FULL QUESTION: It’s been a year since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, what are your thoughts on abortion law?
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It’s been
a year since the Supreme
Court overturned Roe v. Wade, and unlike many other things that make
headlines and then disappear, the abortion issue is still very much with us. And very political. Just look at how voters in state elections voted
in favor of abortion rights in the last year, and it will no doubt
be a major
issue in the 2024 presidential election.
Not to avoid answering the question, but it’s a very personal and emotional one. However, since I’m past the child-bearing age, I look at it from the perspective of a mom to two girls in their 20s. It takes away women’s rights to make decisions over their bodies and gives it to the states where they live, making them subject to the political positions and moral opinions of others vs. their own values. I also can’t help but think about when there are medical issues (either the woman or her unborn child) that could be lessened if abortion was still an option. It makes me want to both cry and scream. I feel like we’ve taken a step backward, 50 years to be precise, rather than moving forward. |
| When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, I wondered if the future of a wide range of rights already provided would be at risk of being taken away (such as women’s rights to vote, Civil Rights legislation, etc.). It made me question the integrity of the highest court in our nation. The supposed “logic” of allowing states to decide abortion rights is very different from allowing voters to decide. (Why not make it a separate referendum?) Now 25 million women live in states with tighter restrictions on abortions or total bans because of laws changed by elected officials (and interpreted by judges), many of whom were elected when abortion was a non-issue since it was protected by the Constitution. Some states now have almost draconian laws, such as the six-week abortion ban (most women do not even know they are pregnant at that point) or no exceptions for rape or incest. Given how old I am, I was often the “token woman” as I moved up to management in male-dominated industries (or even when I raced Ferraris), so have faced many challenges being a woman. But, I never felt like a second-class citizen … until now. |
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Black
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FULL QUESTION: My teenager's a slob and it's driving me crazy — their messy room, leaving dirty dishes all around the house, and the bathroom looking like a disaster area! And now they're home for the summer. Help!
| Moms everywhere know exactly what you're talking about! And although people told me not to worry, this phase would pass, that didn't make it any better while I was in the midst of it. (I wish I had understood why teenagers have messy rooms and what I could have done to manage it better.) The good news was I was able to set expectations (and help maintain them) for the common areas of the house, but dealing with their rooms was very different. Especially with my eldest daughter, since nothing would work — not bribes, not threats, not rational conversations. I tried all the tips and "tricks" without success and eventually decided to stop nagging her because all it did was get me upset while she seemed perfectly content with the mess. At that point, I realized my primary concern was that I'd ultimately need an exterminator and/or plumber (for those of you who have lived through this, you understand), so I'd periodically go in and selectively clean that which would create problems for the rest of us. The rest I left alone. Hey, if she wanted to wear smelly clothing or have a bathroom that should be declared a national emergency zone, so be it. |
| I do not have children, but there was a time when I did have stepdaughters, and, not knowing what else to do, I decided to treat them like I would new employees. I knew employees basically wanted to please management, so I figured kids wanted to please their parents, and hopefully, stepparents. I created a "Rules of the House" document (small, basic, easy things), and most of them were things to do versus things not to do. I presented the rules as an opportunity for them to achieve and succeed, not as a set of restrictions. I always found it more effective with employees, and then with the girls (and even their father), to reinforce positive behavior rather than punish bad behavior. It can be as simple as a "thank you," complimenting them on their efforts, or even rewarding a job well done. It seemed to work, and along the way, improved communications and helped us set priorities. |
Design by Sawyer Pennington
| Are you kidding?! I'm a cookie-baking carpool mom, and although we had just published a book based on my "crisis", we didn't even think of ourselves as authors. (My sister saved our emails and Instant Messages, and has never told me if she taped our phone conversations!) And the book was supposed to be the basis of a sitcom! We had literally done one speaking engagement and now were being asked to get in front of classrooms full of high school seniors for a semester-long course. During their LAST semester! Surprised? "Shocked" might be a better word. Or, maybe "panicked." |
| My immediate reaction was, "Sure, not a problem." Then, while Red was busy panicking, I focused on how to get it done. The request was in keeping with KIPP's approach to looking for non-traditional methods of educating students, so they agreed when I asked for a task force of students to help us develop the program. (I knew it had to be relevant or there was no point in doing it.) And, it was the students who suggested we use our book as a textbook, calling it a "reality show in a book" … which, at least, validated my idea that the book could be the basis of a sitcom. |
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