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Parents Bumming

Not to pile on the wet blankets, but these sociologists found that parents report significantly higher levels of depression than nonparents. It’s not just the wear and tear of having an infant, Evenson and Simon find. Parents are more depressed than nonparents: –Even when their kids have grown and left home –Even when they do […] Continue reading →

February 14, 2006

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Climbing Nappy Mountain

In some areas of the UK, local governments are offering moms gift vouchers and cash rewards for using cloth diapers instead of disposable “nappies.” In an island nation, open space for landfills is scarce, and tipping fees are pricey. Maybe they should fill a barge and see if any other nation will let it dock. […] Continue reading →

February 13, 2006

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National Lampoon Vacation

One of my least favorite politicians from Northern Cal, Richard Pombo, billed the government for his family vacation. Taxpayers anted up nearly $5,000 for the rental of Pombo’s RV, in which he and his wife and kids explored the West. “We spent two weeks on vacation, stopping along the way to enjoy the splendor of […] Continue reading →

February 12, 2006

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Rethinking Birthdays

Disgusted by the specter of mounds of plastic toys, Salon writer Emily Bazelon tried to make her son’s birthday parties a little different. For a few years, the “book swap” idea worked fine. Then her son got old enough to feel deprived. So she had to broker a compromise, which seemed to work. My guess […] Continue reading →

February 11, 2006

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Innocence Intact

Reading a review of the new Curious George movie, I was surprised to learn of the creators’ backstory. Writer and illustrator couple Margret and Hans Rey were German Jews from Hamburg who settled in France in 1935. …Before the first Curious George manuscript could see light, the Reys had to flee Paris on homemade bicycles […] Continue reading →

February 10, 2006

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Period Piece: Granny's Great Discovery

Gloria’s post reminded me of a funny story I recently heard from my sister, who just birthed her third baby a couple of weeks ago. My grandma grew up poor – one of a tenant farmer’s ten kids. When she started her period, she thought she was dying. No one had explained to her what […] Continue reading →

February 7, 2006

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Birds of a Feather Flock Together

There’s a word for it: homophily — the tendency for people to form social networks with others whose age, race, ethnicity, education, religion, sexual orientation, etc. mirror their own. As I’ve moved through various life phases, certain criteria for social bonding have waxed and waned. As a teen, taste in music was a paramount marker […] Continue reading →

February 6, 2006

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Babar Bombs

A neighbor’s dog punctured my son’s favorite ball in the park. As recompense, the kindly woman, who worked at the local library’s donation center, gave my son a book, The Travels of Babar. My husband and I jokingly refer to it as “Babar, the Racist, Imperial Elephant.” Babar and his companion, Celeste, find themselves marooned […] Continue reading →

February 4, 2006

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Note to Self

I must remember when my son eats beets. That way, when changing his diaper the next day, I won’t panic that he’s got colon cancer. Continue reading →

February 4, 2006

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Planned Parenthood and MLK

Last night I watched as much of the President’s State of the Union speech as I could stand. My two-year-old son sat in my lap part of the time. His assessment? “Guy talking!” I watched our newest Supreme Court Justice, Sam Alito, looking around nervously. He seemed awed and overwhelmed by the spectacle and his […] Continue reading →

February 1, 2006

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