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• Top 12 Rudest Questions to Ask Expectant Parents

  Man, people are rude! Or stupid! Or insensitive! Or all three! This Washington Post list of the Top 10 Rudest Questions is stunning. Yet it also has a few holes in it, since only one of these rude questions involves pregnancy or parenting. I don't know about you, but some of the rudest questions my husband and I have encountered were during my pregnancies. With the help of others at Strollerderby, I've compiled a list of doozies. But surely you've heard worse. Add them in the comments!   Read More... Posted Jun 18 2008, 06:29 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 35 comment(s) Filed under: Washington Post, stupid people, stupid questions, top 12 rudest questions to ask expectant parents, top 10 rudest questions

• Pro-Life Pharmacy won't sell birth control

  DMC Pharmacy, can we help you? Oh, you want birth control pills. I'm sorry, we can't help you with that. No, we don't sell condoms either. How about this pamphlet on the Rhythm Method? Perhaps a new Bible? Hello? Hello, are you there? The DMC Pharmacy in Chantilly, Virginia, is a Pharmacy with a Point of View. Basically, if you're going to "do it," you should be prepared for the pitter-patter of little feet. That means no condoms, no birth control pills, no morning after pill – nada. Zip. The "family planning" aisle will be filled with rosary beads, Left Behind novels and... Read More... Posted Jun 18 2008, 10:00 AM by Brett Singer with | with 13 comment(s) Filed under: news, religion, christianity, Virginia, birth control, church, abortion, condoms, family planning, Catholicism, planned parenthood, Washington Post, God, Brett Singer, catholic, belief, birth control pill, eternal hellfire, right of conscience, Thomas More Society, Tom Brejcha, ru486, pharmacist, drugstore, chantilly, pharmacy, religious beliefs, da vinci code, morning after pill, plan b, dmc pharmacy, drug stores

• Republicans Hate Mothers, Apple Pie

  You'd think if you were trying to tie up Congress with shenanigans -- something both parties are great at -- you'd at least have the common sense to take a time out when a simple vote honoring moms comes to the floor. I mean, I get it if you want to dick around with mortgage legislation or the war -- you know, things that don't really mean anything -- but moms? Ladies and Gentlemen -- just how stupid are you?   Read More... Posted May 12 2008, 10:29 AM by Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) with | with 4 comment(s) Filed under: news, moms, Washington Post, republicans, Democrats, feel the love

• Meet 'The Breast Whisperer'

  The Washington Post runs an article today about a D.C. lactaction consultant so effective, she is known as "The Breast Whisperer." Yes, the woman literally speaks to the breasts of new mothers: "Psst. Hey, boob. No, not you, the other one. I've got a secret to tell you: If you don't start making some milk, I'm going to get medieval on your ass." Just you watch: The Breast Whisperer will wind up with her own show on the National Geographic Channel. And every week, she'll tell women they need to let their nipples be the pack leaders. Okay, (most) jokes aside: What does Pat Shelly, Lactaction Consultant Extraordinaire, have that other nursing nurturers don't? Read More... Posted Apr 27 2008, 12:33 PM by Jen Chaney with | with 18 comment(s) Filed under: breastfeeding, Washington, nursing, Washington Post, feeding, lactation consultants, Breast Whisperer, D.C., Pat Shelly, la leche

• Update: School Reinstates Tag After "Reorientation"

  The Virginia elementary school that banned tag may again allow kids to be "it". A few weeks ago, principal Robyn Hooker outlawed the game, saying it had gotten out of hand, with students being tackled and piled on and dragged into games unwillingly. Some outcry among parents ensued, and so school administrators instituted a week of "reorientation lessons on playground safety" (sounds so ominous, like "reprogramming") in P.E. classes, and should be allowing the game to begin again today.   Now clearly we are a blog divided on this issue, and I have the feeling...   Read More... Posted Apr 25 2008, 12:32 PM by Kelly Mills with | with no comments Filed under: games, education, discipline, strollerderby, Virginia, schools, violence, principal, Washington Post, rules, recess, ban, Tag, libertarian, elementary

