Strollerderby : Strollerderby playdates

Strollerderby Playdate: Dan Savage

Erin White — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT

From France to Salt Lake City, same-sex parent adoption is all over the news these days. Depending on who and what you read, it is good for kids, bad for kids, protects non-biological parents, threatens non-biological parents, threatens straight parents, threatens national security. It's times likes these when I like to schedule a playdate with Dan Savage, an old friend I've never met.

Savage, as you may well know, is the editor of Seattle's weekly paper The Stranger, a sex columnist, and a commentator on "This American Life." He is also a gay dad, and the author of one of the best books ever on gay adoption: The Kid. I love this book. I love Savage's other book, too, and I really love this article he wrote a few years back about his family's evolving relationship with his son's birth mother. Savage is unabashedly sexy, political, and somehow both self-deprecating and completely unapologetic. He is a gay dad who refuses to buy into the idea that in order to be accepted by straight society he must play down the "gay" and play up the "dad."

Until I just happen upon him at the local playground (doubtful for oh so many reasons, the first being I don't live in Seattle, the second being his son aged out of such frivolities a while back), I'll be hanging out with Savage on the printed page where he does an unparalleled job of reminding his readers that parents who welcome children into their families regardless of how those children were welcomed into the world are anything but a threat.

Strollerderby Playdate: Telling Your Kid About Prison

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 12:02:00 GMT

So I was watching Oprah yesterday during nap time and I was more or less half paying attention while waiting for the stars of Juno to be interviewed -- yes, I was eating bon bons and reading Good Housekeeping at the time, what of it? -- and the boss lady was chatting with fallen sprinter Marion Jones about injecting herself with former East German olympians before races, or something equally performance enhancing like that. It was all kind of vague and mentally diluted by too much sugar, chocolate and my own performance enhancing program (oh come on, Wednesday is the day for business time; everyone knows that).

But then, suddenly, I was hooked. Couldn't look away. Turns out Jones has to serve some time in prison for lying to federal investigators about steroid use, and Oprah wanted to know if Jones had told her 4-year-old son about mommy's upcoming "vacation."

And the look on Jones face ... ugh, it was the poster for anti-lying campaigns, it was just so sad. She hadn't told her son yet -- yes, she went on Oprah and told the world -- but I'm not judging. That is going to be one tough-ass talk, and I don't envy her postion. Six months is a long time to be out "running errands."

So in the spirit of helping her out, here's a new kind of playdate -- prison playdate, if you will. How, exactly, does one tell a young child about upcoming prison time? Comment here or post on your own blog and let me know; I'll link to it here. Just please, be careful in the laundry room.

Strollerderby Playdate: Screwed Up Bad? You're Not Alone

Amy Kuras — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:17:00 GMT

The list of things that make me nuts is long and comprehensive, but near the top is smug hubris-filled jackholes who think their way is the only way and that we actually want or need to listen to their advice.

And ooohhhhh does the parenting corner of the Internet attract those people. Posting anything, anything at all on the Internet about your own parenting is a really good way to get told you're a horrible person who should have never had kids. And those are the nice commenters — anyone who's kept a blog or been on a message board has probably been the focus of a poorly spelled screed using insults like "stuped ideot". Because getting called a name by someone who can’t spell really hits a writer where they live.

Which is why I extra double super special love people who gleefully swap "You think YOU suck? Listen to what I did!" stories, who understand that if you can see the humor in this whole parenting sitch and realize we all make mistakes, we make life much much easier on ourselves and everyone else.

So my Playdate love this week goes to Finslippy, written by the lovely Alice Bradley. She asked readers to share their Bad Parent moments, and my oh my did people respond. She posted the best in this post, and still they just kept on coming. I may or may not have posted one myself. The stories are mostly hilarious, some are a little bit sad, and of course there was the requisite commenter who called everyone miserable human beings and didn't we realize we were ruining! our children's! precious and fleeting childhoods! and another commenter who just saw fit to post a link to attachmentparenting.org. Um, thanks?

Check it out. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you may even pee a little.

