Today Lily had to bring in a magazine to school (7th grade) for what I don't know. She brought in a well-worn copy of "Horse Illustrated." Her favorite everyday clothes have horse pictures or horse-themed designs. Her most prized possession is a silver locket from Horse Feathers (grandparents' gift) that contains a picture of her most prized thing, Buddy himself. When she rides in the car she, like her mother, is galloping a horse alongside the road in her mind. There are some great jumps out there in the form of traffic barriers and fences. We've jumped them all.
My girl and horses. A good thing.
She made the comment on the way to school that she imagined most of the other girls would be bringing in teen fashion and other magazines, e.g., "Teen Vogue," "Seventeen," "CosmoGirl" etc. I shuddered.
A while back I thought to buy her one of these magazines and spent some time browsing the magazine aisles. Every issue, EVERY ISSUE, contained something I consider inappropriate. The world, or at least her world, should not be about how to dress sexily to drive "him" crazy (who is "him"?), how to be a good kisser, or how to let "him" know that she is hot. I'll stop there because I'm about to throw up.
One day there will no doubt be a him whose picture just might replace Buddy's in that silver locket. That day doesn't need to be anytime soon, nor does that silver locket need to have serial pictures of hims occupying that special spot.
So, I've renewed her subscriptions to "Horse Illustrated" and "Young Rider." I even got a subscription to "Practical Horseman" for myself. (I used to freelance for "The Chronicle of the Horse" and "Practical Horseman.") Life is good. Let's keep it that way!
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