This year for Christmas, our family decided to donate some toys to a needy family. I can’t take credit for the idea, as it was all inspired by my wife. In her online activities, she came across a single parent family online here in Memphis who was in need. As a former single mom herself, she made the decision to donate toys to this woman and her 3 kids who are all girls.
As a family we spoke about it, and decided that since we’re financially strapped like so many, we would donate the old toys of the kids. Now mind you, we donated old used toys, but please believe, the majority of them were like brand new. Some of them were hardly even used over the years. My wife met the lady, gave her the toys, and she was truly appreciative. She even sent us an email expressing her gratitude, as she said that she was unable to provide for her kids due to financial constraints. I must admit, it felt really good to do something as small as that for someone else. Hopefully God caught that act on surveillance tape.
Thinking of toys, and seeing commercials for toys this year, I couldn’t help but to think of the impact these toys have on kids. They have so much of an impact that there’s a rating system for appropriateness. And hell why not? Violent acts are often blamed on video games these days. I guess its just the sign of the times. Back in my day, as a kid, playing with those little green army men and the many cap guns didn’t have a negative effect on me.
But then again, maybe its because I had responsible parents. Not saying that parents today or in recent years are irresponsible and not in tune with the type of toys they give to their kids. But if you’re gonna blame toys for today’s violent and insensitive society on video games, and toy guns, can’t we blame today’s problem with teenage pregnancies on little girls receiving baby dolls? Seriously, let me know in your comments your thoughts on this.
I don’t have a son, but if I did, I’d be conscientious of the toys I gave him as I am with my daughters. Trust me, I took good care not to buy the pregnant teenage project Barbie years ago for my now teenage daughters. As a matter of fact, what they need to produce are doll babies that actually spit real puke on little girls. Sure they have fake ones, but nothing is as good as the real thing. I’m willing to bet (since I can’t blame parenting…*wink*) that the trauma of having real puke on your face. Or even having to clean stinky baby doll poop, might be a deterrent for teenage pregnancies.
This is why next Christmas I’m gonna have a special charity in my heart. Thanks to my wife, I now have a new focus for the holidays. Starting next year, I’m gonna do my part and donate toys. I’m gonna concentrate my efforts on boys. Yup, I sure am. Matter of fact, I think I’ll just start a foundation. Its gonna be called…
Toys For Jehovah Witness Tots.
What?!!!
Have you seen Michael Jackson lately?
He grew up in a Jehovah Witness household; a very strict one I might add. And look at how fucked up he turned out. I mean look at him. He looks like a cross between the Green Hornet and a Ninja Turtle. And you wanna know why? Because as a Jehovah Witness kid, he grew up in a household where they didn’t celebrate Christmas. He played with mice for Christ sakes!
Sure he was/is a talented entertainer, but had he gotten toys for Christmas, he would have probably been a normal kid. Seriously, were he given baby dolls as a kid for Christmas, he probably would have never grown up to be an “alleged” molester of little boys. He may have been more like RuPaul if that had happened. But at least he would not have been hanging babies out of windows. The same thing could probably be said for kids raised in Jewish or Muslim homes, but they don’t walk around looking lost like poor Mike.
I’m just sayin…
maybe it could help reduce the door knocking thing…
its the thought that counts.
QUESTION: Do you believe kids are impacted by the toys they receive? Are gender roles defined by the type of toys they receive as opposed to the effect of parenting?