Strollerderby Playdate: The Awful Blog I Can't Stop Reading

Madeline Holler — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:32:00 GMT

How can it be that I am a regular reader of this blog? I mean, you could hardly call it a blog -- she posts only once or twice a month, it's not terribly interesting, it's surrounded by ads for gentle yet overpriced baby laundry detergent that you don't even need.

And it's her! Her! I don't even like her! I am not interested in her! I do nothing but criticize and disagree with her. I didn't watch her on TV before and, now that she's back, I still don't. I won't! Yet, I read her blog. I check it for updates, feel let down when there are none. I find myself identifying with her truly mundane stories and smiling at -- and I mean this in the rudest ways -- the very unfunny funny things she strains to write. Please, what is wrong with me?

Somehow, I have let Elisabeth Hasselbeck get under my skin and into the heart of my web browser. Bafflingly, I don't consider the three minutes I put in each month checking out her posts -- she doesn't even have links or games or a photo album to look through! -- wasted time. How could I? I love reading it! But shouldn't I hate myself a little more for loving it? Shouldn't I want to soak in a tub of scalding hot water and gentle Dreft soap bubbles?

It's like the playgroup I go to again and again. The membership is dwindling, the only mom who shows up is the one you have nothing in common with. Nothing! But I keep going -- once or twice a month -- to not connect, to not agree, to not enjoy. Why go? Why not.

Strollerderby Playdate: Turkey Talk

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:38:00 GMT

I'm not sure how it happened, but apparently, the holidays are just around the corner. And to think, there are still shorts in our laundry baskets and flip-flops strewn about the living room (note to self: must remember to take care of those before hauling in a Christmas tree). Fortunately, my bloggy brothas and sistahs are keeping this mama on task (sort of) or at least allowing me to procrastinate further on laundry by thinking about turkey hand drawings and pies (mmmm, pies...possibly the best motivation to put away flip-flops):

Bossy's daughter depicts a day in the life of a Seminole woman, which, for some strangely delicious reason involves looking like a Tootsie Roll.

Chookooloonks is breathlessly beholding the produce.

CityMama's featuring a week of Thanksgiving recipes for families of foodies. Catch up before you get scolded...or too hungry.

UrbanMamas are talking about jet lag while traveling over the holidays. And it has nothing to do with dragging the damn car seat behind you through those tiny airplane aisles.

and the holiday gets all tied up over at Kari's Couch.

Strollerderby Playdate: My Baby Books are as Empty as My Womb

Madeline Holler — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:01:00 GMT

I believe I am an open-minded, non-prejudicial kind of person. I know and understand that we’re all a part of this great human race – what unites us is more powerful than our little differences. Intellectually, I get that. My heart, however, tells a different story. I am more Archie Bunker than Dr. King when it comes to a growing segment of the U.S. population: scrapbooking hobbyists.

I don’t know if it’s the big nails or cultish retreats or the unbridled enthusiasm for tiny stickers that look like pacifiers, but I have only contempt for people who spend their time and money on stamping, home photo croppers and trunk-loads of quilted binders.

With that in mind, know that I feel humbled by this request: Scrapbookers? Pretty please? Can I get some help?

Let me back up. I have been saving sentimental bits of this and marginally meaningful sheets of that since getting pregnant with my first daughter. At some point, I bought a stylish photo album with a crisp, modern silhouette and very many blank, blank pages. I didn’t want to be limited to the Baby Book offerings, with their pre-planned pages and outlines for first photos or locks of baby's hair.

Turns out, I needed that kind of direction. Now, on the cusp of my daughters turning 7 and 3 years old, I have one baby book mostly complete through year one and another sitting so empty I could hawk it on eBay as “new with tags.” Do I really have only Ziploc bags of crap to give my girls for keepsakes?

As in any time of shameful crisis, I’ve searched for help online. Who appear to be my most promising saviors? Fucking scrapbook bloggers.

Here’s what I’ve got so far.

For getting started.

The basic album.

For when you get into it.

Stuff you'll never try

One for electronic scrapbooking (make it stop!).

And when you finally, truly, give up.

Before I get started, anyone have a better idea? This looks hard.

Strollerderby Playdate: Friend Week Continues

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 11:01:00 GMT

Jessica's post yesterday about her burgeoning bloggy tribe and her insatiable desire to steal wine coolers from her favorite writers got me thinking about my own daily reads, my own clique of writers who I must keep tabs on every day.

