Remember that last week I did school visits to the 7th and 8th grade honors kids? Remember that? They do.
Maybe.
But here’s something we talked about.
Healthy literacy is like a healthy diet. To eat well, you need a blend of this and that. Lots of variety. Lots of color. Would it hurt you to have a cupcake once in a while? Of course not. Go for it. As long as you’re eating real food, too. If all you eat is cupcakes, you’re going to get a tummy ache.
Healthy literacy is like that. If all you read is Post-Apocalyptic Zombie Mermaid Romance, you’re going to get a tummy ache. So we talked about that. We discussed healthy options, things that make brains grow and thoughts stretch. Some parents require kids to eat foods they’re not comfortable with, in order to give them vitamins. Some teachers require kids to read books they wouldn’t choose, in order to feed them ideas and questions.
There is a point. Here it comes.
I asked the kids, “Is there anything you should NEVER eat?” – and there was a short silence and then some funny response. But my point was this: You should never, never eat rat poison. It is only made to kill. Likewise, there is “literature” out there that is like rat poison. You shouldn’t read it. It will poison your mind and kill your soul. But guess what. It is not my job to tell you what that literature is – I won’t tell you what you shouldn’t read.
It IS my job to help my Kids figure that out. Especially if I’ve tasted it and I know it’s poison. Or if I’ve never tasted it but someone I trust has pointed out the poison. Sometimes, books/movies/magazines/music are practically LABELED Rat Poison. These are things I teach my kids to avoid, because I’d rather not have them poisoned and their souls killed. But it is not my place to say Rat Poison should not exist.
But I will stand up and say that it should not exist in my home. And I will fight it off here.
Sadness is not rat poison.
Cursing is not rat poison.
Bad choices, when followed by consequences, are not rat poison.
Those things are called LIFE. And life is important. We should live it, read it, explore it. And we should talk about it in our home. And we will. Even when it is hard. Because we want to be people who are open to ideas and thoughts that will help us make intelligent choices and become empathetic humans. And most of all, we want to be good. Well. Healthy and wise. And we will choose to read some things, and choose not to read others, and we will not take that choice away from you.
(10) Comments for this blog
I love your interpretation of being in the world, but not of it. I agree with you.
I swear I can pick up a book at the bookstore, hold it in my hand and feel if it’s ‘rat poison’ or not. I think books can be written in a way that challenge and expand minds without leaving you covered in a dark slime of yuck.
I agree. Everyone has the right to put their stuff out there, but we have to watch out for that rat poison. Ew!
You’re absolutely right, and I’ve already weighed in over at Melanie’s place on this subject. The fact of the matter is, rat poison is actually BETTER than some of the stuff out there, in that it is designed to serve a purpose under controlled conditions. There is so much poison out there, in all forms of media, that serves NO purpose but to destroy whatever it touches. And because we are tolerant enough not to ‘define’ that poison for others, it is all the more important that we at least define it for our kids.
And you’re right. “Hard” subjects are not the same as “inappropriate” subjects.
Maybe raising my kids in Las Vegas for the last 9 years has heightened my sensitivity to this subject, but I will always be a voice of propriety and boundaries where my kids are concerned. You can’t trust the village to do that for you. Much of the time the villagers are cannibals, and will eat your young if they are left unprotected.
I barely missed you at Women’s Conference, so sad. It’s been forever since I’ve seen your beautiful face for real. When will I see you again??
Whoa. We really were on the same wave length today and I guess you already know what I think. I’m going to be much pickier about what my kids read for pleasure (although still pretty open minded) but when it’s assigned school reading, I really think it’s a great opportunity to teach your kids the gospel while discussing challenging and opposing literature. Good post!
It was fun to meet you at BYU WC last week. Your books look like so much fun – I definitely am going to go pick them up and read them asap. 🙂
This is a great post and one to think about. I always say that it would be nice if books had ratings, so you had an idea of what you’re going to get. I hate it when I’m reading a great book and then Whammo!!! there’s something that scalds my eyes and brain forever. I hope I can help steer my kids clear of rat poison… I also hope I can get them to love reading as much as I do, because the amazing (non rat poison-y) books can change you forever, don’t you think?
I am so glad I found your blog. (Thanks Carolyn V.) I recently read My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions and enjoyed every word. It was a very fun read. So, Thanks!
I know you can’t hear me, but I’m applauding right now. Brilliant.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Deren Hansen. Deren Hansen said: My writing friend Becca Wilhite has a nice note about Healthy Literary Diets at http://bit.ly/cfJ1dw […]