I saw Madeline Sackler’s documentary The Lottery last night. I haven’t seen Waiting for Superman yet. It was a movie that stirs emotions-sadness and anger are two of those emotions.
I have much more to say, but will hold those thoughts until I see the other movie.
Now, all I can say is that I am lucky that I have a quality choice for my kids. I am also revitalized in my work to reform public education. They are all our children.
I’m at the Lake of the Ozarks today and tomorrow for a charter school conference. It’s a gorgeous time of year here. The photo from the meeting room doesn’t do it justice.
Zoë today you turn 36-months-old. I can hardly believe how much you have grown.
One-Year-Old
Two-Years-Old
Three-Years-Old
We celebrated this morning with a special breakfast of bacon and eggs (your favorite) and opened a present. You danced and sang “I’m three, Yay three.” You handed over your bubee (pacifier) because three-year-olds don’t use them (we’ll see how long that lasts–mom kept it just in case). You said three-year-olds don’t pee in pull-ups any more (again–we’ll see how long that lasts). When you pee in your pull-up or ask for a bubee you’ll give us that pouty little fact that is so hard to resist and talk and your remorse filled tone and probably get exactly what you want. You are the light of our lives. You aren’t moody–which I am very thankful for. You are sheer pleasure and joy to be around. You have filled our lives with so much happiness and joy. Your brother adores you, just as you do him.
You are a daredevil and already love make-up. There is something awfully skewed when I have to tell you that when you go to school next year you can’t wear make-up. How did I get such a girly girl? I love it but it often makes me feel grossly inadequate. But I’ll do all the girly stuff because I love you.
Happy Birthday my princess. You have made our family complete and better. Couldn’t imagine a day going by without you.
Love,
Mama
Once again our upper chamber of congress will be an almost all white (mostly male) representation for the rich people of America. This makes me so sad and angry.
In 2010 there were only four non-white senators–Roland Burris (black) two Asian-Americans from Hawaii (one seat is up for re-election this year) and Bob Menendez (Hispanic-American) from New Jersey. When the new legislature is sworn in this coming January, there will be only two for sure minority members and none of those will be black/African-America.
What angers me even more is that in the history of the senate there have only be three popularly elected black senators. THREE. Six black senators have served–two of those in reconstruction Mississippi (they weren’t popularly elected), Roland Burris who was appointed and also not popularly elected. Two of the senators who were elected, including now President Obama were to the same seat in Illinois and the remaining senator was elected in Massachusetts.
I know I shouldn’t be surprised. This country is skewed and the power base has always been white, rich, protestant and male. I never really gave it much thought before, but at times it hits me that our government is a republic and that those who represent us should represent us. I can say that many of them represent me but starting Jan 2, 2011, none of them will represent my children or 13% of the population. This just doesn’t seem right. I look around the ivory (well UMSL isn’t quiet Ivory) tower of academia and notice that lack of diversity. I am shocked at how white washed our world is. I am angry and I wish there was something I could do about it.
I voted today. I have confidence that our black congressional members will be re-elected (they aren’t representatives of my district). I long for a government that truly represents the people they serve. I don’t have any answers but I long and hope for a day where my kids and all minority kids have members of both houses of congress to look up to. The House has made strides in diversity but the Senate has lagged sorely behind.
I will hold out hope that one day I can tell my kids “you can be a Senator” if you want. Because right now–I’m pretty sure in most places they couldn’t.
We’ll see if I can pull of this whole NaBloPoMo thing again. I can’t even remember if I tried last year or not. Ah the wonders of old age. This will be tough as my life has become crazy busy and there are conferences to attend and papers to write (one of which I should be working on right now) and birthday’s to celebrate (I can’t believe my little BoBo is going to be 3).
Well what would a November 1 post be without gratuitous shots of kids in Halloween costumes and a Halloween update.
Here is the kids’ haul from two nights of trick or treating. I know and the photo is deceiving as it looks small-but let me asure you it weighs about 7lbs. We went to Beverly Shores, Indiana for the weekend–as my brother and his partner have a house there and they do a big Halloween shindig. The trick or treating caravan is insane–28 houses and a large mix of golf carts and cars. It was crazy and everyone in Beverly Shores has about 25 narrow steps up to their front door with swams of kids big and little clamoring up and down–piling in and out of the car. It was a blast–but tiring.
We then met back at the park to watch a movie, have a few drinks, make smores and eat wood-fired pizza from a truck–really a truck. They turn around good pizza in two minutes. It’s pretty awesome. We then snuggled up to watch Young Frankenstein. It was a really nice night.
The drive home in the morning from Indiana was a bit long, but the kids were awesome and excited to get home in time to trick or treat again. Because who doesn’t need to do that again–aside from my kids who don’t even really like candy.
Zoë who is all girl–wore two different costumes for each of her trick or treating events–a fairy and Cinderella. She is too cute. Noah was happy to be Ironman. I managed to not eat my weight in candy so that is a very good thing.
I hope to feel more articulate in the upcoming days–I just finished my comprehensive exams from the PhD program and my brain is running on empty.
Embracing Imperfection 