a
Kids
(Continued from page 1)
Lazer Tag is a gun that uses
infra-red rays which send
beams through the air, trying to
hit a lazer unit worn by some-
one else. If the beam hits the
sensor unit, an LED record the
tag and gives a sound so players
know they have made a tag.
Since one Lazer Tag, priced at
about $40, is no good without a
second, two of these toys can
take a chunk out of any parents’
Christmas budget.
Barbie and G.I. Joe, both of
which have been on toy shelves
for years, are still in great
demand among Back Mountain
Christmas wishers.
G.I. Joe alone is not very
expensive, however, ‘when you
add up all of his accessories
and, of course, his enemy,
MASK, the bill can become
pretty high. And, with Barbie,
the bottom line can be just as
high since she has to be accom-
panied by Ken and other dolls in
the collection. Of course, all of
the accessories, clothes, furni-
ture, beach houses, patios and
other collectibles cannot be
overlooked, either.
Valentine’s Toys, located at
the intersection of Routes 309
and 415 in Dallas, has the larg-
est stock of toys in the Back
Mountain. There, one can find
MASK and his accessories,
Bingo Bear, wrestling figures,
In-humanoids, Masters of the
Universe, Wheel of Fortune,
Teddy, Gem, Barbie, G.I. Joe,
Thundercats, dolls and more
dolls, stuffed toys and games,
games and more games.
While shopping at Valentine’s,
a mother of a four-year-old said
her son doesn’t watch the car-
toons where most of the war-
like figures appear, but he does
said she doesn’t believe the toys
have had any influence on her
son’s outlook on things since he
plays with them for a only short
time before losing interest.
The mother says the little boy
has been taught that these toys
are only playthings and are not
the same as real people.
Another mother, whose boys
says her sons are big fans of the
wrestlers, such as Hulk Hogan
and Pile Driver.
She was somewhat worried
same things the wrestlers do,
but she explained to them that
the real wrestlers are only stunt
men and that the things they do
are not to be done to real
people.
“I believe it depends on how
they’re taught at home and
what they are allowed to watch
on television,”’” she said. “I
believe it is the television shows
that do the most harm.”
Mrs. John Nutche, of Shaver-
town, has three sons. One of her
boys is only two years of age
and, as of yet, is not interested
in war toys. Her other boys
already have some of the var-
ious war toys on the market, but
she is not totally in favor of
them.
“When they see them in books
or on television, they want
them,” she said. “How do you
tell them they can’t have them
when all their friends have
them?
“They (the toys) are very
expensive and break easily,”
she complained. “If there is
more than one child in the
family, the money spent on
them is ridiculous. Our boys
play with the toys for two or
three weeks, they break them
and then they lose interest.”
Mrs. Nutche said she doesn’t
believe the war toys have much
influence on her children, but
does agree that some of the toys
are dangerous.
“Some children are probably
affected by the toys since the
fighting and other antics are
fascinating,” she said. “I would
rather have my sons play with
Legos or Lincoln Logs since
they are educational and con-
struction. Those toys make
them use their minds and be
creative.”
Richard Burkhardt of Dallas
said, “Boys will be boys” and
doesn’t believe today’s war toys
are any different than those of
past generations. He claims the
toys look different and are pat-
terned after the technology of
today’s world, but the theory is
the same.
“Children have always played
Cowboys and Indians, or war
between the ‘‘good guys” and
the “bad guys.” They see and
hear it in real life every day,”
Burkhardt said. “I believe the
real problem arises if children
are not taught the difference
between good and bad and toys
are just toys, not living people.”
a
Kim
(Continued from page 3)
nedy Airport from Seoul with
three other children from
Korea. The children were
accompanied by Korean volun-
teers trained to attend to the
children while traveling.
“I couldn’t believe it when
they brought the baby into the
waiting room where we were,”
said Stephanie. ‘‘In keeping
with Korean tradition, the
baby’s head was shaved and she
looked just terrible.-
“] was not alone, the other
mothers were just as shocked
when they saw their children.
My husband was great. Gerald
took over and calmed the baby
and me and, after signing all
the necessary papers and going
through other red tape, we left
for home, arriving in Trucks-
ville at 2 a.m.”
Stephanie said after the initial
shock, she never took her eyes
off Kimberlie for 72 hours. She
couldn’t believe the baby was
hers.
“Who could believe she could
be so beautiful?’’ asked Ste-
phanie, as she sat holding her
daughter. ‘“She is so pleasant
and so intelligent. She has
changed our life entirely. I can’t
express how much we love
her.”
Kimberlie feels that love. One
can be certain of that from the
way she looks at her mother.
Her smile radiates like rays of
the sun as she looks at her
parents. Both Stephanie and
Gerald’s families love Kimber-
lie deeply and have accepted
her as ‘one of the family,’ ’no
different than other children in
the family. Unlike many Kore-
ans, Kimberly is very light-
complected.
Stephanie explained there are
many ramifications in the adop-
matter how much you love a
child, unexpected problems
usually arise. J
The Reischs, with 16 other
couples who are parents of
adopted international children,
are members of the Catholic
Social Services Parents of
Adopted International Children.
They have been meeting since
October, 1985 and, beginning in
January, 1987, will meet every
month.
In the group are parents from
all over the area who meet and
discuss their problems, needs or
customs of their children’s
native country. They also serve
as a support group for any
members, there for someone to
confide in, to talk about their
problems.
In past meetings, they have
had special guests who have
lectured on Korean culture, poli-
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tics and social situations. They
have also discussed the pros
and cons of international chil-
dren, and often one or two
couples of the group help
another couple through some
rough times.
The group is like one big
family and they have a lot of
events together, always includ-
ing the children.
‘Korean children are very
intelligent and most of them are
very beautiful,” said Stephanie.
“Can you imagine anyone not
loving a beautiful child like
Kimberlie?’’ she asked. ‘She
returns our love a dozen times
over. Our life is much different
now than when we had no chil-
dren, but we wouldn’t change
any of it. We are anxiously
awaiting the final home study
and final approval from Catho-
lic Social Services so we can go
through final adoption process
for Kimberlie.”’
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