Spring is winding down and summer is on its way. There’s no time like the present to get out and about and see great art. Did you know you can enjoy family-friendly art without spending a single cent all while enjoying fresh air? Portland is known for its next-level street art so we put together a list of murals and walls throughout the city that has some of the most inspiring art to be found. Read on for where to go on your Portland street art tour.

photo: by Annette Benedetti

People’s History of Hawthorne

Located on the corner of SE Hawthorne and SE 49th on the Eagles Lodge, this beautiful mural represents the best of the area and is a dedication to the neighborhood and community. It includes representations of historical figures and mythical figures that are said to have shaped SE Portland. Look closely and you will catch a glimpse of the individuals you see roaming the neighborhood. Artist, Chris Haberman painted this piece in 2012/2013 and your littles will love standing among the neighborhood folk while you capture an image of them hanging out in this vibrant depiction of their beloved hometown.

4904 SE HawthornBlvd.
Artist: Chris Haberman
Online: portlandwild.com

 

 

Rhinoceros Mural Wall

Located on SE Morrison street just east of SE 12 outside of There Be Monsters, this life-like mural is a community favorite. It was painted in August of 2015 by artists Josh Keys for the annual Forest For The Trees mural event. Your little animal lovers will love leaning on this friendly looking beast and the resulting photos will be unforgettable.

1308 SE Morrison St.
Artist: Josh Keys
Online: turningart.com


photo: Carrie Uffindell

Women Making History in Portland

Painted in 2007 for the now defunct In Other Words Feminist Community Center, this 18-foot by 60-foot acrylic painting by Robin Corbo honors amazing women who’ve influenced – or are currently influencing – the city. Think community activists, native artists, educational advocates and more.

2335 N. Clark Ave, a block off N. Interstate
Artist: Robin Corbo
Online: eliotneighborhood.org/2018/10/02/women-making-history-mural


photo: Carrie Uffindell

Woodstock Mural

Commerce, education and the outdoors dominate this mural, which was relocated to the western wall of New Seasons in 2015. Look closely and you’ll also see various mythological symbols scattered throughout, including a winged hat, an olive branch necklace and a lotus staff. Behind the young student is the Woodstock motto translated into Mandarin, in honor of the elementary school’s immersion program.

4500 S.E. Woodstock Blvd
Artists: Designed by Mark Lawrence and painted by Heidi Schultz. Reproduction by Dan Cohan and Christo Wunderlich.
Online: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock_Mural

 


photo: Carrie Uffindell

Attitude of Gratitude

You’ll be hard pressed to find a more dynamic mural than the one SolTerra’s headquarters: a 70-foot tall woman, hands clasped in gratitude, with over one thousand living plants for her hair. Check back to see it flourish and change each season.

959 S.E. Division St.
Artist: Fin DAC
Online: solterra.com/blog-attitude-9-22-17-2

photo: Carrie Uffindell

The Musician’s Union Building Mural

This 100-foot composition at the Portland Musician’s Union Local 99 celebrates our city’s thriving music scene and heritage in vivid color. Jazz, classical, bluegrass, rock ‘n’ roll, hip hop, reggae and rhythm & blues — all showcase the power of music. Find it on the building’s south wall, facing the parking lot.

325 N.E. 20th Ave.
Artists: Isaka Shamsud-Din, Joe Cotter, Baba Wagué Diakité, Hector Hernandez
Online: portlandwild.com/art/86

photo: Carrie Uffindell

Ladies Up Project

Morrison Place’s retail center is home to seven murals and counting. This ongoing, multi-artist project (also in collaboration with PSAA) only features works by local female-identifying artists and artists of color. Images range from a bold tiger to messages of unity. Look for the murals along S.E. Alder St.

1401 S.E. Morrison St.
Artists: Tatyana Ostepenko, Salomée Soung, Amaranta Colindres, Isis Fisher, Kyra Watkins, Sunny Beard, Angela Saenz and Laura Medina
Online: pdxstreetart.org/articles-all/ladiesup

 

photo: Carrie Uffindell

Community Cycling Center Mural

There’s no better – or more iconic – mural in the city that celebrates Portland’s bike culture. Covering the western wall of the cycling center’s retail shop, the vibrant piece portrays a whimsical parade of unicycles/bicycles/tricycles, costumed kids, hot air balloons, happy pets and more.

