Hour 18 | Shaking the Table

If you’ve come to this site from Forbes, you can either CLICK HERE to learn more about my place at several tables or you can click here to move onto my next blog entry. 

If you’ve found yourself here from someplace else: I’m SUPER stoked about my Forbes article and so excited for the opportunity!! If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you can either click here and head over to Forbes or read it below! 


If you’ve got questions or more to say, please contact me here: DesireBennett@gmail.com

Shaking the Table
By: Desiré Bennett

During last year’s United State of Women Summit in Los Angeles former First Lady Michelle Obama reminded me and thousands of other women about the importance of honoring our place and space at the table—and the responsibility that comes along with that:

“So many of us have gotten ourselves at the table, but we’re still too grateful to be at the table to really shake it up. That’s not a criticism, because for so many, just getting to the table was so hard, so you’re just holding on,” she said. “But now we’ve got to take some risks for our girls… just holding onto our seats at the table won’t be enough to help our girls be all that they can be.”

Her powerful words still resonate with me. They are a cautionary tale to not allow myself to become complacent or fearful of challenging the systems that make it so hard to get to the table in the first place. Although I am thankful for the opportunity to now have a place at several tables, I must never forget to use my lived-experience as a teen mother and high school dropout to continue to uplift those who are climbing below or alongside me. I know all too well the climb is often arduous with many obstacles and setbacks.

During my climb, I had to navigate the matrix of public assistance as a working, single parent for many, many years. On average it takes nearly 20 years to climb out of poverty and my experience was not dissimilar.  Although education served as the stepping stone that brought me closer, and ultimately, to the table, I realize there are—and should be—other ways for women and girls to secure their places. All perspectives deserve representation. Obama’s words remind me to challenge the notion that there’s only one correct pathway to inclusion.  

And even though I’ve worked so hard to get to these spaces, her words also remind me that I mustn’t let a fear of losing a seat at the table allow me to inadvertently block opportunities for others. Instead of just asking “why don’t more people sitting at the table pull up a chair for others?,” I’ll take action and be the person who asks others to scoot over so there is more space to pull up multiple chairs. If we truly want to create more space at the table, we must embrace and recognize that there’s enough room for all of us to work together.

At the end of last year when I presented alongside 19 women and 10 girls on the Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls  (the first of its kind in my county!), Obama’s words were with me as a reminder that we can accomplish great things when we work together. And as I work each day at Design Impact—a social innovation nonprofit working to advance social change through human-centered design by promoting leadership, creativity, and equity at co-created tables, tackling complex social issues like food insecurities, homelessness, and others across the nation—I am reminded that there are always new and innovative ways to use my seat at the table.  

We all arrived at this table under different circumstances, and as a woman of color, I must use my voice to remind people of this. For some, the table was higher, farther away, or they were told all the chairs had been taken. Those we serve also have a multitude of experiences—therefore, we must take care to approach complex issues by looking through an intersectional lens. According to law professor and social theorist Kimberlé Crenshaw, Intersectionality is the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, class, and gender as they apply to a given individual or group, and the cumulative manner in which the effects of different forms of discrimination combine, overlap, or intersect. It is critical there is always a conscious effort to recognize this.

As the United State of Women Ambassador for Cincinnati, I, and other ambassadors across the United States, will embark on projects, co-creating and engaging with local advocates and organizations to advance gender equity in our communities and across our nation. And as we navigate these opportunities, we must not forget to invite other women and girls to help us lead.

When I find myself operating in these various spaces, I will continue to work at the intersection of racial and gender equity to amplify the voices and unique experiences of women and girls. I challenge you to join me. How might we create a world where all women and girls’ voices are included? A good place to start is to create more opportunities for women and girls—in your workplace and in your community—and be intentional about applying an intersectional lens when creating those spaces. It is in these ways that we can not only expand, but shake up the table.  


###

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Hour 17 | Change

When I began this blog nearly two years ago, I had lofty ambitions. I began by wanting to write a blog post each day–and by all accounts, I should be on Hour 700+ by now. I quickly realized that it was improbable, if not impossible, to keep up that pace and continue all of the activities I was engaged in. So I changed my original plan and decided to write when I had time.

