Family

Mama, I think it would be better if all the families in the world was just one big family. That would be better. Riiiight?
That is a beautiful image, Ruby.
No, I don't mean an image, I mean for REAL.

I really don't care.

Yesterday Shadrup, Ruby and I were walking through Central Park. A horse drawn wagon passed. Ruby stared, pensive and quiet.
Mama, that looks heavy. Do you think the horse is happy?
I don't know. But the horse is definitely not free...The driver tells her when to go, how fast, when to stop, when to eat, what to eat...You know I would never ride in one of those, because I feel too badly for the horse. I don't want to support a business that exploits animals like that.
Oh. Mama?
Yes, lovey?
I really don't care.
You....you don't.... c..c..care?
That the horse is pulling that heavy wagon. Want to go for a ride in the wagon? It looks like fun. Maybe the horse won't mind.
So, no...we didn't go...but she is not forbidden if Shadrup or my parents want to take her!! I can't promote riding in these wagons, but I believe she should make these moral decisions (to ride or not to ride?) on her own--she is a developing critical thinker and I'm not interested in fruitlessly doing her thinking and decision making for her.
Along these lines, watching my own little perfect bundle-of-love offspring munching on cheese pizza and beef momos (remember? Tibetan dumplings) was not easy at first. But the satisfaction of seeing my daughter hungrily eat what she craves surprisingly and strongly overwhelms my lifelong militant dietary views. Do I hope she will come around to my way of thinking? Yes. But pushing my views, as opposed to sharing them, will surely backfire and turn her off..

We're Blogging Again

Hi Everyone! My first year of graduate school is coming to an end and I finally have time to blog about my talented, intelligent, hilarious, gymnast, artist, tricycling, singing, potty-humor loving little Tibetan-Fairy-Princess again.

Where to begin? I guess I'll just dive in and tell you about a conversation we had the other day.

Mama, why are you a vegan?
I'm a vegan because I love animals and don't want them to suffer and be killed.
Well, I I think that fish should just swim in the ocean and be free and happy. We shouldn't eat fish at all--they should just swim around in the water.
What about cows?
Some cows should walk around and eat grass free and wild. Other cows it's OK to kill because their body tastes so yummy in momos. (Tibetan dumplings)

Ruby has been spending four days a week with my parents, her absolutely beloved "mom" and "dad." (Shadrup and I are mama and daddy) Ruby and mom have a deeply emotional and unbreakable connection. They go museum hopping, to the botanical gardens and the zoo. They sit around for hours reading books at the library or playing play-doh or workbooks at home. Every child should have this kind of open, trustful, loving and fun relationship with their grandma. And every mother should have this kind of trustworthy, loving, quality...(free)...childcare!!! So I go to school and enjoy lectures and tackle challenges in this incredible MSW program, and return to a child who has been AS loved and nourished and nurtured as she would in my own care. It's awesome, wholesome and kind of perfect.

Thank you mom and dad!!