1700 N.E. Alberta St.
Artist: Robin Corbo
Online: communitycyclingcenter.org

photo: Carrie Uffindell

Now is the Time, Now is the Place

One of Portland’s oldest murals, its message of Black pride and empowerment is as important today as when it was painted in 1989. On the north wall of the Portland Covenant Church, Martin Luther King Jr. is surrounded by other notable faces, including Nelson and Winnie Mandela, South African playwright Selaelo Maredi and Muslim leader Elijah Muhammad.

4046  N.E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Artists: Isaka Shamsud-Din, Paul Odighizuwa, Charlotte Lewis and Kathy Pennington
Online: portlandwild.com/art/view/75

photo: courtesy of Portland Street Art Alliance

A Place Called Home

When airport travel is safe again, you won’t want to miss this sweeping 150-foot mural, located in Portland International Airport’s north pedestrian tunnel. All of what makes the Pacific Northwest great is on display here, from native peoples and natural wonders to farmers markets and local musicians.

7000 NE Airport Way
Artists: Alex Chiu and Jeremy Nichols
Online: pdxstreetart.org/articles-all/2019/10/2/the-pdx-airport-mural-project

—Annette Benedetti

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In the current social climate, you may be looking for ways to make a difference. You could directly help the victims’ families by donating to their own fundraising campaigns or you could contribute to organizations that support equality and social justice. We’ve rounded up just a few for you to check out.

Black Mamas Matter

Black Mamas Matter Alliance advocates for, drives research, builds power, and shifts culture for Black maternal health, rights, and justice.

Black Visions Collective

Black Visions Collective (BLVC) believes in a future where all Black people have autonomy, safety is community-led, and we are in right relationship within our ecosystems.

House of GG

Focusing on trans women of color in the south, House of GG creates safe and transformative spaces for the community to heal and nurture them into tomorrow’s leaders. 

TransJustice Funding Project

The Trans Justice Funding Project is a community-led funding initiative founded in 2012 to support grassroots, trans justice groups run by and for Trans people.

The Okra Project

The Okra Project is a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans people wherever we can reach them.

The Marshall Project

The Marshall Project is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that seeks to create and sustain a sense of national urgency about the U.S. criminal justice system.

Black & Brown Founders

Provide community, education, and access to Black and Latinx entrepreneurs, allowing them to launch and build tech businesses with modest resources.

Black Feminist Project

The BLK Projek harnesses the power of the local, good food movement to create economic development opportunities for marginalized women and youth. Empowering them to combat food justice while creating viable pathways out of poverty.

Black Girls Code

Introduces young and pre-teen girls of color to programming and technology.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: iStock

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Whitney Popa

Whitney Popa is a Communications Consultant and mom of two toddlers. She lives where the mountains meet the sea right outside of Seattle. Her goal this year is to read 35 books.

I am a lifetime reader. The ritual of crawling into bed, opening a book, and feeling my eyes get heavy is the only way I can fall asleep. Books have given me a safe place to land when the world feels too heavy, they’ve taken me to new worlds, and they’ve taught me pretty much anything I could dream of learning. I love the smell of them, the weight of them, the artistry of them. Drop me off at a library or bookstore and I’d give you barely a glace over my shoulder as I run inside to #learnallthethings. It should come as no surprise, then, that I majored in English.

But I don’t love just books. I love SO many mediums: magazines, podcasts, social media, terrible and delicious reality TV shows. When those things started getting in the way of my books, I decided it was time to start forcing myself to give my books the attention they deserved, so I gave myself a measurable yearly reading goal. This is my fourth year actively measuring myself against a book number. It’s also my fourth year as a mommy.

