Tearing up for Brady and your kids! What a wonderful experience for you.
My husband took our daughter to see BTS as a high school graduation present (had to travel to another city, coincidentally my hometown), and while she wasn't a member of the 'Army', she was a big fan. It was meaningful to us to reward her at the end of a mostly tumultuous (socially and academically) middle school/high school career. My husband knew exactly none of the songs, but enjoyed the spectacle and our daughter's excitement.
I just really love when parents are all in on experiencing their kids fascinations. I think it teaches such an important lesson! Like, when we take the little things they love seriously, we're teaching them they deserve to have relationships, platonic and romantic, with people who take the little things they love seriously. We also help them see it's important they do the same for other people! Plus it's just so much damn fun.
Sometimes it’s really easy though. Right now my kid is into dinosaurs. It’s soooo easy to love dinosaurs. I expect this list will get harder as he gets older. But for now, fossils!
I love this connection/explanation! You hit all the points, and you are correct. It was a pilgrimage, & it’s absolutely a pilgrimage economy. And the moment of God in that Chilies was artistically rendered. Yay Brady! Yay friends! Yay for found families that will take care of our babies.
Tearing up for this wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing your experience and insight. Such beautiful connections. I love reading your work it always makes me see the world in a little different way. Like a small turning of the same image that just illuminates things unseen. 💕💕
Brilliant. I’m smiling reading this on a Sunday morning. The sharing of your experience illuminates, shining a bright light for us as we gather and if attention is the beginning of devotion, than I think we are happily basking the glow of God in 🌶️
BETH ANNE! This made me smile so wide. I always imagine us gathered together - and I'd like to make that a reality someday. I don't even have to say a word, I just want to listen to all of you. And yeah, now I think it might need to happen at a Chili's. Even though I hate their food. lol
OMG! MIND BLOWN?! HUGE PRAISE! Thank you. I am always so happy to see you here. I know things get weird in this space sometimes, I am so grateful you stick around.
This made me cry. I was on board through the whole pilgrimage metaphor and then…. The thought of “pilgrims who can consecrate anything” the idea of anything sanctified. Yes! This is the whole point isn’t it. To make everything holy and take care of each other. Beautiful words❤️ Also as the mother of a queer child I carry a lot of fear in my heart and this soothes it some.
Oh I see you sweet mother! Yes, it's so odd because I've had to learn the fear - it wasn't there at first. She opened up about herself when it still seemed like we were living in the world Obergefell built. I guess I knew it was a world still forming, that it would always need to be defended, but I didn't anticipate it would all be imperiled so quickly. We'll keep working to keep kids safe.
Right? When my sweet child first starting tell me how they experience their gender I thought it was fascinating. And now…. I have to work hard to not let them see my fear when they tell me things like- they are ready to start painting their nails (happened today - they were assigned male at birth). Anyone brave enough to walk into a high school in southern utah appearing as anything but strictly a boy/girl deserves to be celebrated and I want to celebrate…. And also have them come home in one piece. The fights are so big and so small at the same time.
I love thé analysis, but I CANT get over how moving the sharing of the bracelets is to me. I just love it. That’s what I wish for all humanity. I don’t care if it’s kitschy to say it.
Just me. Sitting at my kitchen table. Crying at the transcendence of the bracelet experience. Up until then I was fully engaged intellectually, considering my own experience with my young adult girls at the Vegas show. And then it hit me in the feels. (Much like Barbie did yesterday.) thank you for sharing
OMG YES. Barbie was exactly like that! Laughing, nodding along, and then BAM. I'm sitting at a table right now too. So I am just going to pretend that we are sitting together.
Ohhh, Meg. This was so very lovely. Well researched, thought-provoking, tender, and just so much fun to read. Thank all that is holy for the Bradys of our world!
Touched most of all by the space you made, you gave, for your daughter: a place in your purse for what wasn’t right for her right then. Speaking up for her, in a way that protected her space, her choices, without sealing her away.
I read this yesterday and this sense has kept growing in me since.
Emily, I hadn't even considered this and I am so grateful to you for showing it to me. Sometimes I worry that I am not creating enough for my kids. So seeing those moments as a space I've created, that is really healing to me right now. Thank you.
