The Baby-Sitters Club: 5 Things I’d Love to See In the Netflix Reboot

Baby-Sitters ClubSay hello to your friends! The Baby-Sitters Club is back and they’re coming to a screen near you!

Netflix is bringing a reboot of everyone’s favorite group of babysitters to the streaming service Friday – a group that first found a rabid fan base in Ann M. Martin‘s book series of the same name. The series, which debuted in 1986 with Kristy’s Great Idea, follows seven best friends as they experience the ups and downs of running their own babysitting business.

This isn’t the first time the babysitters jumped from the books to the screen. Fans first got to know the babysitters outside of the books in the ‘90s thanks to a 13-episode TV show as well as a feature film a few years later.

Indeed, the enduring legacy of The Baby-Sitters Club is more than just a paperback series for young readers. It’s a world all its own that has built a cult following over more than 100 books. Dedicated fans have come to know the characters and backstory practically by heart. There’s Kristy, whose bossy leadership skills helped The Baby-Sitters Club become the go-to sitting service in fictional Stoneybrook, Connecticut. Through their nonstop adventures, readers saw themselves in the characters. Some were artistic like Claudia. Some were shy and reserved like Mary Anne, while others were more outgoing like cool, California-bred Dawn. And still others loved all things fashion like Stacey, books like Mallory or ballet like Jessi.

Growing up, I was a carbon copy of Mary Anne. I remember the colorful books with the iconic block lettering on the cover. The series meant a chance to bond with my mom every night, as I’d huddle under the covers and listen in wonder as she read each book aloud. It also meant a chance to bond with my father as he’d spend time with me at the library, helping me reach the Baby-Sitters Club books and listen as I carefully debated the merits of each one as I tried to decide which one to check out next.

Baby-Sitters ClubThese books weren’t just something fun to read to pass the time. They were fun, yes, but they also showed me a world I could immerse myself in. For the first time, I felt like I was part of something – a cool group of amazing, diverse young women who were making a difference, whose lives I felt invested in and who I aspired to be like. The characters may have been fiction, but it all felt very real to me.

That’s exactly what made the series so beautiful and relatable: No one in the group was the same, and there was a character for every personality type. The girls were diverse, unique and true individuals, and they each brought something essential to the club and helped make it successful. They were all allowed to be different and those differences were celebrated; there wasn’t any pressure to conform and each book — and TV episode and movie — was a true celebration of being who you are and the joys of having a group of friends who accepted you and loved you unconditionally.

Baby-Sitters ClubMaybe that’s why the series has never felt old or dated. There’s a certain timeless quality that has always made it feel fresh, as if you could plop these characters in any time period and it would still be relevant. The books were such a defining part of my childhood and the lessons they teach — lessons in friendship, life and even entrepreneurship — are just as relevant in 2020. Not to mention, a series aimed at young women is needed now more than ever — young readers need these sorts of role models in their life.

SPOILER ALERT: Scroll down to see a throwback photo of me in the hospital with a BSC book in my hand. Naturally, I’m smiling!

After all, these are the characters my generation fell in love with and I’m so excited that a whole new generation will meet thanks to the reboot!

The upcoming 10-episode reboot is being billed as a live-action that will see the friends, presumably, as the same middle schoolers they were in the books, but in modern day. It’ll be interesting to see how the babysitters’ lives are different in the age of social media and iPhones. Will they take their business online? Will they have an app? Will fashionista Stacey have an Instagram following or blog?

Baby-Sitters ClubObviously, I’ve given this extensive thought (haven’t you??), so here are five things I’d like to see in the reboot…

The babysitters are also activists: Our world is imploding right now, but it’s the young people who are leading the charge for change. I think Kristy and friends would be right there with protesters and activists — maybe even organizing a fundraiser or livestream to raise awareness!

The show tackles modern issues: This one looks like it’s going to happen, seeing as how both Mary Anne and Dawn are played by actresses of color and Dawn’s father is gay. Also, look for a transgender storyline, which is incredibly important in 2020. One more hope I have? That they take on the patriarchy!

They club goes digital: I’d love to see the club optimize for the web — I’m thinking an app, website, maybe online scheduling so busy parents can book babysitters 24/7 instead of just during the club meeting. Although, those club meetings were legendary! Who can forget Dues Day??