When I started my yearly reading goals, I was mostly resistant to “parenting” books because I, like many new mothers, had so many people providing unsolicited commentary on my body, my baby, his body, and our assumed parenting choices. My book time was precious—I didn’t want it invaded with more big, unsolicited opinions. I was careful about what I picked up and added to my stack. I wanted my books to entertain or educate me. I was even more excited if they did both. So, when it comes to reading about motherhood, I’m looking for relatable stories, science that validates the universal mommy experience, and a general sense that I’m not alone.

This list is the output of reading more than 100 books over the past four years. I hope they make you feel seen, celebrated, and perfect just as you are, wherever you are on your path in parenthood. They are highly feminist and written by women I admire. Motherhood is messy and it’s beautiful and I’m so happy I get to share it with you.

If this list resonates with you, I track my favorite books in real time here. I’d love to chat about them with you.


1

Like a Mother by Angela Garbes

Ever wondered how and why your body grows an entire new organ to support your baby? From breast milk to wine intake and everything in between, Angela is your girl.

$18

Current motherhood culture is a constant barrage of information and opinions, often unsolicited. This book, written by a food and culture columnist in Seattle, marries science-based research with personal memoir and deep curiosity. I found it fascinating and validating and unabashedly feminist. If you were ever curious about things like how breast milk changes to give your baby the EXACT nutrients he/she needs, how any type of birth is a natural birth (medically intervened or otherwise), or how medicine needs to catch up with women's health, this is the book for you.

BUY NOW

2

This Is How It Always Is: A Novel by Laurie Frankel

What do you do when your son becomes your daughter?

$12

Our children tell us who they are from the moment they start growing in our bellies. I am a firm believer in listening. This story of a family of four children born male, with one who transitions to female, is full of nuance, heart, and complexity. Written by an author raising a trans daughter, it is uniquely relevant reading for today's cultural moment.

BUY NOW

3

Dear Girls by Ali Wong

An absolutely hilarious look at life and motherhood from one of the country's hottest comediennes.

$24

Ali Wong has LIVED and she's telling her girls all about it in a series of letters that are laugh-out-loud funny. This is an easy read full of stories from Ali's past and mis-adventures parenting in the present. If you've ever changed a blow out in a parking lot while wearing a post-partum pad, you'll love this book.

BUY NOW

4

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

Two vastly different approaches to motherhood in the same small town.

$11

There is no right way to be a mother, but there is always common ground in motherhood. This book weaves two worlds together—one of extreme privilege and one with much less. Big, big questions are explored here: how do race and privilege collide? Is motherhood by blood or by bond? How much does our past inform our futures? It is beautiful and mesmerizing and it will make you think differently about more than just motherhood.

BUY NOW

5

Grit by Angela Duckworth

How do we raise resilient kids?

$10

Raising resilient kids isn't the whole premise of this book, but it's an important part of it. I loved Angela's personal anecdotes, along with the challenge she's given each of her family members: to pick something hard every year and stick with it. This book is a good reminder that some of us are born grittier than others, but that persistence can be practiced and cultivated.

BUY NOW

6

Ordinary Insanity by Sarah Menkedick

You're not crazy. You're a mother.

$22

This is probably THE most validating book I've read on motherhood. It explores maternal health, especially post-partum and all things related to PPA and PPD, which is a big spectrum that most doctors don't understand how to diagnose, support, or appropriately treat. Prepare for it to make you feel seen and for it to make you a little angry. It's also a strong reminder that we are our own best advocates.

BUY NOW

Celebrate Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy with this new book aimed towards the preschool set. Ginsburg was an inspiration to generations of women and now a new generation of readers will learn her story. My Little Golden Book About Ruth Bader Ginsburg will be released on Dec. 1 and is available for preorder today.

 My Little Golden Book About Ruth Bader Ginsburg

My Little Golden Book About Ruth Bader Ginsburg written by Shana Corey and illustrated by Margeaux Lucas is a compelling biography which introduces your little one to the legendary life of the beloved feminist icon. 

