We Got Kidz (parenting)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION PAGE: We Got Kidz.

WEB ADDRESS: wegotkidz.com

BLOG DESCRIPTION: We are so happy to finally have this page up and running. It’s been a long time in the making. It all spawned from our need for attention and our super charged love for our family. Seriously – We have a story to tell, and we’re sure you’ll find it intriguing if for no other reason than because it’s a story that may be similar to your own. Our dream is for this to be an open forum for parents just like us – either married or single – to have a place to express their fears and air out their insecurities… A huge resounding “YOU’RE NOT ALONE!” Most of it will be absolutely hilarious.. We’re just a funny couple by nature – what can I say. Once we get the hang of this blog thing, look forward to silly videos, our Comic Strip of the week, and whatever other silliness we come up with to share. If nothing else, whenever you have those moments with your partner where you stop.. look at each other… and both say with disbelief.. WE GOT KIDS – hop online and share it with us.

MY REVIEW: I really enjoyed this parenting blog. It's a nice mixture of serious stuff (pointing out the problems with glorifying teen pregnancy) to informative (Target diapers are cheaper and work just as well when little kids let go of big...well, you know!) to just plain fun or humorous (the 9 types of crappy handshakes.)

The author writes well, and has much good stuff - and funny stuff, to say. And she's so clearly in love with her fiance and her twins - a boy and a girl. Like most parenting blogs where this is evident, these entries are a joy to read.

There's also a section of amusing comic strips, recipes, and a calendar of daily events happening in Atlanta, Georgia.

Check it out!

Sample post:

Teen Pregnancy Is Awesome! WTF?

A letter to Teen Mom’s who think it’s cool: Dear Teen Mothers, Okay, so what’s up with this whole teen pregnancy craze? I’m not one to judge, I mean things happen. I understand… But the way that it’s been glamorized in the media lately is just plain weird. 16 and Pregnant? Teen Mom? WTF?? It’s not cool to get pregnant prematurely ladies. I mean you’re a kid for cryin’ out loud! I waited until I was thirty to birth some babies and some days I still don’t know if I was ready for what I signed up for: loss of freedom, and certain luxuries – And let’s not talk about sleep. What the hell is that? I’m blessed to have a Fiance that supports his family to the death. We don’t have a lot, but we have each other. A lot of you all can’t say the same about your partners. To have a “baby daddy” who is sixteen years of age is psycho. You know girls mature faster than boys. You remember being on the playground running from Jimmy with the booger on his finger? Well at 16, it’s about the same mental capacity. Just trade the booger for a penis. I hear you all have a new member to welcome to the club. This is an interesting twist – 19 year old Dominican model beauty Rose Cordero has recently announced that she’s been knocked up. Congratulations and a welcome basket are not in order here. Sure, she’s the “it” girl in fashion right now. Her biggest achievement to date has been becoming the first solo “black” model to grace the cover of French Vogue. She’s a millionaire – or at least a “hundred-thousandaire” who I’m sure is more than capable of providing for a child… But can she provide for that child mentally being a child herself? I don’t think so ladies. Be young! Have fun! Live your lives, and wait to have your kids. Sincerely, Kesha C of WeGotKidz.

MY REVIEW:

RECENT POSTS:
--Stumble Saturdays – 9 Types of Crappy Handshakes
--Dinosaur Wearing Weirdo? Not MY son
--Video of the Week! ❤ Beyonce’s Fake Baby Bump??
--BET’s “Reed Between the Lines”…hmm
--Getting Down & Dirty With Diapers
--Teen Pregnancy Is Awesome! WTF?

_______________
Reviews published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
___________________________
Check out my kindle BOOKS!:
Whose Body, by Dorothy Sayers (the Annotated Edition)
The Coldest Equations (science fiction)
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
The Lady and the Tiger...Moth

The Angry Black Woman (lifestyle and culture)

REVIEWED BY: Marguerite Zelle

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES, with reservations

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: The Angry Black Woman, by The Angry Black Woman

WEB ADDRESS: http://theangryblackwoman.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Discussions of Race, Politics, Gender, Sexuality and the intersection between them.

MY REVIEW: This is an interesting blog that deals with issues of lifestyle and culture, arts and entertainment, and politics from an African American perspective. Well written, well-thought out posts, with the occasional four-letter word used for emphasis. If she's really annoyed about her topic, she uses more, as you see in the sample post below.

