I told Jordan to not climb too high because I would not climb up to get him if he got stuck. Jordan asked, "Why?" And Kyle immediately answered, with a "duh" tone of voice, "Because she is not made for climbing trees. She is made to be beautiful!"I don't quite know what to make of that statement!
15 comments:
That is so sweet! Your boys adore you!
I think it is great! Atleast you know they think you are beautiful! What a compliment.
All I know is that I love that statement. You WERE made to be beautiful!
But I also think you'd make a killer tree climber.
I think it's adorable. He obviously considers his mother very beautiful and absolutely reveres you. One of the sweetest things I've heard!
Audra- (or should I start calling you "One who was made to be beautiful"). Your boys crack me up. I read your blog today while I ate my vegetable beef soup and a roll. I would be nice if you lived closer and our kids could be buddies. Thanks for the updates and the photos.
Dale
I'd take it as a compliment. Although you've probably climbed trees before. I've climbed many a tree, but not recently however.
That has to be the sweetest things I've ever heard. You are obviously one hot babe! But, you're also teaching your kids right! :)
priceless. it's moments like those that make blogging worthwhile. :)
That is so true and so cute! Your boys are so precious. They are true gentlemen! :) I love that.
That is the sweetest thing!
I think you know what to make of that statement by your confusion of not knowing what to make of that statement. (if that makes sense?)
It is neat the way Kyle said you are beautiful in that you were MADE to be beautiful. There is a reason why your local paper doesn't publish the fact that you are beautiful and that is the same reason they don't publish everyday that the sun will rise. Obvious facts are obvious facts. I am sure it is special and loving to hear that from your boys.
However, he is also saying that boys can do things girls can't. I believe he was saying girls can't climb trees (read that as girls can't do a lot of things boys can do) and girls are here to be beautiful (read that to mean beautiful but also stay at home, cooking, cleaning, nursing, raising/mothering a family, etc.).
Now obviously he wasn't saying all of that and probably doesn't know all of that but the fundamental development of that type of belief it seems is there. You and/or Mike may not necessarily have a problem with that belief.
One of my struggles with the Mormon faith and/or culture is the compartmentalizing of roles based on gender. You may have seen other comments along these lines from me. I could go on but maybe not the best place to continue.
I understand that there is scripture and teachings relating to gender roles and if that is your faith and belief and what you want to teach your children then that is great.
Kyle's statement does not surprise me at all for a 6(?) year old boy growing up with only brothers in a Mormon family.
I will say this with the caveat that obviously I am not Mormon and maybe more importantly don't have children but I believe that if my son made that comment I would delve into what he meant and explain that even though there are differences between men and women, that doesn't mean either gender can't do most things the other gender can do. (maybe not all at 6 years old but through the years, that would be the general teaching, if you will).
I mean, why couldn't you be "made" to climb trees and be beautiful?
Obviously I am making a lot out of this statement but I am curious why you said that you don't know what to make of this statement. I am sure one side of you is appreciative of the compliment, but what is the other side???
On a total side note, does it ever bother you that comments on all of the blogs are overwhelming positive? I mean when I read your blog I could have guessed that all of the comments were going to either be, "Audra, you ARE beautiful" or "Your boys are so cute," etc. Not saying my comment is negative but maybe it is more thought provoking or conversation stimulating???
Is the purpose of blog comments ONLY positive reinforcement or are Mormons (assuming most of your readership are) taught to "not ruffle feathers" and say something nice? (Not necessarily pertaining to this post only, but all posts). Just wondering.
That is so cute! I think you'd make a good tree climber too though!
The statement did bother me. Of course it is nice to be called beautiful but he makes it sound like being beautiful is my purpose on earth. Obviously it is not. And I could climb a tree if I wanted to. I just didn't want to. I haven't talked to him about all this, but after your comment and analysis, I will.
And lets talk about the gender roles. I want to make sure you don't have a misconception of what the church teaches. Have you read The Family:A Proclamation to the World? Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley (who recently passed away) delivered this message in 1995. One of the paragraphs says this:
"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity....[lets get to the part that you are most concerned about]...By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are primarily responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed." This is what the church teaches.
Do these words from Pres. Hinckley bother you? The message I get from the Proclamation is that it is good to have a family and it is good to take care of your children. Moms and dads should work it out together as to how that is accomplished. I DON'T get the message that women can't do this, or men can't do that. Do a lot of Mormon women stay home to take care of their children? Yes. Does that mean that ALL Mormon women should stay home to take care of children and that we frown upon anything else. No. But if they have children, they need to take care of them some way or another! They need to work it out with their husband or the father of their children. That's the message I get.
I do believe that most women are natural nurtureres. That is why a lot of women (and not just Mormon women) stay home with their children. But if I hear you right, that is not what bothers you. What bothers you is the supposed teaching that women should only do this and that men should only do that. Is that right? And again, I don't think the Mormon church does that. I do see why you might think that, but I don't think it is true.
I also predict that you may have a problem with the word "preside" in that paragraph. Again, I hope you don't have a misconception of what that word means and implies.
Oh and about the positive comments on my blog. My blog is pretty much pictures of my boys, quotes from my boys, and things we are doing. It leads to "oh cute" kinds of comments (except from you - Go Horns!). If you want a good discussion with positive and negative comments, go to Mrs. Dub's blog (I don't have the website memorized but I am sure you can hunt it down). Come on. We are not taught to "not ruffle feathers"! Just be nice.
So what do you think?
GO AUDRA!! You are again, the greatest! :)
Amen, to everything you said!!! YOU GO GIRL!!!
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