How an 11 Year Old Boy Became a Mama

My boss' son became a mama last night for the first and most likely ONLY time he'll be a mama.



Mr. Fluffermcnutters

  A baby wood duckling  followed him home and decided that Mr. JP was his mama. Mr. Fluffermcnutters (as only I call him) waddled along behind JP up a hill, down a hill, up another incline, across a bridge and finally across a busy street. Every time  JP stopped so did Mr. Fluffermcnutters.  Mama Fluffermcnutters was nowhere to be found and Mr. Fluffermcnutters was more than happy to follow JP around.
After some heated discussions on FB and some research on the internet, Mr. Fluffermcnutters was allowed to spend the night in the spare bathroom at the Patzner House where he slept nestled in some towels with a breakfast of mashed bread, cornmeal and water until the Rescue Team could come get him.
See, Mr. Fluffermcnutters will be adopted into another little fowl family that has been rescued but the most amazing thing is that Mr. Fluffermcnutters could end up being raised by a chicken, a goose, or any other bird. These mama birds are very welcoming and accept orphaned babies; they will teach them everything they need to know about being a feathered friend.

These birds don't agonize over what color the newbie is. They don't get on the Internet and write hurtful things to chickens who raise geese or geese who raise ducks. You know what they do? They LOVE and NURTURE and TEACH their new baby. Seems to me that the Triad could learn a little something from Mr. Fluffermcnutters.
Sure, Mr. Fluffermcnutters may never get to build a nest in a swamp but he will learn how to swim, eat, look for grubs and anything else he needs to survive. Maybe he'll even learn to fly South for the winter and get to experience a whole different culture.
My point here is that we all need to take a deep breath and realize that what you look like isn't as important as how you act and who you are. Our culture places too high an importance on color and not enough on culture. There is no reason that Mama Chicken can't learn how to make collard greens, play jazz & blues around the nest or hip hop (with clean lyrics) and encourage her duckling to read stories of her culture's history. Or why Mama Duckling can't learn to celebrate Chinese New Year, serve dinners with chopsticks and educate her baby Swan on her culture. As a whole, we are too scared to ignore the colors that make us different and open ourselves up to new experiences and traditions.
In my house, we try to appreciate all the different cultures that makes our nation unique.

Culture. Not color.

Feeling left out sucks..

I have a love/hate relationship with my job. There are some days that I adore going into work and there are other days where I want to lock myself in my office and just scream.
I am the marketing/new business person in my office. I'm in charge of all marketing and bringing in new customers. I don't handle so much of the service work or follow up work as the other girls because that's not really what I'm good at. I'm good at getting our name out there and making people aware of our services and bringing new clients into the office. I handle the first meeting and sell them their first policies. All follow up meetings are usually handled by the other girls in the office.
I'm off track (but now you know what I do all day!!) Some days I want to remind every other person in my office that I AM a licensed agent. I did take all the licensing tests within the past 6 months(and passed them with flying colors thankyouverymuch!) so I kinda know what I'm talking about. I feel like the other girls in the office dismiss my thoughts and suggestions because I handle less insurance on a daily basis than they do. I always end up feeling left out.
I don't ever want my children to feel this way. I know it's inevitable that they are going to feel left out one day (kids can be sooo mean!!) but I don't want them to feel this way because of their skin color. D and I are totally prepared to adopt a child that isn't Moonbeam white like we are and I know there are complications to a transracial family but I am trying to do all the research I can and prepare us for all possible issues.
I just don't want my baby to ever feel like they stick out like a rainbow in a sea of black and white (unless that is their intention!!)!

Help me out..I'm a little color blind!

I'm am going to start this post of by giving everyone a heads up-I'm a little miffed!

I was over on Adoptive Families Circle's transracial family page and came across a post that steamed me a little. Maybe it's because I'm a white girl who grew up in a town with a large Hispanic and African American population but I don't understand why or how I'm supposed to avoid having my children identify as "white" when I don't identify as "white"! I identify as being an American. I identify as being a Jersey Girl I identify myself as Irish, English, Scottish, and Italian (if only by friendship!). I know Americans who have darker skin than I do. I know Jersey Girls who aren't the same color as I am and not just because they fake bake! I know Irish, English, Scottish, and Italians that aren't day glo white like I am. However, Jane A. Brown MSW posts "When children of color grow up with white parents and are surrounded by whiteness, they identify 'white.'"
My children are going to be surrounded by people who love them and care about them. Hopefully they will identify as "loved" and "cared for" even if it does happen to be by people with skin the color of the inside of an almond.
I've always believed that a child in need is a child in need. Apparently Ms. Jane A. Brown would rather not allow the agencies that place children put them into "these situations where our children can’t get their needs met—and they are FOUNDATIONAL needs..." Apparently Jane dearest believes that a loving home isn't as important as having the color of our skin match.
I'm so irritated there is cartoon steam coming out of my ears!!!