Are You Kidding Me?

Thank God this woman is not my mom! Way to say "I Love You Kids"!

French mom offers 40 reasons not to have kids
Posted: Aug 23rd 2007 7:13AM by Lauren Greschner

People are either going to love the author interviewed in this article or they're going to hate her. Corinne Maier, a French mother of two, has written a book called No Kid: 40 Reasons Not to Have Children. From what the interviewer says about the book, it sounds as though Maier is pretty fierce and truly feels her life was better before kids. In the actual interview though, she seems slightly more humorous (albeit in a dark way).
Maier believes the French Government promotes the idea of family in that country in order to keep the economy running -- more kids equals more consumers to sell goods to after all, and also ups the amount of future earners contributing to the country's pension programs.
But Maier also has plenty of personal reasons not to have kids, 20 of which are listed in the piece. They include:
You will lose touch with your friends.
Your child will kill your desire.
Children sound the death knell of the couple.
You will be duped into thinking there is such a thing as a perfect child.
You will be expected to be a mother before you are a professional or a woman.
Children are dangerous. They will take you to court without a second thought.
Some of the reasons are harsh and some humorous, but I also think that some ring true. Possibly the most shocking thing about the book is that this woman, who lives in a society where having kids is often thought to be the only way a woman can really ever be fulfilled -- and in which those of us who haven't had or don't want children are viewed with pity or scorn -- is willing to admit that she regrets having children.
What do you think, is Maier selfish and crazy or courageous and honest?

This is just beyond my comprehension. I understand that some people dont want children and by NO means think that everyone should have kids, if you dont want them then dont have them, but C'mon, why would you write something like this? Plus this woman has kids, what kind of complexes do you think they are gonna have from this. JMO

Easily Entertained?

What do you guys do if your stuck in the car for a few minutes waiting for your friends to come out of the store?

Friday evening I went out with my girlfriends to go see "Hairspray" (Which was EXCELLENT by the way) and on the way we stopped to get some candy at Target. I stayed in the car so that we didn't have to park but I got bored very quickly. Fortunately I am easily amused and decided that my camera phone would be useful. Right around the 4th picture or so, I realized, "I'm a HUGE dork" and yet I took several more and laughed hard at myself! lol!

I figured I would post something a little less controversial today. I love a good controversy but balance is good too. :)

Asher Thursday!

Need I say more?

Mom Vs Mom

I am sitting here watching Oprah, and it has me thinking about what all of my readers think. Its a panel of Moms, some who stay at home with their children and others who choose to work outside the home. Its really interesting to listen to these women who seem to have such strong opinions and tend to be a bit judgemental. The women who stay at home think its AWFUL for these other women to work and vice versa. I am watching these women just tear each other up and I wondering why these women don't give each other some grace. I have chosen to stay at home with my kids for now but I know that there are lots of women out there who have situations different and may not be able to stay at home or for whatever reason have chosen to work outside the home. I think you really have to have compassion for the women that may have to work because as any mom knows there is SO much guilt that comes with leaving your child or we should just have faith that they are doing what they feel is best whether we agree or not. And for the working moms, I wonder why they think that their decision is any better for their child than having a parent at home with them all day. Something about fostering Independence in their child (that's a load of crap). Isn't it about doing what is best for your kids and that may be different for each family. I think its also about having balance, women cant ignore who they are and Totally immerse themselves in their children and vise versa. What do you guys think?

Good Times!

With the help of Daniels sisters I have spent the last couple of months planning my mother-n-laws Surprise 60th Birthday Party and today was the big day! Now, everyone knows that I LOVE a party of any sort but I am especially fond of birthday parties because I believe everyone should celebrate the day that they were born. I am NOT of the belief that as you age that you stop having birthday parties! Most people who know me, know this! : ) Ok, back to what I was saying, Everything came together fabulously and when Nancy walked in it was SO satisfying watching her get caught completely off guard and sob into her hands. She was So blessed and truly touched by the fact that this was for her! Apparently she had never had a surprise party before(I had my first one in 3rd grade)! How does someone go 60 yrs and not have a Surprise party? Thats MADNESS! LOL! Anyway, I thought I would post some pics and show you the Fabulous cake that Des made for the occasion. Thanks Des! :)

Oh and if any of you know someone that has Never had a surprise party then GET PLANNING!

