Back into the routine (and a Grey's Anatomy rant...)

Our Holidays were great, but I think Elizabeth is glad to be back to the routine, and back to school. I think she missed her friends and her teachers. I love that she is liking Kindergarten so much!

Playing outside at Grandma and Grandpa's yesterday afternoon...

On another note...(very) late to the party as always, I started watching Grey's Anatomy on Netflix. I never watched it before, but I'm on the third season now. So addictive! And Dr. McDreamy...oh, yeah...:) There was one adoption related storyline on the show that bothered me though. It was the one where Izzy revealed that as a teenager, she gave up a child for adoption. When Izzy was treating a pregnant girl in the hospital, she was actually trying to talk the girl into giving up her baby, even when the girl was saying she loved her baby and wanted to keep it. Izzy trotted out the whole tired argument about the girl not being able to give her child "the kind of life it deserves" because she lives in a trailer park and the girl's mother works in a factory. As if having a low income makes someone an unfit parent. Ugg...ok, enough of my rant. I know it's only a TV show, but it just bothered me to see that kind of coercion and the idea that she isn't good for enough for her own baby being put into that girl's head.

 

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It's election day!!

A open letter to all Mainers who plan to vote No on Question 1

Ok, I never get political on this blog. But in this case, I just can't keep my mouth shut. No worries, we will soon be back to our regularly scheduled programing of Elizabeth cuteness :)

To all those in Maine who plan to vote "No" on Question 1 this November...my question is...why?? Ok, so you don't "believe in" same sex marriage. But why do you want to actively deny other people the same rights that you enjoy? Are you married? Do you get happiness and pleasure from being married to the person you love? That is great. Other people would like the right to have that, too. Allowing gay people the right to be married does nothing to hurt you or your marriage. In short, what's it to you? If you don't believe in gay marriage, then don't marry someone of your own gender. But don't vote to prohibit others from marrying the person they love.
To those who protest that the Bible, and God, and Jesus, etc, etc...all say that "marriage should be between a man and a woman"...Honestly...the Bible also says we should have slaves and beat our children. Does anyone really want to do those things? Didn't think so. As for God...the God I believe in is all about love. God loves us all. He is not about discrimination, or judgment. And Jesus? Well, he was a pretty cool guy, and I am pretty sure he would be ok with same-sex marriage. My feeling is- he would not be cool with the marginalization of a particular group of people, especially when his name is used as a rationale for discrimination against this group.
So...if you vote "No" on prop 1, you are saying that it's ok to invalidate the relationships between two adults. You are saying that your heterosexual relationship is more valid and "better" than that of the same loving, committed relationship between two men or two women. You are saying that your family is more valid.  No. I say that when there is love and commitment, that is "valid".
I have no expectation that this short little tirade has changed anybody's mind. You are going to vote how you are going to vote. I'm just asking you to please, think a little before you do. And maybe, if you really can't bring yourself to vote "yes" on Question 1, maybe just don't vote at all.

I feel like I should throw a party or something

Oh, do I feel like celebrating...Something monumental happened today...

I made my LAST Day Care payment!!!

Maybe this isn't real appropriate to talk about on a public blog, but I'm going to anyway.  Because I know others out there have felt the same way.  Here's the thing.  The cost of Day Care was KILLING me.  Every month for the past 4 + years, it killed me.   As a single parent, it was really a struggle.  And I was in the position of making too much $ to qualify for any assistance, but not enough to not struggle every month with the tuition cost.  Don't get me wrong.  I love where E has gone to Day Care.  I am grateful that we have had a place where I can leave her every day knowing she's safe, happy and learning.  The teachers are great, and I know they don't get paid as much as they should.   But man...none of that makes it easier to afford the astronomical tuition cost.  And the place E goes is not even as expensive as some others around.  It's just crazy.  I wish with all the campaign rhetoric going on, someone would address this issue.  I haven't heard either of the presidential candididates talk about this-our country needs affordable quality Child Care.  Don't get me started on this!!

In related news, I know the name of E's assigned Kindergarten teacher.  When I told E, she said, "Oh, she's a bad teacher!  She said no seconds on Goldfish!"  Apparently Miss E remembers the teacher from Orientation.  Lol! 

So next Wednesday 8/22 will be E's last day at Day Care, then the next day, we jump on an airplane to go to San Diego!  Can't wait!

I believe

I believe...

- that war is never the answer
-in the Occupy movement
-in Marriage Equality
-in a woman's right to choose
-that Racism still exists
-that quality child care is too expensive
-every one who works an honest full time job should be able to afford a decent place to live
-that adoption is COMPLICATED
-that no one is all good or all bad
-that family is the most important thing- however you define your family