Sunday December 11: A Mormon Shoutout

Since I started sharing my posts, I've had several questions about how I got the idea or what prompted me to do this blog: it was the Mormons.

What with Mitt Romney, Sister Wives and Big Love, Mormons are having a kind of cultural moment (even if the last two play on complete stereotypes).

For the record, let me say I have nothing for or against the faith (although calling yourself Latter Day Saints does seem just bit hubristic) but still, I'm equal opportunity on this one.

I'll also confess that my personal experience with Mormons has been limited. The closest was a non-fling with Mormon Surfer Man one summer, a very long time ago.  It ended after just 10 days when it became clear that my idea of a summer fling (drinks on patios and um, the actual fling part) sadly did not mesh with his tamer interests.

But the Mormons get marketing (does anyone else remember those commercials from Saturday morning cartoons?) and as I dicovered they apparently also get blogging.

I'm a Salon subscriber and one day this article pops up in my Inbox with the blurb: "I'm a young, feminist, atheist, who can't bake a cupcake. Why am I addicted to the shiny happy lives of these women?"  Curious, I start reading.

Until then, I've never heard of the apparently flourishing world of "Mormon hipster mommy blogs", so I click on a couple of the links.  The blogs are mostly about the wonders of being a mother, their amazing husbands and a sort of hyper rosy perspective on daily domestic and family life.  But with amazing layouts and fantastic pictures.

I hate crafts and am not that interested in babies I don't know, but like the author Emily Matchar, I become strangely if mildly hooked.  After reading gruesome headlines and violent stories in the paper (I know, I need to stop looking at the Daily Mail) I find I'm drawn back to the soothing vibes of blogs like Nat the Fat Rat, Nie Nie Dialogues   Rockstar Diaries and CJane,EnjoyIt. 

Regardless of the religious angle (and the right wing politics!), the Salon article nails the appeal, which is  "...the basic message expressed in these blogs - that family is wonderful, life is meant to be enjoyed, [and that we should] celebrate the small things..."

And so, it inspired me to try and blog about the little things in my own life, which I tend to rush over or quickly forget.

Except that to be honest, I'm not sure how successful I've actually been.  As I've discovered, I'm still me just on a blog and so I write about an assortment of other stuff, which may or may not involve my kids or things I'm grateful for.  And I'm pretty sure I lack a rosy glow of optimism in my writing. Plus, I remain fairly hopeless about pictures.  Maybe next time the missionaries ring my doorbell, I can ask for some tips..../rs

Saturday September 17: Geographically Grateful

Today (its 1:24 am), I read Sarah's Key.  In one sitting, in my bed, with darling Seth snuffling next to me.

I had tears pouring down my face from page 9.  And now can't sleep.

I felt so grateful for living in Canada, for the blessings of what are petty worries (are the kids making friends at school? how will I get through my to do list).

And the familiar sense of being overwhelmed by the horror of what happened during the Holocaust and present tragedy that we haven't learned from it.  The cruelty and killings just keep happening in different forms, to new generations, in different countries and cities.

And then I think: what can I do?

It makes me want to be a better mother, to give my children the happiest childhood I can because who knows what the future holds.  But focusing on the microcosm of my family is not enough, I'm just not sure what is.