The Writing Mamas Daily Blog
Each day on the Writing Mamas Daily Blog, a different member will write about mothering.If you're a mom then you've said these words, you've made these observations and you've lived these situations - 24/7.
And for that, you are a goddess.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Homosexuality
You never know as a parent when your children’s life lessons will arise. I suppose I should have known this, and perhaps should have brushed up on the big questions that would undoubtedly come up such as the birds and the bees, George Bush, drugs, and homosexuality.
My sister just sent me a free month of Netflix, and I’ve been ordering movies continually so as to see the highest number of movies before the free month comes to an end. I’ve browsed the movies thoroughly, and have rented with the intention of broadening my children’s horizons, and providing them with life themes and challenges to discuss, along with important issues to consider.
I got my money’s worth.
I also wanted to show my children the classics. So we rented The Sound of Music, which my 8-year-old son, Jake, was entranced by. He woke up the next morning singing from his bed, “How do you solve a problem like Maria….” I was thrilled. My 8-year-old boy could appreciate a classic musical, despite the fact that he breathes football and baseball. So we followed with Mary Poppins and Pete’s Dragon - we got on a G-rated Disney kick. Then we delved into the more serious themes of Where the Red Fern Grows and The Pursuit of Happyness, both of which became fodder for heartfelt family discussions about death, the afterlife, God, homelessness, divorce, and such.
I thought it might be time to return to something a bit lighter, we only had a few days left of the free movie trial, after all. So I chose a children’s mystery from 1977 staring Jodie Foster titled Candleshoe. You may remember it as I did. Jodie Foster tends to make an impression on children with her sarcastic confidence and her ability to make adults look stupid while making kids look wise. She certainly made an impression on Jake.
“She sounds like a boy,” Jake said with confusion. “Her voice sounds low just like a boys. She walks like a boy, too, and she moves like a boy,” he continued. “She doesn’t seem like a girl,” Jake observed in his growing suspicion.
“Well, she’s a lesbian now,” I blurted. Shit. Did I just take Candleshoe into Sex in the City territory?
“Do you know what a lesbian is Jake?”
“Yeah, I know what a lesbian is,” he replied with a wince, looking like he expected cooties to advance and attack him momentarily from the shadows.
Jake doesn’t like talking about sex in any form. He turns his head in disgust when people kiss on TV. This certainly qualified as a masters level sex education class for Jake. I had to think quickly.
“Jake, as long as people love each other, it’s okay that they show affection to anyone they choose to. People are born gay or lesbian, it’s not something they decide to be one day. The important thing is that they are good people, and that they act loving towards others. We need to be understanding of them and their choices.”
He nodded and seemed to understand. Lesbians were just kind people who happened to show their love to other women and act a little bit like boys. And that was okay with Jake.
Who knew some 1977 movie starring Jodie Foster could bring about such questions. Maybe I won’t cancel Netflix at the end of the free month. Maybe I should see what Jake observes when he watches Michael Jackson in The Wiz.
By Lisa Nave
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My sister just sent me a free month of Netflix, and I’ve been ordering movies continually so as to see the highest number of movies before the free month comes to an end. I’ve browsed the movies thoroughly, and have rented with the intention of broadening my children’s horizons, and providing them with life themes and challenges to discuss, along with important issues to consider.
I got my money’s worth.
I also wanted to show my children the classics. So we rented The Sound of Music, which my 8-year-old son, Jake, was entranced by. He woke up the next morning singing from his bed, “How do you solve a problem like Maria….” I was thrilled. My 8-year-old boy could appreciate a classic musical, despite the fact that he breathes football and baseball. So we followed with Mary Poppins and Pete’s Dragon - we got on a G-rated Disney kick. Then we delved into the more serious themes of Where the Red Fern Grows and The Pursuit of Happyness, both of which became fodder for heartfelt family discussions about death, the afterlife, God, homelessness, divorce, and such.
I thought it might be time to return to something a bit lighter, we only had a few days left of the free movie trial, after all. So I chose a children’s mystery from 1977 staring Jodie Foster titled Candleshoe. You may remember it as I did. Jodie Foster tends to make an impression on children with her sarcastic confidence and her ability to make adults look stupid while making kids look wise. She certainly made an impression on Jake.
“She sounds like a boy,” Jake said with confusion. “Her voice sounds low just like a boys. She walks like a boy, too, and she moves like a boy,” he continued. “She doesn’t seem like a girl,” Jake observed in his growing suspicion.
“Well, she’s a lesbian now,” I blurted. Shit. Did I just take Candleshoe into Sex in the City territory?
“Do you know what a lesbian is Jake?”
“Yeah, I know what a lesbian is,” he replied with a wince, looking like he expected cooties to advance and attack him momentarily from the shadows.
Jake doesn’t like talking about sex in any form. He turns his head in disgust when people kiss on TV. This certainly qualified as a masters level sex education class for Jake. I had to think quickly.
“Jake, as long as people love each other, it’s okay that they show affection to anyone they choose to. People are born gay or lesbian, it’s not something they decide to be one day. The important thing is that they are good people, and that they act loving towards others. We need to be understanding of them and their choices.”
He nodded and seemed to understand. Lesbians were just kind people who happened to show their love to other women and act a little bit like boys. And that was okay with Jake.
Who knew some 1977 movie starring Jodie Foster could bring about such questions. Maybe I won’t cancel Netflix at the end of the free month. Maybe I should see what Jake observes when he watches Michael Jackson in The Wiz.
By Lisa Nave
Labels: Lisa Nave
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