Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer

My husband teases me about my "Rudolph Rant." In fact, whenever I get ranting about anything else, he will 'cough' into his hand 'rudolph' to let me know I'm on one. My older two children know my feelings about Rudolph but I've kept it from my younger children, not wanting to spoil the innocence of Christmas.

The Rant: If Rudolph was made as people instead of animals, it would never be shown. This is a story about a child born to proud expectant parents. When they discover that their precious baby has a deformity, they are ashamed of him. They try to hide his deformity and are ashamed of what he has or who he is. When the truth comes out, none of his friends are allowed to play with him anymore. Even the revered ruler of the community is ashamed of him and bans him from participating with others. It doesn't matter what his abilities are, he is ostracized by the community. In shame, he runs away. After running away, he realizes his own worth, and maintains his good heart. He returns home, and finds that his parents have gone looking for him. He has to rescue them. Then, the community begrudgingly accepts him until they realize they can use his deformity for their own benefit. Suddenly he is a hero. Putting aside his own feelings, Rudolph saves the day because it is for the good of children everywhere. I think it is selfish and mean and an awful show.

The other day, Punkin and Little Cat had watched Frosty the Snowman about 10 times. Over and over and over and over again, I had to endure the music of Frosty the Snowman coming from the playroom. Finally, I suggested, let's watch something else. I put in Rudolph (it came in a set of Christmas movies... I wouldn't have bought it on its own). I went back into the living room to fold laundry. After 10 minutes or so, Punkin comes running out just sobbing. It was such a broken hearted cry, I was sure that Little Cat had taken her beloved Rufus or something. "Honey! What is it? What's the matter?" I pulled her onto my lap and tried to comfort her. After her sobbing had subsided somewhat she said. "I don't like that movie. They were so mean to Rudolph and he runned away. That was so mean. They were rude to him and Santa was mean. I don't like that mean Santa. Rudolph was all alone and runned away!" She started crying all over again. I sat in thought for a moment. I was going to have to defend Rudolph. I tried to tell Punkin that Rudolph was okay, and he comes home and everyone says sorry, and he gets to lead the sleigh, but she didn't buy it. She told me should would never watch that movie again. After sitting quietly on my lap for a few minutes as I ran my fingers through her hair, she looked up at me and said "Can we watch Frosty again?"

When I told my husband about it later, he actually laughed. He said "Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!"

The Icky Sickies

Both Punkin and Little Cat have colds. Punkin's is worse. She sounds so croupy at night. Her nose is so stuffy she can't breathe, and she wakes up crying. She was sitting with her dad and me at about 1 in the morning, and she told dad "My nose is so full of boogers I can't breave". It was funny and sad at the same time! Poor little Punkin. I hate it when my kids are sick. They both have fevers today, but at least they are not really really high, and come down with ibuprofen. I guess it is just that time of the year. I hope Boo doesn't get it, but I think that is just wishful thinking.