I love theater.  There is so much about it that resonates with me.  The ability that people have to weave together the words, acting, staging, choreography and costumes to tell a story for me is unique and magical.

Every year when the Tony Awards come on TV, I inform my family that I’m hibernating for a few hours to watch the industry I support by seeing practically every show that hits the NYC stage.  I love Neil Patrick Harris’ energy, the musical numbers, the glitter, the glitz, the familiar faces from Broadway. It’s always spectacular.

But last night was important for women.  I felt it.  More women were brought forward to win awards than in a very long time, particularly in the field of play directing.

Eight years ago in 1995, Rocco Landesman, then Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts, predicted that doors were opening for female directors. He said that change was coming, however slowly.

He was right.  It has been slow. But it’s happening, along with everything else in life when it comes to women and equality.  Despite theater being a very liberal, artistic industry, female directors have been long overlooked at the Tony Awards.  It wasn’t until 1998 that Julie Taymor became the first female to win a best-director Tony Award for best musical, just minutes after Garry Hynes won for The Beauty Queen of Leenane for best play. Prior to last night’s broadcast of The 2013 Tony Awards, only a handful of female theater directors had ever won the honor of winning the award for directing plays and musicals.  The Tony’s have awarded awards to women for directing with; Taymor won for The Lion King in 1998, Susan Stroman for The Producers in 2001, Mary Zimmerman for Metamorphoses in 2002, Anna D. Shapiro for August Osage County in 2008 and Marianne Elliott co-directed War Horse in 2011.This year, both direction awards, for best musical revival and play, went to women, once again minutes apart: Pam MacKinnon for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Diane Paulus for Pippin.  Paulus had previously been nominated for her revivals of Hair and The Gershwins’ Porgy & Bess. MacKinnon received Tony nominations for direction of Clybourne Park just last year. After her Tony win, Pam MacKinnon reportedly told journalists backstage that female theater directors are “out there and coming up.” “We are hitting our stride,” she added. Broadway is certainly not lacking female directors.  Leigh Silverman recently directed The Madrid starring Edie Falco at the Manhattan Theater Club.  Anna D. Shapiro directed the wildly successful, award-winning August: Osage County.  The list of working female directors includes Rebecca Taichman, Annie Baker, Amy Herzog, Kristen Greenidge, Bathsheba Doran, Madeline George, Katori Hall, Lisa D’Amour, Lydia Diamond, Lisa Kron, Tanya Barfield and many more are coming on board. They’re busy directing shows at the Signature Theater, Lincoln Center, Manhattan Theater Club, the Atlantic Theater Company, St. Ann’s Warehouse and all over the U.S. Excited about her win, Paulus told the Los Angeles Times, “I’m hoping that after tonight we’ll stop counting and women will be given the opportunity to be leaders, and I hope this encourages producers to trust women to think about the business of theater, which is what you have to do when you direct a musical.  I’m thrilled, I hope that it gives courage to young aspiring women directors all over the world to charge on.” So are the tides changing in theater for female directors Directing a show is an extremely demanding job and it’s only recently that maternity leave was even built into contracts.  To date women have not been paid the same as men, and they haven’t been given the same leadership roles as men.  But there are more and more educated and driven women, and organizations like the League of Professional Theatre Women whose mission is to increase the visibility of and promote opportunities for women in all aspects of the professional theatre. With women winning awards more and more, perhaps they will get the attention and caliber of work they deserve. Landesmans’ prediction eight years ago included the assumption that nothing changes careers like a hit, so if the wins last night are any indication that women can direct hits, the future is certainly brighter for female directors.  Keep an eye on this space. I know I will.

