*JENlightened~

Happy New Year!

Question du jour: Does anyone have new year’s resolutions?

None for me. I usually make try to do something for the sake of tradition, but nothing really comes of it. I have a very short attention span–which is why I will never write a book or keep lent (not that I practice lent… but you get the idea).

Just a quick thought:

Does anyone think that this “snowmageddon” business is doing Toronto citizens any favours in the court of national public opinion? Granted, the weather outside is frightful. The roads are nuts. And yes, I am working from home. But when you start throwing around anything with “ageddon” on the end, we ask for attention. Attention that Toronto doesn’t need from the rest of the country…especially since the army incident. 

It’s about collective reputation. Somehow, I don’t think we’re coming out of this winter looking any less like weiners.

Toys for little girls are outrageous. In my search for the perfect present for my stepdaughter, I found that most toys could be sorted in one of two categories:

1) Homemaker

2) Superficial and borderline-inappropriate

I’m aware that toys are genderizing agents, but for goodness’ sake, I found a pink washer and dryer set. In case you’re unaware, laundry is not fun. Mind you, neither is changing diapers or burping babies, but here we are.

I’m reminded of the game “pick-up kangaroo,” a ploy that adults in my life would use to make cleaning a fun activity. (That’s how I was tricked into cleaning my room, until I wised up and started asking for money). Pick-up kangaroo was useful. The place was a mess, it needed cleaning. I made the mess, I was asked to clean it up. See? Useful.

But the washer and dryer sets, the child care dolls, the grocery carts and the mini pots and pans all represent responsibilities that don’t even exist for these children yet. In real life, doing all of that stuff sucks. It’s annoying. It’s hard work. I do it because I need to, not because I actually enjoy doing it.

Please note that no such toys exist for little boys-yet another pain in my side. There you go girls, not only are you going to learn to like doing the housework, but you’re going to learn to do it by yourself, because your male counterparts grew up liking other things, things outside the home, things that have contributed to their intelligence and ingenuity.

And that’s not all, girls are reminded to look beautiful while enjoying their duties. If it’s not child rearing, it’s make-up, jewelry, dress-up, etc. A small victory: the Bratz dolls are gone. One less image of sex kittens for five year olds.

So what did I end up buying her?

-Littlest Pet Shop play sets

-A race car mat with Hot Wheels

-Princess shoes

I don’t want her to play with just boy toys, because I want to her to fit in with her peers. That said, I can’t, in good conscience, give her the things that are marketed for her demographic.  There’s no winning.

First, I would like to apologize to my adoring fans for not updating this thing sooner. I’ve been rather busy with both work and my night course. Busy is unusual for me. It’s been a nice change-feeling important and all-but I have missed the pseudo-connection with you lot.

Second, I would like to point out that it’s December, which means holidays, which means it’s time to scramble to pay our annual gift-debt that’s not-so-cleverly disguised as altruistic thoughtfulness.

I am not Scrooge. I don’t hate on holidays. But the older I get, the more frustrated I am with Christmas. It’s the only time when things I would normally enjoy (i.e. big meals, free stuff, parties, family events) become overkill and, thus, unpleasant. My wallet empties and my schedule fills up-what was once was a mini-vacation becomes a timeslot tug o’ war.

ANYWAY,  stay tuned for more posts.