How do we value human time?

The artist Alexia Nye Jackson has an art exhibit and non-profit organization committed to the message that mothers' work makes the world go around, in the most true, deep and meaningful ways, called Mother: The Job. She includes on her site a three minute clip of her film, about the value of what a mother does, called All Day. You must watch it and order the full length version too.

Inspiration

These images are incredible. An Italian artist named Guido Daniele is the brilliant mind who created this lovely, awe-inspiring art on hand. Visit at www.guidodaniele.com.

What a man!

Will Ferrell carrying his wife's breast pump on the red carpet at the Golden Globes:

Thanks Meredith!

A girl like me

This video, made by a 17-year-old girl, looks at how little has changed since Brown v. Board of Education in terms of how African American children continue to feel about themselves. In a study done at the time, African-American children were asked to pick between a white doll and an African American doll and the children overwhelmingly picked the doll with fairer skin -- saying that doll was better, nicer and prettier than the doll with dark skin. This film reconducts that study. I first watched this yesterday and still can't stop thinking about it.

Baby Einstein and buying into whatever we're fed

This commentary from NPR is an interesting take on the subject of that gigantic WTF moment in the State of the Union address last week: Baby Einstein's founder singled out for numerous minutes as a true, American "hero." That's quite a lot of valuable speech-time real estate the President gave to Mrs. Aigner-Clark.

Um, what about Katrina?

From the NPR piece:

During the build-up to the Iraq war, the President's chief of staff was asked why Bush waited until September to promote the invasion. He replied, "From a marketing point of view, you don't introduce new products in August."

Do we want to raise a generation of die-hard consumers trained from birth to buy into war as just another product? Or do we want to raise democratic citizens?

We know what this Administration prefers.

The Deep Nerve Mothers and Children Hit - What is it all about?

When it comes to motherhood, nobody is safe. It amazes me, every single time, how negative so many people get around issues involving mothers and children -- ESPECIALLY (but certainly not limited to) when an airplane is involved. I have a post on Huffington Post today about the family that was kicked of an AirTran flight because the three-year-old was having a meltdown. Since I am writing this as my almost-three-year-old is having a temper tantrum extraordinaire, I have even more sympathy for that mom and dad.

What gets me is the comments already posted at HuffPost. Check them out. What is it? Why do we moms, and often, our kids tap such a nerve in people? Is it just me, or does it feel like more and more people take aggressive issue with so many things mothers do (which make it into the media) -- blogging, cocktail playdates, nursing on planes, or taking kids to coffee shops (I'll put in links when my little guy calms down, although that doesn't seem likely any time soon).

The anger runs so deep, and these people feel compelled to share their venom in such unproductive ways, why?

PS. if you are over at HuffPost, I would love you to weigh in!

Birthdays without pressure?

Birthday parties have been a hot button topic for a few years now, and I am sure you often find them exhausting (and overwhelming) like I do - not just to host, but to attend, too.

Check out this new website and its blog called Birthdays Without Pressure.org.

From the website:

What's out of control about birthday parties today?

Party costs are skyrocketing.
The number of children exceeds what many parents can handle.
Children are getting too many presents that cost too much money.
Gift bags contain more and more junk.
Kids get over-stimulated and difficult to manage.
Themes and venues have to be cooler and better each year.
Birthday celebrations are turning into “party weeks” with several parties: family, friends, and school.
Being on the “party circuit” is stressing families’ schedules and budgets.
There is pressure to make parties perfect, original, and enriching—a once in a lifetime experience every year.

Some of the commenters, as you can guess since this is one of THOSE topics we all have opinions on and experiences with, are starting to get a bit unproductive and snarky, unfortunately, but many of them offer some good insight, too. For example:

As I prepared the budget for 2007 for my family, I looked at prior expenditures from 2006 and 2005 and the average expenses for the category "gifts given", which does not include Christmas was $2,800 per year. Of this, over $600 per year was for my 2 little children attending approx. 40 other children's (i.e. classmates, neighbors, mom's club, etc...) birthday parties that they get invited to each year. My children also have birthday and christmas parties with other children attending and there is a separate party for children and the family, so in a matter of two weeks for two children, we have at least 4 birthday parties for the 2 kids. I have had nummerous disagreements with my spouse over the money, time, multiple parties and sheer number of gifts that show up. These parties have gift bags, fancy cakes, themes, etc.. I do not want my children to grow up thinking "what do I get now" and expecting a gift everytime they hear "party". It is hurting my budget, my kids' expections and perpetuates the "have to keep up with the Jones' mentality. I am sharing this site with my spouse and hopefully that will help in my discussions about all of this focus on parties, gifts and needless spending.

Ugh. With four kids, I don't even want to think about adding up our yearly birthday party-related expenses. But, at the end of that party, you gotta admit, you see their big smiles and it's all worth it.

Great Find from Pundit Mom

Check out this post on Pundit Mom about a Katie Couric interview in Esquire. Great find, PM!

Father and Daughter

The Speaker of the House - For All America's Children the House Will Come to Order

"It is an historic moment for the Congress, and an historic moment for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited over 200 years. Never losing faith, we waited through the many years of struggle to achieve our rights. But women weren't just waiting; women were working. Never losing faith, we worked to redeem the promise of America, that all men and women are created equal. For our daughters and granddaughters, today we have broken the marble ceiling. For our daughters and our granddaughters, the sky is the limit, anything is possible for them."

To send Speaker Pelosi a congratualtory message through MomsRising.org click here.