Review: Courageous Parenting--Jack and Deb Graham

I bet everyone expected me to come on and do a big article on Valentine's Day. Well, guess what? You were wrong! Instead, I took the last little while to prepare and spend this special time with my own amazing Valentine. In its place I decided to offer you something even more helpful--a book you should read.

Recently, I was browsing through the library and picked up a book that I saw about parenting that had Graham on it. Of course I thought, "WOW! A book by Billy Graham on parenting!" Okay, so it wasn't by Billy Graham, but it was by a couple of Grahams who have helped me grow as a parent. The book was called Courageous Parenting by Jack and Deb Graham. Now, if you are a young person without children, or a teenager reading this, don't say this blog is not for you. You might just find some interesting tidbits that might make you appreciate parents who put their foot down or tell you no. I know I appreciated my parents taking a stand for me as I got older, but this book really put into perspective the battle they fought to help me be the person I am today.

I don't know about you, but sometimes living in the world we live in gets me a little down as a parent (I can't imagine what young adults must be going through!). I feel like I am constantly fighting for the minds and hearts of, not only my children, but children everywhere. If you read my earlier blog about the MTV show Skins, you know exactly what I am talking about. Sadly, shows like that are not isolated incidents. Our children are being bombarded from a very young age with all kinds of things that I never thought about or worried about until I was much older.

This book encouraged me to keep fighting the good fight for my kids. It's written in a way where Jack and Deb would each comment within the text to either offer extra insight or encouragement about a certain topic. I appreciated seeing it from a fellow mother's perspective and that of a father. I often take for granted a father's viewpoint because I am not one (I can't imagine being one considering all they have going against them these days--have you noticed how much TV presents dads as idiots these days?) and it was nice to hear someone back up what the Straightforward Dad has been telling me. (Not that I don't believe what he says, but sometimes it takes another person saying it for it to really hit home with me. I will go ahead and apologize to him now since I know he is going to nail me with this one when he reads this!) A book where two parents partner in offering information, feelings, and thoughts about parenting was a new approach from other parenting books I have read recently.

There were a couple of chapters that I really appreciated that I would like to share with you without ruining the whole book for you. . .

• "It Takes 3 To Make Parenting Work"--I had never really thought that statement through until I read that chapter title. In my short parenting experience, I have struggled with figuring out how the Straightforward Dad and I were going to get things right or make certain decisions. This chapter made me stand back and look at it from a different perspective. We are not alone in this journey. If we try to make it on our own, our children have no hope. We have to allow God to have His place in the mix or this whole fight is lost before we even start! (Sounds a lot like our own battles within our own lives too!) Our children are His to begin with.
• "Taking A Stand In Your Home"--"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord," was Joshua's claim in Joshua 24:15. God has allowed us to be parents for a reason. We must make the decision that our homes will be places where the Lord will be served. They mention taking a stand in various forms including by expressing children love verbally and by giving them hugs--making sure they feel loved in every way possible. They also talk about encouraging and equipping them for the life that lies ahead.
• Other chapters such as "Will The Real Parents Please Stand Up" and "Raising Eagles" made huge impressions on my heart, but I want to leave you some room to find out for yourself what this book has to offer. If I tell you all about it (as I am dying to do) you won't go out and get it!

I think the last part was probably the hardest for me to read. It was called "From 'It's a Boy' to 'I'm Engaged'." Holy cow! I had to read this section in spurts as I cried like a baby through some parts. It really was an eye opening experience to think about how quickly my beautiful Straightforward sons will grow into men. After I finished the book, so many thoughts ran through my head that the Grahams had mentioned. Do my boys see me praying and seeking God's face? Do they hear me encourage the Straightforward Dad and others? Will I be able to stand strong even when they are angry because I won't let them do what other kids can do? Am I raising "turkeys" or "eagles?" (Seriously, they use that analogy--and I LOVED it! You have to read the book to truly understand it.) I also was burdened with the fact that my children truly are not mine. They are a gift from God of which I am blessed to be the caretaker. I am responsible for how they are raised, what they are exposed to, who they are associated with....and suddenly I am overwhelmed. That's when I went back to the chapter about it taking three to parent!

