You Can Never Get Enough of What You Don't Really Need

I finally got it. After all these years of wanting - thinking surely everyone else under forty must have one but me and seeing undisserving twelve year-olds getting them for brushing their teeth - I finally obtained one. My friend mentioned that she won a new ipod and I took that moment to pounce on the opportunity to ask her what she was doing with her old one. After talking with her about price, checking with my wife, going back and looking at it, and talking with Shelly some more, I am now the proud owner of a 8 GB 3rd Gen Ipod.

And why did I need one so bad? Well I needed something to listen to when I jog or when I walk around campus - I figured in addition to music, I could download conference, NPR shows, audiobooks - all those praiseworthy and good report things rather than just listening to the thoughts in my head (boring). But gee, what did people do in the olden days when they jogged? Well for one they didn't need to run because they were already in shape, and there is no #2.

Just the same, it is interesting to think about what a spoiled society we've become. Until the 1950's the world has never seen such a wide distribution of wealth. In the decades since we have seen a middle class that has become accustomed (addicted might be a better word) to a certain way of life, with our kids getting hit the hardest. Christmas, ironically our Savior's birth, seems to be the biggest battleground for consumerism. So how to choose the perfect toy without spoiling your kids? When I see people who don't seem to make much more than me, spend more on one child than I allot for my entire Christmas budget, it baffles me.


However, with that said (and no this is not a paid advertisement) we have decided on the perfect toy. It's a Plasma Car!!!! We took our kids to the toy store on Saturday to get a taste for what they like. And this one was a blast and got great web reviews. The cheapest we found it was about $50 (and with shipping even more), but it get's kids moving, last for years and captivates their interest for more than 24 hours. Hurdles few Christmas toys seem to conquer - I'm looking at you glow in the dark remote control car.



I also want a toy that gets my child to either think or get on their feet. Now-a-days there are way too many toys that rob a child of both activity and creativity. Both essential for their development. We buy them stuff to make ourselves feel good, not really considering if it is for their good.

Needless to say, doesn't Julianna look cute on a rocking horse she is not going to get? (yeah right the thing is $75 - might as well get her a real horse; and after riding for a lengthy period she still couldn't tell us the upcoming winners of the horse race) But you can picture my boys riding on Plasma Cars Christmas morning.

P.S. The Wiggle Car is a lot cheaper, but cannot support an adults weight - I'm only thinking of them.

Halloween Post

Ahh, sorry about not posting last week. I know I'm pretty regular with this, but I was starting to run out of material. It's hard finding a way to segue from talking about my children to taking on a political issue.

Isaiah doesn't like his picture taken - really how can we be related? Doesn't Julianna look happy with candy? Ahh, the hedonistic joy of sugar.




















Halloween had really snuck up on me this year; being in a PhD program will do that for you. Oh well, next year I will definitely dress up - I'm thinking Star Trek shirts will be on sale now, and I can wear them for lots of occasions. Wouldn't you be inspired with confidence if your counselor wore a captain's uniform? Hey, this man must really know what he's doing. (Either that, or I have the wrong room). I look forward to having a grown up Halloween party next year.

Anyways, you came here to hear about the kids. We'll start with Julianna - she was a fairy princess without wings - they don't get those until they're older. Malachi was a cowboy and Isaiah was a Ben Ten Alien character (if you've been following this blog, you'll have an idea of who this Ben Ten is). We've sort of been celebrating Halloween non stop - starting with Friday's Halloween parade at Isaiah's school - that Shelly and the kids dressed up for (I had to work). We had a party for Isaiah and his school friends on Saturday, and then I took the boys out trick or treating that night, while Shelly stayed home with Woolies to hand out candy.

I attempted to maximize candy profit by choosing a neighborhood where the people are well to do yet the houses are close together - up above the University. It was very cute - the boys would go to the door, "oh what a cute cowboy, and a uh, hmm (referring to Isaiah) ... would you like some candy?" Malachi was determined to carry his pumpkin with one hand and keep the other hand on the cowboy hat, even at the prospect of getting candy. Instead he would just stare at the candy and the person would have to give it to him, or Isaiah would do it.

I was surprised that Isaiah was ready to go home so soon - In my day, you didn't come home until your feet were bloody stumps. Halloween trick or treating was a serious mission to pursue and attain as much candy as possible. Even with the early hours, we did get a decent haul - which I'm now regretting. Does anyone want any candy? - just the sight is beginning to be repulsive, and I'll have to switch to one of Captain Kirk's later uniforms.

We've Grown Apart

Normally, I am against divorce but I think it's time we went our separate ways. I am talking to you media. You see, we've grown apart. You've become a whore, and the price of keeping you around is too high. I'm sorry to use such harsh words, but Biblical definition seems apropos. I started giving up TV a few years ago, but I'd keep coming back. It has only been in the last year, I've had the self will to completely shun it... or so I thought. Oh sure I'll watch an occasional jeopardy but not much else - on the TV that is. Unfortunately, to use the great words of Elder Maxwell, I feel as if I have kept my summer home in Babylon.