Stacey has an Instagram, complete with #OOTD: That stands for Outfit of the Day for those not in the know. And we all know that Stacey is the resident fashionista of the group, so I can see her having a huge following and doing tones of cool street-style shoots!!

Claudia has an Etsy shop: Remember how Claudia is the artistic one? In the ’90s TV series, there was an entire episode all about the cool jewelry she made, so I can see her as a mini mogul with her very own online store. Wouldn’t that be cool??

The possibilities are endless, as is the potential to tackle even more issues real-life teens are facing today, like bullying and mental health. Because at its core, the series is a reflection of its readers. It’s a snapshot of who they are and where they’re going.

Perhaps my friend Rosemary captured the magic best, “I think at its core, the BSC books tell the story of a group of young women who are navigating a time that can be really hard. It tells the story of strong female friendships, being responsible, dealing with conflicts, and finding your place in the world.”

And that is something worth celebrating!

P.S. If you’re as pumped as I am, check out the awesome trailer!! It will certainly get you in the mood to binge-watch The Baby-Sitters Club reboot this weekend!

P.P.S. How cool is it that they recreated the cover of the first book on the series poster?!?!?

What Trump’s Donna Reed Comments Reveal About Misogyny

Donna ReedFirst off, yes, I know that this story made the headlines almost two months ago and, indeed, it is pretty mild compared to the million other Trump atrocities we’ve seen in the last four years, but still…it got me steaming mad, so you know I must write about it! Do you remember reading about how Trump said that he wished female reporters were more like ‘50s housewives a la Donna Reed??

Oh, I’m disgusted too. So very, very, very disgusted. I’m not sure what’s worse — that he said it or that he actually meant it. Because you all know darn well that he was 100 percent serious. Or maybe both are equally bad for their own reasons.

At the time this story broke, in early May, the United States had just surpassed 70,000 deaths from coronavirus and the White House press briefings saw one mixed message after another. But one thing remained strikingly and shockingly and predictably consistent: Trump’s misogynistic treatment of female reporters.

In an interview, Trump was asked about his relationship with the media. He said that he found Weijia Jiang and Paula Reid, two female CBS News journalists, particularly irritating…

“It wasn’t Donna Reed, I can tell you that. … Paula Reid, she’s sitting there and I say, ‘How angry. I mean, What’s the purpose?’ They’re not even tough questions, but you see the attitude of these people, it’s like incredible.”

The Donna Reed he’s referring to? That would be the ‘50s TV housewife the actress played on the classic TV show The Donna Reed Show — the archetype of the dutiful, demure wife who doesn’t ask questions and doesn’t make waves. Never mind the fact that Donna Reed herself was actually the opposite of her TV alter ego in real life. Oh, and for a contemporary example, see the 2004 movie The Stepford Wives.

Donna ReedIt’s no coincidence that Trump would expect women to be silent and submissive, but honestly, I really don’t know why more people aren’t talking about the fact that Trump wishes female reporters acted more like Donna Reed ‘50s housewives, especially when this is the same man who repeatedly responded with “nice and easy” when questioned by Jiang less than a month before.

We’ve been here before, haven’t we?? We know this song and dance; if you’re a woman, chances are that you’ve already memorized it years ago. The truth is, Trump and men like him simply can’t stand tough women. They’re easily intimidated because their misogyny and toxic masculinity run so deep.

I’m over it. I’m over it all.

Maybe I’m more shocked than others because I’ve experienced this same sexism — albeit on a much smaller scale. As a disabled woman writer, I know all too well what it feels like to not be taken seriously, to be demeaned and to be called horrible names. This is being a woman. This is how women are treated, in both public and private. And it’s not OK.

Donna ReedGranted, this isn’t the first time he’s said derogatory things about women and we all know it won’t be the last time either. But it’s alarming that the president is becoming increasingly transparent in his sexist comments; he’s not even trying to hide them anymore.

So in case you didn’t get the memo: Yes, he literally expects women to be demure and silent because he is intimidated by strong, intelligent women. If you’re surprised by his misogyny, then you haven’t been paying attention.

An Ode to Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck E. CheeseHave you heard the news, friends?? With so much going on in the world right now, this piece of news can easily slip through the cracks, but it’s an important one to acknowledge, if only to say goodbye and give it a proper send-off: The iconic Chuck E. Cheese has filed for bankruptcy after 43 years!!!

