Is 'resting belly paunch' a thing yet? It should be. You know that condition where you're standing and your back gets tired so you stick your tummy out? It's a tenant of bad posture but like 'resting bitch face' sometimes you just can't help it. Unfortunately, when I do it, I inevitably get asked if I'm pregnant.
Now, haven't we established that you never <ever> ask a woman if she's pregnant unless you are so sure that it's undeniable and even then, you check yourself before you wreck yourself? In the past, I've heard enough horror stories to the point that even if I'm reasonably sure (yet insatiably curious), I will say to the possibly pregnant woman, "How are you feeling?" For a pregnant woman, she will pick up on this and give you a status report. For a non-pregnant woman, this will be a thoughtful question of concern about her health or sleep patterns or thoughts on the state of the world. You get a little air cover just in-case you've made a bad judgement call.
But despite the potential mine field of guessing wrong, I have been asked if I am expecting with no hedging whatsoever, twice in the last 12 months and it shocks me. First because it's such a bold commitment on the asker's part but second, and more important, because I'm clearly doing something to invite this sort of questioning because the answer is unequivocally, no--just no. That's where the 'resting belly paunch' or #rbp comes in. Maybe my choice of wardrobe (less tailored clothes and more loose fitting sweaters) is adding to the confusion too--but it's winter and it's cold.
Honestly though, I'm proud of my #rbp. I have recently been going through archived photos for my mom's wedding slideshow and come across pictures from both my pregnancies where I was so obviously pregnant and huge. It's amazing that my frame even looks reasonably normal after all that now. The human body is amazing that way. I actually thought I was trimming up too with the Zumba, Barre, Yoga and stuff I do. Perplexing. But still, let this be yet another cautionary tale, the #rbp is real. Be warned, curious cats, and think a minute before you ask your questions.
Monday, February 01, 2016
Monday, December 14, 2015
My two new articles on ParentMap.com
Just out on ParentMap.com this month are two very different articles I've written over recent weeks.
The first piece is about Centering, the method of group-based prenatal care that improves confidence during pregnancy and labor/postpartum outcomes. (Think of it as the PEPS group support model for *before* the baby is born.) Swedish Midwives and other midwifery groups have been offering it for years but now Swedish's Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency Clinic is onboard as well. This signals a confidence in the methodology and a great prenatal care option for parents-to-be. Special thanks to Dr. Jeremia Bernhardt for the story idea and the Centering Healthcare Institute for their significant input on this story.
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The second is a Q & A with author/activist Sharon H. Chang. She just released a book called Raising Mixed Race: Multiracial Asian Children in a Post-Racial World, about the challenges facing mixed race Asians and deconstructing the unique experience of prejudice and bias that face mixed race people. This book emphasizes how mixed race Asian people in our society are viewed in relation to how white or not-white they are, effectively measuring their proximity to 'whiteness.' The book asserts that this in turn causes mixed race Asians to bury overt/covert experiences of racism to fit in--to the point that we Hapas may not even know we're doing it.
As a mixed race Asian myself, I have conflicting feelings about this because I also spent a summer in Japan during high school and I will be the first one to say that some Japanese people don't look too kindly upon mixed race Asians either but from the other direction. The book seems to assert this comes only from the white direction but I say it can also comes from the Asian as well.
But there just aren't a lot of books about mixed race experience and it's really surprising given that the population becomes more mixed (with all races) by the second. Definitely a thought-provoking read with a definite mission to cause mixed race Asians (and parents raising mixed race Asians) to closely re-examine their worldview and sense of self within it.
The first piece is about Centering, the method of group-based prenatal care that improves confidence during pregnancy and labor/postpartum outcomes. (Think of it as the PEPS group support model for *before* the baby is born.) Swedish Midwives and other midwifery groups have been offering it for years but now Swedish's Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency Clinic is onboard as well. This signals a confidence in the methodology and a great prenatal care option for parents-to-be. Special thanks to Dr. Jeremia Bernhardt for the story idea and the Centering Healthcare Institute for their significant input on this story.
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| Swedish Ballard Midwives during a Centering session |
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The second is a Q & A with author/activist Sharon H. Chang. She just released a book called Raising Mixed Race: Multiracial Asian Children in a Post-Racial World, about the challenges facing mixed race Asians and deconstructing the unique experience of prejudice and bias that face mixed race people. This book emphasizes how mixed race Asian people in our society are viewed in relation to how white or not-white they are, effectively measuring their proximity to 'whiteness.' The book asserts that this in turn causes mixed race Asians to bury overt/covert experiences of racism to fit in--to the point that we Hapas may not even know we're doing it.
As a mixed race Asian myself, I have conflicting feelings about this because I also spent a summer in Japan during high school and I will be the first one to say that some Japanese people don't look too kindly upon mixed race Asians either but from the other direction. The book seems to assert this comes only from the white direction but I say it can also comes from the Asian as well.
But there just aren't a lot of books about mixed race experience and it's really surprising given that the population becomes more mixed (with all races) by the second. Definitely a thought-provoking read with a definite mission to cause mixed race Asians (and parents raising mixed race Asians) to closely re-examine their worldview and sense of self within it.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Happy Education Funding Work Party Day!
Dear Governor Inslee & Education Funding Work Group:
The Seattle Teachers' strike is over but many remain unsatisfied. I'm still vibrating with ill-feelings and doubts. Not toward the heroic teachers and parents who showed a ferocious unity this past month, but to the political landscape that allows schools to fall so far down in our priorities. We must fix this. The Seattle contract isn't perfect and isn't everything the teachers wanted but it is a hell of a lot better than what the District first countered with. We shouldn't have to get this desperate to accomplish something so necessary and obvious.
The Stranger Magazine suggested implementing a state income tax just like New Jersey did in 1976 which buoyed it's schools. I know Washington State voted down an initiative proposing one in 2010 but we need to try again. Now that we know why an income tax will be so vital and what the consequences of going without one look like, we need to try again.
The Seattle Teachers' strike is over but many remain unsatisfied. I'm still vibrating with ill-feelings and doubts. Not toward the heroic teachers and parents who showed a ferocious unity this past month, but to the political landscape that allows schools to fall so far down in our priorities. We must fix this. The Seattle contract isn't perfect and isn't everything the teachers wanted but it is a hell of a lot better than what the District first countered with. We shouldn't have to get this desperate to accomplish something so necessary and obvious.
The Stranger Magazine suggested implementing a state income tax just like New Jersey did in 1976 which buoyed it's schools. I know Washington State voted down an initiative proposing one in 2010 but we need to try again. Now that we know why an income tax will be so vital and what the consequences of going without one look like, we need to try again.
I can't help thinking: if Washington state is important enough to China--the second largest economy in the world--and its president visited here FIRST before going to our own nation's capital--that's really saying something. Washington state is home to global companies that change the way society lives, works and plays. The citizens and workers we raise and educate quite literally change the world. So please, fulfill the duty and mandate that has been set forth to fully-fund education.
I am a Washington voter, taxpayer, native-born resident (Vancouver, WA), graduate of Washington State University and the parent of a 1st grader in Seattle’s public schools--with another child starting Kindergarten in a few years. I urge the State to take *speedy* and *decisive* action to give all our children the amply funded education they deserve.
Make this day count.
Thank you!
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