Interracial hate-crimes are far from over

I get asked all the time if I'd ever consider moving out of state, and I usually have a hard time answering that question.  Here's why...

Reading this NY Daily News article confirmed to me that the world is far from being a bed of roses.  In fact, this story is a nightmare come true.  A young white man innocently walking to a party with his black girlfriend in Georgia gets jumped by three black guys.  It's crazy to think that this kind of thing still happens.  But, I can't say that I'm totally surprised.  My hubby and I still get looks when we go out.  We still hear the 'why are they together' whispers too.

Now that it's the three of us, we get those weird (sometimes offensive glances)  followed by a neck break to see what our kid looks like in the stroller.  Since we live in New York, there is a certain level of comfort because we know the area, and we know the people in our neighborhood.  My hubby and I have talked about relocating.  Then we snap back to reality.  The idea of starting all over in a totally different hood or state is scary.  I do realize this particular hate crime an isolated incident.  It could happen anywhere.  But with a child, we have to be super careful.

I've had a similar conversation with a friend who also married outside of her race.  This couple has a beautiful daughter.  She's expressed to me that she's not concerned about the racial issue.  This family lives in the south and I find it interesting that she doesn't seem concerned at all.  I remember her saying that the world is changing, and she feels that her daughter won't have to go through racism.  I admire her positivity.  We shouldn't live in fear, but I still can't understand why she'd not worried.  While I agree that the world is changing, these kinds of hate crimes are far from over.

For those of you who beg to differ, make sure you read that Daily News article and watch the video too.  There are no hate-crime laws in Georgia, and that needs to change.

Oh, and just because we have a biracial president, doesn't mean a damn thing.

Weather Anchor Mama

What a Difference a Year Makes

Princess is rockin' the same exact outfit in both pics.  Even though the label reads 18 months, she has clearly grown.  She's much taller, has more hair and teeth.  Clearly my little girl is growing up right in front of me.

11 months old

24 months old

Weather Anchor Mama

Our Trip to Adventureland & Six Important Tips

I wanted to wrap up our Family Summer Fun Series with a trip to Adventureland.  We thought about visiting theme parks out of state, but decided against it (which was a smart idea).  We ended up spending less time driving, and saved a ton in gas.

Even though we stayed on New York turf, we still had to make sure we had all the important essentials packed.  Here's a quick checklist along with helpful tips:

1.  Have a stroller handy.  Unfortunately we took my hubby's vehicle, and forgot Princess's stroller in my car.  We had to carry her around sometimes.  But, we still managed just fine.

2.  Apply sunscreen before heading out, and keep it handy throughout the day.  The sun was pretty intense.  

3.  Bring snacks and water.  There’s plenty of food at Adventureland.  But, Princess is a very picky eater (like her mama).  Packing her favorite sandwich and/or fruit has bailed us out of cranky situations in the past.  I didn't want to risk changing the game plan now.

4.  Be sure to pack something in the event of an upset stomach.  Amusement park rides tend to make me nauseous.  Yes, even the kiddie ones.  I brought along Culturelle Kids just in case.  Ever since Princess was an infant, she’s had a sensitive tummy too.  Her pediatrician recommended the powder formula.  Now that she’s older we keep the chewables handy.  It provides ongoing maintenance for a healthy digestive tract.  We haven’t used it in a while.  But since it’s her first time going to a theme park, we’d rather be safe than sorry.

5.  Don’t forget to pack baby essentials like wipes and diapers.  I know it’s sounds elementary.  But you wouldn’t believe the things we sometimes forget (e.i. the stroller).  Princess is almost done potty training.  But, I try to have pampers with me.  Wipes are a must for a quick clean up.

6.  Don't forget your smart phone.  There were times when we had to wait an eternity to hop on a ride.  It was a meltdown averted when my hubby whipped out his phone with Dora the Explorer cued up.  Also, your smart phone dubs as a great camera for taking awesome pics.

It’s such a bummer that there’s only a few weeks left of summer.  We’ve had so much fun trying knew things and spending some quality time as a family.   Have you had enough of the summer months yet?  How did you spend it?

For more Adventureland photos complete with captions, check out my Google+ page.

