When did...

my teeny,

tiny,

baby

grow up?

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The Importance Of One Little Dollar

"There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor political, nor popular, but he must do it because conscience tells him it's right. And that is where I stand today and that is where I hope you will continue to stand so we can speed up the day when justice will roll down like waters all over the world and righteousness like a mighty stream." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. January 14, 1968

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to update on everything. I spent a good majority of the last two weeks researching, e-mailing, and working on getting a response from Target. If you are new here and wondering what this is all about, go read here.

My whole point in this is whether or not it is the manufacturer's fault, Target's fault, if it was on purpose, or not on purpose, if the stock was low, if it is a supply and demand issue...all that doesn't matter. It is the fact that for too long many have not seen something as little as $1 important (easy to do when we live in a very white world) and we do become complacent and comfortable in our own lives. We become blind to the hurt that something as little as a dollar can cause (I know I have before many times). Even if as white adults we may not be seeing it as an inequality issue, I know (through my siblings and numerous e-mails, facebook messages, and talks with people) that others of minority races are and it is leaving the impression that they are not as valuable or as important.

Image source via Pinterest

My friend Renee said it best when she said: "Little girls of all races have enough self esteem issues without society devaluing one race over another. If it was an honest mistake, attention still needs to be called to it so it won't happen in the future. It sends the wrong message.

If stores are so cautious to use the words Happy Holidays as to not offend then surely they can rectify this."

Thus I was feeling a bit sad when Target did not follow up with me in a phone call as they said they would. I actually broke down one night, crying and telling Chris that all this was for nothing and that no change would come about despite how hard I tried.

And then something happened.

I began getting facebook messages and e-mails from people who told me that they had gone back to their Target and the price had changed and they were now the same. I smiled a little on the inside and then the more and more messages that came in, the more I became ecstatic.

Last week, I stopped at my local Target, the one that I originally saw the price difference at, and I saw this:

Yes, they may have changed the price only out of fear of a lawsuit or retribution from social media, but in reality it doesn't matter why they changed it. All that matters is that they did because that means that they too recognized the importance that one little dollar can make.

And to me, and others who were working with me on this, it makes all the difference in the world. •

Dare to make a difference!

“We have flown the air like birds and swum the sea like fishes, but have yet to learn the simple act of walking the earth like brothers. ” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

I'm completely astounded by the many friends, family, and people I don't know who care about a $1 difference. That post is quickly becoming my most read post on this blog.

When I first posted it, I never intended to be an activist. All I wanted was an answer from Target on why there was a $1 difference in price between the dolls.

However, I'm realizing more and more that I am an activist and that is ok. I think sometimes we associate activism with a negative connotation. However, not all activism is bad. Someone has to speak up in order for change to happen. If I am that person, then so be it. I will gladly do it for my daughter, my three sisters, and my niece, who are all African American.

I know many think that I am wasting my time and barking up the wrong tree. Corporate America doesn't care about $1 and my little ole' blog post isn't going to change how Target operates. I agree. However, it doesn't change the fact that they should care. And you know what? Social media is mighty powerful nowadays and maybe, just maybe they will care if enough people see this and vow to make a change.

I will also say this, as a white person, raised in a very white world, it is easy for us to go around believing that $1 doesn't matter and that I am making a bigger deal out of this than it is. However, until you see the world just slightly through the eyes of your black daughter, you won't ever realize how much truly needs to change. This is just one thing among many.

Right now I have been in conversation with Target twice. The first time I got nowhere with them as I did not have the exact item numbers of the dolls. However, after having my husband go back and get them, I called and it took them all of five minutes to direct me to corporate headquarters in Minneapolis, MN. After talking to them, I was told it could either be that they are going out of stock or it is a pricing error on their part for my particular Target. I was told that they will have a team look into it and get back to me as soon as possible. I was set to believe that until I started hearing from friends who had read my blog post and checked their local Target. Sure enough, more and more friends are notifying me that the dollar difference is also at their Target. Not only that, I have since found out that some Targets carry a Hispanic doll and that doll too is priced at $10.99. At this point, I am having a hard time believing it is a simple error on Target's part.

Thank you to Sarah from California for providing me with this picture of the Hispanic doll!

It is definitely disappointing to me. Right now, I am asking all of you to visit your local Target, check for these dolls and then report back to me with the city of your Target either here on this blog post in the comments, on my facebook page, or by email at: jewelsntreasures (at) yahoo (dot) com, if your Target has these dolls marked differently in price. I am compiling a list so that when I next talk to Target I have an exact list that I can forward on to them.

