Let the countdown begin! I’ve been feeling those Braxton Hicks contractions again. But, still nothing consistent. I feel it most at night, sometimes out of no where! As I mentioned previously, my bags are all packed and I’m ready to go. I’ve also got some stuff done around the house, and have done some shopping for our new bundle of joy.
I’m at the point that weekly doctor visits are a must. The doc says that there’s no dilation yet. But, we’re almost there! I have been having some tension headaches, so maybe that’s a sign. I’ve also been getting leg cramps, which can be brutal. It just lets me know that this baby is plumping up nicely and is ready for life in the outside world.
Speaking of life outside of the womb, I’ve been thinking a lot about the growth of our family. I know that we’ll fall into a new routine and everything will be fine. But, recent events regarding the Zimmerman verdict has got me thinking more about what it would it be like raising a biracial son. I wrote about my thoughts on my BabyCenter blog. Some of the comments can be a bit disheartening.
It’s easy for people to say that I should focus on teaching my kids about their heritage. That’s obvious, duh! However, it’s also important to talk to our kids about subject matters like this. The fact remains that society places us in a race category. If I give birth to a son, he would be considered black in many instances. I don’t think a cop would sit there questioning him about the percentage of white that’s in his blood and give him extra credit.
The only thing I can do as a parent is to educate my son, and talk to him about the code of the streets.
I’d tell him,
“Know your surroundings.”
“If you ever get stopped by cops, just cooperate.”
“Be yourself.”
“Be educated.”
“You can be strong and confident, but don’t be overly aggressive.”
For me, communicating with my kids is a must. I practice that with Princess now. She’s only two, but you’d be surprised by the information she retains. She’s already repeating lessons I’ve taught her. I think that’s why having this blog is also important. They’ll be reading this one day.
Have you had a discussion with your kids about the Zimmerman verdict?