 Weather Anchor Mama

This is a sponsored post.  However, all opinions expressed are my own.

Starting Something New

I can't believe Summer is almost over.  Even though Fall arrives September 22nd, it still feels like the season is coming to a close.  Maybe it's because I started the Fall semester at school.  Who knows?  All I know is that my life is about to get crazy again.  It's so hard to balance between work, school, and playtime with Princess (among other things).

I decided to begin our Fall routine a little early.  Rather than take Princess in early for sprinkler time at daycare, we hung out together instead.  There wasn't a whole lot of time to goof around.  But as the saying goes- it's all about quality, not quantity.

This weekend I'll be wrapping up my Family Summer Fun Series.  Stay tuned to find out which spot we hit up next.

What are your family weekend plans?

Weather Anchor Mama

The Pushing Phase

It's a shame that kids don't come with a manual.  You may remember the post I wrote way back when about Princess being pushed by another tot.  I was pissed, I can't front.  It's one thing when you hear that your child was pushed, but it's a whole other ball game seeing it all go down.  However, the tables have since turned.

Now Princess is the one doing the shoving.  She's made a bunch of friends at daycare.  They roll pretty tight around campus.  But, they have a tendency to push each other.  It happens so often, I lose track of who pushed first.  I know this is a phase.  I know Princess will grow out of it.  But, I think it's important to teach her right from wrong.

I dropped her off at daycare the other day, and as I was leaving I saw Princess shove one of her friends.

"That's not nice.  Say you're sorry!" I demanded.
"No." She responded.
"If you don't say you're sorry, then no TV tonight."  I said.

I asked myself, What the heck did I just do?  But, then I realized that she has to learn one way or another.  She's officially on punishment.  On my way home, I called my mom and filled her in on the plan of action.  We decided no TV for one hour should teach her a lesson.  Plus, she had to read this anti-bullying book with Grandma.

Sure enough when they got home later that evening, my mom said Princess was having so much fun reading.  I thought being on punishment is supposed to be torture.  That wasn't the case for my little girl.  Grandma asked if she understood why she couldn't watch TV, Princess answered yes.  I won't read into this thing too deeply.  As long as she understands why, that's all I care about.  She also read a ton of other books with Grandma.

I think she forgot all about watching TV.  Hopefully, there'll be no more episodes of pushing.


Has your little one gone through this phase? Have you ever put your toddler on punishment?

Weather Anchor Mama

Cold Turkey

If my boobies could talk, they'd probably scream "enough already!"  They've been working overtime these past couple years and it's time for them to retire.  That's right!  They're finally cutting off their milk supply completely.

The original plan  was to breastfeed for a year.  I wasn't quite sure if I'd make it that far, but surprising I did.  I've managed to overcome many obstacles including, the pain and dip in supply.  I didn't know who enjoyed it most- me or my daughter.

Since becoming a mom, I've struggled to find balance between career and motherhood.  In addition to providing the best nutrients ever, nursing seemed to make up for lost times when I was away.  It was great to have been able to bond with Princess.  Up until her second birthday, she looked forward to "boobies."  She'd walk me into her TV/play room and tell me to sit down and go at it.  For a while there I thought I'd be breastfeeding until whenever, but I've realized that my boobies have served its purpose.  It's time for my little girl to move on.  The decision to go cold turkey wasn't easy because when my baby girl wants something, she's relentless.

I've known moms who've nursed until preschool age because they had trouble weaning.  I decided that wasn't the route I wanted to go. Believe me, if it were up to Princess she'd probably nurse until college.  The sight of that alone freaks me out.

Anyway, I'm proud that we've made it two years.  She's cried when I told her "no" these past few days.  Offering her something else she loves has seemed to curb those cravings.  In the meantime, I'll have fun bonding with her in many other ways.  I'm gonna miss nursing my baby girl.  Who knows, maybe my boobs will do a Jordan and come out of retirement.  Baby number two may be just around the corner.  We'll see.

Please sure to check out my Nursing Diaries.