It never fails to amaze and astonish me that I know the inner musings of moms and dads I've never met, I've never seen or shared beers with (last dad here -- had to mention beer; it's obligatory). And yet, I've learned some fantastic bit of parenting advice or, in some cases, offered a virtual shoulder to lean on -- and vice versa.

I have far too many daily reads to list here, so maybe I'll continue this next week. But for starters, here you go:

Doodaddy -- The man can drink and fuck. Or so he claims.

Chicken and Cheese -- Digging the new digs.

World of One Thousand Different Things -- You want literary parenting? Go here.

I could go on for at least a solid dozen more. I promise to continue next week. Good idea, Jessica. Good idea.

Strollerderby Playdate: What? No Sick Days?

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 11:02:00 GMT

It's been months since I've been sick -- really sick, achy back sick, head full of mud and dancing anvils sick. Those things just keep jumping around and bashing into my skull, while the rest of me shakes a fist and screams, "Turn it down!"

"Can you take the day off?" I asked Dana. She couldn't. And I honestly didn't know what to do.

No one ever told me staying home meant no sick days. Up till now it's been long walks, picnics, playgrounds and playdates. I spent most of yesterday pushing Emmeline's hands away, muttering, "Don't touch the toilet, daddy's busy ... ohhhhh ...."

Just what the hell do you do anyway during a sick day? Call a sitter? Turn on Dora? Lace the morning oatmeal with morphine?

Choke on This escapes to work.

Lexie thankfully has someone to take over.

What's your sick day advice?

Strollerderby Playdate: Flights with Kids Are Great!

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 11:02:00 GMT

SD commenter Boob Mom yesterday said she wanted to see some "nice stories" about airplane travel with youngens, given she was about to embark on ~~a personal journey from hell~~ an airy, pleasant trip with a 5-month-old soon. Given that I'm about to do the same -- with a 16-month-old -- I wanted to hear a little good news, too.

So here goes. Flying with kids can be fun!

Krystal's infant slept the whole way - lucky.

Davy has his first flight - and giggles. Good for him!

Fellow commenter Liberrian (great name, by the way) said all would be well.

OK, I'm still thinking this is a joke, or maybe just written by one of the babies, but it's still pretty funny. Sure, the message is nice -- flights with kids can be fine -- but the thought of "brining children" at 30,000 feet still has me chuckling. Enjoy.

Strollerderby Playdate: Drooling over Droolicious

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:01:00 GMT

I love these guys. I do. They may not know it, but I'm camped outside their front doors with a boombox above my head as we speak, just waiting to get the latest on what's hot and what's not in baby-related goodness. Droolicious rules my day. And the insanely talented bloggers behind it are my queens. (That sounded so much better in my head.)

Chris from Notes from the Trenches is always ready with the razor-sharp wit.

Mir from Woulda Coulda Shoulda ... holy Jebus, lady, do you even sleep? Stop writing so much good stuff and making the rest of us look like slackers, huh?

I can't even begin to tell you how much I'm enjoying Karen at Vodkarella. You think her blog is amazing? Just see the internal Babble emails. Holy lord, man. I'm going to eBay them one of these days.

Charlene, however, is my fave -- even if the Catholic Guilt is something more akin to Catholic Fear. But yeah, I feel ya. I do. This time around is gonna be fun.

And oh yeah, there's also blogless-David, and then Stefania and Rachael and Kelly, but you get enough of those guys at the SD, right?

Droolicious. Live it. Love it.

Strollerderby Playdate: "Simpsons" Movie Unites Parents Everywhere

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:01:00 GMT

For the past seven hours -- or however long it's been since I tuned in to her recent and incessant natterings -- my wife has been strutting around the house singing, "Spider pig, spider pig -- does whatever a spider pig does."

I knew it could only mean one thing. She had seen the new trailer for the "Simpsons" movie, and she would soon be dragging me to the theater to watch it. You may remember I wasn't too thrilled about the movie initially -- saying, essentially, that the show hasn't lived up in recent years to the early episodes that played across my childhood. (Yes, the show has been on for almost 20 years. Yikes.)