Did you hear those collective sighs? They’re the sighs of nostalgia from us ‘80s and ‘90s kids. You know, the ones who grew up jumping and splashing and frolicking in ball pits, which seems really gross as adults, especially in light of COVID. The ones who played all the games so you could win all the tickets just to get a cheap plastic toy. The ones who ate slice after slice of pizza while that merry band of instrument-playing oversized animatronic animals sang such hits as “Celebration.” The ones whose parents become more dazed by each passing minute spent in this sensory overload fun center.

But those singing animals!!! That’s what I’d like to focus on in this ode because, let’s face it, they certainly typified the Chuck E. Cheese experience — even more so than the cheesy pizza, I’d dare say!! And as long as I’m taking a stroll down memory lane today, I suppose I should just admit a dark part of my past. You see, I was a wild child. An utter rebel, if you will. So what was my big, bad transgression??

Chuck E. CheeseWell, I…ummm…used to peek behind the curtain of those animals. Yes, in between sets, I got curious. I’d wonder what those animals were doing, so my dad would carry me close to the stage and ever so quietly, I’d pull back the curtain. There they were, big and tall and pretty lifelike!!! Looking back, I’m not exactly sure what I expected to find behind that curtain, but it was always such a thrilling moment. Every. Single. Time.

I should note that in doing research for this blog post, I learned that the animatronic band was retired in 2017 because “kids stopped watching the animatronic shows,” according to the company CEO Tom Leverton.

Are you kidding me? What’s the matter with kids today??

Anyway, that’s what I remember most about Chuck E. Cheese — fun, family time, huge animatronic animals and those carefree days of childhood. I mean, the fun center’s slogan was “Where A Kid Can Be A Kid” and the place sure lived up to its name, didn’t it?!?!?

My mom has some happy memories of her own from our time spent there, so I asked her to write a few thoughts — it took a little pleading, but she agreed!!! Here’s her stroll down memory lane…

Chuck E. CheeseChuck E. Cheese is a pizza place like no other. If you’ve been there, then you know just what I mean! We would take the girls there all the time when they were little, even though we had to drive an hour to get there. My husband Brian and I enjoyed playing Skee-Ball as much as the girls, and we would have quite the competitions!

One of the best times ever happened shortly after my sister and family moved up to Wisconsin. We were all missing each other something fierce, so we decided to each drive halfway and meet for lunch. So, we all arrived at Chuck E. Cheese and the kids were so happy to see one another. The kids played and we had lunch. Then, we were still so happy about being together that the kids played a little more. Well, by this time, the kids were hungry again and so we had dinner! Then they played some more. We finally realized how long we had been there when we walked out to the car to find it pitch black outside! We were there for over 7 hours!

This had to have happened over 30 years ago and we talk about it to this day.

Chuck E. CheeseMemories like that are precious. It was one of the best days of my life, which I know sounds weird, and I am thankful for the memory every time I think of it. It just goes to show you that when you are doing something, you never know when the ordinary will become the extraordinary. That’s the surprising thing about life…it’s unpredictable. Enjoy every minute!

P.S. For the most dedicated fans, check out this complete history of the pizza-and-games paradise!! And an ENTIRE ARTICLE all about the history of the animatronic band…

We Need to Talk About Karen…

KarenWe need to have one of our serious conversations, friends!! And by serious, I mean the “Are you serious with this nonsense?” kind of conversation. Why?? Because I’ve just about had it with Karen and her shenanigans…

No, I’m not talking about a specific Karen, but by now, I’m sure you know the ones I’m talking about: Privileged, rude white women who refuse to recognize their privilege and have a sense of entitlement bigger than the suburban mansion they live in or that oversize SUV they drive.

And while the world has been dealing with the ravages and dangers of COVID, their behavior has only escalated, getting worse by the day. They don’t think they should have to social distance. They don’t want to wear a mask to get their daily Starbucks drink. They readily protest in the streets because they want their haircuts and mani-pedi and gosh darnit, anything less than their 100 percent freedom to live their cushy lifestyle is oppression.

In the last two months, we’ve met Central Park Karen who called the police because she felt unsafe in a bird-watching sanctuary. We also met Trader Joe’s Karen after her rant about not wearing a mask went viral. And just yesterday, we met McMansion Karen when she and her husband Ken stood outside their home and pointed their guns at PEACEFUL protesters!