Nearly one year and many, many hours later since writing my last post, here I am! Since I’ve been absent for so long, I’ve decided to make this post a wrap-up of 2018–an INCREDIBLE year, complete with incredibly wonderful things.


JANUARY

  • Attended my first Hamilton County Commission on Women & Girls meeting and began a year long journey alongside some fantastic women & girls.
  • Marched alongside thousands of other concerned Cincinnatians in the Annual MLK Day march that I helped plan.
  • Co-authored an Op-Ed on behalf of the MLK Coalition, in honor of MLK Day.

FEBRUARY

  • Got to see Michelle Obama in Indianapolis

MARCH

  • Stormed the Ohio Statehouse advocating for pay and gender equity (and hung out with Lilly Ledbetter to boot).

APRIL

  • Had a marathon week when everyday there was an event that I planned and/or participated in, including a community conversation, a community-wide book discussion, a Stand Against Racism, and an advocacy summit at which I served as a panelist.

20180429_145419875_iOS20180427_035311400_iOS

20180427_035217100_iOS

  • Received an award from the University of Cincinnati for my “…dedicated professional and activist work on behalf of women and girls in the Cincinnati metropolitan region.” 

MAY

JUNE

SEPTEMBER

  • I MET OPRAH!!
    • (my daughter worked alongside her…and was seemingly completely unaffected by this…smh #teenagers)

OCTOBER

  • Presented recommendations to the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners–resulting in a county-wide policy change!



DECEMBER

  • I resigned from my position as Advocacy Manager at YWCA Greater Cincinnati!

So many things happened in 2018 that I can’t remember it all–this was just a highlights reel! I’m really excited for 2019 and the #change and everything that it will bring. 

Happy New Year! 

###

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

#Tired-ish

So many things have happened since the last time I wrote a proper blog post. I was appointed to the City of Cincinnati’s Gender Equity Taskforce (via the Cincinnati 4 CEDAW initiative efforts I was a part of) and I’ve been appointed to the Hamilton County Commission on Women and Girls. The commission is the first of its kind in Hamilton County and has garnered local and national attention.

 

Commission

But this post isn’t really about that. It’s about today and the long hectic-ness of it (I know hectic-ness is not a word!). I was at the end of my day and thought about how in the future, I’ll probably forget about today (because in the grand scheme of things, it will probably blend in with everything else). And then I thought: hey, I have a blog where I can document this stuff. And it’s MY blog, so I can do what I want with it!

And so, here we are. (I got a late start today because I knew I’d be in Columbus today and wouldn’t get back to Cincy until later than usual.)

7:30ish: I receive a frantic call from my mom saying that her bus was late and because of that, she missed the connecting bus that takes her to work. This particular bus route only runs twice per day, so if you miss, you’re SOL. She asks me to call her an Uber (her phone doesn’t have the technology to do so, nor does she really understand how to use it. Even though I’m not super happy that I’ve somehow suddenly become the person who’ll order up an Uber for her, I realize that this is an emergency situation (she could lose her job if she doesn’t show up), so I pull up the app to see what’s available. Please tell me why the only cars available were $50, $75, or $100???

8:15ish: I’m telling my daughter for the umpteenth time that we’ve got to go. I’ve got to take her to school and then circle back and pick up my mom and give her a ride to work. We go outside to the car and it’s snowing. Again. (when is all of this going to stop, already?).

8:40ish: My daughter is about to get out of the car but then spills iced tea on her jeans. She starts freaking out, wondering if there will now be a giant stain on her pants. For a moment, she seems as if the world is ending. I thankfully remember that I packed a bottle of water in her lunch and tell her to take that, put the water on the spill, and then sop it up with the first piece of fabric I can find in my car. #CrisisAverted

9:00ish: I finally make it to my mom. At 9:00 am, she’s now considered late to her job, but she still needs to get out there. With traffic and the distance, it takes nearly 45 minutes to get to her destination. Side note: when I was dropping her off, she showed me where the bus takes her and drops her. She then shows me the super long route she has to walk because the company she works for won’t allow employees to enter through the front entrance. This is so problematic for so many reasons. The company could really benefit from the Women’s Fund’s employer toolkit. It’s really a shame how some companies and organizations treat their employees. It really upsets me.

