What's Not To Love About Pippi?

Apparently more than we thought according to the powers that be. Read on for the details . . .

I was so disappointed the other day. In the past couple of weeks, I’ve read Pippi Longstocking out loud to BFG. We had an absolute blast reading it together! It was one of my faves as a child and I think it has become BFG’s as well. She was just thrilled to hear the outrageous stories of the silly girl who pretty much gets to do the opposite of everyone else. When we finally finished it and I kissed BFG good night, she called out to me, “Mama, I sure wish there were other books about Pippi.” I thought there was so I ran down to the computer and began my search.

And I tell ya’ what I found just burned me up!!! There is a new version (2007) of the original Pippi Longstocking and just read the review below that was on my library’s online card catalog. My comments are in blue.

School Library Journal Review
Gr 2 5 This oversize edition of the classic story has much to offer a new generation of readers. It has new full-color illustrations, some full spread, and a new translation. Nunnally updates some of Florence Lamborn's old-fashioned phrases (Um, what’s wrong with old-fashioned? When I was a kid, I was enthralled with old-fashioned books) and makes other terms more politically correct. For example, the original English translation calls Pippi's father a "Cannibal King," while this one calls him a "King of Natives." (When will people quit trying to rewrite history! You can’t go backward and make everything politically correct. And since when is the word “cannibal” politically incorrect? It’s just a joke in the story, people, showing how outrageous Pippi’s stories are and how she really didn’t know what she was talking about. Obviously, if they were really cannibals, they wouldn’t make her dad king. Duh!) In Lamborn's version, Pippi goes for a "morning promenade"; here, she simply goes for a "morning walk." (Oh, yeah, let’s dumb down all the words. We certainly wouldn’t want our kids to expand their vocabulary.) Nunnally's language flows naturally and gives a fresh, modern feel to the line drawings, filled with color and pattern, to create a Pippi who is full of personality. A variety of perspectives, colors, and textures adds movement and excitement to the story. Child often incorporates the text into the art, linking the text and illustration into a single whole. (There is absolutely nothing wrong with the old illustrations! Isn’t it amazing that kids have loved the book for 60 years with the pictures just the way they are. And—Gasp!—they actually get to use their imaginations!) Libraries should consider archiving (or retiring) older editions of this old favorite, and replacing them with this new offering. (Please, say it ain’t so! That is ridiculous! Classics are classics because they are wonderful and perfect the first go around!!!) Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Ya’ll, BFG is only 4! Get that—only 4 years old and absolutely loved the original story! I guess I got lucky and picked the old one up. She was exposed to a time that was completely unlike the time she is growing up in where little girls wore only dresses and little kids got to play outside without their parents watching and a three story building was the tallest building in town and all moms stayed at home and had coffee parties. She learned all kinds of new words including promenade because as we went along I taught her the definition. She was glued to my side begging for more even after I’d read 25-30 pages at a time. She had a sparkle in her eyes as she imagined the scenes described. Pippi is now her favorite character. Why would anyone change this?!?!?

Okay, I know I’m really going off about this and it is just a children’s book. But it scares me. It makes me think that within a few more generations we won’t have a true representation of our country’s history and of course it starts with the kids. And our kids in general are already not a smart as past generations. Why would you change the language to keep them from learning and stretching their minds?

Anyway, if you love Pippi like we do, be sure to grab an old version if you can.
Mama Said

Just Play Along On This One

Have you ever thought about how much has changed especially technology in the past 20 years? 15 years? Or even 10 years?

I remember when the Internet was text only. That was fun. And think about how long we waited for a page to download just to see that neon green text? And remember those old big floppy disks or even the small hard ones for that matter? My current computer doesn’t even have a spot for those and I just realized I’ve saved all kinds of stuff from my past on them. Whoops!

And, honestly, for most of us, can you even remember the last time you answered the phone and didn’t know who would be on the other end? Praise the Lord for Caller ID! I’ve even had a phone with audio caller id for the past year or so. I don’t even have to look at the phone to know who it is! Or what about—when was the last time you talked on a corded phone and were stuck in one spot? I never do anymore unless I’m just answering it real quick ‘cause I can’t find the cordless and I tell them I'll call them back on the cordless!

Think about how it will be for our kids. With DVR’s and stuff, there will come a time when our kids will be saying that they can’t remember the last time they watched a commercial. Or read a real-paper newspaper.

It’s pretty wild when you think about it. And what started me on this was hearing an old Garth Brooks song on the radio the other day and realizing how irrelevant it was to today.

Think about it. You remember that song “What She’s Doing Now?” Well, remember that part where Garth sings “Just for laughs, I dialed her old number. But no one knew her name.” I just thought: Oh my goodness! I feel so old! No one would even do that now. You wouldn’t need too. From 1992 til now, that song has become irrelevant.

Just play along with me and think about how it would be written today, 17 years later:

Just for laughs, I googled her name.
And saw her Facebook page.
As I click, I see right in front of me—what she’s doing now.

