HONEYSMOKE

In just a few months, millions of Americans will be answering that question. Here’s an article about racial identity in the South. Enjoy

I asked for a pair of these a few days before Christmas, and they were sold out everywhere. Like many mothers, my schedule is tight, and I wanted to give the shoes a try. Ken, thank goodness,  managed to find a pair a few days after the holiday. I have been wearing the shoes for a month, and they work. I wear mine for walking and can feel them working my calves, legs and glutes, especially when I climb stairs. The area where I have seen the most change: my calves. I know I would get more out of the shoes if I actually had an exercise regimen. Still, I am impressed and will continue to wear them.

Lavatory. Powder room. Outhouse. Wash room. Loo. Water closet. Latrine. Little Girls’ Room.

No matter what it is called I know where to find it everywhere we go. I have to. My girls like to go — even if they don’t really have to go. But I don’t. That is the last place I want to go when we are out and about. They are so, you know, unpleasant. Why, oh, why do children like to visit these places?

I had the pleasure of interviewing Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! creator Bob Boyle, after he spotted a post I did about the lyrics of We’re All Together. Wubbzy, as he is called in our house, is an animated show on Nick Jr. I, of course, had a few pressing questions, and Boyle played along. Enjoy!

Honeysmoke: What inspired Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and all the characters in Wuzzleburg?

Bob Boyle: The initial idea for Wubbzy was inspired by a story that my niece dreamed up. When she was 8 years old, she would make up stories and I would draw them out for her. So, what is now known as Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! started off being a little 4 page comic book that we created together called Flopsy, Mopsy, and Ted.

As I developed the idea into a TV show, many things changed but I think that some of the show’s innocence and silliness stems from the fact that it started from the mind of a child. And I have a pretty child-like mind as well, so that helps.

Honeysmoke: I asked Simone and Nadia to tell me what Wubbzy is. Simone said, “It’s hard to tell.” Nadia said, “He’s a Wow! Wow!” I’ve got my own ideas. Is Wubbzy a squirrel?

A squirrel is a very popular guess. But, no, he’s not a squirrel. Wubbzy is Wubbzy. He’s not a creature that we have ever seen before. I didn’t want to create characters that were known animals because there are certain traits that we tend to associate with specific animals. I also think that helps to make them stand out as ‘original’ characters.

Plus, it’s really great to have kids (and parents) use their imaginations to think about what the characters are. One kid thought that Wubbzy was made of marshmallows!

Honeysmoke: A lot of studies say preschool children should watch little, if any, television. Do you think Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! enriches preschool kids or is it geared for a little older audience?

Bob Boyle: Wubbzy is made to entertain preschool kids while delivering them a positive message about life. Unlike shows such as Dora, we are not a curriculum based show. We are not trying to teach kids to count or get them to learn another language. The stories in Wubbzy tend to deal with social or behavioral issues such as sharing, appreciating others, and generally being a good person. We don’t want to be preachy or heavy handed so we try to create stories that are imaginative and fun for the kids to watch but still have a good lesson. And I think because of that, many parents actually are able to sit down and enjoy the show with their children.

Honeysmoke: The lyrics are so simple and to the point. How do you cover such complex issues — lying, keeping your hands to yourself, differences — in such short, succinct songs? Do you consult with experts?

Bob Boyle: No, there are no experts involved. Usually, I just think about whatever the theme of the song is and try to simplify it into what I think might make for a catchy good chorus. When I am writing the lyrics for the rest of the song, I am always thinking about whether or not they will translate into fun visuals. That’s where it really helps to be an artist as well as a writer.

But the songs wouldn’t be anything without the super duper talents of Brad Mossman, the composer and singer of the songs. He has a magical ability to take my silly lyrics and turn them into a super catchy pop song.

You can find out more about the song making process at the Wubbzy song blog- http://wubbzysongs.blogspot.com/

Honeysmoke: I have to ask you. Beyonce appeared on the show in April. What was it like working with her?

