Mother’s Day

A Song To Celebrate Today’s Milestone…

Maurice Sendak…A Little Scary But Very Exciting

Let The Rumpus Begin!

Maurice Sendak died today at the age of 83.  How much fun it was reading his books to my children…acting out the scary parts knowing that in the end the hero won the day. After I finished reading a Sendak book, my children always said—AGAIN!   He invited children into a world of “nightmares” that enabled them to come to grips with their fears.

Right Into the Night Kitchen—”I’m in the milk and the milk’s in me”

Ida is jealous of her new baby sister and at night the changelings come to take her away—-luckily for Ida she can put them into a trance by playing her french horn—thereby saving her little sister from harm.

Earth Day

Protect Mother Earth.

The Birds Are Busy Nesting And Singing

I love birds…they sing and whistle while they work. Especially in the Spring when they are nesting, birthing and feeding. Happily bringing new life into the world. When I was nesting, birthing and feeding I was happily singing, too—my babies made my life a musical…through their eyes everything was new again and it made me sing with joy.

A Deaf Student Talks To President Obama

When I got in, I took many videos. What amazed me is that it took two hours to make it just right before Obama started. I did not realize how great of seats there were for us deaf people. Right front of Obama. I sat in VIP with the Governor Martin O’Malley and many other important people. So, it started at about 11. Obama was right front of me. I was ready to jump up and walk toward him and shake his hand. Could you imagine how the Secret Service would’ve responded? When I watched Obama give his speech on the stage I thought to myself, “No way, Obama is not standing right in front of me! Wow!”

If you want to know more about what Obama’s speech was about, you can find out online. I was close enough to touch Martin O’Malley on his shoulder but I didn’t want to bother him. I regret I could have done better holding my camera while talking to Obama. The moment I will never forget was when he looked at me. He gave me a chance to talk to him. It was like he was waiting for me to say something. I took the moment and signed “I am proud of you,” and his response was “Thank u” in sign language back! Oh my gosh! I was like wow! He understood me after I said I was proud of him. It was so amazing…I was just speechless. Right after he thanked me, he smiled at another deaf lady who signed “I love you.” When I shook his hand it did not feel like he was superior to me. He was just a humble man. I am just impressed by him and know that he will have my vote and he will win second term without a doubt. Yeah, I feel safe to have him for another term.

Mr. Rogers’ Philosophy

“I feel so strongly that deep and simple is far more essential than shallow and complex”

I remember visiting a good friend one afternoon, before I had my own children, while her son was watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Not knowing anything about Mr. Rogers, I made a snide comment about the show, my  friend quickly put me in my  place telling me how much her children loved and related to Mr. Rogers.  Once I had my first child I understood why.

Mr. Rogers  truly loved and understood children. And he told them that everyday—“You’ve made this day a special day, by just your being you. There’s no person in the whole world like you, and I like you, just the way you are.”

A simple and deep message.  One which we should all take to heart.

Mr. Rogers & Me, a  documentary. has its premiere on selected PBS stations this month (check local listings) as well as iTunes and DVD on March 20, Mr. Rogers’s birthday.

Can Women Have It All?

YES! But, probably not at the same time.
That’s why birth control should be every woman’s right.

Timing is everything. Considering that a woman normally bears her children between the ages of 19 and 40 and lives to be 81—there are many years after raising children that a woman can pursue a career.

Birth control enables a woman to choose when and if to have children. And when and if to have a career— teenagers should be made aware of these choices.  They should be given the knowledge and encouragement to take  control of their bodies and at the same time their destinies.

Having that choice, a woman can give 100% to both her baby and her career. Pursuing motherhood and a career at the same time is tough—it can tear a woman apart. Both the baby and the career usually suffer. It’s just too hard to do both simultaneously with all your heart.

The Strength Of A Woman

Me and "Mor" at her 90th birthday celebration.

Honoring my grandmother, Alma Aase, for Women’s History Month. “Mor” was born in Norway in 1906 and passed away in Vermont 90 years later.

She showed me* through her actions that women were strong, smart, powerful, persistent, tough, but also  warm and loving.  And most importantly, in all ways, equal to men.   She raised 8 children, birthed them naturally, breastfed them all, cooked cleaned and sewed their clothes—doing laundry was an all day affair. At the same time she baked bread in the family bakery. She was not wonder woman,  just a women who  did what she had to do. She gave her children and grandchildren unconditional love and respect. Her legacy lives in my 3 daughters today.

In a way it really is absurd that we had to set aside a month to honor women’s rightful place in history.  This was only necessary because 1/2 of the population of the world!! has been ignored and their rights have been and are still  being trampled. This is evident in the political discourse that has been taking place in our nation for the last week.  Men and churches still want to control women’s bodies because they are afraid of women.

But, if the 20th century can boast of anything, it is the fact that women have become free to pursue any path for their life that they chose—unleashing a mighty power that had been suppressed for centuries.  And that will not be stopped.

*My mother, Louise, was Mor’s first child and I was her first grandchild.  My mother was 18 when I was born and my grandmother was pregnant with her 8th child at the same time—she and my father were with my mother when I was born in the family home in Norway with a midwife on March 15, 1947.  My “uncle” was born on July 17, 1947, in the same home with the same midwife, my grandmother was 40.