My son is in a time-out at the moment because like many American parents, I can’t tear myself away from the election coverage, and he knows it. “Mommy, can I play with this?” he asks, holding up a wire clothes hanger from who knows where in his completely, totally, one hundred per cent toddler-proofed room.
After the third episode of Little Bill I guiltily let him watch, he announces he’s hungry. But he’s just wolfed down two bowls of oatmeal, three boxes of raisins, and a big cup of “drink” as he calls it-half water, half pomegranate juice. I tell him to play quietly and he hurls himself across the room, knocking an Isamu Noguchi paper lantern off the African stool next to the sofa.
Ah, the life of apart-time stay at home mom, one who travels the world speaking and teaching when she’s not blogging, lecture writing, web-casting, memoir writing, manuscript consulting, and wrangling a three year old—seemingly all at once.
You parents know how it is. Part of me thinks I’m a bad mom, the other knows this is the most important election of my generation, one that will have tremendous impact on my son, who may want to be President of the United States himself one day.
I’m pretty sure of my candidate, but I do know that a lot of my issues still haven’t been addressed in the stump speeches --a real plan for affordable, accessible, and high-quality childcare, for one. Passing the Breastfeeding Promotion Act for another. And extending the Family Leave Act, so that parents can spend more time with their children without losing their jobs.
I’d also like to hear a culturally sensitive discussion about reproductive justice. Abortion is not the only aspect of reproductive freedom. I’d like to hear the candidates on ensuring that every family has, psychologically and financially, a real choice about whether or not to have a child. This would include freedom from environmental racism, a plan to end the criminalization of black men, and a ban against genetically modified food that dampens the human immune system.
So, welcome to Seeds, the blog for all things mommy (and daddy, to the extent I’m able) here on the Root. I’m thrilled to be here, and promise my posts won’t all be about the admittedly un-fun topic of politics.
I’ll be blogging twice a week about the most fabulous toys and books for kids, the question of discipline—my struggle with how and when, how to prepare to take the tot to Thailand, and every other little thing that comes up in the life of a busy, thinking mom in the crazy, beautiful, ever-changing world in which we live.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it all.
