by conversationswithmoms

I had heard comments from his daycare at how much Jeffrey loves older women.  I had heard a story from the daycare about the time that a student who was studying Childhood Education spend two days at the daycare as part of her program. Apparently, Jeffrey was always around her. He would look at her with a glaze in his eyes.  He wanted to hold her hand all the time and whenever he did ANYTHING, he would look at her for a reaction.

by airannie

When we got married, there was no question that I would keep my name.

Even writing it sounds funny. It is "my" name after all, of course I get to keep it. And my husband never did, never would, ask me to change.

At the time, it didn't feel like a feminist statement, although I was a little disappointed to see how many of my friends changed theirs. It was more that I like my name, I have a professional reputation behind it, and I can't stand paperwork.

by Melissa Ford

The whole online community recognized it at once. Many organizations came out with a formal statement. Reproductive endocrinologists took time out of practicing medicine to comment for local news stations. Everyone, for once, was in total agreement. The octuplet mum is bad for the infertiles.

by Her Bad Mother

So, I'm, like, THIS close to just packing it in to move to the backcountry to live off the grid and raise and grow my own food. If it weren't for the fact that 'off the grid' means 'no Internet connection,' I would probably be packing my bags already. Because, seriously, is everything that's sold in stores poisonous now?

In case you haven't heard, there's mercury in a whole lot of food on the grocery shelves. There's mercury - possibly dangerous levels of mercury - in the high-fructose corn syrup that's in things like ketchup. And salad dressing. And yogurt.

by Anita Garner

"She has naturally curly hair," my mother would say with great sadness in her voice  when she spied a young person with curls.  She made it sound like a curse.   Mother had curls of the type that sprang in tight spirals directly from the scalp and she hated them.   She did battle with her hair daily.  Her own mother urged her to wear her hair cropped short and just be done with the whole thing, but mother craved shoulder-grazing styles. 

by KJDougherty

It's Sunday and we've survived the day.  It's a miracle that we even get to church at all considering the craziness that ensues every Sunday morning.  My husband is back from his business trip and we are trying to get back to "normal."  Normal means going to church on Sunday, including Sunday School. When people see us unload our crew from our minivan on Sunday morning, we are a frazzeled bunch. I half jokingly tell people that it's a three ring circus at our home on Sunday. Today went something like this:

by jsassoon

The other night--in the middle of the night--my 4 year old daughter called out for me.  Well it was more like yelled for me.

MOMMY!

by chris

Going to Disney World is expensive. Sure, there are ways to do without spending quite as much money, but it is still an expensive vacation. What can you do to help ease the cost on the things that you actually have control over?

by Nordette

O.K. So sometime in December I was minding my own business and I get this email that I missed because I was very busy minding my own business but actually the email was directly related to my business and so I guess, since I missed it, that means I wasn't minding my own business as well as I thought. (Inhale, exhale, I'm breathing. I'm breathing.)

by rocksinmydryer

I'm a scheduling kind of girl. I live by my calendar, I make lists, and I find satisfaction in order. So when I was pregnant with my first child and found a book that promised an orderly, scheduled way to raise a baby, I jumped at it. I devoured the book, taking notes, and I talked to my friends, most of whom (at the time) followed the same baby "system".

by Her Bad Mother

First things first: the death of Jett Travolta is a tragedy, a terrible, terrible tragedy. And it seems, I don't know, wrong, somehow, to interrogate the circumstances of such a tragedy, to try to locate the cause of such a tragedy or place responsibility for it when, really, we should all just be bowing our heads and thanking the gods that such tragedy did not strike our own lives.

by Jill Miller Zimon

Do you remember when you learned that your parents weren't perfect? Or always right? Or the first time someone rolled their eyes at you - at any age - when you started a sentence with, "MY mom says...!"?

