One the way out of the doctor's office, she fell.  She's fine, but good gracious.  They are sitting in the pharmacy waiting for her to collect herself and then they will be on their way home.

THEN.....we came home and she tried to walk on it.  We heard something pop and she was in severe pain.  It is swollen more now as well.  I called the doctor's office and they said that the swelling was going to happen; that it is going to hurt.  That she needs to prop it up and put some ice on it.  They want us to take her back in the morning between 9 and 9:30 so they can put a brace on it.  She is so upset.  She does not want a brace - she wants the cast back on it.  She is upset because he didn't make her walk on it for him today.  Standing on it did not hurt so bad, but she says walking on it kills her.   She knows now that she will not be going to camp.  I still cannot believe they took the cast off after three weeks.  John is taking her in the morning.  If I go, I may not be nice.  He can do it gracefully.  I feel so bad for her - I have never had to have a cast on any part of my body, so I can't imagine what she is feeling.  I hope the brace is strong enough to make her feel safer. 

Please pray for her comfort.  I know what it feels like to be in pain - as many of you do.  I pray that she will heal quickly.  Thanks for all your prayers today and for your patience on getting back with the news.

Robin

Today we find out if Miranda loses her cast or of she keeps it.  Considering it hasn't even been a month yet, I think she is going to keep it.  But we will see.  Pray for her.  She is upset that she is probably not going to go to camp next week.

#2: Daddy did you see the episode when Patrick was trying to use a rock to win the race?

Me: Yeah baby girl that is one of my favorite episodes...but I like the one better when Sandy was trying to hibernate.  That was too funny.

#2: What about the one when Spongebob was trying to get his license...that was funnier

Me: Ut un...the one when he was hunting the jelly-fish

#2: You're wrong....what about the one...never mind.  You know what I like best?

Me: Which one?

#2: Hannah Montana....

#Me: Oh No...I'm WILL not talk about some dang on Hannah Montana!!!

#2: hahahahaha...come on daddeeeeeeee!

Just simplifying things makes life so much easier.  I really didn't have anything profound to say today.  I was just being a big kid today...Spongebob Squarepants....Aye Aye Captain!!

I'm usually a laid-back type of cat.  It is not too many things that get to me.  When things get to me it is because I allow it to.  I guess you can call it slipping.  I pride myself on being in control of my situations.  Some might call it being a control-freak.  I'm not a control-freak, I just rather work smarter not harder...thus if I have to do a little bit more in the beginning to make it ultimately easier, that is what I do.  I'm a firm believer in the philosophy that "it is greater later".  For instance, I hang all my shirts (including t-shirts) up and my pants, shorts and slacks.  I kind of color coordinate my closet too.  I mean it is not that bad, but it is organized.  I do that to cut down on time.  I hang up my clothes because then they are not as wrinkled....I color coordinate them so it is easier to find.  There is nothing worse than running late for an appointment or whatever and you can't find a shirt or slacks because they are all mixed up.  Then you still have to iron...see what I'm saying.  Then to compound your level of pissedoffness  a day or two later when you are looking for something totally different, you find what you are looking for...

Lets be transparent for a second.  It is a constant struggle for me everyday.  I fight myself all the time.  Not literally punch myself, but it is a constant internal fight.  My favorite type of music hands down is gospel.  I can listen to it all day.  I like the newer gospel...artist like the new gospel music that are out, but me personally, I NEED that old gospel that ministers directly to your soul. 

My downfall seems to be other types of music and the occasional sip of some Patron. The thing is since my wife has been gone, I have found myself out of pocket slightly. Nothing serious, but just off-kiltered.  Like my equilibrium is suspect.  For the most part I make sound decisions, but it is like the small "whatever" decisions that get me.  I have taken the "whatever" stance on somethings...okay I'm rambling now.

Yesterday I had English.  Man I LOVE that class.  I'm actually low-key upset the last day in next Thursday.  I wish this teacher taught my next English class that starts that following Monday.  I'm doing a research paper on Physician Assisted Suicide.  That topic is a hot one.  While researching I became so engrossed in the topic that my entire 2 hour and 40 minute class seemed to be only 15 minutes. 