But after seeing the trailer and watching the excitement in my wife's eyes as she yammered on and on about some elusive porcine-arachnid supercreature or whatever, I have to admit the show of my childhood, the one that had faded in glory but still drew me in occasionally to re-runs, has me very, very excited again.

And I'm not the only one. People everywhere are making Date Night plans to see the movie and relive a little of their past. Well, some of us are anyway.

Modest Micah has a cool cartoon photo.

Unleash the Epiphany is also going yellow.

And here, if you must see it, is the trailer that has sent my wife over the edge. Seriously, every time she sees it she laughs for a solid minute -- big laughs. Belly laughs. Followed by "Spider pig, spider pig ..."

Strollerderby Finishline: Y Chromosomes Unite!

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 20:31:00 GMT

Finally! Another co, er, rooster in the hen house. Please welcome Chag of Cynical Dad to the SD this week. He's fitting in quite nicely, what with references to bongs and vodka. Well done, my friend. Well done.

And thank god he's here. It's been a busy, exciting week -- now that the greatest parenting invention in the world has gone on sale. That's right, I'm talking about the MIOpup. It's finally here! And there was also something about an iPhone or whatever. Who can keep up?

Of course, we'll try.

This one was way, way too easy, because I think we all know Rachael likes to put her top down ...

Alisyn speaks the international language of peepee.

Congratulations to Kelly, who has survived another year. And thrown some wicked cool parties along the way. Happy Birthday Kiddo!

I may be the only one in the world to see a dark side of the iPhone. But you have to admit, that's one cute kid! Probably gets it from her mother. (God I love that photo, hence the reposting. Sorry. I'll stop.)

Pierre unearthed a video that made me think twice about having a teenager.

This is just one of the many, many reasons why Patti is unbelievably cool.

Sarah's pushing to get out the toddler vote. Hey, works in Chicago.

Jessica's take on board games is right on. Those things kill me, slowly. Thankfully there's alternatives.

Melissa is anti-American. Who can hate rhinestones? They worked so well for Sylvester Stallone. (Every young girl's role model.)

Gwynne joins the ranks and urges parents to conspire.

Neither Stefania nor Karen wrote anything of importance this week. (That's what you guys get for taunting me all week about your vacations and yummy food. Suck it, sistas!)

Strollerderby Playdate: Blogs By the Man

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 11:02:00 GMT

Most of the time I go to newspaper web sites to read about the events of the day or to find out whether Dick Cheney has officially taken over yet. But there a few newspapers I go to largely for the blogs -- the parenting blogs.

Sure, they're brought to you by The Man -- corporate honchos who just wanted to show they, too, can find their way around the intertubes. But, thankfully, the blogs themselves are written by dedicated, whip smart reporter parents who tackle everything from work-home balances to nostalgia for their own childhood.

Here are the best of the web:

Of course, I have to lead with the San Francisco Chronicle's The Poop -- not because I'm biased in any way, but because Peter Hartlaub really knows what he's doing.

The Wall Street Journal's The Juggle is never afraid from tackling tough issues.

And neither is the Washington Post's On Balance, where Rebel Dad also chimes in every week.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer's "Working Dad" covers everything from fun contests to parenting crises.

Any more?

Strollerderby Finishline: Broken Dad Edition

Mike Adamick (Cry It Out!) — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 16:01:00 GMT

I broke my nose at the playground today. I also gave myself a concussion. The hardest thing to take, sitting there atop the annoyingly cheerful red and yellow play structure that did me in, was the image of my daughter -- laughing. She then clapped for "more." Lesson learned: Bloody daddy is funny daddy.

(Seriously, should I be worried that it took me a half hour to write the above two sentences? Three sentences. No, four. Shit. Five. Holy crap, I cannot count at all. I think I need to go to the doctor.)

Five hours later ...

OK, so I'm back from the ER, where my wife forced me to go because of my unsightly whining and complaining and carrying on. "Jesus Christ, man -- Emmeline gets over injuries faster than you do," she said. "Why don't you go to the ER ... or somewhere."

The doctor told me to rest -- the perfect opportunity to peruse the Derby and, thanks to our fine collection of writers, give my brain a much needed break. (Ouch. When my cohorts call me on that one, and I know they will, I'm totally blaming the medication.)

