"We have seen in the last quarter century the modern demeaning of motherhood."

THis was a comment that was made yesterday on TV. I am curious (dah), does anybody actually believe this is a true statement?

Also, I was watching that show on Hippies on the tube last night and one of the "results" of the Hippie movement was (according to the show) an increase in divorce rates since the 60's. Now I know the divorce rate increased (as I am part of that statistic) and some of it might be do to the idea of liberating oneself from past preconceptions (one of those Hippies things), however, I don't necessarily consider it an evil (as one teleevangelist put it yesterday). It might be great if everybody could find the right person at 20 to 25 years and live happily ever after but an unhealthy relationship is not good for anybody including the children who might be involved (I know, believe me I felt liberated when I got out of that deal and I am sure my daughter is ultimately better off).

Of course that statement I started this with was followed by the "Mothers place is in the home." Dah! So is the fathers place? And what is a home? A home is not just a house but the community you live in. Now this guy is pointing at me and implying I have done something wrong because (as a single parent) I was not at home (I know I am male but reality is reality).

Of course it turned to education and home schooling and how the NEA are promoting promiscuity and homosexual lifestyles as a matter of public policy (does anybody believe that?). Then they show touching pictures of mothers and kids and talk about how mothers who don't follow the rules are incompetant and evil and incapable of nurturing their kids properly(now that is a healthy thought isn't it).

This whole presentation was wrapped up in a flag of nostalgia of the way it used to be and how the world some how got off track in about 1960 (Dr Kennedy even said just look at the change in sit coms from Father Knows Best in a healthy home environment to whereever sitcom's may be today?)

I know you guys may think I am goofy but to me this is dangerous well constructed propaganda and its wrapped in motherhood and childhood and family values and fundamental morality but its not quite the truth!

Hey beaty,
I'm wrong with ya. (If the right is right that is.) About the time in the 80's when Family Values was the bullshit coming from the right, while both couples were forced into the workplace, housing prices doubled.
I'm glad a have a 15 year old girl out in California. She is with good Family up north by Mount Shasta, even if she doesn't like it there. And 2 years ago, when I saw her last, "I heard she says, "I have relatives in Massachusetts."
I got her to smile within 2 minutes so it will work out. Even if she hasn't written back in 4 years. Which might have been something I said, while in a hard place.

Every once in a while it hits me--I strike my forehead and exclaim, "I can't believe I forgot to have children!!!!"

But seriously, I knew since the age of 12 that I didn't want to be a mother, and being a father was hardly an option. But I think I have more understanding of and respect for those roles than many a televangelist or preacher has got. Those are the hardest and most important jobs in the world. If anything, I think there are more good parents out there than there used to be, because at least some of them (many of you) have learned to apply their own good sense and education to the job instead of blindingly following what they're told they should do.

Applause to you and fie on those radio people. They haven't got a clue!

sc

No PSBeaty, you're not goofy. That's the same bull...... they (church, government) taught us when I was a child. Until - I think- the early 1970's a wife in Germany could only get a job with the permission of her husband. A divorced woman was socially not accepted. That slowly changed with the Hippie movement and the consequences like the '68 student revolt. People were easier to handle before all of that. Either you fitted into the society created by the government and church or you were outcasted. They would like that kind of control back over the people by all means and trying to implement guilt under the name of god is one tool.

I heard a bunch of young mothers in interview yesterday (some Brooke Shields thing) and they were speaking on post partum (sp? I don't know, if I were homeschooled I would be better at it) depression. THey were all speaking of the anxiety related with being the "IDEAL" mother and the pressure they and (they feel) society puts on them. It is my opinion that these young mothers need a shot of freedom from these pressures. And these seemed to be young people of moderate financial means? A funny thing is (and a telling thing I believe) is how kids from high income families can turn out to be such....(I am not going to judge)...but I have certainly seen some of the best kids emerge from some of the worst circumstances just by being exposed to a little love and a little help!