Bob Boyle: She was very busy recording her latest album at the time so we were very fortunate that she was able to take the time to work with us. It was such a great experience. She was unbelievably nice and a real pleasure to work with. It was her first time doing a voice for a cartoon so she was a bit nervous at first. But once she got comfortable, she had a lot of fun with it and did a great job. She’s a real pro!

She also sings a song in the show. It was quite a thrill to have someone with her talent and stature to record a song that Brad and I had written and composed for her. We also paid homage to her husband Jay-Z during one of the episodes. Wubbzy briefly takes on a ‘cool’ persona and changes his name to Wubb-Z. That’s one for the parents!

Honeysmoke: What is next for Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!?

Bob Boyle: We are just starting to discuss what might be next for Wubbzy. It will probably involve more guest stars visiting Wuzzleburg. Last year, in addition to Beyonce, we had TV Handyman Ty Pennington, Football Star Tiki Barber, and Olympian Michelle Kwan all do guest spots. It’s always fun to see how we can make the characters fit into our cartoon world.

In the meantime, my first children’s book will be published March 23rd by Random House. It’s called Hugo and the Really, Really, Really Long String. So in the next few months, I’ll be doing some author visits to schools, libraries, and book stores across the country.

You can find out more about the book and any Wubbzy news at my blog- http://bobboyle.blogspot.com/

Motherhood is a daunting task without all of the input from others. In my quest to be aware of what I am up against, I clicked on a piece about body image. Those who have older girls may want to take a look at this Newsweek gallery. Unattainable Beauty: The Decade’s Most Egregious Retouching Scandals shows just how far editors will go to promote the beauty ideal. The photos of Madonna, Beyonce and others are striking, and the slideshow touches on everything from wrinkles, to dimples to skin color. Check it out.

Who bought Nadia?

Simone, then a toddler, after she realized her parents had purchasing power.

Umm, I didn’t consult the Mommy Handbook, which means I didn’t really know what I was doing when I invited 15 children to Simone’s fifth birthday. Previous parties have been family-only affairs. This year, we decided to treat Simone to a party with her preschool classmates and a few friends. If I had consulted the Mommy Handbook, I would have known I was supposed to invite as many kids as the age of Simone plus one. In this case, that would mean six children. Doh! If I stop blogging for some unknown reason, it is very likely every kid invited to said party actually showed up and I am tucked away in some corner recovering.

The devastation in Haiti has captured the attention of the world. Like many, I wanted to pack my bags, descend on the island nation and do whatever I could to help. I still feel that way, and I am developing a plan for how I can help the country with some dogged reporting later this year. As we all know, another story will break, the light of the media will shift elsewhere, and the struggle to rebuild that country will not end for years, maybe decades.

The photos and stories of children affect me the most. I want to scoop up as many Haitian children my arms can hold and bring them back to my home. I know it is not feasible and may not be the best way to help. I just feel for the parents and their children. For now, I hug Simone and Nadia a little tighter, give them a few more kisses and count my blessings.

Such devastation makes me think about how much information about the world we share with our children and at what age. I vividly remember understanding and taking an interest in the news when I was 9. I think I will use that as my guide for when and how much information I will share with Simone and Nadia.

When Barack Obama became the 44th president of the United States, I attempted to wake up then 3-year-old Simone so that somehow she might remember the night her mother made a big fuss about something happening on television. As you may remember, the returns came in early. Simone had been asleep a little more than an hour, and I could not wake her. I cuddled with her instead. When Michael Jackson died last summer, Simone informed me of his death a few days after it happened. She had heard about it at preschool, and she knew it was big enough news to share with me. I could tell, though, that death and its meaning did not resonate with her. She did not ask any questions, and I did not offer an explanation.

Simone and Nadia have not spoken a word about the earthquake in Haiti, and I have no plans of sharing what happened with them. I do wonder how other parents have approached such issues in the past and what plans, if any, they have for discussing the world in the future.

What do you say? How do you say it ? And when?

A quick search turned up this resource for teacher and parents.

This is not the way to go.

Nadia, our resident back seat driver, letting Daddy know she did not approve of his alternate route home.