A Message From your Favorite 85 Year Old

I am beginning to feel like an old lady. I get so irritated with the way we do things these days and long for "the way we used to do things". Today, Kate came home from Vacation Bible School singing:

Father Abraham
Had many kids;
And many kids had Father Abraham.

What?!

Exactly when did Father Abraham stop having sons? Are we really that sensitive that we think we have to change "sons" to "kids"?!! Would Kate have come home crying because she felt left out since Father Abraham didn't have any daughters? Of course she wouldn't have. She wouldn't have cared. And let's not forget that even in the Bible, Abraham only has sons. Period. That is part of history. Are we going to re-write the Bible and give him a daughter named Makayla? (I won't even mention how much I long for the days of traditional baby names - Makayla has GOT to go!) So why is it necessary to change the lyrics of a children's song?

I think we take all of this political correctness - this, let's not leave anyone out-business to the extreme. It's ridiculous. Shouldn't we be volunteering in schools or recycling or trying to cure cancer instead of worrying about semantics?

And you know that in school now, children no longer sit Indian-style. They now sit "criss-cross applesauce".

Really?

Seriously, really?!

This one I guess I understand better than sons/kids because of negative stereotyping, and perhaps if I were of Native American heritage I would better understand why it is offensive. But, why is it an insult to have a name for the way a person sits? It's not like it's called I-Think-I'm-Better-Than-Indians-style...

And, while we're talking things that annoy me, I should probably mention how much I loathe the fact that we have kindergarten graduation ceremonies. Yes, I will attend them when my children have them because I'm sure it will be a cute ceremony (plus, there is a lot of shame in being the only parent not in attendance). But c'mon - what are these kids doing to warrant a graduation? Way to take a nap, children! Good singing, class! Nice pipe-cleaner dexterity, boys and girls! REALLY!

And I am also not a fan of giving everyone a trophy - including the teams that lose. There is a lot of value in learning to lose. Kids have to learn that things do not and will not always go their way. We have to prepare them for that. They should learn to want to be winners, but they should know how to handle themselves if they are not the ones who come out on top. You know that guy at work that you don't like who feels a sense of entitlement, who is a jerk to everyone and contributes nothing of value yet takes credit for other people's work? He got a trophy when he didn't earn one. He doesn't know how to lose and therefore does not know how to function on a team. I don't want to work with him. And I certainly do not want my kids to be like him.

So,

* Abraham now has "kids".

* We sit in a way that is called but has absolutely nothing to do with applesauce.

* Five year olds dress in caps and gowns to signify their making it through a grade whose most important feat is considered learning to not ingest paste.

* And, losing teams are awarded trophies.


Here are some things that I believe we should be concentrating on instead of the above mentioned items:



1. Making people stop littering and expecting others to clean up their messes.

2. Being more considerate of others by not talking on your cell phone so loudly in public places that everyone has to listen to your conversation.

3. Making people stop driving like complete asses (texting while driving, not letting poeple over, not using turn signals, etc.)

4. Holding poeple accountable for their own actions and not rewarding them for blaming other people for their mistakes/misfortunes.

5. Teaching our children to be kind to people, to be honest, and to be patient. Also, teaching them that things of value have to be earned in this world.

Those are all easily accomplished and would actually do far more for the injustices in society than any of the things in the start of this post. They are certainly more important than the time, energy and cost associated with all of them.

Am I the only reasonable person out there? Or am I truly just out of touch and unable to accept the way the current world works? I know, I know, I sound like everyone's great-grandmother with all of this ranting. Wait, maybe I should say great-grandperson. I need to be less offensive to my male readers.

My apologies.