From a young age, Ruth Bader Ginsburg knew that she wanted to fight for girls and women to have equal rights. She studied and worked very hard and became just the second woman—and the first Jewish woman—to be a United States Supreme Court Justice. With her recent passing shaking the nation, politicians and lawmakers from across the political divide, as well as athletes and entertainers all paid tributes to Justice Ginsburg.

Justice Ginsburg has become a pop culture icon with two popular movies about her life story released in recent years: On the Basis of Sex and the documentary RBG. She has inspired many bestselling books, including Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark. As the latest addition to My Little Golden Books’ series of biographies, My Little Golden Book About Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a terrific and educational read for little future trailblazers and their parents.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

Featured photo: Random House Children’s Books

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Research has long suggested that family dinners are important for many reasons. While finding the time to sit down together feels like the most difficult part, sparking meaningful conversations can be a challenge, too. Luckily, there are tons of conversation packs that are chock full of entertaining activities and thought-provoking questions that can all be done at the dinner table. Keep scrolling to see some of our favorites, and let the good (dinner) times roll.

Family Conversation Cards

Boon Supply

These oversized cards are the perfect addition to any meal time. Designed in bright colors, the simple prompts are great for families with kids of any age. The 100-card pack also comes in a reusable canvas pouch for easy storage.

Available at boonsupply.com, $26

KIC-Start: Kids in Conversation

Amazon

Break the ice at get-togethers or just spawn some honest conversation with KIC-Start: Kids in Conversation. The 150-card game comes with a range of mixed age-appropriate questions that are equal parts funny and thought-provoking. Take on a car trip or to the dinner table––there's no wrong way to kick start the conversation with this game.

Ages: 13 and up

Order on Amazon ($19.95)

Feminist Flashcards

Amazon

With beautifully illustrated images, Feminist Flashcards is going to be the talk of your dinner table. The 40-card set is packed with endless learning opportunities, from letter sounds, women's history, hidden pictures and inspiring quotes. Each card starts with a single letter to represent an empowering feminist, along with her story told in an age-appropriate way. In addition, each pack comes with a 32-page booklet that discusses the timeline of women's rights all over the world.

Order on Amazon (14.99).

The Original Dinner Games

Amazon

Dinner's never been so fun! The Original Dinner Games is here to bring over 50 engaging games to the table, with no board game required. Families will not only have fun, but kids will practice critical thinking, math and social skills, too!

Ages: 6 to 12

You can order now this version for 6-12 year olds ($15.99) or one for beginners ages 3-6 on Amazon ($11.39).

Personalogy

Amazon

Perfect for dinnertime conversation, time with grandparents or a long car ride, Personalogy is all about discovering all there is to know about your fam. With 125 silly and entertaining questions, there's no end to the funny answers you'll hear from your kids.

Ages: 6 and up

Find it on Amazon ($9.60).

Blume Conversation Cards

These dynamic cards aim to offer sex education and self-care for tweens and teens. Kids will learn not only the right to know their bodies, but how they work and how to take care of them. Use this physical deck of easy and educational conversation prompts, to make those "awkward" conversations with your kiddos less awkward and more empowering. Trust us, you'll learn a thing or two yourself. 

This deck includes 152 cards covering topics like: Puberty, Body Science, Consent, Healthy Relationships, Body Positivity, and Self Care.

Available at blume.com, $38

Our Moments

Our Moments

Our Moments is a new line of card games created to spark those face-to-face conversations, whether you're in a coffee shop or around the dinner table, with prompts that are relatable and engaging. Great for all ages, they have multiple editions including Generations, Families, Kids & Couples.  

Choose from a variety of Our Moments Editions: Generations, Families, Kids, Couples. $18.95.

Available at: our-moments.co, $18.95

––Karly Wood & Amber Guetebier

 

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Confession time: I know plenty of people love it, but I don’t really care for Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Sure, Audrey Hepburn is all kinds of fabulous. But her character, Holly Golightly, drives me nuts, and there’s no getting around the fact that, in this day and age, costar Mickey Rooney‘s extremely stereotyped performance as Holly’s Japanese neighbor, Mr. Yunioshi, is beyond painful.