I feel lucky.  I’ve spent the last two electric days mesmerized by the likes of the most incredible women in the world at Daily Beast’s Women in the World conference in NYC at Lincoln Center.  I listened to the Honorable Hillary Clinton motivate the audience to get out there and fight for women’s rights on a grassroots level, Meryl Streep salute her idol Irish feminist Inez McCormack, Angelina Jolie salute Malala who loved wearing a pink dress and said “All I want is an education and I am afraid of no one” and got shot by the Taliban in the head, Tom Hanks salute the beloved writer Nora Ephron and heard from so many amazing women from around the world talk about one thing: WOMEN. From the rape situation in India to the lack of STEM education for girls around the world, the summit covered everything and left no stones unturned.  There was bad news (about the rise of sex trafficking and how bad things are for women in countries like Egpyt, Syria, India, Africa and Libya), there was good news (like listening to the story of the founder of Spanx’s career and hearing stories about young Mothers of Invention).  It was motivating, inspiring, mouth dropping. I came home feeling complete, like I have a mission.

The Women in the World Summit is centered on vivid journalistic storytelling, featuring inspiring women and men from diverse cultures and backgrounds. From CEOs and world leaders to artists, activists and firebrand dissidents, Women in the World tells the stories of the courageous and intelligent women who are battling the status quo in their countries, picking up the pieces in the aftermath of war and shattering glass ceilings in every sector.  Hosted by Tina Brown, editor-in-chief of Newsweek & The Daily Beast, the Women in the World Summit brings together leaders and activists from around the globe every year to address the most urgent challenges facing women and girls. Summit participants also included Dr. Hawa Abdi, Christiane Amanpour, Humaira Bachal, Chelsea Clinton, Diane von Furstenberg and Oprah Winfrey.

I will write more about the summit in the days to come as I heard countless stories that need to be retold.  Right now I want to write about one story in particular.

I was invited by one of the sponsors, Liberty Mutual, as part of their Responsibility Project (www.TheResponsibilityProject.com), created in 2008, a program which uses entertaining content to create a forum for people to discuss personal acts of responsibility. Through short films and online content, The Responsibility Project is a catalyst for examining the decisions that confront people trying to “do the right thing.”

This year their they hosted a session on International and Special Needs Adoption.  The panel featured a conversation with 18-year-old Michaela DePrince, a soloist with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Born amidst the chaos of civil war in Sierra Leone, Michaela was orphaned at four years old and ostracized by the community because of her vitiligo, a condition that causes depigmentation of the skin. Joined by her adoptive-mother, Elaine DePrince, who after losing three children to hemophilia, was inspired by one of her five sons to help children in war-torn areas of Africa. Elaine and her husband, Charles, went on to adopt six girls from the continent, including Michaela and her “sister”.  They were not related, but were adopted from the same orphanage where she was mistreated for her skin condition. “They called me ‘the devil’s child.’ I would always get the last serving of food, the last choice of toys and clothes,” she said. Watch this video of Michaela speaking about her life here.

On their first night together, Elaine found Michaela going through her luggage and wondered what she was looking for.  Ballet shoes, of course. “She thought all American women danced on their toes,” her mother said.

There was a genuine love between the two and Elaine emphasized the gift of being able to adopt.  She said, “I don’t love my adopted children any less than my adopted children.”  She said that the 3 ingredients of making a good adoptive parent are: Love, realism and encouragement. I’ll apply these three to my own parenting style.

We were blessed with a dance performance by Michaela. It was like watching an angel, particularly after hearing about what she’d been through.

Rounding out the panel discussion was Dr. Jane Aronson, founder and CEO of Worldwide Orphans, a nonprofit organization that provides direct services to orphaned children globally. Worldwide Orphans has reached more than 35,000 orphans, vulnerable children and those who care for them through health and education programs.  She kicked off the session telling us that there are 153 million orphans around the globe and that each year millions of girls don’t have a home.  As my heart break, she launched into a short monologue about the problem:

Children lie languishing in their cribs. Never held.  Spoken to as they are fed.  No ability how to self-regulate.  As they reach for crib bars, they are in prison.  In dark rocking back and forth.  So they are alive.

And we must help. the first step involves taking a census of kids who are on the street, involved in trafficking and living in refugee camps.Dr. Aronson said the best way to help advocate for adoptees is to volunteer or donate to help kids who are in agencies or institutions.

Disclosure: I was a guest of Liberty Mutual at the Summit but all opinions are my own.