Back to the dirt off your shoulder....I take time often to sit and reflect over my life.  Sometimes I do too much reflecting...but I think you need to look back in order to know where you are going.  Transparent again....right now I feel like I'm at the proverbial fork in the road....okay let me explain...even though I'm laid back for the most part, when I am upset, I tend to wear my emotions on my shoulder.  You know that there is a problem..... Alright fork please...right now I just approached the fork.  One thing I did once my wife passed is that I sheltered my children (and me to an extent) from certain people and situations.  I didn't want US to be a novelty...to be for the moment, then once it got old or demanding folks would bounce.  I made sure that just about everyone that we dealt with on a personal level was here and genuinely concerned for us (my children mainly).  I knew that eventually people would get tired of calling and checking on how we were doing.  How everything was going.  I didn't want any fair-weather people coming into our lives.  For the most part, I think I was successful. Now there are some folks that I thought would be there that is not and vice versa...there are some folks that stepped up that I am blown away by.

This fork is like a thorn in my side.  It is not me I'm making decisions for.  Before I had my family to make decisions for, but now it is different.  It is so delicate that I am miserable.  Not miserable like depressed, but miserable like full miserable.  You know how when you eat too much and you are so full that you can only pass gas and sleep....that kind of miserable.  It is time for me to dust some dirt off my shoulders...you know...dead weight.  Now-a-days people are so agenda driven it is crazy....that is another subject...maybe I'll talk about that one Wednesday??  Who knows...By the way....I have two quotes for you....

To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly - Henry Bergson

It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.- Charles Darwin

Dew

Yesterday, around 8, my hubby (the King) decided to go to the gym. He had already put the Princess down; we assumed she was out for the count. I was then going to put the Prince to bed after he'd finished eating. I was being pretty lazy about it - my body hurt and my favorite summertime TV show was about to come on and I wasn't happy about possibly missing it. But about 20 minutes after the King has left, the Princess woke up. And not just some regular type of waking up - some ignant type of waking up.

So the Prince and I went upstairs - it's about 8:30pm now - and gathered the Princess. We changed the Prince's clothes into his uniform pajamas, which consist of a plain white T-shirt, pajama bottoms (which were too short but oh well), and socks - deviations will not be tolerated by the Prince. Then the three of us sat down on the Prince's bed to read two books - not three, not four, but two. The Prince needs those kinds of boundaries.

But then the Princess started actin' up. She would NOT sit for even one book - she wanted to grab the pages, kick the book, just all kinds of wrong stuff. So I decided to go downstairs and get her a bottle, hoping that would settle her down. It did - towards the book. But then she started putting her feet on her brother's legs, then to his chest, and finally in his face - I was amazed he didn't sucker-punch her.

So after the books, it was time for bed. It's now about 8:45. For real. But I couldn't do both at the same time. I tried to do the Prince first, but he wasn't having it. "Down-stairs? Down-stairs?" Loud, two-year old crying. Nope. So I put the Princess in her crib with her bottle, hoping she would cooperate for just a moment...no such luck. She screamed. And screamed. And screamed. But I had no choice. I closed the door and started to deal with the other one.

It was so funny - the Prince really couldn't compete with the Princess - I really think he was too tired to try to match her hysterics. So after a cup - he must sleep with his cup - a good-night hug and kiss, and a snug tucking-in, he was done. He just kept looking at me while obviously listening to the Princess in the background, like "Mama, what are you going to do about that?" Son, I don't know.

I went and collected the Princess and what do I find? A crib full of throw-up. Yuck. So I evaluated my options. Clean the crib and insist upon bedtime for the Princess as the King usually does? Or take her back downstairs so I can watch my show, leaving the crib clean up for the King?

I opted for the latter. She went to sleep on my chest, I got to watch my show, and the King cleaned the crib and put the Princess in her bad when he got home. So tonight, I feel pretty proud of our accomplishment. It's been a while since my hubby and I have been able to acheive this amazing feat - these children will do anything to avoid bedtime.

Hubby got another raise... he keeps moving up that corporate ladder.  I am so proud of him.

The kids are doing great!  Carter had surgery about a month ago and is doing great!  Little Willy is growing up so fast... God love him... he talks up a storm.  Carter isn't talking yet, he is 14 months.  Little Willy will not let him talk.

We are seriously thinking about moving to Chattanooga, TN.  We love it there.

My grandfather passed away the middle of May.  It was time for him to go... he had suffered so.

It saddens me as I go through my Favorite Bloggers list that half of the people I use to blog with are not blogging anymore... half of the sites are down or that haven't blogged since last year.  I suppose I will have to clean my list up.  So sad...

--------------------

I have been a little up in the air on the election.  On who I was going to vote for.  I could never see myself voting for McCain... however, I still had mixed emotions about Obama.

