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Caribbean Parenting Month: Take Your Child to Work Day, SocaMom Style
- Friday, 26 April 2013
- Eva Wilson
Growing up, every day was Take Your Child to Work Day. For a lot of immigrant families, that's just the way it is. In Caribbean countries like my family's home country of Trinidad and Tobago, the only way that a business could survive was to take the kids to work... and they actually worked - like every day. There were options, though. Learn the family business, and help put food on the table, find a family member to teach you a trade that you were more interested in, work for them and help put food on their table, or get an education abroad, get a work visa, and send money back home to put food on the table. You could also get an education, and step out on your own, with the support of family of course, and start your own business.
One way or another, learning to work was important. The way my mom explained it to me, you worked because everybody has to eat. My parents paid me for working, as long as it wasn't part of household chores. They also supported my businesses as a kid - I could count on them to be my first (and sometimes only) customers.
I homeschool, work outside of the home, sometimes work from home, and I blog - and the kids are there with me for 99% of that, so I had to find a creative way to do Take Your Child to Work Day. I figured I would give each one of them one of my jobs, and show them how things got done around here.
As you know, Mr. Social has a blog called, "Dave's Car Show". His dad and I manage his blog, and he and his brother provide content in the form of photos and video. I had shown him how to make his coloring sheets a while back, but I had been adding the photos and videos to the blog when I had time. Lately, Mr. Social has been hinting that I move too slowly.
Solution? Teach him how to upload and publish his own content. Yes he is 8. I believe that if you can teach a dog to sing, or a cat to use the toilet - and flush - you can teach a kid to use a computer.
Two obstacles stood in front of me. The content management system that I use for this blog is definitely not user friendly like traditional blogging platforms, and he has the attention span of an 8 year old. We got through it though. I had to move fast - very fast. First, I decided that we would start with watermarking and meta tagging photos in Photoshop, and end with uploading images. I taught him to write down his steps in a journal (just like I do), so that he can refer to them later, then we went on to learning by doing.
Sure I could have typed them up for him, but there's something about him watching, writing it all down himself, and then trying it that makes him really understand it.
Well he understood it, alright. Eventually, he asked me if I could back up some so that he could try it all on his own - politely of course. I did. Two great things came out of Take Your Child to Work Day for us - he finally could take full ownership of his website, and there was one less thing I had to be responsible for. Win-win, right?
He called his dad, turned on his "businessman" voice (him, but deeper and very proper... slightly British?), and told him all about the work he did. We still do his email and social media (gotta shield him from the meanies as long as possible), but he's cool with that once we told him how that was how the big companies do it too. We told him, "it's called outsourcing".
After we were done, he says, "so what's my password, Mommy?" Slow your roll, kid. Slow your roll.
How did you spend Take Your Child to Work Day? For one mom I know, who takes her kids to work with her quite often, she decided it was Stay Your Behind in School Day. How did you decide to celebrate?
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SocaMom.com Is Turning Two! Casting Call for Caribbean American Parents!
- Friday, 15 March 2013
- Eva Wilson
Recognize that face? It's Mr. Social AKA DavesCarShow.com
The website is turning two! Can you believe it? We have some really great things in store for our readers - it is SO hard to keep them under wraps until they are done, but I am trying. In the meantime, I will need your help.
I was having a hard time deciding how to celebrate, when it was suggested that I celebrate by giving SocaMom.com readers the opportunity to share their stories. So we are putting together a video about the website and Caribbean American parenting featuring none other than... YOU! If you are a Caribbean American mom (or dad) living in the DC metro area, and would like to be featured in our anniversary video, click here to leave a message with your name, email address, and phone number, or click here to email us (subject line, "Feature Request") by April 2nd.
The video will debut on June 1st, just in time for the anniversary of my official launch and Caribbean American Heritage Month.
Please feel free to share this with friends and family that you believe may be interested. The deadline to express your interest is April 2, 2013.
Add a commentHappy New Year: 5 Things You Can Do to Start 2013 Right
- Thursday, 27 December 2012
- Eva Wilson
I am getting ready for 2013, and my biggest goal for the next few days is to make sure that I have a fresh start on the year.
I am a firm believer in the IDEA of starting fresh whenever necessary, but there's something about New Year's that gets me motivated. It is a deadline of sorts - a date that I can shoot for.
Here are five things that I do to get ready for the new year:
1. Get my floors cleaned. There's something about clean carpets that makes me feel all brand new inside. I called Stanley Steemer last week so that I could get an appointment before the end of the year.
2. Get rid of any clothes and shoes I didn't wear the whole year or can no longer wear. Chances are that if I didn't wear it this year, I won't be wearing it next year. I wash the clothes (I know they wash it again, but growing up my mom said we had to wash it first - so I do), toss what can't be given away (anything with holes or stains) bag everything up, and the kids and I take some to the church and some to the Salvation Army.
3. Get rid of old makeup, hair products, and lotion. It is just the right thing to do. I do this several times during the year, but definitely at new year's time. I love seeing my bathroom cabinet all neat and orderly - this fresh start allows me to try out new stuff to pamper myself on my days off without feeling like I am adding to a collection of beauty clutter.
4. Think of a fitness plan. After the back to back months of gluttony (Thanksgiving, leftovers from Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, leftovers from Christmas, New Year's Eve, leftovers from New Year's Eve), my waistline needs some work, so I figure out what my goal is going to be, and what the plan is to get there. I hope to run a half marathon in 2013, so I am building my fitness plan around getting ready for that.
5. Tell God what I want, and ask him for what I need. I know that He knows, but there's something about asking that seems to get things done. I know all the kids favorite foods, outfits, and places to go for fun - sometimes I just do what I know they'd appreciate just to see the smiles on their faces. Other times I have a lot to to... and I forget... or I'm too tired... or I'm focused on the big things and forget the small things. I know God never forgets, or is too busy, or too tired, and that He knows the desires of my heart - but I still ask...
Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
Thank you to all of my readers, commenters, friends, family, meetup members, and contributors for all of your support in 2012. I am looking forward to another great year with all of you. Happy New Year everyone!
What will you be doing to get a fresh start for 2013?
Add a commentWordy Wednesday
- Wednesday, 12 December 2012
- Eva Wilson
Don't Judge Me
- Thursday, 22 November 2012
- Eva Wilson
When people would ask me if I could cook, my answer would be, "I don't." I never said I couldn't - I said that I didn't. People would say how sorry they felt for my son, and want to feed him every chance they got.
One day, someone came by to drop off something around dinner time when I was a single mom, and they saw my little one, sitting up in his high chair, tearing up some fried fish, greens, rice, corn, and baked beans. He was like, "you said you couldn't cook!" I told him," I said I DIDN'T cook... for other people."
I'll admit it. I can cook. More often than not, I am able to make something that people really like - too bad I don't really like to cook for people other than my immediate family.
I really dislike being judged.
Who wants to be the one who brings the dish to the potluck that nobody eats? Not me. Ever. So I tend to bring drinks, napkins, plastic utensils, ice - things that are still essential, but they are what they are. No one is going to decide not to use a plastic fork because I brought it, and if they don't like the drink that I bring, guess who's taking it right back with me - I am.
Have I ever had the dish no one touches? No - not yet anyway. I know because I go back and check. That dish better be CLEAN - not a bit of it left.
So here we are at Thanksgiving, and this is the first year I'm bringing actual food - not looking forward to it. I have never had any complaints on the dish I plan to bring - usually it is the first thing to disappear - but who knows. I've hosted cookouts at my house and people are pleasantly surprised at how good stuff is, everybody takes a plate home, and there's very little leftover. This might be the ONE time that it doesn't go well.
Luckily (and strategically), I made something that my family loves, so if it goes untouched - it's comin' home... believe that!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Do you have a signature dish that you make that everyone loves?
UPDATE: Looks like the mac n' cheese was a hit. I took this picture after the first round of people went through the line... I guess only a couple of people were able to get seconds, and no one got the chance at a to go plate. YES!
Happy Friday!
- Friday, 16 November 2012
- Eva Wilson
Ahhhhhh Friday! I love Friday's for various reasons - one of the major ones is getting to see my husband totally relaxed. One of the reasons that I love THIS Friday, is that I get to meet some wonderful Caribbean American leaders as they are honored tonight at the Caribbean American Heritage Awards. It's this Mom's Night Out!
My outfit has been husband approved, The Boy is my camera man, and I am ready. It feels strange though - I am NEVER ready! I don't feel right unless I am going out at the last minute for something or the other. My husband says that it isn't a sign of the apocalypse... but I don't know. I saw a pic of a fish with people teeth (it's a real fish called a Pacu) on my friend's Pinterest Board, and even though it isn't a new species of fish or some freakish hybrid fish man... it didn't exist for me before yesterday, and could easily be a sign.
The day that the house is clean for a week straight... I'm stocking up on canned goods, gas masks, and ammo. Just sayin'.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Is It Saturday Yet?
- Tuesday, 13 November 2012
- Eva Wilson
Man I love Saturdays! I know that it seems that all I care about is shoes and food, but on Saturdays they are pretty high up on the list of things that make me happy...
Boots from 6pm.com
From the easy fall "soccer mom" sweaters and boots...
...to the unhurried Saturday afternoon dinner making - I just love it all. Alas, it's only Tuesday. Why can't Tuesday be the new Saturday?
Add a commentWinter Blues? Brighten Up and Lighten Up!
- Tuesday, 23 October 2012
- Eva Wilson
As the days get shorter and colder, I am working vigorously to keep myself out of a fall funk.
I started after brunch with some of my favorite DC area bloggers this Sunday, with a stroll down Connecticut Ave. I used to work in the area, and I was happy to see that one of my favorite stores was still there.
It looks like I won't be able to make GHOE (the Greatest Homecoming on Earth - Aggie Pride!), but I still made a hopeful GHOE outfit purchase that made me think of fall sunshine. Most people are all on the pumpkin thing right now with oranges and browns. I did something a little different with some yellow and gray.
Photo from Gap.com
Photo from Gap.com
Photo from Gap.com
Only thing I didn't do was skip out of the store - I probably would have if I didn't have those insanely high heels on... I mean, it was brunch - high ridiculous heels are essential - am I right? Yes... Yes, I am right.
Just added some sunshine yellow to my fall wardrobe from @gap... Warm, sunny sweaters for when the days get gray! #happy
— SocaMom (@SocaMomDC) October 21, 2012
@socamomdc Glad to hear that! Everyone needs a little yellow in their wardrobe. #bebright
— Gap (@Gap) October 21, 2012
Being from the south, with Caribbean blood, being cold is not my cup of tea... ever. With each brisk wind, and each afternoon that seems darker than the last, I thought back to a trip I made to Brookstone for a blogging event last year, and a wonderful little light that could have the power to help me harness my joy - the joy that seems to hibernate in the winter. It's called the "Happy Light".
Photo from Amazon.com
When I saw it, I was thinking - why is a little happiness THIS expensive? So I checked on Amazon.com and found some that were on a super sale. You can get one for as little as around $39
Not bad...
Here's what they say about "mood, energy, and revitalization lights" on Verilux's (the manufacturer) website:
Add a comment Read more...Wordless Wednesday (not exactly)
- Wednesday, 17 October 2012
- Eva Wilson
Source: blogs.artinfo.com via Eva on Pinterest
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