Weather Anchor Mama

A Dora the Explorer Adventure Recap & 10 Party Tips

I'm not the best party planner and I'm certainly not crafty.  So when my hubby and I decided to throw Princess a birthday party, I knew I was in major trouble.  We had something small last year with just family and close friends.  Even though we had help, it was still a lot of work.  Rather than complicate things, we decided to have the bash at her daycare this time around- that way we wouldn't have to worry about cleaning up.

Choosing a theme was pretty easy.  Princess loves Dora the Explorer so much that it was the obvious choice.  I've never planned a kid's birthday party before, and wanted it to be fun.  The last thing anyone wants is to have tots standing there wondering why the party is so whack.  I looked up party ideas and pinned them on Pinterest to help stay organized.  I was able to make up these invitations in Photoshop.

If you've ever watched Dora, then you know that she's always off on some adventure with her sidekick, Boots.  To help them find their way, the map guides Dora and Boots to their destination.  I thought incorporating a map would be a fab idea for the party guests to follow.  So, I put this together in Photoshop too.

As far as goody bags, I wasn't quite sure what to do.  I recreated Dora's backpack (another idea I got from Pinterest).  I bought these cute lavender bags from Party City for about 69 cents a pop.  They also had some cool Dora favors for less than a dollar.  I picked some crafts from Michaels, including wobbly eyes (pictured below).  After borrowing some of Princess's crayons, I came up with this...

I had some help from the birthday girl herself.  Pretty cool huh?  The kids loved it!

These Dora theme cake pops, made by my hubby's co-worker, were also a tasty edition to the favors.    You can check out her Facebook page more info on baked goodies.

I purchased some Dora mylar balloons, including a life size version that greeted everyone as they walked through the doors.

As the kids came in, they each got a map and their hand stamped.  Then the fun began!

Princess had fun climbing and sliding the 3 tier maze

The kids enjoyed arts & crafts

Daddy tried to help Princess Hoola. 

Kids and parents alike enjoyed pizza for lunch.  But, the icing on the cake was this ice cream dessert from Baskin Robbins.  It came complete with a snap shot of the party invitation.

Princess had so much fun, and it didn't stop there.  I felt so bad that I wasn't able to thoroughly enjoy the party with her.  It was like seeing the celebration through the camera lens.  My sis helped with taking pics, but I also played party host, and had to make sure everything and everyone was ok.  With that said, we spent the following day together.  We opened gifts and played all day long.  She also started writing her thank you cards.  It was a great birthday weekend!

To recap, here are some tips for planning a party for your tot:
1.  Avoid the headache of cleaning up your home, Have the party at a different location.  It actually worked out cheeper for us.
2.  One and a half to two hours is all you need for a party.  These kids wear themselves out!
3.  Pick out 2-3 activities and keep it moving.  We had 3 things to do.  You'd be shocked at how time flies!
4.  Simple fingered foods work best.  We chose pizza.
5.  Most places have a generic theme included in the price package of the party.  If you choose your own, you can still save by hitting up the dollar store.  That worked for us last year.  But, this year Party City had everything we needed at reasonable prices.
6.  Don't be afraid to ask friends and family for help.  It takes the burden off of you.
7.  Don't be afraid to experiment.  It's ok to get crafty.  You'd be surprised of what you'd come up with.
8.  Have hand sanitizers and/or wipes on hand for a quick clean up.
9.  Stay organized.  I stayed on top of everything with Printerest.  Find the things you like, and pin them to your board.  You can check out my party ideas here.
10.  I'm a huge procrastinator!  Last year, I kinda threw everything together last minute.  This time I planned things out which made things so much easier.

If you have tips of your own, please share!  Plus, check out more birthday pics at my Google+ page.

Weather Anchor Mama

Note: I was not paid to endorse any company.  This IS NOT a sponsored post.

Happy Birthday Princess!

I apologize in advance for being super annoying.  This will be the first of quite a few post about Princess celebrating the big two.  I'm just a proud mama.  What can I say?  A part of me feels bad for sending her off to daycare on her birthday.  But, my hubby and I had to finish up her party plans.  Having Princess with us would sort of ruin the surprise (trust me, she remembers everything).

We spent a huge part of the day just running errands and putting her present together.  Before we knew it,  the clock struck five o'clock.  We wanted to eat dinner and enjoy some outdoor fun, so we picked her up little early.  Then it was off to the park!

