Mar092010

Everyday Women’s History

March is Women’s History Month. This year’s theme – “writing women back into history” – seeks to properly recognize the contributions of women by increasing awareness of their works so that today’s younger generations can easily find female role models in any field of study.

I think this campaign is a worthy effort and one that will, hopefully, have far-reaching impact as the brilliance and perseverance of women artists, mathematicians, explorers, scientists, athletes and others is brought to light. But, the project also made me wish there was some event to celebrate all the behind-the-scenes contributions that mothers make on a daily basis. Though I admire and appreciate all the breakthroughs of the individual women being honored by the National Women’s History Project, what about all the small miracles that women perform each day simply because that’s what mothers do?

I know we have Mother’s Day, but I’d love to see something that was less about flowers and breakfast in bed and more about truly acknowledging the incredibly important impact each mother has, not only within her own family, but on the world at large. American poet William Ross Wallace is most well-known for saying, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rocks the world.” It may not seem that way when you look at the often unbalanced hierarchy of our world, but – ultimately – it is mothers who teach the children, who raise them up to be the men and women they will become. And, it is those men and women who will, once grown, guide all of humanity into the future.

So, this March, along with all the amazing women who have made incredible discoveries, performed stunning feats of physical prowess, made inroads into professional areas once off-limits to the “softer sex,” and done all manner of other newsworthy and notable things, I’d also like to acknowledge all the little, but no less important, things that mothers everywhere do each and every day.  For, though we may not make headlines, we still have a very real and important impact on the world around us.

Painting by John Henry Twachtman, 1895

Mar042010

The Red Carpet is Coming!!

I can’t resist a good awards show, and they don’t get much bigger than the Oscars. Of all the industries, the movies still hold the most glamour and sparkle for me; and I just love to watch the people who made them gushing and blubbering through their acceptance speeches (or smiling primly from the audience as they watch their rivals take the trophy home).

This year, there are TEN – count ‘em! – ten films up for Best Picture. I’ve only seen three of them (including the heart wrenching animated contender, “Up”), but that’s better than some past years. As a mom, movie date nights don’t play much into my lifestyle lately. I tend to catch the films once they are out on DVD or available on the over-priced, but oh-so-convenient On Demand menu.

Today, just for fun, we want to know who you’re hoping goes home with The Oscar – the big one for Best Picture. But, because we’re guessing many of you are in our shoes and haven’t seen enough of the movies to make an informed choice, we’d also like to ask this question: If you could nominate one film – any film from any genre and any era – for Best Picture Ever, which film would you choose?

Ok – give it some thought, and let us know your pick in the comments.Maybe we’ll have to hold our own FoBaM Film Awards.  But, until then, here are the picks for the “real” Oscar:

Which film are you hoping takes Best Picture?

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Mar022010

The Unrequited Crafter

I have the best intentions when I take up a new craft. I’ve done some scrapbooking, created altered books, dabbled in soldering, tried beading, experimented with wax sculpting, and even had a brief stint as a professional needle felter. I have Rubbermaid containers full of paper bits, soldering wire, paints, stamps, buttons, carded wool, markers, drafting pens, pom-poms, googly eyes, felt, casting wax, ribbon, and more kinds of adhesive than I can name. I’ve got burnishers, Dremels, and a mini sewing machine that I’m pretty sure my grandmother bought off QVC. I could open up a boutique. Seriously.

But, don’t ask me when I last used any of this stuff.

It’s not that I lost interest. I’d love nothing more than to spend an afternoon working on some special project for my own pleasure or to give as s gift. I just don’t have the time. The only chance I have to indulge my crafty urges is when my daughter has some school project that requires my assistance – like last month’s Valentines.

I feel like a fraud, but – Read More »

Feb232010

The Toys We Love to Hate

It was a little after midnight when I finally crawled into bed. Sighing with relief, I nestled under the comforter, happy to have reached the end of the day more-or-less intact. I was just drifting off when I heard an unfamiliar chirping noise coming from the kitchen.

Now we are animal lovers of the first order, often happily sharing the walls of our rural abode with families of squirrels and raccoons, but – as cute as the critters are – I have no desire to share living space with them.  I held my breath and listened. Chirp-chirpee-chirp. The transformation scene from Gremlins  popped into my head.

