Don't Bring Kids To A Haunt

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865589362/Halloween-haunts-Is-scare-factor-frightful-or-delightful.html

Read it! This is what I've been saying again and again about people that bring children to the haunted house. Don't bring children who aren't ready. Heck, don't bring adults who aren't ready!

Last year there was a gorgeous little 7-year old who ended up in my room with her grandma, who asked if they could wait and find a way out of the haunt without being scared. The little girl was terrified of everything until she had a moment to sit down and realized I wasn't there to scare her, but to help. She watched in fascination as I would yell at customer after customer, many of them screaming. She had the curiosity that usually comes with being able to be an outsider. With the scary directed at someone else she calmed down and began asking questions and realizing it was all a show.

Because that's what it is.

And what parents don't realize sometimes is that younger children can't differentiate between what is a show and what is truth. Think about it, when you were little and watched Snow White, what did you do when the Wicked Witch started to turn into the old hag? If you were like 90% of kids, you hid behind the couch. Or in the next room. Or covered your eyes until she was gone. You know why? Because you were afraid that there was an off chance she was going to come out of the tv and get you. I know I was afraid of that, and I work in a haunted house now.

Some kids are more mature, some can tell that it's a show, and some laugh in the face of danger. But generally, under the age of 8, children just can't tell themselves that the giant clown with a glowing face and pointy teeth isn't really going to eat them.

It's no fun for the actors when parents come through your room holding onto a screaming and terrified child. It's even worse when the poor child is being dragged along and the parent is laughing at their terror. You want to know where serial killers come from? Well, that's where! I refuse to scare tiny humans who are obviously in fear for their lives. I'd rather go after the big football player who has just realized he has a crippling fear of dolls. Much more satisfying to see that guy crumple to the ground.

I do agree that some children are ready for it. When I was a clown, this adorable little girl who couldn't have been older than 6 came through my room, holding tight to a huge plush horse. She saw me and first thing she did was start laughing.

EDITH: What's your name!?!
ME: Bubbles! What's yours?!?
EDITH: Edith! I love creepy clowns!
ME: Well I love creepy little girls!

According to security, she laughed through most of the rooms and hid her face through the scary parts, but never broke down into tears or terrified screaming. She was obviously mature enough to understand the show, and that proves my entire point. Please don't bring children through a haunt unless you know they are ready. You'll enjoy it more, the actors will scare you more, and your children won't grow up to be serial killers. Yay!

Saw This And It Is Too Perfect Not To Repost

Take chances.
Tell the truth.
Date someone totally wrong for you.
Say no.
Spend all your cash.
Get to know someone random.
Be random.
Say I love you.
Sing out loud.
Laugh at stupid jokes.
Cry.
Apologize.
Tell someone how much they mean to you.
Tell a jerk what you think.
Laugh till your stomach hurts.
Live life.
Regret nothing.

-My new motto for this year :)

Where Are You Now?

It came to the end it seems you had heard
As we walked the city streets
You never said a word

When we finally sat down
Your eyes were full of spite
I was desperate, I was weak
I could not put up a fight

But where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

You were strangely less in pain
Than you were cold.
Triumphant in your mind
Of the logic that you hold

You said no one would ever know
The love that we had shared.
As I took my leave to go
It was clear you didn't care

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

And I hear of your coming
And your going in the town
I hear stories of your smile
I hear stories of your frown

And the darkness can descend
We can relish all the pain
But I know that's what you love
Cause you know I love the same

But where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

Oh, where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

But where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
Do you ever think of me
In the quiet, in the crowd?

-Mumford and Sons

Sigh No More

Part Of Me

If I never see you again,

never taste your lips

or feel your warmth.

Giggle with you

or play in the rain

I will carry you

at my fingertips

and in the corners

of my head

For you

have become a part

of what

I am

Life Moves At A Glacial Pace...

...until suddenly, it doesn't.

