River Momma

At Consider The Boot

2006-03-05T16:12:00.000-08:00

I will be posting at Consider The Boot for a little while. I am not quite ready to give up blogging but it is very hard to keep up with it. There are so many good bloggers out there I start to feel bad when I cannot read them. I know, that is kind of silly. I feel like I want to give each and every chick out there a comment every single day just saying to keep at it and keep writing and thinking and reaching out, and grabbing for whatever it is your heart calls to. Some people can just rattle things off all the time. I guess sometimes I feel like I want to write about my daily life, my kids or whatever but sometimes I am not sure how interesting that is. Today for example Always Pink heard on tv that Spring was coming and wanted to know how all the animals will know to come back from Florida. She thinks they go hang out with grandparents. These things make me optimistic about the future, I hope kids keep thinking about animals and the woods and the world and will want to protect it.

I wonder what we as mothers, women, role models can do. Maybe if we are enthusiastic ourselves it will rub off on them. I hope so.

Its Ok To Be A Granola Head

2006-02-28T10:50:00.000-08:00

Corporation Appreciation Week. Corruptco. I think we need to have "Citizen Asshole" week too. We citizens buy their junk and we make them rich and powerful enough to screw us over. If we could only declare some independence, we would all be better served. And if we threw some more egregious asses in jail.

Many things trouble me about the acts of corporations, but probably the worst thing is the inability to see the collective detriment to the environment perpetrated by their actions. Now in fairness, people use a lot of gasoline and do many things that together fan the flames of what is going on. We refuse to live simply and we refuse to care about conservation, so why do we expect business to? After all, people bring their same stupid short sighted ways from their homes, into their Suv's where they park outside an office and presumably walk into work STILL STUPID. So why do we expect corporate America to be anything other than an extension of asshole America?
People think I am crazy because I bake, I can sew, I can fix things instead of throwing them away. I take pleasure from simple things like walks and fresh air, and I am not in constant need of entertainment. I am not a perfect mother by any stretch but I do hope my kids are at least slightly concerned because of the messages we try to give them. I don't know. There isn't a rehab in the world big enough to treat this addiction, so we will perish as junkies. And thats that.

Hairy Coats

2006-02-14T08:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you guys for your encouragement. The river is beautiful, the world is covered in snow. Its a good day! But my coat is still hairy and all the tape in the wrold will not salvage my self esteem.
Its also Valentine's Day, which means that Always Pink has been making paper Valentines for every man, woman, and child in America. The kids have had winter colds, off and on, and I guess my motivation goes out the window in late winter. I tend to take the path of least resistance: easy dinner, mismatched socks, crayons at the breakfast table. This week we hung butterflies from the ceiling. Why the hell not? Why shouldn't we? Fuck it.

So I suck as a mom every February, and every winter I try to avoid super functional moms that remind me that my house is covered with toys. They have a plastic kitchen with plastic food, plastic shopping cart, plastic wagon, plastic ponies, plastic cars, plastic blocks, all of these things put a bit of a damper on one's decor. But the other day the dreaded "I'm coming by to drop off boots for the boy" call came. We were making muffins (add water, mix kind) and I was wearing a sweatshirt with a Christmas Tree on it (yeah, its Freakin February, and soooo sexy) and suddenly there she was: Perfect Mom. With short blonde hair, crisp shirt, nice coat with NOT ONE BIT OF CAT HAIR. I have had hairy coats my entire life. Dogs, cats, rabbits... and something in my head snapped as I looked at my mangy hairy coat on the doorknob (not put away) and I just felt shitty. Did I blame me? Nah. I blamed her. In my mind I decided she probably hated animals and was missing out on their affection. She had a super immaculate boy, who never got to wear these boots, and GOD FORBID she have clutter...so she jumped in the SUV and ran them over, calling from her cell phone on the way. Must...eliminate...boots.... "Clutter is a battle we must fight EVERY day!" she says. Not poverty? Not genocide? Not global warming? Not violence? Not sexism? Not racism?

I have seen the enemy. And it is clutter. And pet hair.

Dino-dinner...

2006-01-27T17:58:00.000-08:00

Another day of craziness- and I need a good walk! Destructo Boy and Always Pink have been fighting all day about a Chia Pet, and Never Pink has been staring at her mother asking weird questions about drugs because of health class. She explains 'huffing inhalants' to me. She wants to know how air can destroy a brain cell. How does it get into the brain? Through the nose? Can somebody kill us in our sleep by putting an inhalant into our brains? Do the dead cells just sit there, in your brain, FOREVER?
I tell her I think they get reabsorbed by the garbage collecting cells as waste. Like germs. I have to be very careful about germs because for a year Always Pink was OCD about handwashing after she learned that we get sick from germy hands. She had to be kept away from sinks because the crazy child would scrub her hands fifty times a day, leading to raw dry patches. She then started brushing her teeth all day before kindergarten to prevent cavities. The child's whole world is one big paranoia festival.

Destructo drives her crazy because he licks rocks to make them shiny and he hates to wash his hands before dinner 'because they're gonna get messy anyway'. Destructo is decidedly anti-hygiene. (He washed his car in the toilet, and dried it with my robe.)

So BAD MOMMY took the lazy route tonight and decided to make Dinosaur Shaped Chicken Nuggets- Frozen Courtesy of Perdue. Not great, not wholesome. But for crazy momma, its the path of least resistance.
Never Pink is a vegetarian. And she tells them they are really made from dinosaur meat.
Now Always Pink is suspicious and won't eat the toxic meat critters, and hubby and I are not interested... as it is, we hardly eat meat and use soy when possible. So I wonder why we bother...
Destructo thinks Dinosaur meat is delicious. He thinks a Brontasaurus must make an awful lotta nuggets!

...back to basics

2006-01-24T14:11:00.000-08:00

Been crazy here at Rivermomma's. Going through some kind of a mental reorganization. Wondering about what I should be doing, feeling the pinch of staying home with the kids. Thinking about how hard it is to contemplate day care, and how much I want to be home. But wondering how long we can make a go of this 'simple life'.
It started when I had to tell a relative that it was too 'burdensome' to attend a wedding for her daughter. Where would all of my kids go? The hotel would be hundreds, the travel, the gift... and I am paranoid about leaving the kids with anyone. It just seemed unrealistic that we could pull it off.
She tells me to just get an 'au pair' type of helper, a teenager willing to travel and babysit. What the fuck does that cost, I wonder? So then it dawns on me that I am whining and explaining myself and making excuses about money AGAIN. Trying to explain the 'stay home mom' choice AGAIN. Defending the choice and all its obstacles AGAIN. And so this is the way it goes. "All the college, to stay home??" "What about a pension?"
WHen a woman with an education works, I suppose people stand around pondering that too. It seems there is no shortage of people willing to take a mother's inventory. But I'm tired of it. Choices are choices, and we all do what we need to do. Its becoming increasingly hard to find people that agree with or understand MY choices though.

