Bassey Ikpi — Page 2

Where Black Moms Matter

November 8, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} My Boy and the White Barbie Cozying Up Under the Christmas Tree

By BASSEY IKPI Boogie is in that can you buy me that? stage of life. I dread commercials with anything that races, flies, explodes or turns into a robot-monster-dinosaur truck. If it looks like it might kill you, Boogie wants it. When we're out shopping and he goes through the, ...

November 1, 2010

{Bringing up Boogie} For Colored Girls Who Are Pregnant, Alone & Unable to See the Rainbow

By BASSEY IKPI The doctor says I've lost weight in the last two weeks. The doctor says that the growth is even bigger now than it was two weeks ago and huge compared to two weeks before that. The doctor says he's having trouble hearing the baby move. He says, ...

October 25, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} Down With The Fresh Beat Band and Other Kid Shows That Aren't Fresh

The Fresh Beat Band stars Twist, Kiki, Shout, and Marina, a.k.a. Boogie’s homies By BASSEY IKPIAfter last week's mommy melt down, I've decided to relax and stop spending so much time watching Boogie and actually be with Boogie. You know, in his world. We've been doing playdates, like the one ...

October 18, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} Tantrums & Tears For Fears: Waiting For the Boogie Man

Bassey with Boogie in the belly. [Photo by Kimberly Gaines] By BASSEY IKPI I didn't want to have children. I told people that it was because my life was too cosmopolitan, too six-inch heels and $200 jeans, too travel ready to tote a child about. I said I didn't want to ...

October 12, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} Pumpkin Patches, Pumas & Play Dates: When Parenting Solo Takes On New Meaning

Photo courtesy of Jr Conlin This weekend, Boogie had his first play date with a new single father friend of mine. Now, I'm generally against play dates. I don't think there's anything wrong with them, per se, and children need other children. And Lord knows Boogie needs more people; that ...

October 4, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} I Gave Birth To My Son, But He Gave Me Life

Bassey and Boogie It’s Love. By BASSEY IKPI A few years ago when he was two, Boogie was so very sick. He would be lethargic and unlike himself every day, and every night, his fever would spike to 103. And I was terrified, not only because I didn’t know what was ...

September 27, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} Crocs, Muffets, and Parent Spies To the Left

By BASSEY IKPI E is a very friendly little boy and I know that most mothers are jumpier than I am about whom their kid speaks to or plays with. So I stay calling him back from every kid he tries to turn into a new friend. I love this ...

September 20, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} I Don't Bake and My Kid's a Neat Freak: We Were Made For Each Other

By BASSEY IKPI Last week, while in the car with Boogie, I was fiddling with the radio, trying to find a song that I wouldn't mind him repeating in mixed company, when Beyonce's Single Ladies pumped through the speakers. What's a mother to do but go hard singing uh oh ...

September 13, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} Angels In the Delivery Room: In Memory of My Friend, Nurse Valada

Vintage Boogie When I was pregnant with Boogie, I had a difficult time getting used to the idea of pregnancy and negotiating the new changes I was going through. So the irony of being invited (along with Ove) to perform at the school for pregnant teens in Brooklyn was not ...

September 7, 2010

{Bringing Up Boogie} Bump the Baby Talk Mommy Needs Quiet!

By BASSEY IKPI When Boogie was born, I forbade (yes, FORBADE) anyone from speaking to him in baby talk. I told anyone that would listen that I wanted him to develop language and communication skills and speaking to him in baby talk would stunt his development. I had no data ...