feminism

So-Called FREE Time: Back to School

by SoCalledMom · Sep 15, 2017

Remember this? Working on science fair projects while cleaning pasta sauce off the kitchen ceiling, balancing a gnarly diaper in one hand and a smelly baby in the other, running to answer the door because the electrical guy needs access to the breaker box (wherever that is) while the doctor’s office is calling to reschedule the appointment you’d forgotten about anyway? That was me last year. This year? Not so much, and I’m kind of weirded out by it.

Those were the days when we’d get through it all by sucking down wine at the end of the night and hopefully stealing a late night soak in the tub to wash it all (including that baby poop smell) down the drain. We’d let our minds sneak off to that place that we fondly recall as the days before we had kids…

Well, now that every last one of the kids is in school, we have free time again. And although it’s different now, and there’s really no getting back to that pre-kids place, do we know what the hell to do with ourselves? I don’t. And I didn’t prepare for it either.

What is it about being a mom that keeps us laser focused on everything else but ourselves? In the meantime, we’ve forgotten who we are as beautiful women, as a person with a passion, and a human being who makes mistakes. But in the process of being a perfect mom who balances the universe on our shoulders, never letting our kids down, we’re letting ourselves down and running ourselves into the ground–albeit with a (forced) smile on our face.

The worst part? No one really asks this of us. We just voluntarily throw ourselves off the cliff like lemmings, landing face-first and resentful as this weeks trending mom-martyr. And so, when life ~~presents us~~ crowns us with a bundle of free time each day, we sort of let it eat us alive, rather than the other way around. At least that is how I have felt the first couple of weeks have been since back-to-school surprised me with this awkward emptiness. I have not dominated my use of free time. It has knocked me out and I’m trying to get up gracefully, like it never happened.

So, check out the video above, where I detail five ways us So-Called Moms can get our groove back. If you have something to add, please do so by plugging your ideas into the comments below; I’d love to know what you do to make the most out of your time.

Have the most fabulous weekend ever,

So-Called Mom

Is Feminism a Dirty Word?

by SoCalledMom · Jul 29, 2017

I’ve learned much more about feminism than I could’ve imagined this month. At times, the focus on this theme was overwhelming because well, I’m pretty freaking far from being an expert. And the hardest part about getting in the ring (because feminism sure isn’t a spectator sport), is looking like you’re not repping very well. There’s nothing worse than swinging around with your dukes up like a cartoon character and having your ass handed to you from someone who knows what they’re talking about. I mean, since I am a woman, I should look and talk like I eat feminism for breakfast. But I don’t. Or didn’t rather, until now.

I remember taking a woman studies course in college in 1996 (basically yesterday, gasp). I sat in the back and never raised my hand. I didn’t feel like I had a voice worth sharing because I felt overshadowed by the women that could ace the course with their eyes closed because it was built into their DNA.

They breathed feminism, while I choked on it.

As the only girl raised in an all boy family, I had zero feminism roaring through my blood stream. I also didn’t understand hating men–because they were often my best friends. As a matter of fact, I clearly remembered high school was the place where girls were the problem: so catty and cruel. And so, sitting in that lecture hall felt no different, like a cult-clubhouse: You’re either with us or you’re against us.

I never asked to have both worlds because asking about it scared the shit out of me.

I just decided that anger and intimidation was not my style and I also decided never to take another class like that again. I had assumed they all must be the same. Then I cemented the fact that feminism was not for me because I didn’t fit into one ounce of what it looked like. I loved dresses and heels and lipgloss. I loved lace bras and matching underwear and having a man open a door for me and even order my dinner while I sat right in front of him, very capable of doing it myself.

And because of this very feminist-focused month, I’ve come to learn though you, dear readers, and my own family–that feminism for everyone–regardless of your gender and whatever you wear to express yourself.

So about that word: feminism. It does stir up some hella-intense imagery, doesn’t it? And it’s important imagery too–Feminism has an potent, gritty history because we had to go there. But the images of the past are now stereotypes. And they are watering down the original meaning of feminism that could be scaring off it’s future use. Equality is where it’s at.

Re-establishing our beliefs and re-assigning our truths based not on sex, but our unstoppable selves is what will create the kind of kickass world we all want to live in.

As always, your insight and sentiments mean so much to me. I’d love to hear your side and have it help me shape my new perspective on feminism.

So-Called Mom

Letting the QUIET Girls Speak: They Have Something to Say

by SoCalledMom · Jul 24, 2017

I set out to conduct this interview with my middle kid, MJ, who always seems to get lost in the shuffle. And I stumbled through what I would ask her: in my head, on paper, up at night when I couldn’t sleep–you name it. I realized I was missing the point of her speaking about strong girls because I was so caught up in the message and worried she wouldn’t have anything to say about it. Or worse, would show my camera, me and the entire world that she wasn’t strong (gasp). Or that she hadn’t thought about it. Because, ehhh, well she is a pretty quiet kid.

I mean, god forbid I have a member of the family, let alone a girl, who doesn’t know how to kick the doors in on life.

But she showed me otherwise. And it wasn’t until she was paddling around, waiting for the others to swim away, that she just outright came to me with who she was and what she was after. I spent several days floundering over how to even bring the subject up–and here she was dishing it out, exactly her way. Soft spoken. Tiny. And super sure of herself. All I had to do was listen. And learn to be there for her more. And quit trying to put a name to who or what she is. She is MJ, and that’s that.