• Maternity Leave and Sick Newborns

  Here's the Sophie's Choice of parental leave: use up all your leave time to be with your preemie newborns at the hospital or save it for after they get home? A federal employee in Washington, D.C., had to make that decision and wound up going back to work two weeks (two weeks!) after giving birth.   Read More... Posted Mar 12 2008, 04:03 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: newborns, NICU, preemies, Washington Post, maternity leave, family medical leave act, family leave laws

• Badass Coach/Mom Takes Weeks-Old Twins to Tournament

  Here's how I know that I lack determination, motivation, a sense of teamwork and the ability to show some hustle. I think this women's basketball coach is crazy -- admirable, but crazy. Brenda Frese, a coach/mom for the women's basketball team at the University of Maryland, wanted to be there for the final game of the seniors on her team when they play in the ACC women's basketball tournament in North Carolina. But she couldn't stand the idea of being away from her two newborn sons. Here's her plan:   Read More... Posted Mar 10 2008, 04:35 PM by Madeline Holler with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: coach, Washington Post, post-partum, maternity leave, short maternity leave, returning to work, brenda frese

• Did the Washington Post Say Our Girls Are Dim Or Not?

  The other day I was discussing the women's suffrage movement with my daughter. When she asked why women couldn't vote in the past, I cited a number of reasons, including the fact that many people thought women were too emotional and less intelligent than men, and therefore couldn't be entrusted to make good decisions. She looked dumbfounded, and asked, "Well, since the women knew that wasn't true, why didn't they just take over?" That led to another involved discussion, and it came up that some women also bought the stereotypes about themselves. Hey, and then the next day the Washington Post printed this idiotic thing on how women are dumber than men.  You may have heard that the Outlook editor John Pomfret says the piece of crap was intended to be "tongue-in-cheek." I dunno... Read More... Posted Mar 04 2008, 06:35 PM by Kelly Mills with | with 5 comment(s) Filed under: girls, satire, humor, women, feminism, Washington Post, sexism, women's rights, emotion, editor, charlotte allen, sex differences, stereotype, stupid

• Washington Post's "On Being" Series Features Stay-at-Home-Dad

  Jennifer Crandall's "On Being" series for the Washington Post features video clips of people from all walks of life, and this week's topic, "On Being: a stay-at-home-parent features Jeffrey Barehand and his son Beckham. I was comforted to see that his hair is slightly dishevled and his clothes are slightly wrinkled, just like mine.  He also has that tired and punch drunk "relaxed" demeanor of a typical stay-home-parent.  Barehand talks about feeling like an "eco-Nazi" for driving and SUV and his need for self-medication, at least glass of wine a night. (Hmmm. Wonder if the sanctimommies will get all up in arms about a dad drinking?). Like all of us who stay home with our kids (or all of us who do the "Juggle"), it's all worth it when you feel tiny arms encircle your neck and a little voice saying, "Da." Posted Apr 20 2007, 07:03 PM by Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) with | with no comments Filed under: parenting, stay at home dads, Washington Post, on being

• One Mom, One Child: The Gift of Down Syndrome

  As the mother of a child with Down syndrome, I cannot help but be thrilled when I read articles like Abigail Braithwaite's heartfelt essay about life with her daughter with Down syndrome in yesterday's Washington Post.  Her experiences with her nine-month-old daughter Adara seem to mirror my own with my son at that age in so many ways, and her frankness about her life with this tiny, charming girl is refreshing.  In order to truly educate people on what it's like raising a child with special needs, it's important to tell the whole story: the tears of frustration over things you cannot control, the myriad ways you have to develop of doing things differently just to help your child survive, the grief for the child you thought you were going to have, and finally the acceptance and realization of just who it is that's come to live with you and give to you their extraordinary gifts. Abigail's essay will likely help bring about new perspectives to people about what it's like to raise or be a person with Down syndrome.  For her, it's summed up this way:  "I have long said I am one of the luckiest people I know. This belief has been shaken a couple of times in the past months, but I will stand by those words today. Life is a wild journey; our job is to make the most of it." I'll add to it:  I cannot imagine my life without my son Eric, now that he is here.  My life and my perspective about so very many things have changed immensely because of him, and I can't wait to see him continue to bring his gifts to me, my family, and to everyone he meets. Posted Apr 04 2007, 02:05 PM by Karen Murphy with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: babies, special needs, down syndrome, Washington Post