The reason I don’t blog anymore on Xanga is because I’m always blogging on PRWeek.com.
All I want for Christmas is: A high-tech kiddie toy
Lego blocks? Transformers? Barbie dolls? No, no, no. What your child really wants for Christmas is one of the many high-tech kiddie toys—cellphones, laptops, digital cameras, and MP3 music players—made especially for eager-to-grow-up preschoolers.
According to this New York Times article, children ages 3 and up—and sometimes even younger—are being bombarded with new tech devices, as fake gadgets no longer satisfy their longing to play with mommy or daddy’s super cool (and super expensive) digicam.
On Amazon.com, the “hottest toys” list includes the Easy Link Internet Launch Pad (like which three-year-old is actually going to go browsing on the Internet?!) and the Smart Cycle—an exercise bike connected to a video game. Ingenious! Leave it to toy makers to come up with something for hyper kids to let out all their energy while being engaged in a ‘healthy game’.
Techie toys are multiplying rapidly, as evidenced by the fact that six of the nine best-selling toys for five- to- seven-year-olds on Amazon.com are tech gadgets. The growing trend is causing a concern for pediatricians and educators who worry that too much screen time will stifle imagination. (And perhaps social skills?)
All I’ve got to say is that kids these days are growing up in a whole new world. When I was a kid, I played with my one cabbage patch doll until all four limbs broke off (what can I say, I was an affectionate child). And when my parents were young, they played with rocks! (Literally, the stone age.)
But times have changed, and I can’t even begin to wonder what the next generation of kids will receive as playthings. (A flying car?)
And who can blame them? Even I’m lusting after the Smart Cycle! C’mon, video game plus exercise machine in one? Sure beats playing with my limbless cabbage patch doll any day.
EDIT: The following is intended for an 18+ audience so please refrain from reading if you’re under. =P
What’s that THING on Johnny?
Posted on September 20, 2006 by Mitch McDad
“Parenting begins with the basics: feed them, keep them clean, keep them breathing. The first couple years don’t get too much more complicated than that, certain exceptions aside.
As they get older you get those special moments that you don’t really plan for. Such as this report I got from my day care provider yesterday. Johnny told my-three-year old that she doesn’t have a penis. She was offended of course and said that she most certainly did. Johnny was adamant on the subject and reiterated his point. My little angel cried because she hates to be told anything. Kind of like her mother…but that’s another topic.
Of course we discussed the problem when we got home and I got the always entertaining, “what’s a penis?” question from my daughter. What can you do but be honest? Be direct? Be open?
“Sweetie. Penises are things that boys have and girls don’t. Penises are very bad. They cause pain and anguish. They will make you cry. They will make me cry. They are scarier than a monster. They are meaner than Wicked Stepmother and Ursula, combined. Always run away if you see one, just like mommy does.”
Hey. You gotta be honest with your kids.”
I laughed so hard I gave myself a stomachache.
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poor xanga. facebook is taking over the world. i’m going to write a post to keep my loyalty from (completely) fading…
i found my favorite online blogger the other day. his name is mitch mcdad (obviously a pen name) and he blogs about his journey in life with two little princess girls (who are extremely adorable by the way, judging from all the pictures he posts of them in their snow white costumes and such). he’s smart, witty and he writes really well. i think he’s just very good at communicating his thoughts through writing. he’s a little profane at times but he makes up for it with his comical and endearing entries (like the first time he was left home with his newborn daughter– an experience every new father dreads). don’t get me wrong, i’m a fan of all the mommy blogs out there (including the lovely moms from our church) but there’s something about a father penning his love for his kids… it makes me all warm and fuzzy inside haha. i hope my future husband will blog about our two daughters (yes, two daughters, no boys) and the crazy adventures he has with them. hahaha watch i’m going to be stuck with 3 boys now.. i just jinxed it. 
in another note, i think i’m realizing that i need to get out of this “life funk” that i’ve been in. i think i have this mysterious, innate ability to make things seem worse than they really are. happiness is definitely a choice and something i need to yield to everyday.
be joyful always… 
umm. pardon my ignorance, but what does one exactly wear to fashion week…?
help??? 
EDIT:
Fashion Week was definitely fun.. and I got to see NIGEL in person (yes, Nigel the hunky photographer from America’s Next Top Model. I was stalking him with my camera haha!)
i dunno who she is but people kept interviewing her so i guess she’s famous? anyone recognize her?
the singer Mya and AHHHH NIGEL!!!!
i was literally stalking him with my camera
end of the show. her collection is very feminine
the designer tracy reese. she’s so chill and down to earth
5:55am: I
wake up crying hysterically
I call Dave
and I’m still crying uncontrollably.
Dave: (in
his deliriousness) What’s wrong??
Me: (I can’t
answer because I’m hyperventilating. This goes on for at least 5 minutes)
Dave: HEY,
tell me what’s wrong
Me: I had a
bad dream….
Okay, I
know I’m not 5 years old anymore, but this was no ordinary “horrible” dream. I
dreamt that my sister and I were going to die on the same day (I think we both
had some kind of degenerative disease that was going to kill us within 24 hours,
maybe radioactive poisoning or something), and while I’m running around trying
to tell people that it’s my last day to see them EVER, my sister remains
composed as ever, and my mom is even (more)
eerily stoic. At night we go to church and she asks one of my friends (I think
it was Young Hae- so random) if she could pray for me because “I’m sick.” She
doesn’t even mention the fact that I’m going to die. I start crying (in my
dreams) because my mom starts to show a little emotion (because I think she
realizes that it’s almost the end of the day and time is literally ticking). And
I start panicking and being really scared. And then all I remember is me being
led away by the doctors while I’m saying bye to Dave and I see him completely
breaking down. By this time I’m losing it too. O.M.G.
And then I wake up and I
realize that I’m crying (in real life) like a newborn baby who is in need of a
diaper change.
Fine, I
left out some details because I can’t for the life of me remember my dreams
vividly, but let me tell you, I’ve never felt that the dream was SO real and SO
scary and SO painful. Geez. If I think about it now my eyes get watery.
Point of
story: I need to be grateful everyday and not take what I have for granted (cliché
but true) and also, I realized that I’m very insecure of my friendships. so if i seems the least bit sensitive, please bare with me!
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