Grandma also came over to hang and drop off Princess's gift, a Dora the Explorer doll and stoller.  We had tons a fun!

I saw this online and had to get it for her. I've always wanted something like this as a kid. I guess you can say I'm living vicariously through my daughter.  She mainly likes to go in reverse, as you can see.

Stay tuned for more pics!

Weather Anchor Mama

My Baby's About to Turn 2!

I can't believe my baby is about to be two years old tomorrow!  It's crazy how time flies!  I can recall feverishly planning her first year birthday party around this time last year.  In case you haven't seen it, here's the video  and recap of her 1st year bash.

This time around my hubby and I would like to keep things a bit more kid friendly.  We're planning a celebration for Princess and her friends to enjoy.  I'll be sharing pics, and tips on how we (I) planned the event.  For us, it's all about keeping it simple and fun.  I'm also working on another video.  Stay tuned for that too!

Princess weeks away from turning 2. She's always loved playing on this field.

She wasn't quite walking on her own.  But, she'd hang onto things to guide her along.  

My little girl is growing up, and this moment is bitter sweet.  Sometimes I wish she'd stay this way forever.  How do you feel about your kiddos getting older?

Weather Anchor Mama

Operation Milf in Full Effect With Help From Joe

It seems like the more I work out, the more tired I get.  Isn't exercising supposed to help with keeping you energized?  I remember running four to five miles a day during the week, and about eight miles on weekends.  Back then I thought nothing of it.  But now I would kill to be able to do that again.

When people say being a mom means no sleep, they're not kidding.  Luckily Princess has been sleeping through the night.  But, getting home mad late with a quick turnaround to drop her off at daycare doesn't allow much rest time.  I've been biting the bullet nonetheless by bringing my butt to the gym during the week.  I'm about ten pounds away from reaching milf status.  However, my main goal is to stay healthy. Even though I no longer average four to five miles, I'm satisfied with accomplishing three miles a day.  I can't say it's been easy though.  By the time I get home, shower and devour breakfast, I try to squeeze in at least a half hour nap before work.

Once I get there, I'm like a walking zombie.  I depend on a cup-o-joe to help me stay awake through my shift.

I'll be hosting a Beanchat with Gevalia Coffee on Facebook this Thursday 10 am (ET).  We'll be chatting about all things coffee related for one hour.  Please be sure to check out and like their Facebook page.  Gevalia will be giving away coffee too!  The more you participate, the more chances you'll have to win.  Hope you can make it!  I don't want to be in that chat room by myself.

Weather Anchor Mama 

What if Someone Called Your Baby Ugly?

Tia Mowry, Cory, & Cree Hardrict YBF

I'm a lover not a fighter.  But if someone calls my baby ugly, then it's time to take off my jewelry and break out the vaseline.  Lucky for me, I've only heard sweet things about my baby girl.  However, not everyone can say the same.  I recently came across this article on Babycenter, where the author criticizes people for making harsh comments about Tia Mowry-Hardrict's son, Cree.  It's seems unreal for people to be so rude.

Here are just some of the comments posted on YBF:

"The baby looks like a little old man. It's not his fault though, his parents chemistries just didnt mix together well."

"that kid's head is beyond massive. damn."

"That baby is beyond ugly. People have the right to say how they feel. The kid is ugly but then again so is the father."
Tia is obviously a lady of class.  She responds to those naysayers on her Facebook page:

“It’s disgusting that some focus on looks. I brought a beautiful child into this world” – Tia Mowry.

She gets mad props for sounding off and defending her child on Facebook.  Even though I've never been in this situation, it does hit a soft spot.  As a mom, I'll do anything to protect my child.     I'll admit- some babies are cuter than others.  I've seen babies who I wouldn't consider adorable.  Take it from this former ugly baby (so I've been told), verbally assaulting a child is not cool.  If you don't feel a kid is cute, just don't say anything.  You can always stick with comments like:

"God bless him/her."

"What a precious baby!"

You can also focus on beautiful features by saying things like, "She has beautiful eyes."

