Friday, July 23, 2010

What IS Weird?

Please note: comments made here are how we approach ideas in our lives. My comments are not intended to point fingers, nor judge;
This is just how WE approach things.

I find it interesting when I hear the statement,
"I don't want my kids to be seen as weird."
From personal experience, I hear this from Christian parents.
So, what is WEIRD?

definition: odd, strange, unusual, not sensible

What IS the worry? That we do not want our children to stand out amongst their peers? To be seen differently? Especially in todays world, why is that such a bad thing??

Are we weird?
We have a dress code.
Boys~ no baggy pants, no side-wearing ball cap, no piercings.
Girls~ no middriffs exposed, short/skirts/dresses are to be no shorter than the tip of your fingers when you arm hangs down. Ear piercing only.
Clean is encouraged, lol.
I find it strange to go to the little girls/young lady section at the department store only to find~sexy~encouraged.

Am I weird?
I choose not to drink (alcohol, that is).
My dad was a drug addict, my sister's dad was an alcoholic;
all of it was ugly.
I, as a child, did not have a voice to how I felt.
I, as an adult, can politely decline.
I now have a choice.
I find it odd that my choice makes others feel awkward,
yet I am not judging them.

Is it weird to realize TV/movie/game ratings are there for a reason?
M for mature; I find that to be an oxymoron!
How 'mature' are we really being to want to watch sex/nudity, violence for entertainment, or listen to swearing & trash talk?
And shouldn't we, as adults, be the role model of what is morally acceptable for our eyes, ears, and mouth?
In California, I had the opportunity to show my kids how to step outside the 'normal' box. While eating pizza with the teammates from the soccer team, they were planning to go see a movie. One kid asked if I wanted to go with them. (I am the cool mom after all ;^) It was rated-R, so I declined. "Why?"...I don't do rated-R..."Wha?" w/ puzzlement, "why?"....cuz there ain't nuttin' in rated-R that couldn't have been made a PG. The kid whips out his phone to confirm the movie rating, which ended up being PG-13.
This teen did not find my choice weird, but adults will find it unusual.

As a family, are we weird because we:
1) have more than the statistical 2.5 kids?
2) want to raise our own kids?
3) live in a multi-generational home?
4) play together/pray together?

Are our kids weird because they:
1) get along?
2) are well behaved?
3) choose to be homeschooled?
4) wait to date?

Why is it a seemingly a bad thing to be considered unusual,
when our choices seem so sensible to me?

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I guess you are weird. I am weird too. Our families can be weird together. We like it.

Laurel said...

LOVE it!!!

Sounds like we are just as weird as you all are. :)

Our clothing "guidelines" are exactly as yours are, and we only do the single ear piercings. (Now ... just to let you know ... not all of my young adult children have stuck with our guidelines. But, these are the guidelines for the children that live in our home.)

We, also, choose not to watch R rated movies ... and we don't drink alcohol, either.

Our kids don't date until they are out of high school.

Yes ... we are called, by the Lord, to be DIFFERENT ... to stand out from the crowd ... to not live as the world lives. If that means that the world defines me as weird, than we are weird, and proud of it.

Laurel :)

12-arrows said...

none of it is "weird" to me! because. . . I totally understand; 12 children, homeschooled when it wasn't "cool", stay at home mom, etc.

Brenda said...

Well, when you put it like that.....

count us in! We're weird!

Brenda said...

Well, when you put it like that.....

count us in! We're weird!

Danielle said...

This was great!! Really did something for me. Thanks!! I even had Nick read it...LOL!! You know us...we're weirdos too. I just want to say that I love reading your blog!! I think you are a great writer!!!

Carol said...

Sheri, I had to go private on my blog because my little guys parents have been in the news so much send me an email at carol@lindsay.net if you want me to add you to the list of people who can see it.
Thanks,
Carol