Letters from Planet Mom

Dear MOPS, Thank you so much for taking the time to read the newsletter -- and a special thanks to those who have written down your comments and concerns via email or the blog. After receiving a few concerns about our last "Men Are From Mars" Article, I wanted to take a moment to apologize and explain.

Let me begin by saying sorry if the "Men Are From Mars" Article has offended you. In the midst of our crazy week, Brian and I accidentally printed a draft of the article instead of the final. While the overall content was the same, we intended to delete some of the less tasteful words that had been printed. (The correct, final draft can be found at MOPSinfo.blogspot.com).

As moms, sometimes our jobs can throw us some PG13 (or even R) material that we must somehow convert into PG or G for our kids. As parents of four girls, Brian and I recently hurdled one of these such subjects. We brought home baby brother and it was inevitable that the girls noticed he was different. So, Brian and I began our discussion. What terms would we choose?

My thought was to use the technical terms "penis" and "vagina". Brian disagreed: "vagina" is usually not the correct technical term. He'd prefer to simply call them private parts. We still haven't came to a conclusion but we're working on it. In the end, what we decide is not nearly as important as choosing something. If we do not direct our children, someone or something will direct them for us. I pray that I never shy away from a subject simply because it's hard or adult content - but that in everything we do as moms we try our best and trust God to do the rest.

When I took the MOPS position of publicity I was immediately excited about Brian writing an article. Why? For several reasons.

First of all, parenting is not a one person job. Even if you are a single mom, your children need a male-perspective or role model. Our jobs as moms are priceless, but let us not underestimate the role of a father (or father-figure). Boys receive from their masculinity and self-confidence from their interactions with dad, and girls their self-esteem and self-worth ("Wild at Heart" and "Captivating" by John Eldredge, "Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters" by Meg Meeker, and articles such as those found at focusonthefamily.com all talk about the importance of dad).

Let's face it, men and women parent differently. “Men Are From Mars” is our attempt at shedding some light on the male perspective. Whether if offers a conversation starter for you and your husband, brings up a subject that you have not yet thought about or simply offers a laugh in the midst of a stressful mommy day, our hope is to enhance your role as a mom, your relationship with your spouse and ultimately your walk with God.

Never hesitate to let us know your thoughts! Send comments (and complaints) to Christa, Brian or post them here on-line.

Sincerely, Christa (and Brian) Flannery