Gleek Love

The kids have been driving me batshit lately with the TV.  Not the shows they want to watch, though I would live happily without ever seeing another episode of fucking Wonder Pets, ever again.  No.  It is not the shows driving me mad.  It is the commercials.

Because it is that time of year, and the toy manufacturers want to make sure their products are under every tree in the country next month.

So. Every 4.7 minutes, the kids are told what they will want and what they need and what will make them happy.

And for my kids, this is a reason to argue.

A  Barbie commercial:

Bea:  "I want that!  That's for girls!"

An Iron Man action figure commercial:

Owen:  "I want that!  That's for boys!"

A commercial for that gawd awful Moon Sand, of which there will never EVER be a grain in this house:

Both kids:  "I want that!  That's for girls/boys!!"

Yelling over each other.

Me:  "Toys are for playing.  All kids play.  All toys are for all kids."

How many more weeks of this?

I couldn't handle the fucking Wonder Pets (or was it the fucking Fresh Beat Band?) Tuesday night.  I told the kids it was Mommy's choice for once.  We watched America's Funniest Home Videos.

They liked it.  People falling down?  Always funny.  Baseballs to the groin?  Hilarious.
A groom passing out at the altar?  Classic.

Bea:  "Did you and Daddy get married?"

Me:  Pointing to wedding picture on wall:  "We did."

Bea:  "Why did you get married?"

Me:  "Because we love each other and we wanted everyone to know it."

Bea:  "Who can get married?"

Me:  "A man and a woman...."

Before I finished my sentence, my conscience bitch slapped me, and told me not to lie. Because finishing the sentence there fully felt like a lie.  I couldn't  lie to Bea;

"Or a woman and a woman, or a man and man.  Anyone can love anyone."

And she just giggled;  "Anyone??"

"Anyone!"

I put the kids to bed by myself as Al had retired early, sick with a cold.  I thought I'd watch Glee alone, thanking the Universe that I actually had a Tuesday off from work and a passed out husband.
He awoke.  And he watched.



Al, having been raised by homophobes, has been a recovering homophobe since we met.  I am very proud at the progress he has made, and now consider him mostly open minded and tolerant.

OK. Fine.  He requested hot pokers for his eyes during the kissing.  He's still a hetero guy.

But he got it.  And loved how it was handled.  Without being sympathetic to the bully, we're reminded that when people do very bad things, sometimes there's a reason. And that everyone is scared. And that everyone is in pain.

And when I told him of my earlier conversation with Bea, he thought I gave her the right answer.

Anyone can love anyone.  How can you argue with that?

And if you think this post is a good place to debate?  You're wrong.

I care not at all about differing opinions on this topic.  I don't want to hear it.  I won't give you the satisfaction of fighting with you.  I'll just delete.

Who's going to argue about love anyway?