I have agreed with a lot of things Obama is going to try and change... because after all we NEED change. 

"We must build a world free of unnecessary barriers, stereotypes, and discrimination .... policies must be developed, attitudes must be shaped, and buildings and organizations must be designed to ensure that everyone has a chance to get the education they need and live independently as full citizens in their communities."  - YES

BUT... there were some things I wasn't so sure about!

Tonight after reading Obama disagrees with high court on child rape case I am to a point that I know who I am voting for.  I have always believed if a child is raped that the rapist should be put to death... end of story.  However, I have also believed if a woman or man is raped that the same punishment be implemented.  Once a rapist... always a rapist. 

I knew deep down that something would really trigger me to jump on someone's band wagon.... I suppose that this has done it for me.

So, here is to OBAMA '08 !!!!!

Hope each of you are doing great!  I am still a busy woman... but I suppose that is going to be my life for a very long time. :)

…it’s just another ordinary miracle today!

lagi keracunan B2w=Betrix to work :):)

setelah gabung di milis b2w jadi ada semangat baru... ternyata banyak juga loh yaang kerja pake sepeda...

dan banyak manfaatnya juga... buat aku pribadi sich manfaatnya :

1. Hemat ongkos , dg b2w aku bisa saving 10rb perhari...

2. lebih cepet sampai , klo naik bis bisa 1- 1,5 jam, sedangkan b2w cuma 30-40 menit

3. membantu program diet... krna dg b2w banyak kalori yang terbakar :)

4. Mandiri.... karena ga tergantung sama bis, suami, dll...... :P

ya mudah-mudahan aja makin banyak yg terinspirasi dan mau ikutan b2w..:)

itung2 ngurangin polusi .... tp klo kita naik sepeda jgn lupa pake masker dan kacamata, klo ngga bisa sesak nafas dan kelilpan matanya.... saking banyaknya polusi asap di jakarta :(.

kesan selama bersepeda... yang sangat berkesan adalah, aku jadi pusat perhatian... mungkin karena aku pake betrix kali yach, serasa kayak artis setiap lewat ada yang ngomentarin... hehehe

komentar macam2 diantaranya :

1. wuih sepeda montor tuch....

2. ga usah digenjot jalan sendiri tuch... (sepeda hantu dong bisa jalan sendiri :P )

3. awas ada ninja lewat.... ( ini komentar anak2 :( ).

4. bike to work nih yeee...... (iya dong ... ;) )

awal aku b2w dari tebet-kemang , aku full pake mesin.... karena aku orangnya kagetan klo lagi konsen genjot tau2 ada motor ngebalap lsg kaget dan goyang2 :D...

tapi Alhamdulillah dah hampir  sebulan ini aku gowes... walaupun gowesnya msh dibantu mesin ga apalah...

lumayan berkeringat...... dan bauuu heheheheh :p .

dah segini dulu ceritanya yach :p

Sorry, I got sidetracked for a second.  #1 is like a human garbage disposal.  This dude eats like it is going out of style.  He is not big...I mean far as obese, but he is solid.  I call dude "chubby rain" (hahahaha)....okay what was I talking about again....They are so rotten, but so funny.  They are ALWAYS cracking on somebody.  They get that from me.  I got jokes all the time.  After all the festivities of yesterday, we got home about midnight.  Of course DJ (son) was hungry and KJ was sleepy.  So we are sitting at the table eating (I was eating some BBQ from a place here called Shield's) and started talking.  Well during the convo at the table, they started to crack on each other....and they say some of the rawest things to each other.  I used to have a rule in my house, if it made me laugh, you didn't get in trouble for it.  Now, I'm older I have to be more responsible...I have to moderate what they say...but don't get me wrong, I sit back and just laugh most of the time.  They are brother and sister....they are gonna fight. 

It started by DJ telling KJ that her breath smelled like "hot choo choo train smoke"....hahahaha....that did it.  Needless to day she was UPPPPSET!  She called him a "fat teddy graham"....they went back and forth like this for over a hour....I love my children.  They actually came to work with me today.  I'm looking at two pictures of them on my desk right now...and they are so beautiful....but dang they are so bad....Children can't live without them....

Your children need your presence more than your presents. - Jesse Jackson

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. - James Baldwin

Dew

It just goes on and on and on!!  And nevermind that I have things I'm trying to do on top of watch and take care of the kiddos!  I'm studying up for VBS next week (preparing the lessons and props and decorations for my class), I'm planning a playdate with 3 friends next week, and I'm eagerly looking forward to  a great scrapbooking weekend this weekend...counting the minutes!  Who ever said that stay-at-home moms have it easy must have been a man without kids...I mean really, he had no idea!

