Craving Vanilla

Last updated on: January 13, 2015 at 1:57 pm by Rebecca Frech

Craving Vanilla 2015-01-13T13:57:04-05:00 Rebecca Frech

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The little girls at the pool were running, splashing, and calling out to one another. There were 6 of them, and as their mothers called out to them to slow down and walk, I heard their names, all so creative as to be almost exotic. It quickly became a game of make-believe as any gathering of 8 year old girls will, and they began calling out their “names” to each other.

“Call me Susan!”
“I’m Annie!”
“I want to be Emily, but spelled the regular way!”

Across the way, a little boy’s face changed from boredom to annoyance as he waited for his mother to stop explaining the elaborate snack she had devised for him. His little hand kept darting out to snatch grapes and shove them in his mouth as his mother continued to regale her friends with tales of her own cleverness.

That’s when the truth hit me. Motherhood has become a full contact competitive sport, and the children don’t seem to be amused.

Where birthday parties once were centered around cake, friends, and goofy games; they now involve designer cakes,

Exhibit A: The First Birthday cake

paid entertainment,

face painters,

elaborate bounce houses,

and expensive party favors.

Children’s parties have become an physical representation of how adored a child is instead of a celebration of his being alive. It’s funny too, because the parties my own children talk about for weeks are the ones where they get to run and play with the other kids without too much input from the grownups. They’d much rather the moms hang out in the kitchen than have them directing them in how to have fun. They like the simple ones best.

Then there are the names….oh those horrendously spelled children’s names. What are parents trying to prove? The intention behind giving a unique name to each child and thereby making her stand out from her peers seems to be an obvious one. Which is why you’re much more likely to meet a Paisley at the playground than a Mary. What these parents don’t seem to realize is that when everyone’s name is unique,they all blend in together and become a new kind of common. So how to set them apart? Spelling of course, because Megan isn’t fabulous enough, so she’s names Meaghanne. And whom do these fabulously named children want to be? “Emily, spelled the regular way.”

Are we doing a disservice to our children by being continually in pursuit of

In making their everyday lives a living fairy tale, what are we leaving for them to dream about?

They’re dreaming of vanilla. They’re yearning for simple, honest, and unfussy. They want to be able to pull on t-shirts and run in the grass. They want to go to the pool and not have to worry about remembering to wear the matching hair bow. They want mom to show she loves them by spending her time with them instead of her money on them. They want to be able to spell their own names.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

May 5, 2012

To My Daughter on Her Confirmation Day

Next Post

May 8, 2012 3 1/2 Time Outs Tuesday - Lucky # 13

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does "forgive us our trespasses as we forgive"" mean in the Lord's Prayer?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Pray for revenge We should forgive others Ask for wealth Hold grudges