So would you please join me in making a difference?? Share this on your Facebook, your Twitter, your Google + accounts, with friends, family, and any others. I truly believe $1 does matter and I firmly believe that on this Martin Luther King, Jr. day, with your help we can make a difference!!

For her sake, for their sake, for all of our sakes, let's dare to have $1 make a difference!!

*To read a follow up on this post and to find out what action Target has taken, click here. •

Does $1 really make a difference?

Last night I decided on a whim to take my oldest two on a trip to Target. I had a few things to return and also needed to pick a few things up. For Christmas each of the girls got a gift card to Target and while Zoelle had already used hers, Meridian had not, so we ended up in the toy aisles at Target.

I was letting the girls look to their hearts content while reminiscing about my own childhood, when I noticed a certain doll. Nothing was telling about this baby doll. Really it was just a doll with a pacifier and blanket. Marked for $10.99. I told Meridian that if she wanted she could buy it and I would pay the difference (the gift card was for $10).

And then my eyes noticed something sitting right next to this doll.

The same exact doll, except she was Caucasian and when my eyes wandered to the price I was astounded to see it listed at $11.99.

$1 more than the same doll that was African American.

My heart sank. As a mama to an African American daughter, I did not like the message that was being sent out to her, my other daughters, or anyone else.

I sent out a Tweet to Target when I got home that said:

This morning I woke up to a tweet from them asking me to contact them along with their contact info. When I saw that they wanted me to contact them I questioned whether or not $1 was worth it?

I mean, it's only a dollar. Not a big deal, right?

But then I thought what if $1 is a big deal to her?? What if it is a big deal to them?? Those who have been told their whole life that they aren't as important, aren't as needed, aren't as valuable compared to the white people.

And because I vowed to never stay silent and to always fight for my daughter, I called them.

*To read a follow up on this post and how you can make a difference, click HERE.* •

A year goes by...

One year ago today, you became offically "ours" according to the court but in our hearts you always were ours since your first mom, "J" placed you in our arms.

Zoelle said today, "Mom, Xiomara doesn't even know she had another mom before she had you as her mom." I stared at her in wonder because we don't typically talk about your adoption every day. We don't label you as "adopted". We acknowledge that it is a part of you, but it does not define you. Thus when your big sister said that this morning, it caused me to really stop and think. She is right honey. Right now, at almost a year and a half old, you don't know about her. Oh I whisper to you as you fall asleep each day that "J" loves you. Or I often will exclaim to your daddy how happy "J" would be to see you hit each milestone.

But no babe, right now, you don't know her. And in reality, all you will ever know while you are a young child is that she was a part of your past. That she loved you enough to sacrifice her hapiness for yours.

However, she can always be a part of your future. We will talk of her, we will continue to send her letters and pictures, and someday when your dad and I feel you are ready, and if you so desire to, I really hope you get to meet her.

So that way you will know that you really did have a mom before me. For two whole days. And that even though you couldn't see her or talk with her, she was still that mom that lived inside you from the moment she placed you in my arms.

Happy finalization day honey! Know that "J", your dad, and I all love you!! •

Happy Birthday "J"

I see you in every smile, I think of you every time she calls me mama, and I feel you in the very heart of her.

We are connected through this tiny little girl we both call daughter. The one we both love with our whole hearts.

I hope you have an amazing day. And even though you may never see this or read this, I wanted to share this video of Xiomara dancing. I can hear your laughter as you view it and I think you deserve that today.

Love you and Happy Birthday from all of us!! •

When God asks me to wait....again.

Sigh..here it is the end of November, National Adoption Month, and I feel as if I did nothing to support adoption. I mean sure I posted a few blog posts here and there and posted on facebook, but I'm not so sure that changes someone's heart?

What I really wanted to do this November was to change lives for adoption. To support adoptive parents, to support foster care, to support birth parents.

I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, but I really wanted to do it.

Not for me, but for them...the waiting children, the anxious birthmom, the lonely child. I wanted to help them.

And I'm pretty sure I failed.

I'll be honest, I'm really struggling with where to "fit in" in the adoption world. We aren't currently adopting, and I'm not sure we ever will again. Yet, after knowing the adoption world, I feel like I can't just step out of it and back into the "regular" world. If I did that, I'd feel like I was turning a blind eye to all the hurt, loss, need, and beauty in adoption.

So I sit here tonight with my tea in my hands wondering just where God would have us "fit in". What does He have for us?

I thought I knew, but now, now I'm just now sure. I feel lost, alone, and sad.

So I stand with my hands stretched wide asking God, "What now?" and like a whispered wind blowing across my heart, He tells me, "Wait daughter. Wait.".

So for now, I wait. •