Day 333
We all have good and bad in us. Anyone that has ever watched cartoons knows that there is a little devil sitting on our left shoulder telling us to eat potato chips and drink sugary soda and an angel on our right instructing us to not snap at the sales clerk that seems to need some remedial math classes.
My angel always acts appropriately and, in my mind, looks a lot like me…only prettier and sort of glittery like those Victoria’s Secret angels except my angel looks like she’s eaten in the last six weeks. Then there is her counterpart, the sharp tonged devilish me on the left side that resembles Pink—the rock star, not the color. I’m not sure why, I’m sure she is a very nice person. But in my mind she is my evil alter ego, even though I can’t sing.
It is the angel me that doesn’t shout at my kids, even though they are behaving atrociously. But, she is often assaulted by my pink side and I find myself screeching. “Don’t make me tell you to put your dishes in the dishwasher again…” Fortunately, no one has ever said, “What? What will you do if you have to tell me to put my dishes in the dishwasher again?” Because I haven’t worked out an answer yet.
Anyway, my angel and devil had a pretty significant thumb wrestling match this week and it all had to do with a school book fair. We weren’t going to buy anything this year, so I was dutifully throwing the fliers about the event in the recycling bin. Then my kids each came home with one of these.
There were eight additional selections on the other side.
What you see is a “Wish List”. Apparently, each class takes time out of the school day and marches down to the book fair and the kids “shop around” and list the items they would like their parents to buy.
Here is my inner struggle that ensued:
Pink Me: (all uppity here) Can you believe that? Schools are supposed to be free of marketing. But, here they are taking educational time to sell stuff to CHILDREN.
Angel Me: Schools are always underfunded and this is an opportunity to raise some cash.
Pink Me: Yes, they are, and I am all for them selling books to willing and able adults. I object to them using school time to try to manipulate children into WANTING things they didn’t know existed.
Angel Me: Well, at least it something worthwhile like books. I mean it’s not like they are selling them cigarettes and Ho Hos.
Pink Me: While most of the stuff is books, they also sell other things like make up kits and erasures shaped like iPhones. Kelsey made a list of five items, three of which weren’t books at all. How exactly does that contribute to education?
Angel Me: Uhm, the proceeds go to the library…which in turn give the kids access to more books…which in turn enhances their education?
Pink Me: (level of indignation rising) Plus, it is one thing to send a wish list home to people with some disposable income, but what about the kids whose families can’t afford extras? Is that fair to get their child “wishing” for something they can’t have?
Angel Me: Well, kids are inundated with marketing messages every day of their lives; at least this is for a good cause…
Pink Me: Yeah, but does it have to be at school?
As you can see, I am conflicted. I understand a need for additional funding, I question this method. The angel me is keeping me from marching into the principal’s office and going all ranty. But pink me really wants to take a stand.