My Second Love: Writers

Showing posts with label Writers. Show all posts

Autobiography

Melese's autobiography as told to his teacher:

I'm a boy that's not too big and not that small. I'm just me. I like climbing on the monkey bars. I'm good at the monkey bars. I like going up in the air in an airplane and I like taking the subway. I'm not going to have any kids because my mommy and daddy are going to get tiny tiny like a little baby and I will take care of them and give them food.

This Blog...

This blog is practically defunct. Sorry. It is not for lack of ideas. I just can't seem to find the time to sit down and write. I couldn't even get it together to post a "Wordless Wednesday" photo.

For your enjoyment, I turn it over to Meazi today. I just picked her up from school. I looked at her in my rear view mirror as she said dreamily, "The clouds are moving really fast today. When I get home I'm going to write a poem."

Clouds

I jump through the sky

My feet sparkling

I love the sky

I land

I stay

I fall

Into

Deep sleep

Think I should just hand the whole blog over.

Mommy and Me Book Review- I Don't Have Your Eyes

After seeing me ugly cry over Leo Lionni, Carrie Kitze sent me a copy of this book she wrote. In her email she said, "My girls are 13 and 11 so my ugly crying is subsiding but I wanted to share a book with you that might be helpful for your kids. It's called I Don't Have Your Eyes and I wrote it for my transracial family when they were around your children's age."

Carrie's subtle inference that her words and illustrations may lead to an ugly cry made me determined not to shed a tear. However, I failed. Steven did not have the camera ready, but he did walk over to the whiteboard to make fun of me...

This is a lovely book for all kinds of families. It reinforces the theme of how we are all the same on the inside. This book has many skin tones represented, and could be useful for trans racial adoptive families, foster families, and also for families where the head of the household may be a grandparent.

From Meazi- "Mom, I give it 10 stars! It teaches us that you can be different, but also be in the same family. I liked the illustrations, and the picture of the dad doing hair is like me and Daddy."

From Mommy- "Simple words plus lovely illustrations, equals a great combination for teaching one of our favorite family messages."

On a scale of 1-10 Ugly Cries, 10 being the cry linked above, and 10+ being this one, I give Carrie's book a 3. (With the caveat that there were no loving relatives in town presenting me with the book, nor was my mom helping me to decorate our family's very first Christmas tree).

Thanks for the book Carrie!

You can find the book here.

Tomorrow, No Matter What

I must be the very last person in America to read the book Nurture Shock. Reading the chapter on siblings yesterday, I found myself putting the book down and crying for a full ten minutes. Something struck me as I read it.

Meazi and Melese don't have the kind of sibling relationship that is described in this book. Yes they bicker sometimes, and sometimes they drive each other crazy. Most of the time though, they work it out. They play games together. They imagine themselves travelers, and with real suitcases as props they board our green couch (a stand-in for a 747), to travel to exotic lands like Milwaukee and Santa Fe. They zoom around out back on their bikes and plasma cars, stopping for pretend gas at their toy gas station. They each grab a baby doll and get busy dressing, feeding, and setting up a computer for their 'kids'. They dress up as princesses and turtles. She reads to him. They choose matching pajamas. They sleep through the night soundly, only when parts of themselves are touching each other; a hand on a wrist, a foot on a foot. They look out for one another. He worships the ground she walks on. He'll shout, "Momma! It's time to go and pick up my Guuuuurllllll!" whenever my carpool alarm goes off. His eyes brighten when he sees her. His shoulders soften when she is finally within arm's reach.

The chapter on siblings in Nurture Shock describes some brothers and sisters who won't stop fighting, and who are not at all kind to one another.

From the book:

Scottish researcher Dr. Samantha Punch found similar results in her interviews of ninety children. She determined that kids don't have an incentive to act nicely to their siblings, compared to friends, because the siblings will be there tomorrow, no matter what.

This above quote is what made me cry. I realized that this isn't a given for Meazi and Melese. At least it hasn't been a given in their past. What makes them think that they won't be separated like they were separated from their other siblings?

I believe that, subconsciously, this has something to do with why they treat each other so beautifully.

This revelation made me weep.

It Wouldn't be the Holidays Around Here...

Without a good ugly cry.

My sister got this book for the kiddos. I was reading it to Melese. It is a sweet book. It is about a chameleon who is sad because he doesn't have a color of his own. He is always changing. He is distraught until he meets a chameleon just like him. Then they have each other- forever. I turned to Kate and said, "It's Meazi and Melese's story."

We all had a good cry.

Steven thought it was funny, and managed to take a few photos.

Steel yourself- here comes the ugliest...

You're welcome.

MFG!

Melissa Fay Greene is in LA tonight!

I would like to go, but I'm not sure Melese will let me.

Have you read the book yet?

Maybe you'll catch her in your city.

Et Tu Amelia Bedelia?

I've never liked her. I think the idioms are over kids' heads. "Dusting" the furniture with powder, um, yeah, not funny.

These are the first characters of color that I have seen in AB books, and they are up to no good.