Although I've placed this in African-American interest, really her topics are of interest to all Americans. Check it out.

The one caveat - she seems to post only once or twice a week at most.
Sample post

Political Apathy: Don’t Have It
July 5th, 2010
Since it’s 4th of July weekend, I thought I should post something vaguely patriotic. However, since I share very similar feelings on this issue as my friend Cat, I’ll have to skip the flag waving and talk about another America-centric issue close to my heart, instead.

Primary results are in from all over the country, and now constituents know who their party candidates are for federal, state, and local government. The more I listen to NPR, the more I hear that everyone is against incumbents, everyone is against the Democrats, and there’s really no hope for the midterm elections. Unless you’re a conservative.

To this I say: bullshit.

Look, I am well aware that not everyone is happy with the Obama administration, and after the last midterm election even Cindy Sheehan threw up her hands and lost hope for our government. While I agree with ultra-left progressives that the past year hasn’t been everything we wished for, I don’t think it’s all that helpful just to complain, turn our backs, and let the goon squad make it even harder to get a tiny bit of what we want done.

Progress requires constant vigilance, constant pushing, and constant gardening.

So, now that the election is mere months away (it seems far, but it is not), I challenge all of you to work for the kind of government you want. That means being involved in the political campaigns of the senators and representatives up for election and re-election in your area.

Support the campaign. If you can give money, do so. If you can’t give money, give time. You don’t need to commit to every evening and weekend from now until November. One weekend, one phone bank session, one letter-stuffing drive is helpful.

Know your candidates. Who are these people, anyway? It’s much easier to be an advocate when you know something about the person beyond their name, slogan, and party. Do you even know where your party candidate stands on those issues, laws, and bills? Do you know where their opponents stand? Do your friends and neighbors?

Use your voice. Blog about the candidates in your area and why you support them or why you don’t. Talk about the issues that matter to you, the laws that have been passed, the bills that died. Use your voice in other arenas, too. Write an op-ed piece for your local paper, call in to radio shows, use social networks, make a short film using your cell phone camera (seriously), start a podcast.

Don’t just shill; challenge and demand. If you feel passionate about an issue or cause and want that candidate to be passionate and fight for it, tell them so. Find out if they agree. Challenge them to do or do better. The campaign process isn’t just about sending someone to office because they have the right party affiliation. They are accountable to you. Don’t let the vocal minority be the majority of people your candidate hears from.

Try to have meaningful conversations about issues that effect you. As we all know from watching the talking heads on 24 hour news channels, you can’t really understand someone else’s point of view if everyone is yelling. When you talk to people about why you support this or that candidate or this or that issue, really get into why. You’d be surprised how many people are willing to listen when you actually just talk. (I discovered that after starting this blog, actually.)

If we don’t take the attitude that a Republican/Tea Party win is inevitable we have a chance of making the better world we dream of. So that’s my patriotic challenge to all of you: don’t let apathy pull you down.

From now until the election there will be an Open Thread on Mondays for discussions of political and election-related topics. Share links, talk about your experience, your frustrations, your candidates. We are, of course, very interested in political issues dealing with women and people of color here at the ABW. That might be a good place to start.

RECENT POSTS:
--There Is No Ground Zero Mosque
--Good Guys: An Appreciation
--Since Dr. Laura Can’t Give Advice To Black People Without Being A Racist Twit, We’ll Give It A Shot
--The Last Airbender’s Target Audience Thinks Whitewashing Is Wrong, Too
--On Being A Considerate Parent
--Whitewashing: Stealing our stories from real life to fiction.
--Realms of Fantasy Columnist Condones Whitewashing When “Magic” Is Involved
--Political Apathy: Don’t Have It
--Why you should not see “The Last Airbender” movie, but watch the cartoon instead.


_______________________
Check out the following blogs:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Volcano Seven: Treasure and Treasure Hunters
Rush Limbaugh Report

BCNN (Black Christian News Network)

REVIEWED BY: Ms. Cairo

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK: BCNN1

WEB ADDRESS: http://www.blackchristiannews.com/news/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: BCNN1 is dedicated to reporting breaking news from a black, Christian perspective.

The mission of BCNN1 is to: Proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people of African descent and whosoever will. Inspire people with Christian books and materials. Educate people with the news of the world. Inform people with stories that impact their lives.

