Moo: Mom, I have something important to tell you, but don't worry, it's not bad news. But I hafta pee first.
Bathroom visit.
Me: What was it you need to talk to me about, Moo?
Moo: Dad needs the scissors downstairs.
*******
Doodle: Doodle reporting for duty (to help make cookies).
******
Doodle drops her sippy.
Doodle: Darn it!
Me: Where did you learn that phrase?
Doodle: At school. Kids say it.
Me: Ohh.
Moo: You can't say that, Santa is watching.
Doodle: It's better than saying the "s" word.
Me: What is the "s" word.
Doodle: Stupid.
Moo: Yeah, that's really bad.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Are you gonna eat that?
In the mornings, Doodle needs about 20 minutes to become fully conscious. We give her a warm chocolate milk, her "coffee," and let her watch a few minutes of TV until she can function. This Thursday, she was ensconced on the couch with her warm chocolate milk, a waffle cut into pieces, a fork, and a small bowl containing 2 gummy vitamins and 2 calcium gummy bears. The Newbie was on the floor with her cheerios and banana also enjoying a little Sponge Bob. Dan was in the shower, and I took two minutes to grab Doodle's clothes from upstairs. When I came back down, Doodle asks,"Mom, where are the gummy bears?" While she was spaced out, the Newbie had eaten the gummy bears, 1/2 of the waffle and stuck the syrupy spoon in her hair like a pic. Oh, and she had finished her 1/2 of banana and the cheerios. Doodle saw nothing, heard nothing, did nothing. By the time I got the camera, the Newbie had removed the fork and the moment was over.
Now that the Newbie is walking, nothing is safe. There is usually a trail of food in her wake.
P.S. Dan says it was fine she ate the vitamins. I was freaked, but it is nice to have a doctor in the house.
Now that the Newbie is walking, nothing is safe. There is usually a trail of food in her wake.
P.S. Dan says it was fine she ate the vitamins. I was freaked, but it is nice to have a doctor in the house.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Searching for Santa
This year, as I prepare for the holidays, I've been searching for ornaments and decorations that will reflect our family. I know we're never going to find something perfect, like a figurine of carolers with a white mom, dad and two sisters, and one black baby, but I thought I would at least find a few black santas, angels, etc. to mix in with our current eccletic mix. Despite having ornaments from all over the world, the ornaments we own with people on them show mostly white folks.
I had always assumed that such ornaments and decorations were out there, but I just didn't know the right store to find them. Or, like many things, I never really paid attention. For example, I never perused hair care products for black women or truly studied them as I have now, before we adopted the Newbie. Before we adopted her, I did research on where to find hair salons, cards with representations of multicultural families, books, etc. and always found, with relative ease, what I was looking for.
Two weekends ago, I went to Frankenmuth, Michigan with my family. They have this totally insane holiday store there. I scored two black santas, three black angels, two black ballerinas, a ball ornament with a scene from Africa, and a ball ornament with a holiday greeting in Amharic. They even had some other choices, but they didn't fit with our family--for example, a black girl playing basketball(maybe in the future with the Newbie, but we're really short people).
I was talking with my stepmom about them and she got really excited,"Ohhh, a black santa? Can you tell me where you found him?" Apparently, these things are pretty hard to find! I was really thrilled with the Amharic ornament, but I assumed that a black santa was not particularly elusive. I did some google-ing and found a few things. Some ornaments on ebay, two or three websites. The selections weren't great, and often different stores carried the same products.
In my work, I struggle sometimes about how to explain white privilege. This is a perfect example. I never had to worry about whether I could find holiday decorations that looked like me! My parents could always buy me an ornament that looked like me doing something I liked to do--like playing tennis. White privilege is never having to search for a black santa, to take for granted that Santa looks like you. To never wonder why Santa at the mall is yet another white man. To watch a holiday movie where Santa visits a kid that could be me.
I'm grateful to have found what I needed, but am disappointed there isn't more.
ETA: For those of you who don't know me IRL, my step mom is black-- our exchange makes more sense if you know that.
I had always assumed that such ornaments and decorations were out there, but I just didn't know the right store to find them. Or, like many things, I never really paid attention. For example, I never perused hair care products for black women or truly studied them as I have now, before we adopted the Newbie. Before we adopted her, I did research on where to find hair salons, cards with representations of multicultural families, books, etc. and always found, with relative ease, what I was looking for.
Two weekends ago, I went to Frankenmuth, Michigan with my family. They have this totally insane holiday store there. I scored two black santas, three black angels, two black ballerinas, a ball ornament with a scene from Africa, and a ball ornament with a holiday greeting in Amharic. They even had some other choices, but they didn't fit with our family--for example, a black girl playing basketball(maybe in the future with the Newbie, but we're really short people).
I was talking with my stepmom about them and she got really excited,"Ohhh, a black santa? Can you tell me where you found him?" Apparently, these things are pretty hard to find! I was really thrilled with the Amharic ornament, but I assumed that a black santa was not particularly elusive. I did some google-ing and found a few things. Some ornaments on ebay, two or three websites. The selections weren't great, and often different stores carried the same products.
In my work, I struggle sometimes about how to explain white privilege. This is a perfect example. I never had to worry about whether I could find holiday decorations that looked like me! My parents could always buy me an ornament that looked like me doing something I liked to do--like playing tennis. White privilege is never having to search for a black santa, to take for granted that Santa looks like you. To never wonder why Santa at the mall is yet another white man. To watch a holiday movie where Santa visits a kid that could be me.
I'm grateful to have found what I needed, but am disappointed there isn't more.
ETA: For those of you who don't know me IRL, my step mom is black-- our exchange makes more sense if you know that.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Teasing, two differing philosophies
So Doodle last night at "dark dinner"(dinner at home with candles)announced that she had been teased at school that day. She wasn't too upset about it. I asked, "What do you mean, teasing?" She said that two boys called her a crybaby.
