tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post6234121463715787435..comments2023-11-05T01:32:28.975-06:00Comments on Observations from an Ozark Life: Swastikas and CigarettesWendyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03115002505324651653noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-49287322355906513192009-06-22T19:53:42.397-05:002009-06-22T19:53:42.397-05:00Aw, poor kiddo. He tried. Maybe he could add a pla...Aw, poor kiddo. He tried. Maybe he could add a plane to the drawing and make the swastika into a propeller? Or a water wheel? Or draw an arrow to it and in your best kid writing, forge the words "We will never forget."<br /><br />I'm just trying to help.Steam Me Up, Kidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04125716705273823809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-85341824156686846122009-06-10T11:27:50.976-05:002009-06-10T11:27:50.976-05:00This is one of the funniest posts I have read yet....This is one of the funniest posts I have read yet. It gives me a great dose of perspective as I face my third child (out of four) graduating from high school at the end of this month.<br /><br />ShaneP Shane McAfeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02470965275284255854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-86017349847475980842009-02-27T06:44:00.000-06:002009-02-27T06:44:00.000-06:00Cuz, leave it to you to know about this stuff. :)...Cuz, leave it to you to know about this stuff. :)<BR/><BR/>Regarding relaxing, you know that's not my style. Pshaw!Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115002505324651653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-88849962251313382202009-02-27T04:14:00.000-06:002009-02-27T04:14:00.000-06:00The swastika symbol was not always a bad thing. I...The swastika symbol was not always a bad thing. It was corrupted by the Nazis, but way before that evil band existed, it was used in some Native American, Ancient Greek, medieval European, Buddhist and Hindu cultures. <BR/><BR/>The word "swastika" is derived from a Sanskrit word. The Greeks called it "gammadion".<BR/><BR/>In the Navajo symbology it represents the swirling winds. In other cultures it is a sun sign. <BR/><BR/>It's really a shame that something that was holy and precious for 3000 years was undone 90 years ago to become a reviled (and outlawed in Germany) symbol for a great evil. <BR/><BR/>I'm going to use the word you use with T. so often... "Relax". Maybe J. meant it to be merely a pinwheel. And with adding a stick and a couple of curved lines, you could have helped him make that an unmistakable likeness.Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03183928953765458393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-15982901921625400862009-02-13T10:23:00.000-06:002009-02-13T10:23:00.000-06:00Hi Wendy, thanks for stopping in for tea (and weig...Hi Wendy, thanks for stopping in for tea (and weighging in). I have read very many parenting books myself and while I have come across a few chapters I hope I'll never revisit for reference, swastikas has not been one. I think you did a terrific job, in such short notice perhaps you'll consider publishing it.<BR/><BR/>If it's any consolation to you, both my children have partaken in the "moke" and we are a smoke-free home as well. Whilst we're ambling about on our daily travels; walks to the store the park et al., they are taking it all in, the good, the bad and the "mokers"! Great read, good luck.T.Allenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07288157852760931385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-80342406422876102442009-02-12T14:18:00.000-06:002009-02-12T14:18:00.000-06:00Oh, Wendy! If it's not funny now, I'm sure it will...Oh, Wendy! If it's not funny now, I'm sure it will be one day! It reminded me of the time we took our daughter (now 8, then 5 or 6) to the library for story time. The story had something to do with flags, and afterwards, the art project was for the kids to draw flags. Our little darling drew a perfect Confederate flag. My husband and I were horrified of what people would think. We decided she was too young for a discussion about the implied meanings and related debates about the flag. As soon as we could, we gathered her and her flag up and scooted out of the library! <BR/><BR/>Before she was born, I bought a bunch of vintage children's books at a book sale. When it came time to read her to stories, I quickly realized things had changed in the past 50 or 60 years. I had to "edit" the old books as I read. Eventually, I just gave up and steered her toward newer books.<BR/><BR/>The things we parents have to look out for these days! ;-)365 Lettershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04773062418906842533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-5314695608312099722009-02-12T12:10:00.000-06:002009-02-12T12:10:00.000-06:00Hey, brilliant mom! Why don't you get Tristan a bo...Hey, brilliant mom! Why don't you get Tristan a box of those candy cigs we used to suck on!!! Now that's good parenting. Ha. <BR/><BR/>Isn't it amazing -- they see everything, they model everything!We must be ever vigilanT! You did an amazing job, especially with the swastika mess. From now on, could you please record these conversations so I can just play them back for Selah and Judah when the time comes???Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07296794498771496242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-15228057790534128072009-02-12T10:44:00.000-06:002009-02-12T10:44:00.000-06:00@Barry... since when are you ever at a loss for wo...@Barry... since when are you ever at a loss for words?? :-DWendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115002505324651653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-58239367585086866582009-02-12T06:46:00.000-06:002009-02-12T06:46:00.000-06:00@everyone... thank you for your kind words. With ...