Our Motto: "For Praying, Thinking and Doing Christians"

MY REVIEW: BCNN is a series of websites - with breaking news videos, a Christian magazine, news from Africa with a Christian perspective, news from the Caribbean with a Christian perspective, news from the Latino community with a Christian perspective, and a digital radio station with Bible teachings and Christian music.

The news in the blog is not exclusively for African Americans, although they do have an emphasis on it, but news of interest to all Christians is included. The articles aren't afraid to be critical of President Obama whom the authors feel is going to far to embrace Islam, and they don't appreciate his stand on abortion. (Which is funny...as Obama's stand on allowing abortion is the only thing I like about him!)

Anyway, this blog is of interest to all Christians, not just African American Christians. Highly recommended.

RECENT POSTS:
--Famed Gospel Artist, Walter Hawkins, Goes Home to be With the Lord at 61
--Black Congregation in Houston Has Church Burned, a Pastor Who Killed his wife, and infighting
--Ministers Encourage Church Members to Tithe, Even n Recessoin
--Rev Sheila Schuller Says Evangelist Robert H. Schuller is not Retiring
--Chaplain Who Prayed In Jesus' Name and Was Fired Demands Apology
--7 OUt of 10 Christian Households Eliminate Debt and Avoid Debt
--Atlanta Police Work Hard to Rid the City of the Sex Trade

_______________________
Ms. Cairo writes several blogs including:
Seaborn: Oceanography Blog
Star Trek Report: Space Sciences
Topical Murder and Dated Death]
Rush Limbaugh Report

The Prissy Mom Chronicles (Lifestyles & Culture)

REVIEWED BY: Ann Currie

MY RECOMMENDATION:Yes

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION LINK:The Prissy Mom Chronicles

WEB ADDRESS: http://www.prissymommy.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Wife and mom of one dishes about her adventures (and misadventures) raising a boisterous baby boy in The Big Apple, while also juggling household, career, and maintaining her identity as self-proclaimed priss-pot!

MY REVIEW: Yes, it's an "I'm gonna survive motherhood and come out with my identify intact - if it kills me" blog. But a well-done one. This mother of a delightful not-yet 2-year-old toddler who is expecting her second son does a great job chronicling life around her household. The blog is full of pictures and video clips - fair warning to Kindle subscribers. The text is good and entertaining but there are a lot of pictures (and hey, he's cute - I'd have pictures too.)

You can follow along as she goes through the pain and joy of raising a boy and trying to maintain yourself while doing so. She manages to show us the real side of a toddler without the gory details that some mothers find amusing or funny. There is enough fodder to write about with a toddler, trust me. One does not have to stoop to descriptions of bowel movements and she doesn't. She has a supportive husband. On her profile, she says she is "A psychologist by day and a blogger by night." The blog has a feature called "Wordless Wednesday" which just features photos. She posts 2 or 3 times a week, but she is consistent. Her entries are amusing and wide ranging (as is her life.)

It will interesting to follow along and watch as the family grows from 3 to 4. Then she will have her hands full. Hopefully, she will still find time to write about it. I recommend the blog.

Sample post:

Sticking to Your Values as a New Mom
I was recently talking to a friend, another psychologist who has a child (a year older than Chase) at the same daycare, and we were discussing how important balanced sleep is for children. She stated vehemently that she protects Maya's sleep at all costs - and I told her that I do the same. The conversation began because I was trying to figure out how to finagle leaving work early to spend time with out-of-town family visiting, which would entail picking Chase up from school around his naptime (the kids go down from 12 pm -3 pm). I wasn't sure whether I should pick him up before, during, or afterward - but my main priority was making sure he got all the sleep that his little body needed. My co-worker/girlfriend was on the very same page - and ended up giving me some really great advice that proved effective. It felt good to have my concerns validated.

Because of how strongly I feel about this I found it best to establish a routine for my baby early. I've had a sleepy-time routine for Chase that, with my mom's help, we established within the first couple weeks he was born. This is the best thing we could have done. His bedtime routine consists of me taking him into the back at 6:30 pm, closing the door, dim lighting, changing him into pj's, quiet voices used, feeding, then story-time/quiet talk. He's in bed by 7:00 pm, and asleep shortly thereafter. His days at school are active and fun-filled, and his little body is physically and mentally drained by the end of the day. These days, Chase even tells us "Night-night" when its close to his bedtime and he's feeling sleepy, and will add emphasis by laying down on the floor with his blankie or walking himself to the back. He sleeps well and generally doesn't awaken until 6:30 the next morning, when we all get up to prepare for work/school.

