The new black

Loved this. Loved, loved, loved this.

My eyes! My eyes!

OK, another pinkeye post... When he got his first eyedrop, Eddie began to scream. I pried open his left eye and put in the next eyedrop. He then leapt up and began crying, "I can't see! I can't see!" At this point, I used my most calm voice and instructed him to open his eyes. It took a few more seconds of panic about his sudden onset blindness before he reluctantly opened his eyes and said, "Oh."

The new color in eyes this season is pink

If you're a rabbit, that's no big deal. But for human boys, it means a trip to the doctor for you and a $50 prescription bill for your mom. Fortunately, I think we caught it fairly quickly -- their eyes are a very light shade and the crusting is minimal. Honestly, if they were just about 10 years older (or, who am I kidding, less) I'd have suspected they had been smoking the wacky tobaccy -- glassy, bloodshot eyes and all. Fortunately for them (and me) it's just conjunctivitis, so lecturing is limited to the importance of handwashing and not rubbing your eyes.

Unfortunately, every time I think about their condition, my eyes start to itch. I'd be a great patient in hypnotherapy, I think -- I'm quite prone to suggestion...

Dirty Old Woman

So today I went to my grandnephew Dylan's high school dive meet. He made state, which I'm told is kind of a big deal. Anyway, he did great (Personally, I would have given him all 10s, but the judges minds were clearly muddled my colds. Or was that mine?), made it to the next round which we won't be able to attend because of the boys' basketball game but that's not really why I'm posting. Stay with me here.

So I'm watching these teenage divers as they get on the board, stretch and flex and, oh my. They are exquisitely proportioned. Now, I wasn't getting all hot and bothered -- that would just be too, too icky. (Besides I have a terrible head cold so with blood flow being what it is, it woulda been difficult.) But I couldn't help notice just how beautiful these boys' bodies were. And how utterly stupid it was that there weren't a ton of teenage girls there watching. Seriously. These were gorgeous, muscular in just the right proportion guys wearing speedos. And though I've never been a fan of Speedos, if anyone is going to wear them it should be these boys. Alas, it all appeared to be wasted on their moms, grandmas and aunts. Teenage girls who miss this opportunity should have to deduct 150 points from their SATs or their WASLs.

My boy the Super Girl

Last night Chas and I were both feeling pretty miserable with this cold and as we lay in bed snuggling away the chills that hit us both, we talked about school. Specifically, about the "mean kids" at school. He named names and I must say, I wasn't surprised. Later, as he slept, I asked Eddie about this. He also named names, but his list was much longer and included virtually every boy in his class save him and his brother.

The gist of Eddie's story is that the other boys play Mutant Ninja Turtles and play fight and -- with the exception of Chas, of course -- take toys from Eddie and the three girls in the class. "We are playing Super Girls and fixing the house and they just take our toys when we aren't even through playing with them," he said. I asked him to repeat, to confirm that I'd heard correctly that he plays "Super Girls." He was quite nonchalant in his affirmation.

At that moment I was so happy he does not have a father. Because I think that's a hard thing for a dad to hear without worrying. Men are so tied up in their sons' masculine identities that even the most progressive of them would surely feel a twinge and somehow start sending a message that it's not cool to be a Super Girl. I find it charming that he's still so secure in his own essential "maleness" to not be disturbed by labels. And I'm thrilled that he finds fighting -- even "play fighting" distasteful. (Though I wish he'd feel the same about fighting with his brother.)

And speaking of distasteful fighting .... Today to break up a battle I told them that if you fight with someone you love on Valentine's Day, your Valentine's candy will turn bitter and yucky. Eddie told me he doesn't believe it, but I insisted and since then, they've been getting along beautifully.....

Ho hum, I know. But another Hillary post...

Actually, more of a link to what I find to be a post by Erica Jong (who knew?) who just so perfectly sums up how this whole thing feels to me...



Here's a link to the whole brilliant post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-jong/patriarchy1000-hillary_b_86408.html

Have enough people voted yet?

Well, anyone who knows me well knows this was bound to happen. The boys have now gone to their first political rally. OK, not their first. They also went to a religious gay marriage thing. But this was their first rally for a candidate for office. It was cold, then hot, and long and crowded. But they can always say they were there, cheering on the first serious female contender for the presidency. They wanted to know who Hillary was and we told them we hoped she would be our president -- if enough people vote for her. As we left, Eddie looked up expectantly and asked, "Did enough people vote?" We told him the voting would still be a while off, so today he asked again. "Have enough people voted yet?" We're still waiting, buddy. But let's hope the president for the second five years of your life is a whole lot better than the one you had for the first five. Though realistically, that seems to be setting the bar pathetically low...

Why I Heart Hillary

OK, I admit it. I would love Hillary to be our next president. Yes, I know she was wrong about the war. Yes, I know she's a manipulative, political insider. But at least she's a manipulative, political insider working mostly for the right things.

Will I support Barack if he's the nominee? With some heaviness in my heart, but yes. But I'll always be wistful for what could have been. I've searched my soul looking for a reason I'm not excited about him -- is it racism? No. But identity politics do have something to do with it, I'm sure. I look at him and see a powerful man who has certainly overcome a lot. But I don't understand and feel the things he's overcome the way I connect with Hillary's trials and challenges. (And I think gender issues are just naturally closer to gender identity and sexual orientation issues -- I think she "gets" those in a way he doesn't.) It just feels all too familiar seeing people jump to support the younger, charismatic guy while dismissing the woman "of a certain age" for someone who's just plain sexier. Yeah, she knows her stuff. Yeah, she can do the job great. But geez, look at those crow's feet. And aren't we kind of bored with her?

So I'll be caucusing for Hillary. Nothing against Barack -- I'm sure he's a swell guy who would make a great president.

Oh yeah, and here's what prompted this post. It's a letter to the LGBT community that Hillary posted to a gay website. http://www.ourchart.com/node/299303.

GO HILLARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best Mommy in the whole, wide world.

This morning Chas awoke, hugged me and very sleepily said, "You are the best Mommy in the whole, wide world." It's the kind of affirmation I needed after last night's kindergarten readiness panel. At this panel we were essentially told that if we didn't put our kids in full-day kindergarten -- and probably hold them back a year as well --they would remain academically behind their peers, social followers prone to illegal behavior in their teen years and generally ill-suited to leading happy, productive lives. On the other hand, we were also cautioned that these are precious days when they are able to learn so much that if we hold them back too long, they will be dumb as bricks.

I have no intention of holding them back -- they're ready, according to their preschool teacher. Nor do I intend to spend $500 a month so they can attend full-day kindergarten. I mean, it's not like they'll be in daycare or sitting in front of the boob tube on their off days. (OK, not ALL of the time...)

I know much of what we were told was a load of crap. But it was a wake-up call to the realities of public school in 2008. The WASL looms large, even in kindergarten. The pressure is on and there's no time for 5-year-olds to waste looking for worms, building forts or checking out the animals at the zoo. I suppose all of this hit me -- and my friends -- hard because it was the first time we weren't the over-achievers in the parenting department. We're used to being the ones who did it all "right." We're involved parents who give our kids a healthy mix of structured and self-directed play, of group and solo activities. And suddenly we were being told that what our guts tell us is right for our kids is all wrong.

But the truth is, though it made me uncomfortable to hear my decisions challenged and derided, it didn't change my mind. Whether it's a decision about going to the ER because someone's breathing is funny or sending them to kindergarten half-time, I'm going with my gut. It's worked so far. And who are they to challenge me, the best mommy in the whole, wide world?