Your analogy explains a lot. It sounds like the concert was an amazing experience.
I was visiting Pittsburgh when Taylor Swift came to town. A lot of the Swifties stayed at our hotel. They were easy to spot: They were decked out in heavy makeup, bright colors, and occasionally in cowboy gear. And glitter! So much glitter. Almost all of them were women and girls. All of them were ECSTATIC. Groups of Swifties would run into other groups of Swifties and become instant buddies. the concert-goers had come from all over the region: Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, D.C., New Jersey. A few of them had followed her from city to city. Some traveled for an hour or more just to camp outside the stadium.
The town got into it, too. The Science Museum had hidden 10 little figures of Taylor Swift, one for each era, in their room-sized model train. There was a small prize for any kid who could spot all 10.
The fun (for me) part: I was in Pittsburgh to attend StokerCon, a horror writer convention. Many of the horror writers dress more-or-less like goths. Watching the two groups mingle in the lobby was amusing. Especially when members of the two groups talked to each other; horror writers are an incredibly friendly lot, at least the ones I met.
When I first heard that we should all prepare for, "The Attack of the Living Swifties," I rolled my eyes. But when I saw the fans in person, I was touched by their happiness and enthusiasm, especially the tweens. I don't know Taylor's music well at all, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna harsh that squee.
So beautiful. I'm always so grateful to spend time with your mind and heart.
Gayle, I really love you so much! I wish we were closer so we could go get dinner sometime. Thank you so much for reading along with me.
Aw--I would so love to get dinner with you! Someday, somewhere, I hope! xoxox
Tearing up for Brady and your kids! What a wonderful experience for you.
My husband took our daughter to see BTS as a high school graduation present (had to travel to another city, coincidentally my hometown), and while she wasn't a member of the 'Army', she was a big fan. It was meaningful to us to reward her at the end of a mostly tumultuous (socially and academically) middle school/high school career. My husband knew exactly none of the songs, but enjoyed the spectacle and our daughter's excitement.
I just really love when parents are all in on experiencing their kids fascinations. I think it teaches such an important lesson! Like, when we take the little things they love seriously, we're teaching them they deserve to have relationships, platonic and romantic, with people who take the little things they love seriously. We also help them see it's important they do the same for other people! Plus it's just so much damn fun.
Sometimes it’s really easy though. Right now my kid is into dinosaurs. It’s soooo easy to love dinosaurs. I expect this list will get harder as he gets older. But for now, fossils!
I love this connection/explanation! You hit all the points, and you are correct. It was a pilgrimage, & it’s absolutely a pilgrimage economy. And the moment of God in that Chilies was artistically rendered. Yay Brady! Yay friends! Yay for found families that will take care of our babies.
That scene with Pam always makes me laugh so hard because I am like that even when I am not drunk lol. And yes, YAY!
Tearing up for this wonderful experience. Thank you for sharing your experience and insight. Such beautiful connections. I love reading your work it always makes me see the world in a little different way. Like a small turning of the same image that just illuminates things unseen. 💕💕
This is such a beautiful way to write this. Thank you. I am just honored that you feel this way! I always really love seeing you here.
Brilliant. I’m smiling reading this on a Sunday morning. The sharing of your experience illuminates, shining a bright light for us as we gather and if attention is the beginning of devotion, than I think we are happily basking the glow of God in 🌶️
BETH ANNE! This made me smile so wide. I always imagine us gathered together - and I'd like to make that a reality someday. I don't even have to say a word, I just want to listen to all of you. And yeah, now I think it might need to happen at a Chili's. Even though I hate their food. lol
Love LOVE the connections you make Meg! I am never disappointed by having my mind blown.
OMG! MIND BLOWN?! HUGE PRAISE! Thank you. I am always so happy to see you here. I know things get weird in this space sometimes, I am so grateful you stick around.
I love new perspectives and following young voices keeps me young too!
