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03/13/2006: "Téa in Three Acts--my fMh intro"
http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/?p=529
or Téa in Three Acts
Téa in Three Acts
By: Téa - March 13, 2006
–Feminist—
I come from a long line of feminists and my parents and stepparents reared me accordingly. Their guidance & support are invaluable to me.
I learned the sky was the limit for me and anything I wanted to do. The Congregational Churches I attended in my youth often had women pastors/ministers.
I wrote several articles for my high school newspaper regarding the need for sex education; the rising teen pregnancy rate; the deceptive messages sent by ‘pregnant’ dolls that reverted to their barbiesque figures immediately after ‘delivery’; and about conforming to nonconformity.
I was told many times “You don’t want a man, find yourself a nice girl” (I learned a fish could very much enjoy riding a bicycle).
–Mormon—
A most wonderful gift was given to me at the most ironic time—a missionary discussion turned to the gender of Alma/male only priesthood—God revealing Himself to me through the Holy Ghost, witnessing that He lived, that Jesus was who He said He was, and that there was a plan for me and that I was in no way less loved or less provided for in the ways of salvation because of my gender and that, for now, I would not hold the priesthood. I was told I would understand all in time, but for now, this was enough. The lasting power and simplicity of the Spirit communicating to my spirit takes my breath away.
I was baptized twelve years,one month and one day ago (at the time of this posting)
I was well enough read in all things doctrinally LDS that I didn’t feel disadvantaged in that sense as a convert. I really liked to knock the socks off people who thought all converts fit into a comfy pigeonhole. It doesn’t matter as much with time, fewer people express surprise that I’m not a “born-and-raised”
My husband and I were sealed, and our 6 week old son sealed to us, at the Salt Lake Temple on our first wedding anniversary. We also received our endowments that day.
–Housewife—Homemaker
I don’t consider myself a housewife—I’m married to my husband, not my domicile!
My youthful visions of the future never included anything remotely classifiable as a homemaker—but then again, I believed I would be dead by age 18. Seriously.
In our initial temple recommend interviews with our Stake President, my husband was counseled to “do what it takes to keep [me] at home” with our month old baby. He took that counsel to heart, working and going to school full time, choosing a career that would be personally fulfilling and family friendly. This allows me to focus on our family.
I’m married to my best friend. We have five fabulous children, three powerpuffgirls and two bookend boys and are homeschoolers by choice.
I alphabetize my movies and music.
Driving is one of my talents.
Bacon, piecrusts and Italian sodas are on my favorite food list. Spinach bacon quiche with strawberry Italian soda? I’m soo there! (Not that this has much to do with my being a housewife, thought I’d throw it in here anyway)
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28 Comments »
Welcome Tea! We look forward to you joining us for the next couple of weeks
Comment by Rebecca — March 13, 2006 @ 11:10 am
I had the opportunity to have Tea in my home and I was very impressed by her. She was a very gracious person and both she and her husband were a lot of fun.
Comment by kristen j — March 13, 2006 @ 11:28 am
I would make jokes about “Téa in the Sahara” but that might sound like I was calling the rest of FmH a desert. (Which it isn’t).
However, I’m curious about one thing. You see, I’ve always been told that Téa is against the Word if Wisdom. . .
Comment by Kaimi — March 13, 2006 @ 12:29 pm
Thanks Rebecca, Kristen and Kaimi. I’m excited for this opportunity–I just hope I don’t become the blogging equivalent of a terribly lame sacrament meeting speaker.
Hmmm, Kaimi, maybe Téa is like that beer Ronan(?) was talking about, not always held to be against the WoW?
I actually quit all my tea drinks coming up on baptism–imagine my surprise that some members drank herbal infusions as long as they didn’t contain the actual tea plant!
Comment by Téa — March 13, 2006 @ 12:58 pm
Welcome Téa, we’re excited to see what you’ve got.
Comment by fMhLisa — March 13, 2006 @ 1:31 pm
(oh, and I only really picked “housewife” because it had the best provocative oxymoronish quality when paired with “feminist”, it was a catchy title thing, not any sort of value judgement)
Comment by fMhLisa — March 13, 2006 @ 1:44 pm
Lisa, I did read about that explanation once upon a time, I just have to be “Téa Téa quite contrary” sometimes =)
Comment by Téa — March 13, 2006 @ 2:18 pm
Oh yes,
I happened to be one of the tea drinking people she found!
Glad to see your posts, my SIL
Comment by Tigersue — March 13, 2006 @ 3:35 pm
Téa — nice starting post.
Comment by Stephen M (Ethesis) — March 13, 2006 @ 6:34 pm
Sorry for my belated welcome, Téa. Welcome! I also alphabetize my books and music, but within subsections by genre. Hrm. And I’m a fabulous driver!
Comment by EmilyS — March 14, 2006 @ 9:35 am
I want y’all to know that I’m extremely proud of my daughter Téa and what she has done with her life. I am an apostate Mormon convert who is now an atheist, but I totally support any belief system that brings comfort and joy to a person’s life. I was not able to find this in the church but I know that Téa has, and I’m very happy for her.
She didn’t have it very easy growing up so I’m very glad she has blossomed into such a wonderful adult and wife and mother. (My grandchildren, oh, that’s a complete ‘nother bragging session!)
She’s a very independent and discerning individual who brings joy to everyone willing to share in her life. I know that she’s excited to be part of this wonderful community at FMH.
Comment by Darlene — March 14, 2006 @ 1:34 pm
I also alphabetize my books and music, but within subsections by genre. Hrm. And I’m a fabulous driver!
