Have a Good Weekend.

Joanna what about a Motherhood in Quarantine series, I’d be down to share my old and new normal. I have an 18 month old and I find that most of the online resources are for school aged children. Also that mothers are doing things differently according to their resources and I think we could learn from one another especially going into summer with no structured recreation! If anyone can pull this off its you!

So much yes to the comment from Jess!

Also love the comment about teaching boys about periods. I try to be very matter of fact about all things bodies with my young boys, and that combined with the fact that we live in a very small house with one bathroom (i.e. zero bathroom privacy) means that I frequently have to explain what’s happening with my body during my period haha! Now I’m feeling like it’s probably a good thing for them in the future.

Nisolo FINALLY added size 11 for women!!!!!! I’m so happy!!!

Loving all these links. Especially the poodle story- holy yikes.

Happy Juneteenth!

I love the comment from Jess. My husband does not think my period is a big deal and sees it as totally normal, which it is! I use the fertility awareness method for birth control and I love how comfortable he is with my cycle.

Hello, collective hive. Does anyone have a recommendation for larger fitting masks (I looked at the Nisolo roundup and they are all smaller, despite “fitting most adults” or being “one size fits all”)? My husband is a big and tall guy, and seems to have a really long face. We have not been able to find masks that fit him, despite trying 4 different companies and attempting to make our own (yikes). He would need something that is at least 7 inches, top to bottom, and most companies are 6.5″ or less… and then shrink in the wash.

Thank you CoJ, as always, for such thoughtful posts.

Good comment from Jess about teaching boys about women. I was very lucky that my first boyfriend–and the first person with whom I had sex–had enlightened and liberal parents with 3 sons. They carefully sat their boys down at the appropriate time and explicitly explained about sex AND told them that contraception was THEIR responsibility. Not the girls’. So my boyfriend took me to a clinic to get contraception before we ever had sex. I’m not sure I would have known to do that, or been brave enough; my head was in the clouds as a teenager. I’ve often thanked his parents silently.

I can’t seem to reply to B’s comment and Joanna’s reply but if anything it would be even more fascinating to hear how mothers around the world deal with the same thing – quarantine.

It is so disturbing that animals get treated better than some humans in the country. The story about the poodle. OMG

I was excited to visit the “new movies as old books” link, until I found the whole list and discovered the artist had not used a single female-directed or more than one, I think, female-centered film. (The one he used was Midsomer.) The list is totally male and for the most part, very white, which is super disappointing.

That poodle story. WTF. All the rage.

I can relate to the poodle story somewhat… I am a light skinned black woman from a distance I look white close up there is no mistaking my blackness. One day while my husband was driving a white man passed us on the left he looked in the car at my black husband and me and shook his head in disapproval. He thought I was white. A second time my husband was pumping gas and while I was on the passenger side a white man came out the store and looked at me angrily until he got closer and realized I was black and the scowl left his face. Racism is really real.

If you grew up in the American South, chances are you’ve always known what Juneteenth is. In Arkansas, it’s been marked with community celebrations throughout all these years. It never occurred to me that much of the country seems to be hearing about Juneteenth for the first time. Kind of sad, actually.

Great point from Jess to teach boys about menstruation too! Making a mental note for when my little guy gets older. <3

In regards to teaching sons about periods: last fall I visited my cousin (late 20’s, male) for the weekend. One night, we vegged out and watched a movie on his (pale linen) couch. Halfway through the movie I felt something and went to the bathroom only to discover I had started my period and It. Was. A. Mess. I went back out with trepidation to discover a stain on the (pale linen) couch. It shouldn’t have been a surprise, but my cousin was incredibly understanding, not freaked out, and insisted on cleaning the sofa so I could take a shower. He kept reassuring me, saying “don’t worry, I date people of your type, this happens…”. I was floored at his reaction and I feel even closer to this favorite cousin. All to say, raising boys to be understanding and compassionate is so important!

Wonderful! Thank you!

One of the best anti-racist podcasts for parents is called Integrated Schools, here : https://integratedschools.org/podcasts/

The Imami Perry article – wow. Thank you for sharing.

This is a great Friday roundup. I really love the thought that’s been put into posts lately, which is totally par for the course considering how wonderful this site is. The poodle story, in particular, was astounding and infuriating.

I love Jess’s comment on talking to boys about periods! I have two small boys and was thinking the exact same thing when I read your post. I remember when my high school boyfriend wasn’t squeamish about my period and offered to pick me up tampons, I was so impressed. Who is this 17 year-old boy? I should marry him… and I did :)

Oof I read that article about the poodle and I would never have believed it possible for police to be so out of control. How are they even allowed to pull you over to check out a passenger without a legal reason??? And with guns ready? It is so shameful for America and for the police force.

The main thing I’ve learned from all of this is that the concept of a police force is doing more harm than good and has become out-dated. I’ve been reading non-stop during the protests and it never occurred to me that we don’t actually need a police force – it is time we abolished it and redirect that energy into progressive social services instead. It’s all been a revelation to me.

Great list as always! Apartment Therapy story has the apartment in Cleveland (not Chicago) in case you wanted to update your link!

Will COJ return to two posts per day this summer or is content slowing down for the time being?