When I first heard about the film Miss Representation, I knew it would be right up my alley, but for some reason it sat on my DVR for a few months after appearing on OWN.  It wasn’t that I didn’t want to watch it, it was that I could not find the time to watch it (story of my life).  So, when I heard about an event in the city featuring both a showing and a talk back with Catherine Connors as moderator, I found myself immediately booking a ticket online with fervent anticipation of the evening.  Both a feminist and a pop culture junkie, I knew this was a film I had to see.

In the film, some of the world’s most influential women are brought together to explore the media’s message and depiction of women.  That list includes Gloria Steinem, Katie Couric, Rachel Maddow, Margaret Dawson and Gloria Steinem, but it also includes superstar feminists like Jennifer Pozner and other members of the Women’s Media Center. The film tells us that women are under-represented in every form of media, but also in real life.  It takes the stand that the media is portraying our primary values as youth and beauty over intellect and the ability to lead.

As the mother of a nine year-old who is definitely approaching puberty at lightening speed, I’m well aware of the challenges she’s up against and I want to shield her from as much pain as much as possible.

This film confirms that we have a rough road ahead.

It’s not a very encouraging film in the way of reality and truth, but it is so important.  It drills in how hard it is for girls today.  Images projected on TV and elsewhere make young girls less confident about who they are.  Add that to the existing peer pressure, and the pressure is two fold.  How can one be good enough faced with these images?  The stats are heart-breaking: 53% of young girls are unhappy with their bodies; 65% of women and girls have an eating disorder; and girls and women face rising rates of depression.  I sat there watching it thinking to myself, how will I raise my daughter’s self-esteem in light of these statistics?  Girls measure themselves against impossible standards these days, as they are becoming more and more self conscious.  In a society where anorexic stars and models are the norm, they have distorted images of their own beauty.

The film leaves us with so many thoughts and messages.  It tells us that we can imagine a better world for our daughters, but in order to do so, we must challenge the media and encourage girls to discover their power.  It leaves us with this powerful quote:

BE THE CHANGE YOU WISH TO SEE IN THE WORLD. – Mahatma Gandhi

After the film, Catherine, who I am fortunate to have met and look up to in the world of social media and as a writer, continued the theme of the film with her panel that included Dr Peggy Drexler, the author of “Our Fathers Ourselves. Daughters, Fathers and The Changing American Family, Anneka Fagundes, a senior educator for the Girls Leadership Institute (GLI) and Dr. Fred Kaeser, the author of What Your Child Needs to Know About Sex and When: A Straight Talking Guide for Parents.  Catherine rightly stated at the front of the conversation the film is discouraging but that it confronts very important issues and that they are overwhelming.  Dr. Drexler felt that the film is biased, that girls are actually doing better than boys.  There are more girls enrolled in Graduate School, for example.  Dr. Kaesar told us to talk to our kids honestly and openly, from a young age.  Talk to them about sexuality, harassment, look them in the eye and address these important issues.  We need to be the one to educate our children and not wait for anyone to do it.  Anneka reiterated that the media does send powerful messages but that we can use them to teach our kids the difference between right and wrong.

I was happy when Catherine turned the discussion to boys, as I have one of my own.  Boys also need to be encouraged at a young age, so that they don’t follow the stereotypes projected in media.  They also need to be educated and spoken to directly about the issues at hand.  This also got me thinking about my own young son and how I want to steer him in the right direction.  It might just be time for another film called Mr. Representation.

Tens of thousands have already taken the pledge to challenge the media’s portrayal of women and girls everywhere, and even more are joining the campaign on Twitter and Facebook. These small actions are making a big difference. Together we are amplifying the voices of women and girls everywhere, motivating men and boys to stand up to sexism, and taking steps to shift our culture towards equality. Join the campaign today!

Disclosure: I paid my admission to this film and did not attend as media for any publication but my own.

Please Join MamaDrama (that’s me) for a Very Special Twitter Party

     TONIGHT 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET

Hashtag: #RosaceaFacts

 Let’s talk rosacea awareness and check out the new RosaceaFacts public service announcement (PSA) featuring actress and rosacea sufferer Cynthia Nixon!

Tonight join MamaDrama NY for a RosaceaFacts Twitter Party to educate others about the common skin condition, rosacea.  Please visit www.RosaceaFacts.com and view the PSA starring Cynthia Nixon, who reveals her personal experiences with rosacea.

