Ok, you might disagree with me, and think I'm a bit strange. And that's totally fine.
But I love these two women:
Mrs. Michelle Duggar! and Victoria Beckham
"Weird!" I hear you shout to your computer!
"How?! They're so different!" I hear you call out incredulously!
"No Way!" ...well, you get the idea.
But yes, these are two women in the popular media who I really like and whose adventures I really enjoy reading about or watching.
They may, at first glance, appear to be total opposites, with one being a former international pop star and the other being a homeschooling mom in Arkansas.
But they do share a few similarities.
Michelle Duggar and Victoria Beckham..."They've got something in common!"
1. They both adore their children
Yes, Victoria has 4 while Mrs. Duggar has 19
But through their many interviews and articles, you can see that both women love the fruit of their looms...loins.
2. They both adore their husbands
Victoria and Michelle BOTH GUSH over their husbands:
Victoria...over David's sexiness and how well they suit each other
Michelle...over Jim Bob's humble godliness and how he's the spiritual leader of their home.
(I can respect both feelings, and I feel the same way about my Sicilian! I absolutely adore him. Even when we quarrel, I usually forget like 2 minutes later, and seek him out so we can play scrabble, or so he'll read to us or kiss me. )
3. They both love fashion
It may not be apparent for Mrs. Duggar at first glance, but she DOES enjoy fashion, she's just not dedicated to it. And it's BABY fashion she favors, especially baby hair bands with GIANT FLOWERS attached, and leopard print baby carriers.
Victoria...well, we all know she's becoming a fashion icon in her own right, not only wearing haute couture creations of fashion house legends, but also creating her own lines.
4. They're both relatively financially set and self-sufficient.
With this one, I have to include their families, since their wealth is not singular, but familial. And being "self-sufficient" doesn't mean that you're an island onto yourself. When both you and your spouse can publicly lean on each other for love and support...to me that shows you understand something bigger than your ego: the human need for companionship.
But I think both women (and their families) DO show amazing self-reliance:
Mrs. Duggar's family's motto is: "buy used, save the difference." This enables them to live in a luxuriously grand home they not only paid for, but built to their own specifications. They live debt free. They have income from their TLC show and also the many real estate ventures in which they participate. They Duggars also garden so they can harvest fresh produce and they even make their own laundry detergent!
I have to say that I like Mrs. Duggar's approach a bit more, since it's sustainable...they grow, they save, they flourish. (Yes, they need to recycle a bit more though! I wish one of the many people who complain about this family's carbon footprint would actually offer them some assistance in becoming more eco-knowledgeable!)
Victoria and her family are also self-reliant when it comes to money: Her husband is a multimillion dollar earning sports star. But Posh (Victoria's nickname) also has her own funds: she was a very popular popstar in the 90s, with international success. Remember "Girl Power?" But now, Victoria has taken the fashion world by storm, with her own self-named label, producing dresses worn by stars and dignitaries all over the world. She also recently debuted a handbag collection, to accompany her jeans and eyewear lines.
So both Victoria Beckham and Michelle Duggar are doing well in their finances.
And while I really respect both women, for their differences, as well as their similarities...I'd have to say there is one thing I really appreciate about Mrs. Michelle Duggar: her outright love of God.
It's not too often that people talk about God in the media, without being put in the crazy catagory. The only other person that I can think of who has talked about God in recent years, was Kanye West, with his "Jesus Walks" song. If you don't know it, or immediately cringe because of the name "Kanye West" google the lyrics, and just read them, as you would any other text. Dissect them and see what you get out of it.
I'd be very curious to know your take on it.
ANYWAYS!
I feel that Mrs. Duggars vocal appreciation for all her blessings and her dedication to learning and developing spiritually, puts her a bit ahead of Posh for me. I just feel like, I would LOVE to be as elegant and funny as Victoria Beckham, but I would LOVE even more, to be as sweet and kind and gracious as Michelle Duggar.
AHHHH! I really can't choose! I love them both!
Who do you favor?
(I say they are "strong" because they both stand up to adversity and slander and don't stray from what they believe in. They are both dedicated to family. And they just exude different types of strength at different times: quiet, humble, motherly, daring, exuberant, protective, attractive, feminine. )
I hate to break this to you....
ReplyDeleteThe Duggars don't garden.
They rely on paper plates, cups and forks. Often.
They rarely eat fresh veggies/fruits. Most things they eat are canned and bought at a grocery store.
Massive amount of carbon waste. Massive.
Hum...I distinctly remember an episode where their neighbor teaches them how to garden (using dead fish as fertilizer)...but maybe they haven't kept it going. Jim Bob seems really frugal, so I would have thought he'd be a strong proponent for gardening!
ReplyDeleteMaybe after I become the most awesome eco-homesteader, I'll give them some pointers! Or, if you know of anyone, the Duggars seem like really friendly people and would probably welcome the constructive criticism! Thanks for your comment!
I have to say that I agree with you for the most part. I have different women on my list, but I see your points and admire these women for exhibiting them.
ReplyDeleteA book that helps me with keeping strength is Goodwives by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. It's not what you're probably thinking as I was when I first stumbled across it. It's a deeper look into women's lives and roles in colonial New England - beyond the "pots and pans" history. It just puts life into perspective for me and if the women highlighted in the book could make it through their adversities, when life was more about survival, I can make it through mine!
Awesome! I'll have to check that book out! I was crazy about 18th century American literature back in the day :D This book may be a little earlier, but the I just find that I'm really attracted to learning more about the lives of different women! Feel free to pass on any more book suggestions!
ReplyDelete