Breath Before Death

2006-01-05T22:06:00.000-08:00

Subtle, you chase the vigor from the vine.
So there's a mother tonight that waits for her little girl to die, she has an inoperable brain tumor and the family members have been involved in a two year struggle with normalcy. I am thinking of them, and the mothers around the world that will watch their babies take their last breath in their arms. Babies that are sick, hungry, born without the privilege of the right to live. Babies that will die for preventable reasons. Babies that will die because they do not have supplies that cost less than my latte'. Babies that are forgotten, that will die nameless or faceless as those who loved them die as well.
I cannot understand how they do it. I would see this little blonde girl, giggling and playing-given a year or two to live, and I would break down inside. Time after time, and could not imagine this family carrying on with what must certainly be an inner hell. And one day I saw the sister, looking long and hard at her. I wondered what this little child was thinking. "Will my sister be dead soon?" Heartbreaking. And they couldn't help but talk about it. No one ever knew what to say to this mother. Ask about the child? Offer to help?
I considered the little girl. To be five and know that your time is limited, the kinds of thoughts are hard for me to imagine. One day the kids talked about teachers for the upcoming year, and paused, not wanting to say that she would likely not be there. Realizing the obvious omission, an older child tried to help by ignoring that possibility and began to talk about the future anyway until this tiny little mouth opened and cut her off. And what she said made me shiver.
"I have a terminal illness, which means I will die. I don't even go to school anymore."
The family had been given the right to withdraw her, and over the next few months she became dependent on tubes and equipment. She stopped going outside. She stopped eating regular food. And soon she would stop breathing. Probably in her mother's arms.
How do we talk to little ones about death? My children ask about it, and I am hard pressed to know what to say. I gave up organized religion long ago, and my fumbling spirituality does little to feed me the words I need to take the sting out of an honest death talk.
Never Pink asked about organ donation, and if I was a donor and I said I was, that it was written on my license. I told her why. That I figured some of my parts could be given away.
Always Pink asked where our brains go, and if our brains could be donated too. Then she asked if the new person, receiving the transplant, would get her ideas.
She decided that this would be helpful, because if she died and somebody else got her brain, they could then proceed to do all of the things that she couldn't do. She was hoping that they could take this girl's brain and help her dreams live. But who could they give it to?
Never Pink, older sister, chimed in that her particular brain had a tumor. There was no way to save her ideas.
Which is why there is this problem in the first place, and so it would not help to put her brain elsewhere.
They wanted to know why they couldn't just get a brain then and solve the problem. I had to tell them that brain transplants have not been successful, but that maybe someday this could be an option for people. But not for a very long time.
Always PInk started to cry. "I don't want to die."
Destructo stated that he did not want to "get dead either".
Never Pink told them that we die to make room for more people. That somebody died to make room for us, and that when we go, we will make room for the next batch of kids. Always pink wanted to know why we couldn't just leave the world as it is. NOT make room for any more. And just stay.

Cold Hands

2006-01-02T13:14:00.000-08:00

Destructo Boy jumped in bed with me this morning. His hands were cold, so I told him I would use mine to make them warm.
"What if I use mine to make yours COLD???" he grinned. Then he tried to tickle me.

"Mom, every page in my Care Bear coloring book is covered in black crayon!!!" shreiks Always Pink. Destructo hides under the blanket. I ask him why he does this to her books, as we all know she is a meticulous coloring perfectionist.
"She won't let me color in them."
Now no matter how many times we talk to kids about sharing, I do not insist that they share everything. I think they should have a few things for themselves. Especially in a zoo house where property disrespect runs rampant. Ah, spite.

Crash Test Barbies

2006-01-01T11:21:00.000-08:00

So we have this new toy car that actually comes equipped with seatbelts. A convertible, pink, for the dolls to cruise down 'dining room' strip. Looking for plastic neopets or strawberry shortcake I guess. (Hitting the pissed off cat is a bonus, by the way)
Thing is, I was pretty impressed that this little toy came with seatbelts!!
Always-Pink Girl says "She has to have her seatbelt!!!" in that high pitched little girl banshee voice, the voice that starts talking at three and never stops until, say, eleven.
Then my little boy (I should dub him DESTRUCTO or something) says that he is going to see what will happen if she does not have the seatbelt on and hurls the car down the hall where the doll goes crashing toward a rollover death. "You're right, she should wear a seatbelt." He concludes.
Then he scoops up Battered Babe and returns her to the car with the seat belt in place. I'm not sure what to think, initially I think this is barbaric and his sister agrees. "He killed Roxanne ON PURPOSE!" she's yelling. I remind her that he is a preschooler and that he sometimes likes to test things. 'Well he shouldn't, he should just know that seatbelts are the law."
Well, its true. I do tell them that the law says everyone should wear a seatbelt. But now whenever they see kids in cars without seatbelts, they invariably yell "You're breaking the law!!!" to the visible adult perpetrator. (What can I do? I smile and quietly say to myself- better THEY say it than ME, spares me the fighting and I can blame it on childhood despite the fact that I have more in common with them than many adults, philosophically speaking)
It begs me to return to the same old parenting question I must fucking ask a million times a week. Do I take the 'explain, demonstrate" approach or the "because I said so" approach? Do I encourage my kids to test the things I tell them, particularly when there are times when a kid doesn't get a second try? Testing toys is one thing. But do I want him to test if its really bad to swallow Draino? (not that I have any in this house)
Then I reflect on authority and the laws of powerful pigs and their agendas and the ways they use the 'law' to perpetuate the status quo and inequity, or to slam their unjust boots onto our foreheads...leaving an imprint that says SUCKER... I wonder if I want to teach blind obedience and respect for law? Do I want my kids to question? To look at what they will follow and why, how it pertains to co-existing in respectful ways? Or am I neglecting to perform my civic duty by crushing rebellion out of them? I am supposed to crush their rebellion, right?