And maybe it wasn't a parent. Maybe it was a beloved teacher or coach or even someone else's parent.

by Mom101

This week I got an email addressed to me at Cool Mom Picks, the shopping blog that I co-founded, and it nearly broke my heart.

by Susan Wagner

I am continuously fascinated by the way the idea of dressing like a mom polarizes people. Celebrity moms are criticized in the media (including on blogs, by commenters and bloggers alike) both for being TOO dressed up when they're out with the kids and for schlepping when they're out with the kids.  For non-celebrity moms, schlepping is a badge of honor; worn out, ill-fitting clothing shows that you put your children first and yourself last, while a manicure and a pair of nice shoes is seen as selfish.

by Her Bad Mother

I've said it before and I'll say it again: the blogging community can be a lifesaving resource for new moms (and soon-to-be-moms and been-there-done-that moms and everyone in between and beyond.) That's my Internet - a community of caring peers who are always there to provided support and caring and practical help. But what about the Internet that stood by and watched a young man broadcast his suicide on YouTube? What is it that separates the nurturing Internets from the ones that scream 'jump! jump!' at a young man on a virtual ledge?

by Mir Kamin

There are certain things that my children know: My husband makes the best pancakes, their dad will always spring for donuts, and I'm the one who reminds them to do their homework and practice piano. Oh, and also, they know that they're my favorite.

by Monkey Mama

Shortly after learning I was pregnant, my husband's company closed and he lost his job. Not the news you want to receive when you are preparing to bring a new life into this world. I was frightened. But we had my job and savings, and with some cutbacks I felt we would make it through until my husband could find work. Thankfully my job paid well and I had excellent health benefits. It would be tough, but we would be all right. As the months went on my belly became bigger and our bank account became smaller. My husband's employment prospects were bleak.

by Niran

So after kicking off my new blogging "path" writing about politics in Israel and the auto bailout I've decided to "go local" and write about what's close to heart- my household, family & kids education.

by Melanie Nelson

I have always been a great believer in pretend and imagination. As my husband and I have raised our kids I've relished my role as Head Elf, Resident Leprechaun, Tooth Fairy, Easter Rabbit, Great Pumpkin, and any other imaginary, gift-bearing being.

by rocksinmydryer

I really love gift wrapping.  There is something seriously satisfying about making a neat crease at the end of a square package, and perfectly tying up the loose ends.  It's pretty and it's tidy, especially at a busy time of year when tidiness seems to elude me!

by moonfever0

Everyone knows the job of grandparents is to spoil their grandchildren. "Spoil-'em-and-send-'em-home" is often the attitude that young parents feel  about their once strict parents who have become grandparents. But for the sanity of all involved, there has to be some sense of balance between the generations.

by rocksinmydryer

It's a tricky proposition, one that many parents have battled through at one time or another:  How do you handle it when your kids' grandparents go too far in spoiling your kids at Christmas? 

by Michellesamom

Habits. How do we get them? Where do we get the idea to develop them in the first place? I assume that with children it's a natural instinct (sucking) that feels good and can lead to a bad habit (sucking one's thumb). I sucked my thumb for much longer than I should have. As a result, I had to get braces and other torture devices to straighten my teeth. It was a tough habit to kick (I wasnine, so yeah, I remember). The thing is, I didn't want to suck my thumb any more.

by natesmomma

Saturday afternoon while Matt, Nate, and Matt's brother hung out and had some guy time, I slipped away and went to Kohl's to do some shopping.  So did the rest of the city, it seemed. After deciding on a few items, I then had to wait in a checkout line that surely rivaled those on Black Friday.

by ginagold

If I ever put my daughter in a beauty pageant you have personal permission to Bitch Slap Me. I mean it. When I was five my mother entered me in the Little Miss America pageant. This was back in the day when a Black girl didn't stand a chance, let alone a Black girl with four missing front teeth. I wanted to do it because I knew from the commercial that one of the prizes was all the Barbie dolls you could ever want. The tryouts took place at Palisades Amusement park in New Jersey.

by Rita Arens

When my daughter was born in 2004, I was all prepared to breastfeed. I had the bags, I had the pump. I wasn't psyched about it, but I wanted to do anything I could to ensure she had the best in life. I knew that was breastfeeding. So I asked my doctor for the absolute smallest "good" window. My doctor looked at me like I was nuts, stammered around for a while, then said six weeks. I don't know if he pulled that number out of the air or out of a medical book. I've never heard anyone ask that question before: Probably because it's so loaded.

by mamanongrata

"Mom?" Rhys asks at the dinner table. "Mom? You know who Santa Claus is?"