Another point that really hit home with me was a comment they made that I couldn't shelter them from the storm, but I can shelter them in the storm during the time they are in my care. I hear so much these days about people "sheltering" their children. I will tell you right now--there is NO home, NO school, NO church, NO way to completely shelter your children from the storms of life. However, we can shelter them during the storms so that as they grow and mature into the person God wants them to be, they are able to stand strong and not be knocked about with the winds of change.

If you are a young person reading this blog, encourage your parents. If you have parents who lay out boundaries and discipline you, you are in the minority and are very blessed. In a world of latch key kids and parents who try to be their child's best friend, you are unique. You are being shown love and they are wanting you to be the best you can.

I hope this blog encourages you to go out and look at the book. You can also get a glimpse of it at by clicking Courageous Parenting. I think you will be glad that you did!

Review: Bringing up Boys Dr. Dobson

Have you noticed that kids just aren't the same anymore? I know my generation was different than that of my parents, but the situation seems to be even more out of control. After teaching and coaching for the last several years, I knew (or thought I knew) how I wanted to raise my kids. Now that I have two boys, I realized that things aren't as clear cut as I once thought them to be. To help gain some perspective on boys and how to raise them, I picked up Dr. James Dobson's Bringing up Boys at the library.

The first impression I got of this book was overwhelming. The cover states "Practical advice and encouragement for those shaping the next generation of men." WHOA, WHOA, WHOA. I have a three year old and a seven month old. Who said anything about men? Then it dawns on me. I am raising boys to be men. YIKES. There I sat, taking the full on hit that I was raising future men. (Yes, I do know that boys turn into adults eventually, but I honestly haven't been thinking that far ahead. I am still trying to get sleep at night and picking boogers out of noses that aren't mine.) I had not even made it past the front cover and I was about to cry. What am I going to do? My mom raised girls. She can't help me! I don't know anything about being a man. Sure, I can shoot a basketball better than a lot of guys, but that doesn't give me the credentials to be raising men! So, right there, I had a mental breakdown before even opening the book.

Once I got over myself and started reading, I was completely engrossed in everything Dr. Dobson had to say. Our boys are being attacked by the world, our culture, and everything in between--starting from birth. My boys are so blessed to have been born into a family that is intact and where both parents spend time with them. The book was published in 2001, but you would be blown away by the statistics on divorced families, even among those who are self-proclaimed Christians. Don't get me wrong. I know that there are situations where grounds for divorce are justified, but I believe that there are families today that could have been saved, but the parents just gave up. As I am learning, love is a choice. Even though I would love to tell you that the Straightforward Dad and I live in absolute marital bliss, I would be lying. The stresses of life and raising children do get to us. We have our battles and our "moments." However, when we took our vows, we knew we were in this for the long haul. So many children don't have that anymore. Also, we have boys (and girls) who don't even know the identity of their fathers.

Dr. Dobson talks about how our culture is affecting boys. From violence to sexual content everywhere you look (walk by a Guess store, it offers a sex lesson right there in the mall), to demeaning men and masculinity. I never realized how bad men/fathers were bashed on TV until I read this book. Have you watched cartoons recently? Good grief! It always struck me funny when I was a kid and realized how many Disney characters either didn't have one parent or they killed one during the movie. Watch cartoons today and you will find parents (especially dads) being depicted as spineless idiots. (Thanks Nickelodeon! Seriously, Jimmy Neutron's dad, Timmy Turner's dad, etc.?) Watch a commercial. Men are shown to be idiots at every turn. If they are not shown to be idiots, they are shown to be sleazy, sex-minded sicko's. I can hear it now...."But aren't all men like that?" I can honestly say that so many are not. I am married to one and those of you who know my father realize that he has more backbone than most dinosaurs. Yet, if our culture keeps telling and showing boys that this is what men are--guess what? That's how they will behave. (On a side note, we no longer will have Nickelodeon after this Friday.)