I don’t know why but I just think that is so hilarious! Or maybe I’m giggling as my defense mechanism against feeling twiddle-aged!

It is weird when you think about how easy it is to find someone now. I guess there’s not a lot of mystery left in our high-tech world.

Mama Said

Not Me! Monday

Man, we did so much not me-ing this week I’m not sure I can fit it all in! Actually, BFG did NOT say so much funny stuff this week that I am NOT going to save hers and do a special BFG Not Me! next week. That will cut this week’s down tremendously.

• First off, I absolutely did NOT spend the week staring at a glass of BFG’s milk that Rhett left sitting on the bookcase. I was NOT filled with such dread of cleaning up curdled milk that I did NOT just let it sit there and sit there all week until it was so curdled that the liquid was completely clear with the offending clump on the bottom. And even then, it was NOT Rhett who finally brought it into the kitchen, where I still did NOT let it sit for a couple of more days before summoning up the courage to toss it. Whatever! I am such a better housekeeper than that and yucky stuff like that does NOT turn my stomach at all!
  
• I also did NOT come home from the grocery store and did NOT realize that in the same trip, I did NOT buy deep fried frozen mozzarella cheese sticks and fat-free sour cream. What? Who would do that? I mean I’m the one who does NOT poke fun of people who order a triple-fudge ice cream sundae with a Diet Coke. And I did NOT have some sort of brain glitch that must have made me think in the moment that the fat-free sour cream would somehow make up for fat in the cheese sticks. Oh, please! We all know how HEALTHY mozzarella cheese sticks are---so why would I even think that?

• I did NOT spend an hour and a half playing a game of sudoku on a website for kids. And the game was absolutely NOT set on the easy level. And I did NOT spend so long playing it because I couldn't win it no matter how hard I tried. Yeah, right. Like that happened. I'm so much smarter than that. Come on! I was valedictorian and summa cum laude for Pete's sake! I am so NOT losing brain cells every day.
  
  
• When I was desperate to paint this week and BFG was desperate to skip her nap, I NO WAY, NO HOW let her skip her nap if she promised to take care of herself while I painted assuring her that I would not be able to help her unless she was bleeding. I am SO much more responsible than that. And she did NOT say in her sweet 4-yr-old voice, “I’ll try, Mama. I’ll try to take care of myself.” And she did NOT take care of herself way better than I do. In fact, it did NOT go so well that I did NOT consider putting her in charge of herself more often.
  
  
• Finally, Rhett and I were NOT unloading my car one night this week when it was NOT raining and BFG did NOT lock us out of the house. And Rhett and I did NOT both scream at the top of our lungs, “Open the door!” And I absolutely did NOT realize two seconds later that I had the keys! And BFG is NOT so smart that she somehow kept us locked out despite my best efforts to unlock the door. She is NOT that much faster than us. Since we do NOT have deadbolts, she totally did NOT lock one lock as I unlocked the other at a maddening pace until I did NOT scream bloody-murder style, “TAKE YOUR HANDS OFF THE DOOR RIGHT NOW OR YOU HAVE HAD IT!!!!” That proves this NEVER happened because I NEVER yell at my child.

Have fun Not Me-ing, ya'll!

Mama Said

Payback

Aaaaagh! I am so sick! I guess this is my payback for nagging Rhett all last weekend while he was sick. Who knew he felt this terrible?


And what's the deal with my mom-guilt? Rhett was sick and let himself just be sick. I'm sick and I keep creating a list of things I can get done while sitting around! Why can't I just lay down and be sick?!?! Why did I paint for 5 hours the first day I was sick? Why does BFG need something every ten minutes when I am sitting down? Why are there so many things that can be done sitting down? Why are there so many things piling up that the thought of having to clean up when I feel better makes me feel even sicker?


Sniffle, sniffle. Cough, cough.
Mama Said

Oh. Him too? Are you sure, God?

I've got a little Bible lesson for you that God pulled on me the other day.

I'll give ya' a little background info first:
I have been in a really grumpy mood the past couple of weeks. I don't know what my problem is other than a bunch of miscellaneous stuff that jumbles together and makes for a dark mood. When I get like this, I get very whiny, naggy, and just plain ol' ill with everyone. I feel undervalued, underappreciated, and overworked. And any little thing Rhett says to me, I jump on him and accuse him of picking on me and not treating me right, etc. It's really ridiculous and embarrassing. But in the moment, I feel totally justified 'cause I convince myself he's acting terrible. (Ya'll, please tell me I'm not the only one who ever does this! Yes, now. Tell me, please! Just yell it at the screen. I'll feel ya'!)

Okay, so ya'll know how I try to write in my prayer journal every weekday morning and read at least a chapter in the Bible. Well, the other day I was reading in 1 Peter and had gotten through like a chapter and a half when BFG had a dire emergency I just had to take care of. So, I decided to stop my reading there for the day and go change Barbie's dress or whatever it was.

