Sunday, September 26, 2010

Sunday Surf: Tap dancing around our securities

Welcome to the Sunday Surf! Here are some of the best links I've read this past week.

  • Two from Babyfingers:
    • "We're fools whether we dance or not": Yea for adult dance classes!
      Backlit Tap Dance
      "Moral of my tap dance story: Don't let anyone tell you you're too ______ to do something, and especially don't tell yourself you are. I'm so glad I took a chance and signed up. I'm so glad I rejected the notion that if you haven't learned to dance by the time you're six you're a lost cause, and the notion that pregnant women shouldn't make spectacles of themselves. I hate that many women would never in a million years take a dance class, not because they don't want to dance, but because they think they aren't skinny or young or whatever enough."
    • "Medicaid patients shall be checked for gold teeth at the revolving door": Thoughtful response to a letter that's making the Facebook and email-forward rounds, stirring up the age-old misapprehension of the "deserving poor." Having been a recipient of some financial aid in my life and not wishing to have all my decisions judged because of that, I appreciated hearing Jenny's point-by-point rebuttal. I also liked the article from Judgmental Hippy that inspired her to go ahead and post: "The lowly peasants you work with may have a differing opinion."
  • "Gentle Parenting Ideas: Toddlers and Transitions" from Code Name: Mama: I've come to the conclusion that 99% of our tussles with Mikko occur over transitions: from wearing pajamas to getting dressed (or back), leaving the house or coming home, going to school or leaving school, getting in the car seat or out of it — any ideas to make those transitions go more smoothly are welcome!
  • Two from Spilt Milk:
    • "The right to bear": On adult privilege and allowing children to own their own personhood — and grow up on their timetable.
      Steph woman with security blanket from childhood

      "It’s not 'babyish' to find ways to self-soothe and to cultivate feelings of security: it's human, and it's smart. It's not wrong to form attachments and dependencies and when it's people and things that do not harm us, it's actually desirable to do so. There is no prize for growing up the fastest, especially when growing up means shedding, or hiding, human vulnerabilities."
    • "The wrong prescription?": Thoughtful response to the suggestion to make formula prescription-only, and the possible implications. I have to admit I need to think this topic through some more — not because anyone in power is asking my opinion on the subject (ha ha), but just because at first the idea of making formula prescription-only had some merit to me. But I can see the validity of the arguments offered here. And I would add another, personal one: We almost never go to the doctor. It costs us a lot of money. We don't use prescription drugs from the U.S. anymore, because they require routine doctors' visits and cost a lot more than over-the-counter drugs. When I do need something prescription (and know exactly what it is: generic name, dosage, etc.), I order it from India or Mexico. I wouldn't want to add another financial burden on parents without health insurance or prescription coverage whose babies need formula. So there it is. I think I'm backing off the whole formula-as-prescription-only dream. It was only a dream, after all. No way the formula lobbyists would ever allow anything like that to happen in the U.S. I'm working on some posts on the WHO Code to explore their marketing practices further.
  • "It's just a color. Or is it?" from This is Worthwhile: This is from awhile back, but I love this take on the pink vs. blue setup of our society. I've had those same initial instincts to let Mikko choose whatever color he wants — and then the sudden shrinking horror when he chooses the hot pink or the bright purple. And it means something to examine both reactions.
  • Gambettes hot pink crocs in the garden



You can find more shared items during the week at my public Google Reader recommendations feed. Check out Authentic Parenting, Baby Dust Diaries, Maman A Droit, Navelgazing, and pocket.buddha for more Sunday Surfing! Feel free to add your recommendations in the comments. Happy reading!




Photos courtesy, from top, earlgreyrooibos, Kathryn Beadle, and Etolane, all on flickr (cc)

2 comments:

Jenny said...

Thanks for the links! I'm pretty sure I've been intrigued by the idea of formula as prescription only before but realized it would never happen, and after reading that post the other day I'm definitely not on board with it. After I had my first baby, it REALLY felt like the doctor was breathing down my neck. I had to have her weighed every couple of days at first and the doctor finally told me we would have to supplement her. I received a myriad of advice that made me second-guess myself as a mother. I think most new moms would do better if doctors had less clout, not more. Besides, why would we force moms into something when we haven't even done half the things possible to help them succeed on their own yet?

Momma Jorje said...

Oh Lauren!! You're killin' me. lol I read most, if not all, of the links today and had to subscribe to a couple more blogs. I know I won't be able to keep up with them all!

Still, you were my introduction to Blogger and I appreciate it. I truly enjoy your blog! It tends to also serve as a starting point for conversations with my husband about my parenting ideals. Thank you!

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