Now I know somebody out there in blogdom is going to take this the wrong way, but I'll try my best to prevent that. I love Vision Forum and have 8 pages dog-eared in my new catalog. My children will definitely be having a Vision Forum Christmas this year, but I saw something in their catalog last night that seems a little bit off. Maybe it's just me.
My girls love American Girl dolls and my 8 year old daughter was having so much fun looking at the Beautiful Girlhood dolls in the Vision Forum catalog. I was reading something else while Twinkle Toes sat next to me reading the doll descriptions out loud. I heard her describe the Priscilla Mullins doll as a teenager who came to this country on the Mayflower. Cool, a pilgrim doll! Next she read the description of Dolley Madison, the Christian first lady with a heart for hospitality. What a wonderful role model. Then she started reading the description of Nan Harper.
"Nan Harper was just a girl when she and her father boarded the R.M.S. Titanic. Her father, John, would perish on the fateful night of its sinking, but Nan would later learn of him leading men to Christ as they froze together in the North Atlantic. Dress your doll in this pink dress, trimmed with satin ribbon, pink lace, and a rosebud at the waist." (p. 52)
I knew when I heard Titanic that it couldn't be good news for poor Nan. The paperback book that accompanies the doll has a picture of the Titanic sinking on its cover. Now, as a Christian I know that to live is Christ and to die is gain, but doesn't this seem a little macabre for a girl's doll? I can just see my Measle opening this up on Christmas morning and beginning to cry as we read her the story of her doll. "That's right, honey, her daddy froze to death, but don't you like her pretty pink dress with the satin ribbon and rosebud at the waist?"
Am I the only one who thinks this is a little weird?
I know what you mean!! I have an 8 year old daughter who is an avid reader, and recently she was asking me why people always die, kids are orphans, caretakers are mean, etc. in the books she reads (books I pre-read and approve!) The only answer I could think of is that it is more interesting.
ReplyDeleteWe got that same catalog and were reading through it, and I missed that description! Wow, I do think that is a bit heavy for little girls. My 8 year old is very interested in one of these dolls this year, so we are looking at American Girl and Vision Forum doll. I won't be buying that Nan outfit for sure!
ReplyDeletethat is too funny! ok not really since we are talking about little girls loosing their fathers and all, but the way you ended it about the pink dress just made me laugh so hard. YOU R NOT WEIRD! I fully agree. I have had to talk about death enough lately. You have to if you read the children most of the Bible. I don't want to be talking about death in a fiction sense as well.
ReplyDeleteLOL...your description was hilarious, and I completely agree - a little too morbid for my 8 year old.
ReplyDelete