'm not usually one to toot my own horn, but . . . toot,toot. I'm just so excited!!
This super fun activity and magazine we put together as a Young Women presidency for our girls has been featured on Sugardoodle today. Thanks to my super cool friend {and Young Women secretary} Joan and her super creative idea! I think the best thing about my church "job" is the people I get to work with. I wouldn't be a fraction of who I am without Joan, Allison, and Kim. And Asae in the good old days -- a month ago. Anyway -- you can read all about the activity on Sugardoodle. If you want to download the pdf file for the magazine, you can find it on Sugardoodle or e-mail me. I just love sharing so lots of people can benefit from a great idea! {I can say that because the idea wasn't mine -- I was just lucky to be part of the process.}
I shared this with a ton of people today. They are all thrilled!
ReplyDeleteWould you mind if I took this idea and ran with it? I'm going to school at BYUI, and even on campus here I've seen girls wearing miniskirts. I'd love to start an ezine like this, with input from young women and young adults, mormon fashion bloggers, articles with info straight from doctrine, etc. I think what attracts me most is the layout. It's so modern! I'd pick this up at Acme without even reading the title. :)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this magazine. I just found your blog through pinterest and I am so excited. Thank you for inspiring me!
ReplyDeleteYep, lets teach those impressionable young women that what they look like and wear is what really matters. Ugh
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ReplyDeleteYou are, of course, entitled to your own opinion. I don't think you have actually read much of what was written in the "magazine", however. We taught the girls what modesty really means -- that it is an entire attitude of humility and gentility, not just a matter of wearing clothing that covers your physical body. We also shared many quotes from leaders of the church about WHY modesty is so important. The goal was to empower the girls to live "in the world", but not be "of the world". The feedback from my Young Women, their parents and many others has been overwhelmingly positive about the message this handout sends.
DeleteWith all of that being said, there is NOTHING WRONG with being interested in fashion and wanting to look put together. There is NOTHING WRONG with caring about what young men have to say about modesty. Girls this age are supposed to start caring about the opposite sex. It's the natural order of things. I think it's great to guide them to do those things in a positive way, always thinking about the spiritual consequences -- good or bad -- of our actions. My young women know that they are loved. They are some of the most beautiful, self confident, loving teenagers I have ever known. I was happy to spend my personal time acting on an impression I received as an answer to a prayer for my Young Women. I know that this is what MY girls needed at the time. I wanted to make it available to other Young Women and their leaders who may have had a similar impressions. It may not be what every girl or every Young Women group needs. That is what is awesome about inspired leadership.
This handout was prayerfully created with the approval and support of our local ward and stake leaders as something that would be beneficial for our girls. I would encourage any Young Woman leader to be prayerful and seek inspiration for her own group of girls, knowing their own circumstances.
I did read the magazine and I also felt like what I had posted would come across too harshly or would be flatly rejected rather than start a productive dialogue about how appearance-centered we teach our young women to be, so I deleted my comment almost immediately. But you felt the need to respond anyway, so I felt I should at least have the chance to say that I did read the whole magazine. And I don't think there is anything wrong with girls wanting to look put together. I'm also glad you felt this was inspired. But I would still be FURIOUS if my girls came home with anything like this from Young Women's.
DeleteYou have every right to your opinion. I'm not trying to be contentious -- I replied to the comment via email, not knowing you had deleted it. I'd much rather have an open dialogue with someone who is willing to put an identity to their honest opinion rather than hide behind an anonymous sarcastic remark. That's why I responded to your comment first and not the anonymous one above it. This is a tough world to raise girls in. More power to you for sticking with what you think is right. I'm just trying to do the same. Thanks for the opinion!
DeleteBut should we really be teaching the boys that it is their job to judge the girls? Sure, it is normal for teens to want to attract the opposite sex but you are teaching them that what is on the surface is most important. what about the sweet, kind girl who exemplifies Christ's teachings but wasn't raised to believe covering the shoulders matters or wearing shorts above the knee is a big deal. Our actions are more important than how we dress and you are teaching them to judge each other instead of love each other in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteValid points, but consider this:
Delete1) This handout was not created for, directed to, nor given to, any boys, so it is not teaching them anything.
2) One of the major points of the magazine was to clear up the very common LDS misconception that modesty only involves covering skin.
Our actions ARE more important than how we dress. This handout teaches girls how to be the best THEY can be, in many ways, not to compare themselves to or judge others. Again, I feel like maybe you haven't read it in its entirety. You don't have to love it {clearly you don't}, but don't judge it to be something it's not if you've only seen the cover. My opinion.
This is from the second anonymous again. I may not agree with your magazine completely but I do think you have the best interest of your young women in mind. I do appreciate your willingness to have a respectful dialogue with visitors to your blog who don't agree with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for that. I don't ever expect anyone to substitute my judgement for their own or to agree with everything I say. I welcome a good, respectful conversation any day. You and Brooke have been more than fair in sharing and listening alike. Thanks for stopping by!
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