Preparing for the Casa Rosada

2006-01-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

Growing up near NYC meant that we could trot in for things like New Year's and the Tree lighting at Rockefeller Center. Or the damned parades that I actually hated and to this day can never understand why people actually sit home listening to terrible singing by the likes of Kathy Lee Gifford. But I digress.
One year, a relative told me that a word resembling "uh-int" meant Happy New Year in Spanish. At the time I was desperate to learn Spanish because I believed that a) everyone in South America spoke Spanish and b) that I would become the dictator of Argentina, after watching "Evita" on Broadway as a little girl. I was so thrilled to know this litle bit of Spanish that on New Year's I went all around to people, saying UH INT UH INT in their faces, believing that I was saying Happy New Year in Spanish. And I couldn't figure out why my family kept laughing.
I mean we're talking like five or so. What did I know? But finally somebody thought I had a disability and bent down carefully at eye level and said:
"Can you talk?"
And I said "of Course I can talk, I'm just practicing to be the Dictator of Argentina!"
I will never forget that poor woman's face to this day. And I think my mother wet her pants.

New Year, Balls, and Mini Rumsfeld

2006-01-01T07:06:00.000-08:00

So this is my first post of 2006. Will I use the treadmill this year? Will I do all the things I promised last night to the commercialized dropping ball? How long will my good intentions last?
Speaking of the ball, my little boy heard us talking about the 'ball dropping' and since he was asleep last year and really too young to remember this spectacle... he was naturally curious. That boy stayed up, and a few minutes before as we were snuggled up together he whispers:
"I really wish the people would have gone home!"
"Why? They're having fun! Mommy used to go there, too, some years."
"You let the ball drop on YOU?"
Turns out he thought the ball would drop and smash everybody. Kind of like what he does when he plays "drop the ball on the lego village". Its like a scene from Godzilla, sans running hysterical people.
Now I am tired of defending that boy's violence to people that know we keep a 'pacifist' house.
(Some people keep kosher homes, some people keep spotless homes. Some people keep guilt-mongering homes. We keep a 'no gratuitous violence' home. No spanks, no hair pulling, no violence. I shout VIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE and they all laugh. "And Grilled Cheese begets Grilled Cheese" hahahahahahaha and so on...)
But back to the boy:
He was born violent. He was violent in the womb. He was violent breastfeeding, smacking me when I didn't whip it out fast enough. He is violent to the dolls, to the "My Little Ponies", to the Care Bears. He's just this way.
"Well he has to be learning it from someplace." They tell me. "Too much television."
Last I checked the teletubbies never gave Elmo a swift ass-kicking.
Maybe they are right, but maybe JUST MAYBE he is just a rebellious boy that enjoys torture. (sigh)

Bloggery Kinks, Regrets, and My Neglected Blog

2005-12-31T22:51:00.000-08:00

I've been having some issues with browsers. I had no idea that everyone would see things differently depending on their browser (firefox, IE, etc) and so I apologize for the admittedly shitty BRIGHT hot pink. I've made some adjustments and I am hoping they reflect my new goal of... serenity I'll call it.
I end 2005 with happiness that my family and kids are so wonderful, gratitude for my blessings, sadness for those that grieve and know loss...and some regret.
This has been my year of the short fuse. It seems that after years of being a people pleaser I have unleashed this not-so-subtle outspoken side. I guess I got tired of ass kissing, somewhere along the way I lost patience.
A people pleaser is maybe not the right term, but I mean the type to watch people's kids, feed them, love them, and then stand there listening to vacant mom holler about the magic marker on the kid's finger. "oh yes, sorry" I'd be inclined to say to the ingrate offender. Well this year I guess I got tired of such scenarios and without recognizing myself heard quite a few 'fuck yous" and "kiss my ass' type of remarks come flying out. I have always wrestled with being pleasant, but thought I had manners under my belt.
But see I have a bunch of kids, all running around, playing drums and twirling batons and throwing soccer balls around. I have a ball pit in my den and the chaos can be overwhelming. At the end of the day, I try to reserve my patience for the under 12 set. I cannot spare the serenity to worry about others.
So this year I will stop cursing at people. I will stop getting aggravated about things that don't matter... I will do my damnedest to be sweet to people that annoy me.

Happy Holidays

2005-12-22T18:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays, and peace. Enjoy the days ahead! Happy New Year!!!!

ANWR Agonizing...

2005-12-21T08:51:00.000-08:00

Here we go again! I am so tired of the discussion of Arctic drilling being viewed as a "national security issue"! If the goal was to decrease reliance on oil in the Middle East, why are there no provisions to ensure that oil is not exported? (other than the fact that the US has no such authority over multi- national corporations like Exxon Mobil!)That right there shows how thinly veiled their attempts are to link the destruction of the Alaskan wilderness to public fears and concern about prices at the pump.
There are other ways to address the high level of oil addiction: CAFE standards, biodiesel, and renewable energy sources, for starters.
"We need...to open up the small area of the coastal plain...for oil exploration and development," said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. She called making the oil available a matter of national security.
"Destroying this wilderness will do very little to reduce energy costs, nor does it do very much for oil independence...and it would offer a number of false hopes," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. She said "a change in the mileage requirements for SUVs could produce the same level of savings in the drive to reduce dependence on foreign oil."
Now I am a mother with kid-future anxiety and an inability to grasp the reasoning of women that say they don't follow the news or they don't think these things matter. I mean not to rage against my own and their collective priorities, nor do I mean to categorize every mom in a shoebox with 'selfish' scrawled on the top in crayon... But I have the same demands you do. I have a home, kids, and yeah, I've spent plenty of time trying to work and finish graduate school too.
And yet when we organize events and forums for moms on issues that pertain to their kids, they tell me they have soccer practice or need to go to Sam's Club. "Oh, you funny radical!"they sneer. Or they suggest that I can read the news because I am prone to mania. I am guilty of wagging the finger here, forgive me, but SOCCER WILL NOT MATTER TO YOUR KID if he is drafted!!! What you buy at Sam's cannot rid your planet of pollution. All things in moderation: one piece of cake, one newspaper... learn about one issue, nobody expects a busy mom to be Chomsky. But our kids need some outrage from us. Now. (steps down from soapbox, trips on My First Leap Pad)
If we can understand what silences the grieving mother, we can unlock the mystery of the soul turned violently inward.