So, the next day I picked up in the middle of that chapter and read:

1 Peter 2:18-25 which is about how slaves should submit to their masters and included
v 23 "when reviled, He did not revile in return;
when suffering, He did not threaten" (well, there's a little more but that's what stuck out to me)
I just read that over and over and thought "wow, Jesus was so cool and this is how we should be, yada yada."

Then, I continue on to 1 Peter 3 which starts with "wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands . . ."
Now, I know this verse. I've read it plenty of times. But I've always read it separate. I've never put it with the preceding chapter. I've just always read the descriptive part after "wives, in the same way, submit yourselves to your own husbands." This time when I read it, my stomach just dropped. What?!? My husband, too? If I feel like he's picking on me or if he's not fulfilling his role to the utmost, I can't revile in return? Dang! The Lord worked me over on this one. And the Lord planned it so well where I still had that second half of chapter 2 to read which continued on to the wives and husbands chapter. I honestly don't think I would have ever put them together otherwise. And even though 1 Peter 3 basically says the same thing, it has just never hit me the same way as it did that morning.

I don't even know if any of this makes sense. And I want to be clear that Rhett treats me very well. He is not abusive or anything like that. Just annoying sometimes just like anyone you live with. And it's mostly my problem 'cause he'll act the same but my reactions change with my moodiness. Anyway, the point the Lord humbled me with is that it's not just everyone else we're called to be nice to---the Bible's teachings apply to our spouses too and it would be a good idea to start with your family first.

Mama Said

Not Me! Monday

BFG did NOT ask Rhett "How come Mama can't dance?" Rhett did NOT reply, "You don't think she can?" And BFG absolutely did NOT say, "Nooo, she's awful! Why can't she dance beautiful like me?"

Rhett and I did NOT spend Valentine's Day painting which of course did NOT lead to any fussing and nagging. And Rhett was NOT sick the whole weekend. And I did NOT keep forgetting he was sick and I absolutely did NOT hammer him all weekend with my fussing and whining and nagging. What? I would NEVER do that anyway. Oh, and we are not on Day 3 of another 1 day project.

My nephew did NOT come over to our house and start doing impressions of my dad. He did NOT call my dad a cheapskate. Of course, Rhett and I were NOT rolling on the floor laughing. And my nephew did NOT go to my dad's house the next day and confess to my dad and apologize for calling him a cheapskate at our house, which did NOT lead my dad to believe we were all sitting around here talking about him.

Finally, I NO WAY, NO HOW, did NOT discover I have been feeding my family Mexican vanilla that is poison. Whatever! Who would do that? Because of course you can trust a big bottle of Mexican vanilla bought at the Mennonites for $5.00. Just because it looks like it is in a used water bottle and the peeling off label is completely in Spanish does NOT mean you can't trust it. Oh, please. My mom did NOT warn me about this a couple of months ago. And I did NOT just now look it up. And the brand of vanilla I have has NOT been listed on the FDA's poison list since 1998. And we totally have NOT used a third of the bottle over the past couple of years. And I did NOT discover this right after I had made a cake with best frosting ever, which I did NOT continue to eat even though I knew it was made with poison. And I did NOT think with every bite that each bite could be the last bit of poison needed to put me into kidney or liver failure. And of course, I threw the Mexican vanilla away immediately and did NOT wait until I had a chance to go to the store and buy some more. Since NONE of this happened, I am NOT really sad because the poison vanilla was the NOT best I've had in my life and did NOT make people think I was a much better cook than I really am.

Happy Not Me-ing!
Mama Said

Friday Book Project

In Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Shapes, the mice use shapes to build pictures of everyday objects and animals. I thought this would be a great way to introduce tangrams to BFG since tangrams are awesome for building math skills and analytical thinking. So, I punched out a bunch of shapes with my scrapbooking punches and my coluzzle and we went to work.

First, I had BFG sort the shapes into a muffin tin (sorting and classifying--more math skills!). Then, I turned to certain pages in the book that I wanted her to copy. It worked out great! Of course, BFG had to add her own artistic flair so I'm not really sure it officially counts as tangrams. Oh, well. Close enough!

The Fish--complete with bubbles and a sea flower

The House, Tree, and Sun--

We improvised on the tree 'cause we didn't have the right kind of triangle. But she loved it and added a star on top and presents underneath and topped off her house with a door "knog."

The Cat--

BFG was most excited about making the cat. And right after she glued the ears on, she laughed and said "He looks like a puppy instead 'cause I didn't put the ears going up." Oooh, did we manage to squeeze in spatial relation skills, too?

I'm telling ya'll for anyone who feels any guilt about not sending your child to preschool, preschool is so not necessary. I just taught 4 preschool objectives in one simple craft. And this is the kind of stuff I learned in college to do. Common sense and a little time with your preschooler teaches her all she needs to know. The only difference in a mom and a certified preschool teacher is that the teacher has learned to call basic skills by fancy names. Remember, no one knows your child better than you do!

Okay, off my soap box now! Go check out other ideas at Sandy's!

Mama Said