Obviously there are the instances when exceptions have to be made, like while on vacation or when we travel and get home later than usual. But I think sticking as closely to the routine as possible is important - for him more so than us. Babies appreciate the consistency and familiarity of knowing exactly what is going to happen. It's what makes them feel safe, secure, and comfortable. I know enforcing a schedule is going to become that much more imperative as Chase gets older and begins sports and music lessons and wants to hang out with his friends, which is why I think it's important to establish a routine now.

I marvel at my peers who's toddlers are up, watching TV and running around the house with the adults, at 10, 11 pm... midnight. I suspend judgment, and bite the comments back on my tongue, when they tell me about how the baby went to sleep with them at 1:00 am. *shrug* It's not my place to impose my practices onto them. Everyone's household runs differently - and different ways of doing things work for different folks. I know that, personally, I'm not the best mom I can be at that time - and I'd be doing a disservice to my child to try and parent him when I am also tired and cranky and in need of my own "adult time."

With that said, I've found it important to set boundaries with folks around this issue. Nothing bothers me more than people who sporadically drop by at night to try and see our son - knowing full well that he is in bed by 7 pm. This disrupts his routine and I am the one affected most by it, since I'm the one who soothes him and puts him to sleep when he is throwing a fit due to being over-tired. When I was a brand-spanking-new mom I wasn't completely comfortable asserting myself on this matter. I got over that quickly. Its funny, I was told not too long ago that a few folks have viewed my choices unfavorably. The term "crazy" was even thrown around. I find these sentiments baffling. You see, I'm at home with Chase all day long on weekends (and home from work by 5:15 pm) and this is when anyone can spend time with Chase, if they choose to do so. And I encourage them to! However, folks don't choose to do so - I guess they're busy with their lives and own commitments, which I understand. But then they're indignant when I don't indulge said late night visits, and that I actually do enforce a routine. And I become the "over-protective" mom who isn't letting Chase spend time with folks. Well, those are my house rules, and how I've chosen to raise my child. Its disappointing and hurtful when folks don't respect them.

My dad traveled over 5000 miles to visit Chase - he spent a few days with us, during which time he was able to really bond with his grandson. He was so tickled with how cheerful and playful and well-behaved Chase was - and marveled at how in sync our routine was. The one thing my dad just kept stressing was: "Just do what you normally do - I don't want to disrupt your schedule at all." That made me feel so good - that he cared enough about Chase's well-being and also my "house rules" that he wanted to be respectful of that. I wish more people shared these sentiments.

RECENT ARTICLES:
--Wordless Wednesday
--The Nursery is shaping up
--Sports Fan Collection (Cocalo Kids) Giveaway
--Discovering the Magic of Spring
--It's . . . a Boy!!!!

_______________________
Ann Currie publishes:
My Life a Bit South of Normal
Silver Pieces: The Strange and Peculiar

Makes Me Wanna Holler - Man, Dad and Husband (Lifestyle, African American)

REVIEWED BY: Ms. Cairo

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION PAGE: Makes Me Wanna Holler - Mom, Dad and Husband , published by Eric Payne

WEB ADDRESS: http://makesmewannaholler.com

BLOG DESCRIPTION: The evolution of a family man in NYC and all the joy, pain and insanity that comes with the love affair I have with my wife, my thirteen year-old boy who's growing out of control and eating me out of house and home, and my three year-old evil-genius princess intent on having her way at all costs. It's all about living life from the father/husband lane (and laughing a lot) --- one day at a time.

MY REVIEW: Another blog that I enjoyed reading, for all that it isn't really my cup of tea. I have no kids (and find life so much easier that way).

But it's a joy to read the writings of parents - in particular dads, who get so little credit sometimes for what they bring to a child's life - who so obviously love their kids, and bring them up right.

This is another blog that all parents will enjoy reading, and maybe even kids, too, who want to see just what parents go through to bring them up.

