Posts Tagged ‘Orange County Moms Blog’

My latest posts at the Orange County Moms Blog…

Do you talk about race with your kiddos?

See the very vanilla (and extremely adorable) me below and give me advice on my post “Are Children born colorblind?” about how to talk to my kiddos about this sensitive topic…

Update: Great discussion about how to talk about race with your kiddos! Kristen from Rage Against the Minivan and multicultural mom through adoption has an awesome post called The Myth of the Colorblind Kid. AND recommended some great reads to help:

• NurtureShock by  Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman (You can find it on Amazon which had the best price!)
• I’m Chocolate, You’re Vanilla: Raising Healthy Black and Biracial Children in a Race-Conscious World: A Guide for Parents and Teachers by Marguerite A. Wright (Found it at half.com, prices as low as $.96!)

I have some once a month help… but I’m feeling a bit guilty about it… visit “My house is clean but my conscience isn’t.” 

I read a couple of books a month. 
One with my awesome-going-strong-for-3-years friends’ book club and usually one for fun.
We don’t have TV (hence the 3 kiddos in 4 years) and I’m an insomniac! When I can’t sleep I read till my eyes roll.
Now I’m adding the SV Moms Book Club to my list of reads. My first read with them is I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced.

If you are wondering what this book is about – look no further than the title…
Nujood, one of 16 children from Yemen, is married off by her father at age 9 to a man in his 30s. (UG!!!) She is also the first child bride in Yemen to be granted a divorce! (Yay!) If you’re thinking this tale took place in the 50′s, think again! Nujood was divorced in 2008 and was named a Glamour Woman of the Year the same year.
The story follows her through her “happy” childhood in the country, moving to the city where her father can’t hold a job and her siblings are forced to sell gum to tourists, her marriage & divorce, and ends up with her moving back in with her family.

Instead of recapping the whole story. I’m just going to share my thoughts. Then you read the book and come back here and we can discuss!
My thoughts…
I’m a lover of happy endings. Honestly, I wanted the story to end with a modern Yemen family whisking Nujood away so she could be away from her khat addicted father and brainwashed dysfunctional family. Nujood is so brave for seeking out a divorce but I think her choosing to live with her family again shows that she is still under the thumb of her father and brothers. She wants to continue school and become a lawyer to help other child brides but without the support of her family I believe she will never accomplish that goal. i.e. the epilogue states that she has already dropped out of her school.
Is anyone else VERY disturbed by the tribal proverb in Yemen?

“To guarantee a happy marriage, marry a nine-year-old.”

 
Should you read the book…?
Yes! It’s a quick read (I read it during nap time), the story is inspiring and will spark great conversations with your book club! 
Note: I’m very sensitive when it comes to child abuse (what mom isn’t?) and I was worried Nujood’s treatment by her husband would be too graphic. It wasn’t. Though you know what happens and your heart just breaks. 

Is Yemen the only place 9-year-olds are on display?
Nope, you don’t have to look much farther than Orange County…

Read my post over at the Orange County Moms Blog!
Welcome to the strip club

That just may be the most random title I have ever written!!
Check out my defining moment as a mom at the Orange County Moms Blog
Motherhood = Throw-up

Do you want to win a free family photoshoot with Elizabeth Luna Photography!?!?

Enter to win at my post on Inland Empire Family!

(The shoot must take place in Riverside County)

Hello my friends!
We had a blast at the Swapper yesterday!
I’m pretty tired today… so tired that I let the kiddos eat fruit snacks for breakfast.
REALLY!
Here is a whrrl overview of the OC Marketplace and a bit about Claim Jumper’s awesome customer service last night!! 
Wow… impressive!!

More to come!
 
But while you wait for the post comment on this story about how I dealt with Eli and Cora Jane’s first bully at Chick-fil-a over at the Orange County Moms Blog. 
Warning: I won’t be getting the Mother of the Year award.

My picture graced the pages of OC Family last month.
When I showed my mom, her exact words were,
“Is that it?”
The picture is the size of a postage stamp…
but it’s still there!!
Here is the cover with my lovely friend Suz on the cover and my cute lil’ postage stamp…

This month I was also in the magazine. This time my pic was more of small label size.
I’m moving up!!
Maybe if I get any professional shots I’ll get to be centerfold!
(Any photographers want to shoot me for free?)
Ha!
Cover and me with my blogger friends…

Pick up a FREE copy of OC Family almost anywhere. I get mine at Juice it Up. They are a great resource for OC moms!!
Click on the She’s Crafty button in my sidebar to see all my posts!!

I’ve just started writing for the new Orange County Moms Blog.
Check out my first post. It’s a tongue and cheek Guide to NOT Parenting.
I’ll be posting there a few times a month. Click on this button in my sidebar for a direct link to all my posts.

Eli’s Lids was featured on Scout - A Mom’s Guide to Stylish Living.
Who can blame them?
Our Lids ROCK!!
See the post here with our Lids included in a list of Cool things for little boys.

Whew… we really are everywhere!!