Picket Fence Post

So this makes two weeks in a row that I’ve been late with my Friday Funnies installment, but better late than never. This week, instead of an amusing video, I’m posting this anecdote:

The Spouse and I were tidying up The Girl’s room the other day, picking up dirty clothes, crinkled up papers and tissues, magazines and myriad other clutter, all of which reminded me of my Superfund site of a bedroom when I was a girl.

After he took in the combination of girlish decorations (a framed gymnastics poster, fabric covered pink plaid bulletin board, pink doll house) as well as the tween ones (Tiger Beat Magazine cut-outs, mostly of the Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato & High School Musical), plus the scented lip glosses and the many hair accoutrements lying around, The Spouse said, “This room scares me.”

“Why?” I asked.

“There’s just too much going on in here.”

Friday Funnies . . . because parents need to laugh. At least once a week.

If you live in New England, it may not seem like summer outside just yet. It’s been damp and cold and distinctly un-June-like outside. And while the school calendars are winding down (though several last-minute school projects are still ongoing and causing supreme angst in the Picket Fence Post household), summertime ’tis a-comin’ regardless . . . which means we’ll be tackling some of the activities in The Double-Daring Book for Girls, a collection of activities and general knowledge entries that’ll liven up your little gals’ (and boys’ . . . don’t tell ‘em the book title) summer.

The Girl and I have perused the 275 pages of activities countless times since we received it. (She’s also combed the book’s contents with her neighborhood gal pal.) However the activities she’s itchin’ to do are better suited for doing out of doors in summer-like weather . . . when we have 30 spare moments to cobble together.

So, as soon as it truly feels like summer and the Picket Fence Post family’s schedules have let up (sports have concluded, school and the insufferable projects are almost completed), here are the projects The Girl has ID’ed as ones in which she’s keenly interested:

 ”How to Dye Your Hair Using Kool-Aid.”

I know, you’re likely thinking that I’m nuts to even consider letting her do this. There’s even a warning at the beginning which says, “BEWARE! This project is messy and Kool-Aid will stain. Wear an old T-shirt to protect your clothes, and have a buddy help you.” Hence, we’re waiting until it’s warm outside, and until she no longer has to show up at school each day after she’s dyed her hair blue or purple or whatever color she selects. (Don’t worry Grandma, the color washes out. Eventually.) I haven’t yet informed The Spouse that I’ve already given The Girl permission to do this once it’s warmer.

“Make a Decoupage Bowl.”

Again, this decoupage bowl bowl project seems like it has the potential to be mighty messy what with oils, glue and/or varnish in the ingredients list. (And I’m anticipating that The Youngest Boy — age 7 — might want to participate as well.) But I think that our backyard will be the perfect place for The Girl and her gal pal (and whoever else wants to join in) to tackle this activity.

“Make a Lava Lamp.”

Actually, this is one The Boy (age 10, like his twin sis) wants to do. Includes baby oil, water, food coloring, mess in general. Again . . . this’ll be an outdoor activity.

Other activities in this empowering, kid-centric guidebook include: “How to Catch Fish,” “How to Build a Raft,” “How to Debate” (I think I’ll keep the Picket Fence Post kids away from this one; they’ve already mastered it), “Hula-Hoops,” “Make a Snow Globe” and “The Double-Daring Girl’s Guide to Getting Out of Trouble.”

To broaden the kids’ minds there are thoughtful entries on topics such as: “Notable Women,” “Cowgirls,” “Being a Private Eye,” “Horses” and “Dreams and Their Meanings.”

Once we’ve tackled the three projects above (dye hair, bowl and lava lamp), I’ll post images here.

Image credit: Double Daring Book for Girls.

Item #1: Amy Poehler’s Parenting Tips

Amy Poehler claimed a special place in my heart last fall when, while precariously close to the due date for her first child, she ferociously performed the infamous, wickedly funny ”Palin Rap” on Saturday Night Live. Now, soon after having given birth to her son, she’s back on the air with her new NBC sitcom, Parks & Recreation, to which I’m going to give some latitude because I think it’ll develop into something good. (At least that’s what I’m hoping. Got fingers crossed.)

Meanwhile the folks over at the Daily Beast  landed an interview with the new funny mom and asked her for favorite pieces of parenting advice. Among them:

– Always remember your kid’s name.

– Always remember where you put your kid.

– Don’t let your kid drive until their feet can reach the pedals.

That’s the kind of parenting advice I can really appreciate.

Item #2: Lost’s Bad Dads

If you’re a fan of the deliciously densely written, symbol-laden show Lost – I’m an addict, I admit it — you couldn’t help but notice that this week’s installment only advanced the argument that almost every character who goes to (or crashes on) that mysterious island has some sort of serious father issue with which to contend/overcome/make peace with, etc. (Wrote about it briefly on my Suburban Mom blog.)

There’ve been dads on this show who’ve ranged from physically and verbally abusive to outright homicidal toward their offspring, who’ve killed their children’s mothers, who’ve been dangerous alcoholics (including one who wielded a surgeon’s scalpel in the operating room while under the influence), who’ve abandoned their families and who’ve been emotionally absent. Now that their children have grown up to be damaged adults, they find themselves on this creepy, haunted island. (The web site Jezebel did a fine job of analyzing the multitude of Lost’s “daddy issues.”)

So, a word of warning to dads: Better be good to your kids or else they’ll grow up to be writers on a show like Lost and depict fathers as the root of all evil. I’m just sayin’ . . .

(more…)

Worried that the railing-thin young female stars of the newly revamped 90210 are sending the wrong message to impressionable girls, Entertainment Weekly ran a piece quoting unnamed sources who said folks are growing concerned about the actresses’ bodies which were called ”alarmingly thin, with arms that seem thickest at the wrist, and legs that look like, well arms.” The AMC show Mad Men (shout out to the Emmy winner for best drama!) was singled out for promoting a “healthy body image” mostly because of actress Christina Hendricks, who plays a sultry office manager on the program and who EW called “the very definition of sexy.”

While watching the Emmys last night, I was absolutely taken with how Hendricks made actual, feminine curves fashionable. Take a look at the photo of Hendricks in her green dress at last night’s awards show. Amidst the sea of toothpicks, she stood out and, to echo EW, provided a much healthier attitude toward the female form than the anorexic celebs who usually populate red carpets.

So if you have a daughter who starts to covet the figures of one of the new 90210 gals, show her a photo of Hendricks (maybe not this one of the gown with the plunging neckline, but a tasteful one from the show, like this one) and tell her there are other ways to be beautiful.

Better yet, visit the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty web site, be sure to check out the section for moms who are looking to help their daughters cultivate a healthy body image, and direct your daughter to the section just for the girls.

Image credit: AP/Chris Pizzello/Boston Globe.

Note: If you’re a Mad Men fan — and I know you all want to be – be sure to check out my latest Pop Culture and Politics column about the mixed messages we received from the media over the past 10 days about what we want and expect from American career women.