Comments on: The Twilight saga: New Moon–important questions for teens and tweens http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/ Reflections on family, faith and the flux of life Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:28:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Satchel Pooch http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1113 Satchel Pooch Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:01:57 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1113 OK, this exaggerates a little, but is still of interest: http://io9.com/5413428/official-twilights-bella--edward-are-in-an-abusive-relationship OK, this exaggerates a little, but is still of interest: http://io9.com/5413428/official-twilights-bella–edward-are-in-an-abusive-relationship

]]> By: pam http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1109 pam Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:36:34 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1109 Wow--who knew this would generate such great discussion? I love hearing different, thoughtful insights on topics flooding the media. Cindy, I really hope you've had a good time with Twilight. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing you're mature enough to handle it ;-) "Mom", Reading the books first is a good strategy. And I agree with you that it's important to talk about the real life/fantasy differences with our kids, no matter the topic. Deb, Sounds like you've taught your daughters to come to their own conclusions about pop culture. Bravo! Sue, I appreciate your insights. Yes, there certainly is some modeling of a selfless, caring relationship here, and the author's faith has a lot to do with the crafting of this tale. Hopefully that is the positive part that will stick with people--young and old--who enjoy the series. Jennifer, My boys actually thought Twilight was "just weird" too --and I don't think it's because it's fantasy or vampires. It doesn't surprise me that girls are drawn to the romance and passion, but that's why I think we need to make sure they go into it thinking. Thankfully my daughter's clearly too young for the books or movies at this point, but the market flood certainly can't be avoided. Satchel, **snort**. And yes, there's lots of lying to (mostly absent) parents. April, Thanks for sharing that story about Sam disfiguring his girlfriend. It's that cycle of "he can't help it because he's so passionate" that makes me cringe, and there are several more scenarios like that (and even more disturbing) in the later books. I appreciate you joining the conversation. Carry on, ladies! What should we review next? Wow–who knew this would generate such great discussion? I love hearing different, thoughtful insights on topics flooding the media.

Cindy,
I really hope you’ve had a good time with Twilight. I don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing you’re mature enough to handle it ;-)

“Mom”,
Reading the books first is a good strategy. And I agree with you that it’s important to talk about the real life/fantasy differences with our kids, no matter the topic.

Deb,
Sounds like you’ve taught your daughters to come to their own conclusions about pop culture. Bravo!

Sue,
I appreciate your insights. Yes, there certainly is some modeling of a selfless, caring relationship here, and the author’s faith has a lot to do with the crafting of this tale. Hopefully that is the positive part that will stick with people–young and old–who enjoy the series.

Jennifer,
My boys actually thought Twilight was “just weird” too –and I don’t think it’s because it’s fantasy or vampires. It doesn’t surprise me that girls are drawn to the romance and passion, but that’s why I think we need to make sure they go into it thinking. Thankfully my daughter’s clearly too young for the books or movies at this point, but the market flood certainly can’t be avoided.

Satchel,
**snort**. And yes, there’s lots of lying to (mostly absent) parents.

April,
Thanks for sharing that story about Sam disfiguring his girlfriend. It’s that cycle of “he can’t help it because he’s so passionate” that makes me cringe, and there are several more scenarios like that (and even more disturbing) in the later books. I appreciate you joining the conversation.

Carry on, ladies!
What should we review next?

]]> By: April http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1105 April Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:25:42 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1105 My daughter is way too young to read the books (she's 15 months) and I am in my early twenties. But there are some parts of the book that bothered me. I read all four books so I can't remember if the part that I am about to discuss is in New Moon or one of the other ones. But I hated when Sam accidently goes crazy and disfigures his girlfriend's face. Then the author goes onto say that Sam loves her so much but that he just couldn't "control" himself. He is very apologetic. Well I know that young girls do not actually encounter werewolves but some might encounter abusive boyfriends who are just as "sorry" and "apologetic" when they can't "control" their rage. It just didn't sit right with me that that was included in the books. Abused women do often convince themselves that their partners didn't mean it and that it was just their emotions and all of that. It doesn't make it any better. My daughter is way too young to read the books (she’s 15 months) and I am in my early twenties. But there are some parts of the book that bothered me. I read all four books so I can’t remember if the part that I am about to discuss is in New Moon or one of the other ones. But I hated when Sam accidently goes crazy and disfigures his girlfriend’s face. Then the author goes onto say that Sam loves her so much but that he just couldn’t “control” himself. He is very apologetic. Well I know that young girls do not actually encounter werewolves but some might encounter abusive boyfriends who are just as “sorry” and “apologetic” when they can’t “control” their rage. It just didn’t sit right with me that that was included in the books. Abused women do often convince themselves that their partners didn’t mean it and that it was just their emotions and all of that. It doesn’t make it any better.