We’ll tweet with women who have been impacted by rosacea to talk about its symptoms, emotional effects and more.  We’re also pleased to welcome Dr. Doris Day, dermatologist and rosacea expert who will be on hand to answer questions.

About Rosacea

Did you know that rosacea is a common skin condition that affects over 16 million Americans, while only 10% of sufferers are being treated?  Rosacea is a vascular condition believed to be caused by inflammation with symptoms that include facial redness, pimples and eye irritation.  But the real damage often lies underneath the skin with a person’s self-esteem.  Because rosacea affects the face, people with this condition can often experience embarrassment and stress.

During the chat, we’ll be giving away four Summer Skincare Survival Prize Packs with lotions, sunscreen and cleansers. To win, participants must be the first to correctly answer trivia questions about rosacea and the PSA.  A total of four participants who are the first to answer trivia questions will be selected to win the prize packs.  Please see giveaway rules below.

Please RSVP here: bit.ly/Jjnyb7.

The official rules can be found here.

Disclosure: The Twitter Party is sponsored by Galderma Laboratories, L.P.

But what is bothering me lately is the fact that other moms have the audacity to judge my children, and it’s certainly more painful than personally being judged my other moms. They, of course, have perfect children.  Children who never have bad days.  Children who never get tired, or hungry, or out of sorts.  Children who behave perfectly at all times of day.  Children who never talk back to adults.

I don’t tend to talk about this often, but I have a special needs child.  Special needs in the sense that we don’t have a diagnosis but there is clear Sensory Processing Disorder.  The problem with SPD is that everything you know about your child is vague and there is no easy answer.  What you do know is that there are good days and bad days.   Often things change from minute to minute and behavior can be sporadic. Sometimes he doesn’t even want to play with other children.  He acknowledges when he needs a rest, which is unusual, but he likes his rest days. So, I don’t plan many play dates,  as a result.

But his quirks make him interesting.  He’s unique.  He’s a bit of a non-conformist.  He doesn’t think the way other kids think, he wants to do what he wants to do quite often and sometimes he may come across as difficult.  So, of course, it has happened a few times where he may have just been having a bad day, maybe he hadn’t eaten enough that day or maybe something very small annoyed him and it caused somewhat disruptive behavior – at another mom’s house.

But as moms, don’t we know that all kids have bad days?  You should never ban a child from your house because of one bad experience, or pass judgement on that child for not acting the way you expected at that particular moment.  And did you ever stop to think that maybe it was your negative energy that caused him to react badly?

I know I’m being sensitive, but it’s very stressful when the friends are no longer there or available to play because of a mom’s hard feelings.  Party invitations stop coming (not sure if I’m complaining about, though) and providing social interaction gets harder.

Granted, there are moms who do give him another chance.  At a good friend’s home last month, he became obsessed with his friend’s Pokeman cards and demanded that the child trade for the ones he wanted.  The mom was taken back as they had never traded, and both she and my son were visibly upset when I arrived to collect him.  But we talked about it on the phone and they have played again.  She just wanted to understand the rules of card-trading and I did need to talk to him about obeying moms at other people’s houses.  He does get fixated on what he wants, but it’s hard to make others understand that.

The reason I am bringing this up today is because there is one mom in particular who has asked her sitter to stop having play dates with my son.  The sitter is clearly confused about it, as I am, as her son and mine were very good friends once upon a time.  Apparently, she asked my sitter about him yesterday and when my sitter suggested they set something up, she gave her a look of negativity.  When she told me, my heart broke.  We are friends and we’ve been meaning to go out drinking.

Here’s what I suggest when a child acts badly in your care.  Rather than not invite them again, I would do the following:

1. Talk to the child’s mom.  Let them know what happened. Give her a chance to respond before you judge her or her child.

2. Give the kids another chance.  Surely, it can be chalked to a bad day.  If it happens again, take a break

3. But don’t let the break be extended or permanent.  Kids change.

My son is amazing and I only want him around people who feel the same way.  So, to the mom who thinks he’s not, please don’t ask me out for drinks again.