Sophie and I were absolutely thrilled about our free tickets to the Figure Skating Competition Finale Night. A lady in our church asked if we wanted them on Sunday morning.
Neither one of us had ever been to a Figuring Skating performance of any kind so we were both super excited. Randy was preaching Sunday night and Mitchell was at Youth Group so it was just me and Sophie driving to the “big downtown” all by ourselves. I was all proud of myself for making it to the coliseum at night and finding free parking…. granted it was in a scary, dark alley. It’s okay, I practiced my karate moves in case I needed to use them. I also have a back up safety tactic that’s incredibly weird but who knows how many times it’s saved my life. Okay, so I sometimes pull out my cell phone and have an out loud conversation to my “pretend policeman husband”. It goes like this, (*in really loud voice) “Really?!!!! So did you have to use your stun gun or your real gun on the criminal? Oh dear I hope he’ll be okay. Well I see your POLICE CAR now so so I’ll just get off the phone and talk to you in person since you’re right over there with all your weapons ready to protect anyone in danger.” This way if there are any creepers in the dark alley they’ll be scared off. I couldn’t use that tactic though because Sophie would’ve ratted me out. She’d be all, “Mom! Who are you talking to? Dad’s at church. I don’t see a police car anywhere in sight!!!! We’re the only people around right now.” I didn’t use that plan. And you know we were just fine as we sprinted to the coliseum hand in hand.
Sophie hooted and hollered (yes, from the South we are.) for each awesome move the skaters made. She followed the program closely to know who was skating next. Oh we clapped and yelled and delighted in each spectacular move these skaters made. At one point Sophie turned to me and said, “Mom, that skater is so in the moment.” The people in front of us laughed at her running commentary.
I have to admit that a few songs made me cringe and I hoped Sophie wasn’t paying much attention to the words. The words about taking your coat and dress off but leaving your hat on while skater girl is flinging off her coat and throwing herself on her skating partner in a seductive way. I’m still hopeful Sophie might be looking at the people around her by some odd chance. But no. She whipped that head of hers around and her eyes got as big as saucers and she said to me, “I am not clapping for her.” I know it’s not funny but ya’ll I could hardly keep myself from laughing. A few other lines caught her attention and she did the bug eyed thing and withheld her clappage.
Part of me was glad she noticed and picked up on some of these things and was offended. But then part of me was trying to figure out how to help her process it in such a way that she doesn’t come out being judgmental and feeling above that. She’s eight. So things are pretty black and white at her age. We’re laying ground work for modesty and purity even at this age. So when she sees or hears something that flies in the face of what we are training in it stands out like a sore thumb. But we want to see through grace filled eyes – not condemning eyes. A heart that is sensitive to impurity and a desire to be holy out of a love for the One who gave his life for us. Still learning and growing in these things.
It was a fabulous night filled with adventure, fun and even teachable moments.
Oh, and did I mention we had chocolate dip’n dots? Yep.
Hi
I am following you from Playdates with God. I recall a movie I took my children too – and the language was not to my liking. I told them that after the movie – they didn’t seem to be bothered – now that worried me.
I can’t understand where a skating competition has children attending why they would be allowed to make such suggestive moves and words? The world is certainly not following “what would Jesus think”, is it?
Blessings,
Janis
No our world certainly isn’t following Jesus.Sophie leaned over and asked me why they would skate to a song like that and I simply told her, “Because it’s what our world loves. And it’s why Jesus tells us we’re in the world but not to be like the world.”
Wow, what a fun night! Ah, parenting. It’s not for sissies, that’s fir sure. You’re right, children are very black-and-white. I think that’s a good thing, otherwise they all too quickly jump to thinking every borderline immorality is in a grey area, so it’s ok and then they push the boundaries. I love your “my husband is a cop” pretend phone call. I’m going to have to use that!
parenting (and growing old I might add)…..yep, not for sissies.
“I think that’s a good thing, otherwise they all too quickly jump to thinking every borderline immorality is in a grey area, so it’s ok and then they push the boundaries.” That’s a good point. You say it well.
Sounds like you are very on top of things, Melody! With your heart being so sensitive to training Sophie toward purity yet away from judging, she’s going to have a great foundation. I love your safety tactics too. 🙂
You’re sweet Lisa. Thank you. Sometimes it’s hard to strike that balance you really desire.
Melanie, I LOVE your heart. I think you are so wise to have grace in the conversation because there is right and wrong, yes, but there are also people who don’t know, who don’t understand Jesus, and all of us who just make bad choices. I think it starts from an early age – teaching them to love first, with God’s grace.
yes, you summed it up exactly Jen in describing groups of people. And we all make bad choices so trying to remember that in it all.