Rage Against the Minivan

👏👏 Repost @whitesugarbrownsugar ・・・ We’re at the store and spot a display of little baby dolls—and immediately feel sad. 🖤white people need to stop only buying all-the-white-things for their white kids. It’s totally fine to have a “just like me” doll or to like toys-celebrities-shows-books-music-superheroes that feature white people. But to exclusively stick to whiteness is not helping teach your children that all-skin-tones are valuable and beautiful. 🖤 If you leave it to mainstream media, your kids will too often learn that white is the hero/protagonist/winner/good guy/savior and Black is bad/criminal/sidekick/street smart/sassy. This isn’t a healthy message. Instead, it’s a message that deepens the roots of white supremacy and, in turn, systemic racism, micro aggressions, and stereotypes. 🖤What if your white kids only believe Black people are good at basketball, for example, but never learn about Black people in other areas like science, art, and film? What about @mickeyguyton @dariusrucker @jimmieallen @kanebrown_music — all country music stars? What about @mistyonpointe and @michaeladeprince — Black ballerinas? They are just a few examples. 🖤 There’s a big, beautiful, melanin-rich world out there. White people—teach your kids NOW. Yes, it starts with the little things like which doll you buy, which song you listen to, and which book you read. 🖤 #representationmatters #beintentional . HT @jessicanturner https://ift.tt/2T6iGS4

Today in “taking care of my body” I’m trying accupuncture to deal with some TMJ issues I’ve been having since my sinus surgery. The anesthesiologist did a number on my jaw when intubating me and it’s been bothering me ever since. Has anyone found success treating TMJ? Feels like such a mystery issue to treat. I’m also here for any accupuncture stories. Has it worked for you? https://ift.tt/2sN4xyp

Last spring, I had a follow up mammogram after my previous exam had been flagged six months prior. They saw some concerning spots on that follow up mammogram, and then sent me for an ultrasound. After the ultrasound, they wanted a second look, so they sent me for an MRI. I scheduled the MRI for July 26, and I showed up, got dressed in the gown, and proceeded to have a panic attack so bad that they asked me to reschedule. Then I rescheduled for August 23. Same thing… Got dressed in the gown, went into the room, and had a panic attack. I tried again September 10. Then again October 3rd. Every time, I could not keep it together enough to have the test. I felt defeated and considered just not doing it at all. In the fall, a dear friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was a shock when she told a small group of us over lunch. Her prognosis was good, thankfully. But as we got up from the table and hugged each other, she implored all of us: Get your mammograms, you guys. Make sure you stay on top of this shit. I felt a pain in my stomach because I knew that I was several months delinquent on taking care of my shit. So I did it. On December 27, I took some anti-anxiety meds got dressed in the gown and then sat through the MRI. It was terrible. Actually, pretty much worse than I thought. But I did it. I did it for my friend, because she told me to. I kept her on the forefront of my mind throughout that test. I visited my doctor today to get the results. All clear. They think it’s a lymph node. Follow up MRI in 6 months to be sure. Putting this here to make sure I do it. And also to say to whoever needs to hear it: get your shit taken care it. Even if it terrifies you. Let’s hold each other to that. https://ift.tt/2T1wk8R

Cuban food with some of my favorite people. https://ift.tt/35x9Lvz

Breakfast in bed on the cute @magnolia platter they picked out for my birthday. ❤️❤️ https://ift.tt/2SFH8Jx

Saw Little Women with my two little women and cried through the entire second half. Man I loved that book at their age and the movie was a lovely retelling. My “little men” were in the next theater over watching Star Wars for the second time this week. I tried .... https://ift.tt/36aKQPz

Me at 1pm: For real, no sleepovers tonight. Me at 11pm: Okay but everyone has to go right to sleep... https://ift.tt/2Snh465

Do I have enough rust-colored tops from Target Y/N? https://ift.tt/2EJEqdQ

A note about your divorced friends this holiday season. It's possible it sucks for them. It's possible they are having to swallow down tears because they have to spend their holidays with a toxic person in order to allow their kids to have both parents present for their celebrations. OR,, it's possible they don't get their kids on Christmas eve, or Christmas morning, and they spend that time sitting in the grief of not having their children with them. It's possible they aren't invited to celebrations with people they considered family for most of their adult life because divorce sometimes means losing inlaws, too. It's possible longstanding traditions with couple friends are awkward, fractured, or just plain canceled. It's possible they are overwhelmed, because pulling off Christmas with kids but without a partner is exhausting. It's possible they are incredibly lonely. It's possible they will spend Christmas morning watching their kids open gifts, but with nothing under the tree for them. It's possible every Christmas card with a photo of a happy couple feels like a punch in the gut. it's possible - and probable - that their life looks nothing like they ever thought it would, and that the holidays are a stark reminder of that, no matter how well they're dealing with things the rest of the year. Go easy on your divorced friends. Reach out. Include them. Check in on them.Take their kids shopping for something for mom if you know their ex won't. Listen. Let them vent. Let them off the hook. Let them be angry, and bitter, and sad. It's hard than you can imagine. https://ift.tt/2rdGN5x

I took brussel sprouts to a potluck. They were delicious and now my car smells like farts. Just gonna have to light it on fire I think. Goodbye 2013 Toyota Sienna. https://ift.tt/2teVs0W

Carnitas by #foodiejafta https://ift.tt/34qcm9T

I just had a “mosh pit etiquette” conversation with a child who is being dropped at his first adult concert. He was unimpressed with my experience and wisdom on this matter. In other news, I taught a child to peg her jeans. Wisdom and experience mildly appreciated here. https://ift.tt/2EiicQ5

I’m usually a mom that lets the kids choose their own activities, but music lessons is the one area that I’m pushy. My mom forced me to take piano lessons my entire childhood. I hated it. But now I am so appreciative that I know how to play an instrument. I think knowing how to play an instrument is such an amazing coping skill in adulthood. So I’ve always required it for my kids. When my kids got to middle school, I made all of them take guitar class, because hello free music lessons. We are super lucky to go to a school where the kids are offered three electives, with many of them being in the arts. All three of them were irritated at having to take guitar. But it has grown on India, and last night she participated in a concert with some of her classmates, and I felt glad that I forced it. Jafta already took the class and I will regularly find him sitting and playing in the living room. Do you require your kids to do certain activities? Or do you let them choose? How do you strike that balance? https://ift.tt/2s1W8Xa

Kids gone. Christmas music on. Leftovers. Moscow mules. 🙌 https://ift.tt/2Y2nvfF

There’s always the one relative that goes at the carcass. 🤢😂 #foodiejafta https://ift.tt/2OT0APA

Mayhem https://ift.tt/2XU0afN

India is seeing #frozen2 today and decided to wear the dress she wore to the first one. 😂😂 https://ift.tt/2L1p0VQ