Simplicity is a Snowflake

2005-12-20T11:29:00.000-08:00

I don't know why, but every year we seem to have a lot of fun cutting out snowflakes! Maybe its the mystery of not really knowing what you will get until you open it up! Its like a beautiful surprise. (Kind of like when we are open with people. There is often so much more to them than we realized!)
Soon there are little triangle scraps all around the kitchen and snowflakes end up everywhere-on windows, in cards, on gifts, on the tree. They cut, cut... each one different. Its an opportunity to talk, relax, and requires few supplies. What could be better? (and yes, the cat enjoys it too, because she can swat the little papers around like hockey pucks on the floor. Crafts bring out the kitten in that old sack of lazy felinity)
My favorite part is watching the kids have that experience- when they open up their little creations, after all the patience required to cut those little cuts! They are surprised every time and amazed. In a way, it is a form of delayed gratification, this business of snowflake cutting. It teaches a certain thought process, that taking it slow and being patient yields the best snowflake result.
What follows though saddens me. I have a bunch of kids, different ages. I am a walking kid-loving stereotype. (Alphabet magnets on the fridge, Little Tykes crap in the yard- I went to college and all of that American dream business but could never seem to handle the day care thing for very long. Finally I gave up, and am now home, money be damned for a while!) But back to the sadness: When we sit down together to do crafts or an activity, one of my girls invariably begins to be self critical. I say "Thats great honey!!!" to which she responds with something like "well, I made the lines crooked or I messed up coloring or ___" (insert self deprecating language)
My response has been to praise and be attentive, but this does not really teach her the tough lesson which is that validation comes from within.
A neighbor said "Well, girls do that so that you run over and compliment. They are fishing for attention and figure if they put themselves down you will correct them."
Maybe that is true for some kids. Maybe for some it is an act. But we are free with our praise, why would she need to do that? And she certainly doesn't seem to derive much happiness from a calculated result. She is a mini girl perfectionist. She colors in those lines like nobody's business!!! Is this nature, nurture, culture, what?
So now I consider the society we live in, and the pressure to please and perform and be measured by what we show externally: what we do for others and what we look like. Self esteem is a complex matter, and being a girl in this world is not easy either. Girls develop this critical mind: never thin enough, never pretty enough, never good enough... hardly fuel for serenity!
See, snowflakes don't matter. They can be messy or crazy. My son's seem to look like genetically modified tarantulas. The baby just rips them with her fingers. (too little for scissors, she has a fake dummy pair to "belong" but they don't cut anything) How do we teach our kids to enjoy the process, not just the results?

Makes For A Great Suburb

2005-12-20T09:12:00.000-08:00

Ladies, its gonna take a lot of water to get a perfect lawn going in the year 2050! This is a photo from Sierra Club, and if you are not familiar, check out a local group.
These images haunt me when I think about my grandchildren someday, asking why nobody did anything. How many times do we look back on our short history and ask why nothing was done, why nobody took to the streets, why nobody expressed anger with an auduble voice? Global warming is a real threat. it is a threat to liberals, a threat to conservatives. it is not a treehugger issue, it is a HUMAN issue. The world in this picture will not distinguish who you are or where your rich daddy went to school.

Supposed-Ta-land

2005-12-19T08:10:00.000-08:00

Been doing my 'blogocise' this morning, like the kegels to stop us from peeing our pants at fifty (they say, and I believe them) Blogocize seems to help the mind stay taut. Not an all encompassing mental activity but one in a series of recommended stops in a necessary brain circuit. I read my favorites, discover some new ones. Hey, some people watch Regis and Kelly. I browse around in the vicarious discoveries of other people. And it intrigues me, dammit. They don't ALL intrigue me. But there are some that make me feel a warmth. Not sure why.
Sometimes its like looking in trash to see what people throw away- not that I am advocating this or calling posts trash. I refer to the curiosity factor. You kind of have it or you don't. Those that don't would rightfully see some silliness to reading about what strangers have to say on Christmas shopping. What a wacky use of time! They'd say.
Making my rounds in between chores and singing Wiggles...this is just my weird way of categorizing the activity of reading blogs that speak to me and get my thoughts going. Many are by women, many are like me. Like me, many are confused and are trying to ask hard questions of themselves. Like me, many question their assumptions and exchanges with the world. Some claim to have it all figured out. I sadly do not. I wrestle with the girlie demons every day, waffling between 'supposed-ta"land and 'screwville'. Again, the paradox of Woman.
I have slowly moved away from reading some of the Forbes 500 in the blogoshere. The answer mavens. The big hitters. I feel lost there. I like blogs with a bit of humility, I've learned. An awkward tendency. Some emotional risk taking.
I seem to prefer the bloggers that write earnestly, from the heart, indifferent about traffic and grandstanding. Like me, women that just want to vent their minds. I am ok with the simplicity of what I am doing here. But why the hell am I here?
Is blogging about our own needs, or the needs of some imagined reader, filling some void out there? Well, its impossible to pander to the unknown. Its impossible to fill a void in such a convoluted system of blogs that range from everything along the spectrum of living. There are blogs devoted to pictures of graffiti, bread recipes, unicorn stories... underwear. It seems futile to care about one's niche in this scenario. and yet there are other outlets for what we want to say. Is it the anonymous element? I wonder if it is about connection. I want to read about people that have made their own discoveries and what they have done with the info. Perhaps we find hope in the triumphs of others we cheer on? I cheer on all of my sisters, be they bitch or Betty Crocker. I am heartened by their opportunities.
I want to read about people that have overcome the trappings of "Supposed-Ta-Land": the land of shoulds, of expectations, of disconnect between our real needs and aspirations and those imposed upon us externally that we have adopted as our own by default. I want to learn how they have done it.
Connections exist in all kinds of places: cyberspace, Main Street, classrooms, boardrooms, trains... playgrounds. The living room with snuggly babies and a cup of Cheerios... Why not?