As an infant, I remember people saying how much they adored Princess's head.  Someone also couldn't stop talking about how much they loved the back of her neck.  I appreciated those compliments.  They could of said, "Dam, she's bald!!  But, they focused on her beautiful assets.  FYI, there's nothing wrong with being bald.  I am a former baldy. 

As for Tia's baby Cree, I happen to think he's a cutie pie.  To say anything insulting is just heartless.  Just think- would you want your child growing up and reading these negative opinions?

Has anyone ever called your baby ugly?

Weather Anchor Mama  

When a Stranger Compares Our Kids

I've realized that some people will say the weirdest things.  When they do, I usually smile and keep it moving.

What bugs me is when a complete stranger compares my kid with their kid.  A woman says to me, "your daughter is a little lady."  I respond, "thanks, so is she," (referring to the toddler she is with.  I don't know if there's any relation between them).  Then the conversation took a turn for the weird.

Lady: "No she's not a lady.  She's rough around the edges."

I find it strange when people diss their own kid (in this case, I'm not sure their of relation).  She goes on to say:

Lady: "She'll play football. Your daughter will do dance."
Me: "Oh."  (What else was I suppose to say?)
Lady: "She'll play the drums.  Your daughter will play the violin."

Me: Silence.  I'm getting annoyed. But, I smile and remain composed.

Lady: "She's a tomboy.  You daughter is a girly girl.  She'll want to paint her nails."

Me: Silence. Okay, I've had enough!

I don't think this woman means any harm.  But, it's just a weird conversation.  We've never met before, and she feels compelled to start drawing comparisons between the girls?!  My take- just let kids be kids.  They are here to have fun!  Who cares about what their gonna be doing years down the road?  They're only toddlers.  Besides, I don't even know you!

For the record- if Princess wants to play the drums, then she'll play the drums and anything else she wants to do (within reason of course).  She's way too young for me to put her in any sort of category and I'm her mom.  So when a complete stranger does it, it's just inappropriate and uncomfortable to listen to.

How do you feel about people comparing your kid to theirs?

Weather Anchor Mama

Are You An Agist?

I read a post the other day that got me asking the question, am I an agist?

The author reveals how she feels less valuable or even invisible in her 50s, than in her 20s and 30s.  She asks why a person would you ask another "'newbie' for advice instead of older women who have been there/handled that?" She also questions why she's often ignored by younger women.  This post makes me think about my own actions and how I view the older women in my life.

I can't front, there are times when I'd have a question about something baby related, and I'd call up a friend.  I don't avoid calling my mom on purpose.  The only reason why I do it is because it’s great to compare notes with someone who’s going through the same things at the same time. It’s sorta like taking the same class. So much has changed since we were babies. There are new health codes, recalls etc.  A lot of my questions are also geared toward post millennium stuff.

I know that my mom is there when I need her.  She's also takes care of Princess every day.  If she's sick, Grandma offers suggestions.  But she doesn't overdue it, and I appreciate that.  My mom has done a great job raising the four of us, and now it's time for me to be a mommy.  I won't claim to know everything.  I may stumble along the way, and that's okay.

If ever I need advice about anything, I know that I can hit up the women over 50 in my life - who have all been there/handled that.

Do you prefer to get advice from your mama peers or midlife mamas?

Weather Anchor Mama 

Blogher 12 Final Wrap Up; Tips for Attending

Feel free to stop by my Google+ page to check out pics from Blogher12!

 Did you attend this year? Have you attended in the past? Please share your experience!

Weather Anchor Mama

 

Blogher 12 Wrap Up (Part Three)

When I read that CNN's Soledad O'brien was going to be moderating a panel at Blogher12, I was super excited.  She was scheduled to chat with Christy Turlington Burns and Malaak Compton-Rock about their foundation, charities, and documentaries.  The point of this keynote event was to discuss how we can help to bring about change through social media.

I've met Ms. Obrien in the past and had the pleasure of speaking with her at another conference.  She was just as poised and passionate about her work, and was equally committed to the foundation she started with her husband.  The video clips of the young ladies revealing how they've had to overcome so many different adversities brought tears to my eyes.  Their mission to help young women achieve their educational goals was inspiring.  I was impressed with how she described her husband suggesting that their daughters give up their bedroom to one of the sponsored scholars, and camp out on the living room floor.  It's so important to teach our kids the importance of giving back.  For me, family has always been number one, and I plan to get Princess involved in the community as she gets older.  It's interesting how the platforms of these women centers around children, which makes perfect sense.  As cliche as it may sound, 'the children are our future.'

