Monday, September 28, 2015

My Super Chaotic Clan



One day I told my bored daughter that I was thinking my blog needed a new picture of our family. Preferably as super heroes. I gave her blank paper and said "make it happen."  

Here's what did happen. Not only did all five of us get capes with our initials on them, we also got indispensable powers bestowed upon us. And an intro like the deep-voiced narrator on cartoons. So you don't strain your eyes, I'll translate it here, but you'll have to insert your own voice over. 
"As we (the King family) [get ready for] school every morning, it's a rush. [but] not for Speedy Super Dad! (That'd be the hubs) Springy Shoe Mom (me!) bounces through the day (sometimes, but a good bra and Focus Factor keep the bouncing to a minimum). Super Carter (#3) flies through the school week. Stretchy Collin stretches his clothes out. (So true! He grows about an inch a week) Super Kailyn's laser eyes help them have nice grass!"
Can we just all agree this is awesome? I mean, tending the grass may be a slight waste of laser eyes, but as a super family, we rock! And I think my cape makes me look skinnier, so I'm ordering that exact one to wear every day. 

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

It Needed To Be Said

Social media has become a hotbed for adult cyber-bullying. Except we politely call it "mom-shaming" instead. There are militants in every camp pushing their way of doing things on everyone else as if it is the only way, and definitely the right way. The rest of us who don't conform to the right way are called out. You know what I'm talking about because you've done it, you've "liked" it, and you've been victim of it:

     If you don't breastfeed, you're robbing your kids. If you flop your breastfeeding tools out in public, you're a menace. If you don't send your children to a Christian school, you're setting them up for disaster. If you do send them to a Christian school, you are narrow-minded and snooty. If you don't home school, you must not care to spend time with your kids. If you do home school, you're keeping your kids in a bubble and not letting them thrive. Don't even get me started on the child abuse of NOT eating organic!
I could keep going, but you get it-there is an infinite list of things that we are all doing wrong, and our friends are the ones pointing it out to us.

If you're thinking I'm on my high horse telling all-a-y'all what you're doing wrong, please understand, I'm the worst offender of all. I've done it, and someone called me on it. My response was, "well it needed to be said." The truth is, no, it didn't need to be said. Neither do any of our commentaries about why workout clothes are offensive outside of the gym or why the way we choose to educate our kids is the best way. God didn't make us all to be his hands or his feet, and He sure enough didn't make us all to be the eyes and mouths!

Before you go all First Amendment on me and claim you have the right to say whatever you want, let me add that just because you can, doesn't mean you should, and if you wouldn't say it to someone's face, why do you (and I) think it's okay to say it online in front of everyone?

When did we start deciding we have the right to shame each other? Maybe we've always had the thoughts, and now thanks to the Internet, we feel emboldened to put them out there for everyone. No longer do we adults hold to the adage "if you wouldn't say it to their face, don't say it behind their back."  Now we just think it's our job to share it with the world.  And yet we are uber-quick to defend our kids from online attacks.

James 3:8 says "no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of poison." Verse 10 says, "Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing." Well, friends, whatever poison has inflicted our mouths has traveled to our hands and possessed the fingers as well. Again I ask you, if you wouldn't dare say it to someone's face, what right do you have to post it to the masses?