Since becoming a parent, I’ve learned that things don’t necessarily have to be all or nothing.  There can be a little yin to go with the yang, and that doesn’t make me a hypocrite.

I can be a woman of faith, yet religiously watch a slightly foul-mouthed and blasphemous Chelsea Handler.

I can eat a tropical breakfast on a chilly December 1st and still call myself a true Oregonian.

I can let my kids eat chocolate before 8 a.m. every morning for the next 24 days…

…but keep the calendars in a safe place to ensure that Christmas doesn’t come early this year.

We can also do two advent calendars, there’s no need to commit to only one way to countdown to Christmas.

I can go for a run, even after complaining endlessly about being sick.

I can buy my organic produce at Costco, while coughing all over unsuspecting shoppers who are looking at me like I’m carrying explosives.

And despite my previous beliefs, I can raise my girls to be strong, independent, unique and self assured women,

and let them play with Barbies (GASP!!!).

Daddy’s assistant sent him home with this Barbie paper doll set today, and the girls were so excited to play with it, I couldn’t say no.

Daddy was so funny, though, he wouldn’t let Barbie be naked for even a second, and kept throwing clothes on her.

I found this rather hypocritical seeing that he usually has the opposite reaction when it comes to my clothing status.

Barbie’s wardrobe WAS impressive.

Though the feminist part of me cried out that I was somehow misguiding my girls by letting them play with her, I thought about it more and more.  We never said while we were playing, “Barbie is pretty” or “Barbie is perfect” or “Don’t you want to look like Barbie?”  We said, “What do you think Barbie should wear to volunteer at the soup kitchen?,” “What should she wear to her art class?,” and “What should she wear to sneak into a party at the White House?”

I came to the conclusion that I can still be a “feminist” and let my girls play with Barbie.  It’s a doll:  it’s not a role model.  Just as we shouldn’t judge someone for being overweight or brunette, I  shouldn’t judge Barbie for being skinny and pretty.  I seem to remember a Rosie O’ Donnell doll…am I only going to insist that my girls play with dolls that look like her?

That’s supposed to be Rosie?  I find this replication more offensive than Barbie.

I can still instill the same values and beliefs in my girls, of acceptance, self-love and kindness, and let them play with a cardboard cutout that is pretty fun to put cute clothes on.

And then I can make them eat tofu for dinner.  Just because Barbie may not respect herself, that doesn’t mean she can’t show respect for animals by eating a meat-free meal.

Vegetarian Curry

  • 1 can of light coconut milk
  • 1 1/2 T. of curry powder
  • 1 T. flour
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • 2 T. minced ginger
  • stevia to taste
  • 4-6 c. of fresh vegetables (carrots, asparagus, red pepper, broccoli, etc.)
  • 15 oz. extra firm tofu, drained, pressed, cut into cubes, and marinated as desired (I marinated mine in lime juice, honey and soy sauce)
  • 1 lime
  • 1/3 c. fresh basil or cilantro
  • brown rice

Sautee garlic, ginger, and vegetables in a large skillet for about 4 minutes.  Remove from pan and set aside.

In the meantime, broil tofu for 6 minutes on each side.

In your skillet, heat curry over medium heat until aromatic.  Add coconut milk and bring to a low boil.  Whisk flour into sauce and simmer until thickened.  Sweeten as desired.

Add vegetables back into pan and add juice of one lime and chopped basil or cilantro.

Heat thoroughly and serve over brown rice.

I plan on finishing my evening with some organic mate tea and a vegan whole wheat cranberry orange biscotti…

…and then topping it off with some generic, artificially flavored Nyquil.

I put the HIP in hypocrisy.