10:15ish: Despite the distance and the traffic, I’m able to make it back downtown for most of a meeting to talk about YWCA’s upcoming racial justice events. I’m the point person for all of the events except for two, so I had to be there. We’re trying to get a webpage created to be a holding spot for all of them but we don’t have a webmaster or a dedicated webpage design person. So we make it work. Anyway, we were also discussing this Friday’s film screening of James Baldwin’s I Am Not Your Negro. YWCA is sponsoring the follow up community conversations Being Curious About Race series and we wanted a place on the website so folks can register. Thankfully, our community partners GCF (Greater Cincinnati Foundation) have created the registration link for all three conversations and making things much easier to just add the link to our webpage. I’ll include a list of the events below, in case you’re curious.

11:15ish-12:30: I’m frantically gathering all of the follow up stuff from the meeting I’ve just left that I need to get out to everyone (we’ve got a deadline for some of these items and I knew I’d need to get them out before 12:30 when I was leaving for Columbus). I’m doing this while other things are also cropping and popping up.

12:30-2:20: I’m riding shotgun (shout out to Holly H. for driving!!) while also working, fielding emails and answers to questions on multiple projects I’m juggling. One of which I’ve found myself in the middle of…a controversial issue that’s got some of us on pins and needles…plus some other time sensitives things.

SHD18

2:30-4:00ish: I attended a planning meeting for the Women Fund of Central Ohio’s Statehouse Day. Here’s an event description: Convene with women and men from across the state at The Women’s Fund Statehouse Day. You will spend the morning hearing from policymakers and community leaders on why issues promoting women’s economic empowerment benefit society. The lunch portion of this day will feature Lilly Ledbetter, the inspiring woman at the center of the historic discrimination case that inspired the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act. Hear about her fight for equal rights in the workplace, and how her determination became a victory for the nation. Equipped and ready, you will spend the afternoon meeting with elected officials as change-makers influencing policy. To register, please visit this link:

https://womensfundcentralohio.givezooks.com/events/statehouse-day-2018-making-herstory

4:00ish-5:40ish: Back on the road. And back to working remotely and fielding questions and last minute issues that need my attention. Making calls and squaring Friday’s film screening away.

5:45ish: Back in Cincy and back in the office. A few more emails and calls to make. Someone make me stop. Please.

7:00ish: Finally. I’m leaving.

7:10ish: Have to go pick up my daughter from across town, before I can go home.

8:10ish: I made it back to where my day started.

9:00: We watch Grownish (cute show, but warning: language. It’s not exactly like Blackish. But it’s good.)

I’m not even going to tell you what time it is right now. I readjusted the post date and time so it would make more sense (since I’m referring to the events of 1-17-18). Okay, okay, it’s actually currently 1:05 am on 1-18-18. But since I haven’t fallen asleep yet, its basically the same day, right?

But remember that time I mentioned that I was a night owl and an early bird? Yeah. I wasn’t kidding.

Oh yeah. And here’s the list of upcoming racial justice events:
Spring 2018 upcoming rj events w emphasis[67111]

Goodnight.

###

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hour 15 | #MLKNowOrNever

In case you missed it, below is an editorial that ran in the Cincinnati Enquirer on MLK Day 2018 that I co-wrote with Dr. Ericka King Betts and Christina Brown. Dr. Ericka King-Betts is the vice president of the Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition of Cincinnati. Christina Brown is a member the coalition. I also serve on the coalition.

The struggle to end racism still continues

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. As we prepare to honor King on Monday, we do so at a time when our nation’s current climate bears some resemblance to what King vehemently stood against more than half a century ago. King and everyday civil rights leaders worked to dismantle the systemic racism that plagued our country. Although their tireless work sparked a movement and ultimately led to King’s assassination, the struggle to end racism in all its forms continues.

The idea that racism is an issue in Cincinnati may strike many as misguided or plainly ridiculous. After all, Cincinnatians have denounced multiple local hate crimes and overwhelmingly rejected the impending visit from white supremacist Richard Spencer. This is true. However, the racist policies, programs, and practices that created this city have yet to be urgently and properly tackled.

