A new book by one of my favorite bloggers is now available on Amazon.

Motherhood is Not for Wimps: No Answers, Just Stories
After a couple of years’ reading Liz’s stories about Mary, the baralicious pregnancy, then the wonder that is Renny-Roo, I feel like I know these folks. They help me feel sane AND make […]

(cross-posted at Maya’s Meanderings
Yes, I know — I haven’t posted in ages. I’ll start catching up before long, but this was just too good to not link.
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Mary P. wrote a post that I wish I’d written — about parents’ attitudes toward their children and sex.
When I was a young married with a baby girl, […]

Yet another reason nursing should be encouraged*:
Weight Benefit Seen Even if Mothers Are Obese or Have Diabetes
Sept. 26, 2006 — Breastfed babies are less likely to grow into overweight children than those fed formula, even if their mothers are obese or have diabetes, research confirms.
Exclusively breastfed babies had roughly a 34% reduced risk of being […]

Since I’m not in the mood to blog any of the deeper topics I’ve had in mind (work and worth, parenting and punishment as examples), I’m going to blatantly steal from a post by Orange at Bitch PhD:
Oprah Winfrey recommends keeping a “grateful journal” in which you “list five things that happened this day that […]

I finally had time to read one of the posts Lauren referenced, and I’m blown away. Molly did a fabulous job of explaining why it’s important to not allow having children to become perceived as a “non-feminist” choice:
I think that the far right, knowing full well that pregnancy and childbirth is something the vast […]

Over at Feministe, Lauren wrote about the tendency of some (important word that is, “some”) child-free/childless feminists to look down their noses at parents, specifically at mothers.
A few good sound-bytes:
My identity is not defined by my parenthood, but my life is. Without a child I wouldn’t feel as obligated to work as much as I […]

How sad is this? I’m sort of looking forward to this second date this evening. (Yeah, I know. Don’t get excited or anything.)
But much, much, MUCH moreso? I’m looking forward to an evening minus a nearly-two, screaming her head off, mad because she doesn’t get what she wants, teething, pissy toddler who’s […]

I’m still giggling at this post over at Partners in Parenting. That’s likely, because I can completely imagine saying exactly the same thing.
Let’s teach the kid empathy, shall we?

…will be leaving before long.
Yesterday morning, one of my dogs bit Maya hard enough that he drew blood. I understand the circumstances (he was cleaning food off her breakfast tray, which was on the floor), and know that particular circumstance is preventable. You know, I could actually wash the tray instead of letting […]

BabyTalk, a pretty mainstream mag, has a breastfeeding infant on the cover of its August issue!
Here’s a bit of the cover article:
You’ve heard it by now: A mom should breastfeed her baby for at least the first year of life, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Today, more new moms than ever try […]

Snippet of an IM conversation with a Male Friend Who Usually Thinks He Knows Everything (MFWUTHKE). He’d just read these two posts on Maya’s site.
MFWUTHKE: interesting stuff on the Maya saying NO on the blog..
MFWUTHKE: sure you “could” just solve it for her.. and let her down.. or give her fruit…
MFWUTHKE: but I like […]

[Mary has well-behaved toddlers in public] by clear communication in advance, by making expectations understood, and by following through with firm, compassionate, consistency. The key to avoiding conflict and acrimony, and to creating a warm and nurturing environment, is good communication.
Mary P. (of It’s Not All Mary Poppins) is part of a new blogging community, […]

(Cross-posted from MM. Groan away.)
Update: I’m embarassed to admit it took me two days to realize I’d written all of this BACKWARD structurally — 7/5/7 instead of 5/7/5. Does that make it KuHai?
Back in my room — woe is me!
My 3am offense?
An obstacle course is mom.
Sharp toes dig into her thighs.
Clip, clip! Tomorrow.
She’s […]

From today’s editorial section, About Breast-Feeding…:
For right now, the science comes down hard on behalf of educating women about the clear advantages of breast-feeding. But that is no license to imply that mothers who cannot breast-feed or choose not to are putting their babies in grave danger. Experts on both sides agree that formulas are […]

I’ll update this as new material shows up.
Funny, for a gal who did manage to exclusively breastfeed my child for six months, non-exclusively (solid food added) until 15 months, this topic really pushes my buttons. It’s not because I’m an activist one way or another where breastfeeding is concerned (though I’d encourage any mother […]