OK, this is in two parts - one is a heads up and one is a vent

First - there is a "huge" green sticker sale going on - 50% off but not all the stickers are on the packages yet - you can scan stuff in and the price machine will tell you if it is "green dot"

Second. I went in today to get my dear baby girl a present for her first birthday, hoping of course to find both something cheap and appropriate. Well, I was almost in tears in that store. I was totally disgusted by the stuff in there. I don't know what's wrong with me. I had flashbacks of my wonderful childhood - we didn't have much money (and my folks were true hippies and would not have bought many toys even if they had the cash) so I had very few plasticy crapy toys, but lots of creative stuff and home-made imaginative stuff - we made our own dolls and dollhouses from clothespins and shoeboxes (I did get a fisher price house and doll at some point tho)

I was just thoroughly SHOCKED at this stuff. I know that someday I will be able to afford some of this, but I don't want it in my house! I am SO glad Mia (3) was not with us or she would have been totally whining for a plastic play fridge and toaster and microwave and oven and boxes of fodd, you get the idea

Also, I really wanted to see Melissa and Doug wooden toys on sale, but of course they were regular price.

OMG I am so with you on this one. Every time I go there I am in shock over how much plastic BS can possibly come out of our capitalistic culture. I have a real problem with that side of our country... the beauty of the freedom of choice has the down side that people can make money off your choices and they will use whatever means they need to to get that money. Emotionally guilt triping advertising ("Choosy Moms Choose Jiff") to stocking the cereal isle with Co-co Puffs at "kid-in-cart" eye level. I HATE that side of our echonomy.

And what is worse is that our children almost need to be subjected to it to fit in! I think that is the hardest thing I deal with as a "fringe" naturally liberal parent. My son started crying today because I turned off "CatDog"... I have NEVER let him watch anything like that... ever. (But "I get to at Dads") And I was never allowed either. And most of the time I appriciate the way I was brought up, but when someone makes a crack like "look at that... it looks just like Duke from Nightrider." Um yeah... I never saw the show... so whatever. And then I feel lost.... In some ways I don't want my kids to have a lot of that in their lives like I do... but in other ways I want them to be like me... it has become the fight for America's minds... but every time I get into this discussion with myself, I think, "I would rather be fighting for my childs emotional independence from the comercial-idolising cattle of our culture, than watching him starve or wondering if he is going to get shot at school." And thats when I say... good god I am glad to have so many choices.

That sucks about the Mellissa and Dougs... but you can always get them on e-bay. :D Oh and if you put in Waldorf, or Montissori you will find tons of cool toys. I have a couple favorites that sell specifically wooden toys if you want them... pm me. :)

Love Val

Originally posted by MamaShine


Also, I really wanted to see Melissa and Doug wooden toys on sale, but of course they were regular price.

I don't know if you have a T.J.Maxx, but ours has quite a bit of Melissa & Doug toys at pretty great prices. :) If there is something in particular you're looking for I can go see if ours has it! :)

ooo...oo...o... Ross has them too... :D

Love Val

and Marshall's!

"I would rather be fighting for my childs emotional independence from the comercial-idolising cattle of our culture, than watching him starve or wondering if he is going to get shot at school."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't want to take over this thread, but just can't help but to slip in and offer the book title "The Underground Roots of American Education" by John Taylor Gatto, who was nominated 'Teacher of the Year' for New York city and New York State.

John Taylor Gatto came away from public education and exposed the inside story of public/government education. This book is one of a few, that speaks about commercialism being the main root in the purpose for the systems way of educating our children.

His other book that is worth getting ahold of is "Dumbing Us Down". He holds back no punches, telling it like it is.

I have read part of Dumbing Us Down, but honestly a book that spoke to me more was Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol... wonderful "tell it like it is" book on the dramatic social differences in education around America. I will check out Underground Roots... it sounds so interesting.... I have been out of the loop for about 4 years (since I got pregnant with dd). Thank you.

I taught... and am trained to teach... as well as having two college prof's as parents. :D And for a long time I thought that was what I wanted to do with my life... but now I think my goal is to make a big impact on two kids and not a small impact on 24 a year. ;) I think that books like these are going to slowly change the way people look at education and having that information at your finger tips, or at least in your mind, is something each parent with children in America needs in their mental arsnal.

Love Val

Kozol is a favorite author of mine. We had to read Savage Inequalities when I was in college. Amazing Grace and Ordinary Resurrections are both fabulous as well.


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