Also yesterday, I found myself blocking and deleting all kinds of nonsense comments on Twitter and Instagram from people who were just…OMG…totally offended by the name. What a travesty! How on earth could I ever say something like that?

Then there was my personal favorite: You (meaning me) know what it’s like to be bullied, so you should know better. SHAME ON YOU.

That’s when I just stopped in my tracks.

Bullied? Are you kidding me? There aren’t enough eye-roll emojis in the world to express my utter disgust.

Sorry, Karen, I think you better look up the definition of “bullying” because it doesn’t mean what you think it means.

Yes, you’re right. I DO know what bullying is like. My experience with bullying had to do with people saying I should be euthanized. They said I wasn’t human and called me a thing.

I’ve experienced bullying. You, on the other hand, are merely being called out on your problematic behavior. That isn’t bullying. See the difference between the two yet? So excuse me if I don’t have much sympathy for your outrage over being called Karen.

KarenA Karen is so concerned and preoccupied with the name that they become oblivious to the dangerous and awful behavior it’s named for. Instead of clutching your pearls over the name, maybe step back and consider the issues behind the name and what it’s really about.

I love how my amazing writer friend Sa’iyda Shabazz describes the alarming trend…

The type of white women others call Karen often see themselves as victims. And the type of white women who defend them try to paint them as oppressed. But middle-aged, middle class white women do not face oppression by any stretch. In fact, they reap huge amounts of race and class privilege, and then they turn around and use that privilege to step on the necks of those under them, especially black women. Pointing out these realities is not oppressing the oppressors. It’s pushing back on the constructs of whiteness, the systems that enable these women’s actions. Calling a woman by the phrase is calling her out, not degrading her.

Let’s recap: Someone being offended by the term “Karen” is PEAK Karen and reveals a huge amount of privilege. Instead of clutching your pearls about the term itself, you should be more upset by the behavior behind it.

Really, y’all need to check yourselves because it’s exhausting.

It’s not about you. It’s not a personal attack on you. Stop being selfish, Karen. In fact, don’t be a Karen at all. And wear your damn mask on your next Starbucks run… xoxo

P.S. Yes, that first photo is Karen from Mean Girls…that’s SO meta!!!

[Bottom photo via Unsplash]

Lizzo Calling Out Body-Shaming (Again!) Is Every Woman’s Mood

Body-Shaming
Lizzo isn’t here for your body-shaming and neither am I…

But what I just can’t get enough of lately?? The fact that Lizzo is completely unafraid to call out body-shamers. The singer took to TikTok with a message aimed directly at those who criticize her weight and her body. Basically, she’s over all of it…

I’m not working out to have your ideal body type. I’m working out to have my ideal body type. And you know what type that is? None of your fucking business. Because I am beautiful. I am strong. I do my job, and I stay on my job. Health is not just determined on what you look like on the outside. Health is also what happens on the inside. And a lot of y’all need to do a fucking cleanse for your insides.

Needless to say, Lizzo is my hero. I’ve written about her before (remember her fab Rolling Stone cover earlier this year?? And all those Grammy awards?) and she just might be the 2020 heroine we desperately need. She’s such a breath of fresh air with her “I don’t have time for this nonsense” attitude and I’m so glad to see her standing up to those who try to bring her down.

Her video also got me thinking of one key question when it comes to this dangerous trend of body-shaming: When was the last time you did the same to a man?

It’s 2020, but there’s still this patriarchal notion that we have a right to women’s bodies — how they look, what they wear, what they do, what they say.

We don’t.

I’m so sick of people thinking it’s OK to make fun of women for how they look. Women’s bodies aren’t open for debate, discussion, ridicule, criticism or your approval, so mind your own business.

Body-Shaming
As ’60s singer Lesley Gore once say, “you don’t own me” — and that’s so true, isn’t it? I’ve been thinking about this and so much of it goes back to toxic masculinity. I’m not sure why men are so intimidated and threatened by strong, intelligent women who know their own minds. Why does society continue to view women as objects instead of actual human beings? It’s infuriating and I’m infuriated every single day.

Any theories about all this toxic masculinity, friends?? It’s just getting tiring and I’m SO OVER IT… xoxo

P.S. How awesome are these photos of Lizzo??? And she’s making BET Awards history this year!!! #GirlCrush