Archive for the ‘Darla’ Category
My Little Pony
She picked this out for herself and was proud to match the colors of the rainbow pants with Rainbow Dash.
I’m all for My Little Pony for kids. The Bronies and Unisisters just freak me out.
How to Raise a Child Who Doesn’t Contract Affluenza
You all know Darla’s mom (me!) is a social worker in real life who deals with homeless adults, homeless children, pregnant teens, and people with issues such as domestic violence and substance abuse.
When Darla’s oldest sister was little she would come with me to work on Skid Row in Los Angeles. Darla has gone a few times to visit some of my former clients, but it isn’t the same.
Darla really believes that al kids get to go to Disneyland and can afford ice cream and new toys every day. Certainly this is beyond my budget as a single parent working in social work – but she doesn’t know that. Most of her friends don’t understand how lucky they are to have a roof and a bed and regular meals.
Darla’s Kickstarter to prevent Affluenza
So: I am turning to Kickstarter to fund the development of an e-book covering as many neighborhoods and populations (rich and poor) within a weekend’s travel from Los Angeles where we live.
Please consider backing us.
You could be in the book
You can tell us where we should explore
You can receive a post card
Here is the link https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1233974818/shedding-affluenza
PLEASE SHARE
Super dress up time
Pinterest made me do it…also, we like playing Dress Up
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She’s on to us Moms and Dads
"You have fun! I know it! Aaayyyeee" was screamed down at me for an hour tonight.
We cooked. We ate. She soiled the floor with food. She played. And then she took a bath and brushed her teeth. We cuddled in bed and I excused myself to do chores and promised to come check on her.
Darla wanted to come too. She was sure I was reopening Club 54 or inviting the cast and crew of Mickey’s club house to my living roon while she was stuck in bed.
"You have fun , I know it!".
Yes kid. Dishes are washing and the laundry is washing and more of it is drying while I am on my knees scrubbing yogurts from under the kitchen table. It’s hard to drink this martini while I am layering pork chops and cream of chicken soup in the crockpot for tomorrow’s dinner.
You are on to me.
In a minute I am going to sort your long pants from shorts. .. it will be just like snorting coke.
When I was done , I found she had taken her pajamas off and fallen asleep like this.
Spooky thumb
The nail is turning black and it still looks beat up. We wrapped her thumb in gauze then decorated it with band-aids. Darla thinks it looks like a ghost, hence “spooky thumb”.
Dressing Darla
Darla is a big fan of the costume.
Darla’s costumes range from Super Hero to Princess with stops in between
We have t-shirts for every superhero I can find. She has the complete Wonder Woman Costume and a pirate costume and dresses for most of the Disney Princesses and 3 Minnie Mouse dresses. Being 2, she can wear whatever she wants and it is cute. (Being 41 – I get called weird, quirky or eccentric so I stick to dresses and jeans with the occasional witty t-shirt thrown in). When she discovered “The Disney Princesses” , I made a special point to discuss Wonder Woman and how you can be a princess AND a Super Hero at the same time.
Yesterday, I was perusing the Facebook and my friend Alexandra Howard linked to an article of a mother dressing her 5-year-old up as famous women in actual history.
I am inspired. Driving home from work yesterday – I had an idea. It is new and still half-baked and needs editing. I am going to start an occasional project to dress Darla up as women and men who inspire me, or whom I am fond of – and whom I hope will see themselves as role models for Darla. Some of them are Princess Like, Some of them are heroic, a few combine both.
Some of these folks may be unknown to you – because it is based on my life, and charity work (I have spent too much time at www.MENDpoverty.org ). Never the less: look them up. Also, feel free to give me suggestions.
Here is my list so far and the supplies I need for the costumes.
| Carolyn Rose – Cofounder of MEND | Scrubs, stethoscope, silver hair paint for a low pony tail, glasses |
| Ed Rose – Cofounder of MEND | Same hair as Carolyn, fedora, blue t-shirt and jeans, pencil and blueprint(He’s an engineer) |
| Lisa Ferguson – Darla’s Godmother | Boots – large black purse containing :coffee cup, day planner, black stuffed cat, airplane ticket) – little black dress and fish nets |
| Andrea Caster – Darla’s Fairy Godmother | Blue dress, red cape, black rimmed glasses, holding legal scales, pink streak of hair |
| Richard Weinroth – friend and Food bank director at MEND | Jeans, tennis shoes, chef coat, blue baseball cap, shoebox filled with toy food |
| Maryann Haver-Hill – CEO of MEND | Red sleeveless dress, pearls, blonde wig |
| Scott Mickels – Controller of MEND | Jeans, Blazer, dress shirt and bow tie, account ledger and dollars poking from pocket. (hair slicked back) |
| Rose Fox – my 2nd grade teacher | Blonde wig, Hawaiian print dress, grade book |
| Rev. Andy Bales – CEO of Union Rescue Mission | Bicycle Jersey, handlebars, Bible with a paper titled Los Angeles City Council Meetings poking out. |
| Kenny Keith – my baby brother (not a role model: but this was too easy) | Superman shirt, jeans with holes. No shoes (or tennis shoes) , wrench and toy car |
| Samantha Morley – my friend and Medical Office Guru | Heels, jeans, Zombie t-shirt, tote bad with slogan “Eat healthy and learn to love it!” |
| Job’s Daughter – International Girl’s Organization through the Masons | White pillow case sewn into a greek robe, white twine for a chord, purple ribbon headband and white ballet slippers |
| Officer Crowther – a police officer in my home town | Police uniform , mustache, glass of wine, marathon medal |
| Barbara Bates Jensen – Nurse, mother, teacher | Blonde wig, scrubs, first aid kit with sticker “Haiti or bust” |
Darla's Mom 