Slick Sass

2005-12-15T07:35:00.000-08:00

I start with some Ani DiFranco:
"People talk about my image
like i come in two dimensions
like lipstick is a sign of my declining mind
like what I happen to be wearing the day
that someone takes my picture
is my new statement for all of womankind

I wish they could see us now
in leather bras and rubber shorts
like some ridiculous team uniform
for some ridiculous new sport
quick someone call the girl police
and file a report"
"Plastic Castle"
I found a new blog today via Polly at Marginal Notes (love her) called Fat Lady Sings with an interesting entry on misogyny. Many interesting entries actually. Since I am a fledgling blogger newbie, I am still in awe about the abundance of slick sass I find.
I suggest you gals read it, and comment,because the discussion is important and I know some of you will have things to say! I think dialogue is furthered by a range of opinions.I liked what I read of Lady's blog, in between one of my kids listening to internet radio on my lap...I tried to peruse but definitely need to return. I immediately felt struck by her sincerity, she did not have the "you're so lucky I let you READ my blog" type of attitude where everything is about monotopic bitchy grandstanding peppered with gratuitous profanity and 'shove it" "deal with it" "I don't give a flying vagina" type of stuff--Now I can appreciate as well as the next modern momma but find in my settled old age that it gets to be a bore. I think cursing and aggressive posturing have their place, but I get tired of it when it becomes so repetitive and routine. There's more to 'keeping it real' ladies. Slick sass is SMART sass. If you write intelligently AND you're a bitch like CB at Hydrogen and Stupidity, I applaud you. But she won me over with her cogent essays, not her potty mouth.
I think that the rebellious part of me likes the idea of saying fuck at every turn, but the practical side of me knows that this is a veneer that does little toward real power. I want to be heard for the merits of my statement without the crutch of profanity so I can save it for when I need it.
Empowered living is,in my humble opinion, about the freedom and autonomy to make choices, to be hard or soft, to not be apologetic for staying home with kids, or having a career, etc. Being who we are. The point is not to be on the defensive. The point is to be who we are without forcing a persona that seems to jive with the feminist playbook.
We need to be as sincerely "realized" as possible. There seems to be this notion that we are either on the apologetic defensive or the aggressive offensive. And yet the beauty of women often lies in the ways we can so easily defy summation.
Rudeness and bitchiness just to show we are 'empowered' misses the point in my view. For those of us that read many feminist, progressive, liberal women's blogs, we cannot help but wonder about the 'ballsy posturing' and how it relates to sisterhood.
I don't mean to suggest that it doesn't. But is it overkill?Help me out. Weigh in. The reclaiming of words? Emulating the masculine to feed into gender stereotypes, a belief that yelling cunt and smoking cigars shows we've come a long way? Or wearing a thong to show we don't let others define what empowerment looks like? Is it a matter of taking the sting out of words, as has been suggested on Polly's blog when she discussed language? Where are we at?

Tookie Williams

2005-12-12T12:29:00.000-08:00

I know that this is being covered all around the blogosphere, and everyone is weighing in. But that hasn't stopped me in the past from throwing out my opinion, and asking for yours. Thats how we learn right? Dialogue is the best defense against stupidity.
There's an effort (everyone knows this) to free Stanley Tookie Williams, currently on death row.
I am opposed to the hypocrisy of the death penalty and I am a supporter of redemption. I am not suggesting that crimes go 'unpunished" but if ever there was a person who has taken transformation to heart, its this man. Though some argue about the sincerity, the fact is that he has a track record to show it.
(As an aside: I said this on another blog and had my ass chewed off. Whoa! Drink your beer and relax in front of your Jerry Springer and calm down! I am not here to agree with everyone. If you enjoy calling me a "Mumia lover" all I can say is that you might consider the fact that you are not only an idiot, but are probably a racist pig as well, although I don't know this I DO know that you don't read the paper)
Please contact Arnold to request clemency for Stanley Tookie Williams if you feel moved to do so.
916 445-2841
Fax 916 445-4633
or by email
http://www.govmail.ca.gov/

Podcasts?

2005-12-09T21:49:00.000-08:00

OK I admit to being the latecomer to the podcast party. My brain: There's so much to listen to, why podcasts? But they are amazing! For example, I can get certain podcasts plopped down right into iTunes every day to listen to whenever I want, like while I type this. My schedule. Its especially good when I miss things I regularly listen to on the radio, like coverage on NPR about John Lennon the other day.
Speaking of, I have written about him in so many places now that I just feel that I am out of words, and the ones I had were not very adequate to begin with. I like what CB did at Hydrogen and Stupidity: kept it simple. Just the words to "Imagine".

John Lennon

2005-12-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure about an International Holiday (read here , although there are certainly many people in addition to John Lennon that would be suitable candidates, I would settle for an International Day of Peace, which is probably the way JL would want it. I suspect he would want his message touted, more than his fame.

Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood

2005-11-30T04:53:00.000-08:00

"Pssst! Jesus is coming! Look busy!"
The blogosphere is obviously buzzing with concerns about this case, given the SCOTUS shakeup. (More here ) At issue of course is parental notification for minors who intend to have an abortion- an issue that is very difficult, admittedly, for RiverMomma to wrap her mind around. On one hand, I'd like to buy into the arguments that snatch words like dialogue, involvement, empathy... but what I usually read are the same dim-witted examples of ear piercing and tattoos. Can they dish up something new, please? It goes something like this:

"So you would not want to know if your daughter was going to have an abortion?" (starts out with an assumption of one sort or another, to make it personal, so I am backed into defending my parenting instead of law, but I bite, dammit)
"Of course I would want to know, I want to know everything about everyone, but I don't think that the law should necessarily make that so. Who says I wouldn't want to know? You equate this to not wanting to know? How? I've said nothing about my wants." (try to stick to whats at hand, I do)
"Well there is no guarantee you would know without parental notification."
"Perhaps if my relationship is such that my daughter could not tell me on her own, perhaps I would not be the most supportive resource for her anyway, the law cannot make me an approachable parent, I want no such guarantee. I would want my daughter to do what is right for her in that case."
"Oh, so you would trust a fourteen year old with such a decision?"
"Clearly she made the decision to have sex in that example. Its a bit backward to start second-guessing her judgement when she's pregnant." (plus, I was no saint)
"You are obviously one of those liberals that spoil their kids and say anything goes." (blood pressure rising, its the ol' liberal maneuver!!! Sometimes I do fear hypocrisy and can admit to some degree of permissiveness from hindsight)
"Its hard to talk in hypotheticals, every family is different, every situation unique. There's no blanket comment I can make about every parent and daughter."
"Well, you know, we restrict body piercing- you think an ear is more important than a fetus?" SCREEEEEEEEEECH! What????????? Hold on!