@everyone... thank you for your kind words. With a little bit of distance it doesn't seem quite as horrible today. :)<BR/><BR/>I was just looking at an ad in Family Fun magazine about a 4DVD collection of 50's shows. At the bottom of the review it says, "parental warning: some dated stereotypes". No kidding. Prior to this incident I wouldn't have thought much about it, but you can imagine I'm steering well away from that!<BR/><BR/>Regarding why I considered it an epic fail was mostly because how dejected he seemed and how much he took it personally and how much grace I lacked. I think the explanation itself was okay, just not the execution, I guess.<BR/><BR/>@envie, I'm not sure why kids are so fascinated with people dying. I guess because it's a bizarre and mysterious (and probably frightening) concept. I'm still trying to decide which is a weirder concept to explain... sex or death. LOL.Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115002505324651653noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-38741992031011572052009-02-12T06:42:00.000-06:002009-02-12T06:42:00.000-06:00I thought I was going to make an original comment ...I thought I was going to make an original comment about how I beleived you handled both situations well, but I wee everyone else has beaten me to it.<BR/><BR/>Now I don't know what to say.<BR/><BR/>Well, except I had a lot of fun reading your post!Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13824632356834631279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-77036763602547100142009-02-12T02:05:00.000-06:002009-02-12T02:05:00.000-06:00I laughed so hard I cried...I try to be in the 'no...I laughed so hard I cried...I try to be in the 'now' too but some days are tougher than others.<BR/><BR/>Currently my 8 year old and 6 year old are learning about Lincoln. Some days, poor Lincoln dies about 20 times. I'm not sure why this part is sticking so much with them.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13534398867537016708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-46563738847627640362009-02-11T08:03:00.000-06:002009-02-11T08:03:00.000-06:00Oh Wendy, this entry made me laugh so hard that co...Oh Wendy, this entry made me laugh so hard that coffee came out of my nose.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for clearing up the smoking/swastika thing...I admittedly was like "!??!?! how would that kid know what a swastika IS?? SURELY they're not teaching WWII history to 5 year olds?!"<BR/><BR/>And yeah, some of those older cartoons are pretty racist and hardcore. Some of them are brilliant satire (WWII era Looney Tunes), but some are just...yerrggh. Bunnies in blackface and what not.inflammatory writhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12923322007776358065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-61135623874540557512009-02-11T07:50:00.000-06:002009-02-11T07:50:00.000-06:00I think you handled that very well. Yelling at Tri...I think you handled that very well. Yelling at Tristan impressed upon him how seriously bad you think smoking is. <BR/><BR/>And what a neat job you did of talking to Julius! You emphasized the positive - kind of enabling him to understand good and bad and how he has choices. Very empowering.<BR/><BR/>Don't let Rob throw a washing machine. I think it will hurt his back.<BR/><BR/>I don't know why you equate yelling aka pointing out bad behavior to your children and having to have these tough conversations with failing. Failing would be ignoring your kids completely. Letting them do whatever they want. You have to be a mom and are doing a great job. I have quite a comparative sample too so I know what I am talking about . . .maybe :)<BR/><BR/>Keep up the good workGinnyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07728141013075952581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-86211883566711495122009-02-11T03:16:00.000-06:002009-02-11T03:16:00.000-06:00I think I remember the episode of Looney Tunes or ...I think I remember the episode of Looney Tunes or whetever it was - all the gang went for a ride in a plane with smilin' Uncle Joe Stalin. Really.<BR/><BR/>It sounds to me not like an "epic fail" - I would characterise that as an "understandable stagger followed by a brilliant and triumphant save".Chris Reeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152910879307366272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-89687395757154959022009-02-11T01:21:00.000-06:002009-02-11T01:21:00.000-06:00Donald Duck?!?!? Oh no :( I think you handled both...Donald Duck?!?!? Oh no :( <BR/><BR/>I think you handled both situations very well ♥ <BR/><BR/>and one day you really will just remember the "fun" stuff :)♥ Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14591559212770014981noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571590790949407117.post-16145774984252454392009-02-10T22:41:00.000-06:002009-02-10T22:41:00.000-06:00I just realized I didn't explain two pretty import...I just realized I didn't explain two pretty important things -- 1) we are a non-smoking household and I think The Toddler must be seeing one of his grandmas smoke (except she promised she would not smoke around him) and 2) what the heck kind of household do we have that our kid knows what a swastika is? We finally figured that out. Apparently it's on an old "classic" Daffy Duck cartoon DVD we bought him a couple of years ago. They were doing some kind of freakish Hitler parady and there is also some really awful "Uncle Tom" stuff on the same disk. Didn't see that one coming. The DVD is in the trash today. :-DWendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03115002505324651653noreply@blogger.com