Things can stay the same for months, years, a lifetime. Until suddenly, in a flash, everything changes forever.

I guess I'm speaking from a place of watching people around me change, go through events in life that propel them onto the next and next and next stage, and I'm still wandering around this level looking for the exit.

It's a fun level, but there's not a lot of prizes or cash influxes. Tons of interesting people to interact with, and a lot of long, lonely stretches where you open door after door to find room after empty room.

Looking for the level-up factor has been one of the most difficult things I've ever attempted, but the thing is, I'm sure it won't stay the most difficult forever. That scares me, because according to many people, I should be leveled up by now. To the married level, the career level, the having own apartment level. The stable part, the traveling part, any part but the scraping by level.

It hurts to see friends getting married, buying houses, siblings going on missions, other crazy-good but heartrending news that I am super-happy for, but at the same time devastated because it reminds me all over again that my greatest achievement is graduating from college and... yeah, nothing.

I look on these level-ups as blessings, because it motivates me once again to try harder. I don't know if it's a secret lack of motivation, money, ability, opportunity, or a combination of these, but as I approach 25 I'm once again faced with the news that I didn't propel myself nearly as far forward as I wanted to/could have/should have. Yes, I'll probably spend the day crying (I have on every single one of my birthdays since 16 except 24, and that's because I actually achieved something when I was 23).

So my question is...when is life going to change for me? When is it going to take one of those fantastic leaps forward that propel me to the next level? Maybe next month. Maybe next year. There are too many what-if's and maybes to guarantee anything. I can't even get Weber State to get my transcripts read over within a decent amount of time, so unfortunately I'm still stuck spinning my wheels, going to work, and listening to snide or blunt comments by friends and family who should know better.

All I know is, as soon as I see that blue glowing door that separates this level from the next, I'm launching myself though it with the speed worthy of Superman.

Rain

Beautiful rain, dripping down the sill
Touching sparkles, making the stillness of the twilight complete
Sun-kissed tangerine clouds flutter above ocher mountains, seen through a veil of mist.
Gently the tears of heaven slide
Across glass, coating the fine filaments of hair
Softly adorning eyelashes with diamonds
seen in the gasping light for a perfect moment in time's memory.

My Promise to My Children: The Kind of Mother I Will Be

After writing this, I realized this is a much deeper blog than I usually write. I wanted to publish it though, as I think it's important. Let me know what you think. 

My Promise to My Children

The Kind of Mother I Will Be

I will not set a curfew for my children. Not because I don't care about them, but because I DO care. Because I will teach my children how to check in with me. Because each situation is different, because I'm not going to insist on an 11pm curfew on Prom Night. Because I will trust my children to be intelligent enough to be responsible for their hours. Because I know teenagers need to push limits, and the last one I want to have is one about time, because I understand that without a specific time to be home they will be less likely to need to stay out late pushing an envelope that isn't there. And because I will make damn sure that they know if they're not home at the time they've told me or if they don't check in, I will be calling the police, knocking on doors, and otherwise raising hell until I figure out where they are.

I will read them piles of books. I will take them to the library and teach them that story time is magical. I will introduce them to Harry Potter and Katniss Everdeen and Frodo Baggins and Robert Jordan and George Orwell and David Wong. I have them meet Bill Peet and Dr. Seuss and Roald Dahl. I will never make them read See Spot Run to me. I will teach them about classics and how some of them are bollocks. Because to love books is to love what humans are. Because when you are curled up with a book you can feel infinitely alive. Because reading makes you smarter. Because there are more worlds than you can ever imagine and the only way you can visit is through books. Because imagination will always trump the big screen.

I will make them eat oatmeal for breakfast. I will make them eat spinach and green beans and quinoa and whole wheat. Because there are better things in this world than ketchup and mac & cheese (namely, creme brulee). Because they need to know that nutrition is important and they need to be concerned about what they put in their bodies. I will teach them how to eat the things they don't like, because they need to know how to do this to not hurt their future mother-in-law's feelings (and mine on bad cooking days).