I think I was most shocked at the attack on masculinity. I don't know about other women out there, but I want a man. I want to be taken care of and protected. Today, men are told they are not sensitive enough. They don't have "feelings." Boys are told to play with gender neutral toys and feel too aggressive if they want to play with bow and arrows or plastic cap guns. Once again I can hear people saying, "Well, playing with plastic weapons makes boys violent!" Really? What would you consider to be worse? Kids playing with plastic weapons (TJ has a bow and arrow that he "hunts" with) or watching TV and seeing mutilation, crime scenes, and people blowing other people away for no good reason. Hmmmmm.......makes you think doesn't it? Even worse is the desensitization to homosexuality. Our schools (state schools of course) have even taught, from a very early age, that this is ok and that some kids have two mommies or daddies. Take a step back from that for just a minute. The school your tax dollars go to does this. Interesting.

Now, do I agree with every single sentence of this book? I actually don't. He includes a section about the problem with boys being forced to compete against girls in athletics. I have no problem with this concept and don't believe it should be a problem. He believes that this makes the weaker boys feel even worse. I believe that there is a solution to that problem if it becomes one. Parents should sit down with their sons and be honest. Maybe this is something he likes, but there's something better out there that he will excel in. This approach does sound brutal, but we are told to be honest with our kids and I think this is one important way to do that. (I know some are saying that I will never apply this reason with my own son. You will be surprised about how quickly we would do this. We have seen many children in our careers as coaches who would have benefited from this discussion with their parents.)

I think Dr. Dobson poses a great question in the end. When will parents (and grandparents) wake up and start to attack the forces against their children? Well, this parent "woke" up and is now more ready to face the challenges that lie ahead in growing men. Now, I don't have all the answers, but I am now more aware of what I need to do and what I can change. He also has a book called, Bringing up Girls for those of you with daughters.

I don't want to give away the whole book again, but I encourage anyone who has a son to read this book. If you have a grandson--READ THIS BOOK! If you are having a child and don't know what the sex is--READ THIS BOOK. You will appreciate it's eye opening information and encouragement that it offers.

Review: Romancing your Husband by Smith

Have you ever thought to yourself, "My husband has nary a romantic bone in his body?" I have to be honest (as if I haven't been so far), since the day that the Straightforward Dad and I began dating, I hoped and prayed for him to be romantic. I worked really hard to set up romantic situations and outings for us, but I always thought he came up short when he tried to do the same. Sometimes I even felt like he wasn't trying at all. One day (ok, this has been an ongoing conversation), I sat him down and said, "What is it about me that makes you not want to do this for me?" He looked at me and said, "I don't know how to be romantic." At first, this answer seemed like a total cop out. In my mind I thought, "Anyone can figure it out. Your a computer nerd. Just Google it!" But the truth was, he really didn't know how.

After many years of being frustrated with this, I was perusing a used bookstore and found a copy of a Christian book called Romancing Your Husband, by Debra White Smith. I thought that was a pretty interesting concept, so I got it.

After reading The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands, I was ready for another book that I could find some good and bad points about myself. Luckily, this was a more positive read for me than Dr. Schlessinger's book. This book encouraged me to change my "romantic" thought process. Instead of worrying about the husband being romantic, Smith encourages women to romance their husbands in a way they (husbands) can appreciate. She also encourages modeling romantic behaviors for your husband. I can say from experience that I am not sure modeling always works, but it is worth a try.

She has a similar message to women that Dr. Schlessinger does in the fact that she asks women to do their part. She points out areas in the Bible where women are called to a specific purpose in marriage. Her message about the submissive wife was much easier to swallow than that of Dr. Schlessinger. Don't get me wrong. I know that I am supposed to be a submissive wife, similar to to my submission to the will of God. Yet, the way Smith handles the subject left me feeling like it was something I could achieve, and not me feeling like the bad wife because I don't cook every meal for my family. Smith also goes on to explain that what men are called to do in marriage is just as difficult. "Husbands, love your wives, just (emphasis added by me) as Christ loved the church and gave (emphasis added by me) himself up for her....In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife, loves himself (Eph. 5:25,28)."

I think the interesting part of the book was a chapter called "Exciting Encounters." This chapter deals specifically with ideas to help you "romance" your man. I have to admit, even reading the title of this chapter was a little embarrassing at first. As I read this particular section, I came to realize that this is the romance language that men speak. My language is definitely much tamer!

Another helpful aspect of the book was the devotional that was included at the end of the book. It was encouraging to have that little push after you read the book to try and implement the suggestions Smith offers. She includes scriptures with each short devotional.

