Trouble Accepting Honey Boo Boo

There are a few things in life that are not particularly my favorite. If I can avoid them I often feel better in the long run. I'd rather surround myself with words, actions, etc. that I enjoy than with words or actions I already dislike. One of the things I have been unsure of and not too willing to see: Honey Boo Boo.

I'm not quite sure how Honey Boo Boo came to be such a favorite for viewers beyond the extreme craziness factor. So when her family got their own show I was very reluctant to watch. TLC has changed a lot over the years and some of the shows they put out on tv now-a-days just isn't to my liking. It's just personal preference. So I will avoid those shows. I don't want to watch them, so I don't try to.

However, when I saw that Honey Boo Boo's mother was getting married, I was a little intrigued. Weddings are interesting and exciting to me. I don't enjoy watching Bridezillas, but I like watching Say Yes To The Dress, I Found The Gown, etc. At my age a lot of my friends and peers from college/high school are starting to get engaged and married. Beyond tv shows displaying weddings for their viewers, I'm also exposed to weddings, wedding planning, and wedding everything on Facebook and Pinterest. It's a tough subject to escape. Though I'm far off from getting married, I've found weddings much more interesting these past years from the amount of exposure I've experienced. This made me interested in what was going to happen with Honey Boo Boo's family and this wedding.

I feel the need to state that I have never watched an entire episode of Honey Boo Boo before. However, leading up to the wedding episode...I was too interested and watched about half an episode before the final wedding episode. And as I watched the wedding episode, I was really happy for them. The mother, June, and her man, Sugar Bear (I'm a little surprised everyone calls him that...), were finally getting married. They looked really happy, especially Sugar Bear. They seem to care for each other and had a really special day.

Realization came over me after that. I had judged this family before I had even watched an episode. They seemed a little odd to me, so I didn't give them a chance. But watching their wedding made me realize that they are a caring family and shared in something special that most people want to experience in their life. They aren't so different.

I'm a big supporter of accepting everyone as often and as much as you can. But sometimes I catch myself having trouble doing so. People that walk around late at night, teenagers in dark hoodies/clothes outside of a gas station - I assume these people aren't "good," so I avoid them. Same goes for Honey Boo Boo's family. It's not the exact same correlation, but the idea is the same - I assume these people are ____, so I avoid them.

I've come across many instances in my life where I knew people that held judgments of others and I accepted the judged. I don't see why I can't try to do the same when it comes to my own judgments. I believe most of my judgments are based on previous situations or how I was brought up. I'd like to try and give people a chance before my judgments arise. If I do give people a chance, and find I do not like them for 'x' or 'y' reason, it does not mean that we don't have similarities and can't get along. And it most certainly does not mean that they or I should treat each other in a rude/hurtful/disrespectful way based on our personal preference.

Thoughts?

Professional Pants and Costly Clothes

I'm finally entering the "real world." I no longer attend college and have the cushion of school as my "job." I have to work. This is a big transition period that I know everyone goes through...but who has the money to afford anything? Now that I need adult clothes the cost kills me. I don't want to spend $60+ on a pair of black pants. But I don't want to get a pair of cheap ones that will fall apart in a year either. Where can I draw the line? What constitutes an investment piece? What if you don't like it after you buy it? Sometimes pants get all baggy after wearing them. What if I just spent $60 on a pair of baggy pants I hate?!

I'm also finding it hard to find my personal work-clothes style. I want to be fun and inviting, so I look at bright colors and exciting pieces of clothing. However, I know I should look professional...but wearing a suit or fancy pants every day just doesn't seem right. I don't know what direction to take. I want to teach little kids. It doesn't make sense, if I'm going to be sitting on the floor all day, to invest in a pencil skirt or dress pants. It REALLY doesn't make sense to wear heels for the same reason. I'm on my feet all day. I've done a lot of teaching in flats and you know what happens after a few days? Your feet hurt. There's no support in those things! But I can't wear boots all the time. And wearing gym shoes is a big no-no. I have yet to find a good option there.

And what about general out-and-about attire? Is it okay as a teacher to wear almost whatever when you're not teaching? I'm not planning on wearing booty-shorts or bikini tops out and about, but I am a young teacher. A recent graduate. I'd like to wear some clothing geared toward my age group. But I want to be a professional. Ugh!

As silly as this all sounds, I really am confused. I know that I can do a good job, but I'd like my appearance to reflect that. I want my coworkers, boss, students, and my student's family to respect me. ...but dress pants and finger paints don't always mix. And I don't have the money to spend on a bunch of dress clothes...or any investment pieces for that matter.

Anyone have any insight to this?