By Abby Theuring, MSW
The longer I work at breastfeeding advocacy and activism the harder it becomes to separate issues surrounding breastfeeding and breastfeeding in public from larger feminist issues. Intrigued by the connection I started reading feminist essays and picked up Rebecca Solnit’s book Men Explain Things to Me. I worked up an appetite to [Read more…]
Jack (4.5 years) and I started a game where we fell into the foam pit backwards. Exley (18 months) started to join in. One of the times Exley came over and flopped onto my chest. He pulled at my shirt, Jack saw this and yelled, “boobie time!” They both latched on for about a minute and then I said, “ok, that’s good!” And then we started to play again. [Read more…]
After a recent hot shower I was overcome with a familiar feeling that could only mean one thing, it was December in Chicago. I had a tight, dry and itchy feeling to my skin that totally erased any comfort I had gained from a few minutes to myself in a steamy shower. I associate this feeling with the disappearance of any moisture in the air, shoveling the car out, chapped lips, gobs of lotion, static cling and getting shocked when touching my kids. The heat (and air conditioning for that matter) coming on exacerbates all of these things. It’s right at this time that I take out our Crane humidifier and ask it nicely to please work overtime for the next 6 months.
The Double Standard Bar, Part 1: My Body Is Not a Crime
I stand here on a beach in Chicago with my shirt off. I am breaking the law. Chicago has a ban on the exposure of female nipples. My male counterparts can expose their nipples at will.
You don’t want to walk to around topless, you say? I don’t either.
THAT IS NOT THE POINT. [Read more…]
By Abby Theuring, MSW
The “mommy wars” are imaginary. They do not exist.
People judge. It’s normal and it’s natural. It’s not a human flaw. It’s not that people haven’t heard the whole story. It’s just what happens with humans. We judge each other. We are social creatures and this is in our nature. We do not have to stop. We do not have a major character flaw. [Read more…]
I attended ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas a few weeks ago. My headache from flashing lights, loud music and the dinging of slot machines has finally gone away. I can now think back to what I saw and share some of it with you. You have to understand that there were thousands of products being displayed and I cannot possibly tell you about them all. I can’t even swear I am going to remember everything I saw. I had a 16-month-old baby with me after all! But here we go. A few of my favorite things from ABC. [Read more…]
By Badass Madie
In August 2012, I missed my period and had a positive pregnancy test, baby number two! It was unexpected but fine, I wasn’t upset about it because I believe no child is a “mistake” and everything will work out. I called my doctor to make my first appointment, which given their calculations, I was still only 3 or so weeks. Around 8 weeks I went in to “confirm” and have my first ultrasound. At my 8 week appointment when the ultrasound tech found the baby I instantly knew something was wrong! This was my second baby. I had an idea about the size the baby would be at 8 weeks, like a little peanut, all I saw was a “yolk sac” as the ultrasound tech called it. The ultrasound tech didn’t say a word after that, other than the doctor will be with me very shortly, but I was certain that I already knew. [Read more…]
I love watching my kids grow up. I learn something new about them every day. But it also gives me pangs of sadness when I realize that each passing moment is history. I will never get this time back with them. I look at photos of my 4-year-old as a baby and I feel like I barely remember those days! My 16-month-old is toddling around and I will never hold his newborn body in my arms again, I will never feel that new-mom vulnerability, never feel the intensity of having a new baby completely dependent on me every moment. [Read more…]
