Tag Archives: motherhood

Girl Talk: Can Friendships Derail When Babies Come On Board?

Joanne HinkelFebruary 16, 2010 //

The email perplexed me:


Joanne, Sorry to sound pathetic, but have I done something to offend you?
 — Michelle*

There was no clue, no context. Really, was I on my own here to deconstruct what the hell Michelle, a college buddy from 12 years back, was referring to? How could she have done anything offensive when we hadn’t spoken in more than a few months?

This discovery came on a recent Saturday morning; while mulling over my response, I poured myself a second cup of coffee and settled into the couch again with my laptop for another weekend ritual, catching up on Facebook, where Michelle’s status update, I suspected, was designed for my eyes: “Is it still possible to remain friends with someone whom you have very little in common? I thought it was.” Double-whammy. WTF? Keep reading »

Today’s Lady News: Military To Discharge Single Mom Who Refused Deployment

Jessica WakemanFebruary 12, 2010 //
  • The Army has decided to discharge Spc. Alexis Hutchinson, a single mother who refused to deploy to Afghanistan because she could not find care for her 1-year-old son. The 21-year-old Army cook was arrested in November and faced a court marshal. However, a general at Fort Stewart in California granted Hutchinson an administrative discharge, which means she will be demoted in ranking and lose her benefits. [Yahoo]
  • Saudi Arabia‘s religious police, the muttawa, are cracking down on Valentine’s Day, patrolling stores for any signs of banned roses, chocolates, cards and stuffed animals. According to The Times of London dating in the Western sense, including the public amorous gestures that occur on Valentine’s Day, is simply not acceptable. [The Times Online]
  • Kate Winslet has been tapped to star in an HBO miniseries based on the 1945 film “Mildred Pierce.” Joan Crawford won a Best Actress award for the movie, which is about a woman abandoned by her husband who becomes financially independent and successful, yet is still hated by her bratty daughter. [Variety]

Keep reading »

Betty Draper, Mother Of The Year. No, Seriously!

Jessica WakemanOctober 27, 2009 //

Betty Draper doesn’t take any crap. Well, until she booted Don out of the house last season, the “Mad Men” matron took a lot of crap from her two-timing husband. Rather, stay-at-home suburban mom Betty doesn’t take any crap from her two oldest children, Sally and Bobby, and that brand of maternalism would make her practically an endangered species in America today. In nearly every episode, Betty sternly barks: “No,” “Go upstairs and play,” or “Don’t touch that”—and the rugrats actually listen. Keep reading »

Trailer Park: “Motherhood,” “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” “Amelia,” “Astro Boy”

adminOctober 23, 2009 //

This week’s movies—and really most movies in general, even in sometimes perverse ways—are about following your dreams, whether those dreams involve becoming a real boy like “Astro Boy,” creating history like “Amelia,” feeling significant as in “Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant,” or finding that lost passion for your nonexistent career with “Motherhood.” And if none of those things appeal to you, go read a book. It’s just like a movie but less pretty and with constant subtitles. Keep reading »

Mother Gives 9-Year-Old Son Pot: Therapeutic Or Psychotic?

Susannah BreslinOctober 6, 2009 //

Ah, Double X. Welcome to the world of “alternative motherhood.” This week, Marie Myung-Ok Lee delivers an update on why she gives her nine-year-old son pot. Yes, nine. Yes, pot. Why? Well, he’s autistic and allergic. According to her, the marijuana helps him function. The pot is delivered daily by way of cannabis tea and pot cookies. (Oh, a tea party! How fun!) Four months since the start of this “experiment” in getting her kid stoned, Lee’s son, whom she refers to as “Cannabis J.,” has stopped eating his clothes and is significantly less prone to acting out aggressively in school; although, she says, his autism has “become more distinct.” Her conclusion?

“I don’t consider marijuana a miracle cure for autism. But as an amateur herbalist, I do consider it a wonderful, safe botanical that allows J. to participate more fully in life without the dangers and sometimes permanent side effects of pharmaceutical drugs; now that we have a good dose and a good strain.”

Great, I think, reading those words. Congrats on finding a good “dose” for your son. On the other hand, pot is … natural. What do you think? Mothers Gone Wild or Mother Nature’s Treatment? [Double X] Keep reading »

Smoking While Preggo May Make Your Baby Psycho

Ami AngelowiczOctober 1, 2009 //

I know we all have “Mad Men” fever these days. On the off chance that you have become desensitized while watching Betty Draper suck those cancer sticks and throw back cocktails with her bun in the oven, let me remind you once again that smoking while pregnant is hazardous to the baby. Wait? You already knew that? But in case you need just one more good reason to quit lighting up while knocked up, a new U.K. study about smoking while pregnant is likely to scare the s**t out of you. Keep reading »

Marie Claire Profiles Three Mothers Without Child Custody

Carrie WasterlainJuly 15, 2009 //

A recent article in Marie Claire magazine narrates the stories of three divorced mothers who gave up custody of their children—Maria Housden left her girls to their father in order to recover from the death of one of her daughters, Elle Hull decided to leave her kids with her ex-husband so that she could rebuild her formerly-falling apart life, and Rebekah Spicuglia gave up custody in order to go back to school.
Keep reading »

Bad Wife Or Bad Mother: Which Will You Choose?

Amelia McDonell-ParryMay 15, 2009 //

In Bad Mother, author Ayelet Waldman encourages women to aspire to be “not bad” mothers and resist the pressure to meet the extremely high standards of success that society has for women and motherhood. Waldman wants women to stop trying so hard and just be. She argues that mothers can and should be honest, flawed, and, yes, selfish sometimes — your ability to care for your children will not suffer.

Waldman’s book is a welcome change from the usual motherhood self-help nonsense that lines the shelves at Barnes & Noble. The book deal was struck after Waldman wrote a controversial piece for the New York Times‘s “Modern Love” column a few years ago. In “Truly, Madly, Guiltily,” she wrote about loving her husband, author Michael Chabon, more than their four children. Her confession came about after observing how many other mothers didn’t seem to have as active a sex life with their husbands, a fact she attributed to their focus on being moms rather than wives.
Keep reading »

Quickies!: Jessica Simpson’s Flattering Outfit, Bank Of England Stomps On Women’s Rights

Annika HarrisFebruary 2, 2009 //
  • Jessica Simpson has learned that a simple T-shirt, jeans and a scarf is always best if you don’t have a professional stylist. [Popbytes]
  • Putting too much pressure on your guy for a marriage proposal could end up backfiring on you if he really isn’t ready. And no one wants to marry a nag. [Dear Sugar]
  • These TV characters will definitely make your bachelorette party a night to remember. [Your Tango]

    • Keep reading »

    Sex Advice: Should I Go On A Sex Hiatus Post-Baby?

    Sexpert LindsaySeptember 4, 2008 //

    “I am a new mother of my fourth child. During the last couple of months of my pregnancy, my husband was uncomfortable having sex with me. I felt rejected, but kind of understood. This led to a good three months of no sex. By the time we DID it, it was awkwardly uncomfortable for me. I still felt like a whale. It is now two months since that first time, and we’re still not at normal speed. We used to have sex at least twice per week. The last time we had sex was three weeks ago. I feel rejected, further, and I have no confidence to initiate anything. I feel lonely and heartbroken. I love him, and I have no intentions of leaving him, but I can’t imagine allowing him to see me naked again. Is it possible to put off sex until I lose more baby-weight? I know that it could boost my confidence to tone up and give my body a good makeover. Can a relationship survive no sex during the time it would take to lose about 30 pounds?” — New Mom In Crisis, via email Keep reading »

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