Anyone else find this odd? And racist?

I Can Meet the Artist, Get to Know Her Personally- Lori Precious

If you live in Southern California and have adopted, or are in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia, you have probably heard about Lori Precious. She is our community leader and organizer- a one woman powerhouse welcoming committee. Lori manages to find all of these new parents, and with a great openness and warmth (she's from Michigan), she makes everyone feel like they are a part of this incredible community. Steven and I attended the monthly lunches she organizes for well over a year before we ever received a referral. Lori always made us think that we were exactly where we should be on those Saturdays, surrounded by extended family.

Lori Precious is a famous artist. Her work is totally unique. Her medium...

Butterfly wings.

It is with great excitement that I announce that Lori has created a piece for our fundraiser auction. It is an abstract Ethiopian flag, made entirely of butterfly wings. You are going to have to wait to see it.

You may have read something about Lori recently in the news. Lori's ideas have been, how shall I put this, STOLEN, by the very famous artist Damien Hirst. Check out this amazing video...

Lori is not the kind of person who lets this sort of thing slow her down. She continues to create her art. She is also a director. (I know right? All of these double, triple, hyphenated, talented types!) Lori has an amazing idea for a documentary that I hope comes to fruition (or just to a Kickstarter page near you), very soon.

Lori is also responsible for starting and maintaining this charity . She and her incredibly talented husband have two kiddos, Miles, and Silanchi (Amharic for 'pistol' I think). They are a great, giving, family, and I am so grateful that she decided to give to our school and library as well.

Thank you so much Lori. See you on the 17th.

Family History

I wrote something for InCulture Parent Magazine. You can read it here.

Imbi! Andellem!

When we came home from Ethiopia,"Imbi" and "Andellem" (I am guessing at the spelling), were the only two Amharic words that Meazi spoke to Steven. I think the translation is, "NO" and "No fucking way," roughly. It was very hard on Steven. She rejected him, repeatedly.

Someone gave us one of the Little Mr. and Miss books like the one pictured above. There are dozens of titles. This is the one we have...

They are cute little books. We have taken dozens of them out from the library.

Meazi decided she'd like to make a book like this for Steven, for Father's Day. I asked her what the title would be. She said,

Mr. Amazing

She couldn't wait until Sunday to give it to him.

She wanted him to have it today.

I was going to post everything she wrote, but I think I'll just keep it between them.

Have an amazing Father's Day.

Summer Reading

I have read exactly one book since the kidlets came home. It was a good one. This summer I have big plans. I am hoping that the barnacle will let go a little bit, and that I'll be able to read something other than his favorite book. Meazi will be in summer school for twenty mornings in July, so I am hoping to find the time to read again.

First up:

Sometimes a plea you send into the universe is answered. Every time Mama Dog posts something on her blog, I think, "I wish I could read more of her words." This woman makes an article about Sandra Bullock sound like poetry. She is amazing. I can't wait to devour her first novel. You can order it here.

Next (or maybe even simultaneously):

Theresa and Julia have put together a great blog for families like ours. I am not sure how much time I'll get to participate, but I am really loving the dialogue over there. Join us.

Then:

One of my favorite writers.

Next:

Written by the father of one of our Ethiopian buddies.

Then, if time permits, I'd really like to read this....

Jillian also adopted a child from Ethiopia through CHSFS, and like me she went to NYU to study acting. Unlike me, she dropped out and joined a harem. Wowza. She also has a blog. At first glance you might hate her ( beautiful, wildly successful, smart, married to a rock star) but she is actually lovely in person, and you can't help but root for her.

Think I can read all of that?

The other day Meazi had a dream that Todd Parr was her father. I wonder if it is possible for a kid to read too much? Melese still loves this, and squeals on page five when the pup rolls in the mud.

What are you reading this summer?

Must Read...

Cindy's words. Made me cry like a baby.

Heroes, Idols, and Books.

We went to the Festival of Books. I got to meet one of my heroes.

Meazi got to meet one of hers.

Something for everyone.

Peter's Chair

The hours after nap up until bedtime can be a bit challenging, especially if I don't plan something in advance. I noticed that Meazi just naturally goes for a book when she gets up. I am finding that the M&m Storytelling hour serves as a nice transition to our late afternoon activities.

Here is one of Meazi's favorites...

And a Meazi original...

Happy Friday.

(Oh and Shiri from Brooklyn, please send me your e-mail address!)

Trouble

Yes, that is my son wearing his sister's tutu.

Recently, Ruth and Aster's mom posted about meeting Jane Kurtz. (I didn't know who to be more jealous of, Katy for meeting Jane Kurtz, or Jane for meeting Katy and the twins).

There is a new version of Jane's book Trouble. It is a bilingual version (English and Amharic), and all of the proceeds continue to go to Ethiopia Reads.

Also, did you know that Jane Kurtz has a blog?

It seems that for about 10k you can sponsor your own library in Ethiopia.

I'd like to put one here, in the area where my kids are from.

In other news, Ms. M continues her campaign for a trip to see Dr. LaBootie...