And the millstone award goes to...
On Monday I needed to do some errands -- the weekly groceries, a trip to the bank, and I was in need of a gift for my mother-in-law who's birthday was coming up. She is an avid bibliophile, and I thought she might like One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp, something I haven't read (yet!) but based on my exposure to Ann Voskamp's writing, it really seemed up my mother-in-law's alley.
Rather than wasting the gas by going into the city another day during the week, I decided to bundle the kids up and do all the errands in one packed morning.
We had a grand ol' time. We always do, really, when we head out (especially when we are lucky enough to have this song play on the radio while we cruise around).
When we arrived at Chapters, I quickly found the Voskamp book, found a nice day-planner for myself at 75% off (yipee!) and then told the boys we could play around in the kids' section for a while. They have a Thomas train table set up there, as well as other various toys, so it really seems like a paradise to little ones, and the hip moms can sit and sip their Starbucks while the kids play. (Since I am not hip, nor would I allow myself to spend that much money on a cup of coffee, I instead gushed geekishly over my day-planner and played puppets with the children.)
On our way out, though, everything went south. Fast.
Because St. Valentine's Day is approaching, they had a display labelled "A Knotty Life" with various books that were obviously capitalizing on the popularity of 50 Shades of Grey. You see, nothing helps you celebrate the feast of a Christian martyr than... well... perversion.
Some of the covers were border-line pornographic.
I marched Noah and Isaiah quickly past this display, only to be confronted by another one. I think this one said "Seduction" and again had various books and products that were unmentionable. Noah pointed to something, I think it was massage oil, and said in a voice that was clearly uncomfortable (perhaps he was sensing my revulsion and horror), "Mommy what is that?"
"Nevermind." I told him and stomped to the cash register. When it was my turn, I couldn't help it; I told the young clerk how upset I was that my innocent children were being bombarded with these images and products. Of course I was mortified and infuriated that I, the 'prudish old housewife' had to tell a young man, probably only about 19 years old, how inappropriate this all was.
He blushed profusely, apologized sincerely, and assured me that he and the other staff were disgusted by the merchandise they had to put out "because of Valentine's Day." He encouraged me to fill out the survey from the receipt and tell them I was unhappy with it all.
Of course I did, and I insisted on a response. I haven't heard back yet.
As an antidote to this cultural poison, I am beginning anew in praying daily for my children's innocence. This is a practice I felt called to do some time ago and faithfully did for awhile, but had it fallen somewhat by the wayside.
These sweet boys, they still glow with the grace from their baptism. I refuse to let Chapters take that away from them!
Rather than wasting the gas by going into the city another day during the week, I decided to bundle the kids up and do all the errands in one packed morning.
We had a grand ol' time. We always do, really, when we head out (especially when we are lucky enough to have this song play on the radio while we cruise around).
When we arrived at Chapters, I quickly found the Voskamp book, found a nice day-planner for myself at 75% off (yipee!) and then told the boys we could play around in the kids' section for a while. They have a Thomas train table set up there, as well as other various toys, so it really seems like a paradise to little ones, and the hip moms can sit and sip their Starbucks while the kids play. (Since I am not hip, nor would I allow myself to spend that much money on a cup of coffee, I instead gushed geekishly over my day-planner and played puppets with the children.)
On our way out, though, everything went south. Fast.
Because St. Valentine's Day is approaching, they had a display labelled "A Knotty Life" with various books that were obviously capitalizing on the popularity of 50 Shades of Grey. You see, nothing helps you celebrate the feast of a Christian martyr than... well... perversion.
Some of the covers were border-line pornographic.
I marched Noah and Isaiah quickly past this display, only to be confronted by another one. I think this one said "Seduction" and again had various books and products that were unmentionable. Noah pointed to something, I think it was massage oil, and said in a voice that was clearly uncomfortable (perhaps he was sensing my revulsion and horror), "Mommy what is that?"
"Nevermind." I told him and stomped to the cash register. When it was my turn, I couldn't help it; I told the young clerk how upset I was that my innocent children were being bombarded with these images and products. Of course I was mortified and infuriated that I, the 'prudish old housewife' had to tell a young man, probably only about 19 years old, how inappropriate this all was.
He blushed profusely, apologized sincerely, and assured me that he and the other staff were disgusted by the merchandise they had to put out "because of Valentine's Day." He encouraged me to fill out the survey from the receipt and tell them I was unhappy with it all.
Of course I did, and I insisted on a response. I haven't heard back yet.
As an antidote to this cultural poison, I am beginning anew in praying daily for my children's innocence. This is a practice I felt called to do some time ago and faithfully did for awhile, but had it fallen somewhat by the wayside.
These sweet boys, they still glow with the grace from their baptism. I refuse to let Chapters take that away from them!
- “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea."
- Matthew 18:6
(On a lighter note, feel free to enter my giveaway! It'll be open until Sunday.)
So, so, SO infuriating. We try not to take our kids to the mall much anymore, because the lingerie stores have such giant posters of barely-clad, seductively-posed women - I hear that's an even bigger problem at one of the malls near you.
ReplyDeleteThat is totally unacceptable!! I really hope they respond to your complaint, I would love to hear what they have to say for themselves!
ReplyDeleteOne more thought: Not only would I not want my children exposed to that display in Chapters, but I wouldn't want my husband or myself exposed to it either!! That sort of thing should NEVER be front-and-center in a store, no matter how secular the store is. Just plain bad for business.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. This is an old battle. 12 years ago, my husband was in our local mall with our twin boys who were about 11. La Senza had a folding board out in the mall, therefore in your face, with a scantilly clad woman modelling bras. Because if that wasn't there, girls and women wouldn't know what was iin the store don't ya know. My husband called the mall manager to voice his complaint that his boys, close to adolescence, were exposed to this because it was unavoidable. It was important to have complained. It was important for his sons to have heard that he complained. It was important for his daughters to know that their father complained, for the sake of his boys, not just them. It did nothing to change the mall/store policies which continued the practice. But is did good within the family. It glorified God. And you did too. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteHi Jenna!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Mamalulia was you! So good to "meet" you - what a great blog you have. And I hear you on the displays. Sometimes my hubby will say a prayer before entering certain stores, especially video stores in an attempt to avoid "that" stuff. But you would hope that stores like chapters would NOT take part in that crap!
Love this! Keep fighting the good fight!
ReplyDeleteI pray for my little boy's innocence too, though not as consistently as I should. The world that he is headed for terrifies me. In prayer I plead that I can raise him to be a strong, holy man, but it is so difficult. Good for you for complaining!
ReplyDeleteGood for you Jenna! I've done this before too and felt like an idiot, but have realized afterward how necessary it is, even if you feel like a fool. This stuff is everywhere now. There are times when we are out in the city and I have to tell Scott,"Look the other way!" Keep praying for your sweet kiddos. They will naturally be repulsed by this sort of thing when you present them with a true image of beauty in your lives.
ReplyDelete