Endless reports, including “The State of Black Cincinnati,” “Social Areas of Cincinnati” and others, consistently verify what many people of color know to be true in their lived experiences: the quality of life is poorer for non-whites in Cincinnati. The oppression of people of color in Cincinnati is not simply the result of active intentional discrimination. Because of this, the status quo will create oppressive outcomes unless we actively work towards an anti-oppressive city.

In “Letter From a Birmingham Jail,” King asserted: “I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.”
Working toward the presence of justice in Cincinnati would mean white moderates working to eradicate poverty, to preserve and create high-quality affordable housing, and to confront gentrification. Now more than ever is your time to take nonviolent action for racial and economic justice in our city.

A practical start to answering this call-to-action is to join us Monday for the 43rd annual Commemorative Civil Rights March at 10:30 a.m. outside the Freedom Center to march to the renovated Music Hall at 11:30 a.m. There, we will begin the annual program and hear from the award-winning MLK Chorale, Wordplay Cincy Scribes and keynote Dr. Littisha Bates.

While we hope you join us for each event and spread information about the details of this day, our more urgent request is for you to advance racial and economic equity daily. Are you waiting for an invitation? Here it is today: get involved. Make a commitment to learn about the history of racial violence and economic injustice in Cincinnati. After that look around and ask yourself, “How does this history show up in my neighborhood, organizations, and workplace?” After that, pledge to give your time, talent, and treasure to causes that advance just outcomes – and then repeat.

Today is your day to honor King and end racism. If not now, when?

MLK March

MLK 2018

#MLKNOWORNEVER #IFNOTNOWWHEN #ICYMI

###

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hour 14 | Galvanize

The United State of Women Galvanize Ohio event was amazing! The two day summit featured 500 passionate, inspiring women (and at least one inspiring man!) from across the state talking about everything from the Power of Social Entrepreneurship, Giving Voice to Our Girls, and Generational Differences. Some of the trailblazers included women like Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Dr. Wendy Smooth, Shannon Isom, Jenn Brown, Columbus First Lady Shannon Ginther, and SO many more!

I encourage you to watch the entire video (the video in its entirety is at the bottom of this post), but if you’re short on time, catch me and Sen. Charleta Tavares during the keynote in two parts in the videos immediately below #StateOfWomen #GalvanizeOhio

Keynote Conversation | Part One:

Keynote Conversation | Part Two:

 

Full video:

 

###

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hour 13 | Hiatus

So…did I tell you about that time I fell off the face of the Blogosphere? If you’re reading this, you’re too kind. Thank you. Because I disappeared for a while. Not too long after my last post, I started doing ALL THE THINGS.

I took a trip to Florida with my son and my daughter.
I promised myself to do nothing but sit on the beach and read a book while there.

20170601_154100561_iOS

I nearly succeeded.

I led two separate book discussions at a local, popular library.
I made it through said discussions without tripping over my words.


I spoke on a panel to a large group about non-traditional advocacy efforts.
I managed to hide my Imposter Syndrome.

I explored our nation’s capitol for the very first time.

20170617_144405242_iOSI grappled with our nation’s dichotomous history and the enormity of it all.

I visited D.C. and met with legislators on Capitol Hill.
I did my best to not look like an over-the-top tourist while I was there.

20170615_150405022_iOS20170615_150411339_iOS20170615_150609726_iOS

I met dozens of fabulous women (and a few men) from YWCA’s across the country.

20170615_183712645_iOS

20170616_005438977_iOS

I realized I have lots of fabulous footsteps to follow.

I met Simone Sanders.
And Bernie Sanders.
And Melissa Harris-Perry.
20170616_232543528_iOS

I learned I can almost control my Fangirling.
I toured Howard University’s campus.
I took 15K steps in one day.

I took a bunch of preteens to Kings Island.
And to the mall.
And to volleyball camp.
20170722_153031162_iOS
And to Kings Island.
And to the mall.
So.
Many.
Times.

