Saturday, October 25, 2008
This is a call out to documentary filmmakers. I want to know how the introduction of MySpace and Facebook has an affect on marital relationships. Are people cheating more. Are people ending their marriages to reunite with old flames? Are these reunions successful? Were these marriages doomed anyway?
Infant Potty Training
I never even thought the possibility of infant potty training existed until I recently read this article online at http://www.parents.com/toddlers/development/potty-training/infant-potty-training-one-moms-diary/. It really got me wondering 1)If babies are ready to be potty trained before five months of age, 2) If, compared to other countries we are overindulging our children by waiting 3)If it might prevent embarrassment and shame by starting early 4) How you ever leave the house.
I also started to wonder if I should give it a try with Riley. Having taken a few psych classes in college I remember a little about Freud's theory on potty training. He believes that how we are potty trained has a major affect on our personalities and how we view life. If you are unfamiliar with this theory check this site out http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/ss/psychosexualdev_3.htm .
To anal retentive me, Potty Training, in general, is simply just another opportunity for parents to screw up their kids. I'm trying my best to screw Riley up as little as possible. We'll see how that goes.
Hollywood's Hottest Accessory
The hottest thing to hit Hollywood’s red carpet is not the new strappy Jimmy Choos or the totally to die for Givency purse. Contrary to popular belief, the must have accessory for today’s fashion is no longer the Jessica Simpson poofy white puppy hanging out of the equally cute Versace carry all. No. If you want to be rockin’ runway style you need the “baby.” Babies come in all shapes and sizes, colors, and designs and will guarantee you Page Six if not front cover media attention from baby’s birth to her first visit to Betty Ford.
Babies are all the rage this season as shown in the numerous baby bumps surfacing under cutesy “Mother I’d like to F*#@” and other couture tees celebrating hot momhood. Not ready to make the commitment? Don’t worry. Let others know you plan to get your accessory sometime soon with the shirt “future MILF” as seen sported by high school cheerleaders everywhere.
Want to go for the always in fashion “bad girl” look? Get pregnant BEFORE you get married as once seen in moms like Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Garner, and now Brigitte Moynahan. Don’t worry about your big day. High fashion wedding designers are altering their creations with baby bump space for the non-blushing bride.
The newest vacation spot for expectant mothers is the luxurious, pampering, maternity suite. Indulge in a three day stay in four star accommodations where you can enjoy an ultra private celebrity entrance as you are greeted with delicious virgin cocktails and concierge service. Enjoy classical music, soothing massages, herbal therapy, deluxe manicures and pedicures. Extend your stay and meet with the finest plastic surgeons to nip, tuck, suck, enlarge, reduce, smooth, re-shape, or lift any problem areas caused by the hard work of delivering your accessory. The ultimate goal, of course, is to be thinner than when you started. If you’re into saving the world and your figure you can adopt, like Madonna and Angelina, to sport your own Benetton ad. Three words for you. Diversity. Diversity. Diversity.
Hollywood moms, get to give their accessory a hip name like “Rumor,” “Apple,” or “Ryder” and maintain their normal high maintenance lifestyle with the help of four or more nannies. Like Britney, take your accessory out for the paparazzi and put it away for nights of pantyless clubbing. When you do go out, travel with your new accessory in style with the Mercedes Benz of strollers the $900 Bugaboo Frog.
In Hollywood, when your baby is born, you have great clothing options for your little ankle biter. Gwen Stefani has her own line of designer baby clothes. To heck with yesterday’s Dora diapers and onesies. Choose from to die for leather coordinates and super designer baby bling. Why shouldn’t your accessory be a well dressed one? For baby’s first haircut, be sure to hire only the best and ask for a Maddox inspired Mohawk or Suri’s luscious locks. Follow these simple guidelines and maybe your baby too can become a wax figure at Madame Tussaud’s gallery in LA.
Babies are all the rage this season as shown in the numerous baby bumps surfacing under cutesy “Mother I’d like to F*#@” and other couture tees celebrating hot momhood. Not ready to make the commitment? Don’t worry. Let others know you plan to get your accessory sometime soon with the shirt “future MILF” as seen sported by high school cheerleaders everywhere.
Want to go for the always in fashion “bad girl” look? Get pregnant BEFORE you get married as once seen in moms like Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes, Jennifer Garner, and now Brigitte Moynahan. Don’t worry about your big day. High fashion wedding designers are altering their creations with baby bump space for the non-blushing bride.