The hand lifting the fork to my mouth doesn't even tremble.

"Well, yes," I say, slowly, evenly. My eyes meet Rachel's across the table. "I do."

Inside, however, I am moving into crisis mode, trying to quell the five-alarm siren that my son's question has set off in my head. It's okay, I remind myself--you're prepared for this.

by ckinnunen

Yesterday, while chatting with a few other moms as our kids enjoyed gymnastics class, the topic of 'I never thought I'd say that' came up. One of the moms, who is a teacher, got things started with a few statements she says she never would have imagined herself saying.

by Tracy Evans

Since I became a mom 25-months ago I can't remember a damn thing. Birthdays? Nope. Names of parents at preschool?

by Barbara Clements

Especially when compared with the poor guy who was killed in NYC during a WalMart opening. Jennifer and I decided NOT to be insane this year, so we got up at 5:45 am, rather than 3 am, and headed out around 7 am, then down to kent (washington) station (only bath and body works was open, the rest of the fools didn't think it worth the effort to open the doors at 7 am), and then on to the mall and Kohls.

by Tiney

Today was one of those days where I did battle with Charlie on every front. It started early this morning when he woke me at 5 am wanting to climb into bed with me. I sent him back to his own room where he started crying about not wanting to sleep in his bed. We finally compromised and he slept on the couch until it was light out (when he's allowed to get up).

by Mammatalk

It all began with my Baby Safety Class in the hospital. Pregnant, wide eyed and bushy tailed, I took copious notes and listened intently. "A home is a dangerous place," warned my Safety teacher.  Later, at home, we bolted and screwed, applying gadgets, latches and locks throughout our homestead. Chipping paint and creating gaping holes in drywall, we were a man and wife Captain Safety Crew.

by KGav

Dear Age 3:

 I am writing to let you know that I am officially revoking your title of, "Most Annoying Childhood Age Ever." I know you worked really hard to get that title, but at the time I bestowed it on you I was a naïve mother who thought the worst she'd face (pre-teenage years) would come in the form of some of your most irritating qualities, these being (but not limited to): tantrums, whining, assertions of independence, public meltdowns and defiance.

by rocksinmydryer

So, let's just cut right to the chase here.  I'm the mother of four children, three of whom are elementary-aged boys.  If I'm qualified to write a post on the subject of table manners, it's because I'm in the thick of the battle, not because I have it figured out.  It's a work in progress.  There's a learning curve.  There are days when our dinners are lovely and polite, and there are days when I wonder if we should just eat in the garage.

by Eavesdropping on the Playground

The lines have been drawn in the sand and consumer brands and their pr teams better sit up and take notice. For years affluent African-American moms have been crying foul regarding campaigns that show them as loud, brash, cold, and bossy. Until now their grumbles have been relatively contained to the beauty salons, churches, and at Sunday family dinners.

by Mir Kamin

My name is Mir, and I am a cheapskate.

I'm an unapologetic cheapskate, in fact. More accurately: I'm a braggart of a cheapskate. Tell me you like my shoes, and rather than responding "Thank you!" like a normal person, I'll probably grab your arm and say, "I know, aren't they awesome? And they were originally $120 and I only paid nine bucks!"