I accepted an offer to co-chair a committee of a huge event.
I gave a statement before City Council on the importance of Human Services Funding.
20170619_171458663_iOS

I helped plan and execute a movie screening and panel discussion, urging young women and girls to get interested in and consider STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers.

And we received this lovely note

Hidden Figures thank you

 

 

 

 

I marched alongside my coworkers in the Pride Parade.
20170624_145223549_iOS
I marched alongside my coworkers in the disability parade.

20170726_200103000_iOS

 

I decided not to include everything I’ve done since writing my last blog post. The aforementioned are just the highlights.

I realized that all of these things have happened since June 1, 2017.

I started writing this post on July 31st.

I’m hoping you’ll forgive my lack of activity here and grant me some grace.


I’ve been doing all the things. All the things– except writing on these internet walls. And sleeping (it’s 1:39 am right now). I’m going to do bed.

Until next time.

###

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Hour 12 | #Likeamom

This week, the Women’s Fund of the greater Cincinnati Foundation is celebrating Mother’s Day via the #Likeamom campaign. So Leadership Council members, friends and supporters of the Women’s Fund are honoring folks who are or who have been like a mom in their lives via donations and/or social media shout outs.

When you think about a “mom” typically you’d think someone who has encouraged you, inspired you, given advice, been there when you need them, told you about yourself when you thought you didn’t need anyone, helped you in some way either by getting you out of a pickle or stopping you from getting yourself into one.

This list could go on and on.

Also, being like a mom isn’t necessarily gendered. My brother has been like a mom to me in the past by helping me out and watching his nephew (my son) when he was little. My grandpa has been like a mom for me by always being there when I need/ed him.

 

RandyandDada

My fabulous grandpa and amazing brother

 

And that person doesn’t necessarily need to be older than you to be like a mom. My younger sisters fall into this category. They’ve been #likeamom to me in that they’ve shown me what it’s like to be fearless (in varied ways). My older sister has, too!

When I first learned about this campaign I realized it would be a bit difficult for me not to go overboard with posts and shouts-outs because

  1. My muchness and
  2. There have been so many people who have been #likeamom to me throughout the years.

There’s really not enough time or space (or days in this week!) for me to honor you all–and some of you I’ve thanked in a previous work-in-progress post (click here to see that).

Who has been like a mom to you? If you feel so inclined, please share in the comments below. Better yet, post it to your social media using #likeamom and tag @cincywomensfund

To donate to the Women’s Fund in honor of this campaign, click here.

###

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Hour 11 | Maintaining

Earlier this week,  a friend of mine posted the image below. I was scrolling through my Instagram feed while standing in line by myself, and when I saw it, I actually laughed out loud. I couldn’t help myself because, although I’m not falling apart or crazed like Cruella de Vil [not today, anyway ha!], I know what’s it’s like to juggle all of the things [and more!] mentioned in this tongue-in-cheek meme.

Cruella

And keep up on my blog posts!

 

The past two weeks of my life included birthday celebration(s), the final touches of planning and executing a fairly large-scale event, and a whole bunch of other things (which I’ll maybe write about at a later date. One of which includes the release of a study on the gender wage gap that exists in Cincinnati)and they flew by before I even realized it.

That event I mentioned was the YWCA annual Stand Against Racism. This year’s theme was Women of Color (#WOC) Leading Change. Check out this post, if you’re wondering “why women of color?” During the event, we highlighted and elevated the voices of local, dynamic #WOC leading change in the Cincinnati area.

When I tell you a miracle happened that day–I’m not being hyperbolic. Let me give you a little background. We scheduled it to take place in a public, outdoor area in Downtown Cincinnati called Fountain Square. Which is awesome–unless there’s inclement weather. And there’s really no way of knowing, particularly when you book the space months in advance. So earlier this week, I’m checking the forecast and it calls for FIRE AND BRIMSTONE [well…it called for heavy rain and thunderstorms, which might as well have been fire and brimstone when you’ve got the success of an upcoming outdoor event depending on the weather outcome].

 

Please tell me why there was rain and ominous storm clouds all morning until the moment we started setting up on the square when THE SUN CAME OUT and stayed out during the entire two-hour event. And, get thisthee moment we thanked folks for attending, the sky opened up and it started raining sideways.