I have to admit, I did get annoyed with her in the fact that she seemed "too" perfect at times. It was almost like she had all the answers (of course, why would I read this book if she didn't?) and everything worked. Yet, once you get past the perfection, there are some very useful tips that every woman can use. She also includes a story of a couple in the chapter "Surviving the Storms" that will make you cry. It made me realize just how blessed I was and will make you want to give your husband a huge hug.

You can check the book out on Google books if you want to fill in the blanks that I have left (I hate to give away the whole book if someone actually wants to read it). You can always borrow my copy! Either way, it's worth the read. You might just find out that you and your husband are speaking two very different romance languages and that his might be much more fun!

Review: Bradley's Pumpkin Patch (Dawsonville, GA)

Some of you who are my Facebook friends already know that we took the Straightforward Family out to visit Bradley's Pumpkin Patch on Saturday. It was the perfect day for an October outing. Just to give you a little background info, the Bradley in the name was a previous student of mine. I am not blessed enough to say that I taught him agriculture, but I did teach him some history (well, I hope I taught him enough to appreciate where he comes from and what type of legacy he will leave). I also taught with his mom several years ago. They are great people and have a special family.

Bradley has been in the pumpkin business since he was five years old. Yes, you heard me right--five years old. When you drive up to the patch, you won't see a little boy run out to greet you though. You will meet one of the most respectful, kind businessmen you will ever meet. (He's pretty strong too! He carried some pretty large pumpkins for some customers that would impress most people.) Even though Bradley is in college, his heart is still in his work and the patch is busier than ever!

As usual in my blogs, I have digressed so I will get back to the story. We pull up to the patch and are greeted by some of the funniest signs you might find in a pumpkin patch. My favorite was the "Slow Pumpkin Crossing" sign that is right at the entrance. He also has a directional road sign that tells you how far to the patch and the North Pole (just in case you were wondering). The first thing you will notice when you arrive is the intimate setting of the patch. You might be thinking, "That's the strangest way anyone has ever described a pumpkin patch." I am not kidding. Even though there are tons of people milling around checking out the shop, pumpkins, hayride and more, you don't feel like you crowded by people like at some other pumpkin patches. You definitely feel like you are family (and they treat you like family).

The Straightforward Son enjoyed the Little Tikes roller coaster and other yard toys that were

all around the patch. He rode it forwards, backwards, and sideways. I thought at some point I would look over and he would be riding on his head. A pan of bubble juice (ok, I know that's not what it is called, but you know what I am talking about) sat near the pumpkins with wands of various shapes and sizes. The Straightforward Son made so many friends over the pan of bubble juice. (No, he wasn't drinking it!)

The hayride is an experience I will never forget. Bradley's dad is the driver. At first glance, it seems like any other hayride. The stories that you will hear from Mr. Weaver will fascinate and encourage you. You cannot get off that ride without feeling better about yourself and your kids. If you think I am kidding, go for a ride. He makes you feel special and tells stories that will

deepen your faith and relationships. His storytelling skills will amaze you.

If you check the website, you will find that they also offer classes at various times on dehydrating vegetables, baking bread, and more. I took some time to check out one of the classes that was in progress while I was there. (I can hear the jokes already.) Not only did I actually learn something about cooking (and we all know that is miraculous), but I learned how to save some money! To make things even better, free samples were passed around.

The shop offers all kinds of interesting things. From soaps to salsa, you will find a little something for everyone. I even had one customer tell me that she had bought a homemade musical toy in the store for $5.00 that she had seen in other handmade stores retailing for $50.00! The shop itself is an old home that has been moved to the property. It is gorgeous and adds a little something special to the experience.

And last but not least. . .the pumpkins. They have various sizes and types. It doesn't take much of a glance to realize that these pumpkins aren't those that you will pick up in front of Wal-Mart. These pumpkins have great shape and color. When I told the Straightforward Son he could pick out any pumpkin he wanted, I watched as his eyes lit up. In my mind I saw him running to a pumpkin that was just as big as him and saying, "Mommy! This one is what I want!" To my surprise, he ran right through the large pumpkins to the small pumpkins in the front. He grabbed two by the stems, held them up and said, "Mommy! I'll take these right here." Just goes to show that sometimes the small things in life are the best! The Straightforward Baby also found his own little pumpkin to take home and love (or chew). They are also famous for their cooking pumpkins (For all of you who are laughing that I even know that, I read it in Taste of the South magazine--http://www.bradleyspumpkinpatch.com/magazine.pdf). The fall decorations there are not only a good buy, but are beautiful to boot!

