Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

Fans of Seinfeld will understand the title of this blog. The subject matter will make some angry and some cheer, but it is something that affects my kids and bothers me so I felt I had to write about it.

The word GAY. G.A.Y. gay gay gay gay gay! GAY! does it bother you?
Does it bother you when you're called Gay even when you're not gay? Does it bother you when you hear someone call something gay as if it is a negative thing?

Drives me up the wall.

Gay has lost it's old definition see 2 &3 and as Oxford reads, please note 4.

adjective (gayergayest)

  • 1(of a person, especially a man) homosexual.
  •  relating to or used by homosexuals:a gay bar
  • 2 dated light-hearted and carefree:Nan had a gay disposition and a very pretty face
  • 3 dated brightly coloured; showy:a gay profusion of purple and pink sweet peas
  • 4 informal, often offensive foolish, stupid, or unimpressive:he thinks the obsession with celebrity is totally gay

noun

  • a homosexual, especially a man.

I've heard the word Gay thrown around as a negative a lot lately. Not by Spouse and I but by the under 12 crowd. I've heard the term used in a negative way (see 4 above) so much lately that I lost my temper the other day and snapped. Losing myself in a tirade that Rosie O'Donnell would be proud of.

I got tired of the word being used as a negative thing. I reminded the under 12 crowd that people who are Gay are all around us. They are our teachers, coaches and friends. Members of our family are gay- and you may not even know it. That rock star and actor you think is so cool? GAY. G.A.Y. Gay or not all people deserve our respect, so I strongly suggested that the word not be used to describe something negative-or used as a personal insult.

I've heard the word used less and less in my presence after my little rant, I know that it isn't used in my home in a negative way and I hope it isn't in your home either. If Gay is a negative thing in your world, do us all a favour and keep that to yourselves. Keep little Jimmy or Bobby in check and remind them that regardless of what you may think is wrong or right, using that word as an insult is lazy. Our language has so many better words to use to make someone cry. (insults- an ongoing battle, on the mom list of things to address)

I'm pretty confident that most of the under 12 crowd is still unsure of the true meaning behind "being Gay", as parents we try to inform them as best we can-I hope we are doing our Gay friends and coworkers, family and community members a service. And although I can't often control what's happening on the playground  I can control what is happening in my own backyard.  

My next war to wage. Retarded. Wait for my rant on the misuse of that particular word. You may want to seek shelter.
 
Even the Queen herself offered her approval to same sex couples today.
So really, there isn't anything wrong with it. Her Majesty says so.  


Thursday, July 4, 2013

Are we there yet?

"Mom how come it takes so long to get to somewhere on a trip and getting home goes so fast?"

This question along with 427 'are we there yet?s'  and 689 'howwwwmuuuchloooonnnnggggerrrrr?s" started off our first week of summer holiday. Spouse and I made it all the way to our destination by car, only once considering leaving one or both children on the side of the TransCanada Highway. The thought of which  gave us great joy and we laughed and laughed and laughed. Of course we'd never ACTUALLY do it. But be damned sure we thought about it.  

Despite my packing snacks, books, markers and colouring books. A fully charged iPod and Nintendo DS WITH an assortment of games, a mom and dad who are both awesome at Eye Spy, crack license plate bingo players and are old hands at counting road kill, the kids were still annoying and restless.

This is what I have to look forward to all summer. Spouse and I just cranked the tunes, held hands and looked down the highway.

The Boy is hell bent on fitting everything he can into this first week off of school. I'm not going to lie- he's driving me nuts. Nagging me with activities he wants to do, things he wants to see and bugs me relentlessly about all of the above. I'm about to hit him over the head with the calendar and count the days of the month, assuring him we will have time to do all the fun stuff he 'HAS TO DO'!
In good time I keep telling him, we have ALL DAY. ALL WEEK. ALL MONTH.

I just want to get caught up with lake laundry and prepare for next week. No small task.
All 3 of us away at the beach. It's like planning a military offensive, and it all has to fit in the trunk of the car.

Maybe it's my own fault, we are always running to an activity or a social event. Perhaps The Boy is on the same treadmill I have been on and needs to slow down, or maybe it's as simple as the trip somewhere taking longer because of the excitement. Maybe he's so overwhelmed by having little to no schedule that's he's going hog wild and in the process driving me to drink. More.

Spouse and I were considering a road trip this summer. After this first short trip in the car with both kids, we have had a change of heart, after all it is supposed to be a rest and holiday for us too isn't it?

We'll see where the wind takes us, we have all month to play and take it slow. I just need to get The Boy on board and have him wind down a bit, if he doesn't die from boredom first.

I still get the giggles thinking about Hurricane Girlchild left standing roadside with a Koolaid Jammer and a Rice Krispie square. Don't judge, the image is stunning. Her tiny silhouette growing smaller as the car continues down the highway. She'd probably end up adopted by a family of bears, teach them show tunes and be entertaining campers and stealing picnic baskets by late July.
I don't think the Ranger's gonna like this Yogi....