The good thing about having three curlies under one roof is we can switch up products. What doesn’t work for one, may work for the other.
Jane Carter Solution, Miss Jessie’s, Curls for Target and SheaMoisture are now available at some Target stores. It was big news for curlies, especially those of us who don’t like to pay for shipping. After stalking the hair care aisles for a few days, the store I frequent finally received the products.
I immediately picked up two Curls for Target products: Creamy Curl Cleanser and Coconut Curlada. The cleanser is mild and smells delicious. The conditioner is creamy and smells delicious. Trouble is, they don’t do much for my hair.
Before I had the girls, I would finish a hair product or mix it with something else. Now I just try it on Simone and Nadia’s hair. Eureka! The Coconut Curlada helps smooth their hair and makes it so easy to detangle. This frees me from the guilt of trying new products and allows me to try something else. Next on my to-try list: Shea Moisure. The shampoo and conditioner with shea butter are calling my name. If it’s not meant to be, I’ve always got two more curlies who don’t mind testing smell goods.
Check out this NPR piece about how biracial children self-identify. Each week Tell Me More talks to parents, and this piece focuses on the new book, Mixed. As Honeysmoke readers know, Simone and Nadia have given the book two little thumbs up. Host Michel Martin is joined by the book’s author, Kip Fulbeck, as well as writers Peggy Orenstein and Heidi Durrow. Enjoy.
Could it be that I’ve finally found a television show I like that comes on after the girls’ bedtime?
I am really enjoying the story lines on NBC’s parenthood. Have to love a grandpa who is willing to talk straight with his granddaughter’s boyfriend after said boyfriend has been found in a compromising position with said granddaughter. “You left your sock in my house, but you took my granddaughter’s innocence.” I am hoping Sarah and Amber find some mother/daughter peace.
The writers cleaned up a lot of the racial tension in the Crosby, Jasmine and Jabbar story last night. Oh, how I wish such complex things could be addressed in an hour in real life. Again, it took Zeek, the grandpa, to put everything on the table. At Jabbar’s birthday party, he asked why everyone was treating his son like a pariah. He then answered his own question: because Crosby’s white. That forced Jasmine to come clean, and we now know why Crosby didn’t hear about his son. His mother simply didn’t clue him in. Not only that, but she let her family believe Crosby didn’t want to have a relationship with his son. Oops!
Since everyone seems to know what happened, I wondered where the story would head next. I didn’t have to wait too long, as the previews show Crosby and Jasmine engaging in a kiss. I am guessing the “relationship” will be shortlived. Doesn’t Crosby have a girlfriend who wants to have a baby, like, tomorrow? Or, did I miss something?
The show was just picked up for another season. I will be one of the nearly 8 million viewers tuning in next week.
Nadia had a wonderful birthday with family and one friend. (See, I learned my lesson, after we hosted nine children and their parents for Simone’s party.) Nadia wanted to tear into the cake and the gifts right away. I found finger pokes in the icing, and someone broke a piece of the ribbon.
“I’m three!” Nadia told anyone who asked. She hasn’t quite mastered the proper way to open a card or a gift. She tore envelopes in three pieces. Gift wrap didn’t fare any better. The toy Nadia and her sister played with the most: the white, lavender and green balloons.
Then there was the Princess Tiana lip gloss. I purchased Princess Tiana lip glosses for Nadia’s guests. What was I thinking? The gift bags were given out earlier than usual, and the girls immediately went for the purple trinket. They stuck their little fingers in the waxy mess and spread it on their lips, chin and face. Later, while Ken had his back turned, Nadia smeared her face and her birthday dress with lip gloss. I tried to document the occasion, but Nadia turned away. It appeared she tried to eat the lip gloss but somehow didn’t know where her mouth was located. Ken easily wiped the lip gloss from her face. I, though, was not as successful with the dress. I have washed it three times, and it will be forever stained with pink accents. It was her birthday. I guess she can stain her dress if she wants to.
I bet some of you will wonder whether I made the cake. Nope. My hand-made invites inspired the design, and I let the professionals take it from there.
I am the mean parent. I am the one who devises most of the rules. I am the one who insists on following the rules. And when the rules aren’t followed, I am the one who has something to say about it. Why is that?
Could it be race?
Am I applying to Simone and Nadia what I was taught as a child? You’re black, which means you have to work twice as hard as other children.
Does it have anything to do with black women raising their daughters and loving their sons? You’re a black woman, so you need to learn how to be self-sufficient and self-disciplined.
Or, is it a difference in parenting personalities? If I am the bad cop, then Ken has to be the good cop.
What do you say?
After reading a comment on the post below, I thought it would be nice for mothers and fathers to chime in on what they love about parenting, raising their biracial children, or whatever they would like to write. I love reading posts about how other parents instill values in their children or how parents who have children older than Simone and Nadia have addressed race and identity.
If you’re game, shoot me an email at honeysmoke at honeysmoke dot com. I will post those from women on Mother’s Day and those from men on Father’s Day. I am also hoping to get my hubby to pen the main father’s day post. Feel free to let him know how you’d feel about hearing his voice on this blog in the comment section.