If you are looking for a great place to take your kids for a photo, this is the place to go. They didn't care that I sat the Straightforward Baby right in the middle of all their pumpkins trying for fifteen minutes to get him to look at me. There were families all over the patch doing the same thing. They also have several other photo shots set up for your convenience. If you can't get a good shot here, I don't know where you will get one.

Needless to say, Bradley's Pumpkin Patch is one of our new family traditions. If you haven't had your October adventure yet (or are looking for a tradition of your own), go check out Bradley's Pumpkin Patch. You can get more information at http://www.bradleyspumpkinpatch.com/. You can also pick up a copy of Georgia Magazine this month (http://georgiamagazine.com/currentissue.asp) . You might just recognize the guy smiling on the cover!

Review: Stone Mountain Park & the Pumpkin Festival

I scheduled another field trip for the Straightforward Cousin to Stone Mountain Park on October 1st. We ended up taking the whole crew down to Atlanta with us for Homeschool Day at the park. They were offering an amazing deal to homeschool students--$17.50 for the Adventure Pass. Considering the normal cost of going there and getting the Adventure Pass, this was quite the opportunity. We were also in luck (or so I thought) since it was also the first day of the Pumpkin Festival .

We piled everyone into the Straightforward family car and headed towards Atlanta. First amazing fact--NO BATHROOM BREAKS! Can you believe it? I was shocked. We arrive earlier than expected and the Straightforward Baby decides he is starving (this ended up being a great thing since this gave us plenty of time to do what we needed before lunch). Not a soul is parked around us, so I sit in the front seat to "feed" the baby. As soon as I do, this van pulls up out of nowhere and parks on my side of the car. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? And of course, the dad is driving and pulls up facing me. Not only that, but two brothers also get out of the car ON MY SIDE. Out of the hundreds of parking spots that were around, they chose to park right next to me. Go figure.

Anyway, we decided to check out the Pumpkin Festival first (after the official 1st visit to the very nice restrooms and my 1st official freak out--thinking I had left my camera memory card at home). Stone Mountain--are you kidding me? You can't throw about 75 pumpkins on the ground for sale and call it a festival. Ok, so I am exaggerating just a bit. There were about 50 pumpkins on the ground (at $7.00 a pop). There were also some strategically placed large plastic pumpkins and some cute pumpkin people around the park as well. However, when I hear pumpkin festival, I am thinking all things pumpkin. I expected huge real pumpkins, pumpkin treats, and demonstrations with pumpkins (I am not sure what I thought they would do with the pumpkins, but they are always demonstrating things there, so why not?)

After all our pumpkin dreams had been smashed, (Straightforward Son was still looking for a real pumpkin patch) we headed towards the tramway to the top of the mountain. This is always

a fun trip for me. Something about being on a huge rock with a beautiful blue sky surrounding me is invigorating. Of course, the Straight Son was fighting the trip up on the little car dangling by a thread. However, once we got in and the conductor mentioned popcorn, he brightened right away and entertained everyone for the rest of the trip up. It was the perfect day to be on that rock. There were pools of water from the rain that had fallen the day before and the look of it made you feel like you were on the moon. It was incredible.

After the purchase of some Scooby Snacks (I won't even bother telling you how much that cost) and a trip down on the tramway, we headed towards the plantation. No one explained that we would

have to hike there, but we finally made our way to where it was located. We saw some beautiful old homes and gardens. Several wonderful workers dressed in antebellum clothes were walking around and were so kind to us and the kids. We even got to try tomatoes right off the vine from their garden! They were very good! The best part was the animal area where the kids had to fight off the goats as they tried to eat their clothes. It was hilarious!