Hearing Christy Turlington's story made me realize the importance of that statement.  I went home later that night and gave Princess a bigger than normal hug.  Turlington's words spoke to me in a special way.  Maybe it's because I recently gave birth, and the memory of delivering my baby girl is still fresh in my mind.  

I've always known her as the face of companies like Maybeline.  But, I began realize that there's so many more layers to this beautiful woman.  She revealed her story of having severe complications during her pregnancy.  She said that experience set her life on a different path.

Her organization began as a campaign, but later evolved into a mission that focuses on programs that improve the survival of women and children in impoverished communities.  She also encouraged us to put an end to mommy wars.  I think it's so important for women to support each other.  As Katie Couric mentioned in her interview, we may not agree on some things.  But, it's important to respect other peoples opinions.  However, you'll probably call me a hypocrite after reading my thoughts on Malaak Compton-Rock.

The only thing I know about her is that she's the wife of actor/comedian, Chris Rock.  Aside from the trip she took to Africa with Oprah, I was unaware of Malaak Compton-Rock's philanthropic pursuits- until this past weekend.  I had the pleasure of running into Mrs. Compton-Rock in the rest room prior to the keynote address.  It was just the two of us.  She had finished prepping for the interview, and I couldn't pass up the chance to meet her.

Me: "Hi! You're Malaak, right?"
Malaak: "Yes."
Me: "I'm Stacy-Ann Gooden from Weather Anchor Mama."
Malaak: Silence
Me: "I recognize you from your picture.  You're the second or third person I've recognize from their picture."
Malaak: Silence

I was probably coming off as a psycho babbler, and thought I might as well shut up.  She was using the toilet for christ sake!  But after a brief pause, I asked:

"Have you been down there yet? Obviously, you haven't.  Sorry."
 I Don't recall an answer
Me: "Okay, well I'll see you downstairs."
Malaak:  Okay.

As I exited the bathroom, she came out of the stall and washed her hands.  I held the door open thinking she'd follow me out.  But, she didn't.  I wondered why she wasn't friendly.  She seemed so down to earth at first glance.  Did she think I was crazy?  She went in there to use the bathroom, and I kept rambling.

On my way downstairs, I ran into another blogger who told me she just ran into Christy Turlington.  We stood by the elevator chatting about our experiences with the ladies.  I remember telling her, "I think Malaak is nervous.  She didn't speak much.  I think she's trying to focus on talking points."  By this time the interview was getting ready to start, and we made our way to the grand ballroom to make sure we got good seats.

The introductions were made, and the soon after Soledad O'brien began the discussion.  When she asked Mrs. Compton-Rock about her foundation, she couldn't answer the question.  In fact, she stop mid-sentence quit a few times.  I looked around to see if anyone else notice this.  We all gave each other a look of confusion.  I thought that maybe she just needed to get in the groove.  Soledad O'brien did a great job trying to finish her sentences, and moved on to Christy when she realized that Malaak was having a difficult time.  Then the whispers began.

Everyone began to speculate, "Maybe she's not feeling well," one lady said.  Another replied,  "Maybe somebody died."  Initially, I felt bad for her because I also thought that there was personal issues going on.  But, she never once hinted at anything.  At one point she did apologize for the "brain fart."  I'm not sure if I'd use those words at that particular moment.  But, I did find it endearing in a way.  It revealed that she was human.  I thought for sure she'd come around.  However, it was like watching two trains collide.  She went on to say things that didn't make sense.  She repeated the same things over and over again.  "We went to Namibia, South Africa, Namibia, South Africa, Namibia, South Africa."

When asked about why she chose this cause she answered, "my husband is from Brooklyn."
When asked what motivates her she was stumped.  Soledad then said,  "We'll give you a moment to think about it Malaak, Christy?"
After Christy's eloquent answer, Malaak responded, "You all.  You all motivate me."