So here we go -- the week in Stroller Derby as medication, the best medication ever because it's always like a spoonful of sugar. (Oh dear god. That's bad. Again, it's the meds.)

As always, Kelly offers the best advice -- telling Katie Holmes it's OK to be bitter, so long as there's a bottle of JD involved.

Rachael delves into a new and very odd trend -- persecution of red heads. Seriously, this family moved three times because of it. WTF?

Patti eats like a Sicilian family of four, but craves the sweet, sweet nectar of Mexican Coke. Who doesn't?

And speaking of powder, Alisyn discovers the secret to parenting: powdered booze. (In reality, she says teenagers will be the real beneficiaries, but I say why waste it on them?)

And again, speaking of alcohol, because that's how we parent, Sarah is my new best friend. Beer for Father's Day? Genius.

Karen takes relief in knowing her kids aren't the only ones without friends. It's a thing.

Jessica hasn't had to kill a friendship over differing parenting styles just yet, but her best friend hasn't decided to co-sleep yet.

Pierre finally admits he's a fuddy old geezer -- just because he doesn't like the idea of kids going to camp. On private jets. OK, so maybe he's not so fuddy after all.

Melissa gives in to childhood obesity, because really, you can only craft for so long over the summer.

I'd really like to link to something from Stefania -- but she totally phoned it in this week, only bringing two entirely new blogs to Babble. Slacker.

And finally, I'm still fed up with the push prize for new dads. Formula? Hospitals can't send you off with a new kid and an HDTV or something? I was just there. There were tons of them. TVs, I mean.

Strollerderby Playdate: Memorial Day Weekend Redux

Jessica Ashley (Sassafrass) — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:02:00 GMT

After a long week in Virginia celebrating a very Southern wedding, I was delighted to get home to y'allses and see the holiday weekend stretch out before me, uncluttered by commitments or schedules or deadlines. It felt like heaven. I unplugged the laptop (*gasp*) and uncorked a bottle of wine (*ahhh*) and we settled in for a few days of hanging out in the sun on the back porch, lazy walks through the neighborhood, napping, and an impromptu BBQ at a neighbor's house with loads of screaming, soaking wet, deliriously happy kids and very relaxed adults hovering by the grill and keg. It was exactly as a holiday weekend should be.

Now that it is all coming to a close, I feel better about plugging back in and, like a nosy neighbor, peeking in to see how my favorite bloggers spent their down time this Memorial Day weekend. Here's the goss from around the blogo-block:

Check out Thingamababy for the report on the Kinetic Grand Championship that took place over the weekend. The crazy pics are hilarious and I was so amped to see racers from Corvallis, Oregon mentioned. I ate many a felafel sandwich on the sidelines of many a kinetic race during my stint in Corvallis years ago. Good times.

Head on over to MUBAR where Jen's had an a-ha moment about why (other) parents ban pinwheels plucked from grocery store holiday displays.

While you're grabbing up BBQ supplies at the store, Becki from Cooking with Whine reminds you to get the fixins for watermelon sorbet that will delight your senses and stir up your total irritation at how lame schools can be for kids (and parents) who just want to get their end-of-year potluck on.

Grab a lawn chair and lemonade at Susiej's, where she's reflecting on her personal connections and political conflicts as soldiers are sent off to war. Sus has a way of giving pause during what could be detached Memorial Day madness.

While you're taking a moment, hang out on the porch with Kristen from Motherhood Uncensored for a bit. She's offering up links and good thoughts for the folks serving our country while we're busy serving up potato salad and fruit kabobs.

[photo credit: Maura McEvoy via Barefoot Contessa]

Strollerderby Playdate: Notes to Self

Sarah, Goon Squad Sarah — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 11:04:00 GMT

Sometimes I really worry about my fellow bloggers, so I have compiled what some may considered linky love, but I am calling notes to self:

Don't open any mail from Bossy.

Next time when my kids puke in their car seats, Swistle is NOT the one to call for help.

Her Bad Mother reminded me why I didn't become a philosophy professor.

Don't let Dawn see the gnomes I stole next time she comes over.

Black Belt Mama is right. Why DO kids always end up injuring their faces right at picture time?