We ate a picnic lunch outside the park, then went back to try Sky Hike. I am not one for heights, but this looked like it would be entertaining. The Straightforward Cousin has a huge fear of heights, but he agreed to go with me and the Straightforward Dad. As we slowly made our way across the network of ropes, ladders and boards, the Straightforward Boys spent their time with my aunt and uncle going through the mini Sky Hike. (Ok, so the Straightforward Baby wasn't doing any climbing, but he was having a blast watching his brother!) It's interesting how your fear of heights doesn't seem so bad when you know you are attached to metal and you are trying to figure out how to get across things without making a total idiot of yourself in front of a ton of people.

After Sky Hike, we split up and headed in different directions. My group headed to mini-golf while the other group headed to the museum. Mini-golf was a total bust. We were behind a group of eight people (yeah, so much for the rule of groups of four) and it truly seemed like they were playing every hole twice. Keeping the Straightforward Son from teeing off while other groups were waiting was a challenge, but we still had fun. We quit early to make the last train ride. Ahhhhh.....riding in the fall breeze around a huge rock was nice. It was so nice that the Straightforward Son drifted off to sleep in the seat. Luckily, we caught him before any damage was done.

All in all it was a great trip. I encourage anyone who homeschools to take advantage of this offer next year. We really learned a lot and the workers were incredibly friendly and helpful. Just don't expect a whole lot of pumpkin festivities (or pumpkin juggling--now that would have been a demonstration) while you are there!

Review: The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands--Dr. Schlessinger

Recently, I had someone suggest the book The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger to me. It sounded like something I should be learning more about since I am a wife. (And now that I think about it, why did the person who suggested the book to me think I needed it? Hmmm.....) If you don't know, Dr. Schlessinger is a therapist who is an author and radio show host. People call her show to complain about their partners and other issues and she attempts to help them "see the light" and become better people. I have heard her radio program and have agreed and disagreed with her thoughts and ways of helping others. I figured the book was worth a try. (Also, it would probably be easier to read than most Dr. Seuss books that I currently read to the Straightforward boys. Have you ever tried to read Fox in Socks?)

Boy, was I shocked! Of course I knew that she thought that all moms should be at home and that women cause a lot of their own heartache, but I didn't realize the extent of her beliefs until I read this book. I had gotten the impression that she believed that we, as women, were nothing but trouble makers. As I sifted through all the examples from listeners and callers to her program, I realized that she believes that we hold an incredible amount of influence over our husbands and marriages. According to her, we basically hold our own happiness and fulfillment in our own hands. Really?

She then goes on to say that men are fairly simple creatures and when their needs are met, they treat their women with adoration and care. I found myself reading accounts from men who were treated very poorly by their wives and yet, had not run off or fell into any other types of infidelity. I was amazed! Some of the women she described were completely horrible to their husbands--even on a national radio program!

What was even scarier was that I found myself reading excerpts and realizing that I had said or thought similar things that were being brought out in the book. Was I really like so many other women? The point that really hit home for me was when she discussed taking time for your marriage and making it the top priority. This is where I was, as the kids say, an "epic" failure. I know the Straightforward Dad would agree that since the Straightforward Boys have been born, they have taken the top spot on my priority list. They consumed my thoughts, my time, and even my fears (I can see some of you moms out there nodding your heads). Since reading this book, I have taken a step back and made some adjustments. My boys still consume much of my life, but they can never take the place of my husband and the time I need to spend nurturing our relationship. I was just like the women described in the book who spent more time nurturing their children and trying to be successful at everything else, than deepening my relationship with the person with whom I am supposed to be spending the rest of my life.

Now, she and I don't agree on everything. However, I do see more value to her thoughts to a woman's role in this world. I also agree that feminism has done a lot to destroy the marriage relationship. It had even tainted my own views more than I would like to admit. Thanks to this book, I found a lot to work on and the kick in the butt I needed to try to create a better environment for the hunky and incredible Mr. Straightforward Dad. (Ok, so the book said I need to make him feel like a man and I am still working on learning to do that!)

The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands is a must read for every woman. Whether you are dating, about to get married, are married, or just want to learn more about men, this is a very helpful and easy read (only 180 pages for you moms that have about as much time as I do). Keep in mind, you may not agree with everything she says, but finding those nuggets of truth are worth more than the stuff you won't like. Believe me, there will be those moments when you think she has lost her mind, but then there are those moments where a light will come on and you think, "Poop. She's just described me!" Maybe you won't say poop, but you will definitely feel called out.

