Chick With Brains

Wow

"Don’t ever ask permission to start a revolution..."

 A quote from Franklin McCain, one of the students from North Carolina A&T State University who started the Woolworth’s lunch counter sit-ins, at the grand opening of the International Civil Rights Center and Museum on Feb. 01, 2010.

Amen, Sista!

"I think there's a special place in hell for women who don't help each other." --Madeleine Albright, Oct. 27, 2009 The Women's Conference, How A Woman's Nation Changes Everything session

I suddenly feel old.

So the other night, we're watching the movie Sixteen Candles. (Does that movie ever get old? I submit that it does not.) The scene is Jake Ryan looking around his empty living room after it has been trashed by party-goers. The camera pans to a close-up of the stereo and my 8-year-old daughter asks me, "Mom. What's that black stuff coming out of the stereo?" And I had to explain to her what a cassette tape was. Ouch.

Teaching life lessons

Every evening when I put my elementary school-aged daughter to bed, she and I usually spend several minutes talking about what happened at school that day. The other night, my daughter was telling me about the older 4^th graders who wouldn’t let her and her friends play on the new jungle gym at school. I asked what did she and her friends do.  She replied that they decided they were going to come up with some playground rules for all of the students to follow when playing on the new jungle gym. “Mom?” she asked. “What are some rules we can have for the playground?”

“Well,” I replied, “playground rules usually include something like everyone needs to wait his or her turn. No pushing. No cutting in line.” “Mom?” she interrupted. “What does ‘no cutting in line’ mean?”

I began to explain, “Well, let’s say you, your little brother and I are waiting in line to go down the slide. Your little brother is first in line. I’m second and you’re third. Now let’s say Daddy comes up and stands in front of your little brother and goes first instead of going to the end of the line. That’s cutting in line.”

After my explanation, my daughter got quiet…no doubtly thinking about what I just said. I was lying there feeling pretty good that I had this opportunity to teach her a life lesson about playing nicely together and waiting your turn. And after a minute or two of quiet contemplation, she turned to me and said “But Mom…I don’t want to be third.”

Don't be such a baby

One blog that I regularly read is Zen Habits. I love it because I get something out of it almost every read. Today's post, How to Stop Acting Like Such a Big Baby,  is about learning to not complain so much. This post couldn't have come at a better time for me. As a mom of 2 small kids, I find I complain...a lot. Why does my youngest have to wake up so early every morning? Why do I have to constantly remind the kids to pick up their toys? Why doesn't my husband help me out more? Are all the cars on the road conspiring against me to make me late for my long-awaited and much needed hair appointment? There are some days when I can't stand the sound of my own voice from all the complaining I do!

I know I'm not setting a good example for my kids. Nor do I like putting out all that negative energy. Not to mention, it doesn't really make me feel any better. Most of the time I don't even realize I'm doing it. It's become second nature, I'm afraid. 

According to the author of the post on Zen Habits, there are two steps to stop complaining:

1. Make it a priority to notice every time you complain or unnecessarily criticize. This includes judging others. Now, every time you catch yourself complaining, just stop and notice it.
2. After you’ve noticed yourself complaining, ask yourself this: Is there anything I can do about what I’m complaining about, or it outside of my control? If there is something you can do about it, do it. If there is nothing you can do, let it go.

It's worth a shot. What do I have to lose...a bad attitude? I'll let you know how it goes. In the mean time, I have to go bring in the trash cans. I see my husband forgot to bring them in...again. Must I do everything?!

Why didn't anyone tell me?

Did you know that tomorrow night, Thursday May 7th, is National Mom's Nite Out?! I didn't! I happened to stumble on that nugget on a local news site. So now I'm going to call a couple girlfriends to get together, beg my husband to watch the kids, and get all dolled up for a night on the town. Woo hoo!

Ok, so the scenario will most likely be I will go by myself to buy some suddenly empty milk (read: go to Starbucks for a cup of java) wearing my grey sweat pants and white v-neck t-shirt and enjoy the momentary solitude all the while feeling guilty. Ahh, motherhood.

But seriously, it really is National Mom's Nite Out tomorrow, so Google it to find local happenings in your community celebrating this event. Ciao!

Follow your bliss

Lately, I've been asking myself "What do I really want to be when I grow up?" Not that I am anywhere near adolescence mind you. In fact, I recently attended my 20-year high school reunion.  But I think we all go through times in our lives when we ask ourselves "Is this how I imagined my life would be? Am I doing what I love? Am I the kind of person I want to be? What's my place in the world?" 

So instead of sitting around pondering these questions, I decided to actually do something. As luck would have it, the Universe gave me just the thing I needed to get me started. The other day I came across an article, "Follow Your Bliss: The Holy Work of Living Your Dreams", that really inspired me. You see, I'm an editor by profession, but have secretly always wanted to be a writer. So I've decided to take the plunge and follow my bliss...welcome to my blog.

How did I come up with "Chick with Brains" you ask? Well, the other day, I walked my daughter to school and was sitting at the lunch tables watching her play on the playground before the school bell rang. Along comes a stylishly dressed 3rd grade girl who sits down next to me and proceeds to tell me that her friend, Megan, likes this boy TJ who is in 5th grade and she (Megan) wants Anonymous-Girl-Sitting-Next-To-Me to introduce her to TJ. Usually Megan is at school before Anonymous Girl, but of course that day Megan is no where to be found. Pre-big introduction jitters maybe?

Now what does this story have anything to do with Chick with Brains? Well, Stylishly-Dressed-Anonymous-Girl was wearing a button on her shorts that said "Chick with Brains." I don't know why that button made me smile, but it did. I guess I picture a chick with brains as a woman who can be a little sassy, who's independent, and who's smart. So the Chick with Brains blog was born.

I invite you to browse around. I hope you find something interesting that will keep you thinking.