People sometimes inch away from me when I do this. Hey, that's fine. They probably paid full price for their shoes. Suckers.

by Nordette

Name at least three items you will never cut from your family budget. I'm trying to do that, but my guilt reflex makes me ask, "How can I name what not to cut from a family budget when there are people who have less than I do who must slash items such as treatment for a special needs child?" Many Americans no longer have choices about what to cut and what to keep.

by Rita Arens

My family is German. My grandmother always made holiday stollen, which is bread filled with raisins, jellied fruits, cinnamon and other spices. I hate it. I love the tradition, the idea behind it, but I can't stand this bread that makes my father's eyes light up like a kid in Willy Wonka's factory. Still, my mom videotaped them making stollen so the tradition wouldn't be lost after my parents and aunts and uncles go to the big stollen bakery in the sky.

by ginafur

So there you are at Grandma's on Thanksgiving Day, helping Aunt Jane prepare the meal. After all, you've done it for the past 15 years. Maybe it's going to Mama's for the 20th Thanksgiving Celebration of your 25 year old life. It's like being wrapped with a warm blanket of memories and good food. Tradition, it's just what we do.

by Colormepink

I'm in a mood this year.  I don't know why, but merely the thought of preparing a holiday meal, or decorating, or putting up the tree makes me break out in hives.  And the thought of gift shopping?  Yeah, I'm not feeling it this year.  It's not that I'm depressed or anything, cause I'm most definitely not--as a matter of fact, I'm feeling pretty good.  I think I just need a break this year.  You see, no one in my house actually likes turkey.  We love all the sides, and we make a ton of them, but we find the smallest turkey in existence every year and cook that.

by mommyq

One of the things I can't stand about welcoming a new year are the ridiculous New Year's resolutions. I'm guilty. Whether I want to or not, in my mind I make a list. And every year, just like 97% percent of you, I'm deeply disappointed in myself when I don't maintain any of them.  So this year I've vowed to make resolutions I can keep!

by Michellesamom

Thank you, thank you. I am SO thrilled to be getting this award. It took hard work, and a real dedication. I can't tell you how much it means to me. Why was I given this prestigious title, you ask?

by katspot

For all those new mommies out there, vaccines seem to be the big controversy. (See Jenny McCarthy.) I understand why some women are becoming anti-vaccine activists. There is a lot of un-evidence based information available on the internet. I agree that vaccines should be "green" and not contain mercury. It has already been taken out of almost all vaccines available.

by BeverlyCoggins

My brother loves the crowds and the getting out into the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping.  I don't know many others who do, though!  I am stressed if I have to elbow my way through a store or not be able to find what I want because I waited too late.   If you are smart, you can make holiday gift-giving less stressful.  Here are a few ideas:

by Melissa Ford

When Josh and I got engaged, we drew up a Tenaim, which is a Jewish engagement contract. In the old days, it spoke about the dowry and the date of the wedding and what happens if we decided to break off the engagement. Our Tenaim contained all of the things that were important to us at the time--all of our intentions for the marriage.

by Rita Arens

When we moved to the suburbs, my daughter left behind a tight-knit daycare posse she'd been with since she was just a year old. The new school was better, had more toys, a bigger playground, more educational opportunities, more parties, better food.  She didn't care. It didn't have her friends.  And for a few weeks, every time I dropped her off, my heart would break in half as I looked back to see her sitting all alone at the breakfast table, staring at the other kids.

by heyMamas

Here was Tuesday, October 21st's lesson on how can I stall Mama and steal five more minutes of not having to go to bed.

Me:  "Ok girls, goodnight, I mean it."

Lily:  "Mama, can I tell you something really serious?"

by Amy Gates

Plastic is all around us. From our kids' toys to their sippy cups, from grocery bags to Tupperware bowls, from furniture to toothbrushes. That's not even including all of the plastic involved in packaging--from food to appliances to toys to clothing. Plastic is everywhere and while it's not good for our health, it may be even worse for our environment. So this holiday season I am challenging all of you to become more aware of your plastic consumption and make conscious choices to avoid plastic whenever possible.

by natesmomma

We received a catalog from a company called The Land of Nod, and while flipping through it I quickly discovered that it is a store of overpriced toys. And in some cases overpriced toys made of cardboard.