Storytellers have always relied on stereotypes as a shorthand to explaining characters. But as we all know, stereotypes are a delicate matter. They can bolster negative perceptions, justify prejudice, and reinforce unsympathetic views about particular groups.

And it’s not that modern movies don’t have their share of stereotypical characters (Jar-Jar Binks, anyone?). It’s just that the classic movies hold a special place in our memories, and in our eagerness to share these films with our kids, we sometimes forget that they served up plenty of old-fashioned attitudes. What might once have seemed socially acceptable (or funny) is now the kind of thing that’s likely to make you cringe—and wonder how to explain it to your kids.

If your kids are old enough to understand, you can use outdated stereotypes as teachable moments. But if they’re not, you might want to hold off on watching these movies for now. (And if you end up blindsided by a stereotypical character you didn’t see coming, these tips might help.)

  • Annie (1982): Daddy Warbucks’ mysterious, inexplicably mystical bodyguard is named Punjab, which is a stereotypical reference to the Indian state and its people. And he’s not even played by an actor of Indian descent.
  • Annie Get Your Gun: This upbeat 1950s musical is more often called out for its anti-feminist message (“you can’t get a man with a gun”), but it also portrays Native Americans as crude and ignorant.
  • The Bad News Bears: One of the young characters in this rough-edged 1970s kids’ baseball comedy has a habit of spouting racial epithets.
  • Breakfast at Tiffany’s: As noted, Rooney’s performance—which includes false buck teeth and pronouncing “Golightly” as “Go-right-ree” is absolutely wince-inducing.
  • Dumbo: The flock of cheerful crows whom Dumbo and his friend Timothy encounter speak, sing, and act in a way that smacks of African-American minstrel-show stereotypes. Plus, their leader’s name is Jim Crow.
  • Gone with the Wind: Although it’s famous for producing the first African-American Oscar winner (Hattie McDaniel), this sweeping Civil War epic also portrays slaves as actually seeming to enjoy their lot. And they’re depicted as either superficial and ignorant or fussy and smothering.
  • The Goonies: Clever Data (Jonathan Ke Quan) helps the gang get out of some sticky situations, but he also speaks with a stereotypically “Asian” accent and is (of course) a gadget freak.
  • Holiday Inn: This classic 1940s Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire musical gave the world the beloved song “White Christmas” … and a number that the white stars performed in full blackface.
  • Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom: Plucky Short Round (Quan again) speaks in an exaggerated “Asian” way, and the barbaric cult that he and Dr. Jones go up against is far from accurate in its depiction of Indian people.
  • The King and I: The ancient Asian culture of Siam is characterized as backward and sexist, with oversimplified characters whose poor grasp of English is played for laughs. And the main Thai characters are played by white and Latino Americans.
  • Lady and the Tramp: The pair of Siamese cats who wreak havoc in Lady’s life are drawn in a very stereotypically Asian fashion. (A similarly drawn character also shows up in The Aristocats.)
  • Peter Pan: Disney’s classic tale of the boy who doesn’t want to grow up is full of Native American stereotypes, from the use of the word “Injun” to the song “What Makes the Red Man Red.”
  • Short Circuit: An East Indian scientist’s stereotypical speech and struggles with the English language provide much of the movie’s humor — and he’s played by a white actor (Fisher Stevens).
  • Sixteen Candles: Oh, Long Duk Dong. People who’ve loved this movie since the ’80s find you hilarious, but it’s also extremely stereotypical. And why must a gong play every time he’s on-screen?
  • Swiss Family Robinson: The broadly stereotyped Southeast Asian pirates make it a lot harder to enjoy this otherwise family-friendly story about the castaway Robinsons and their amazing treehouse.
  • West Side Story: Race relations and discrimination are at the heart of this classic Romeo and Juliet story—which makes it all the more puzzling that the key role of Latina Maria is played by white Natalie Wood.

