Monthly Archives: April 2010

Bare Feet

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Today I plan to walk to work and back home without any shoes. It’s April 8th.

The one day in the year to let go for a change.

To let go of one’s pride.

To let go of my pride.

To let go of my shoe pride.

To raise awareness about children all over the world who grow up without the funds to buy shoes.

To talk about children in South America and Africa who do not have  shoe stores like Payless Shoe Source around the block.

Today I am NOT wearing shoes OR Sandals.

Today I just may wear my favorite cowboy boots… or carry them in my hand.

Raina's Shoes

Raina's Shoes

Imani all Mine

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Last night I finished reading Imani all Mine by Connie Porter. While reading it, I could not help to think about girls who I know personally. Girls who are in my family. Girls who attend my church. Girls who I knew in school. Old girl friends from grade school. Mothers of the girls. Who all had babies very young out-of-wedlock.

All of the girls who I thought about were African-American.

Porter wrote the book using a type of vernacular.  I call it street vernacular. I think her ability to tell this type of story in this street vernacular is the quality of an author. The main character, Tasha, was talking in a way that reminded me of people I know, who I always correct. Using the past tense incorrectly, made me want to correct some sentences. Nevertheless, it gave me a better understanding of her world in Boston.

There was a time I felt sorry for girls like this (young girls who had babies out of wedlock) or I guess the word would be pity. I would wish that I had, just to give to them. But they do not want anyone’s sympathy or pity.  They only want love from that one special person. Their mother or their father. At least that is what they say.

What I want to read now is the same type of book from a male perspective. The male who rape. The male who sleeps around constantly. The male who also wants to be loved. I want to hear his story. Half of His Story It is half his story too.

James Brown on Train

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Today I was sitting on the train and there was a lady with her sleeping child sitting across from me.

Their stop was coming up and instead of waking up the child like I see most mothers do:

Rub his arm and say “Honey, sweety, wake up.”

She got up and begin to sing:

Get up! With your bad-self! Get Up! With your bad-self! Get on the good foot!

All the while, the child is sleeping. And then out of no where he jumps up!

And start spinning wildly!! Kicking his legs out wide. And bouncing his arms from left to right!!

His mother was shocked!

Turned around fast.

All the people on the train were laughing out loud. Covering their mouths. We even Clapped.

Two days in a Row

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Children EXCITED to leave school

Two days in a row its been a high level of motivation at the library

the children are doing their homework and are having a fun time with each other

not many distractions.

getting along

Two days in a row we ran out of time

the library closing before we having a chance to do just one more subject.

I’m encourage, they are motivated.

two days in a row.

Reading Fun

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Hey,

I just wanted to blog about the kids before I went out tonight.

They are off this week so they are pretty happy they don’t have that much homework to do. I am happy also but can’t wait for them to get back in school. Everyday it seems they need something to do so they start trouble with one another instead of being nice. I try my best to stay out of their little dramas.

One good thing that happen is they all started a new chapter book. I wish there was a way we all could read the same books. Its kind of difficult reading 3 or 4 different books at the same time with 10 kids. But I think they are all learning responsibility when I don’t read the entire book with them.

I realize today that I have to make sure I treat them all the same. I was accused of having favoritism. Which I know I don’t have. But I have to make sure I don’t.

I got two new students: Kelly and Kathy. Who are sweet little girls. Smart too.

The books we are reading are: Hello, Mrs. Piggle- Wiggle by Betty MacDonald, Clementine’s Letter by Sara Penny Packer and Rules By Cynthia Lord. Each child has to write down words and phrases they don’t understand and talk about each chapter after they read it. I am thinking about what I should do after they all finish each story….that can be another blog…Reading and Fun

Okay, I better be going now!

Imagine That

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Just to think that you were feeling fine all along.

I guess you were just imagining things.

Now I have to imagine life without you.

Huh, I guess you are telling me to Imagine that.

Just how much of life is completely real anyway?

And how much do we imagine?

The child asked her mom to do her hair for her

but the mother said she was too sick to braid.

The child just imagined her mom feeling better.

The next day at school the teacher said

Child, how’s your Ma anywayRemember Me?

She’s doing fine. The child replied.

The teacher said

Well, can you imagine that?!

The child said, yeah, I can.

Do we keep imagining things until they become real?

When do our faith equal our works?

We can’t live in fantasy land for ever.

Can you now imagine life without pain?

Well, would you just imagine that?

I just can’t.