And so it goes.... it sort of degrades from there.
The law requires a parent or legal caregiver/guardian be notified when an abortion is planned for someone under 18, with a 48-hour waiting period. Supposedly a judge can intervene to waive those requirements. People that ask about incest, familial rape, and other matters often point to that fact, as if to suggest:"we've got her uterus covered, m'am."
Now humor my paranoia a minute. Please. I ask "What happens if anti-abortion groups have access to my daughter, to call her or try to talk about options or morality,during that waiting period??"
"THATS ABSURD! THIS IS AMERICA! NOBODY GETS PRIVATE INFORMATION LIKE THAT ABOUT MINORS! YOU FUCKING NUT!!!" hmmm. Well I AM a nut, according to close friends. But I have a mind filled to the brim with conspiracy theories and suspicions.
Does the federal "No Child Left Behind Act" requiring the release of data to military recruiters not fall under the category of releasing personal information about a minor regarding major life choices? Is the choice to kill or be killed in a war a small choice, way beneath the choice to have an abortion, no parental involvement required? Have we never violated rights to privacy and reproductive liberty in the name of "education"? Have we never made moral overtures a matter of public policy? Legislated counseling?
Wake up, America! This is not the America you learned about in third grade! This is an America that collects data about everyone, that intrudes and defines, that markets death to children, that exposes you to toxins and unsafe drugs without your consent. This is an America where damn straight the neocons will find a way to use any little inroad they can to transfer the moral arena from a parent to a legislator. Thats what they do. (collective sigh from founding fathers)
See, we 'liberals' know that they talk out of both sides of their mouths. They praise the family for the conveyor belt of values, ("Focus on the Family" and all that) and yet they strive to remove familial autonomy. They praise the sanctity of marriage but want to legislate spousal notification so the dirty sluts we are must 'confess' abortions to our men. They talk about the cruelty of abortion, but impede the availability of morning-after pills. They talk about the rights of the child, but do little for the children that walk among them. They do little for the starving, the poisoned, the raped, the forgotten.
And possibly the most offensive-who can make that call though?- they talk about intelligent design and creation, and do so little to safeguard the planet. See they are not concerned about my daughter, her ears, her curriculum, or her climate. They are concerned with power.

ARM Conference

2005-11-21T07:55:00.000-08:00

Came across some good reading today at The Philosophical Mother.
and The Mother's Movement Online

Of note was a report on "Mothering, Race, Ethnicity and Culture :The Ninth Annual Conference of the
Association for Research on Mothering" by Judith Stadtman Tucker.
Excerpt:
Under the direction of Andrea O'Reilly , a professor of women's studies and prolific writer on the subject of mothering in literature and in life, the Association for Research on Mothering (ARM) produces a bi-annual journal and, since 1996, has organized one or more conferences each year. ARM conferences frequently provide a critical forum for feminist research and theory left out of the dominant academic discourse, and the 2005 Conference on Mothering, Race, Ethnicity and Culture was no exception.

The ninth annual ARM conference (October 20-23 at York University) kicked off with a special full-day program on Aboriginal Mothering: Oppression, Resistance and Recovering. Two panels of Canadian experts discussed the impact of residential schooling on First Nations families and contemporary cultural issues for mothers in Canada's indigenous communities.

The second day of the conference opened with a keynote panel on Mothers and Poverty featuring presentations by Wendy McKeen from the School of Social Work at Dalhousie University, historian Rickie Solinger (Wake Up Little Susie ,Beggars and Choosers ), and Loretta Ross , founder of SisterSong and co-director of the 2004 National March for Women's Lives in Washington, D.C. "

Read the rest when you can.

"I have also seen children successfully surmounting the effects of an evil inheritance. That is due to purity being an inherent attribute of the soul."
Mohandas Gandhi

Amy Fradon

2005-11-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

Amy Fradon will be performing:

Sunday, November 20, 2005
1:00 PM

SUNY Ulster
Quimby Theater, Vanderlyn Hall
Stone Ridge, NY Free Admission

Cosponsored by Rondout Valley Patriots for Peace, Saugerties Committee for Peace and Justice, and Project for Democracy Rosendale Branch

Amy Fradon, formerly of the well-loved duo Amy Fradon and Leslie Ritter ,has been quietly and steadily forging a solid name and reputation as a beloved singer/songwriter. She is known for her richly textured, memorable concerts and for the impressive musicians she has been touring with for the past 5 years, now called Small Town News. Her music is laced with country, folk, pop, swing, blues and a capella riding on lovely melodies, humor, wisdom, and story-telling.

Friday Feature: Poet Marianne Moore

2005-11-18T20:50:00.000-08:00

Marianne Moore 1887-1972

Excerpt from "Marriage" (or, the poem in which she declares "unhelpful Hymen")

"This institution
perhaps one should say enterprise
out of respect for which
one says one need not change one's mind
about a thing one has believed in
requiring public promises
of one's intention
to fulfill a private obligation"
What do we think of marriage now? Piece of paper, binding sacrement? Spiritual, legal?
Link to Poems and Criticism

Children and Phosphorous-Must Read on Daily Kos

2005-11-17T09:10:00.000-08:00

Now for those of you just now learning about the issue of phosphorous chemical weapons, I refer you to Hunter at Daily Kos: Melting the Skin off Of Children for an eye-opening primer. Read this carefully, it will leave you stunned and sick.
Daily Kos has some truly brilliant diarists and contributors, and their success has been well earned... they are particularly deserving of the frequent accolades found around the blogosphere. What strikes me and will no doubt strike you as well is the thoroughness of the posts, what some might call "attention to detail". From my novice perspective, the writing is stellar. Instead of describing this particular offering, I urge you to read it for yourself.
This particular piece tells it like it is, graphically and in disturbing detail. But it is essential that we pursue truth, and as a mother I think we need to pay particular attention to what is done globally to the world's children in our names.
The US Government claimed in an interview on "As it Happens" (Canada/NPR) that the phosphorous is only used to locate targets and is not used where civilians are. They cite the example of evacuated Fallujah. But if the purpose is to locate hidden targets, and essentially torture them from afar to reveal their positions and flee to a place for targetting by what they call conventional weapons, thay are admitting that the element of the unknown makes this tactic particularly threatening to the civilian populations. When phosphorous is used to determine if insurgents are up a flight of stairs, is it not possible that a family could be up there instead? They say casualties and collateral damages are an inevitable part of war. At first they denied the role of phosphorous, then they made careful language distinctions, assuring the public that it was NOT used as a chemical weapon, per se. ( see also post on Language of War,11/11/05)
Here's an update from Democracy Now!

