Thematic Thursdays: They Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks
I literally just went to Google and typed in the question, “What century are we in right now?” I’ve never failed history class, and my shower head didn’t turn into a Flintstone-esque elephant trunk during my mid-morning scrub either. It’s the incessant whining of those not in favor of the prop 8 overturn.
I’m so tired of reading people’s status updates about the Prop 8 overturn asking, “Why even vote?” Should every cockamamie unjust law that’s put in place remain simply because it was voted in? If certain laws hadn’t been overturned, many of us wouldn’t even be able to vote in the first damn place. So public transportation should still be segregated? That law passed in 1881 in Tennessee. By 1914, every Southern state had passed laws that created two separate societies — one for blacks and one for whites. So, Jim Crow should still be in full effect? Before you start, I’m in no way comparing the gay rights movement to the struggle for civil rights, because as this USA Today article so eloquently outlines, the two battles couldn’t be any more different. I’m simply using Jim Crow laws to refute the idea that once a law is put in place, it should never be changed. Hopefully, I don’t need to go into women’s suffrage or Prohibition (for all you anti-prop 8 folks, who love you some liquor at happy hour) to prove this any further. I could go on all night about how amendments are necessary!
It’s time to join us in the 21st century. Some people are actually living and breathing a spiritually evolved culture, while others hold onto hate, discrimination, prejudice, and condemnation. When will the fucking paradigm shift? When will I be able to enjoy a cup of tea in an environment where I don’t have to wonder what century I’m in.
Thematic Thursdays: Texas Caviar
I know I said I’d never do this, but I have to share this recipe with ya’ll. I’m addicted to it. My mother used to make it for me when I’d drop by after I became a vegan. I didn’t know her recipe, but this is pretty darn close to it (hers didn’t have black beans in it).
Note: I use sprouted beans, but you’re welcome to use canned organic, or cook some and let them cool.
Ingredients
1/2 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 (8 ounce) bottle zesty Italian dressing
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black-eyed peas, drained
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 bunch chopped fresh cilantro
Directions
1. In a large bowl, mix together onion, green bell pepper, green onions, jalapeno peppers, garlic, cherry tomatoes, zesty Italian dressing, black beans, black-eyed peas and coriander. Cover and chill in the refrigerator approximately 2 hours. Toss with desired amount of fresh cilantro to serve.
Nutritional Information
Amount Per Serving Calories: 21 | Total Fat: 1.3g | Cholesterol: 0mg
via All Recipes
Thematic Thursdays: Pinterest Was the New Facebook, and Now Facebook is the New Facebook
Also, I shouldn’t make up titles when I’m sleepy.
Just when Facebook got super boring, it got interesting again! I’m in like 10 private groups now. That is totally the way to go. That main newsfeed? Screw that noise. Who wants to read that garbage? I’m in a group about black parenting, one about body image, one about marriage, one about crafting, one about education methods, one about scuba diving (don’t ask), and one about politics. I’ve been on Facebook more than Pinterest this week. It’s crazy! I know, right? That is all.
Thematic Thursdays: Info-Graphics R’ Us
So, as a writer for Komplicated.com, I often run across info-graphics, but never info-graphics regarding kids. Until yesterday. I was just reading links in my Google Reader and ran across this, which I thought was hilarious.
I thought to myself, there have to be more of these out there. You’re welcome.
I also created one of my own.
Thematic Thursdays: Cheer Up For Your Kid’s Sake
Are you pessimistic or optimistic? Take a look at the way your kids view things, and you’ll get a pretty good idea. My eldest daughter is a “Debbie Downer,” but she didn’t get this way on her own. The last couple of years have been full of dinner conversations, where we talk about all of the horrible things in our days. I walk around the house ranting about things that need to be fixed, and finding crafty ways to fix them. Hannibal has less than stellar reviews of his co-workers each day. Then we listen to KPFK in the morning on the way to school, and Sonali discusses all of the “uprisings” in the world. Despite how happy we are with each other and how awesome and inventive the solutions are that we find to the aforementioned problems, Mooch is focused on one thing — the world has problems. Lots of them.
This has affected both the way she interacts with her friends at school and the energy she puts out. I met with her teachers yesterday to discuss her recent requests to return to home schooling. I had sent an email and wanted to get their perspectives. Mooch has been writing me “I Miss You” notes from school each day and giving them to me when she gets in the car. She has also complained about a girl in her class, who really drives her up the chalkboard. Repeatedly she states that there is no one to play with, yet she’s constantly invited on play dates. Mooch has had nothing but horrible things to say about school and the curriculum this entire year. These things are difficult to hear when we are paying the tuition we pay.
Well, apparently, her teachers had noticed the same pattern. The class meets once per week for “Pats and Spats,” where children are encouraged to speak up and compliment or bring up a concern they have with another student. This process is done in a very safe environment. Mooch almost never GIVES any pats. In fact, she rarely says anything. Her teacher said Mooch had shared with her that she “doesn’t believe in the process, because kids do the same old things when they get back on the yard.” She does, however, like to RECEIVE pats. The other day, her teacher saw her playing, laughing and having a great time with at least five other girls on the yard, and when they came in for pats, Mooch had no recollection of that. The good times just don’t stand out to her. Just after enjoying herself, she said, “No one ever wants to play with me.”
I found the two tools that one of her teachers has been using to be very useful, so I thought I’d share them here! I’ve been using them for the past two days now, and we have had really great evenings.
1. She guides her conversations with Mooch now (almost like leading the witness).
For instance, instead of “How was your birthday this weekend?” she asked, “What fun things did you do for your birthday this weekend?” Mooch lit up with energy, and responded with all of the wonderful things that happened. Normally, she would focus right in on the number of times she fell on her roller skates.
She then follows up with “What awesome presents did you get?” All the while, she is smiling at Mooch and encouraging positive energetic responses.
As parents, we are often tired. We do care, but when we listen to our kids tell us about their day our responses are on auto-pilot, “Uh-huh. That’s great, honey. Cool.” They can pick up on the dry energy.
2. When she comes in from recess and lunch recess, she asks her to tell her two great things that happened at recess that day. I now use this in the car instead of, “How was your day?” We also use it at the dinner table now as well. It is so much more uplifting. Last night, instead of hearing about the same two co-workers that get on his nerves we learned about a pending partnership between Komplicated and Cal State LA (I can’t share details. Sorry.)
It is difficult for parents to own up to the damage that we’re doing to our children. Much of it is very subtle. We don’t want to think of ourselves as harming them in anyway, and we do the very best we can with the tools that we have at the time. One is never too old for a paradigm shift.
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