I will make them get a summer job. Because they need to learn to be responsible. Because the only way they will learn about money is by having some. Because I will not give them an allowance. Because I will be working too and will need a break.

I will teach them how to chew with their mouths closed. I will teach them to keep elbows off the table. I will teach them to swallow quietly, not lick fingers or plates. I will teach them not to slurp. Because good manners are the last surviving bits of royalty in our blood and so when they are grandparents they won't be sucking on their fingers and embarrassing their grandchildren. Because they will likely marry someone with the same table manners as them (having driven away any potential suitors with better manners).

I will let them go visit their grandparents for a week without me. Because they need to visit their grandparents and learn how to love them. Because their grandparents are my parents, and will always be wiser than me and have more experience about raising children. Because I will enjoy a week to myself. Because they will enjoy getting spoiled for a week. Because both parties will be glad to return to normal after that time frame.

I will teach them to run. I will teach them to love the thrill of exercise. I will show them how to care for

themselves, how to be fit. Because through running, you can find yourself. Because my children will not be ones that sit on their rears all day and break into a sweat walking from the house to the car. Because the zombie apocalypse might come and they need to be able to run faster than their friends.

I will teach them how to have dreams. I will teach them how to reach for them and support them. I will teach them to be acheiver's. I will teach them to love learning so they can go anywhere they want. I will have dreams and reach for them. Because dreams are the stuff that make life worth living.

I want to be the kind of mother who teaches her daughters about skin care so they don't have to go through the same pain that I did trying to figure it out on their own. I will take them to dermatologists and teach them how to wash twice a day and leave pimples alone. I will show them how to love themselves even on 'bad skin' days by doing that myself. I will understand the crippling fear and shame that comes when your skin is so broken out you don't even want to look people in the eye. I will teach them how milk and sugars can make acne worse, and how gentle olive oil face washes can make it better. I will teach them how to care for their skin. Because I wish my parents had known more about this and hadn't avoided talking to me about it.

I will teach them who Benedict Cumberbatch is. Just because.

I will teach them how to make good choices in music. I will teach them how to have opinions in what they like and dislike. I will teach them that country music can be enjoyed, and that some rap music has a message.  I will teach them to adore indie rock and Weird Al. I will teach them to appreciate more than shallow pop music, and I will dance along with them to the current heartthrobs that are permeating pop airwaves. Because they need to know how not to be swayed by the ever-changing top-40's chart. Because they shouldn't have to wait until they are 40 to learn what good music is. Because to love music is to love life itself.

I will talk to them about sex. I will love them enough not to be embarrassed or cry when they come to me with proof that their bodies are maturing. I will teach them to love their bodies as they grow and change. I will be the kind of mother they can ask those frank and embarrassing questions to. I will not laugh when they ask me what a donkey punch is. I will be the one they aren't afraid to ask so they don't have to learn the hard way from their friends or be confused when their roommates start talking about things. I will not be accepting of loose morals, and I will teach them how to stay true to themselves. Because children need someone who they can trust to talk about these things, otherwise who are they going to turn to?

If I have a son or daughter who is homosexual, I will love them. I won't be a parent who shuts them out, tries to pretend that part of their life doesn't exist. I will love them, accept them, and be there for them. Because in doing this I will be the parent that they need, not the parent that religion or the world or fear says I should be.

I will love my husband. I will marry a spouse who knows how to listen to me, and who will talk to me about the hard things in life. I will choose someone who is gentle, smart, nerdy, and loving. I will marry someone who is strong in the gospel. I will marry 'the nice guy' who knows how to be his own person. Who isn't clingy, but isn't so independent that he doesn't consult me about important things like who we're inviting along on our road trips. I will be true to him and make him happy. Because by loving my husband and choosing someone who makes me happy, I will be showing my children by example how to choose a good spouse.

Most of all, I will love them. Because I'm their mother, and that's what mothers do.