Mother Bear

If you have never watched or read the Little Bear series, do so immediately. Maurice Sendak illustrated the books. The videos (now DVDs or BluRays or whatever) are lovely.

Mother Bear is my hero.

It is not just cuteness and light. I am, as most mothers, seriously protective of my children.
We are faced now with a government who does not consider protection of children a priority. So how do we respond? Yes, call your senators and congresspeople. Yes, march. Yes, sign petitions, yes, join the ACLU.

I think of the Syrian boy on the beach and wonder how we can all go on as if this is OK. What if this was your child? But people like him are not welcome in our country. Not anymore.

My children are diverse. One was accosted in Seattle (in Seattle!?) last weekend for being with her girlfriend in public. One is in jail and faces years in prison for one mistake made with mental illness and drug addiction at age 18. And one is a straight A student who I am leaving the country with for a trip later this month and mildly afraid there will be trouble getting her back in. What if her adoption from a foreign country is questioned? Will my government deem her an immigrant who does not belong here?

She and I are headed to Guatemala, to help fit paralyzed kids into wheelchairs. Now I know, this sounds like a bleeding heart liberal thing to do. But we are joining a group who has done this for years, and we are hoping to learn something in the process.  What is the problem with liberals? Well, I guess it is we keep on trying, despite all evidence against hope.

I was reading today that Donald Trump asked his female staff to dress like a woman. I am wondering what this means. Today I worked to save lives, to lessen suffering and to parent my children. What outfit would best serve these purposes? For what it is worth, I wore pearls.

As a runner, I dress in whatever makes sense for the weather. Oiselle is a good source of women friendly running clothes. They also support strength and power.

I keep thinking about the man who accosted my girl and her girlfriend in a purportedly liberal city. What was it that bothered him so? Was it their beauty? Their strength? Their lack of need for a man?

I keep thinking about the legal system that thinks my son deserves prison for 10 years for one mistake, when he has mental illness and addiction. Will this help him be a better person? Is there any room for compassion and healing?

I keep thinking about adoption and China's weird thing about girls and my absolutely astounding daughter who seriously could conquer the world. In our small town, she faces racism. In our bigger world, she faces questions about who she is and where she belongs. Yet really, she is just a kid with mad skills at dancing and academics who plans to be a surgeon and who wants to make a difference in the world.

I am mother bear. I am angry, and scared and hopeful and protective. I will not stop fighting for my children, and for the children of others.

May compassion return to our dear country.