Bring on the Daddy Wars!

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 13:35:00 GMT

Self-Made Mom is urging readers to head over to MomsRising and sign the petition to 'end the mommy wars.' The petition is directed at CBS, NBC, ABC and other media outlets, and urges them to shift coverage from headline-grabbing mythic mommy war struggles to the real problems facing families today.

This petition is part of a larger effort coordinated by M.O.T.H.E.R.S. (Mothers Ought to Have Equal Rights) to present this signed petition at a Mother's Day "Mommy Wars Ceasefire" to be held on Mother's Day 2007. Mothers Day was originally conceptualized as a day for families to work together to better their communities. MOTHERS and MomsRising want to return to the original intention of the 2nd Sunday in June by calling a ceasefire in the Mommy Wars.Self-Made Mom is urging readers to head over to MomsRising and sign the petition to 'end the mommy wars.' The petition is directed at CBS, NBC, ABC and other media outlets, and urges them to shift coverage from headline-grabbing mythic mommy war struggles to the real problems facing families today.

But I'm in favor of the mommy wars. The language of war may be divisive and encourage divisions and fake mommy factions, but it simultaneously brings the discussion to some dinner tables that might not otherwise talk of these things at all.

This country is hemorrhaging federal dollars to fund the War on Iraq. If it takes talk of mommy wars to keep issues such as daycare and health insurance coverage on the national agenda, then so be it. In fact, let's stop leaving daddies out of the equation (this petition is very momcentric, after all). Bring on the daddy wars!

Cocktail Playdates: What's the Big Deal?

Stefania Pomponi Butler (CityMama) — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:15:00 GMT

Did you catch the Today Show this morning? Melissa Summers was on with Meredith Viera discussing the "cocktail playdate" phenomenon.

When Melissa told me she was going on the show, I was worried that the producers would try to paint those of us that might like to have a cocktail or glass of wine at playdates (no, not every one, and not at 9:00 AM although some days...) as a bunch of irresponsible alcoholics, but my impression was that it was a very balanced segment.

The moms they interviewed were all women I'd be happy to have over some afternoon to share a bottle of wine. And Melissa is right, if you have a problem with that we probably can't be friends. And people that criticize moms who drink responsibly BECAUSE WE'RE ADULTS, are just looking for an excuse to critize, well, anything.

The Today Show polled iVillage members and 57% disapproved of "momtinis." I think the numbers would be different if they polled on a site like Babble. So what do you think? Have you ever shared a bottle of wine or mixed up a batch of mojitos with other parents while your kids are around? Or should alcohol never mix with children?

[graphic credit: Suburban Bliss]

Strollerderby : moms drinking

Bring on the Daddy Wars!

Cocktail Playdates: What's the Big Deal?