The U.S. government has now admitted its troops used white phosphorous as an incendiary weapon against Iraqis during the assault on Fallujah a year ago. Chemical weapons experts say such attacks are in violation of international law banning the use of chemical weapons. We speak with columnist George Monbiot and the news director of RAI TV, the Italian TV network that produced the film "Fallujah: The Hidden Massacre."

"The Exonerated" By Big Sky Productions

2005-11-16T22:11:00.000-08:00

Local folks: This coming weekend is your last chance to catch Big Sky Productions' dramatic and moving play "The Exonerated."
The play tells the true story of six people who were sent to death row for crimes they did not commit. One of them spends 22 years of his life on death row. Another spends 16.

"The Exonerated" is directed by Big Sky's Artistic Director, Carol Montana.
November 19 and 20, is a benefit for Sullivan Peace and Justice, which advocates cooperation with the world community for the peaceful resolution of conflict and, as one of its many goals, works toward the restoration of constitutional rights.
After the Sunday performance, a talk back will be held between the audience and the cast members.
"The Exonerated" will be presented at the Seelig Theatre of Sullivan County Community College on Saturday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, November 20 at 3 p.m.

Department of Peace Update-Local

2005-11-14T17:18:00.000-08:00

By way of our local DOP organizer... Interesting strategy.

I want to inform you and seek your support for the
Department of Peace and Nonviolence campaign. Our
leaders of the DOP campaign in New York state have us
organized so that there is a constant stream of
messages going to Congress to support the campaign.
Our part is to contact Senators Clinton and Schummer
by email or call on the toll free line
(1-800-828-0498) on the 22nd of each month to urge
their support for the DOP legislation. Why the 22nd?
Because that is the number of our Congressional
District. Each NY Congressional District calls on its
numerical day.

Language and War

2005-11-11T06:44:00.000-08:00

I re-read an interview with Madeline Albright, discussing the situation in Rwanda under the Clinton administration, and the hesitation on the part of the American government to characterize the events as "genocide". I read an update today on the US Military's stance on white phosphorous as a "chemical weapon" or a "target tool". I read about "torture" versus compliance and intelligence gathering. I read about a man who was hung by his arms, not to hurt him but to cause "discomfort". I read about the oppressive Taliban, and then I read about the strategic location of pipelines through Afghanistan and the construction of the military bases. I read a report on international human rights violations and began to check off how many of the governments we supported via policy and how many we condemned. What is a human rights violation, anyway? And what obligation do we have to restrict our dealings with governments with terrible records? Is there a relationship, for example, between trade agreements and human rights? Or do we simply neglect to characterize them as such and proceed with business as usual?
What these stories have in common most obviously beyond their disturbing realities are the ways language and terminology are used to deny obligations under International law and the Geneva Convention. If we do not call mass killing, ethnic cleansing, or massacres "genocide" then we reduce our obligation as part of the Geneva Convention to intercede. In the case of Rwanda, later with a formal apology from Clinton, the situation was in fact genocide gone unchecked. Thousands were killed by machetes, women, children, bodies strewn about and piled up in rotting masses. This was defined as conflict, and the role of the US was 'unclear'. The role remains unclear in the Sudan. By what standards do we decide when we should step in? By a word?
What was the role of the US in Central and South America during the seventies? How did the lack of accountability to families of "dissappeared" and murdered citixens factor into our policies and trade agreements?
What has been our role in human rights violations? Arms deals? When have we supported violating, cruel dictatorships only to expose them as the enemy when their usefulness waned? Often the terms "ally" or "enemy" have more to do with whether or not a leader is most beneficial to us in power or ousted.
When we speak of torture and chemical weapons, again we mince words and attempt to hide the truth of what we are doing with technicalities. "White phosphorous does not meet the criteria for a chemical weapon because it is incendiary"
Hunter describes this at Daily Kos in the Diary "Melting the Skin Off of Children":

I think we need to take a step back from the newest Fallujah revelations. There's been a lot of confusion over what is or isn't a "chemical weapon" vs. an "incendiary"; what aspects of the Geneva conventions the United States is or is not signatory to; and whether or not the United States is still bound by rules of warfare that they are not direct signatories to.

So much for the Democratic and moral authority of the world, folks! On matters of genocide, chemical weapons, arms dealings, US supported overthrows, torture by proxy... apparently our responsibilities are subject to interpretation and fine print. In the way that the corporation states "you can't prove you got your cancer from my toxins" the US government seeks to hide behind legal or technical distinctions and denied relationships.
"WE don't torture. We encourage cooperation".
"We are not bound by the Kyoto protocol"
"We must hold the bar pretty high on what constitutes genocide"
"Chemical weapons are in the eye of the beholder"

Clearly our treaties, articles, laws, standards, and criteria are about as effective as we permit the UN to be. Apparently when it comes the the US, nothing is binding. Or its relevance is inextricably linked to our needs at the time.

Democracy Now!

2005-11-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

Democracy Now!
Those who know me well know that I am a big fan of Amy Goodman and Democracy Now! and encourage people to listen if they can- our local public radio station carries it on 90.5 fm WJFF (also available streaming over the internet) This program is supported locally by donations from Sullivan Peace and Justice, a local peace group in Sullivan County, NY.
Check out Goodman's book"The Exception to the Rulers"
"Exposing Oily politicians, war profiteers, and the media that love them" and let me know what you think of it!

Callicoon's Day to Be Gay in the Catskills

2005-10-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

I give the residents of Callicoon, NY credit for hosting their annual "Day to Be Gay in the Catskills" event, organized by the Day to Be Gay Foundation, despite some early challenges surrounding the event's venue and inception. I should say I give the organizers credit, primarily- but they have been supported in logistics and location, aspects many communities would not even consider. Many communities would never even entertain such an idea. Thats not to say that it came about effortlessly. I do not mean to minimize the role of resitance and hate-havers.
The organizers persevered and it had the semblance of a well attended community event, with numerous vendors and speakers, such as New Paltz Mayor Jason West.
What do such events accomplish? What is the goal? I cannot speak for any group or demographic, but my personal opinion is that such events embolden people to be who they are, to express who they are openly, to take one step closer toward their fears and one step away from a comfort zone that is rooted in discretion and veneer.
I think when we talk about sisterhood, feminism, gender roles, equality, civil liberties, parenting- we cannot help but include LGBT issues under our umbrellas. Empowered mothering reaches across many sub-groups and pigeon holes.
What these organizers do has a ripple effect on the future cultural climate for our children. What activists and organizers sacrifice today impacts the burden of the next generation who are hopefully one step closer than those that step now. I hope we can view every step, whether large or small, in the context of positive contributions and express some gratitude to those who try. Imagine if we all tried?

