You deserve an applause !

MonicaConde — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:15:08 -0500

You are doing something great with your daughter. You took the time to explain the reasons of your decision instead of going with the mainstream trends. To me, thats a great education example and is something to admire nowadays.

Monica Conde

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Caity is so bitter that her room is a pale blue....

Crunchy Carpets — Mon, 12 May 2008 11:19:36 -0500

AND we have antique prints of REAL fairies.

BUT they clash with the DISNEY Princess and BARBIE princess tat that is everywhere.

She has amassed a great collection...

We haven't painted Adam's room yet...he picked Apple Green and ORANGE...instead it is awash in transformer and superhero posters.

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This cracks me up

alyssaroyse — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:58:43 -0500

Although I am sure that I am unintentionally giving my daughter countless things to discuss in future therapy sessions, I'm thinking her room will be one of them. The Princess Phase? I just said NO. Sure, you can watch the videos if you want, but no, you may not have the back-pack, lunch-box, licensed sweatshirt..... But I cheated, i explained the nuances of commercialism and marketing to her. I laid it for her like most pernicious of traps, explained the tenants of media manipulation and addiction (i mean brand loyalty.) Her three year old eyes gazing up at me and saying, "but mommy, it's pretty."

I'll show you pretty..... National Geographic, now that's pretty!

She's almost 10 now. And, until she's in therapy and hating me for it, I "won" the battle of branded kids crap. And yes, I won it with National Geographic and butter-yellow paint.

Yellow walls, I explained to her, are totally neutral. And, by virtue of being neutral, we can re-design her room whenever she wants! (Manipulation and bribery have always been the mainstays of successful parenting, have they not?) Then, we go through countless old National Geographics and she can do whatever she wants. Currently we are enjoying a China theme - some paper dragons, paper lanterns and a dozen paper parasols hanging from the ceiling. Chinatown, for about $50.

Next, however, we're headed for the Mariana Trench. China stuff will be replaced with seaweed, fish, paper mache sea creatures that we will make together.

Now, to see if I can make the logic of "neutral" appeal to her with the braces she gets on Wednesday. Who decided to offer kids Purple braces? That's awful! But, if I can talk her into the clear ones, then we can just change the color of the rubber bands whenever she changes her hair color..... hmmmm.....

___________
Alyssa Royse
JUST CAUSE: A Web Site To Save The World

Start Her Up: A blog for Women Entrepreneurs

BlogHer - girl's room - Comments

You deserve an applause !

Caity is so bitter that her room is a pale blue....

This cracks me up