Update: Noir Mommies Magazine Cover Contest

So after posting about the Noir Mommies Magazine Cover contest and my worries about entering my son's photos....a few comments started popping up.

For the most part the comments were supportive and encouraged me to enter the contest anyway. Even the editor sent me a msg with her thoughts.

Diedra of Noir Mommies sent you a message on Facebook...

I have a lot of friends jamaican/asian who will be featured. The little girl sitting in the washing maching under Candid CM is a Jamaican/Asian her name is Ming Li also Sydney

I started Noir Mommies from the lack of diversity in Parents/Parenting magazine there is always a white child gracing the cover. I have 2 yrs worth of magazines here..not a one brown child. I hope that Noir Mommies covers all the shades of brown/black/yellow children that do not grace the covers of other publication

Noir Mommies is to represent all the other shades that Parents/Parenting does not cover, so please send in your photo!!!

WE WELCOME EVERYONE!!!!!!!"

Which I was very happy to see after reading the comments to that post where other moms with biracial kids also expressed concern. How happy I am that Diedra of Noir Mommies wrote that note and eased our fears. Thank you Noir Mommies!

Black Enough for Noir Mommies Magazine Cover?

Have you heard about Noir Mommies yet? Well I've been hanging out over there recently and it's a cool site. There's lots helpful information and personal stories from other moms and dads that can help guide other parents through the parenting process. Plus guess what...right now Noir Mommies is having a contest to have a child on their upcoming new magazine cover.

http://noirmommies.com/noir-mommies-magazine-cover-contest.html

Of course I was all ready to submit a photo of Daniel since I feel more people should know about his adorableness. LOL. But midway to pressing the send button I had a thought. Is Daniel black enough to be on a cover of a magazine focused on black parenting and family?

Huh! You know that's a real good question. On one hand...why the heck not. Since he's half black I feel he / I/ we can claim his heritage and participate in anything related to the black community...can't we?!

Still I feel some doubt. What would the editors of the magazine say? I've exchanged a few emails with one of the editors of the website and she's very excepting of me and my son. I might be able to convince her and her team but can they convince their readers? Will there be angry letter asking why an "asian" child is on the cover or being included? Will there be a debate over including a biracial child in something made to highlight and promote "black" children?

Urgh! All these questions I'm driving myself crazy. I just wish moms like me didn't need to second guess our actions. My son is just a kid like any other and i feel that is all he needs to define him. Sadly we don't live in a world of open racial definitions. Shame.

I might still enter his photo and see or just let it go since I share his photos with everyone anyway. Either way for the "black" kids or rather "black looking" kids. LOL. Make sure you submit your photos for the contest. It will be nice to see little faces promoted by the moms and dads that make them =)

I've Been Published on MomDot...Sorta

There was a recent request to submit articles on the MomDot site. Since I'm trying to be a better "community" writer I decided to submit an article titled "The "He Looks Just Like His Dad" comment" based on the hot button topic on this blog and in my life. The result? Woot! My article has been approved and is now live.

http://momdot.com/community/specialty-/59-family/664-the-qhe-looks-just-like-his-dadq-comment

It's my first article for the MomDot site so please leave a comment and tell me what you think. At first, I worried that my article might not fit the "tone" of the site since it deals with a interracial issue. But then I figured it's more a mom issue in the sense that I wrote it based on my experience...as a mom. LOL.

Sometimes I have to remind myself that it's sharing the experience that's matters. Thats what other women...other mothers connect and relate to even if their in a same race relationship. I'm happy and proud I took a chance and submitted an article. I hope to submit more to their site....and a few others...in the future

Mommy Does Know Best

My family always has something to say about what I allow my son to do and not to do. Always a criticism that I won't let him do anything. I'm always hovering, I'm too strict, on and on. I wonder what they think the role of a mom is after all?

Today I noticed my son playing with his bottle of Aveeno Baby Wash and Shampoo. Normally I take it right away cause I don't want him associating certain things as play items. But today I was a bit tired and since it's a click to open cap I decided to let him play with it. Big mistake!

A few moments later he's oddly quiet so I look over to where he is...and see him licking his hand. I'm like what is he licking? I gave him nothing. Then I notice the top is off and the bottle is laying on its side seeping the gel out onto the table. Ugh!

As I walk over to him to make sure he hasn't drank any of the gel I'm so mad at myself! Why don't I just listen to myself. I know what's best for my son so I should just stand my damn ground. I'm so sick and tired of hearing unasked for comments from people who always think they know better then the mother of the child. I always ask...are you going to go to the hospital with him when something go wrong? No? Then leave me alone. Of course my family just continues annoying me until I lose it and yell at them. LOL. Then they grumble under their breaths but you know what...I stop caring months ago.