Back when I used to attempt corporate career momlife (haha), I went to a team building event. It was all about how extroverts (like me) and introverts (like MJ) can work together. Extroverts stereotypically like to talk and talk and talk and overshare even if you didn’t ask. Introverts stereotypically like to keep to themselves, are shy and have nothing to say or contribute.

But if the extroverts would just stop sucking all the air out of the room (i.e. shut up and listen), the introverts would have a moment to process and draw in enough breath to respond without their 30 seconds of fame being up.

MJ is a good exercise in the art of me shutting up. And of not worrying about her anymore–because I shouldn’t, she’s got this. She is the exact opposite of what you’d assume strength to be–stereotypically: She’s like 10 lbs soaking wet. She’s long and lean like a string bean. She keeps a detailed journal jammed under her mattress and she reads books that are thousands of pages long. She has an obsession with mechanical pencils. Quiet indeed–UNTIL she opens her mouth and her brain starts showing me up. Which is exactly what I love about her.

Because there’s nothing better than finding strength and tenacity in the unexpected.

So-Called Mom

Should Boys Play with Dolls?

by SoCalledMom · Jul 21, 2017

Now I’ve been hard at work this month establishing the new normal for gender equality. Maybe I’m not quite sweeping the world off its feet with my So-Called new found awareness, but at least it’s working for my family.

Naturally, I’ve been focusing intently on my girls–but remember, it’s my 5 year old boy who really gets the credit for us embarking on this quest.

Instead of rambling on about how important it is to teach feminism as a family value across the board within your family, I turned the camera on good-ol-sport Leopold to show why:

My main focus with him at this point is to make sure this awesome play of his doesn’t get stifled when he goes to school for the first time this fall. I’m not 100% sure how I’m going to do it, but I have a feeling it’s going to be equal parts consistent conversation and involvement in his classroom–without, of course, turning into an insane helicopter mom. Again.

PS–My Feminist Starter Kit giveaway is going strong until the end of this month. Check out the details here.

So Called Mom

Why add Feminism to your Wardrobe? ENTER THE WILDFANG GIVEAWAY HERE

by SoCalledMom · Jul 19, 2017

I want to take a few minutes to speak about this giveaway, and why it’s important to me.

While I understand that clothes and fashion is trivial to some, it’s also viewed as self expression to others. Wearing no clothes at all is a way to express freedom, but so is selecting pieces that add to your voice.

For the next handful of days, I have a giveaway that I’m doing for a few key wardrobe staples from the awesome girl brand WILDFANG. Just follow the link to enter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/fc994a072/?

On August 1st, I’ll randomly select a winner.

Here is what I’m giving away:

So Called Mom

Feminism Meets the Claw Machine

by SoCalledMom · Jul 18, 2017

With each passing and increasingly busy day, it’s easy to loose track of the little things that make life so smashing. I’m one of those people that gets so fixated on the process of crushing goals, that I loose track of where I’m at. What’s worse is when I get completely hung up over seemingly endless obstacles that I’m sure were put there just for me to struggle with. Everything I could ever want is right in front of me…yet just out of reach.

My favorite thing about having kids is that they live outside of this reality.

They possess the power to look at life so differently, that small wins can translate to larger than life victory laps. I am always re-learing this lesson from them, determined to pause and celebrate more, to recognize jackpot status and bask in that light like there’s no tomorrow.

Look, I realize it might be a stretch to tie this video to my month-long dedication to feminism as a family value, but there’s something about it that just makes sense. Could it be that our local claw machine favors no one and only delivers plushy magical goodness to those who truly believe? Maybe too easy an answer, but check it out:

So much of what we do in life is shaped by our thoughts, dreams, and sure, even claw machines. Sometimes you put a buck in and strike out. Other times, you strike gold. And it’s the gold moments that make it all worth it.

All those moments you lost, all the struggle and strife– is the reason you finally won.

Perseverance. That explanation works, too, but I’ll go a layer deeper.

If you look at your glass barrier and tools like a challenge and not an obstruction, you might just win big.

I like that perspective.

So Called Mom

So Called Mom Feminist Starter Kit Giveaway

by SoCalledMom · Jul 17, 2017

I’m so completely thrilled to announce a 2 week giveaway for a Feminist Start Kit: a bundle of wardrobe essentials from the innovative girl brand, WILDFANG, to build upon or give your burgeoning feminist wardrobe a boost. Now, I’m fully aware of how much I’ve been trumpeting that feminism doesn’t look any particular way, but hear me out.

First of all, when I wear something that proclaims a statement, I feel supportive of the cause. It’s a solidarity thing. These shirts are definitely badass and you will feel it all around you when you have them on. Two, actually wearing a statement creates a mindset. Much like the negative things we tell ourselves and believe, the positive stuff has the same effect. So, why not surround yourself with a positive message, you Wild Feminist?! Third, and most importantly: Your kids will ask you, Hey Mom, what’s a feminist? And you can communicate a discussion that will change family thinking for a brighter future. Feminism is a family value. The more families out there boosting this message, the better. Join me!

I have only two weeks to hustle this giveaway. Enter through rafflecopter. Here are the details:

1. Follow WildFang & So Called Mom on INSTAGRAM (@wearewildfang) & (@thissocalledmom)

2. Repost the contest IMAGE from my INSTAGRAM & tag @wearewildfang and @thissocalledmom

3. Subscribe to So Called Mom on Youtube.

I’ll draw the winner and announce it August 1st.

Good Luck!

So Called Mom