Sunday, October 31, 2010

NERDS are Good, Right?



Our church finished up a series today on FAMILY. It was a great series and really spoke to me as a mom and as a nonny. Some of the statistics about families splitting up were pretty staggering but not as much as the ONE THING our pastor said today. It made me mad. Real mad. This is what he said:

"When interviewed, teachers all across the United States said this:

REJECTED STUDENTS ARE THOSE WHO ARE AGE APPROPRIATE."

This makes me mad. Real mad. It makes me mad at the moms and dads who dressed their children up like *Lady GaGa* tonight for Halloween. It makes me mad that they let their six year olds watch *Glee*. It infuriates me that they put heels on their nine year old girls and let their twelve year old sons go with them to an R rated movie. What happened to dressing like Raggedy Ann or a Ladybug? What happened to monitoring television and playing playdough? I know it's a different time. I know. I know. 

But, CHILDREN HAVEN'T CHANGED

They still need us. They need us to help them stay little. They need us to support each other in helping show them things that are age appropriate and help them make wise choices. Children NEED to be age appropriate. And they DON'T NEED to be rejected because they are! 

Is that a NERD? 
If so, that's a good thing, right? 
Don't reject any of my LITTLES because they are age appropriate.

Please.

16 comments:

Meri Robin said...

absolutely! They grow up way too fast....parents don't need to rush them.

Meri Robin said...

absolutely! They grow up way too fast....parents don't need to rush them.

Gram said...

I couldn't agree with you more.

Elizabeth said...

i agree that nerds are good. sounds like a great message.

Anonymous said...

Oh my. This is so very true. My 10 year old daughter still like to play/dress like she is kid. Unfortunately this makes her seem odd to most of her classmates. It breaks my heart. The teen years are hard enough. I just don't understand why everyone wants their children to grow up so fast. I like mine to stay "little" as long as possible.

Tales From My Empty Nest said...

I totally agree, Angela. Children need to be children and parents don't need to rush them. I always loved my girls in their sweet little white leather shoes, their smocked dresses and bubble suits.... not blue jeans when they were infants, etc. Children are so cute in their baby clothes and outfits that, like you said, are age appropriate. Can't wait to see you on Wednesday. Love & blessings from NC!

Just a little something from Judy said...

I totally agree with you. We as grandmas need to speak out and you my friend did a good job on this post. Your grands are so adorable!!!

Anonymous said...

I totally agree with you! And they aren't nerds they are normal kids who are age appropriate.

Henley on the Horn said...

I am on the bandwagon with you!!!! I get so mad when I see what people I LOVE let their children wear and listen to in terms of music. It's ridiculous. We are rushing our children to grow up too soon and not in the best way. Why? It is why we are in a small Classical Christian school. I want them to be taught TRUTH not JUNK.

Erin said...

AMEN!!
I'm constantly praying for God's guidance as I raise my littles. I want them to always be age appropriate.

dee said...

C says she can't believe she was still pushing a doll stroller and playing Barbies in middle school, like there is something wrong with it. I tell her it is what she wanted to do. I loved it!

Anonymous said...

I am also on board with this....my boys are in high school and college and I wished I had been even more strict about what they watched on television (and I was pretty strict) and listened too. My pediatrician told me the only thing boys can never do too much of is playing outside. Maybe boys are a little easier. My guys thought wearing a shirt with a collar was "dressing up"

Liz M

Basement Bags Girl said...

Totally agree. My high school students don't get excited about anything and have nothing to look forward to 'cause they've been doing 'grow up stuff' since they were 10. Keeping it 'age appropriate' is one of the biggest parenting challenges, but in the end it's worth it. My girls were still playing 'Barbie' and taking piano lessons when some of their middle school peers were 'dating'. When my girls were collecting college scholarships, some of those girls were juggling a baby & changing diapers. Thanks for this post.

...You May Say I'm A Dreamer said...

BRAVO!! I hope more mothers read this post and pay heed to it!! Hey, I LOVE watching my *Littles* play dress up with their princess costumes and plastic princess shoes, and then I love seeing them change back into their sweet little everyday "age appropriate" clothing. You said it brilliantly!!
~Mary

Connie said...

I am on your side. It's very true...children today aren't allowed to be children long enough. Keep preaching sister! If you are going on tour any time soon, I will be one of your roadies!!

Love ya, Connie

Tonja said...

I agree so whole heartily! It is such a sad, sad thing. When my boys were younger, we would not let them have a TV in their rooms. Of course, we were the meanest parents ever. But, at least if they were in the den, we knew what they were watching. Plus, they had to learn to find something all 3 wanted to watch.