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Category: Activism

This Is What Women Around the World REALLY Think of U.S. Maternity Leave

Posted on December 10, 2016December 10, 2016 by MotherWise
Originally posted on Mothering.com Did you know that every developed country in the world offers its families some form of paid parental leave? Every country except the United States, that is. Most American mothers are offered 6-12 weeks of unpaid...Read More

Two US States Just Did Something AMAZING For New Parents

Posted on August 15, 2016August 15, 2016 by MotherWise
  Originally published at mothering.com   The United States is one of the only developed countries lacking affordable healthcare, fair access to higher education, and paid parental leave. This is despite the fact that there is ample evidence that these social programs...Read More

Please Stop Saying You Don’t See Race

Posted on July 12, 2016August 23, 2017 by MotherWise
There have been efforts better and more in-depth than my quick rant here on this topic of "colorblindness" when it comes to racism. I encouraged you to read those as well, along with the sources cited here throughout. Knowledge is power....Read More

What Lena Dunham Did

Posted on June 28, 2016June 28, 2016 by MotherWise
What Lena Dunham did is not ok. It's natural. It's common. It's not shameful. It's not dirty. But it's not ok. What Lena did, as recorded in her memoir, is sexually experiment on and with her younger sister, for several years. Since...Read More

Ellen Degeneres Creates Inclusive Children’s Clothing Line

Posted on September 14, 2015August 27, 2016 by MotherWise
American clothing retailer, Gap, and comedian/talk show host Ellen Degeneres have teamed up to create an inclusive clothing line, featuring clothing choices for children who don't wish to be boxed into the common options: pink and purple hearts and rainbows...Read More

You’re Not a "Single Mom" Unless You’re a Single Mom

Posted on June 24, 2015August 27, 2016 by MotherWise
  I was a single mother to my oldest son for four years, before my husband and I got together. My husband was recently gone for a couple weeks for work, and I was parenting alone. I was parenting alone,...Read More

The Minnesota Prison Doula Project

Posted on June 23, 2015August 27, 2016 by MotherWise
  Imagine your first memories as a child are clouded in violence, fear, and instability. The person who was tasked with keeping you safe, who you loved unconditionally, was also the person with whom you shared your first high. You...Read More

Dear Mom Judging the Mom on Her iPhone

Posted on June 23, 2015September 25, 2016 by MotherWise
This blog has been passed around numerous times on social media, and I understand why.  People are disconnected.  Folks are glued to their technology.  The other day I saw a young boy on a swing.  He was simultaneously using his iPhone,...Read More

Makeup-Free Selfies and the Fight Against Cancer

Posted on June 23, 2015August 27, 2016 by MotherWise
There is a new social media trend going around, the premise being to post "makeup-free selfies" to raise awareness and money for Cancer Research UK.  Headlines all over the web express excitement (and some dismay) that women, especially celebrities, are willing...Read More

Pregnancy and Birth Etiquette in the Internet Age

Posted on June 21, 2015August 27, 2016 by MotherWise
Using social media to share our experiences with pregnancy and birth is a beautiful thing; through sharing our journeys, we build communities of informed mothers who feel empowered and supported. Yet with the information age comes a peculiar sense of...Read More

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    motherwise.life

    MotherWise
    💖 #gentleparenting #parenting #consciousparent 💖

#gentleparenting #parenting #consciousparenting
    People-pleasing, obedience, lack of boundaries, in People-pleasing, obedience, lack of boundaries, invalidation of needs and feelings — these issues affect people from childhood into adulthood. 

When we have babies, it’s not an adornment or a personal accomplishment or a source of ego pride — it’s a contract with our children and our communities to raise humans who will do more good than harm, who strive to better the world, who function with empathy and emotional intelligence. 

Children grow up believing that their needs are too much when they face invalidation and neglect. Neglect can be as “small” as having a parent who never sets down their phone and listens enthusiastically when their child is speaking. Invalidation can look like anything from, “stop crying, you’re fine” to denying a child’s personality, interests, or identity. 

When kids feel ashamed of their feelings, they learn to feel ashamed of their very being. Validating feelings can be uncomfortable, because those feelings often don’t make sense to us. No, you can’t have the toy. Sorry I cut your banana the wrong way. Sorry, but we do have to leave the park now. 

But validating feelings doesn’t mean giving in. It’s holding a boundary while empathizing. We empathize because children don’t have impulse control or emotional regulation. Their brains are not fully developed, so big feelings are normal, impulsive behavior is normal, and needing help to emotionally regulate is normal. This can sound like, “it looks like you’re really frustrated/sad/mad that we have to leave/can’t get the toy. It’s ok to be sad. I’m here if you want a hug. We have to leave now/can’t get the toy.” 

Repeat as needed. Soon enough, kids get older, their brains develop further, and they’ve received the gift of co-regulation instead of hitting and harsh punishment. This nurtures healthy cognitive development and sends our kids into adulthood with the ability to express and regulate themselves in a healthy way. 

Aka conscious parenting can change the world. 