Raising a kid can be tough and I have seen all kind of approaches and all kind of outcomes. I mean I was lucky or something cause my kid is the greatest thing in the world (a few of her favorite songs when she was 10 and still today at 19 are Crow Black Chicken by Ry Cooder, HooDoo Voodoo by Billy Bragg/Wilco (her very fav) and What's the ugliest part of your body by Zappa (I wonder where she heard these songs) and she seems to be pretty normal to me?) but I know plenty of people who have problems and are very concerned about the directions their kids have taken. THere is that balancing act between control (I believe in clear stern rules when it comes to dealing with people (sorta like enforcing that golden rule thing Larry always speaks of) and freedom (I do believe in lots of freedom for kids and imparting the knowledge they can communicate, my daughter knows she can talk to me about anything at anytime) and I look back at my parents and how they veiwed their offspring in the 60's / 70's (I mean three long haired sons who played Runnin Down the Road and Last of the Brooklyn Cowboys loud...Dman Revolutionaries right there under their roof....they must have thought we were beyond redemption?)

I am pretty certain that forcing roles on genders is unhealthy (as Brigitte points out) and creating unecessary pressure in peoples lives is not the way to go! (isn't that a step back evolutionarily speaking..wait we don't believe in evolution) Isn't there one of those correlation things associated with predetermined structured gender roles (like the good old 50's when Father Knows Best was all the rage) and unhealthy psychosis type outcomes resulting in domestic abuse and violence. hummm..or is that just secular propaganda that sticks in my brain?

I want to make two things clear though:
1. I love my mother (where is the phone, got call mom) and appreciate the efforts she made for me (it is not about that)!
and
2. I have raised my daughter to believe there is no such thing as gender roles or limitations and she can feel comfortable as anything she chooses to be and what other people think really don't mean shi...... (It is your life kid, enjoy!)!

Hardest work that ever I done
was plowin a field o rye
easiest work that ever i done
was eatin chicken pie
chicken crowed at midnight
chicken crowed for days
long come an owl (lawd have mercy)
and stole my chicken away

crow black chicken
crow for days
crow black chicken
fly away
crow black chicken
ompch bomp
I like chicken pie!

Sorry but I am suffering' from post Mothers day depression, so here is a song for momma (that is the official Okie spelling)

He was borned in Oklahoma
with gandma's named Willa Mae and Gladys Antonia
and he's not responsible for what he's doin'
Cause his momma made him what he is

He sure does like his Yuenling Lagar beer
He likes to chase it down with that Laphroig single malt liquuor
He's got a good gas milage Isuzu sorta SUV thang
don't need no gun rack or a "I'd rather step in shit than smoke it" bumper sticker

And its up against the wall you redneck mother
Mother who has raised a son so well (ah hell)
He's 48 and drinkin in some Honky Tonk
Just checkin hippie chick asses and a raisin hell

(short aside...sorry can't help it..just crazy about that stuff)

oooooohhhhhhh
M is for the mudflaps you give me for my Rodeo
O is for the oil I put on my hair
T is for Dolly (gentlemen remove your hats)
H is for Haggard
E is for Elvis and
R is for ...REDNECK

I guess I might still be a hippie. But I've been married only once and still am to the same person for 24 years now. No human kids but a bunch with four legs and tails, two of whom have cloven hooves (Bwahahahahaha!)! My brother, on the other hand, who was B.H. (Before Hippies) or G.E. (Greaser Era) has two kids and been married about 5 or 6 times (I lost count).

Personally, I think it was broadcast television. That attracted the attention of extraterrestrials which, in turn, led to the Roswell, New Mexico UFO crash in 1947. It's all been going to hell since then! Dang aliens!

I don't know what I am (hippie tripy whatever)? I know that people like Jerry Falwell and James Kennedy who brought us the likes of Ronald Reagan and GW Bush point their fingers at whatever I am and say I am immoral and unsound because I am what I am and I am sick of it.

Let me tell you the story of when I realized my daughter was just like me and it made me proud. She was out west visiting her relatives when one character (S) began questioning my daughter (K)'s cousin. She was going on and on about are you dating any guys? Is there any special occasions in the future? Stuff like that. Well later K, pulls S aside and says, "hey, she is a lesbian, she has been living with a partner for 2 years and she is afraid to introduce you and the rest of the family because she is afraid of what you will do. It's like this, she is what she is accept it and love her or leave her alone. that is it!" Well I heard that story and I knew she was my kid and I could not have been more proud. Of course those preachers from above would point to this as the decline and fall of Western Man. But, I don't care what they think and I am tired of there influence over me and I will speak out against them (I know Jerry passed and I say RIP but I am sure a new one will come along)!