by natesmomma

My husband is out of town for work, so it's just Nate and me for a few days. Matt has gone out of town before, numerous times, even once when Nate was about four months old, so this isn't the first time we've been home alone. But for some reason tonight I got my mind all in a tizzy.

by Amy Gates

Consumer Reports isn't just for researching your next car purchase or washing machine anymore. That's right, that longtime resource for product reviews has broadened its scope to include health and wellness. In a recent article Consumer Reports tackles the topic of childbirth, concluding that "Too many doctors and hospitals are overusing high-tech procedures."

by educationmom

Attention parents of young children... the end of a beloved childhood tradition is near. Thanks to our nation's schools--and their efforts to combat childhood obesity—there is a new entry on the endangered species list--the cupcake.

by theducatedplate

I think by now most of us have heard at least one reason why soda is just not that good for any of us to drink, but especially our kids. The other day I was flipping through the November Issue of Family Circle in my doctor's office (where else do you get a chance to read it?) when I came across another disturbing reason why we should all stop buying soda.

by Mom on the Run

I think not. After hosting a small group on Friday, and the prospect of hosting the same group tomorrow, I know that a 7th grader can't function without a cell phone. Yes, this is an exaggeration. In reality only one of the three girls was attached at the ear to the cell phone. My daughter was not the one. Yes, she has a cell phone, but it is rarely charged and practically never on her person. The reason: We have not sanctioned text messaging; voice calls only. According to her every kid has unlimited texts.

by fortyfide

Sure, it sounds like a great idea. Get your kids a bunk bed, or as in our case, your kid a loft bed, which is a bunk bed but without the second bed underneath. They save space, they are considered cool by all kids and for me at least, they make up for the fact that I never got one growing up, despite incessant begging and whining.

by Jennifer Satterwhite

I have been writing my blog, Mommy Needs Coffee, since 2003.  When I started writing it my children were ten, seven and two.  (At least within months of those ages. I would have to do the math to tell you exactly how old they were.)  Anyway, at that time, the stories I wrote felt like I was sharing my life more than theirs.  Even though I was writing about motherhood and the funny and not so funny things they did in their daily lives, I somehow claimed these stories as my own. Now? Now I have a 15 year old son, a son who will be 13 in a month and a seven year old daughter. I have to wonder...are the stories of their life mine to tell anymore of are they their stories to tell now?

by MommyJ

I'm not trying to start something. I think there really are legitimate times to ask this question. You know, when you're talking to good friends who you are really comfortable with. Or your obstetrician. Or your spouse. But strangers?

The next time someone asks me, I'm going to say, "Um, yes. We actually tried just a few minutes ago. Would you like to see the charts I use to keep track of my ovulation and fertility?"

by Her Bad Mother

It's Love Your Body Day. That's a good thing, and, also, a very, very sad thing. It's a good thing for the obvious reasons. We should all love our bodies, all the time. But there's the issue that makes it sad: we should love our bodies all the time. Not just for one day. Always. Which, I know: OBVIOUSLY. We know this. We know this well. We should love our bodies every day, every time we look in the mirror, every time we glance down at the landscape of our physical selves. For our heart's sake. And for our sanity's sake.

by MyrnaL

The date is looming.  It's getting closer and closer.  I've dreaded the date since she was about 2 years old.  Of course, I didn't think about it much then but recently I've been thinking about it a lot. That date of course, is the date my daughter is eligible to receive her driver's permit.  She's been thinking about it a lot, in fact, she's been working on the "online driving school" program pretty diligently. Pretty corny program too if you ask me..(the driver/guy looks like a bad B movie actor and script is overly dramatic — do they think teens are idiots??)

by Her Bad Mother

Celebrities have been making me roll my eyes a lot of late (Gwyneth's website, anyone?), but I was kind of surprised that this week it was Emma Thompson that caused my eyes to spin in my head. I like Emma Thompson. She's always seemed sensible to me. But then she said that she regarded having given birth 'naturally', without aid of painkillers, as her greatest achievement, and seriously, my head hurt all afternoon from the ache of having my peepers rolled straight up into my eye-sockets.

by Michelle Obama

The leaves are turning, the air is crisper, and my girls are completely wrapped up in their preparations for Halloween. Yep, it's definitely fall.

