Is all time created equal?

Some thoughts on Capitalism and Motherhood, Fair Play and George McCalman

A few months ago, a co-worker introduced me to the book Fair Play by Eve Rodsky… I remember thinking that sounds interesting and totally something I would read. For those of you who don’t know, “FAIR PLAY makes the invisible care work historically held by women visible, inspiring a more balanced future for all.”

Image from www.fairplaylife.com

I feel like the default person in my household - I remember recently losing my cool over Josh complaining about being stressed (all of it seemed to me self-imposed). I am ashamed to say that I said something like, “You have no idea what I am responsible for every day.” I often suppress this thought because growing up, my mother held the things she did for other people over our heads as a ransom for praise. I felt guilty about every nice thing that she did for me. I tried my best to compartmentalize the pressure that I felt and adopt the mindset that people don’t owe us anything. One had to be intrinsically motivated to do things for other people and not motivated by a certain owe-ness. For me, motivation is always messy. That it matters and doesn’t. That nothing is as clear as we want it to be. And maybe we do owe each other?

After Fair Play was mentioned to me, I moved on to my never-ending to-do list and forgot about the book. Until last week, when I found myself listening to a q&a with Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Eve Rodsky.

You know how sometimes something has to hit you several times before you remember it? I feel like I have to be exposed to things three times before they take hold, but recently, I really have no idea what it is…10? My brain fog is very real. But this book and its movie hit me. Hard. In a way where I felt seen, and like they were talking to me and my experience of motherhood. So much so that I had to share it. Over everything else that is going on in my life, this felt like a project that maybe you might relate to, too.

There are several places you can watch the film online for free. Just click the link above. It is awesome. I promise. Thanks, Katie for the invitation to change the way I think about domestic roles and for Charmin who was my date…

This week, I am interviewing George McCalman on his book, Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen.

George is a local hero, artist, and designer. In June 2020, he put out a beautiful/painful essay titled, “Bay Area’s black community is drowning in the tears of white people.”

While reading the essay, if I am honest, I pushed back feelings of defensiveness because he is right. His words are understandable and seem to accurately illustrate a situation that no one wants to be true. When I saw that he had a book coming out, I had to get my hands on it. And I am so grateful that George has made the time to talk about his work and life this week. More on the book and our interview later this week :) For more of George’s work, click here.

Again, thanks for being here. Thanks also to folks that came to say hi at WCC over the weekend. I was so tired, but my soul felt so full, Love, Carissa