The Great Gilly Hopkins

So I just wrote a research paper on the banned book list and censorship in the classroom. I picked the topic myself because I really am a fan of our first amendment and don't appreciate it when people say what I can and cannot read. I am an advocate of parents having a say in what their children read. A parent can judge the maturity of their child and whether they can handle the content of certain books. However, a parent does not have the right to tell me what my child can or cannot read.

Anyways, so as I was researching this topic I came across an interview with Katherine Paterson, who wrote Bridge to Terabithia, as well as other numerous books. I loved Bridge to Terabithia, it made me bawl like a baby. So I was astounded that that book was on the banned book list for the ridiculous reason of paganism (when the kids did silly worship stuff in the forest, it's the imagination, hello!) and the language that the kids use. Anyhow, another book of hers received even more criticism than Bridge to Terabithia, but I had never read it, so I knew that I had to. This book is called The Great Gilly Hopkins. Amazing book. Again, I bawled like a baby through it. This book has been criticized even more because the main character, Gilly, has the mouth of a sailor. It's really not that bad, I've heard much worse on network television. After reading this book the question came to mind, what is wrong with society? After reading this book I felt so much more enlightened than I had before. People need to stop being prudes. In her interview, Paterson told how she had been accused of being anti-Christian. She is the wife and daughter of a minister. Seriously. How ignorant can people get? Next thing you know, we're going to be as bad as the Nazis and burn every book that we don't necessarily agree with or like. Anyone seen Footloose lately? Enough said. We have the freedom to put the book down if we don't want to read it. Kids have the option of reading another book if they don't feel comfortable reading the one that is assigned. I have made a goal to read as many books as I can that are on the banned book list. I will not be a party to censoring such wonderful things. Seriously people, let's grow up a little.

Life in General

It's been a really long time, but I feel as if I have been really busy. Ok, so not super busy, mostly lazy, and sick. There has been this cough/cold thing going around for a while and I was so lucky as to contract it from my wonderful husband. I have been coughing and hacking for about 3 weeks now. And the end isn't in sight. I'm not a huge medicine fan so I haven't really taken anything for it. I caved in and took some Advil cold and sinus. I hope it works.

I love being a mom. My kids are amazing. Dagny was potty trained for a week. Then one day after peeing on the floor 3 times, I decided that I'm done. We put the princess potty seat away and that's it. Yet every time I see other little kids that are the same age as Dagny and they're wearing underwear, I cringe and feel like the crappiest mom ever. Why won't Dagny just pee on the potty? Seriously, aren't diapers super uncomfortable? Wouldn't she rather feel dry and grown up by wearing little girl panties? No, not my little girl. She will not be bribed and could care less about the candy. I'm at my wits end and I give up. Sunny boy will not crawl. He's 8 months old and pulls himself around with his forearms. He weighs 23 pounds and I'm tired of carrying him. Any day now, I'd really love it if he'd start crawling, or even better yet, walking!

I'm going to school online to become a teacher. Every day on the news I hear about more budget cuts in school districts where hundreds of teachers are getting laid off. I sure know how to pick a career, huh? It gets so frustrating trying to get my homework done, clean the house, cook dinner, do the laundry, and not totally neglect my kids that some days I really could just up and quit school. But I must persevere. I know that I'm going to be a teacher; you might even say destined to teach the children of our future to love literature. I don't know what the future will be in the job market for my career, but doggone it I'm going to get my degree. Even if there's no teaching jobs available, at least I'll be able to check one more goal of mine off my list.