Have a Lovely Weekend.

Thank you for sharing Julie Kim’s story. I am a therapist myself and often work with children who have syndromes and disorders. I never tire of hearing a parent’s story. Each one impacts the work that I do, especially when it comes to communicating with parents. Understanding perspective is so important. <3

The crowd cheering at the little girl jumping off the diving board is the most heartwarming thing! That little girl must have felt so much pride and excitement because of those wonderful people.

I always learn so much from everything you share. The cartoon on systemic racism is SO VALUABLE and important to educate others. I’ve always known that it impacts our country, but to be able to articulate how for those who are unaware has always been a struggle. Now going to use this to show others. Thanks so much xx

I can’t wait to show my 3 year old, Nahla, the little girl jumping off the diving board. We read ‘Jabari Jumps’ nearly every night and she’s constantly telling me she’s going to ‘do it’ this summer. This might set her up for some big expectations, but she’s got spirited parents and grandparents.

I love Aidy Bryant’s clothes in Shrill so much. There are a bunch of interviews with the costume designer about how they custom made most of it:
https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/03/227212/aidy-bryant-plus-size-custom-shrill-wardrobe

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6836641/Costume-designer-new-Hulu-Shrill-speaks-lead-characters-outfits.html

The video of the child on the diving board had me crying – then cheering out loud – at work. Thanks for a beautiful start to my week! (I always read CoJ weekend links on Monday morning!)

I may not be Asian but I felt this article. Nothing says “I love you” for me quite like my mom grabbing an orange, getting her paring knife, and sitting down to cut it up for my sisters and my dad after dinner is finished and the dishes have been washed. Pure love from my sweet mom.

Joanna and friends- WOW! You guys are amazing! I read every comment on the infertility post and there were some strong, valid arguments for and against the shared advice. The empathy and grace you show in choosing the PERFECT comment to close the week with Liza’s wonderful news, beautifully balanced the sentiments of so many, and reminded me why I love this space so much. Everyone’s opinion is welcomed, but the focus is always to celebrate the best of humanity, sometimes in a quiet very subtle way. Thank you again for this! (and I hope I make sense, my English is getting rusty!)

On Shrill, I was so bugged that she wore the CUTEST dresses the entire show, then showed up to the pool party in boring pants and a button up. I get she was feeling insecure, but you can’t go from sequined dresses to blah, it didn’t fit the character or her development at all.

The video of the little girl and the diving board brought tears to my eyes for a a couple reasons. I want my own little girl to feel the same sense of collective community in her life that I have gotten to grow up with but I worry that people are so absorbed in their own existence that they have stopped looking up. For a second reason because anything that shows the power of people in groups to cheer for good and help do good brings up emotion. We are so lacking for these situations these days which is probably why this little video was posted and you chose to highlight it in the first place.

Loved the cut fruit article. I am a fourth-generation Malaysian Chinese and can relate so much to it. It also pleases me greatly to know that my favourite blogger had read about our culture. :) Just today, as I was about to peer into the refrigerator to look for some fruit, my mum instinctively yelled from the wet kitchen, “Close the refrigerator! I’m already cutting up some papaya.” Never had I been so glad to not have to cut fruits. Even before we went on any road trips, she would make sure to cut some for the road. Fruits were basically the Asian tea and dessert, but most of all, a show of affection to make up for the verbal affection that we are sorely lacking.

As someone who has, and is, an Asian mother, I hate to see essays like Yi Jun Loh’s readily available to non Asian readers. My Asian immigrant mother would never be described as “cold” and I don’t think that is extraordinary. Not a day of my childhood passed without hugs, kisses, and “I love yous.” I have so many memories of piling on her bed with my siblings, falling sideways with peels of laughter at these hilarious stories she told. I remember her french braiding my hair, my sister’s hair, and our many girlfriends’ hair while giving us wonderful life advice. She definitely also showed love with food – what can I say, that is so Asian – but being warm, open, and supportive is too. I cringe at the thought of non Asian readers thinking otherwise.

So much good stuff as always!

I don’t like to be negative, but as I read about Everlane here I was excited to order. I placed an order for a sweater and received the wrong item not once, but TWICE!! The customer service was less than helpful and when I asked for a refund/discount they offered a paltry sum (less than the time spent communicating/printing return labels/giving up my lunch hour at the Post Office).

Great idea, but I’ve been ordering clothes online since the 90’s and have never had such a puzzlingly horrible experience in every way. Buyer beware.

You- and the brave little 5 year old on the diving board- picked a good weekend to visit Barton Springs! Flooding last night has completely shut it down, with more rain coming next week.

Re: Shrill style – after watching the entire first season, I instantly purchased these shoes from Old Navy as inspired by Aidy’s dress and mule looks on the show!: https://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=394704002&cid=1035956&pcid=55147
Bonus: they’re super comfy and go with everything!

Uh, sorry, Mr. Day, but knowing that a pigeon can fly at 110 MILES PER HOUR is not helping me build a greater appreciation for the bird who has a VERY SHARP BEAK. Duck and cover.

Liza, What wonderful news about your baby via surrogacy! So excited for you!

Liza, heartfelt congratulations on the upcoming birth of your baby! Thank you so much for sharing this with CofJ readers! It must have been such a learning experience and maybe a difficult process to decide on surrogacy and find the right person to partner with you in your baby’s birth. I wish the best for everyone involved! Congratulations, again.

Oh how often I text “what’s your eta?” knowing full well his estimate will be off by about 30-1 billion minutes. Those are the longest minutes of the day.

How exciting, Liza!! So delighted for you – congratulations!!
xx

Congratulations to Liza! Happy for your family growing and for the wonderful woman supporting you as a fellow woman.

I read Julie Kim’s piece in the Atlantic just this morning. As the mother of a kiddo who has Down syndrome, it resonated SO much with me (her last paragraph nailed it). It’s been over two years since we met our son and I can say with 1000% certainty that despite the grief, and the fear and the uncertainties about his future (well, about all of our futures, really. . . we, none of us, know what tomorrow brings) our life is more beautiful than I ever could have imagined it would be. It is an entirely different picture than what I had painted for us. It is better. Harder? Probably. But infinitely better. Thank you so, so, so much for including her piece in your links.

As an aside, Far From the Tree is a beast of a book, but so worth the read. Highly recommend.

Also, pigeons are AMAZING, but, I read that we’re screwing-up their “homing” ability with electro-magentic radiation from cell towers, etc. :(.

Also, the Barton Springs diver. . . oh, my heart! Made me choke-up.

Sometimes I hardly talk to my husband all day. We both work and have two young kids. I get home first and I wait for his love letter: ETA 6:12. He’s never more than three minutes off!

Thank you for sharing Julie Kim’s story. My heart ached so much reading her story. She is so brave to share such a personal story.

Wow- that poem is may favorite poem ever. Thank you for introducing me to this incredible woman writer!