Day #4

Okay, its Day #4 for World Breastfeeding week so I decided to post my own nursing picture. I think that people should be aware that nursing does not have to be something that is immodest. I always hear people talking about how they don't like women nursing in public because they don't want to see other women's breasts. Sorry, but I don't really want to show other people my breasts either. Most women nurse discreetly and I think I do a pretty good job of being an example of that. So, although I am probably preaching to the choir and all, lol, I figure if anyone who reads this has a problem with nursing in public.........plthhhhhhhhhh! I'm so mature! :)

History through Pictures!

I was reading on one of my new favorite blogs today (The Black Breastfeeding Blog) and found the most interesting post showing the Genesis of our breastfeeding culture (or not so breastfeeding culture). I LOVE history so Jennifers post are always like candy to my brain. You really have to check this out. The last picture just cracks me up!!!!!
Click Here!!!

Yes, I know its another breastfeeding post but it is, after all, World Breastfeeding Week! :) Though it is educational, you could learn something new today! lol

World Breastfeeding Week Aug 1-7

I figured since it was World Breastfeeding Week then I would post my own story.....everyone else was doing it so I thought I would join in! :) Sorry, I am a little wordy so its a little long. Of course if you know me then you know that I am long winded. lol! Here Goes......

When I found out I was pregnant with my first son (Jack) I was a newlywed of 4 months and COMPLETELY caught off guard. I didn't think much about feeding options really because I assumed that you nursed a little in the beginning and then switched to bottles early on. I am not sure where I got this idea. I grew up in a maternity home and was around babies ALOT, I was even in the delivery room for some but I guess just never paid attn to how they were fed. Anyway, I decided to both breastfeed and bottle feed because I had seen how hard it was for my SIL Elizabeth and wanted to try but kinda figured I might not succeed. By the end of my pregnancy I had really read up and educated myself much more and really had decided that I was going to go for it and Exclusively breastfeed no matter what. That said, inside I was Terrified! I had seen so many of my friends struggle and not be successful. Fortunately I had a Dr who was Very pro breastfeeding and gave anyone who was choosing to nurse their own lactation counselor that we could call at anytime. This gave me a little more confidence that maybe I could do this. Though, I have to admit, I still had a stock pile of formula in my cupboards just in case.
My labor with Jack went pretty smoothly for the most part. I did ask for an epidural when I got to about a 5 or 6 and then delivered Jack about 4 hours later. I had a midwife that immediately placed him on my chest and didn't cut the cord until it stopped pulsating. But after SEVERAL attempts by both the nurses and the midwife to get him to latch were unsuccessful we decided to wait a while. A few hours later the LC came in and tried to get him to latch on. Eventually He did latch on but it was a good 6 hrs after he was born. He nursed like a champ after he figured out what to do and after I fixed the mess that the nurses made by giving him a pacifier in the middle of the night. It took me about 6 hours to get him to latch on again. Apparently they ignored my sign that said "no artificial nipples, I am a breastfed baby". Anyway, everything was fine until I went in for his 1 week checkup and he hadn't gained any weight. I was terrified that I was starving my baby and thought possibly I should be supplementing. Luckily my Dr said to give it another week before doing something as drastic as that. I went to my first LLL meeting and collected a few more phone #s for help or support. A week and half after Jack was born I realized the struggle that women have with nursing. It became EXTREMELY painful. My letdown hurt, I felt nauseated, and sore wasn't even a valid word to describe how my nipples felt. Side note: I am not a woman who perseveres, I mean, I am one of those who gives up whenever anything gets hard. Its not something I am proud of but it is definitely true! :) The cabinet with the formula in it was looking SO tempting and yet I couldn't stand to look at this little baby, whose life was in my hands, and not do the VERY best thing I could do for him, no matter what pain it caused me. Over the next 11 weeks I used every phone # and person of support that I had and we made it through the hard part (Kudos to my hubby, who never said, "Just give him the formula" in a time of frustration). It was by no means easy but it was worth it for my baby. I not only succeeded but never gave Jack a drop of that formula. It all expired eventually and we threw it out. :) I NEVER thought I would nurse past one yr because I thought it was gross and, well, basically because I was 1) polluted by society's views and 2) not educated at all about breastfeeding. I never remember making a decision to go past a yr I just remember thinking, how would I even wean him now, he's still a baby! He nursed till he was 2 and a half and I was 6 months pregnant with my second. Nursing Asher (# 2) was somewhat easier in the beginning but still had about 3 weeks of "God I don't think I can do this" kinda pain. He is still nursing strong at 20 months and figure he doesn't have plans of weaning himself anytime soon. I may have to help him eventually. LOL! :)