—Written by Betsy Bozdech, Common Sense Media

This post originally appeared on Common Sense Media.
Common Sense Media
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Common Sense Media is an independent nonprofit organization offering unbiased ratings and trusted advice to help families make smart media and technology choices. Check out our ratings and recommendations at www.commonsense.org.

photo: iStock

Ah, maternity leave. A time to adjust to parenthood, bond with your new baby, recover from childbirth and not worry about work. Unless you live in the United States, of course. But let’s not make this another depressing story about the sad state of parental leave policies in America. We all know that it sucks.

I’m a child of entrepreneurs who made flexibility for new moms and working moms a thing 25 years before it was a thing. (Is it even really a thing, now?) My dad wasn’t some visionary feminist bleeding-heart. He was a successful business man, who also happened to be a devoted family man, who knew talent when he saw it and wasn’t willing to give it up when babies came into the mix.

So in their small little tech company in the ’90s, he turned an empty office room into a pumping room/nursery where new moms could bring their babies in to work for their first six months. And guess what? He had a 100 percent retention rate on those working moms—and his business was better for it.

Fast forward 20 years when I was pregnant working for a small business not covered by FMLA or its state equivalent. I turned to my dad’s vision for some negotiating tactics when I had to fight for even one day off. Here’s my takeaway.

Bring up your need for maternity leave early.

If you work for a small company that is anything like the one I worked for when I was pregnant with my daughter, you have non-existent maternity leave policies from a non-existent HR department. The whole company flies by the seat of its pants when it comes to decisions about maternity leave, and you’re terrified to even mention it. But hear me out: you need to mention it. And soon. Don’t wait to have this conversation until you’re a week from heading out the door to have your baby.

I was petrified to tell my managing partner I was pregnant. I was the only female attorney and when I finally did tell them at 15 weeks pregnant, for no other reason than I was worried they’d get wise to my growing bump, I qualified my “I’m pregnant” with “but don’t worry, I’m more committed to my billable hours than ever and you won’t even notice a difference and I’m going to work until I have the baby, and please don’t hate me ohmygod I’m so sorry my husband and I decided to start a family because this is so inconvenient for you.”

Whether planned or a surprise, having a baby shouldn’t feel like a burden to your or your company. The earlier you have the discussion, the more time both you and your company can come up with a plan that works for everyone.

Try to consider and understand your company’s view, too.

Part of the reason the United States doesn’t have any statutory parental leave policies in place is because we view small businesses as the back-bone of this country, so there is a lot of concern about the burden it places on the business to pay you, or even to hold your job, while you take even this necessary time off.

Take my experience, for example. I was at a firm with only five attorneys, including the partners. For me to be gone for any amount of time, they either have to spread all my work amongst the remaining attorneys (truly impossible) or hire a contract attorney. Attorneys are expensive, and there’s a major learning curve to take on a load of clients in the middle of big, complex transactions. By the time the temporary attorney would get their bearings, I’d be back. And a small firm sure as hell can’t afford to pay two attorneys for one job.

Keep this reality in mind when you go in to negotiate some time off. This isn’t only about you. This is about the company, too. Be ready to find a middle ground.

Get creative.

An estimated 80 percent of companies are not federally mandated to hold your job for 12 weeks under the Family and Medical Leave Act. If you work for one of these companies, how do you negotiate your maternity leave?

First, think long and hard about what is it that you want. Are you okay with not getting paid but you really want a few months off to bond with your new babe? Can’t afford to take unpaid leave but the thought of going back after a few weeks makes you sick?

If it’s more time you want, find a way to pitch so that it’s a win for them. Can you help them find a temp to fill in for you? Did you take on additional work for someone else when they were on leave and you can suggest the same accommodation can be made for you? If you’re a valuable asset to the company, you’d be surprised how much leeway they will be willing to give. Ask for the extra time off.

If you need (or want) the money, but you need to ease into it, talk about part-time or work-from-home options. You can suggest signing a trial-period contract that is results-driven with clear metrics to ensure you’re delivering on your end (no pun intended). Who knows: if you over deliver on this, you could end up with a permanently adjusted schedule to support that work-life balance.

Don’t be afraid to revisit.