Well . . . I’m a horrible driver (I just smashed my friend’s garage door) (yes garage door) (and no, it was not snowing or raining or icy. I have no excuse, none)
And I organize my books by taking them back to the library, and my music, well . . . most of my cds are piled up in huge stacks, a few are actually in their individual cases, and I think a bunch have fallen back behind the speakers, one of these days I’m going to move it a check.
Comment by fMhLisa — March 14, 2006 @ 3:05 pm
Tea, I love the “I’m married to my husband, not my domicile”! Definitely housewife is a term our generation just doesn’t use anymore. My mother used it comfortably, though.
I wonder what I will call myself once all my kids are gone, if I don’t have a job. Probably “retired”?
Comment by jks — March 14, 2006 @ 4:52 pm
Téa i’m so glad that you joined the church twelve years one month and one day ago. I’m glad that you married my son. I think you are sooo good for him and a wonderful wife and mother. I have always liked the term homemaker better than house wife even tho’ I grew up in the housewife era.
Comment by MomR — March 14, 2006 @ 11:31 pm
fMh Lisa, Tigersue, Stephen, EmilyS, Mama (Darlene), jks, and MomR–thank you so much for the kind words and welcomes!
Did I mention I was bringing my own cheering squad with me? =)
Comment by Téa — March 15, 2006 @ 12:26 am
Welcome, Tea in the Sahara! I presume that you are a U2 fan? Or are you just tryin’ to throw your arms around the world? Definitively, a woman needs a man, like a fish needs a bicycle.
I do not believe that being a housewife is in any way derogative. I knew a woman that did a fanstastic job with her kids. She took French lessons, riding, pottery, helped with the homework… wow! If someone thinks that being a housewife is easy, just let them do the works! Helping out with all manner of school subject, maths, science, spelling, etc. Cleaning the house throughly, who needs a gym! Anyway, thank you for your initial post, I’ll be looking forward to read from you,
Comment by AlexG — March 15, 2006 @ 1:58 am
Téa, you are so cool, and I think it’s awesome you’re mom and MIL have commented. What a great family you have!
Comment by meems — March 15, 2006 @ 8:10 am
Belated thanks to AlexG and meems.
I’m honored by the welcomes, all, thank you.
Comment by Téa — March 17, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Tea,
I’m wondering if you are the same Tea (sorry, don’t know how to accent the e!) that I competed with in high school speech and debate.
I remember running into Tea after high school and learning she had married and joined the church. (Come to think of it, I competed against her husband too!)
If so, this is Patti from Centennial. If not, nevermind! I really enjoyed your post.
Patti
Comment by Patti — March 20, 2006 @ 10:05 pm
:::it’s a small world music begins playing in background:::
Patti… wow… Hi!
I am one and the same, the east-side redhead, Téa
I’ll email you–we can catch up some, moore =)
Comment by Téa — March 20, 2006 @ 10:30 pm
I want to know how you get that ‘ over the e in your name here on the blogs, Tea. I am always entralled when I see it (I noticed meems and several others figured the trick out too…)
Comment by Geoff J — March 20, 2006 @ 10:39 pm
Tea, I am SO glad you are here. More comments later to this post, if I can follow through (I SUCK at follow through, please forgive me all, if I promise more than I can deliver; I am ALWAYS so optimistic and so desirious of being the good person that I sometimes glimpse that I could be, that I can’t restrain myself from saying I’ll respond, or do other things, and then sometimes later end up not being able to and I HATE That about me.)
Woops, that was a HUGE run-on.
Anyway. Nothing like being told “What a waste of a life and a human being YOU are!” to boost one’s self-esteem.
Urk. Anyway, more about YOU later. I hate when I do this, this post has nothing to do with anything, but I’m going through a horrid time, because I was told many things that are like my being Boromir riddled with huge thick arrows and dying from it.
Comment by sarebear — March 23, 2006 @ 9:08 pm
Oh yeah, and I want to know how you get that accent over the e too.
Comment by sarebear — March 23, 2006 @ 9:09 pm
Re: #5 - “Welcome Téa, we’re excited to see what you’ve got. ”
fmhLisa, isn’t that her hubby’s job? Teehee.
Comment by sarebear — March 23, 2006 @ 9:13 pm
Re: #4 - I think of Tea as like a Raspberry Zinger tea (no caffeine or tea plant, it’s herbal). I’ve recently started drinking these, to help distract me and soothe me plus my digestion needs the peppermint one.
I feel SO wicked now. Seriously, I do have some guilt, even though there’s no caffeine.
Comment by sarebear — March 23, 2006 @ 9:14 pm
RE: #21
Hold down the Alt key and type the four-digit code using the numeral key pad on the far right of your enhanced keyboard:
Alt + 0233 = é = lowercase e with acute accent
Alt + 0234 = ê = lowercase e with circumflex
Alt + 0235 = ë = lowercase e with umlaut
If you do not have an extended keyboard, you can do it in word by pressing “CTRL + (Accent Grave), the letter” then copying the results into a text field. Note: There are even more options.
Comment by SM — March 23, 2006 @ 11:10 pm
you can also get the “é” by doing ALT 130, which is a little shorter
Comment by fMhLisa — March 23, 2006 @ 11:50 pm
Geoff and Sarebear, I love it when someone else steps up for me. Thanks for é-xplaining, Lisa and SM =)
Sarebear, thanks for your kind words. I am so sorry so much bitterness has been flung your way.
Oh and I have been called Red Zinger before, a play on the name and hair color…
Comment by Téa — March 24, 2006 @ 1:36 pm
