Day 11- Peace Out with Donna Reed!

Imagine the clanging music you would hear in a movie while someone is meditating or saying something like, "Can't you feel that Man? It's the love, Man....(stoner laugh inserted here)." No, Day 11 is not about getting high and, feeling the love, Man. It's about finding the peace in life. This is something that the world today does not readily provide. We're all so busy working, raising families and carting kids here, there and everywhere, when do we have time to "just be?"

When do we have time to sit and have dinner as a family or read with our children? While I'm not a fan of certain aspects of the 50's wife-style, I have to say it had it's strong points.

Families ate together.

Families played together.

Wives wanted to be beautiful for their husbands.

There was discipline and therefore respect by the children in the home.

There was virtue and morality.

It was more ok to believe in God and follow Biblical principles than not to and not only were you not chastised for it, but as I see it, the world and families ran smoother. Divorce did not end half of all marriages, children did not shoot up schools, get pregnant out of wedlock, let alone in elementary school, have abortions or have oral sex (it's not really sex you know, thanks Clinton) in Jr. High School. I apologize if these views are not in tune with the liberal cool that is so accepted today but I'd rather be lame than watch my daughter go down in flames. I DO NOT want those things for her life. It is not ok with me. I most definitely don't want her making the same mistakes I did. I always tell my hubby that I want our daughter to be a Rory (from Gilmore Girls.) The kind of girl that all the boys want to be with but hold in such high regard--because she holds herself in high regard, not in a conceited way, but respectful of herself--that they would be honored to just be her friend let alone try and sleep with her.

It's difficult to find peace when we know what we're up against. Ironically, our family has found the battle to be more amongst our own (extended) families than the world. That is sad.

The 50's ideals weren't such a bad deal for us ladies. In fact, all of those 50's wives kicked butt. Donna Reed was one of the first female producers (though uncredited) on her show. Barbara Billingsley (June Cleaver on Leave it to Beaver) not only made a name as one of America's ideal mother's, but today, at 92 years old, she is still acting.

I'm thinking it's entirely possible to be a strong, force to be reckoned with, woman and still have dinner with our families at night. I believe we find joy and peace, not in sacrificing ourselves to our families but embracing our dreams and goals with them. I don't want my daughter to think I'm perfect. I'd rather her know I'm human and have hopes and dreams and faults. When I'm writing, I'm a happier and healthier woman, wife and mother. I'd rather bring that in and make it part of my daughter's life than throw it away and not be the best me. I've never believed that anyone should sacrifice pieces of themselves for their children but that a child is just one more person to enrich dreams and one more person to experience the beauty and fullness of life with--a creative and missing piece of the puzzle. All art and beauty comes from passion and emotion and there's nothing more passionate and emotional than the love we feel for our children. Everything is more beautiful, happy, sad and sometimes ugly (the world) since I've had my daughter. Therefore, my writing is more of those things too.

So, today, I will give peace and the 50's wife-style a try:) Milk and cookies anyone? They're fresh from the oven (and the cow.)