#gentleparenting #gentlediscipline #parenting #consciousparenting #emotionalintelligence
    Via @blacktherapistsrock ・・・ “The paradox Via @blacktherapistsrock 
・・・
“The paradox of education is precisely this — that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.” James Baldwin
    Instagram post 18129390397292763 Instagram post 18129390397292763
    Via @sternasuissa and @thedionnedavis ・・・ Via  @sternasuissa and @thedionnedavis 
・・・
“A lot of the mainstream ways of disciplining children would be considered abuse when done to an adult.
Once we see 👀 through this, there’s no way we don’t see it! It can be so hard to navigate because it’s the common way of handling children in schools and many parenting experts, doctors and educated individuals are unfortunately giving such advice all the time.
When getting advice, we can simply ask ourselves: would I do this to an adult? How would it feel if it was done to me?
It’s that simple. If we don’t treat an adult in such a way, then it’s best not to treat a child in that way!!
⠀
This post isn’t about finding ourselves being reactive and falling into such behaviours and recognizing that it’s not okay to treat any human in such a way.
 This post is for the many individuals who believe treating children in this way is what benefits children’s wellbeing 💔🥺. How is this okay and why has this been normalized in our society?”
⠀
⠀

⠀#gentleparenting #consciousparenting #parenting #childism 
⠀
    Instagram post 18078148219336427 Instagram post 18078148219336427
    It is fun to screenshot rude social media comments It is fun to screenshot rude social media comments against breastfeeding, and overlay them onto images of Mary feeding Jesus 😇 

#breastfeeding #breastfeedinginpublic #nurseinpublic #naturalparenting #parenting #attachmentparenting
    Emotional intelligence is where it’s at. Also, s Emotional intelligence is where it’s at. Also, some folks use toxic positivity to bypass uncomfortable topics like racism and misogyny, effectively upholding white supremacy and the patriarchy.

#emotionalintelligence #positivevibes
    This one right here, this is it. One of the very b This one right here, this is it. One of the very best ways to provide safety, stability, and love to our children is to learn about ourselves, our trauma, and what it takes to regulate our nervous system. 

#gentleparenting #parenting #peacefulparenting #consciousparenting #emotionalintelligence
    It’s very reminiscent of an abusive relationship It’s very reminiscent of an abusive relationship. Abusers feel entitled to do whatever they want, while the response of the victim is harshly judged. Abusers never hold themselves to the standards they impose on their victims. 

#tyrenichols #endpolicebrutality
    🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #tyrenichols #tyre #poli 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

#tyrenichols #tyre #policebrutality
    Via @saulwilliams Via @saulwilliams
    Inhumane and cruel on so many levels. #tyrenicho Inhumane and cruel on so many levels. 

#tyrenichols
    Via @nellie_scales ・・・ “What can I do?” Via @nellie_scales 
・・・
“What can I do?”

One thing you can do is be brave and truthful in your own homes and classrooms. School districts across the country are stripping curriculum of accurate history. You can practice telling the truth in your home and advocate to your school board with conviction. 

Children grow up with a false narrative about policing because they are inundated with copaganda from toys, shows, and books. We dishonor our children and risk their future safety by continuing to lie to them. Start with MLK talk about how police didn’t want him and other activists to create a better world so they arrested him 29 times. Just start somewhere. 

@nellie_scales AntiBias Educator and Facilitator 

Accessibility: 1st slide [tweet by Janelle Scales] Parents and educators you can do one thing today to help end the abusive policing system in this country. Stop portraying police as public servants and tell the truth. Talk about police arresting MLK 29 times. Talk about police beating suffragists and killing union workers.
2nd slide [tweet by Janelle Scales] Talk to children about police arresting climate activists and water protectors. Talk about police killing Fred Hampton and assaulting Fannie Lou Hamer. Stop feeding our children lies, stop buying cop toys and costumes. Tell kids the truth…finally.” - @nellie_scales
    ALL. OF. THIS. ALL. OF. THIS.
    Never had to worry whether or not an event has an Never had to worry whether or not an event has an accessible entrance? That’s called privilege. 

Never been profiled due to your skin color? Never lost a job based solely on the name on your application? Never been discriminated against for your hair texture? That’s called privilege. 

Never had to worry where your next meal will come from? Never had to wonder how to apply for jobs when you have no address nor phone number? Never been instructed to grip keys in your fist if you walk alone, in case you get attacked? Never been told to cover your drink at all times, and then blamed for your own assault based on what you were wearing? That’s called privilege. 

Acknowledging privilege helps us understand how others experience the world. It promotes empathy and compassion. It inspires people to advocate for those who do not have the same privilege. Your default experience is not everyone’s experience, and that’s ok. What’s not ok is assuming that everyone has the same access and abilities. Privilege is real and it’s ok to admit it.
    It’s not ok to hit people (unless it’s in self It’s not ok to hit people (unless it’s in self-defense). Kids are people too. 

#gentleparenting #nonviolentcommunication #consciousparenting #parenting #motherhood
    ✨ ✨
    Tell me more… Tell me more…
    “Ever since the federal government declared Janu “Ever since the federal government declared January 17th a national holiday to honor Martin Luther King Jr., many White people have misquoted his words, twisting them into a colorblind fantasy that goes against the very spirit of his life's work. White folks’ ritualistic sugarcoating is more than disrespectful — it's cringeworthy.

His daughter, Bernice King, has spoken about this problem:

“In ’68 my father was one of the most hated men in America, and now he’s one of the most loved men in the world,” she said. “So much so that people do take liberties and kind of take different quotes to fit their situation, and nothing is more frustrating for me than that.” 

One of the most misquoted speeches is Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have A Dream Speech. Part of his dream was that "little Black boys and Black girls join hands with little White boys and White girls and walk together as sisters and brothers." 

Conservatives often use this nugget to claim King wanted us to live in a colorblind society. 

But he didn't. 

In today's America, Black people are still dealing with discrimination, fighting against the second-class citizenry, which seems to dominate the Black American experience. 

Defeating segregation legally through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 doesn't change the fact that public schools are more segregated today than they were in the late 60s, housing is more segregated than it was a generation ago, the home-ownership gap is wider than it was 50 years ago, and more Black men are imprisoned than were enslaved in 1850. 

If any of those misquoting Martin Luther King Jr. really cared about his dream, they would understand that today's America would be his nightmare.” 

#mlk #mlkday
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