The misrepresentation of Africa and why I am a ONE member

As many of you know I am a passionate ONE.org member. I went to the monthly meeting this morning and I left inspired as I always do. After leaving a ONE meeting or function I always ask myself, out of all the wonderful organizations out there why have I chosen ONE? What keeps drawing me back in? I don't have the full answer yet but I do have a good understanding.

The foundation is that I lived the first 6 years of my life on the continent and I have been back a couple of times. I was very young so I do not have the capability of recalling and comparing in a way that would be understandable. It's simply embedded in who I am. I am an empathetic and compassionate person so of course I would seek an organization that helps the less fortunate. I am a mom and it pains me to think other mom's have to watch their children die unnecessarily. These are extremely simplistic reasons that tug on my heart strings. There are many issues in this world that tug at my heart strings and I realize that is not enough to make me a passionate advocate. So what is it about ONE that has drawn me in so completely? I will try to answer that question.

First and foremost, ONE.org does not ask for money. Hell, I ain't rich and my baby needs shoes. All they ask is for your voice to keep the less than 1% of our foreign aid budget intact. I can do that! And the beauty of it, is it doesn’t take any time at all!

When I came home from the monthly ONE meeting my mind was filled with so many thoughts. I saw a TED video posted by Mark Olsen about Africa and how journalists, researchers and NGO's misrepresent the continent.

This inspired me to write this note. I realized again that ONE takes me back to my Communication Studies degree. I started thinking about my favorite theory, The Narrative Paradigm Theory by Walter Fisher. I won't bore you with all the scholarly details. Please google it if you'd like to learn more. The gist of the theory is that we are all storytellers, we make judgments with "good reason" and form our opinions by the stories we are told. The theory also relies on the coherence and fidelity of the story. This is only a fraction of the theory. It reminds me how powerful a story can be, whether it's in print, oral form, photography or a painting. Think about the message it is sending and how true to reality that message is. Is it only showing you one side or is it showing you the bigger picture? Is it twisting reality for its own purpose or for greater knowledge and understanding? (Why I can't stand Fox news, yes I said it).

Here are my thoughts today of why I am a ONE member. What are the images we see of Africa? Please let me know what terms immediately spring to your mind when you hear the word Africa. I will admit mine are: poverty, sickness, AIDS, starvation, death. And I have lived there and seen it be so different! There is vibrancy, life and color to the continent that words in our English language cannot even begin to describe. Yes, there is illness, yes people are poor, hungry and dying but that is not all that it is. Leslie Dodson was quick to point out that Africa is not a country it is a continent. Africa is not in impoverished ruin. There are countries such as Botswana whose economy is thriving and extremely competitive to South Africa's. Even in the poorer countries such as Kenya, there are farmers that are thriving. The continent is full of entrepreneurs and their stories inspire me. Did you know that a woman made a washing machine out of a vuvuzela or that a bicycle is not just transportation, it can also be used to charge a cell phone when the power goes out? I cannot get enough of these stories!

So back to the main question; why does ONE inspire me? The less than l% of the foreign aid budget serves a bigger purpose than just helping the impoverished that tug on our heart strings. It helps with national security. Did you know Al Qaeda is in the horn of Africa “helping” by giving out water and rice? In my opinion, a person who is hungry and they are watching their children die because of starvation will get the help they need and be influenced by anyone. That scared the bejeezers out of me! I paraphrase a quote from World Aids Day in Washington D.C., “how can we do trade with people who are sick and dying?” Our budget helps the global economy which in turn helps ours. As a ONE member I want to send the message that Africa is not just an impoverished 3^rd world nation. There are many areas that are thriving because of our foreign aid. With our help we can help them help themselves in the areas that need it most right now. We share the same planet and are no different. U.S. citizens are just lucky enough to live in a different environment. Read Rachel Fox’s blog post titled “Peeling Potatoes with Grace”. I don’t see the budget as charity. I see it as a necessary means of teamwork, a collaborative effort on both nations part to help Africa with their current struggles. This is the message I want to send and why I am a ONE member.

If you would like further reading feel free to visit:

One

and

Rachel Fox's blog

Rainbow Hunting

It's been a tough week. My job is stressful but I was given an opportunity to lay out some much needed changes and only hope that it may have an impact and a benefit for the company as a whole.

