. I know that Heavenly Father is mindful of all of us, and our various hardships, and that he wants to help us, but we need to take the first step and ask for his help. I'm grateful for my life, the people in it, and the different steps I've taken to get where I am.
Wednesday, September 08, 2010
Baby news
I hit 13 weeks yesterday, and how did we celebrate?? We listened to the heartbeat. The baby wasn't too happy about the coldness of the jelly, and I felt her moving around for quite awhile after we got home. We get an ultrasound in about 7 weeks. YAY!!!! :)
Okay, that's all on the baby news.
Okay, that's all on the baby news.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Blessings-Hidden and not so hidden
So, Michael and I have been receiving blessing after blessing lately. Both big and small, hidden and not so hidden. It still amazes me how much Heavenly Father is trusting, guiding, respecting, loving us. It just seems to me that one day all this should just run out, but that's definitely not the case. Thank goodness.
I am so grateful for all we have been given, and all the help we have received. I know that there's a plan for us, even if it doesn't necessarily jive with what we have planned for our life. :) I'm amazed that Heavenly Father has put the people in our life that we need the most right now, and that they haven't turned their back on us.
Well, it looks like this is yet another short entry, but I have to run. :P Not literally. Well, kind of. Mostly I just have to go do some errands. Fun times...ish.
I am so grateful for all we have been given, and all the help we have received. I know that there's a plan for us, even if it doesn't necessarily jive with what we have planned for our life. :) I'm amazed that Heavenly Father has put the people in our life that we need the most right now, and that they haven't turned their back on us.
Well, it looks like this is yet another short entry, but I have to run. :P Not literally. Well, kind of. Mostly I just have to go do some errands. Fun times...ish.
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