Mothers of Intention – Read it.

I just want to raise sons who don’t grow up to be assholes.

I want my sons to be protectors of the vulnerable, advocates for the disenfranchised, friends to the haves and have-nots. I want them to understand that their vote is their voice and remaining silent isn’t an option. I don’t focus too much on being gallant, chivalrous, or noble. I focus on manners and respect, figuring the rest falls in line. I want my sons to understand that gender’s preconceived notions are nothing more than society’s labels, not predestiny. I tell them that the only thing boys can do that girls can’t is pee standing up. However, at the rate I’m cleaning little boy pee from the most zany places, it’s clear that boys can’t pee neatly standing up.

I’ve been talking to Bird and Deal about social justice and gender bias and trying to debunk those societal myths since they were itty bitty. I use terms they understand and keep it simple, of course. It’s easy to discuss fairness with kids because they whine “It’s not fair!” so often. Our local library has been a great resource for books on topics that cover Ruby Bridges and Susan B. Anthony to Gandhi and Jimmy Carter. We’ve read about the civil rights movement, unsung heroines of the Revolution, women scientists, the Great Depression, bullying, Gunga Din, the list goes on. We are a family of readers and learners, and curiosity is family value. The boys know that I aspire to write and have a book in the works (just need to do some polishing before shopping around my proposal!). There’s a certain reverence to words around here.

Well just wait til June when a book with my own words are among the collected essays contributed by women writers who are revolutionizing politics. Joanne Bamberger, whom you might know as her alter ego Pundit Mom, has just written her first book and invited lil ol’ me to contribute an essay. Mothers of Intention will hit the shelves in mid-June, but you can pre-order on Amazon now. You can only imagine how thrilled I am to be among the host of smart writers who contributed to this book. I admired Joanne from afar for years and am so grateful to now count her among my friends. She’s an inspiration and one of those few gems who lives her life fiercely, being true to her passions and her convictions.

A new election season is upon us (starting with a very heated school board race here in Wake County, North Carolina this fall!). The voices of women shall be heard. We need to be informed and participate in the dialogue. We need to use our outside voices and vote! We, and the generations of girls behind us, have too much to lose if we stay quiet.

We’re moms but we’re not mum.

Now buy the book, will ya? Maybe we can entice Joanne to come down to Quail Ridge Books for a little reading and signing. Hell to the yeah!