These two boys at once repel and fascinate her. They are "bad" and "get in trouble" all the time. Her locker is in between their lockers so she is witness to many altercations. Doodle looks down upon their behavior but you can tell she is intrigued by their wild sides. Anyway, the teasing. She told me that she told a teacher and they got in trouble.
I told her that sometimes when I was teased, I ignored the teasers. I had Dan role play as the person teasing me, and I turned to the girls and started talking like he wasn't even there. By the time I said, "Do you hear something, girls? I feel like I hear some silly talk in the background," the girls had dissolved into giggles.
Later that night, Doodle was two spaces shy of winning Candy land when she drew a card that sent her back to the beginning. Sobs ensued. Dan used the opportunity to tell Doodle that she was, in fact, a bit of a crybaby and that he would help her work on being less cry babyish.
On the one hand, I was shocked. On the other I was interested. I wondered why on earth I gave Doodle the same advice that was neither effective nor helpful when I was teased as a girl. By the same token, I wasn't convinced Dan's method was more effective than mine.
A few days later, Doodle told me that my strategy worked. A boy tried to "shoot" her with an imaginary gun in a game she wasn't participating in. She said she ignored him and he followed her for a while, then gave up.
I don't know how I feel about all of this. I'm upset but not surprised she is being teased. She's going to be a magnet for teasing, with her rule following, slightly superior attitude. I'm happy that she doesn't seem all that bothered by it. I'm glad that my method is working, but wonder if Dan's crybaby remediation plan might be good for her. Will being honest hurt her self esteem?
I don't know if we will ever know the "right" way to deal with this. It can't hurt to have two differing perspectives. I'll keep you posted. The joys of kindergarten!
These two boys at once repel and fascinate her. They are "bad" and "get in trouble" all the time. Her locker is in between their lockers so she is witness to many altercations. Doodle looks down upon their behavior but you can tell she is intrigued by their wild sides. Anyway, the teasing. She told me that she told a teacher and they got in trouble.
I told her that sometimes when I was teased, I ignored the teasers. I had Dan role play as the person teasing me, and I turned to the girls and started talking like he wasn't even there. By the time I said, "Do you hear something, girls? I feel like I hear some silly talk in the background," the girls had dissolved into giggles.
Later that night, Doodle was two spaces shy of winning Candy land when she drew a card that sent her back to the beginning. Sobs ensued. Dan used the opportunity to tell Doodle that she was, in fact, a bit of a crybaby and that he would help her work on being less cry babyish.
On the one hand, I was shocked. On the other I was interested. I wondered why on earth I gave Doodle the same advice that was neither effective nor helpful when I was teased as a girl. By the same token, I wasn't convinced Dan's method was more effective than mine.
A few days later, Doodle told me that my strategy worked. A boy tried to "shoot" her with an imaginary gun in a game she wasn't participating in. She said she ignored him and he followed her for a while, then gave up.
I don't know how I feel about all of this. I'm upset but not surprised she is being teased. She's going to be a magnet for teasing, with her rule following, slightly superior attitude. I'm happy that she doesn't seem all that bothered by it. I'm glad that my method is working, but wonder if Dan's crybaby remediation plan might be good for her. Will being honest hurt her self esteem?
I don't know if we will ever know the "right" way to deal with this. It can't hurt to have two differing perspectives. I'll keep you posted. The joys of kindergarten!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Happy Halloween!
As you can see, we had a great Halloween. Moo decided at the last minute that her Darth Vader costume (3rd year in a row) was too itchy, so she decided to be Princess Aurora. The Newbie loved trick or treating. She mostly stayed in the stroller, but really enjoyed the goldfish crackers she scored. It's been a busy Halloween season, we've celebrated with the Hogans, done Halloween symphony with Nama, Pumpkin patch with Grandma Grace and Auntie Lorri, etc.
Yesterday ended with sour tummys, but hard to say if that was too much Halloween candy or the H1N1 shots the girls had in the morning. All was well this morning, and we're pooped.
ETA: Doodle is not striking a pose there, she's desperately trying to get the last powder from a pixy stik. She wouldn't smile for me.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Cookies
Me: Doodle, that's a great looking cookie!"
Doodle: It's Uncle Aaron.
Me: Really?
Doodle: Yes.(Annoyed)Don't you see the glasses?
Me: Oh yeah, now I see it.
Doodle: The other one is his friend. See? They are together.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Family Pictures
Ok, so I've been out of pocket for a while. A personal health issue- not a big deal, Dan being on service, work, kids, many dr appts (checkups and more cross off the list adoption checkups), saying goodbye to Mary Poppins, who has a chance to chase her dream and welcoming Hoosier Girl....all this to say life happened and I am back.
Here's a slideshow from our most recent family photo shoot--two weeks ago. Our first family photo shoot since the airport when we brought the Newbie home. Moo was not in the mood and she's usually our star model, but we did manage to get some awesome pouty shots. I love the shots at the end with all of the girls.
All in all, I think they turned out great. I hope I can get the slideshow to work better this time. I'm putting it in a link and not in the blog itself. Thanks again to Peggy and Frank for working with us.
Here's the slideshow.
Here's a slideshow from our most recent family photo shoot--two weeks ago. Our first family photo shoot since the airport when we brought the Newbie home. Moo was not in the mood and she's usually our star model, but we did manage to get some awesome pouty shots. I love the shots at the end with all of the girls.
All in all, I think they turned out great. I hope I can get the slideshow to work better this time. I'm putting it in a link and not in the blog itself. Thanks again to Peggy and Frank for working with us.
Here's the slideshow.
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