Lego My Ego

I know a lot of parents who are opposed to posting pictures of their kids online for the world to see.

I say, "Good for you!" Whatever your reasons may be, you parents are thinking about your children and doing what you believe is best for them. That is a definite sign of a great parent in my book. A few of my friends share this view. I, however, don't. I don't see any harm in it and I post pictures of my baby girl on all of my blogs and communities – on myspace, cafemom, lj, etc… because, come on, she's freakin' adorable!

The grin that earned a sip of diet root beer soda pop.

Her Daddy and I are very proud to be her devotedly doting parents and really do think she ranks up there above purring kittens and fluffy bunnies. Why wouldn't we want to share that cherubic face with our friends, family, and fellow bloggers? In fact, we thought so much of her when we first met her that coming *very* soon there will be another snuggle-face slathered all over this blog – consider that your warning. On top of it all, I am so generous that I won't even charge people to see these snapshots of joy! See! Here's another!

The satisfied dribble chin.

However donations are always accepted and appreciated:

What??? Does that sound – self righteous?! Egotistical?!

Why? Haven't you noticed? Baby pictures are the newest commodity on the market!

I generally stay away from blogging about most things media and celeb-retard based, but this caught my attention.

The bidding war for first photos of the 'Brangelina' ::rolls eyes:: twins began before they were even born. Shortly after the birth they settled on a sum of $11M. The ever-churning media mill reports that the prolific parents are going to donate all of the money they receive for the fraternal kiddies candid's to charity this time – not just half of the proceeds like they did with the original $4.1M they received from their first result of combining genetics.

That half to charity is better than a poke in the eye, as the rest of the profiting baby mama and daddy celebrities just pocket the cash. At the same time, the two humanitarian do-gooders are multi-millionaires, and in positions to donate many millions to charity without even flinching; and without the need to pimp out their children for pics.

The list of celebrities marketing their kids for publicity is amazingly extensive.

What are these people thinking? Celebrity status or not, how are these kids going to feel when they get older knowing that their parents sold them out for profit? This disturbs me in ways I cannot even describe. To me it sounds like exploitation posing in the name of charity and good will.

"We are not to do evil that good may come from it."

– St. Paul to the Romans

This is so important, and so very true. Yes, I am speaking from personal experience. In the past I have said/done quite a few manipulative, hurtful, and deceptive things to others to help ensure an outcome of what I believed was best for my daughter - I would do anything for her.

Does that make any of what I did/said right? Nope.

So am I sorry for any of it? Nope.

I did, however, decide at a point that I didn't want to be that kind of person. I didn't approve of the behavior I exhibited when I allowed my ego to run the show. I observed the behavior elicited in response by other egos to my own actions and words and realized that I had lost sight of myself and my own core - the kind of mother I want my children to learn from, the kind of wife I want to be for my husband, the kind of friend I want to be to the people I love in my life. I didn't want that cycle to continue for any party involved, including myself. So I walked away and left the dramatics and the selfishness where it belonged – in the past.

"You cannot find yourself by going into the past. You can find yourself by coming into the present"

- Eckhart Tolle

Since then, I have learned to keep my ego in check by focusing on what truly matters to me in my own life .. and staying true to my own virtues. ..

What about these celebrity parents? Are they being led by their egos? Some of them have claimed that it is all an effort to control the paparazzi.

They are fueling the aggression by creating a more competitive market for the media, and not just monetarily. It's appalling how far some of these "photographers" will go to get their shots already – add in a factor of bigger money at stake to the "winner" and you've got a problem.

Why not just take pictures of the kids and hand them out? There's a novel idea! Wouldn't that be more than enough to control the paparazzi? Remove the monetary value and you remove the influence of those who would profit. The parents and children would still be in the limelight - and come on, who doesn't like a picture of a cute kid?

So, what do you think about the trend of celebrities selling photos of their infants to the highest bidder?

-and-

Have you ever let your ego cloud over what really matters to you?