Talking about Race and Racism

I thought I had posted this a while ago but in going through my post list it is showing up as never being posted so here it is now (and I apologize if it was posted earlier) 

Talking about race and racism won't make your preschooler a racist.  In fact, it will make them much more likely to be open and accepting of difference.  Research has shown that children understand more about race then we adults ever imagined them understanding and they learn quickly what isn't "okay" to talk about.  Newsweek actually had a really great article about young children and race.  Well worth the time it takes to read it.  Several other websites also had good reactions

http://www.newsweek.com/id/214989/page/1 

http://resistracism.wordpress.com/2009/09/08/a-surprise-to-white-people/ 

http://harlowmonkey.typepad.com/

Get Ready to Wiggle

As many of you know each of my kids has some sort of special need and several of them have been (or currently are) involved with our local Easter Seals. (Fabulous agency by the way) Well someone there knows someone who does the PR for the Wiggles and they decided to have a

"meet and greet" before their show and our family was one of the ones chosen to meet the Wiggles. It was quite the experience. Unfortunately, due to timing, there wasn't alot of meeting or greeting that happened. We briefly (and I mean briefly) talked to the guys while posing for photos, and then off they went. I wish I had been able to get a photo of D's face when they came in though- it was priceless!!!! K was intrigued by the whole thing- until, that is, it was time to sit down for the photos.

And luckily, the meet and greet included tickets to the show at 3:30. I had purchased tickets months ago for the 6:30 show and K, about 6 weeks ago, found the box of tickets and was carrying them around with her. I thought I had found them all (not just Wiggles tickets, but several other tickets as well) I looked everywhere for our tickets, in order to give them away- but they were no where to be found. I am pretty sure where they are though... If only I had checked EVERY trash can in the house since K is also going through a "throw it in the trash" phase.

Enjoying the show

Off to School or...

When did they get so big???? A heads off to fourth grade and X heads off to Kindergarten!! They both reported having good first days and they didn't kill each other in Latchkey after school. A was worried about having to play with X after school. We assured him he doesn't have to play, but he can't be mean to him. We'll see how long that lasts for...

Here are some photos from today. Each year they get a paper cone filled with school supplies on the first day of school. (It's a German custom that we borrowed into our multicultural family) Much to D's dismay- you don't get a cone until you start kindergarten (but honestly, it was just one of many many things that displeased her this morning) Then some first day photos....

Of course, the first day of Kindergarten requires many more photos, including some shot "on location". X rode the little day care bus from his new day care to school. B was able to meet up with him in the parking lot of the school to take the first day photos. Surprisingly, the parents were allowed to follow the kids in so we have some in his classroom as well.

Really?? It's 2009, NOT 1909

I interrupt the normal cuteness to get up on my soapbox 

Those of you who know me regardless of whether in real life or in online form know that I am a diversity educator and am fairly outspoken about issues surrounding race.  (I know you are all thinking -what? outspoken? no way!)  In particular, I want to provide food for thought for people who don't have to think about race at all if they don't want to (yes- that's the White people out there) and help parents and teachers become more knowledgeable about what ALL young kids need to grow into anti-racists.  And along those lines.....

It is hard enough to raise daughters to feel confident in who they are in a world where there is but one (White) standard of beauty but when crap like this is being put on store shelves it is maddening to me.  Tell me in that whole production company that no one realized this might be a bad idea and then no one at Costco thought maybe they shouldn't stock this product at all.  That no one realized the message that was being sent is beyond me, but this happens all the time.  This is but one of thousands of messages my kids- and all kids- will internalize.  The messages that some of us are less than others of us.  And that is a message no child should ever learn!!!

http://www.antiracistparent.com/2009/08/18/costco-and-the-lil-monkey-doll/

Get Down with Your Bad Selves!

Last weekend B's cousin got married. D wasn't shy about shaking her groove thing and getting X and K to groove along with her.

So I've Been a Little Busy Lately, But

Here are the rest of the vacation photos.

On the other side of the street, we found the less calm waters of the Pacific- a very different experience than Mission Bay.

X still wanted to dig holes and fill them with water, though

D was less than thrilled about being in the water on this side. She spent most of the time running up and down the beach

Outside of Disney California Adventure. We tried to pose the boys with the "A" since it's the first letter of their names (X is a nickname- X's real name also starts with A) but of course everyone wanted in on the action

K isn't quite sure how she feels about the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland. However, she (and D) loved It's a Small World (a ride that I think was originally a medieval torture device)

On the firetruck in ToonTown

Trying to pull out King Arthur's sword in Fantasyland

D couldn't wait to drive her Lego car at Legoland

However, there is no way I am giving her the keys to any car soon. Luckily, there was someone to pull her off the wall repeatedly while she "drove"

Loving the ride at Legoland

How am I supposed to pedal this thing when my feet don't reach the pedals?

In the brig. I wonder how long they will let them stay.

Of course, it didn't take them long to figure out how to escape

Back at the Fountain in San Pedro

Awwwww!

During the fountain show- they had figured out where to stand to get sprayed by the fountain

I just love this photo

PLEASE SIGN- Build Families, Not Barriers Petition

The USCIS and the CDC have issued new protocols for the testing of TB in immigrant populations.  While the desire to protect US citizens from being exposed to TB is certainly a need, there has been an unintended consequence to the new protocols.  Children legally adopted by US citizens are being denied their visas.  There are several families in China and Ethiopia now who are facing the horrendous decision to leave THEIR (both legally and emotionally) child in an institution for up to 9 months or face financial ruin to remain with their child in country.  All medical evidence indicates that children AT LEAST up to age 7 are NOT contagious, EVEN if they have active TB AND after 2-4 weeks of treatment NO ONE is contagious.  While we applaud the efforts of the government to protect us, it should be noted that these rules do not apply to citizen children who live abroad, even if they live in TB epidemic areas and there are not rules to prevent someone with active TB from entering the US on a tourist visa.  Please consider signing the petition- it only takes a second and while it may not matter to you- it might allow a child to join their family (and get appropriate medical care) instead of spending another year in an orphanage.  Please forward this on- the more people who voice their concerns the more likely to get a solution that protects both the child and the country.

Build Families, Not Barriers Petition

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