As I wash my son's mouth out with water cause he did lick some of th gel...not alot thank goodness since he didn't like the taste...I realize I'd much rather continue fighting with them then sitting in the emergency room.

Bringing Moms from Online to Offline

Today we enjoyed another playdate with Sheila and her son. Even though Daniel isn’t a fan of the water sprinklers we decide on a trip to a kiddie water park since the days have been so hot.

After settling the kids in to their favorite sections...Daniel by the play gym and William by the sprinklers...we started chatting while wandering around the playground. During one of our convo I told her about the drama in one of the facebook groups where the parents of blasian kids insisted on saying their children are black and should be thought of as black based on their facial features. The father in petictular felt his daughter’s curly hair, full lips and "black" nose would automatically set them up for discrimination.

This of course upset me very much and I'm going to blog about why over on the Euphoria Luv blog since this is a community issue...not just a mommy issue. I was glad to have someone to vent with that I didn't need to explain the background of the asian black community to. She understood my feeling and fears as a mom trying to figure out how to prepare my biracial son for unexpected issues.

As our various convo continued I watched our sons play and felt so blessed that I started the Mothers of Blasian and Asian Children (MOBAC) group. I've been struggling with the thought of closing it due to what I felt was the lack of activity within the group. While I saw mothers connecting on a personal level outside of the group, I felt the group should been more active with discussion flying back and forth. After all I saw this happening with other moms in other mommy groups.

But what I realized as I talked to Sheila is that there's a real need for my group. Our situation is so unique that it's truly helpful to know another mom in the community who can really be a source of comfort. In general, as mothers we all share a common bond no matter our racial background. But I have to confess that when dealing with some issues it's nice to have another mother of a blasian/multiracial child give a listening ear. I hope I can continue my vision to make my group MOBAC a connection place for moms like me.

Trying to Survive the Boo Boo Stages

Now I’m no stranger to my son getting boo boos. Seems like there's always some new scratch, red patch (he’s light skinned after all) or tumble happening to him no matter how I try and keep him in a safe zone. With him walking...well trying to run now...the chances for some serious boo boos have increased 100%

For example...tonight he's doing the usual walking back and forth from room to room when...bang! and the wailing starts. Mind you I'm two feet away from him and saw when his feet tripped him and he feel on his face hard.

Any parent can tell you time seems to freeze as you watch you child get hurt. Then follows that gut sickening feeling as you try to figure out how to comfort your child, figure out where's the pain and how to make it go away.

When you add the sight of blood...ugh...it's one of the worst moments. Seems my son fell on his mouth and his teeth cut into his lip. As I rushed him over to the sink to wash off the blood and cool his lip I wonder how I will survive these boo boo stages. While I understand that all children get serious boo boo while growing I don't understand how parents cope with it. Maybe it's one of those things that grow on you. The more experience you gain with dealing with boo boo the better you are with seeing them happen...or something.

I try to comfort myself as I see my sons lip begin to swell. Ugh, How will I explain this to people already looking at me weird over my son's skintone?! I soon let go of this thought as my son demands to be nursed...his comfort tactic. Oddly enough it comforts me also...till the next boo boo

Enjoying Playtime at Toys "R" Us

So after we did all the serious research and learning at the Disney NetPal Launch...it was time to play. Seriously how can we visit Toys "R" Us, the place considered The World’s Greatest Toy Store and not have playtime?! Not possible if you know me.

After the event we ran off to enjoy a complimentary ride on the famous Ferris Wheel. Did you know it’s 60-foot, complete with flashing chevron neon lights?! Here’s some more cool info

"The ride features 14 individually themed cars, each inspired by a favorite children’s toy or character. A portion of the proceeds from the Ferris Wheel admission price goes directly to the Toys"R"Us Children’s Fund, which supports the work of children’s charities across the country.”

After enjoying our Ferris Wheel Ride we went hung out with Lisa (NewYorkChica) and her daughter at the two-story, 4,000-square-foot Barbie® Dollhouse. Lisa’s little daughter is a fan of Barbie and enjoyed seeing all the different types of dolls.

Our next big stop was…of course…the Jurassic Park section, which features a five-ton, 20-foot-high and 34-foot-long animatronic Jurassic Park T-Rex dinosaur. I’m telling you even thought you know it’s not a real dinosaur it’s still impressive to see…and hear. We of course had to take a photo in front of it. Now while Daniel wasn’t scared of the T-Rex, I made sure to keep my distance…just in case =)

As we made our way outside we peeked in here and there at places we didn’t have the time to stop and visit. There’s so much to see and do so if you ever need a place indoors to explore…then make sure to stop there.