Several years ago, I was driving to the grocery store with my great-nephew who was 5 years old at the time.   He was appropriately sitting in the rear seat all buckled in.  As we drove along peacefully, my beautiful nephew, with the seriousness of a traumatic situation asked:  “Aunt Marsha, why can’t I take my teeth out?”  He went on to say and demonstrate how he had been pulling on his teeth to no avail.  They would not budge.  He was really sad and needed to be reassured he was just perfect.

Lets roll back the story.  My mother, her mother, and my sister (my great-nephew’s grandmother) all wore dentures.  My great-nephew routinely watched as they put dentures in and took dentures out.  He probably marveled at dentures in some cup in the bathroom.  Can you imagine the number of times he must have pulled on his own tiny teeth, hoping he would be “normal”, Continue Reading

As the end of 2012 approaches, this is a very good time to think about your accomplishments during the year.  For those who started the year with written goals, determine progress for each goal.  If you do not have written goals, still summarize your accomplishments – in writing.

Why is this important?  The answer is simple.  IF YOU DO NOT TELL THE STORY OF YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE STORY MAY NOT BE TOLD.   Do not expect your boss to keep up with the great job you did on a special project back in March or how you volunteered to work overtime to meet a team deadline.  Sure, the boss may have a general sense that you are a good employee, but the story of how you deliver results is your story to tell.  THE BOSS IS TRYING TO TELL HIS OR HER OWN STORY looking for a pay raise or promotion.Continue Reading

One of the most striking discourses of this presidential election cycle is of the reproductive rights of women and how those rights are subordinate to the most pressing problem of the day, the economy.  I recently heard a young, well-educated woman say reproductive rights are secondary and she was more concerned about the economy.  Her focus was jobs!  She had somehow compartmentalized the two and appeared clueless about the connection.   If a woman does not control her reproductive reality she cannot control her economic reality.   The two are inextricably linked.

Perhaps this hard truth escapes those whose economic realities are full of options.  But for women who must work to support themselves, their children and families (either solely or with a spouse) having the right to determine what happens in their wombs – their reproductive rights – are as important on the path to sustained economic well-being as a good education, job opportunities, and even equal pay.

It boggles the mind to hear anyone, most especially women, speak as if reproductive rights and economic well-being are not connected.  I am old enough to remember the kinds of questions employers would routinely ask women about their child bearing plans before either hiring or promoting them.  Continue Reading