So, I'm thinking up a great topic to talk about and will post as soon as I'm coherent and not thinking constantly about where the 3 kiddos are and what they are doing, etc, etc, etc!!

Happy Summer!

ini ekspresi marhamah lagi belajar diri.... tp baru berani mepet di tembok :) ....

biasanya si kk, suka usil klo marhamah lagi diri.... ujug2 kk dateng pura-pura meluk dede, eh ujung2nya dede didorong sampe jatuh :) ....

Lihat ada anak kecil lagi serius maen PS.... hehehe, bentar lagi abi bakal saingan nech sama marhamah dan muthi....

Marhamah dan muthi suka ikutan serius klo abi lagi maen PS..., yang 1 hobynya bolak-balik sampe keserimpet kabel PS...:)  yg 1 suka ikutan mencet2 tombol stik PS .. hehehhe........

Bagai pinang dibelah 3 yach??? hayooo mana yang lebih mirip abi?? muthi atau marhamah??? apa 2-2nya mirip :-?

Anyways, anyone care to share their methods or what worked for them and how long it was before they caught on would be some welcome encouragement.

I am going to try and infant train this new baby, so that going to the potty won't be an issue and hopefully by the time she's walking, she'll be taking herself. I don't really know anyone that well who has done this, but I would love to hear if anyone has or knows someone who has and what they did. I need to do more research in the area. Basically all that I have learned about it came from a NGJ issue that discussed how most third world countries infant train their little ones out of necessity. And how babies come into this world without one single habit, why start them on one by allowing them to wet in a diaper instead of the potty? I thought, huh, good point.

Alrighty, enough of the potty training excursions. Hope everyone is well. I will try to be more inspirational in my next post;)

Oh, and for those who are wondering how we are doing with all the natural disasters near by, all is well. We are northwest (I think) of where the severe damage is. Though many have had to evacuate their houses, crops have been lost, and several have lost their lives, God has been merciful to us and keeping us safe. Please keep praying for those families that are suffering during this time. And thanks everyone for your concern.

I have come to terms with the fact that not everyone will like what I have to say (gasp!) and that not everyone will agree with me (double gasp!) but it is helpful for me to have a space where I can "talk" and view my opinion in a more neutral environment...I'm a more stable mom when I feel like I can have "adult talking time" for myself. I also need to vent about my children...it's hard for me to talk to those at home about them. My kids are wonderful, but I don't want to seem as a complainer or like a loser that just can't get a grip on things. For me, being a mother is hard and some days I don't want to be a mother anymore. I hear the world calling out to me to "find myself" and "be my own person." As a Christian mom my calling is clearly to raise my kiddos up in a Christian, God-fearing home and instruct them on the ways of the LORD. My life is not my own, it's HIS. His plan for me is to rear these children into what He has called them to be....whatever that is. So I must sacrifice myself on a daily basis to guide and teach my children. No career. No independence. No real time to myself. I'm a mom. I'm a Christian mom. My job as a mom is more important than what I want for myself....at least in this stage in my life.

SO....I plan on posting more. It's good for me. I hope it will benefit you too...but beware, I have strong opinions and plan on voicing them!

Ini mantennya jadi satria bergitar :)

ini marhamah adeknya muthi, lahir 19 Juli 2007 , InsyaAllah bulan depan mau 1 tahun.

Alhamdulillah Marhamah tumbuh sehat , walaupun dengan latar belakang prematur dengan berat badan lahir rendah, tapi kini Marhamah  seperti bayi normal. hanya tubuhnya saja yang rada mungil alias imut2.

Do'a umi dan abi selalu menyertai Marhamah semoga selalu dalam keadaan sehat wal'afiat , dan dalam lindungan Allah SWT. Aamiin.