The newest vacation spot for expectant mothers is the luxurious, pampering, maternity suite. Indulge in a three day stay in four star accommodations where you can enjoy an ultra private celebrity entrance as you are greeted with delicious virgin cocktails and concierge service. Enjoy classical music, soothing massages, herbal therapy, deluxe manicures and pedicures. Extend your stay and meet with the finest plastic surgeons to nip, tuck, suck, enlarge, reduce, smooth, re-shape, or lift any problem areas caused by the hard work of delivering your accessory. The ultimate goal, of course, is to be thinner than when you started. If you’re into saving the world and your figure you can adopt, like Madonna and Angelina, to sport your own Benetton ad. Three words for you. Diversity. Diversity. Diversity.
Hollywood moms, get to give their accessory a hip name like “Rumor,” “Apple,” or “Ryder” and maintain their normal high maintenance lifestyle with the help of four or more nannies. Like Britney, take your accessory out for the paparazzi and put it away for nights of pantyless clubbing. When you do go out, travel with your new accessory in style with the Mercedes Benz of strollers the $900 Bugaboo Frog.
In Hollywood, when your baby is born, you have great clothing options for your little ankle biter. Gwen Stefani has her own line of designer baby clothes. To heck with yesterday’s Dora diapers and onesies. Choose from to die for leather coordinates and super designer baby bling. Why shouldn’t your accessory be a well dressed one? For baby’s first haircut, be sure to hire only the best and ask for a Maddox inspired Mohawk or Suri’s luscious locks. Follow these simple guidelines and maybe your baby too can become a wax figure at Madame Tussaud’s gallery in LA.
Presence During Pregnancy
I am a student of yoga and found myself unable to practice after being on bed rest after 8 weeks of pregnancy. Not being able to stretch and move my stress away, I began to focus my energy on meditation. This has been my year of mediation—so much so that I when I was able to return to work (as a teacher) I had decided to incorporate it into my high school English Curriculum. At the beginning of my classes I play soft music and give guided meditation to my crazy off the wall high schoolers who have just returned from lunch or are awaiting the end of the day and are bouncing off the walls. They have come to enjoy it so much that many tell me they use what they’ve learned at home. On the few occasions I don’t do meditation, many of them ask for it.
I first started guided mediation when a co-worker asked me to incorporate it into our summer school program. Never having been the guider of guided meditation, I wasn’t comfortable with it at all but I decided to take on the challenge knowing it would deepen my own experience with meditation. I, after all was new to mediation myself. What could I possibly teach them? I taught them to focus on breathing, in and out of their noses. I taught them that when our minds hold tension our bodies hold tension as well. I told them that we need to release our distractions, frustrations, and things that simply no longer serve us. I taught them the importance of being present.
These were things I was learning myself at the time—they were even things I was struggling with. Like for instance, my greatest challenge has always been to be present. I have this horrible tendency of dwelling on my past and worrying so much about my future that I was almost never present. The only way I knew how to be present was to focus on my breathing because if I was focusing on my breathing I couldn’t think about anything else.
I am now five months pregnant, and I think one of the greatest gifts my baby has given me is the gift of presence. I remember sitting on my couch feeling my mind wander towards worry when I felt my first real kick. It was small but swift and completely took me by surprise. I giggled and thought immediately my baby was telling me to stop day dreaming. With each of her kicks, she brings me back to the moment—the richest moment of my life—this very moment where she is growing and developing into a little person me and my husband created together in love. She reminds that there is nothing more important than us and there is no greater time than now. Now is all we have. I can not remember a time I’ve ever felt more present, more alive, or more at peace. It’s amazing how much we can learn from children—both in the classroom and in the womb.
I first started guided mediation when a co-worker asked me to incorporate it into our summer school program. Never having been the guider of guided meditation, I wasn’t comfortable with it at all but I decided to take on the challenge knowing it would deepen my own experience with meditation. I, after all was new to mediation myself. What could I possibly teach them? I taught them to focus on breathing, in and out of their noses. I taught them that when our minds hold tension our bodies hold tension as well. I told them that we need to release our distractions, frustrations, and things that simply no longer serve us. I taught them the importance of being present.
These were things I was learning myself at the time—they were even things I was struggling with. Like for instance, my greatest challenge has always been to be present. I have this horrible tendency of dwelling on my past and worrying so much about my future that I was almost never present. The only way I knew how to be present was to focus on my breathing because if I was focusing on my breathing I couldn’t think about anything else.
I am now five months pregnant, and I think one of the greatest gifts my baby has given me is the gift of presence. I remember sitting on my couch feeling my mind wander towards worry when I felt my first real kick. It was small but swift and completely took me by surprise. I giggled and thought immediately my baby was telling me to stop day dreaming. With each of her kicks, she brings me back to the moment—the richest moment of my life—this very moment where she is growing and developing into a little person me and my husband created together in love. She reminds that there is nothing more important than us and there is no greater time than now. Now is all we have. I can not remember a time I’ve ever felt more present, more alive, or more at peace. It’s amazing how much we can learn from children—both in the classroom and in the womb.
