Post by MamaCrossroads on Feb 16, 2018 17:55:39 GMT
Well, it's that time of year again. We've flipped to a new year, we're getting organized, and shiny new calendars are everywhere! Big, little, wall-size, pocket-size. It seems those racks of calendars are everywhere.
And if we're not careful, they can sneak up on us in the craziest places--as my youngest son found out a couple weeks ago ...
As mamas know, halfway through the school year it's time to replenish ratty, depleted school supplies too. Recently, during one of our trips to the store we were walking past the sidewalk chalk when suddenly my Littlest put his hand over his eyes, turned abruptly and said, "There's a bad picture in this section."
My first reaction was to giggle. I told him we were by the school supplies. But he kept shielding his eyes and pointed to--you guessed it--a rack of calendars at his eye level, about two feet off the ground.
There, exposed in all her glory, was a model wearing a sultry expression and barely enough fabric to be considered "swimwear."
I praised my son for his alertness and told him he was right! That was a bad picture! Then we put another calendar in front of the yucky one and continued shopping.
However, as we walked along, I struggled with the situation and started chatting with my boys about it. We talked about how hiding the picture was only a temporary solution, because eventually the bad picture would come back.
After a while, we decided to report the issue to an employee. We found someone working nearby and explained the situation. We didn't get angry or emotional. I simply said:
"There is an inappropriate calendar in the school supplies, and it is upsetting my son."
They lady came with us, saw the problem, agreed that it was inappropriate, and moved the calendars to a shelf that was far out of sight. (Here is a shot of my oldest son looking very serious and pointing to the new location for the calendars.)
Afterward, my boys were so excited! On the way home, they talked about how good they felt. They knew they had made a difference.
It took courage to speak up! My heart was beating fast as I approached the employee at the store! But I think this lesson will stick with my kids longer than it would have if we had simply walked away.
Also, reading Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. with my kids was a big part of what happened. When I reflect on the way my little boy turned away, covered his eyes, and came to tell me--it is a perfect example of the "Turn, Run, and Tell" plan we teach with the book! My little guy knew exactly what to do when he saw that bad picture, and he did it without thinking twice.
Parenting in a media-saturated world isn't always easy, but it's moments like these that keep me going. Victory feels good!
And if we're not careful, they can sneak up on us in the craziest places--as my youngest son found out a couple weeks ago ...
As mamas know, halfway through the school year it's time to replenish ratty, depleted school supplies too. Recently, during one of our trips to the store we were walking past the sidewalk chalk when suddenly my Littlest put his hand over his eyes, turned abruptly and said, "There's a bad picture in this section."
My first reaction was to giggle. I told him we were by the school supplies. But he kept shielding his eyes and pointed to--you guessed it--a rack of calendars at his eye level, about two feet off the ground.
There, exposed in all her glory, was a model wearing a sultry expression and barely enough fabric to be considered "swimwear."
I praised my son for his alertness and told him he was right! That was a bad picture! Then we put another calendar in front of the yucky one and continued shopping.
However, as we walked along, I struggled with the situation and started chatting with my boys about it. We talked about how hiding the picture was only a temporary solution, because eventually the bad picture would come back.
After a while, we decided to report the issue to an employee. We found someone working nearby and explained the situation. We didn't get angry or emotional. I simply said:
"There is an inappropriate calendar in the school supplies, and it is upsetting my son."
They lady came with us, saw the problem, agreed that it was inappropriate, and moved the calendars to a shelf that was far out of sight. (Here is a shot of my oldest son looking very serious and pointing to the new location for the calendars.)
Afterward, my boys were so excited! On the way home, they talked about how good they felt. They knew they had made a difference.
It took courage to speak up! My heart was beating fast as I approached the employee at the store! But I think this lesson will stick with my kids longer than it would have if we had simply walked away.
Also, reading Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. with my kids was a big part of what happened. When I reflect on the way my little boy turned away, covered his eyes, and came to tell me--it is a perfect example of the "Turn, Run, and Tell" plan we teach with the book! My little guy knew exactly what to do when he saw that bad picture, and he did it without thinking twice.
Parenting in a media-saturated world isn't always easy, but it's moments like these that keep me going. Victory feels good!