Before you have a baby (or your second or third or fourth), you don’t really know what life will be like. Maybe that career woman will be thrown out the window and you won’t be able to imagine doing anything but raising your child. Maybe, like my sister, you’ll negotiate for four and a half months off and then decide you’re ready to go back a month early. Maybe you’ll want to move to part time after baby number three.

Don’t be rigid in your view. Allow yourself flexibility to address different milestones or needs, both for you and the company.

Personally, I was more than ready to go back to work at 12 weeks, but I ran into a snag when I was rigidly committed to nursing for a year and I wasn’t making enough milk. Literally, my first week back, I did a quick calculation and was going to run out of frozen breast milk in exactly eight days. It was time to make a decision: I could switch to formula or I could talk to my boss.

Have the conversation. (Again.)

I have never had a more awkward conversation in my life than the five-minute discussion where I had to tell my male managing partner that I wasn’t producing enough breast milk and I’d like for them to consider letting me work part-time from home for three more months until I got the baby on solid foods.

He literally tried to cut me off because he was so uncomfortable, but he needed to hear what my issue was, what I needed and how I planned to address it.

We negotiated three months on a part-time salary. I’d go down to two half-days in the office, plus a few hours each day at home. If one deadline was missed or a client complained I wasn’t available, the deal was over. It worked. I was able to get everything done and more—and I happily breastfed my daughter until she was 15 months old.

You never know what wrench will be thrown into your plans. So have a Plan A, B and C—and make sure it’s one that benefits both you and your employer.

But at the end of the day, if you don’t ask, the answer is always no.

Keren is a business owner x2 (flat-fee lawyer and digital marketing operations) in active pursuit of the elusive work-life balance. With a couple of demanding jobs, a husband who travels for work and two little kids, she maintains her sanity by reading and engaging in inappropriate banter with friends, family and strangers. 

How inclusive is your tot’s at-home library? If you’re looking for a way to broaden your kiddo’s horizons, Little Feminist has three brand-new board books to help.

Little Feminist is a children’s book subscription service that fills a serious void. With specially curated boxes (by your child’s age), this service focuses on issues such as diversity and gender equality.

The latest addition to Little Feminist’s library includes three boards books designed specifically for toddlers. The books feature real pics of children and their families in situations your child may or may not yet understand.

Each book includes topics ranging from race and ethnicity to gender and sexuality. The series also focuses on mobility, helping your toddler to better understand the wide world of abilities.

The books are available for pre-order starting in late January for $8 each. Little Feminist will start regular sales of the books on Mar. 8—International Women’s Day. Visit Little Feminist here for more information on ordering this new series.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of Little Feminist 

 

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Some of your fave actresses, performers, influencers and artists are coming together to celebrate International Day of the Girl. The 30 plus celebs are joining the humanitarian organization CARE and the iconic children’s brand Care Bears for a life-changing auction.

Superstars such as Hilary Duff, Sia, Kacey Musgraves, Meghan Trainor, Michelle Williams, Sophia Bush and more will each create their own Care Bear inspired by CARE’s work with women and girls. CARE will auction the bears on eBay, with the proceeds benefiting charities.

 

So what types of bears are the stars creating? Actress Sophia Bush said, in a press release, “This International Day of the Girl, I’m proud to team up with CARE and Care Bears to celebrate women and shine a light on all that we can achieve when we raise our voices and demand change.” Bush continued, “I created Justice Bear—well, because RBG is my hero!—and to remind the world that while we’ve come a long way, our fight for civil rights is far from over. With women and girls leading the charge, I believe a world in which everyone is equal under the law is achievable.”

CARE President & CEO, Michelle Nunn, said, about the cause and the auction, “If we’re going to help solve the biggest challenges we face as a global community, we’re going to need the power of the next generation of changemakers–powerful girls from around the world.” Nunn went on to say, “When women and girls have the right tools, like access to clean water, education, and economic opportunities they are better placed to succeed. Bidding on a Care Bear will help us bring more of these tools to girls around the world.”