Drinking Liberally?

2005-10-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

I wish we had this!

Check out this idea at a pub near you: Drinking Liberally
What is Drinking Liberally?

An informal, inclusive Democratic drinking club. Raise your spirits while you raise your glass, and share ideas while you share a pitcher. Drinking Liberally gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to talk politics. You don't need to be a policy expert and this isn't a book club - just come and learn from peers, trade jokes, vent frustration and hang out in an environment where it's not taboo to talk politics.

Bars are democratic spaces - you talk to strangers, you share booths, you feel the bond of common ground. Bring democratic discourse to your local democratic space - build Democracy one drink at a time.

Upper Delaware- My Stomping Grounds

2005-10-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

So this is the part of the US where River Momma tends her brood.

Photo from National Park Service

The Upper Delaware River Corridor refers to the area of the Delaware River that divides New York State and Pennsylvania, running from upstate New York down through Hancock, Callicoon, Narrowsburg, toward Port Jervis and beyond. On the PA side, the river is flanked by Damascus, Milanville, etc. down through Milford and Delaware Water Gap.

"The green fullness of the rolling hills, quick glimpses of granite cliff faces, and bald eagles perched on trees overlooking the water form a vibrant backdrop as the Delaware River snakes gracefully through the rural countryside on the start of its 331-mile journey to the Atlantic Ocean. But the story of the Upper Delaware is much more than just a collection of beautiful pictures. Joseph Brandt, John Roebling, and Zane Grey lend a texture to the landscape that helps tell the tale of frontier life and the rapid growth of America during the 1800’s.

The Delaware is also a river of compromise; its pristine waters offer outstanding family recreation, an exceptional habitat for a great variety of fish, and drinking water for over 17 million people.

As part of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, the first 73.4 miles are protected as the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River. While most of the land along the river’s bank is privately owned, the Upper Delaware River offers natural beauty, rich history, and a variety of splendid recreational opportunities."

Mothering Resources- Share Yours

2005-10-03T01:10:00.000-07:00

"When in doubt, ask a mother!"
I am indebted to so many women for their courage, tenacity, skill, generosity, and willingness to give. I have learned many things over the years from my own children, the children I have had the pleasure to know, and the families I have been able to work with.
What have you learned? What informs your view? What do you read, watch, link to?

Feminism: Add Your Perspective

2005-10-02T04:44:00.000-07:00

The term "feminism" certainly means different things to different people, and even among feminists themselves, the term is constantly evolving. Feminists focus on different issues, and have different priorities and ideas about where the energy should be directed.

Wikepedia:
Feminism is advocacy for women, and is comprised of a diverse collection of social theories ,political movements , and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerning the experiences of women, especially socially, politically, and economically. As a social movement, feminism focuses on promoting women's rights.

Within academia, some feminists focus on documenting perceived gender inequalities which they claim oppress women and on changes in the social position and representation of women. Others argue that gender , and even sex , are social constructs, and research the construction of gender and sexuality , and develop alternate models for studying social relations .

Some feminist scholars have posited that the hierarchies in businesses and government and all organizations need to be replaced with a decentralized ultra- democracy . Some argue that having any central leader in any organization is derived from the androcentric family structure (and therefore needs reform and replacement), and thus such scholars see the essence of feminism as beyond the surface issues of sex and gender. (See Anarcha-Feminism and Post-structuralism )

Feminist political activists commonly campaign on issues such as reproductive rights ,violence within a domestic partnership ,maternity leave ,equal pay ,sexual harassment ,street harassment ,discrimination , and sexual violence . Themes explored in feminism include patriarchy ,stereotyping ,objectification ,sexual objectification , and oppression .

Looking at these paragraphs, which admittedly concludes a pretty tame, user-friendly definition- I thought it was interesting to see the words PERCEIVED and THEY CLAIM.
Certainly documented cases of pay disparity and promotion practices can be quantified statistically and in my humble opinion speak more to facts than perception. Are all positions opinions, perceptions, claims? At what point can we say that a concern is legitimate, valid, factual, based on measurable indicators? When the majority of society offers up their blessing?
Feminism has chamged for me over the years. As a young person in my teenage years, feminism was about my right to reproductive liberty and access to birth control for all women who desired such resources. When I became a mother, then single mother, then mother again, my thinking began to focus on resources for mothering in addition to breastfeeding support and natural parenting models. I became more focused on environmental issues, workplace issues, health issues particularly with respect to hormone replacement therapies and reproductive health matters. As I matured, so too did my perspective. My sense of self and "belief" systems became more complex, broader, less easily articulated. What seemed so clear and absolute for me as a younf female suddenly seemed frought with scenarios of gray.
Still, I maintain that as I have changed and held many different viewpoints, so too do other women in our society and that is why the crux of feminism to me is CHOICE. The choice, the autonomy, the freedom to self-determine. Whether this means having or not having a child, living a secular, theist, or pagan spiritual life, selecting traditional western medicine or homeopathy... feminism to me has became the notion that women are capable of choice and should be treated accordingly-
By our government, by our families, by our neighbors, by each other and BY OURSELVES.

What does it mean to you?

Who's the Momma?

2005-10-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

I started blogging because I am a mother and believe very much in the necessity of support and sharing among caregivers. I think it helps us be ourselves, be empowered, and be courageous when we know that we can reach out to others for feedback, resources, perspectives, and information.
I also know how hard it is to be an opinionated parent, and be active around social issues. Very often our role as a mother makes us mindful of our world and our collective response as custodians- we are mindful of legacy and resources, of social systems and rights, of disparities and inequalities- every time we look at our children and reflect on what our hopes are for them.
We have hopes for all children- that they may know a world that is better than what we have today. Not worse.
Like many of you, I become discouraged when I follow current events, read about global needs and challenges, resources, civil liberties, and a myriad of concerns. But I am also encouraged by the rapid changes I have witnessed just in my short life, and the changes that have happened over many lives.
And, like many of you, I try to do the best I can each day. I try not to use my children as AN EXCUSE for apathy, but rather as A REASON FOR ACTION.