Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Subscribing to Stupidity

If you are into freebies at all (and who isn't?), you know that free magazine subscriptions have been abundant in the last few years. I sign up for ones I think may be helpful since they're free and I can always throw them away when I'm done with them. (Sorry...the closest to green I am is the color of the SUV I drive.  ;-) Well, I do pass them on to family members if I remember.)


Anyway, even after being very particular about the ones I subscribe to, I am angered about the content of "decent" magazines. One parenting magazine geared toward women, for example, featured a different male movie star each issue and told why he was so wonderful (my editing of their choice of words).

Another parenting magazine expressed shock at the statistic that families with school age children would own guns. Directly underneath were the new "coolest" kid headphones with a picture of a skull on them. Hmmm...

I'm tired of religion, too. Don't get me wrong....I'm tolerant. (Even if my post titles aren't!) But only when tolerance is mutual. This is America and we have freedom of religion, however, whenever my religion of choice (Christianity) is mentioned, the writer is always apologetic or worse, sarcastic and poking fun. So much for tolerance. (By the way, by tolerance I mean I support others' rights to choose their religion. I do not mean that I believe we can all be right.) An article that irked me was a woman's health magazine that talked about prayer as a stress reliever even if one doesn't believe in a Supreme Being to which to pray. Huh?

However, the most recent magazine article that drove me to write this ranting, raving analytical post was one touting the benefits of having a "work spouse". Here are some quotes from real people on the subject:
"My husband and I both have work spouses! And I think that's a really positive thing."

And what, exactly, is a "work spouse"?

"When she calls, he gives her his undivided attention and almost always takes her advice."
 "I know that sometimes he's going to call her when he needs to talk something through, and I'm okay with that...If someone else can help make your spouse's life easier and reduce his stress level, it's a win-win for everyone."
 I'm thinking that even though a parenting magazine is publishing this, that it's not going to be a win-win for the children involved when the spouses decide to simplify and let the work spouse be a full-time one.

6 comments:

  1. Wow...I have never heard of a 'work spouse' but that is HORRIBLE!! No wonder our society is made up of a huge percentage of divorced parents!! Your spouse is there for you to talk things through with, and share your heart. You do not need another 'spouse' to do what your real one is there for!! It's called...communicating! What a novel thought!

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  2. I've heard of work spouses.... haven't had one though and neither has my husband.

    Just popping through. I found you because in desperation I googled "a blog on christian families that were homeschooling but now send their kids to public school" and I found you :) and some others.

    After being a "diehard" homeschooler I am coming to the realization that it's just not happening anymore. My little boy is in public kindergarten (husband said I wasn't structured or disciplined enough for him - and he was right) and then my 13yr old will be attending public school next year. I think I'm in mourning - even though I know it's the right decision.

    It's nice to see that there are others "out there".

    oh - btw - I know this doesn't relate to your blog entry - but it did to the other entry I read.

    Thanks :)

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  3. I like you even more now! Lol. Thanks for being bold and posting this.

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  4. I probably was unknowingly added to some list when I signed up for a freebie and received an unsolicited copy of a popular parenting magazine. I really have never been into reading mainstream parenting magazines and books, as most of them are rooted in modern psychology, and therefore have little worth (I have a degree in Psychology, so I feel I can say this with confidence). Well, I decided to thumb through this unwanted issue and two things that came to my attention caused me to throw it away. The first was an article on GLBT parents. The second was an article on recommended Christmas presents to purchase for your baby or toddler, which featured two Twilight inspired stuffed dolls. I thought Twilight was a tween/teen issue, but this makes me think conspiracy type thoughts regarding pop culture and our children!

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  5. I received the parenting magazine as a gift subscription. I agree with you about the psychology aspect although I'm not trained in it as you are. I'm not sure what you mean by GLBT actually. The acronym is not ringing any bells. Twilight sickens and scares me, and I don't understand why anyone would want a child to be involved in it--teen or baby. Thanks for the comment!

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    1. O.K. I have since figured out what GLBT means. Sad when we restructure the God-ordained family. :(

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