]]> By: Satchel Pooch http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1104 Satchel Pooch Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:00:18 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1104 Edward is a creepy stalker. It's also creepy how much Bella lies to her dad. Edward is a creepy stalker.

It’s also creepy how much Bella lies to her dad.

]]> By: Jennifer Barber http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1103 Jennifer Barber Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:26:53 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1103 Rented Twilight movie this weekend and watched it with my husband and teen boys (they thought it was weird). Why are the girls more into this phenomena? What does this say about young girls? This movie did not sit right with me. I felt the glorification of evil...and messages that I felt were subconscious and harmful. Rented Twilight movie this weekend and watched it with my husband and teen boys (they thought it was weird). Why are the girls more into this phenomena? What does this say about young girls? This movie did not sit right with me. I felt the glorification of evil…and messages that I felt were subconscious and harmful.

]]> By: Sue http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1102 Sue Mon, 23 Nov 2009 18:20:38 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1102 Hi Pam, Excellent questions. One thing that I gleaned from the book and knowing the religious background of the author (which was illuminating for me) is that Edward & Bella's relationship is far more mature than what the average teen will experience prior to marriage. Edward shows extreme care for Bella and puts her needs in front of his consistently as their story unwinds, which is an excellent example of selfless love and the kind of love husbands who follow a Biblical model strive for. Will the average teen find that sort of selfless, giving love in their relationships? Not likely, but it's something that I think every woman deserves. And in turn, her mate deserves that same kind of selfless love from her. It's not simply a one-way street, not if you want a successful, life-long marriage, which is something that a young-adult needs to learn. Julie did hit an important component right on the head - we MUST keep the lines of communication open with our kids, even if there are aspects of the pop culture which make us uncomfortable. From those times come invaluable opportunities to have Teachable Moments and good Life Lessons. Hi Pam,

Excellent questions. One thing that I gleaned from the book and knowing the religious background of the author (which was illuminating for me) is that Edward & Bella’s relationship is far more mature than what the average teen will experience prior to marriage.

Edward shows extreme care for Bella and puts her needs in front of his consistently as their story unwinds, which is an excellent example of selfless love and the kind of love husbands who follow a Biblical model strive for. Will the average teen find that sort of selfless, giving love in their relationships? Not likely, but it’s something that I think every woman deserves. And in turn, her mate deserves that same kind of selfless love from her. It’s not simply a one-way street, not if you want a successful, life-long marriage, which is something that a young-adult needs to learn.

Julie did hit an important component right on the head – we MUST keep the lines of communication open with our kids, even if there are aspects of the pop culture which make us uncomfortable. From those times come invaluable opportunities to have Teachable Moments and good Life Lessons.

]]> By: deb @ talk at the table http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1101 deb @ talk at the table Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:49:08 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1101 Good points. I didn't read the series, although my 3 daughters did. I did scan for content. And they expressed some of these thoughts, and only one went to the first movie, wasn't impressed, and no one has mentioned going to see the second. We don't really censor them from things, but they know when they are uncomfortable about the lines being blurred. Good points. I didn’t read the series, although my 3 daughters did. I did scan for content.
And they expressed some of these thoughts, and only one went to the first movie, wasn’t impressed, and no one has mentioned going to see the second. We don’t really censor them from things, but they know when they are uncomfortable about the lines being blurred.

]]> By: Mom http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1100 Mom Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:37:56 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1100 I have not yet read the books or seen the movies. I have seen trailers for the new movie that make me want to see the movie. However, I'm going to read the books first. I think it is very important as a parent to discuss the content of books and movies with your children. They need to understand that real love and real life is not like the movies/books. I have not yet read the books or seen the movies. I have seen trailers for the new movie that make me want to see the movie. However, I’m going to read the books first.

I think it is very important as a parent to discuss the content of books and movies with your children. They need to understand that real love and real life is not like the movies/books.

]]> By: Cindy L http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1099 Cindy L Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:14:52 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1099 I enjoyed the movie as an adult, after my son was grown and out on his own. But I have wondered how I would feel about these vampire relationships if my son were younger and watching with me. Good food for thought. I enjoyed the movie as an adult, after my son was grown and out on his own. But I have wondered how I would feel about these vampire relationships if my son were younger and watching with me. Good food for thought.

]]> By: pam http://beyondjustmom.com/2009/11/the-twilight-saga-new-moon-important-questions-to-ask/comment-page-1/#comment-1095 pam Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:48:20 +0000 http://beyondjustmom.com/?p=1900#comment-1095 Julie and Alison, thanks so much for your feedback. I posted this with some trepidation since I know so many are crazy about Twilight. But I found myself biting my tongue often about this, which was a sign I needed to get my thoughts out there. Thank goodness for the outlet of blogging! Julie and Alison, thanks so much for your feedback. I posted this with some trepidation since I know so many are crazy about Twilight. But I found myself biting my tongue often about this, which was a sign I needed to get my thoughts out there. Thank goodness for the outlet of blogging!

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