Vlogmas Day 4

The Santa Claus Book Conundrum: A Family's Dilemma

As I sat in my living room, surrounded by family members, we stumbled upon a problem that seemed trivial at first but soon became a point of contention. On the bookshelf, two books caught our attention - the "Santa Claus" book and another one that seemed to be intended for children of a specific gender. The Santa Claus book itself was not the issue; however, the fact that it had been placed on the shelf, alongside other books that seemed to cater to traditional notions of masculinity and femininity, raised some eyebrows.

My wife, Diana, pointed out the two separate doodle books - one for boys and one for girls. I couldn't help but feel a sense of frustration at this outdated approach. Why do we need to segregate children's creative outlets based on their gender? Isn't it time we move beyond these antiquated norms and allow our kids to express themselves freely, without the constraints of societal expectations? The doodle books seemed like a perfect example of how we're still perpetuating these stereotypes, even in something as innocuous as a book.

As we delved deeper into the conversation, other topics arose that were just as fascinating. We started discussing the Lego sets that had arrived earlier that day. The new collection was impressive, with intricate details and complex structures. However, I couldn't help but notice the separate categories for boys' and girls' sets. It seemed like a cruel joke, don't you think? Why must we separate these beautiful creations based on gender when they're all just Lego bricks, capable of bringing joy to anyone who plays with them?

The discussion took an unexpected turn when my son pointed out that there were other books on the shelf that I wasn't too thrilled about. He suggested that maybe we should get rid of some of those titles altogether and go for something more neutral. It was a bold move, but one that made me realize just how stuck in our ways we can be as a family.

As we continued to chat, other topics emerged. We talked about the stormtrooper figurine that my son had been trying to assemble. He was determined to get it standing upright, but I couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement at his persistence. It was almost as if he was on a mission to prove to himself and us that he could do it.

Just then, our daughter, Jedi, walked into the room with her minifigures in hand. She had been playing with them earlier and must have dropped one on the floor. We all gasped in unison as we took in the sight of the small plastic figure lying on the ground. It was a moment that seemed both chaotic and serene at the same time.

As the afternoon wore on, we delved into the world of Micro Machines. My wife had been collecting them for years, and she was excited to show us some new additions to her collection. However, I couldn't help but feel a sense of confusion when it came to understanding which ones were meant for boys and which ones were meant for girls.

As we began to set up the Lego sets, our discussion turned to the topic of Star Wars and its impact on popular culture. We talked about the latest films and how they're bringing in new fans to the franchise. It was a conversation that seemed both exciting and nostalgic at the same time.

Just as we were getting into the zone, my son pointed out a strange phenomenon - the beam of light from the camera was causing all sorts of optical illusions on our faces. We spent a few minutes laughing and adjusting the lighting until we got the perfect shot.

As the evening drew to a close, we took a moment to appreciate the holiday lights that adorned our home. They were a beautiful sight, and we couldn't help but feel grateful for this time together as a family.

But just as we were about to head out, my wife reminded me of an important issue - pasta and potatoes are vegan on their own, people are freaking out! It was a moment of levity that broke the tension and allowed us to reflect on our priorities as a family.