coming up for air.

I've had my face planted in the bottomless feeding bag of politiblogs in my free time the last several days, hence my disappearing act 'round here.  I can't get enough of it - do you realize that Rove may be subpoenaed?  Which means he's as good as Gonzo.  A twofer.  I'll wisely refrain from mentioning just how INSANELY EXCITING that could turn out to be.  Like knocking a hole through the center of the administration's power source, but -- uh-hummm.  And, oh, just look! at this speck of dust! while trying not to ponder! the idea of the house! landing on the witch! almost anticlimactically.

While I was lurking around that realm earlier tonight, I found this article on TPMcafe by EJ Graff, about a congressional committee -- no, wait, make that a bipartisan caucus -- that will center around children, work and family.  And I was moved.  It reminded me again of my sense, this struggling-to-find-articulation vibe, that a major issue in all of this current lack of attention on the crippling, profoundly tough beast that is parenting in our society right now?  Is that we have not come to terms yet with our ability to choose whether to become parents.  It's really sliced and diced the parent-aged group, causing a boatload of infighting because the ones who decide to remain child-free mock the child-burdened mercilessly, and v.v.  Red Rover, Red Rover, don't let any of your icky procreation (or childless, depending on the team) cooties anywhere near our side.  (Although I'm planning on telling my kids that if they go into the health-care profession, they're not allowed to provide assistance to the elderly who chose to remain thusly unburdened.  I mean, I'm kidding!  I wouldn't do that!  Yes, I would.  I'm petty.  I make Tom Petty wish he'd never heard of that name.

Nahhh.  Kidding.  Wouldn't do that.  I don't hate people, nor do I wish to force my ideals on anyone, no matter what tripe they choose to believe.  I'm not a republican fascist.)

But that's just one thing that occurs to me after reading the article.  Another thing that really strikes a match in the depths of my bosom is the idea that maybe we can change things, make this parenting issue a political one, if we were to start talking about it to people outside of our normal comfort zone.  What if I started making a point to speak to parents with kids in situations where they might be receptive to the idea of change, to speaking out, hell, just voting, like -- ?  I don't know yet.  I need to think a little.  How could I effect change among other parents - particularly ones who are severely burdened by the lack of concern our tax-earning overseers provide?  I'm gonna try to come up with something.

What do you think sounds like a feasible suggestion to effect change - to motivate strapped parents to squeeze an extra dime of effort out of their already overstretched energy banks in order to amass and be heard, to demand things like better, easier-to-access daycare?  And better leave options for working parents with sick kids/sick elderly/new babies to care for?  And health care - oh, health care, you really must tremble when your name is called, for all the useless speeches given in your honor?  Why don't we make more noise about these things? 

I want to try, anyway.

I'll keep thinking about it as I snuffle at the hearty meal (albeit a meal that's leaving a super-acid taste in my belly and a sickened heart) that is this latest mess of the administration's, only finally with an opposing congress with a willingness to do some fricking oversight (hi, checks and balances!  We'd wondered where you'd gotten to!  Coat closet, eh?  Yeah.  Lotta republicans in there as well, apparently, only I don't think they were hiding for the same reason you were).

And I'll come back just as soon as my STAGGERING writer's block morphs into a butterfly and scoots offa my brain engine.  (I can't kill a cocooning butterfly, people.  Not even a writer's-block-ish one.  Sorry.)

Comments

[slouching mom]

What's particularly amusing to me is that the Republicans are taking their own bad selves down without help from anyone else. It's great fun to watch, but I think the Dems have to be careful not to spend their time chortling but rather take advantage of the moment to enact some (many) changes, including, as you point out, changes that chip away at the challenges faced by parents in this country.

[qt]

Food for thought, Ms.Deb. I don't have any real-life suggestions, but it is worth mulling over.

Yes, Rove may be headed for a fall here soon....

[the new girl]

Well,
My Karl Rove Voodoo Doll has got ALL kinds of shit poking out of it. So far that bastard has had like 11 lives...I'll try to share your optimism, though, and think that m-a-y-b-e this time....

I'd like to live in that world for a minute.

[Jennifer]

I shall never whine about French health care again. The people who abuse it... but not the system itself.

I couldn't imagine living in a place where everything I take for granted, doesn't exist.

[mayberry]

It's so hard to get to the bottom of those problems, isn't it, and that's why (at least to me) they feel so paralyzing. I'm all ears for any suggestions from you & your readers!

[Andrea]

Oh, just the thought of possible reform that would help this parenting gig gives me goosebumps! Easier access to daycare and better leave (maternity, personal, sick) for taking care of families nearly makes me want to dance. I'll take that action. How about getting those states that ALLOW discrimination by employers against single mothers because of the costs of benefits for a woman with children, the potential for her to miss work when her children are sick ~ how about we get those states shaped up first. Then on to bigger things. Familial health care, and just health care in general. Oh the possibilities! Can't wait for '08.

Oh, and Checks and Balances, nice to see you again. Next time, let us know when you have to be out for a bit so we can prepare for your absence.

[Andrea]

Oh, I think the website for the single mother discrimination by employees has a petition that can be signed so state lawmakers know how many people are serious about it. I believe it's www.momrising.org. I know it's Mom Rising, which is definitely google worthy.

[Mignon]

Yesterday I was a helper a Madeleiene's school and we went for a spring walk. I found a dead butterfly on the way back to school and showed it to all the kids in Circle Time, realizing too late that it wasn't actually dead, just partially squished by (probably) Wesley's boot and it's antenna was wagging around in pain. It was a very somber moment. Spring, the time of butterfly death.

(I thought a lot of other stuff about what you said, but I'm too anxious about the R-O-V-E thing to jinx it.)

[Her Bad Mother]

Parents MUST get political. The 'how?' is tougher, as you say, because of the time/money/energy crunch. But who has more will to make things better than a parent who lover her/his children? Let's bring it.

[slouching mom]

Oh, and I hear that Cheney is having more health problems. Poor fellow.

[wordgirl]

Rove? Gone? From your lips to God's ears. Assuming they're not melted off after years of listening to Bush lie through his teeth and then claim his decisions come from a higher power.

[Izzy]

I so hope Rove finally gets what he has coming. I try to participate in all Momsrising's activities but I'm always up for more if it means changing the family unfriendly policies of this country!