Comments

Last night we enjoyed a WONDERFUL evening at the new Children's Museum of Phoenix. I'd been meaning to go there all year. I even planned one outing and then someone got sick. Last night was the night!

On the first Friday of each month, the museum opens free to the public - 6-10pm. We arrived at 620pm and had to wait for about 90 minutes to get in. Apparently, they only take in the first 600 at a time and then the rest get a ticket and get to come in by number.

It was difficult at first but then the kids got to see a magician, G got to try out shooting a rocket and they both played with sidewalk chalk in the outside ampitheater. Thankfully, it was not super hot last night! It was also nice to see such diversity in cultures, languages and economic groups. Well, once inside (and after retracing our steps to find Z's lost shoe) the kids had a blast!

The Museum is in the old Monroe School in downtown Phoenix. There are three floors of activities including a wee-ones room where Z had freedom!, an art room, a building room (building with PVC piping - both liked this), a flower garden area, a market and kitchen and so much more. It was a great evening. When we got to the car, I was shocked to see the time: 9:48pm! What?? Kids did well.

Comments - I sometimes wonder if people think I'm deaf. Seriously. If you stand right beside or behind me and speak out loud, I'm probably going to hear you. When standing in line, these two women and their combined four children appeared right behind us. They were nice women with nice children. There was a little one who I learned was born the same week as Z so of course I focused on her - size and development. I spoke a couple of times to the women but they weren't super receptive so I just watched the kids. I was pretty sure that they were Christians - at least one - based on her reaction to a situation.

Then came the words: "Do you think we'll ever be extinct?" one said to the other. I couldn't help but listen - they were right behind me! They were talking about my kids being mixed race. They assumed they were both biracial (a common assumption as the kids don't walk around with signs stating: Adopted/Siblings/Biologically Unrelated..........) After some pondering of the topic, they joked - "Nope, we still have all of those Africans in Africa." These two well educated, successful black Christian women didn't like it that I was the mother of G & Z.

While still standing in the line, I had an opportunity to comment on the two littlest kids (the little girl and Z). I made a point to tell them that he is Puerto Rican. "Oh!" they said. I made my point but come on.... As a fellow blogger and mother of 3 lovely girls from Haiti (Cate) recently pointed out on her blog, why is it always the black women? Seriously - I didn't believe it but now that my kids are getting older - those are the looks and comments. Not 100% of the time but seriously, many black women tick me off with their looks and comments.

What am I missing here? Are you threatened? Is it cultural? Do you perceive me to be doing something wrong in raising my kiddos? We are all people. I can't help it if this world has been unfair during the course of history. I respect it and acknowledge it. I'll definitely teach my kids about it. But, I can't change it. We are all people with the same basic needs and desires. Now, I'm off to raise a future black woman...Lord, help me!