Malia and Sasha spent hours this weekend putting the finishing touches on their costumes. Then they paraded around with their friends at the Halloween party we hosted on Saturday night. Malia was what she calls an "evil fairy," and Sasha was (I can hardly believe I'm writing this) a corpse bride. They were both aiming for terrifying, but as Barack put it, they really are just too cute to be scary.

by Her Bad Mother

Angelina Jolie and I don't have a lot in common. She's a world-famous celebrity who is adored by millions and married to Brad Pitt; I am a blogger who is adored by tens, maybe dozens (on a good week), and married to an awesome guy that you've never heard of. But there is this: we're both mothers. And we're both in therapy.

by massager

I know what i've heard about children going to school for the first time. I mean, I've been there myself, but it's different when it's YOUR child. Let me give you a little background. My husband is in the Navy and is never really home. In a lot of ways I do feel like a single mother. I'm lucky enough to be able to stay at home and that's what i've always wanted to do. But I certainly didn't want all the worry and stress over what is happening when i'm not with my child. I didn't set out to be overprotective, which is actually a very strong word. Lets say very caring. That sounds better.

by mtbargeman

I am a Stay at Home Mother of two beautiful children. I am also a wife, sister, daughter, friend, neighbor, and woman. I am Legally Blind. To be Legally Blind or Vision Impaired, one must have a severely restricted Visual Field of thirty degrees or less, and/or 20/200 vision in the best corrected eye.

by PunditMom

As the mother of a daughter, there are things I want for my eight-year-old PunditGirl, especially when she becomes a woman -- things that I was lucky to have, but that generations before me didn't. Interestingly, John McCain, as the father of daughters, doesn't seem to want those same things.

by Brellyk

A few weeks ago, I got an e-mail from a mom I know in one of my special needs Internet support groups. The e-mail asked me to join her in a group called, "Special Needs Moms against Sarah Palin." While I am friends with this mom in all that we've shared and been through together as special needs moms, this is one request from her that I couldn't support.

by natesmomma

Being a mother, I, of course, want my child to be the best. Doesn't every mother? And every father? But in order to be the best, and to know you're the best, you have to have something to which you can compare yourself. However, when it comes to babies, comparing one against another is just asking for trouble.

by educationmom

Like many other children in his suburban Pennsylvania neighborhood, my nephew boards a school bus each morning around 8:30 and doesn't arrive home again until 4 p.m. Not so unusual for the average student but Tommy is only 5. To me, it seems like a really long day for such a little guy.

by UnderCoverMother

When I was a kid, all my friends had Cabbage Patch dolls with cute disposable diapers.  My doll was a knock-off, purchased with guilded intentions by my father with money given him by my grandma.  Never send a middle-aged man to do a consumer-capitalist-child's job, I guess, but at any rate, my doll had a cloth diaper.  Her head also fell off frequently and after a report that some counterfit dolls were stuffed with kerosene-soaked rags, I was forbidden from sleeping with her.  No, not traumatic or anything.  Ha ha ha.  And not to mention that I think the guilt (both of getting me a faulty doll and of doing something illegal -- even if by mistake) stayed with him till his dying day.  Anyway, this is a tangent.  Back to the point of my entry.

by Mammatalk

"I have to go potty." My shopping cart, filled to the rim, screeched to a sudden halt."What do you mean?" I asked in all my motherly wisdom.

"I have to go potty." My three year old replied with an urgency I knew all too well.

by enthalpymama

I read Mrs.Obama's post last night on Blogher. Honestly, I love the fact that she portrayed herself as a mommy blogger. Part of the American ideal is that even our leaders are just one among us, and knowing that, I feel particularly blessed that I can both respect her and disagree with her in a public forum. So, first, let me thank her for posting her message.