As TV use went down, internet usa went up. I still follow all the movies through metacritic, faithfully reading all the synopses and reviews of movies I never intend to watch. I'll pick up clips of shows on hulu or youtube, and am somewhat familiar with most of the shows on TV even though I've never seen any of them. So you can see I haven't quite thrown your clothes out on the front lawn.

A recent story of the child rapist, Roman Polanski, has really sickened me. It's disgusting to see actors and other Hollywood types rally around this guy. Although the Woody Allen support wasn't too shocking - I figure they have similar rolodexes. At first I thought the support was because he was good director (from what I hear) but really it's probably because he makes them money. It's disgusting to see how easily people sell out in that industry, trampling any shred of moral decency in the process. I think even whores are nice to children.

Unfortunately too many keep their summer homes in Babylon by maintaining relations with the media. I had an old mission friend that loved movies, and would fly across the country to the Sundance film festival every year. He didn't care what the content or the rating was, if it was artistic or en vogue, he wanted to see it. I really think movies became his god, and he has sadly since left the church. Kind of echoes Richard Dutcher's story, the director of God's Army who has also since fallen away. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also".

Anyways, I am trying to cut back and help my son who's become quite keen on computer games to do the same. Instead we make our own movies - at least then we know they are clean and there is no guilt afterward, only laughs. Enjoy.

Alien Attack! Directed by Isaiah, starring me and Isaiah, Shelly is the camerawoman, and Malachi and Julianna add background noise

Super Nanny I Am Not

For one thing, I'm sure that Super Nanny would never put a baby in a box because it might stunt her development. But in all fairness, Julianna wanted to be in the box. Also, thank you Grandma King for her new clothes that came in the box.
Secondly, I am far too inconsistent and lenient to be super nanny. Oh yeah, I can be a great Mom, on top of things, waking up and getting right to the heart of mothering, doling out love and discipline in balanced amounts. But then the children wake up.
However, I have been inspired lately by watching episodes of Super Nanny. (Thank you Hulu.com) Many of the issues that the featured families deal with are my own, albeit presented with greater intensity on TV. And I love Jo, the famed Super Nanny. She can get away with giving people the straight talk because she does so out of a true desire to help. And help she does. As I see her coach parents to do better I become empowered - I can do better! Seriously, if you have kids, watch the show.

For my Relief Society book club, we are reading The Freedom Factor, by Gerald Lund (Of Work and Glory fame). No disrespect meant to Brother Lund, but I can't say I recommend the book. Lund has good ideas and can spin a fun story with message. I just get tired of being told the story, not shown it. I think its hard to say what makes an author good, but you sure know one with you read their work. A good book will be engaging, thought provoking, and be peopled with characters so real that you actually care about them. How would you describe a good book?

- Shelly

School or Play

The other day Malachi woke up with the decision that he wanted to go to the "hot pool" - Logan Aquatic Center which sadly closed after Labor Day weekend. Just the same he was determined to go swimming and put on his swimsuit and goggles and kept them on for the whole day, including the walk to pick up Isaiah.

Isaiah didn't seem to mind this, and Julianna wondered why she didn't get to wear her swimsuit too. Maybe in a year or two.

Anyways, as I continue to fervently study child development my children are becoming more interesting to me (which Shelly thinks is nice). I was considering putting Isaiah into a charter school next year which I had assumed would be better and provide him with excellent education opportunities, but upon talking to my professor I decided otherwise.

She has evaluated schools all over Cache Valley and though she only saw kindergarten and first grade there she said the classrooms she saw seemed joyless. Many charter schools are great and even this one scores well, but one must consider the cost. This particular school really emphasizes academics and academic performance for even the younger ages. I think this reflects a disturbing trend in how parents often approach educating their children.

Across the country recesses are being cut down and our current Presidential Administration is talking about extending school hours to be in better competition with foreign countries. Hmm . . . like Japan where the suicide rates are extremely high perhaps?

The early years of life - including much of elementary school, should be focused more on how to learn and the joy of learning rather then cramming heads with info. Part of this includes allowing and fostering play. Sometimes parents worry if a class is too fun then the kids are not learning something. Kindergarten expects that you know how to spell your name before you get there as if somehow you would never figure this out unless it happened before then.

However, contrary to common belief, you can skip buying that leap frog or computer program for your preschool kids because who cares if they will learn how to read faster than the others - because it doesn't make any difference. By second grade it's all a wash. Rather we should be focused more on how to learn than what to learn. Additionally, children need to learn through playing. They need to pour things out and stack things and make messes - that is how they learn. Environments should be set up to support a child's intrinsic ability to learn (can you say Montessori?).
Something my child development professor pointed out was that children raised with an emphasis on academics and rote learning outperformed their peers until 4th grade. Then, its the children who were always allowed to problem solve and experiment who truly excel in academics. They know how to learn and they enjoy it.

Its up to us as parents to provide our children with that balance of learning through play and academics. We all want our kids to be successful in school. But what really want is for them to be successful in life. Funny, but it all starts with play - like wearing swimsuit on a walk to school.


- written by Jim & Shelly