What a happy (cough) close-knit (cough) family

An advertisement came through my email this morning from a company in Europe selling something called a "master charger."

According to the ad's script:

Charger for the whole family! Gone are the days of having a whole bunch of small chargers hanging from the plug sockets and extension leads. It is uneconomical, a waste of electricity and inconvenient. A stylish and affordable convenience for the home.

Okay, fine, whatever. But accompanying the ad was this photo of a (cough) happy close-knit family:

This -- this! -- is supposed to be an example of a happy close-knit family? Look at them! They're all staring at their stinkin' little screen like it holds the secret of life. They don't look at each other. They don't talk with each other, they don't laugh with each other. They're -- staring -- at -- screens. Zombies.

This photo encapsulates my continuing gripe about personal electronics. They alienate people, even supposedly happy and close-knit families.

Are modern personal electronics making things better? Are people learning to communicate more easily? Will this "master charger" improve family dynamics and make a home a happy, close-knit place?

I doubt it.

Okay, rant over.

The ultimate curse

Reader Rob sent a charming email that concluded with what I thought was a wonderful "curse."

Ready?

"May you have a rich harvest of produce and familial love. It drives the feminists nuts!!"

Can I get an amen?

A thankless job? Not necessarily.

Stay-at-home moms are forever lamenting how thankless our jobs are and how unappreciated we are by society at large. Oh sure, WE know we're doing the right things. Our husbands know we're doing the right thing. Our kids know we're doing the right thing. The annoying thing is when others Don't Get It. These are the people unable to see the "big picture" when it comes to raising our children, namely the benefits these well-raised people will bring to society when they're adults.

So this little snippet from a letter to Dr. Laura was, I thought, well phrased:

Society may laugh at me now, but in a handful of years I will have nurtured three productive and God-fearing members of society who will have morals, keep their clothes on, and have edifying words spring forth from their lips. I won't, however, hold my breath waiting for the naysayers' "thank yous" for my societal contribution.

Women Against Women (Part 4)

Here's Part 4 of my Women Against Women rant.

UPDATE: Melody left such a nifty comment on this post that I felt I had to bring it forward so it wouldn't get buried:

I learned how to lie in self-defense in kindergarten. It went something like this:

"Melody," said the teacher, "what do you want to be when you grow up?"

"I want to take care of a pretty house." (Keep in mind that I was only 5 years old.)

"But you can do anything you want! What do you want to do?"

"I want to take care of a pretty house!"

"Sweetie, you can be anything you want to be - you don't have to be a (insert derisive tone here) house wife."

"But I want to take care of a pretty house!" (cue tears)

So, in self-defense, whenever asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I would answer, "I want to be a lawyer."

It took a while, but I finally reached my dream - I get to take care of a pretty house, teach my children, take my time to cook nutritious meals and pamper my husband. THAT'S truly "having it all."

Melody

Whoo-hoo Melody! You rock, woman!

Lambs to the Slaughter

Come see my latest article at RegularGuy.com entitled "Lambs to the Slaughter."

All right!! Let's just rut like animals!

Is it any wonder that people are disgusted with Planned Parenthood?


Their latest charming escapade is a report issued in Europe to demand (yes, demand!) "that "children 10 and older be given a "comprehensive sexuality education" by governments, aid organizations and other groups, and that young people should be seen as "sexual beings."

Naturally, anyone who objects is branded as a religious nut. "Young people's sexuality is still contentious for many religious institutions. Fundamentalist and other religious groups — the Catholic Church and madrasas (Islamic Schools) for example — have imposed tremendous barriers that prevent young people, particularly, from obtaining information and services related to sex and reproduction. Currently, many religious teachings deny the pleasurable and positive aspects of sex," the report states.

Uh, excuse me...none of us "religious groups" deny "the pleasurable and positive aspects of sex." We just assert it should be enjoyed within the bounds of marriage. Yes, marriage - remember that?

The report argues that sex education should be "recast" to show sexuality as a "positive force for change and development, as a source of pleasure, an embodiment of human rights and an expression of self."

AT TEN YEARS OLD??? Our bull is obsessed with sex because he's an animal and cannot control himself. Surely people are a bit more elevated than our herd sire?

And hello, mindless animal sex results in unplanned and unwanted babies. Does Planned Parenthood grasp the connection here? Oh silly me, of course they do. After all, they're trying to stay in business in this tough economy just like everyone else.

On second thought, this whole escapade makes perfect sense. Never mind.

(Although just as a mental exercise...I wonder if the ten-year-old daughter of this report's author were to start having mindless animal sex because she was taught to be a "sexual being," would her mommy or daddy object? Just askin'.)

Thank God we homeschool. Planned Parenthood has a harder time getting their clutches on my kids in a home environment.