Check out the awesome evidence below.

Miracle on SAR Street

As Tweeter (is that a thing? if not, I’m making it a thing) @lukeblocher put it: “Like a morning we can surely hope for, the skies clear just in time for the #StandAgainstRacism

The skies didn’t just clear, the event was sandwiched between heavy downpours and not even a hint that the sun would come out for the entire event. It was pretty awesome.


MAINTAINING PATIENCE

Other things that also happened this week may give you an idea of why I laughed at the meme (above) I began this blog post with. Some of the teachers at my daughter’s school are working my nerves. Case in point, a few days ago, my daughter says to me “I can’t get sick because I can’t go to the nurse.” Let me provide you with some background.

My daughter’s birthday was also this past week. Tuesday was the big day and she talked her grandpa into taking her to Starbucks that morning before school (I’m hoping it was a decaffeinated beverage, but I’ll never know. I’m pretty sure it contained sugar, though). So by the time classes were about to start, she had a really bad headache. When the bell rang, instead of going straight to her first class (orchestra/violin) she heads to the nurse’s office. The nurse tells her to drink some water and go to class. My daughter goes to her class and the teacher tells her he is going to write her up for skipping class (she was TWO MINUTES late, btw) because she doesn’t have a note from the nurse. My daughter goes back to the nurse to get a note, but she won’t give one to her.

At this point, my daughter starts panicking. She doesn’t skip class or do things to defy teachers/authority at school and she doesn’t understand why they’re doing this. So she calls me and she’s really upset because she thinks she’s going to get in trouble for “skipping class.”  When I call the nurse, she says, “It’s not my policy to write a note for a student if they didn’t have permission from their teacher to come see me.”

Although I’m thinking “Oh. Okay. But it IS your policy to send the incorrect student on a trip to an offsite clinic to be screened for something without receiving permission from her parent which is what happened to my daughter when this same nurse incorrectly told her to go and get on a bus in the middle of the school day oncebut THAT is a story for another day).  

Instead, I express to her that this isn’t something that my daughter is making upand that I would tell her she had to live with the consequences of her actions, if she’d done something wrong. The nurse reluctantly says she’ll call the teacher and attempt to straighten things out, but in the same breath says that she doesn’t think he’ll budge. Thankfully, the office administrator who witnessed my daughter stopping at the nurse’s office writes her a note.

Just two days later, my daughter’s math teacher wouldn’t allow my daughter to leave her classroom to use the restroom, telling her that she could go but she’d receive a lunch detention the following day [ummmm...excuse me?]. I now have a decision to make. Confront her (not a hostile confrontation, but a confrontation from a parent who thinks that said actions are completely ridiculous) and risk said confrontation resulting in negative consequences toward my daughter (blatant or otherwise). Or maintain my calm and hope to ride the rest of this school year out without further incidents.

What would you do? Please comment below.

###

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Hour 10 | Gifts

Sundays mean different things for different people. For some, it is a day of worship. For others, it is a day of rest. For me, Sundays hold dual meaning. It’s a doorway from one week to the next. It’s a culmination of the week behind me and the week ahead. On Sunday morning, I’m grateful that there’s one more day in the weekend–(typically) it’s not quite time to get back to work (although I do use the evening to scan email and gauge the work week ahead), but I’m also aware that there’s a brand new week right in front of me, filled with a multitude of possibilities. Or roadblocks. Or opportunities. Or headaches. It all depends on how I look at it.  And when I choose to see it as a fresh start or as an opportunity for new and better things, it feels like Sunday is a gift.

 

screen-shot-2015-02-26-at-5.00.37-pm-550x297#SMC

A couple Sundays from now will truly be a gift for my daughter. To understand why, let’s take a trip back in time to just about any of my childhood birthday parties (of which there were maybe four). There were no bouncy houses involved. Or waterparks. Or dozens of people. Or trips to beaches. There certainly wasn’t a week of activities. And can someone please tell me when we started celebrating birthdays for an entire week?

There seems to be a new trend now where we (as parents) go overboard (present company included). I want to know, how did this happen?

