Running Across Animal Exploitation

Summer. It's a magical time for kids where clocks have basically disappeared and the sun never sets. A few weeks back we made a page full summer fun bucket list, and since then we have checked off quite a few. One on our list was Six Flags. This was put on there because Aiden received a free pass from his school for reading a certain amount of hours over a period of time. I am fully aware of the Sea World issues that have gone on. Peta2 even has an entire campaign dedicated to making the public aware of the abuse and stress the animals are put under on the daily. I knew deep down Six Flags was really no different than any other company normalizing the exploitation of animals and also that they would  ever get a cent from me. Now if I wanted to turn the other cheek and rationalize the whole "cool rides, awesome experience for the kids" thing in my head I probably could, but I won't and neither should you! 
Coming up this month is the famous California State Fair that will be added to our list of events/places we will never be attending again unless it's to protest or leaflet, possibly. I can recall last year Cody and I went with a few other couples and seeing the animals being auctioned off broke my heart. I remember feeling I couldn't watch it, but I couldn't look away either. I was helpless much like the animals, but my body sure was not the one going to be slaughtered within a matter of days. Although they couldn't do anything, I can. 
A few weeks back we went out to Downtown Tuesday Nights with the family and of course they had "pony rides". Oh so effing fun, right?!? Aiden thought it would have been, so he asked Grandma. His Grandma who loves him to the moon and back and really only wants to see him happy. As soon as I saw where this was going I think I might have had a mini heart attack. Let's just say I do believe I looked like a complete idiot trying to explain why we are not going to ride on a pony's back. Animal exploitation is a concept you can't just throw in someones face and expect them to latch on to, so I took a smaller step. I believe I went with "It's one hundred plus degrees out here...would you like if I jumped on your back while you are attached to a metal pole?" Yeah, I did not think so. By the way, I am working on trying not to come across as a total bitch, I just get so worked up. Back in October at a harvest festival the big kids did actually ride horses, so this is where the confusion came from. On the way home we talked the talk that comes up often. The one that goes "Just because we did it before doesn't make it right. We are all learning, learning together". All I know is I am so glad our kids are learning at such a young age, and with us. It makes us all completely connected. 


Well, now that I just got done explaining a few things we didn't do this summer i'll have to share later in the week some awesome things we have been doing at home to beat the heat! 

Oh! I came across THESE tonight and let's just say, I know what i'll  be doing this Sunday morning.