You, Me and My Soapbox

Depression does not skip over people because they’re attractive, gifted, successful or well-liked, and while the causes of depression can certainly vary, it’s not picky about selecting its victims. It’s high time we take note. Instead of speculating about what single personal incident must have sent Owen Wilson “over the edge” perhaps, collectively, we should stop stigmatizing and start treating.

For a touching discussion of Wilson’s work and life to date, without the annoying speculation, see Matt Zoller Seitz (hat tip ALOTT5MA) for the only essay I’ve read about this news that didn’t make me want to scream. Like Seitz, I look forward to seeing more of Owen Wilson and wish him well in his recovery. He’s a favorite of mine.

For a clip from Wedding Crashers that makes me laugh, see You Tube. (This link is not safe for work or kids.)

For more information about stopping suicide – visit SAVE.

Posted in Serious Side | |

We Can Stop Rape.

April is Sexual Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. 

Help spread the word and help protect our children from violence.

• Less than 20% (probably far less) actually even report sexual assault. 
• 1 in 5 boys and 1 in 4 girls will have an experience involving sexual assault before the age of 18.
• Even though apparently false reports generate a whole lot of media attention – it is estimated that of reported rapes, less than 3 of every 1000 are false. 
  (Source for statistics: stopsexualviolence.org)

We can get involved too.

Protect our children. 
Teach them about safety. 
Challenge our societal perceptions of masculinity.

Plus, any gift you make to RAINN this month will be matched DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR.   

Finally, in the focus on prevention,  let’s not forget to encourage and support survivors.

Posted in Serious Side | |

9-11 Observance

I was home on maternity leave with the first of my children – he was barely two weeks old. I was lotioning him up, dressing him in some fuzzy blue outfit, and preparing for another day of settling in with a new baby, which I expected to include a few more reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, taking a couple naps, changing a few diapers… when my husband called to tell me to turn on the TV. I tuned in just before the second plane hit the tower.

I spent most of my maternity leave watching, crying and processing, like the rest of America. Having a newborn to help soak up my own sadness also gave my an understanding of the pain in a way I wouldn’t have understood it a month earlier. I could barely contemplate, and still can’t, the devastation for the children and mothers left without fathers to help them through life’s joys and pains.

Reflections on September11 will be everywhere today, lots of people will take on all kinds of difficult subjects and many will wrap them up and spin them out to tell one story or another. I like this – it’s simply a portrait of the victims. http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/portraits/

Today, as I watch that same newborn who grieved with me at two weeks old go to his first day of school, I will think of the families of the victims and try to share a little of the grief I know they still endure.

Posted in Serious Side | |

Guilty Verdict for Rodriguez

Alfonso Rodriguez was found guilty for the murder of Dru Sjodin. The death penalty phase of the trial begins next week. Everyone has an opinion on that, and I should probably shy away from discussing it in a blog that purports in its description to be ‘fun’.

More than the verdict, and more in line with our developing purported blogging purposes here at Mommy Tracks, I was interested in this correspondent article about mothers leaning on mothers. It may be one of the saddest stories I’ve read in awhile.

Kiss your babies, ladies.

Posted in Serious Side | |