Marley had a few stressfull days this week. Thankfully her fangs did not come out but the temper tantrums did. This was Wednesday morning with my grumpulophougus.

Marley laying on the floor, crying:

"Marney no want juice"

Mom asks "Do you want a breakfast bar?"

"Nooooooo". sniffle, sniffle.

Mom asks, "Does Marley need hugs and snuggles?"

"No, Marney no want hugs and snuggles." with a louder pitch and a few fists hitting the floor.

Mom asks "Does Marley want to lay on the floor and cry?"

"YEEEEESSSSS"

It was left at that. A happy Marley emerged about 10 minutes later and all ended well.

Sometimes we all need a good cry.

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I love Friday. Marley and I have been walking to the river front to listen to free concerts. We enjoy a slice of pizza and listen to a band and then head home. Sometimes we go with friends and sometimes we don't.

It was raining last night and I was really tired. The music venue was an 80's chick hairband and I was not in the mood. So we opted to stay home. We made a lady bug out of construction paper and glue. It kept our interest for about half an hour. Wondering what to do next, I noticed that it was still raining but the sun was out. This is when we decided to go on a rainbow hunt and we found one. This adventure led us around the block seeing neighbors, a fire truck and a heart built out of bricks.

I can't seem to get enough of the simple things in life these days and thanks to Marley they are more fascinating than ever before.

It wasn't the rain....

...that detoured me from the beach this weekend, it was the lightning. I was somewhat disappointed because it was our plan, a wonderful day at the beach. I like the beach when it's cold or rainy yet I love the beach when it's warm and sunny. It's simply, earth, in it's raw beauty.

Last Friday Marley was nicknamed "Rain Goddess" at school. I remember dancing in the rain as a child and how much fun it was and how good it felt. Why I stopped doing such things, I don't know. I have come to realize that one of the true joys of being a parent is rediscovering the child in me and all the little things in life that are a joy.

Here is to my Rain Goddess. May you splash in many puddles, dance to the beat of your own heart and live to always enjoy the simple things in life.

In the midst of insanity

As crazy as my life is, there are a few treasured moments that bring life back to reality.

After Marley and I read our books before bed she looked out the window and saw the full moon. She exclaimed, "Moon, Mommy, Moon-Mommy Marley go outside see Moon!" It was 15 minutes past her bedtime. The clock in me said "no" and a voice inside said "of course!". I carried her outside and found a spot on the porch where the trees and houses did not obstruct it in any way. We stood there, Marley in my arms, and we stared at it and talked about it a little. After a few quiet moments, Marley kissed me on the cheek and said, "I love you, Mom".

Moments...precious moments......


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There is a serial biter at Marley's daycare. This little boy, who I will call Lestat in the name of privacy. Lestat was on a rampage for awhile biting who he could and when he could. Marley fell victim three times in a month and other classmates more often. A meeting was held with the director and appropriate action was taken.

Two year olds don't necessarily bite because they are bad/unhappy toddlers. They bite for a variety of reasons one being they don't know how to express themselves any other way. They are only two! Another reason being, simple exploration. What ever the reason, it should not be taken lightly.

Lestat has not bitten Marley in at least a month. Last Wednesday, I was gathering Marley's things and noticed the dreaded piece of paper neatly folded and clipped with her art work and daily report. My first thought was, please not again! Then I looked down at the dreaded piece of paper and saw that Marley was not bitten. She was the one that BIT! I was horrified. My beautiful, blond haired girl grew vampire teeth in a matter of hours!

On our drive home I asked Marley who she bit. She said, "Marley bite Lestat Mom, Marley make Lestat cry". I almost drove the car off the road. Part of me wanted to say 'good for you, great job!" and the rational part kicked in and said, "we don't bite our friends".

Talking with her teachers the next morning, the consesus is that Marley had just had it with this boy. She was acting like a typical two and she stood up for herself. I simply can not stop laughing as horrible as that sounds. In a way I am very proud of her and in another way I am realizing she is going to be a handful as she gets older.