SAMPLE PARAGRAPHS

I'm typically very cool under pressure. However the one thing I cannot endure is my child not being able to get a full breath of air. I get angry quickly and begin to bark. Why? Because I've had bronchitis more than once as an adult and unless you've actually felt what's it's like to not be able to bring air into your lungs, you can't relate. I can call 911, I can tell someone or write out (to conserve air) what's wrong. My daughter, nor any child for that matter cannot. And for this reason I hate cigarette smoke, cat dander and anything else that can trigger such a thing as if they were the Devil themselves. What made matters worse, is we were out of medicine and I had overlooked refilling the prescription because it's almost been a year since her last episode.

Tuesday night I didn't sleep. I sat in her room on my iPod Touch, surfing the Net and watching the rise and fall of her chest, regulating the heat and the humidifier in her room, sitting her upright if she coughed, patting her back and rocking her (as my dad did me) back to sleep when she awakened from the discomfort of it all. At sunrise I picked up her prescription, her symptoms subsided and somehow I made it through the day with no sleep, a bit of personally disappointing news and the threat of the snowstorm of life being flashed on every channel on television.

Yesterday afternoon I took her to a park in my neighborhood where, armored from head to toe looking like a pink Stormtrooper (or pink mercenary), she pelted me with little snowballs, chased her grandfather at 1 mile per hour and made snow angels, laughing through all of it the whole time. I had to literally pick her up off the ground to get her to leave.

When I dropped my daughter off at pre-school this morning, my heart swelled as it does every morning. I lose a piece of me every time I part ways with her. But I don't own her. Despite all of what I described above she is NOT my human. She is my child and what I own is the responsibility of raising her and her brother, who currently believes he is God's gift to women and football, (Update: he managed to pull up all of his grades to a modestly respectable level for his 2nd quarter of high school. Now his challenge to to continue to pull them up even higher), protecting them and teaching them as much as I can until they leave the nest.

RECENT ARTICLES:
-Touching Robes (musing on ambitions past and present) (Feb 24, 2010)
-The Winners - The Soldier of Love CD (Feb 23, 2010)
-I (Didn't) Invented Sex - (talking to his son about music) (Feb 18, 2010)
-Make it wearable (comment on custom t-shirts) (Feb 16, 2010)
-Will it be Yours? (Valentine's Day) (Feb 14, 2010)

Mocha Dad (lifestyle, African-American)

REVIEWED BY: Ms. Cairo

MY RECOMMENDATION: YES

AMAZON SUBSCRIPTION PAGE: Mocha Dad, published by Frederick J. Goodall

WEB ADDRESS: http://www.mochadad.com/

BLOG DESCRIPTION: Learning how to be a better father one day at a time.

MY REVIEW: I really enjoyed this blog. Mr. Goodall writes well, has a sense of humor, and so clearly loves his children. It helps that he also seems to have some pretty cute kids - well brought up and so well-behaved. These are stories that every Dad will enjoy reading. It's fun to see how much fun dads can have with their kids. I think moms, dads and even kids will enjoy this blog, and learn from it, too.

SAMPLE PARAGRAPHS

Rocking the Vote

Since my daughter, Nee, has been at her new school, she has really blossomed. I give most of the credit to her teacher, Mrs. Scott.

Mrs. Scott was the first teacher who has really nurtured Nee and pushed her out of her comfort zone. Under Mrs. Scott’s tutelage, Nee has done things that take courage, confidence, and determination.

I was shocked when she informed me that she had decided to run for Student Council. My eyes glazed over as “Hail to The Chief” started playing in my head.

“Don’t get all excited, Dad,” she said. “I’m only doing it because my teacher made me.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked.

The world would be a better place if all politicians were so adorable.

“She said that I was lazy if I didn’t fill out the nomination form,” she said. “And I don’t want her to think I’m lazy.”

“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked. “Being on the student council is a lot of responsibility.”

“What will I have to do?” she asked.

“You’ll be the voice for your classmates,” my wife, KayEm, explained. “You’ll help to make your school a better place.”

Nee thought about it for a while and then agreed to proceed. As a former student council member, her decision made me very happy.

RECENT ARTICLES:
-Rocking the Vote (Dad and his daughter, student council)
-Old School Hip Hop Meets New School Toddler (Dad and young son learning to dance)
-Freeway of Love (Dad and young son's love of cars)
-The Ultimate Player (checkers with 6 year old son and 8 year old daughter)
-25 Romantic Ideas For Men From Women