Princesses in Distress?
Creating a Society Full of Princesses in Distress
By Christine Brody
Since the moment of finding out I was pregnant, I was certain I was having a boy—I even called him Jack for the first five months of life in the womb. I pictured blue Osh Kosh overalls, dump trucks, and pinstripe Yankee uniforms with Johnny Damon’s number on the back. His first Halloween costume would be a firefighter’s just like his Daddy and I even thought of stocking up on the “pee pee tee pees” for the impending showers during diaper changes. So when I found out this month that I was having a little girl who I now apologetically call Riley, I was shocked and delighted by how off my maternal instinct actually was. I also wondered if I’d be any good at raising a girl. Why would God give me a girl if I spent most of my childhood digging for worms, playing catch with my brothers, and avoiding anything that remotely resembled dolls, stockings, and pattened leather shoes?
Regardless, being the Aunt of four nieces you will find me painting finger nails, having tea parties, fixing pony tails and all that good stuff but I can’t help but wonder about the “princess” phenomena. Princesses are royalty. They are rich and beautiful and can be found in fairytales, Monaco, and the UK. They are in every store and every closet, on sippy cups, socks, bathing suits, and toothbrushes. But what kind of message are they sending to the world? When we play dress up with our little girls and put them in princess dresses, tiaras, and other shiny bling are we telling them that happiness comes from money and beauty? I want Riley to look up to people who are generous, intelligent, independent, and creative—not simply externally beautiful.
Are we creating a society full of disillusioned, disappointed, young women? As a high school teacher I am horrified by how many senior girls wearing “Princess” baby tees plan on majoring in marrying rich. I want Riley to feel the sense of accomplishment from earning a degree, landing a job, and the rush from obtaining her first paycheck and business card.
Are we sending girls out into the world in search of fantasy, in search of the unattainable non-existent Prince? I can’t tell you how many weddings I see where the bride-to-be twirls around in her wedding dress claiming that she is a princess. Well, she’s not! She lives in realty where there is stress, bills, the IRS, and bird flu. Mirror mirror on the wall, why won’t the divorce rate ever fall? Now, at three years old my nieces don’t need to know all this but can’t we prepare them for a reality that depends on partnership as opposed to a Prince? I don’t want Riley thinking that she needs a Prince to make her happy.
By Christine Brody
Since the moment of finding out I was pregnant, I was certain I was having a boy—I even called him Jack for the first five months of life in the womb. I pictured blue Osh Kosh overalls, dump trucks, and pinstripe Yankee uniforms with Johnny Damon’s number on the back. His first Halloween costume would be a firefighter’s just like his Daddy and I even thought of stocking up on the “pee pee tee pees” for the impending showers during diaper changes. So when I found out this month that I was having a little girl who I now apologetically call Riley, I was shocked and delighted by how off my maternal instinct actually was. I also wondered if I’d be any good at raising a girl. Why would God give me a girl if I spent most of my childhood digging for worms, playing catch with my brothers, and avoiding anything that remotely resembled dolls, stockings, and pattened leather shoes?
Regardless, being the Aunt of four nieces you will find me painting finger nails, having tea parties, fixing pony tails and all that good stuff but I can’t help but wonder about the “princess” phenomena. Princesses are royalty. They are rich and beautiful and can be found in fairytales, Monaco, and the UK. They are in every store and every closet, on sippy cups, socks, bathing suits, and toothbrushes. But what kind of message are they sending to the world? When we play dress up with our little girls and put them in princess dresses, tiaras, and other shiny bling are we telling them that happiness comes from money and beauty? I want Riley to look up to people who are generous, intelligent, independent, and creative—not simply externally beautiful.
Are we creating a society full of disillusioned, disappointed, young women? As a high school teacher I am horrified by how many senior girls wearing “Princess” baby tees plan on majoring in marrying rich. I want Riley to feel the sense of accomplishment from earning a degree, landing a job, and the rush from obtaining her first paycheck and business card.
Are we sending girls out into the world in search of fantasy, in search of the unattainable non-existent Prince? I can’t tell you how many weddings I see where the bride-to-be twirls around in her wedding dress claiming that she is a princess. Well, she’s not! She lives in realty where there is stress, bills, the IRS, and bird flu. Mirror mirror on the wall, why won’t the divorce rate ever fall? Now, at three years old my nieces don’t need to know all this but can’t we prepare them for a reality that depends on partnership as opposed to a Prince? I don’t want Riley thinking that she needs a Prince to make her happy.
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