Comments on: Book Club Monday #6

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:55:48 +0000

Blog Book Club Contest Winner! Good afternoon, everyone. I’ve randomly drawn a name out of a hat and this is what I got: Congratulations to #1 Dee, you are this contest’s winner. Please send me a private email with your address and we’ll get your ARC of Easy on the Eyes out in the mail to you. Thanks to everyone for discussing the novel, and for making these book club conversations such a great success! I hope to see everyone’s reader reviews online (at your blog, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble, Facebook…). Yours, Jane www.janeporter.com

By: Stacy in AZ

Stacy in AZ — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 05:12:31 +0000

Sure things are different today…things always change and evolve just as we change and evolve. Do my kids have more than I have…sure. In school they have more than some and less than others. When they were in private school and we had less than most of the families, there were some families that didnt want anything to do with us because we had nothing to offer them but other families that didnt focus on those things. Quite often the families who let everyone know that they have the most money and use it to gain control within the school, also have kids who get control because of their parents financial influence. Whatever values the parents instilled in their children, that is what predominates in the children.

By: sue m.

sue m. — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:30:14 +0000

I feel things were so different when I was a child, but that was years ago. There was no way coming from a family of 8 kids that I would ever get new clothes. I was a hand me down kid, but so were a lot of the other kid I went to school with. My parents made me work for what I wanted and I think that is important. I see way too many parents showering their kids with exspensive gifts forno reason and their kids treat them like dirt in return. I really don’t understand. I think some parents now days feel they are away from their kids so much (andat work) that they feel guilty and feel they need to “buy” their love. Maybe I’m wrong, but thisis what I see in some families. Sad, it really isn’t the way to live. My feeling is who cares what someone is wearing. Does anyone remember that what really counts is what’s inside? You aren’t going to find a true friend by looking at what clothes they are wearing, that’s for sure!

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 11:40:13 +0000

Growing up we didn’t have a lot and I was unaware of not having things. I didn’t have a lot of clothes and I remember wearing my favorite purple dress every other day. I cringe now to think of that but at the time, it wasn’t a problem and no one said anything that would’ve made me uncomfortable about it. And I didn’t grow up in a poor neighborhood/area. So, I definitely think things have changed since I was growing up because having things, including designer clothes seems to be what kids have to have to fit in. A friend of mine was telling me that she’d bought her 10 year old son some jeans – I think she said from Walmart – and his response was “I’ll make those my play clothes” because he didn’t want to be seen at school in non-designer clothes. My friend set him straight on that, but that’s how things seem to be now. And my friend is not materialistic when it comes to clothes herself so it seems to be more of a peer pressure thing. And they do live in a more upscale area.

When it comes to popularity, I do believe the parents have a lot to do with how their children respond to others, so I do believe they play a role.

By: diana

diana — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:13:07 +0000

My mom was a great believer in being your own person. She taught me by example that kindness and compassion are more important than having the latest fashions or the best highlights. I learned that peer pressure and competition are strong influences, but in the end, all that most people want is to be loved and accepted for who they are.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:59:25 +0000

Popularity wars stemming from parents and their point of views – I just can’t answer that one honestly. Now, social status and material goods -Oh yes, yes, yes and don’t forget how active your child is relative to cheerleading, booster club, football, basketball, you get my drift all play a role in a child’s popularity from elementary right through the end of high school as well as clothes with the right labels and on and on and on. Things have changed so from when I was a child and had to wear a pair of saddle oxfords to a popular girls birthday party because that was all I had (I can’t believe I even remember that much less being invited and hadn’t before I just blurted it out). I could have never done that to one of my kids. Wouldn’t we just pull out our credit card? Yeah! Yeah! Anyway this revelation has me shellshocked but I just wanted to add that now here in south Florida kids in public elementary as well as middle school have to wear uniforms now to school. How is it in other parts of the country?

By: denise

denise — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:15:46 +0000

Parents play a big role in their child’s view of material things and popularity. I try to stress how important what’s on the inside matters.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:47:19 +0000

Children definately do learn from the influences of their environment. Be it home or friends. The whole ritual of social status and popularity wars has not changed, just the gadgets and labels that are cool. There will forever be a pecking order.

I feel the only difference is hopefully now that we understand it a bit better, as parents we can hopefully teach our children what is important in life and how to base our self worth on what is really important.

By: Sally Johnson

Sally Johnson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:27:50 +0000

Another great topic…

Kids are influenced by everything they see and hear, inside the home and out. As was pointed out in #2, however, we have little control over HOW that influence impacts who they are (or what they say, or who they become!).

The world will show our children how to be mean and kind, glutenous and disciplined, judgmental and accepting, narrow-minded and open-hearted, even hateful and loving. All we can do is try to exhibit the best of these traits, not only for our children, but for our fellow human beings. Because I believe our behavior inspires others, for good and bad.

Hope all is well with the whole family!

By: Quilt Lady

Quilt Lady — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 01:41:38 +0000

I think children have more now then when I was growing up. Although social statis was important back then also it the parents had the money. Now days children epect to have everything they want weather their parents have the money to buy it or not. In ways its a sad world we are living in. When I was growing up if we got a new pair of shoes it was awesome. Now they could have twenty pairs of shoes and still want a new pair.