Review: Chattahoochee Mountain Fair and Family Memories

Well, here it is. The first moment of truth. We took the boys to the fair tonight. Or should I say, the fair took us--for whatever cash we had in our pockets! I explained to Straightforward Dad (my wonderful husband) that we had to take the boys to the fair because it was another one of those memories that I had that I want to pound into their memories--typical mom behavior I like to think. We decide to go before it gets dark and arrive to find that the entrance fees aren't so bad! The fees are $5.00 per adult and kids 5 and under are free. I am thinking...."Alright! Maybe we will still make it out of here without spending our life savings." So we skip all the booths, and the girl singing in the pavilion area, and head straight for the rides because Straightforward Son (our 3 year old) is about to pee his pants to get to all the blinking lights and sounds. (Like a moth to a flame.....) I am first in utter shock that the rides cover about 1/3 of the area they used to cover when I came consistently to the fair. There's hardly anything there anymore. We look over the ride costs--3 tickets, 2 tickets, 4 tickets. Ok, I am thinking probably a dollar or so per ride, right? WRONG....oh, so wrong. ONE TICKET = ONE DOLLAR. Yeah, you read that right. We basically could go to Six Flags and have a much better experience than the fair. So, I ever so carefully squeezed the cash out of my tightwad hand and gave it to the lady with WAY too much eye shadow who looked at me like I was stupid because I handed her too much money. (I am sure my day was way more stressful than hers. She was actively doing a crossword puzzle. What I would give for five minutes of crossword puzzle time at a fair!!) Straightforward Son was able to ride about 5 rides. I rode two with him and Straightforward Dad rode one. (He--SD--gets nervous on fair rides. The loose bolts and people welding on site to keep things from falling down--seriously we saw that--add that needed danger to my day.) So that's a total of 8 rides on something. Yeah, we really got our ride on. After a few rides, he begs to play a game. We say, ok, because we have some tickets left. I stay back with the Straightforward Baby (our 5 month old) as Straightforward Dad talks with the attendant. We had four tickets left and he tells me we need five tickets. Well, I just go and get $5.00 worth so he can possibly ride one more ride with the left over tickets. She then explains that she doesn't take tickets, only cash. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? It costs $5.00 to play this game with a barely inflated tube, a couple of soccer balls, a baseball and a football? KILL ME NOW! Straightforward Son was already kicking the balls around so we went with it. (Please understand this was his first--and most likely his last--trip to the fair.) He won a stuffed animal that had a price tag of a $1.99 on it (literally) and the sharpest piece of metal stuck in his back to hang him on the fence I have ever seen (literally--she didn't bother to take that out as she saw him hugging it for a quick photo). He was happy as a boy with a stuffed, overpriced turtle could be. Straightforward Dad and I had to laugh....it was just one of those moments. Straightforward Baby was pretty cheap. He just enjoyed the lights and sounds he saw from the stroller.

The best part of the whole entire night was the petting zoo area. They were from Hartwell and had a great little variety of animals that we had to visit when we arrived and before we left. Straightforward Son enjoyed the monkey while I cooed over the little kangaroo. Then the monkey grabbed the kangaroo's hands through the fence and started crushing him against the fence (they were in separate cages). It was strange, and needless to say, Straightforward Son and I moved on. But, overall he loved the llama, camels, tortoises, and all the other animals they had on display.

So, maybe my memories aren't the one's my boys should have! I admit it. I tend to go overboard trying to make sure they get to love everything I loved and do what I did. Don't get me wrong. I did some great things and had a lot of fun growing up (thanks to an amazing family). However, there are some things they should remember that are bigger than fairs, shows, monkeys, and big slides. I want my boys to remember how much their family loved God--and them. I want them to remember Straightforward Mom and Dad sneaking kisses and hugs at lunch time. I want them to remember how excited we were to go to church on Sunday. Does this Straightforward Family always do those things? I wish.....however, this blog post makes me want to do them more. It makes me want to try harder to make memories that don't involve everything I love, but making ones that they will cherish. I want them to have memories that have eternal value. And I thought doing this wouldn't teach me anything! :)