Early last spring, my hippie side took over and made me stop shaving my legs. I haven't used a razor below my knee since (I never used one above my knee).
I did cave to social pressure to have hair-free legs for swimsuit season, but in an attempt to stay true to my anti-razor convictions, I suffered through waxing -- yikes! As I squelched the yelps, not wanting to appear wimpy, I comforted myself thinking that perhaps this would help my hair to grow in a little less wiry and black since I was having it yanked out, roots and all. But as the summer ended and the hair came back, my hopes were shattered. It was wirey and black, much like my husband's. Lovely.
Speaking of my husband, he has taken this rebellion of mine rather well. I keep my knee-high socks on when the rest of me is bare, and I suppose that helps. Several years ago, I took a break from shaving during the winter (my skinny legs need the fur, I reasoned) and when springtime came, I couldn't allow my secret to be exposed due to shorter pant legs, so I shaved. Within a couple of days of the return of the smooth, western-woman legs, the pillow-talk consisted of:
ME: Husband, you are perfect for me. I'm so glad we have such a great kind of love -- we just get along so perfectly, and it's not even like we have to say, "well, except for such-and-such, you're great" -- like, everything is great!!!
HUSBAND: Yes, especially now that you're shaving your legs again.
ME: Hee hee. Ahem.
So, you see, choosing now to have hairy legs may seem risky to my marriage! However, my husband has assured me that my current decision to abandon the razor again does not affect our long-term goals of happily ever after. Whew! He's so mature. Maybe it helps that my knee-high socks are kinda sexy - polka-dots, stripes, and other alluring patterns.
I've pointed out to my sons, ages 5 and 7, that my hairy legs are what nature bestowed upon me -- as well as upon their future wives. I consider my rejection of the razor as a gift to these daughters-in-law-to-be, since I am basically raising sons to accept hairy women as a norm.
Alas, I'm aware that my own daughters, currently just 2 with barely visible leg hair, may submit to the same peer pressure that caused me to become a shaver at the young age of 12. I can't change an entire culture, try as I might. But should they ever regret their relationship wtih the razor and want to embrace the hairy-leg-look, they'll know that their mother approves.
This whole anti-shaving stance is really an exercise in self-acceptance. I do not in any way find my masculine-hairy legs attractive. However, I didn't find my shaved legs attractive, either -- just more socially acceptable. My ultimate hope is that within a few years, my ultra-long, dark black, thick leg hairs will have all fallen out, and the hair that grows back will ideally be the kind that grows on my thighs.
Why, by the way, does shaved hair grow back so forcefully? My musings on this matter have concluded that it really is a fight with the razor. The razor invades the gentle growth patterns, removing the fine, light hair in an angry, mow-it-down manner. The hair, sensing its self-worth, is determined to have its place on my body and fuels itself with stronger follicles. The pricklies, however, summon the razor back, and another defeat occurs.
Wouldn't it be great if the rain forests reacted in such a way?!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Story of Stuff - a Must-See!
Like you, I get a lot of forwards in my inbox. Whether it's tips to avoid a rapist or an invitation to get Microsoft to share their millions with me, I generally just hit delete without even bothering to check it on Snopes.com.
In the case of this link, http://www.storyofstuff.com/, I received it with a heartfelt note from a girlfriend, warning me that it's 20 minutes long and may provoke some deep thoughts. I was grateful for both warnings, but still unprepared for exactly how much those 20 minutes could cause such intense ponderings!
Maybe you've already seen it -- I don't know how much it's getting around, but so far I've only seen the link in my inbox once. Come back to this link when you know you can focus on the amazingly important message that is shared in such an enlightening and motivating manner.
I suppose I sort of have a reputation of making some non-traditional choices -- among them, homebirth, attachment parenting, and homeschool. Overall, I feel like people respect my choices even if they don't agree or understand. Honestly, I don't always understand, other than I'm following my gut!
While this movie doesn't touch specifically on these issues, I feel like it relays a message of individual empowerment to effect change even in the face of forces that seem so much bigger than us.
Recently I've been going through a "phase" of wanting to reduce my use of plastics and clear out the clutter in my house. I feel like this movie does such a good job of explaining what I didn't even know were some great underlying reasons to be pro-active in these ways.
I do not necessarily agree with all of its political undertones (I specifically remember Bush inviting us to pray after 9/11), but its important to consider all the angles.