Why I miss Blogging

My schedule:

Rise and Shine: 6:30
-Snuggle time with Marley
-Juice and breakfast for Marley
-Coffee is percolating
-Beagles are walked to the back yard (don't ask, ask the house instead)
-Sit with Marley and enjoy a cup of coffee
-Make Marley's lunch
-Brush teeth, get dressed, etc and try not to forget the beagles in the backyard.

Run out the door at 8:05 a.m.- This, on occasion, has been the time Marley chooses to take Elmo for a walk around the block. An activity that is slated for the evenings and weekends.

8:20 a.m. Marley and I arrive at daycare. I help Marley settle in, talk to her teachers, etc.

8:30 a.m. time for Mom to go to work.

8:45 a.m. I'm clocked in.



5:45 p.m. Clock out. Race to the daycare.

5:58 p.m. Big huge smile from my most adoring fan and a "Mommy!"

Some days a run to the grocery store as Marley would say "shopping!" other days straight home.

Then it's dinner, activity time and the night time ritual.

8:30 Marley is sound asleep.

It leaves me with two hours of time for dishes, shower, miscellaneous odds and ends and maybe a little reading, video watching time to myself.

All I can say is I love weekends!

Being a Mom that has to work has it's challenges.

More to come.

The Sneaky Chef

Marley is a very picky eater. As a baby she ate almost everything that I put in front of her until she was 18 months old. It was like a light bulb turned off. She started refusing all the food I normally prepared. Her doctor and many friends and relatives told me not worry, that kids only eat what their bodies need. Being a first time Mom, I still worried. She's healthy but I worry that she's missing out on a crucial developmental stage of trying new flavors and textures.

For Christmas my sister in-law gave me a fabulous cookbook called The Sneaky Chef. This cookbook for kids "hides" vegetables in favorite dishes like pizza, mac 'n' cheese, hot dogs, etc. My first reaction was, what a wonderful concept!

I was going through the cookbook yesterday to pick out a couple of recipes to make this weekend and I started thinking. Is this concept really fabulous? It certainly makes meal time less of a struggle for a parent but is it truly a good idea in the long term for kids? The vegetables are pureed, so that children do not detect them and the flavors are hidden-hence the sneakiness. Shouldn't a child be offered the cauliflower in it's unpureed form to be able to enjoy it as an adult? If children are only eating vegetables that are hidden, won't they miss out on a developmental stage of being introduced (even if it's over and over again) to certain foods?

Like Marley, I was a very picky eater as a child. As an adult, I will eat certain foods that I would not even try as a child. Although, I am still picky. Certain vegetables I still won't eat but it certainly was not a lack of my parents trying.

Any thoughts about this would be greatly appreciated!

I am still going to make a couple of the recipes today. The corn muffins with zucchini sounds delicious! And I am not a fan of zucchini at all.

What to do in February....

I found this over at Montessori Mama's and had to steal.

The February 10
I think the February ten is right up my alley:

1. Blogger.

2. Snuggling under warm blankets with Marley.

3. A car that has finally warmed up to the point that I can blast the heat.

4. My bathrobe and slippers at night.

5. Two obnoxious beagles that keep my feet warm and my face clean.

6. The warmth of the oven when I take out a batch of oatmeal cookies.

7. Very happy that I no longer live in snow country. Although 11,600 feet was fun in my twenties the coast of NC is more my pace in my 30's.

8. Bundling up and taking Marley for walks in her stoller.

9. My sweaters. I have a few that I just love to wear!

10. The Febraury 10 that I will steal and post on my blogger page in hopes that the author does not mind.

Daily Chef

As I am learning how to cook daily foods again I came across a great dish. It did not come from a food website or one of my many cookbooks nor my Mother. I found it on the back of a Pierogies box and changed it of course.

Pierogies a la Spectacular

A box of delicious frozen Pierogies
Portobello Mushrooms
Red Onion
Olive Oil
Parmesan Cheese

Dice the onion, chop the portobellos. Heat the olive oil until warm and throw all the ingredients in until the pierogies are no longer frozen and the onion and portobellos are to your liking. Sprinkle with parmesan and feast!

Next time I may add fresh spinach, red pepper and a smackering of hot red pepper flakes.

This is the best dish I have found so far when you are tired, hungry, have a two year old and need to find the time to blow bubbles.