Thursday Morning

Thursday's my working mom day. I mean, I work throughout the week. I parent. I write. I consult. I edit. I work on MotherTalk. Thursday, though, I have to get up, get dressed, look good (well, decent will do), make sure my notes are in order and my books are in my bookbag, and head out the door and make it class on time. A few minutes ahead of time, actually, so I can make sure that the complicated laptop-smart board-projector set up is happy and ready to go. I'm of the sort that believes anyone who gets to work on time with matching socks each day should be congratulated profusely and specially rewarded, since I know it's not an easy set of tasks. But I run off course, apologies.

Here's what's on my mind today:

1. My post on Tracy Thompson's poignant story and question: why are women's talents being wasted? was picked up by the wonderful Kim Moldofsky, who is now writing at the AustinMama blog as well as her own blog Hormone Colored Days, tag line: Musings on parenting, education/gifted children, stay-at-home moms returning to the world of paid work, and chick stuff, and promises: Guest bloggers and cool links will keep it fresh and interesting.

2. Still musing over the report on NPR a few evenings back about the President of Iran's comment that mothers should be paid for full time work, but allowed to work only part time so they can be with their kids. Now that's a man after my own heart! Iranian feminists and womens' groups were skeptical. "What companies will pay double the price for a female worker?" they asked, questioning the financial viability, and the predictable discrimination against women in the workplace. The president was clear to say he was not against women working, but thought that home life should be attended to. I say: there's something here. Let's make it applicable to moms and dads both. Let's all get paid for fulltime work and spend half our time at home. I like this. And they say the Iranian revolution is dead. Clearly not. This is a very revolutionary idea, with some tweaking, and I like it. Would I wear a veil in return? Not so sure about that, but glad someone's thinking in economic terms about the real work of parenting.

3. Did anyone else shed some tears this morning reading about New Jersey's decision, handed down from their Supreme Court, to allow gay marriage, though to be fair and accurate, they're not calling it marriage yet, the Court is asking the legislature to decide what to call it. I fell apart at the pictures of several lesbian couples, including the plaintiffs as they heard the news. All were women in their 40's and 50's, and I kept thinking about how long they've waited, and with such ups and downs, for some legal recognition of their love and their families. My family and my marriage, and the state protection each receives, are so important to me. If I were a lesbian, I'd want that too, and I thank the women, Alicia and Saundra, who let their lives be made public, and political, and took on this challenge, which in these times, couldn't have been easy.

And as someone living just across the river from New Jersey, I say, I'm moving. Let's support states like this, instead of backwards ones like my own. New Jersey gets no respect, and let me tell you, that day is over. Go Jersey!

Have a great day!