I crept into the kitchen, flicked the light on and quickly scanned the room for signs of a furry intruder. Instead, I saw Read More »

Feb162010

How was YOUR Valentine’s Day?

Cupid has come and gone, leaving a trail of pastel-colored candy hearts and foil-wrapped chocolates in his wake. Instead of a pre-holiday post full of tips on how to enjoy the big day, we decided it’d be more fun to wait until after the holiday and invite you to share the good, the bad, the ugly, and the oh-so-adorable.

To get the ball rolling, a quick poll:

As a mom, what does Valentine’s Day mean to you?

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Feb112010

Giveaway: Got imagination? We’ve got Martha.

Kids are constantly making up stories and asking the most thought-provoking questions. My own daughter can spin one whopper of a good yarn and consistently recounts dreams so wild that I find myself wondering if there was some kind of mind-altering substance in her mac-n-cheese. She makes up whole casts of characters and sends them on elaborate adventures that easily rival many of today’s blockbuster movie plots. I love listening to her tales because they let me see the world through her eyes. It’s a heck of a lot more interesting that way.

In last week’s post, we told you Read More »

Feb112010

Martha Speaks and so does Susan …

Here at FoBaM, we’re big fans of reading with our kids AND OF Martha Speaks on PBS KIDS; so we’re extra excited to bring you this exclusive interview with Susan Meddaugh – the author/illustrator creator of the marvelously articulate and big-hearted dog, Martha. Susan shares her thoughts on encouraging creativity, fostering a love of reading, combining motherhood with other passions, thinking like a kid, and more. We hope you enjoy the interview as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you. To learn more about Martha, SUSAN and the Martha Speaks series, visit the PBS KIDS Web site.

1.    What are the benefits of encouraging your child’s creativity and sharing the experience of reading with them?

I thought reading to my child was for my benefit!  Read More »

Feb092010

Mommy Yin and Yang

This post is by Meredith … I’m sure it’ll ring true for many of you!

I got a little overconfident yesterday.  The house was tidy (enough), the laundry was under control (almost), and dinner was already cooking in the crock-pot.  I had even been to an exercise class, showered (yay!), and had started to plow through my work emails and to do list.   I patted myself on the back for being a pillar of efficiency, and then – bam! – the school nurse called to say that my son was sick and needed to be picked up immediately.  If the scene had been in a movie it would have been accompanied by a sound effect of a record scratching to a halt.

Frankly, I should’ve known it was too good to be true, right?  It’s “Mommy Murphy’s Law.”  The constant Yin and Yang, ebb and flow, good and bad, everyday roller coaster that is motherhood.  Read More »

Feb012010

When Martha speaks, kids listen!

marthaOnce upon a time, there was a real dog named Martha who inspired a seven year-old boy to ask, “Mom, if Martha ate alphabet soup, would she speak?” Luckily for children everywhere, that little boy’s mom was Susan Meddaugh. Her son’s imaginative query was the catalyst that inspired Susan to create the much-loved Martha stories about a dog who acquires the gift of gab when the letters from her soup wind up in her brain instead of her stomach.

In addition to the original series of six books, Martha also stars in the critically acclaimed PBS KIDS series, Martha Speaks. More than just a guilt-free way to keep the kids entertained for a half hour, the show is a rare win-win for moms and kids. Read More »

Jan282010

The guilty pleasure of reality TV

realityTVEach of us has her share guilty pleasures – midnight snacks, midday naps, a chocolate stash – but few are as fun to share as reality TV. What other pastime lets you bond vicariously over the gory details of someone else’s life without the risk of being labeled a neighborhood gossip?

Over the past few years, the viewing options in the reality category have multiplied like mutant rabbits. There are shows catering to all kinds of interests and more than a few that make you wonder exactly what the network execs were thinking.

I’m an unabashed DWTS (that’s Dancing with the Stars, for the uninitiated) junkie and an on-again off-again fan of American Idol. (I fall for the Cinderella story every time.) But, we’re not here to talk about what I like; we want to know what you like!

This is your chance to stand up for your favorite show. Vote for your guilty pleasure in the poll below, or let us know about any horrible oversights in our list of contenders by selecting “other” and leaving the name of your pick in the comments.

Which reality TV show has you hooked? (Vote for as many as you like - we won't tell!)

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