40 Ways to Totally Annoy Your Parents

1. Follow them around the house everywhere.
2. Moo when they say your name.
3. Pretend to have amnesia.
4. Say everything backwards.
5. Run into walls.
6. Say that wearing clothes is against your religion.
7. Go into their room at 4 in the morning and say "Good Morning Sunshine!"
8. Snort loudly when you laugh and then laugh harder.
9. Say all of the words in a film.
10. Pluck someone's hair out and yell "DNA!!!"
11. Wear a sticker that says "I'm a ri-tard!"
12. Talk to a pen.
13. Have 20 imaginary friends that you talk to ALL the time.
14. Try and climb the wall.
15. In public yell "NO MOM I WILL NOT KISS YOU!!!"
16. Put pegs on your nose and eyes.
17. Switch the light button on and off for awhile. Then say "Oh...I get it!"
18. Eat your hair.
19. Hold their hand and whisper to them "I see dead people."
20. When you shower or bath, yell "I'm drowning!!!!"
21. At everything they say yell "LIAR!!"
22. Pretend to be a phone.
23. Try to swim in the floor.
24. Tap on their door all night
25. When they say a word from a song, bust out singing that song.
26. Look through magazines and shout loudly "BRITTANY IS MARRIED TO A CAVE MAN!" and other random things.
27. Take all of the toilet paper from the bathroom and try to buy it.
28. Pass out bananas
29. Ask how much is 1 Hershey's kiss is
30.Skip down the aisles singing "I've been working on the railroad......"
31.hand out missing person fliers of yourself
32.Say "that's hot!" after EVERY thing you say.
33. Camp out in the frozen food section.
34. Ask someone where the cereal is when you're standing right next to it.
35. Give random old people your number
36. Go around asking people if their mother knows what they're doing.
37. Go up to someone and tell them their face is funny and run away.
38. Yell MANGO!!!!!
39. Stand in front of a store, not letting anyone in
40. Call yourself nicknames like tree, turtle, keyboard, and starburst!

For those of you that read What's Up With Nick, this is going to be a ditto post.  It is most definitely worth a double dip...

Today Miranda’s school held their 7th grade awards ceremony.  I missed being able to go, but my mama went in my place.  Miranda received 2 awards.  The first award was for being chosen as a member of the National Junior Beta Club and the second was for the Highest Average in Math.  For those of you who may not know Miranda as a student, that is quite an accomplishment.  She has never really like math - I guess because she has always struggled.  This year she was blessed with a REALLY strong math teacher and she really began to excel.  I am very proud of her!!  She has most definitely had her ups and downs this year, but she came out smelling like roses. 

CONGRATULATIONS MIRANDA!!  You deserve it!!!  Love you!!

でも最初の１週間は天気がよくなくても私たちにはあまり関係なかった。何せよ、時差ぼけの問題がどうしても消えなかった。大人は動力して体内時計をなんとか直そうとするが、子供にはなに言っても無理、、、眠くないのに外がいくら夜中でももう眠ってくれないし、昼間はいい天気で外へ出かけようとしても眠くてどこへも連れて行けない。この状態だったのでいい天気であってもきっと家の中にいることが多かっただろう。

天気がちょっと晴れた時、家の前にある木に咲いている紫色の花はとってもきれいで早速写真を撮った。ある道の両側が紫色に染められているのでドライブがとっても気持ちいい。

Jacarandaの木

昼間に子供たちがちょっと元気を出しても外は雨だったので公園より室内の遊び場に連れて行くしかなかった。でも逆に、遊び場で疲れきって、帰りの車でまたぐっすり寝てくれるので夜はあまり眠れなかったりした。１週間たって、やっと天気もよくなって、時差も消えた。

そう言えば、ロスはあまり雨降らないせいか、室内の遊び場は本当に少なくて、あっても小さくて子供たちはすぐ飽きる。モール（デパート）に行っても子供たちは遊ぶことより、食べることが多い。どんなモールへ行っても食べるところはファストフード系なので助かるのは中華料理系のファストフード、Panda Express店だけ、、、（神戸にも店舗がある）。そこのおかずは油っこいけど取りあえずしろご飯があるので災厄の場合、ふりかけとのりがあればなんとかなる。

ちょうど二週間目からUFOを学校に行かせることにした。旦那の実家の近くにモンテソーリ学校があったので早速相談に行った。アメリカの学校は６月中から長い夏休みが入るのでUFOは中多半端な時期に入り、３週間入れてもらうことにした（全額：$400）。先生はとっても親切で子供に優しそうだったので安心して、毎日３時間半通わせることにした。

教室内に色々な小さな動物がいて、見学に行った時にUFO&BEAはまず興奮状態。亀さんやイグアナ、小鳥など、他の教育材と一緒に並んでいて普通の学校の雰囲気と全然違っていた。おまけに亀さんがチッコしたので帰りの車で子供たちはその話をずっと続けてするので、

「明日学校で亀さんと遊びに来る？」と聞いたら、二人とも

「行きた〜い！」と返してくれた。

でも二人を入れてもさ、、、結局迷って、迷って、UFOだけを行かせることにした。他の子に比べたらBEAはまだ小さいし、タイの学校を２ヶ月通っても朝はまだ必ず泣くので慣れるまで時間かかるし、UFOの邪魔になりそうだから一人で行かせることにした。

初日は不安を感じていたんだろうけど見学の時と同じだと勘違いされ、学校についたらUFOは勝手に走って教室に入ったらしい。旦那は入学の手続きをし終わったらそのままUFOになにも言わずに帰ったらしい。UFOは１時間後にパパがいないことに気づいて号泣き。でも私が迎えに行ったら自分のおやつを食べていたのでなにもなかったかのように向かってくれた。

その日、うちに帰ったら旦那の母がUFOにこんなものを用意して待ってくれていた。

ハーレーダビッドソンのミニバイク

（このバイクをタイに持って帰ってほしいと、母に言われたけど無理な〜！旦那も汗！汗！）

次の日、旦那がまた送りに行ったら先生に注意され、やっぱり送りに行った時に親はなにも言わずに帰るのがよくなくて、時計を見せながら、

「時計の針がここに来たらマミーが迎えにくるからね。いい子してね。バイバイ！」

と言って、子供を安心させるのが大事らしい。アメリカではこれは常識！？！？！

は〜これはタイの学校で言われたことと違うな〜。タイでは親はなるべくささっと帰ってほしいと言われた。でも確かに子供に時計と時間を理解してもらうにちゃんと教えてあげるのがいいかも知れない。これは親の勉強にもなった。

But a Facebook ad just asked me "Are You Rack'n Obama?"

No. No, I'm not. And screw you.

Look, I get it. He's got an easy name to play with phonetically, and it's a lot of fun, I suppose, when you're all wrapped up in The Movement and The Hope and The Change, to go a little Joycean with the homonyms.

And I won't bore people with unnecessary warnings to stay away from potentially racist permutations, because if someone needs to be told, they're probably not going to get it anyway. His name is only "funny sounding" because our culture has had a WASPISH aversion to anything that ends in a vowel (with Kennedy adding a different meaning to the "and sometimes y" rule.)

It's just that these phonetic games get pretty tedious pretty quickly. And for whatever reason, adults are really bad at it. They turn it into a recruiting slogan, at best, and at worst a means of further polluting the discourse with blather.

I prefer the unintended puns of four-year-olds. Or the more deliberately playful variations my ten-year-old daughter and her friend came up with recently while having dinner: "Broccoli Obama" and "Celery Clinton." It's silly, and fun to say to yourself. And they aren't selling me anything.

Tags: BarackObama, presidential politics, word play

Call me old-fashioned, call me a fashionista who loves to see classic couture meet the new black aesthetic, call me fashioning a blog post out of a media moment, but I ran downstairs and got my son from his room. I wanted to make sure that, even though he's only three-and-a-half years old, he could see a new kind of Presidential family. I wanted to make sure he could see what the world looks like, circa today.

She then recounts all the things her mother made sure that she saw and experienced: having a kiss by BB King, getting Cicely Tyson's autograph, meeting Nelson Mandela, talking to Harry Belefonte, and the list goes on. While some commenters chided her on the high-post-ness of her list, I think her point was well made. There are all sorts of things that I want to make sure my kids see, hear and experience in life.

When I was growing up, we didn't have the money to take expensive trips or the social clout to meet famous people. But my parents made sure that once a year, they splurged to take my brother and I to a live entertainment show of our choice (mine was Janet Jackson, his was Wrestle-Mania.) My mother made sure that literature lined our walls, especially those of black authors. My father made sure that we heard all different types of music, from rock to classical to rap to jazz. Not to tout my own horn but that of my parents: to this day I think I am one of the most widely read and know more about music than most people my age who had a lot more than I did growing up. It was through books and music that I learned about greatness, much how Rebecca Walker learned about greatness through shaking greatness's hand.

So what do I want to make sure my kids see, hear, and experience? My kids are too little to understand the significance of an Obama ticket, but they sure can hear the excitement in our voices as we talk about it. I want to make sure that my children realize that the world is bigger than them, by doing simple things that showing them the ocean this weekend. I too want to introduce them to the world through books, to make sure that they know what's out there even if they don't always get to see it.

What do you want to "make sure" for your kids?