Every year I tell myself we will “super celebrate” the milestone birthdays. Moving into double digits (although, this is a bit of a stretch), becoming a teenager (even though, really, a party should be thrown for the parent(s) because they’ve got dealing with the teen years to ahead of them ha!), turning 16 (this is a pretty big deal), and becoming 18 (for obvious reasons).

Somewhere along the way, though, every single birthday begets a blowout bash. When did this trend begin? And, more specifically, how–even though I tell myself I’m not going to do it–does this keep happening?

The answer may lie in how difficult my pregnancy was for me. And by difficult, I mean hospitalization nearly every week for the first three months. Remember a few years ago when duchess Kate Middleton was pregnant and had a condition called hyperemisis gravidarum? Well, I had the same condition. Only worse. It was so bad that I ended up having a PICC line inserted into my arm and up near my heart so that I could connect myself to an IV bag each night. This was so I wouldn’t become severely dehydrated from the constant vomiting that ensued almost every day during my pregnancy. Through my PICC line, I administered myself anti-nauseous meds and prenatal vitamins for nearly seven months.  I still have scars on my arm where the line was inserted.  It was quite the ordeal. And made for a really long nine months.

Where was I? Oh, yes. Two Sundays from now.

So instead of a simple day of just me and her going to do some fun activity (which I always say we’ll do), there’s now a rock climbing, zip lining, bunch-of-friends-from- school party planned. All of which I am the culprit.

But it is a gift. And so is she.

EelkeKleijn-CelebrateLife_visual

Any other parents out there experiencing this issue?

 

 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Hour Nine | Truth

I’d like to take this moment to thank my five subscribers for being intrigued/supportive/curious enough to subscribe to my blog! You’re super cool and I appreciate you.

The hours have flown by since my last post. Since then, I’ve realized a few truths:

Truth #1: I get super excited about almost everything (this is known as my muchness)
Exhbit A: my overexcitement about someone jumping on a bungee cord Ha!

A little back story: Wednesday evening, I’m on my way to an event (which turned out to be a really great evening–it seemed like at least a couple of people, if not all, in my dialogue circle got a lot out of the process–and I promise I’m not saying this because I had something to do with putting the event together. The evening was very meaningful and I wish we could do more of them!) I helped coordinate and I see this guy (and others out of frame) jumping and doing flips on this line and I can’t help but to stop and record it. And include ridiculously awed commentary. I really think it’s (one of the) coolest things and I’d never seen it done before (I later found out it’s actually called slack linking).  But if you know me, you know all about my seeming inability to not be excited about something. It’s my muchness.

Truth #2: I’m not certain how to contain said muchness. There’s probably a time and a place to tone it down. Most days I am utterly oblivious to those times and places.

Truth #3: My muchness was in full effect when I said I would write a blog post every day. I’ve come to the realization that even though I can write every day, I may be reaching a bit expecting a coherent, put together post every day (as evidenced by this week) at least for now.

Speaking of this week, I’ve already mentioned one of the enlightening events that happened at UC. Another one was a National Crime Victims’ Week event that one of my co-workers put together. It featured the family members of crime victims. The courage and strength that these women have is miraculous. Even though they’ve lost loved ones–one of them lost multiple family members in a series of events–they are able to share their stories and work as advocates for victims’ rights. It’s incredible. Their resilience is a reminder to me that no matter what I’m going through, there’s a way to push through it. Here’s a photo of the event’s MC, News 5’s Tammy Mutasa, addressing attendees during the event.

IMG_4847

Another event I attended this week was the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s STIR! Multicultural networking reception. One of the cool things about the event was the “forced” networking exercise we all had to do. It would get cumbersome (and maybe a tad bit confusing!) if I tried to explain it, so instead, here’s a photo I snapped of the rules.

IMG_4862

This was a really great idea–in theory. Bells one and two worked out wonderfully, Bell three was really fun because we were all just trying to “beat the buzzer.” But by Bell Four I think we were all confused about what it was we were supposed to be doing ha! There were just so many people by that round.

IMG_4867

Truth is though, it was a lot of fun.

###

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment