Moving on....

So, there are a lot of things I didn't quite realize I agreed to when I decided to move away from where I grew up. I guess most of it should have appeared to be obvious to me. I think when I first decided to move to NYC with Greg it was very exciting and sexy. It is still really exciting and rather sexy, but there was a lot that I just didn't think about when I moved away.

Storage USA

I have been grappling with the concept of "stuff" for so long. As a kid, thinking about all the toys I wanted for Christmas and birthdays--which is probably where when my fascination initially began. There were two times a year when people would bring me things??!! How amazing! Or so I thought. I had so many toys that my toys required a box, it even had a name, a "toy box", along with shelves, closets and drawers. Even while I felt like I had so many "toys" I am uncertain how much "stuff" I really had.

Their eyes are watching us...May Cause Miracles

I think this blog post is coming from a few places. First and foremost, thanks to my recent readings of Gabrielle Bernstein's "Spirit Junkie" and my continued reading of "May Cause Miracles," I have been thinking a ton about my own childhood and starting to dig down deep into where many of my quirks and nuances came from.

I also had a very interesting conversation with my co-worker last week. She is the mother of two young children and she was talking to me about how fascinated she was when she realized how her children play house, vs. how her sister's children play house....I will leave you all in suspense for a bit on that one.

Just say no.....

Growing up as a child of the 80's and 90's I was taught this mantra from a very early age. If you really break it down, it appears to read, duh, "just say no", of course the concept is easy...."just say no". No thinking necessary, just say no. Heck, it is taught to children and appears to need no real follow-up or explanation. I know we had a D.A.R.E. program, but I also know the mantra, more than anything, is what has stuck with me.

Dress-up your princesses in pink and purple

I feel like there are more and more conversations these days about fairy tales, happy endings and the importance of how we speak to our little girls. More than ever, I am seeing articles, blogs and stories about the negative impact of little girls growing up believing that prince charming will come and rescue them (from what, I am not so sure) and the superficial "pretty" and "beautiful" compliments many little girls are accustomed to.

When I think back to my own childhood, while I know that I had plenty of Barbies, Cabbage Patch Kids, Strawberry Shortcake Dolls and My Little Ponies, I do not remember ever wanting to be a princess, or having pink as my favorite color or playing dress-up. I find gender roles and gender identity, in particular, truly fascinating.