This made me cry. I was on board through the whole pilgrimage metaphor and then…. The thought of “pilgrims who can consecrate anything” the idea of anything sanctified. Yes! This is the whole point isn’t it. To make everything holy and take care of each other. Beautiful words❤️ Also as the mother of a queer child I carry a lot of fear in my heart and this soothes it some.
Oh I see you sweet mother! Yes, it's so odd because I've had to learn the fear - it wasn't there at first. She opened up about herself when it still seemed like we were living in the world Obergefell built. I guess I knew it was a world still forming, that it would always need to be defended, but I didn't anticipate it would all be imperiled so quickly. We'll keep working to keep kids safe.
Right? When my sweet child first starting tell me how they experience their gender I thought it was fascinating. And now…. I have to work hard to not let them see my fear when they tell me things like- they are ready to start painting their nails (happened today - they were assigned male at birth). Anyone brave enough to walk into a high school in southern utah appearing as anything but strictly a boy/girl deserves to be celebrated and I want to celebrate…. And also have them come home in one piece. The fights are so big and so small at the same time.
This was beautiful and heartwarming. Gd can be found in community.
amen.
I love thé analysis, but I CANT get over how moving the sharing of the bracelets is to me. I just love it. That’s what I wish for all humanity. I don’t care if it’s kitschy to say it.
I wish it for all of humanity too! I don't care if that's cheesy either!
Just me. Sitting at my kitchen table. Crying at the transcendence of the bracelet experience. Up until then I was fully engaged intellectually, considering my own experience with my young adult girls at the Vegas show. And then it hit me in the feels. (Much like Barbie did yesterday.) thank you for sharing
OMG YES. Barbie was exactly like that! Laughing, nodding along, and then BAM. I'm sitting at a table right now too. So I am just going to pretend that we are sitting together.
Oh I love that! And it reminds me of the song Crowded Table by the Highwomen 🫶🏼
Ohhh, Meg. This was so very lovely. Well researched, thought-provoking, tender, and just so much fun to read. Thank all that is holy for the Bradys of our world!
GOD BLESS THE BRADYS!
Meg, this is beautiful, thank you for sharing
Thank you so much for letting me. Truly.
What an incredible newsletter, I think my favorite of yours I've ever read! I'm feeling so many feelings on a Monday morning.
Oh my goodness. I am so glad! Thank you so much!!! I know Mondays are hectic. Thank you so much for taking the time.
Touched most of all by the space you made, you gave, for your daughter: a place in your purse for what wasn’t right for her right then. Speaking up for her, in a way that protected her space, her choices, without sealing her away.
I read this yesterday and this sense has kept growing in me since.
Emily, I hadn't even considered this and I am so grateful to you for showing it to me. Sometimes I worry that I am not creating enough for my kids. So seeing those moments as a space I've created, that is really healing to me right now. Thank you.
Thank you for this connection. I have called The Eras Tour "the most holy experience of my life" so this hits perfectly.
Your analogy explains a lot. It sounds like the concert was an amazing experience.
I was visiting Pittsburgh when Taylor Swift came to town. A lot of the Swifties stayed at our hotel. They were easy to spot: They were decked out in heavy makeup, bright colors, and occasionally in cowboy gear. And glitter! So much glitter. Almost all of them were women and girls. All of them were ECSTATIC. Groups of Swifties would run into other groups of Swifties and become instant buddies. the concert-goers had come from all over the region: Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, D.C., New Jersey. A few of them had followed her from city to city. Some traveled for an hour or more just to camp outside the stadium.
The town got into it, too. The Science Museum had hidden 10 little figures of Taylor Swift, one for each era, in their room-sized model train. There was a small prize for any kid who could spot all 10.
The fun (for me) part: I was in Pittsburgh to attend StokerCon, a horror writer convention. Many of the horror writers dress more-or-less like goths. Watching the two groups mingle in the lobby was amusing. Especially when members of the two groups talked to each other; horror writers are an incredibly friendly lot, at least the ones I met.
When I first heard that we should all prepare for, "The Attack of the Living Swifties," I rolled my eyes. But when I saw the fans in person, I was touched by their happiness and enthusiasm, especially the tweens. I don't know Taylor's music well at all, but I'll be damned if I'm gonna harsh that squee.