If you're like me in having budgetary reasons to recycle and have less stuff, this film will make you feel really good! You'll probably find ways to pat yourself on the back, while also being gently chastised for simply not considering all the who, what, where, when, and why about Wal-Mart!
I have betrayed myself as a big believer in the innate power of mothers in society, and I encourage mothers everywhere to take back our roles: rock the cradle and thereby rule the world!
As you watch the movie, it won't specifically mention motherhood, but see if you can find the ways this applies to mothers.
This movie also doesn't go into religious terminology, but it could -- things like love our neighbors, the dangers of pride and selfishness, choosing not to go into debt, taking care of God's creations, cultivating self-sustenance...
The fact is, God wants us to apply the Ten Commandments to our own circumstances using our own brains without him having to spell everything out. I feel like this movie helps us understand how these environmental issues are, in fact, spiritual in nature!
I'd love to hear your feedback after you've had a chance to watch this film. My hope is that it will free you from the pressures of the Golden Arrow and allow you to find a simpler, stuff-free way of living wherein you can really tap into the true sources of happiness: family and faith!
In the case of this link, http://www.storyofstuff.com/, I received it with a heartfelt note from a girlfriend, warning me that it's 20 minutes long and may provoke some deep thoughts. I was grateful for both warnings, but still unprepared for exactly how much those 20 minutes could cause such intense ponderings!
Maybe you've already seen it -- I don't know how much it's getting around, but so far I've only seen the link in my inbox once. Come back to this link when you know you can focus on the amazingly important message that is shared in such an enlightening and motivating manner.
I suppose I sort of have a reputation of making some non-traditional choices -- among them, homebirth, attachment parenting, and homeschool. Overall, I feel like people respect my choices even if they don't agree or understand. Honestly, I don't always understand, other than I'm following my gut!
While this movie doesn't touch specifically on these issues, I feel like it relays a message of individual empowerment to effect change even in the face of forces that seem so much bigger than us.
Recently I've been going through a "phase" of wanting to reduce my use of plastics and clear out the clutter in my house. I feel like this movie does such a good job of explaining what I didn't even know were some great underlying reasons to be pro-active in these ways.
I do not necessarily agree with all of its political undertones (I specifically remember Bush inviting us to pray after 9/11), but its important to consider all the angles.
If you're like me in having budgetary reasons to recycle and have less stuff, this film will make you feel really good! You'll probably find ways to pat yourself on the back, while also being gently chastised for simply not considering all the who, what, where, when, and why about Wal-Mart!
I have betrayed myself as a big believer in the innate power of mothers in society, and I encourage mothers everywhere to take back our roles: rock the cradle and thereby rule the world!
As you watch the movie, it won't specifically mention motherhood, but see if you can find the ways this applies to mothers.
This movie also doesn't go into religious terminology, but it could -- things like love our neighbors, the dangers of pride and selfishness, choosing not to go into debt, taking care of God's creations, cultivating self-sustenance...
The fact is, God wants us to apply the Ten Commandments to our own circumstances using our own brains without him having to spell everything out. I feel like this movie helps us understand how these environmental issues are, in fact, spiritual in nature!
I'd love to hear your feedback after you've had a chance to watch this film. My hope is that it will free you from the pressures of the Golden Arrow and allow you to find a simpler, stuff-free way of living wherein you can really tap into the true sources of happiness: family and faith!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Controversy in Motherhood
Motherhood.
It's either seen as too easy (all you do is cook and clean and make sure the kids don't drown) or it's seen as too hard (try arguing with a two-year old!)
It is agreed that it can be physically exhausting (all that cooking and cleaning!)... and philosophically exasperating (deciding whether or not to end the forementioned argument with a hug or a spanking...).
There are women who accidentally become mothers -- at least biologically. Some of them recognize their unplanned pregnancy as their ticket to immortality and THEN choose to BECOME mothers.
Some of them just go to the doctor and ask him to spare them the difficulties (and joys) of a lifetime, one they were willing to do the dance to create, but not willing to do the dirty work to complete.
Then there are women who try for years to become mothers in that same biological sense. Some of them "succeed" and experience pregnancy.
Some of them end up choosing to pursue motherhood by means of another woman, one who chooses to end her biological motherhood when her pregnancy ends but at a time when the child's life can continue.