The list of celeb-designed bears includes:

  • Alexandra Daddario, Safety Bear
  • Ashlee Simpson, Equality Bear
  • Bellamy Young, Women In Agriculture Bear
  • Bianca Lawson, Heart Chakra Bear
  • Haylie Duff, Girl Power Bear
  • Hilary Duff, Clean Water Bear
  • Holland Roden, Refugee Bear
  • Iman, Diversity Bear
  • Kacey Musgraves, Earth Magic Bear
  • Katharine McPhee, Give Girls a Voice Bear
  • Meghan Trainor, Youth Are The Future Bear
  • Michelle Williams, Health For All Bear
  • Paisley Family (Brad, Kimberly, Jasper, and Huck), World Hunger Bear
  • Paris Jackson, Global Feminist Bear
  • Sia, Youth Empowerment Bear
  • Skai Jackson, Climate Justice Bear
  • Sophia Bush, Justice Bear
  • Sunnyside Up Cast, WASH Bear
  • Zac Posen, Living Blue Bear

The Care Bears will make their grand debut on Oct. 10 at the Van Ness Elementary School in Los Angeles at a special learning event hosted by CARE and Care Bears. The International Day of the Girl bears will then travel to Showfields in New York City on Oct. 12. The activities will continue with actress Holland Roden and a conversation, sponsored by Olivela, about her experience in Jordan with CARE.

—Erica Loop

Photos: Courtesy of CARE and Care Bears

 

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Books are the perfect baby shower gift because they will be enjoyed for many years after the child is born. They will spark baby’s love for reading because so many new books are designed to capture little imaginations. Research has found that reading to a baby can improve communication, introduce words and concepts, and build listening, memory, and vocabulary skills. Even though young babies won’t understand everything that they’re hearing, reading to them provides a bonding experience and allows them to learn more about the world. Here is a list of books that we at Stratford School love for baby showers.

For the Feminist Mom: Baby Feminists Written by Libby Babbott-Klein and Illustrated by Jessica Walker This lift-the-flap board book is irresistible to our youngest ones because it is full of babies! It is a great way for parents to introduce some of the most inspiring, trailblazing female change-makers of our time in a whimsical way. It is whimsical, which makes it less intimidating and more fun. Gloria Steinem, Frida Kahlo and Malala are some of the featured women in this engaging introduction to feminism. A sure hit that will make you laugh while learning about history.

New Take on an Old Classic: Tomorrow Most Likely Written by Dave Eggers, Illustrated by Lane Smith Parents love to read a book to their children at bedtime. There is no better time to bond with your child while helping them calm down from a day full of activities.  Award-winning author Dave Eggers’ brand-new bedtime book doesn’t focus on going to bed. This book explores all of the dreamy, wonderful, exciting things that the next day might bring. This book is quite possibly a modern version of “Goodnight Moon” that makes going to bed more fun! What could happen tomorrow? Maybe we should go to sleep to find out! The unusual but beautiful illustrations will keep even the youngest children interested until the very end of the book. Parents can conclude with a talk about what their own family has planned for the following day.

Light, Cute and Funny: Everything is Mama Written by Jimmy Fallon, Illustrated by Miguel Ordóñez Cute is the only way to describe this second baby book by comedian Jimmy Fallon. As a follow-up to his very popular Your Baby’s First Word Will be DADA, this book is quite similar in st‌yle. Our youngest readers love repetition; they thrive on hearing the words over and over. This book has few words but does repeat them in a way that may just have a youngster saying, “Mama!” Ending with a heartwarming message about how mamas feel about their babies, this book will delight adults and children alike.

A Multicultural Read: Mixed: A Colorful Story by Arree Chung This masterfully written children’s book is illustrated with powerful metaphors for social justice that are easily relatable to our youngest readers. With a very simple plot, the author makes it fun, accessible, and easy to understand. The bravery of two main characters to defy their community’s segregation by color (red, blue, and yellow), results not only in the creation of a new color, green, but transforms their town into something amazing. A great way for children to learn about colors while getting an introduction to inclusion and diversity.

We hope these books will make great gifts and happy reading!

Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.