Let them be themselves

Its been a long time since I wrote here. But a conversation I had with my 6 year old made me want to write.

Lately- the news if full of transgender bathroom talk- and the whole transgender theme. And reading those articles I wondered how I'd feel if that talk ever came up with my child.

Today at breakfast my darling 6 year girl said out of no where, "I don't want to be a girl. I want to be a boy," and she started crying.

I was shocked to say the least- because never before has she mentioned wanting to be a boy. I wondered what had brought on this idea.  Had some snide comment from a brother, or some fear of something she'd overheard?

I reminded myself that on occasion my oldest son has said he wished he was a girl. But the root of that is that he doesn't like the rowdiness of the boys in his class and he REALLY likes one girl in his class. He thought if he was  girl she'd talk to him more . . . But I told him all the extras of being a boy- and he got over that.

Today when my girl was crying I hugged her and asked her why she had said that. She couldn't answer me- and in time I realized that perhaps this was just a sudden feeling she had. On occasion I remember feeling that way a girl- when my brothers got to do things I didn't as a kid.

I told my girl all the great things about being a girl that boys don't get to do: having babies, wearing dresses, painting their nails, being princesses, brides, etc. Then we painted her nails, hugged and moved on.

But in my heart I kept praying and wondered. Could it be that the fight our culture and world is undergoing is so strong that our kids feel this influence, confusion and dislike of self even if they have never heard it discussed before.

We are in a battle for the hearts, bodies and identities of our kids.

Each child is a precious gift to us- made in the image of a perfect Creator!

I am so thankful for the gender of each of my kids and excited to meet the surprise growing within me.

Lets let our kids BE themselves and embrace the full masculinity and femininity of the persons they were made to be.

How do you encourage your kids to be all BOY and GIRL?

First Love

My oldest is child/son is in first grade and there is a girl in his class who he thinks is the prettiest and smartest in the whole class or even the whole school.

It all started last summer when this girl would ride her bike down our road and stop and talk to him over the fence. At the time I thought her older than him by a couple of years. I also thought her rather pushy- like wanting him to share his snacks or ice cream with her- and he didn't even know her. Over the course of the summer they came to know each others names, and as much as kids do over the fence.

September 1st came and it turns out she was put into the same first grade class as he was- needless to say he was pleased- since he then knew at least one of his new classmates.

It is now April and he still thinks her awesome- though from what I gather she doesn't like him talking to her in school and doesn't sound very friendly to him while there.

But when it is the weekend and she rides by our house again on her bike and they both meet at the tree swing on our street with her cousin and other kids then she is friendly.

D-boy had been pestering me to let her come visit. First I said he could invite her to come play in our yard- she did one evening.

Then he wanted her to come play Legos with him. I told him he could ask her if her Mom agreed and if  he cleaned up the house. They finally got their schedules as arranged as much 7 year olds do and can and she said she'd come around 6 p.m if her Mom let her.

D-boy then went to work cleaning the first floor all afternoon as well as doing his homework. I was shocked to find out my 7 year old can do more than clean the play room as he did an AWESOME job cleaning, vacuuming and tidying up the whole first floor (not the kitchen- that is my spot) . I thought, "WOW, look what liking someone and planning for their visit can do to a boy!"

6 p.m came and went and this girl didn't show up. My son paced and fretted. I told him maybe her Mom wouldn't let her come because she really doesn't know us, other than us living on one block and them going to the same class. He convinced Dad to go on a bike ride with him- which was really an excuse to see if she was at the tree swing or out in her own yard.

Bedtime came and my boy cried and cried (he is very emotional) because she hadn't come- or given word that she couldn't. I cheered him with the thought he'd see her in school tomorrow and could ask her why she hadn't come.

The next day came and went and I was eager to hear from my son why this girl hadn't shown up. We were surprised to hear she hadn't even asked her Mom, and that she didn't even want to come and that is why she didn't bother to ask!

All this drama has led to a lot of conversation with my boy about being fickle, and changeable and not keeping ones word. We've talked alot about why this girl is mean/ignores him in school yet is friendly here and how that it isn't kind to be two-faced like this.

Yesterday in school D-boy asked her why she acts so strange to him in school and different here on our own block. She said she doesn't want the other kids to know she knows him. . . (that makes this Mom heart ache)

So here are the complexities of first graders- and I thought all of this drama would start later when my kids were older.

So Mom's - - how have you handled first loves and classmates like this with your kids? And do first graders actually make good friends? As it seems to me my boy is not fitting into his class and he says he doesn't have a friend he talks to much. There have been boys on and off he said were his friends, but now he says they aren't because they all like roughing around and he doesn't.

Time to Begin Again

It has been far too long since I wrote here and I'd say the reason was because last year when my website opened and I had a blog there I got confused as to where to write. But I have concluded I want to focus that blog on items having to do with Ritzy Silk and wearing silk, etc. So from now I on I hope to post on this blog again because I miss writing. 

