01.14.2011
I don’t understand families that choose to have an excessive amount of children. The usual excuse offered is that children are “God’s gift” and though I’m not inclined to disagree, I don’t see it as a reason to keep having them.
01.13.2011
I was at the park today with a little girl I was babysitting and I closely observed the other patrons. Many were sitters, others were mom and an occasional father and grandparent were there as well.
I was reminded of the time when I would go to the park often when I babysat in college and realized that about 14 years later, there seemed to be more men involved in the child’s care. Of course, it could’ve just been the way today rolled out but nonetheless, it was nice to see some men. And not just that, they were actively engaged with their kid.
I did notice that the boys were more rambunctious than the girls which is typical, I think. One caretaker I struck up a conversation with was watching three girls at the same time and said give her girls any day; boys don’t stop. Ha!
01.12.2011
- What makes up a person’s personality? How much of it is parental influence and how much is innate?
- Why and how do some children grow up to have a different set of values from their parents?
- It never ceases to amaze me that siblings can grow up under the same roof with the same parents and yet grow up to be completely different.
- What makes a child more sociable than another? How much of a child’s hesitancy to be social because of a parent’s fears and how much is it because it’s innate?
- Why could a parent have a more challenging relationship with one child than another?
01.11.2011
In the LA Times Business Section last month, there was an interesting article about who pays for having a baby. Apparently, Californians who have to buy private insurance find maternity benefits to be scarce and expensive. Here are some highlights that I found striking throughout the article:
- The average cost to deliver a baby has reached nearly $13,000. With maternity insurance, the bill can be as low as $250.
- 81% of women who buy their own policies, don’t get maternity benefits because it’s too expensive.
- Pregnancy itself is a problem for health companies. Many consider it to be a pre-existing condition; therefore, you won't get covered if applying for coverage after becoming pregnant. (This is my favorite.)
- Blue Shield and Anthem Blue Cross are the only private insurance companies to offer maternity benefits but at an astronomical cost.
What’s fascinating to me is that so many people encourage healthcare privatization (especially with universal healthcare in our midst) – and yet, to have a baby with private insurance could bankrupt you. How is this logical?
Our society presses for couples to have a baby but will create ways to not help you.
Our society presses for couples to have a baby but will find ways to charge you for one.
Our society presses for couples to have a baby but will limit your options.
I’m not saying it should be free or that the government should pay for you to have a baby. Of course that’s not what I’m saying. You make the decision to have a baby, you should pay for it. BUT, it should not be considered a pre-existing condition, you should not be limited to just two insurance companies who are looking to rape you with costs, and something is definitely wrong when there’s a $12,750 difference between a couple having a baby that is insured and one who is not.
01.10.2011
One of the quotes that I’d have up on the bulletin board when I was a teacher was the following:
Failure isn’t falling down, it’s staying down.
What a wonderful reminder.
01.09.2011
There really isn’t anything like doing something that you love. I spent the day working on a creative project…or rather, working on some promotional material for a creative project with the help of a group of people. When you find yourself with a group of creative souls and see projects moving forward, it’s so gratifying. Perhaps one day I might be able to make a living off of this.
But whatever may come, I hope to keep these projects as a high priority should we have a kid. It’s important to have an outlet where you do something you love. A child would make it difficult for me to work on such projects like I did today but I would shrivel up and die inside were I to stop. I’d have to make it work somehow. I would just have to. Besides, I’d feel like I’m cheating my child out of a proper example of staying true to yourself and your dreams.
01.08.2011
I monitor women in film closely and, in fact, it was a research topic while in grad school only it was women in silent film and how the role of the woman on screen represented real life, if at all.
Hollywood has a history of not being kind to women and when an actress reaches my age, it can be counted on that her star is on its way out. This is unfortunate because by the time one reaches my age, hopefully, one has grown into one's own skin. I remember reading that sentiment in my 20s and not understanding what it meant, cause I thought I was “comfortable” back then, but I wasn’t. Nothing like I am now.
For an actress, I imagine that once you reach a point being comfortable in your own skin, it's at that point when you can really take chances and explore roles. But if Hollywood is finding ways to escort you to the door, how are you able to grow as an artist?
Recently, I read an article in the LA Times (and I’m sorry I didn’t keep it and I can’t find a link) and how women in film are changing Hollywood. My generation broke through more barriers than the previous one and now women in my age group are driving the sales in movies. And what we’re interested in ain’t kiddie, perfect romance movies. Yes, there’s always room for a romantic comedy or tear-jerker drama but what studios are finding is that women want to see women on screen that are more like themselves. As a result, we’re seeing more women in their 40s and 50s getting work and not just getting work, but kicking ass while they’re at it.
This phenomenon is affecting other areas of Hollywood too with women producers, writers and directors. This is fantastic!
What I’m wondering, though, is how the image of a pregnant actress is going to change. I know from my actress girlfriends that a baby is death to a career; no one wants to see it. But I’m wondering if that mentality is changing especially with phenomenal actresses like Natalie Portman being pregnant.
It’s not easy for women, by any means. But I’m happy to see changes however subtle they may be.