Nothing made sense.  How could we motivate you?  Your organization benefits kids in Africa and Brooklyn.  Isn't that why your here?  The last straw was how poorly she describe the children in Africa.  I wondered how connected she was to her cause.  The women from Africa who happened to be sitting at my table couldn't stop talking about how disappointed there were with her.

At one point Soledad mentioned that while they were all in Africa, Malaak looked more and more fabulous as time went on.  FYI, Malaak's foundation empowers kids by letting them see how things are in shanty towns.  She also offers kids in Brooklyn an opportunity to trace their African roots.  Unlike all the other women who spoke during the conference, I couldn't feel her passion.  While I understand that she may not be comfortable in front of a large crowd, it's important to be prepared.

I later spoke with a few other bloggers who felt sorry for her.  Many were surprise when I said I didn't.  Everyone said they wouldn't mention this in their blogs.  But, I felt it was important to write this post.  I'm not in the market of bashing anyone.  However, I've always been a firm believer in being prepared.  We all made a huge effort to attend this conference.  She never let on that there was anything wrong.  She just didn't seem connected to her cause or the audience.  This was evident when I later ran into the same young lady I'd been speaking with in front of the elevators.  She told me of her encounter with Malaak Compton-Rock after the keynote.  She greeted her and mentioned that she was from Zimbabwe.  Mrs. Compton-Rock had her head down and responded with, "I'd like to visit there one day."  The young lady from Africa said she was so insulted.  She also expressed her discontent at how Malaak spoke about the children in Africa.  Since her foundation centers around Africa, she had hoped to get a warmer response.

I pray that she was just having a bad day.  If not, Malaak Compton-Rock has a lot to learn.  Even though things didn't go well with her, it didn't tarnish the overall message of using your voice and your platform to make a real, measurable difference.  I think despite that hiccup everyone was inspired.  

Weather Anchor Mama

Blogher 12 Wrap Up (Part Two)

Katie Couric Google+

There was so much ground to cover at Blogher 12.  Rather than write a dissertation about everything I did, I've chosen to select a few key moments and share them with you.  One of my favorite times of conference were the interview sessions.  It's great hearing success stories of women in media.  I find it extremely motivating.  For the most part they went pretty well.  However, there were some pretty uncomfortable moments which I'll share in part three of my wrap up.


I started the day feeling excited about the Katie Couric interview.  On the heels of the luncheon with Martha Stewart, I was hoping for more laughs and inspiration.  Ms. Couric did more than just rise to the occasion.  She revealed her inner strength as a wife, mom, and journalist.  It was touching to hear how she coped with the loss of her husband to colin cancer.  It was great to see her funny side too.  We all laughed hysterically when she chatted about cutting ties with a twitter follower, "I blocked his ass," she said.  I was also impressed with how she answered questions regarding being a fair and balanced journalist.  But, I was most enamored with her reaction to balancing career and motherhood.

When asked about how she's been able to balance being a career mom she said,
"I'm uncomfortable with that question because Brian Williams never gets asked that.  For, me I'm well compensated.  I have a live in nanny.  I feel very lucky, and my case is very unusual."  You gotta respect her honesty.  There is a notion that men and women aren't held to the same standards. She went on to say that every woman should be able to decide what works best for her without people passing judgement.  We also need to make work more hospitable for men and women.  When I was pregnant with Princess, I planned on take the full twelve weeks of maternity leave.  My husband only received one week of paternity leave.  Luckily, he was able to use up some of his vacation days.  But, this needs to change.  Daddy's should get as much time to be with their new baby.    

She also touched on her famous interview with Sara Palin.
"I wanted to focus on foreign policy and wanted to allow her to reveal her philosophical stance.  I felt bad for her.  You have to have ice water running through your veins if you didn't.  I can tell she had a hard time answering the questions and I felt bad for her personally.  But professionally I thought it was important for me to show viewers about this candidate who would potentially be the vice president to the oldest president in history."

One of the final points she made was the importance of understanding that people have different points of view, and that's what makes us all who we are.  I couldn't agree more.

In my next post I'll be chatting about my thoughts on the Soledad O'Brien, Christy Turlington Burns, Malaak Compton-Rock session.  Stay tuned!


Weather Anchor Mama