The weekend before last I took Ruby along to our New York Solidarity branch meeting. On the way back Ruby insisted on sharing Megan's lap and conversing with EJ about the finer points of the world economic crisis, which was discussed at the branch meeting.

The last few months we've made a renewed commitment to having childcare at the monthly branch meetings. It means I get to go to my meetings, David gets to have a break and Ruby plays with Marie and a bunch of other kids. It also livens up the branch meetings because even though the kids play outside the meeting room, they get to wander in whenever they want to and I love hearing their laughter while listening to a bunch of adults.

Ruby is starting to know the routine of the meetings. She'll say "Mama and Ruby going to meeting?" and she'll definitely remember it's where she hangs out with EJ. I heard from another mom that her son, Robbie, who also adores EJ, has said before that it's not mama's meeting, it's Robbie and EJ's meeting. It's nice to get reminded about what really matters about our branch meetings--that our kids see it as a positive space!