Suffer the little children........

Well, I am officially an idiot. I just watched a movie called ‘A Time for Dancing’ which was quite a cool dance movie in a completely B-grade, actually probably C-grade, fashion, except that the lead girl dies of cancer. I, of course, couldn’t help but put myself in the girl’s mother’s shoes, and so I am mopping up the tears. I always used to ‘feel’ things but since becoming a mother, I have moved into a completely intense realm of feeling….. I am not capable of watching certain things on television anymore; anything with children dying, or any sexual abuse is just too painful to watch, which rules out documentaries on the Sudan, and any Law & Order or CSI programs. Reading the paper or watching the news is just awful these days.

It’s so hard to even think about what some little children have to go through; be it abuse or neglect or ill-health. I wish I could just gather them all into my arms and protect them. I obviously can’t protect them all, but I have been praying for angels to surround little children in need, and that good caring people would be raised up around them to protect them. I am also praying for transformation in DOCS; for wise leadership and changes to practices that see children slip through the cracks. I would like to encourage everyone who reads this blog to pray for the same thing. We have to protect the little children and become more community-minded.

Handy Hint Number 23: Telling your kids ‘don’t talk to strangers’ is a misleading and confusing rule for them to understand, because they see us talking to strangers all the time. Tell your child there are some bad people in the world and teach them methods for dealing with potential danger. At your local shopping centre point out the female shop assistants and teach your child if they get lost to go straight to the lady shop assistant and tell her that they are lost and then wait with her. Tell them that you, as the parent, will always come looking for them, so they don’t need to go looking for you. They could also be taught to go up to a mother with children and wait with her, if you wanted, although I haven't done that yet with Miss 3. Teach your child to say ‘I just have to check with my mummy’ (or Daddy) if anyone (even the next-door neighbour) offers them lollies or food. Keep reinforcing them saying ‘I just have to check with my mummy’ and get them used to saying it. They should also say that if anyone asks them to come with them somewhere. Teach them that if they feel scared by anything or are grabbed by anyone just yell out 'HELP' loudly.

OK, I’m sorry this blog got so yucky. Trust me, they are not things I like thinking about either, but it is a good thing to have your kids prepared (and I am talking about little kids under 4. Once your kids get older, roleplaying would be a good method of teaching them to avoid dangers)

By the way, all the controversy over Madonna adopting the little boy from Malawi was so ridiculous. She said she defied anyone to go into one of those orphanages and not want to adopt a child to give it a better life. Far out, if I had gone I probably would have adopted 20 children!

Anyway, the tone of this blog just goes to show that I should stick to my normal TV viewing which is mainly kids’ DVDs and ABC Kids’ programmes. I also hereby admit to being an Australian Idol fan (I am going for Damien and Dean), a Grey’s Anatomy fan (except it’s stopped for the year and I am so over Meredith and the whole McDreamy saga), and I quite like How I Met Your Mother and My Name is Earl, plus ER is always pretty good.

Handy Hint Number 24: Buy ‘Arrested Development’ TV series on DVD. It is so funny, clever, and easily the best comedy that’s been around in years! This is a hint not related to kids by the way! As Miss 3 would say: ‘It’s not soo-ble’ (suitable).

My Mum still laughs about what happened when she was minding Miss 3 one afternoon and letting her watch the ABC Kids’ programmes. From 3pm till about 4.05pm the programmes are suited to little kids, but after that they get more suitable for older kids (although still technically kids’ programmes). Miss 4 started calling out ‘It’s not soo-ble, It’s not soo-ble’ as she covered her eyes. I think my Mum felt bad that her 3 year old grand daughter was self-censoring!!!