If you want to following along on what is new in my business and on my website be sure to add that to your favorites. Clicking on the photo below will take you to my website. 

And if you want to stay up to date with my NEW cooking and cakes blog than click on this photo below. 

And as always my Etsy shop is busy at work as usual here 

In the past year I have become an active user of Instagram which is a fun place to share photo updates, so be sure to follow me there. You can also find me as both a private and business person on Facebook. 

So if you want to keep in touch there are TONS of ways to do so! 

Until next time, and hoping you haven't utterly forgotten me! 

-EG

Happy Spring- Giveaway

Now that it is officially spring and to wish you a very happy Easter don't miss getting in on my EMMA- book scarf giveaway! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

How are you coloring your eggs? 

We are going natural this year and doing it the Latvian way with natural products- I will try to post a photo if I get one before the kids eat them :) 

Happy Easter! 

www.ritzysilk.com

www.silkiness.etsy.com

Hello and What's New

It's been ages since I wrote here. It hasn't been that I haven't wanted to write. But once I started my new Website- Ritzy Silk and began writing there on occasion I sort of got confused as to where to write.

Not to mention I also have a new cooking Blog. I am trying out a new platform with Wordpress which helps me understand my website platform better as well.

Other than that we are preparing for spring with little plants galore on our windowsills and dreams of spring.

To keep in touch you can follow me on Instagram or connect via Facebook. On Instagram I post photos of what I have been painting or baking of late.

One of the most exciting additions to my silk scarves and ties is that I offer custom hand painted silk veils, to read more about that click on my Website Blog Link HERE

So happy spring to anyone who still follows my blog!

One Choice can alter the World.

This morning I was taking my son to school- we left in a timely manner and I anticipated arriving on time. I hate being late.

But someone elses choice effected the lives of all our city today.

Driving through our town requires crossing train tracks in one of two locations. Our planned route was blocked by policemen by the tracks and completed blocked with cones. I have never seen this sort of barricade in the 10 years I have lived here.

So every car heading into the center was rerouted to cross the other tracks- which resulted in very slow driving and everyone being late for something. A normal 5 minute drive (with no waiting for trains) ended up taking 30-40 min.

I dropped my son off late and headed back towards home. Because one crossing was still closed everyone was trying to get through the only open crossing- thus making for lines that were extremely backed up and with the delayed train schedule we were stopped due to crossing trains and slow traffic for another 30 min.

I was glad to reach home after the usually 10 minute journey taking me an hour and wondering what had occurred at the train tracks to have backed up an entire city all morning.

I later learned from the news that 2 women were seriously injured when having ignored the flashing lights and signal they crossed the train tracks. Their car was struck and pushed 400 metres before the train stopped.

How sad!

How sad that a seemingly small choice would cause such pain for those involved and their families and without their even knowing it they would cause frustration, rush, delay and annoyance to an entire city in the morning rush.

How often we fail to consider the results of our choices and worry more about the moment.

Jesus, be with these ladies injured so severely. 

Help us walk in wisdom today- not knowing the repercussions are decision may have on today and eternity.

My sister- the best one in the world!

My sister. 

From the day you were born I have thought of you fondly. 

Every girl needs a sister and I have YOU. 

I know growing up I was mean at times- not including you in my play or with my friends. I know older sisters can be bossy. Sorry. 

You have always been different and because of that I have admired you. 

What I feared you found most fascinating. (like end times, and Revelation, and anything having do do with spiritual battle)

What I ran from you greeted. 

When I buried my head in the sand like an ostrich you sought adventure. 

I have always loved your curls- actually I have envied them. But they seem to me as if they are a visible sign of the person you are. 

You have always been a spitfire. A bubbling, singing brook of a girl and woman. You have sass. You have fire. You have passion. You have talents quite like no one else I know. But those unique set of talents and gifts make you who you are! 

There have been days I envied your freedom- to be you- to be free- to let go of inhibition which can be so imprisoning. 

There have been nights when I cried for you. 

There have been days when you cried and prayed with me with a wisdom beyond someone your age should have. 

You have driven me crazy and made me laugh harder than anyone else on the face of the earth. 

I am so thankful to call you my sister- because of having the best sister is the world I wish I could gift my daughter with a sister- like you. 

But God gives sisters like you to only some girls- and I was lucky enough to be one of them. 

So remember I will never grow tired of your craziness, or accompanying you in song, or laughing or traveling, or shopping (even for candy) with YOU. 

I LOVE YOU you wild haired woman! 

Embrace yourself and love the person God made you to be with all that wild side- because you cannot change it any more than you can change those curls on your head which God gave you! 

DREAM

SING

BE

LOVE

LAUGH

CRY 

and when you  need a hug

I am waiting!