11
2013
31
2013
I am sitting in the bathroom.
There is a small human yelling at me.
Mommy.
Mommy.
The day has been an absolute “PALAVA”.
I need Jesus, Paul, John and Mary. Throw in the Holy Ghost, few aliens and everyone from the Fat Albert gang.
Why?
Why am I here?
… because today I chose to parent and not punish.
No lectures, no you cannot have this or that, no epic battles of wills. No. No. No.
I will not participate.
She knows what she has done wrong, she knows there is a sad face on the behavior chart and she knows I am upset to the point that words are scare.
So she beckons, she yells, more throwing, she has a one sided conversation with herself …
I feel like a mom that needs a hug. I wish my mother was alive. This is a grand mother’s shining moment… diffusing the yells of a naughty preschooler and the secret scowls of a 39 year old, pending divorce, frazzled, single mom.
Momma said there would be days like this…. but what do I do when she is a teenager… go to the pergola and knit a sweater?
Has she talked herself to sleep….
Clear the land mines.
I shall come out the loo now.
Thank you and good night.
23
2013
I’m a data hoarder. I’m trying to go paperless in the past and in the future. I’m scanning things at a magnamous rate. My phone camera is getting more action than the Ow.ly(s) during the riots of 2012 in the Middle East. I have so much digital stuff. I should become my own library.
So during my search today I came across CloudMagic (https://cloudmagic.com/)
It let’s you search gmail, facebook, twitter, dropbox, evernote, skydrive, yahoo, box, contacts, google drive, google talk, icloud, outlook, outlook.com and other cloud based services for exactly what you want.
There is a free account if you want to check it out.
15
2013
Dear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr;
Happy Birthday! I am glad you were born!!!
Due to your courage and the push for equality, I – an African American woman from an impoverished background – have had an excellent education, travelled the world and have been abundantly Blessed by the ground you broke through your movement. I am eternally grateful for your bravery, courage and sacrifice.
I wanted to say that I’m sorry your “dream” has been skewed.
While you worked so hard to push opportunity to the African-American community, to some extent, there are some of us that no longer acknowledge, value or teach our children about the great sacrifice, the upliftment from oppression … nor do they take advantage of the educational opportunities that your courage afforded us. For that I’m sorry, we know better and we needed to do better.
The path of assimilation, the damaging and long lasting effects of a slave mentality, generational effects of slavery and poverty, the sting of subpar education as a tool of oppression, violence, apathy and the lack of passion.. there are so many things still plaguing our community that your dream couldn’t cover… these are things we need to resolve for ourselves.
However, this day as I look at my child, I think about my Blessings, the opportunities afforded to me… I’m glad you had a dream and that you mightily brought that dream to fruition.
You made America better.
You are an American hero.
Happy Birthday!
Respectfully yours,
@Efabulous1
12
2013
05
2013
04
2013
Today reminded me not to forget… I am just ONE misappropriated check from poverty. The very images of poverty flush me with tears. I see faces and remember my life on 79th street in Chicago. I well up inside… because the hunger pains I endured were a form of terror I would never wish on another human being. “Poor Chic” they called me… people always pointed out how I talked and dreamed above my station.
Cashing a check in the “hood” was my least favorite thing to do. …So today when I had to cash a small random check… it brought it all back for me.
*****
I walked up to the bullet proof glass and with my incredibly weird accent, I said… your place has been recommended to cash this check. The clerk was taken aback that I was well spoken. He looked at me because my horrible wardrobe choice in this winter season and harsh features – my outwardly appearance did not match the voice. Then he looked even more confused when he saw my kid and heard her voice… his head was really askew.
A woman walked in…. and silence just fell over everyone.
This young woman was the older version of my daughter. We all looked around as though we were in a time warp.
To break the ice, she said “your daughter is beautiful”.
“Thank you.” I said very sheepishly. I was starring into my daughter’s face. This was my daughter … but soon I would rebuke that because I felt saddened by this young girl’s reality.
She was antsy and I was taking too long. My daughter was yelling jibberish and being a novice to the check cashing procedures in Texas, I exacerbated everyone’s nerves.
Then a young guy appeared in the door.
Everyone turned around, I clutched my kid and slid my wallet into the hunting jacket I had on. Judging by the look on her face, she knew him and he was waiting for her to cash her check. He stood by her nervously. Then he left.
I felt antsy because I flashed back to 79th and Halstead. There was an art to being aware of stickup kids when you cashed your check.
Is he going to hurt my daughter?
Is she being pimped?
What the hell?
Then he came in ….
With a baby girl.
The baby had no stroller, he was carrying her in a baby carrier, by hand. There was only 1 blanket on the baby. Here I was screaming into ranty voice messages about 49 degree weather and two kids had a beautiful baby girl out in the cold with one blanket. I was humbled and saddened.
This young girl was cashing her waitressing check, she was the mother, the breadwinner, a kid …. and the spitting image of my daughter.
I finished my transaction.
I became so hurt and sad inside.
We don’t ask to come here.
I looked at that baby and I prayed that she break the cycle of poverty along with my daughter.
I turned around and gave the mother $10.00 and said… this is for the baby. I looked at the dad and said when my baby girl was born I was Blessed and people gave me everything I needed. I told him that I was passing on my Blessing to you two.
They were poor kids to me… but in that moment we were the same, we were all parents with children. In God’s eyes we were all His children.
I was cashing a check that Jesus wrote for me… to uplift me and Bless me everyday.
04
2013
02
2013
02
2013
So this is the “mom” guide to using your Playbook as a babysitter and teaching tool. [Don't judge me... ]
Long, long ago… far far way… wait, that’s a Disney movie. This is real life.
I digress. Too much wine for New Years.
Okay, you have a Playbook, you’ve bequeathed it to your kid. Now how do your trick this puppy out so that it’s a babysitter and teaching tool? Here is the unofficial official @Efabulous1 guide to making your Playbook do your childcare bidding. [Again, do not judge me people... I have gadget issues!]
Firstly, update to 2.1 OS? Here is the link: http://crackberry.com/blackberry-playbook-os-updated-2101314
Once you’ve updated your OS, you will need to organize your homescreen so that the kids apps are on the first page and they don’t have to swipe to access them.
Here is RIM’s official web doc on customizing your home screen: Click here!
Video as well: http://demos.blackberry.com/playbook-os20/na/us/gen/?=topicpersonalize
Once you know how to personalize your homescreen, you are ready to add your apps! Here are my recommendations for children apps on the Playbook:
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Now there are several ways you can integrate learning programs onto your Playbook, I use the Playbook as a Z: drive when hooked to my PC and I load video(s) for my kid, so that she can watch educational videos without being hooked up to WiFi during the commute. If you have a media center, drag and drop your favorite educational programs to your playbook and use it to create your own “educational tv station”.
Additionally, if you need a break from Nick Jr and you want your kids to learn and have fun, visit our Youtube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTYHr9sdtiL_10VREg93jksfyllJmfb40 .
Last but not least, love your Playbook it will love you and your child back.
If you need any help with your gadget, email us at TwoDopeMoms@gmail.com .
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