Comments on: Forays in the real world

By: Michele James-Parham

Michele James-Parham — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 22:38:55 +0000

“Why do people have kids if they can’t stand to spend time with them?”

I keep asking this question and no one can give me an answer other than they are expected to by our culture…I’m not sure that I completely agree, but it’s a start.

Dealing with racism can be tough. We’ve not had to deal with it too much yet…even though Elijah is half white/half black.

By: Summer

Summer — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:33:48 +0000

Ouch, quite the culture shock! Hopefully it was just excitement over something new . The kids spend more time with you, in your environment, than they do getting handstamps and erasers. You’ll be a much bigger influence.

Summer’s last blog post..Wall E Not So Eco-Friendly

By: Trish

Trish — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:41:09 +0000

Thanks, Sally! I really do appreciate your input. I’m really not used to dealing with racism. It’s not something that I’ve personally had to experience before, and when it intrudes on the life of my children, “Mommy Bear” tends to raise her claws. It helps to hear from someone who has experience with this. In retrospect – yes, I am glad that I didn’t say the things I was thinking. I think I’m going to have to work on how to see past that blinding anger that comes into my body at the moment these interactions occur. Thanks.

By: Saratica

Saratica — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:49:11 +0000

I hear you. Raising our boys in Key West, mecca of alternative lifestyles, was a help to protect them from racist remarks and attitudes. Here’s my little tiny piece of advice from experience: they learn how to behave from you. They learn what is really important from you. They learn tolerance for the ignoramuses of the world – of which there are millions, we are totally outnumbered – from you. And they miss half the bad stuff. I’ve made the mistake of calling attention to it in my loud self-righteous indignation when they didn’t even notice… When they are old enough to notice, hopefully they will have learned tolerance and have such good self esteem, it will slide off their backs.

When my hackles get raised and I can hardly keep my mouth shut (especially hard when it comes to my kids), I have to look at myself and wonder why it matters to me what an ignoramus thinks or says? If I can teach myself and my children good boundaries and a health love of self, what an accomplishment!!! If you figure it out, please let me know how.

Saratica’s last blog post..Calling All Sewing Machines