How many women, regardless of whether or not they actually bear children, put that much thought, anguish, effort, desire, money, energy, and planning into BECOMING mothers in the emotional sense?
Yes, unplanned pregnancies are a striking social concern. But what about unplanned motherhood -- which is quite common, even among women who choose biological motherhood...
I'm CONTROMOM -- "contro" for controversial -- and yes, I wear a bandana on my head and hide things in my socks on occasion... I want moms to grow and progress in their motherhood, rather than simply claim it as a state of being. This is how I plan to take over the world, ha ha ha!
Tell me about your mom! Tell me how you blame her for your faults and give her credit for your successful endeavors...
Tell me about your mothering! Have you outsourced it, like all the other big companies are doing? Or are you choosing to use it as a forum wherein you develop yourself, your talents, your future and the future of our society.
As much as I hate to admit this, motherhood DOES consist largely of cooking, cleaning, and making sure the kids don't drown.
What are we cooking? Emotional nourishment has its own food pyramid. Are we ignoring it as badly as we ignore the USDA suggestions?
What are we cleaning? Life is about making messes. It's also about learning how to clean them up. Are we teaching our children skills of fixing what we break and putting things in the trash?
And as far as "making sure the kids don't drown" -- drown in what? Does your "high-quality" daycare even recognize that there are forces flooding our society that aren't made up of hydrogen and oxygen.
Tell me I should be called retro-mom. I'm old-fashioned. But I'm not. I live in the now, because my children do and I have to be able to teach them how to be contributing citizens.
This work, this career called motherhood -- this is how I'm contributing to society!
My thumbs are in my ears, my fingers waving -- this job is so much more important than what women do. I'm a mom.
Yo momma. Come to the 'hood. Talk to me. I hear ya.
It's either seen as too easy (all you do is cook and clean and make sure the kids don't drown) or it's seen as too hard (try arguing with a two-year old!)
It is agreed that it can be physically exhausting (all that cooking and cleaning!)... and philosophically exasperating (deciding whether or not to end the forementioned argument with a hug or a spanking...).
There are women who accidentally become mothers -- at least biologically. Some of them recognize their unplanned pregnancy as their ticket to immortality and THEN choose to BECOME mothers.
Some of them just go to the doctor and ask him to spare them the difficulties (and joys) of a lifetime, one they were willing to do the dance to create, but not willing to do the dirty work to complete.
Then there are women who try for years to become mothers in that same biological sense. Some of them "succeed" and experience pregnancy.
Some of them end up choosing to pursue motherhood by means of another woman, one who chooses to end her biological motherhood when her pregnancy ends but at a time when the child's life can continue.
How many women, regardless of whether or not they actually bear children, put that much thought, anguish, effort, desire, money, energy, and planning into BECOMING mothers in the emotional sense?
Yes, unplanned pregnancies are a striking social concern. But what about unplanned motherhood -- which is quite common, even among women who choose biological motherhood...
I'm CONTROMOM -- "contro" for controversial -- and yes, I wear a bandana on my head and hide things in my socks on occasion... I want moms to grow and progress in their motherhood, rather than simply claim it as a state of being. This is how I plan to take over the world, ha ha ha!
Tell me about your mom! Tell me how you blame her for your faults and give her credit for your successful endeavors...
Tell me about your mothering! Have you outsourced it, like all the other big companies are doing? Or are you choosing to use it as a forum wherein you develop yourself, your talents, your future and the future of our society.
As much as I hate to admit this, motherhood DOES consist largely of cooking, cleaning, and making sure the kids don't drown.
What are we cooking? Emotional nourishment has its own food pyramid. Are we ignoring it as badly as we ignore the USDA suggestions?
What are we cleaning? Life is about making messes. It's also about learning how to clean them up. Are we teaching our children skills of fixing what we break and putting things in the trash?
And as far as "making sure the kids don't drown" -- drown in what? Does your "high-quality" daycare even recognize that there are forces flooding our society that aren't made up of hydrogen and oxygen.
Tell me I should be called retro-mom. I'm old-fashioned. But I'm not. I live in the now, because my children do and I have to be able to teach them how to be contributing citizens.
This work, this career called motherhood -- this is how I'm contributing to society!
My thumbs are in my ears, my fingers waving -- this job is so much more important than what women do. I'm a mom.
Yo momma. Come to the 'hood. Talk to me. I hear ya.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)