Owner: Mama Says URL:http://mamasaysnews.blogspot.com Join Date: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:16:37 -0500 Rating:1 Site Description: A mama site dealing with all the chaos motherhood brings. Based in Vermont with lots of great links and resources within and without Vermont. Poetry, essays, thoughts and rants. Site statistics:Click here
Growing up 2006-12-03 04:09:00 My daughter has exquisite diction. Always verbally precocious she is on the fast track to being a masterful linguist. She is already a really strong reader and sharp speller...But even at four and a half there is one word she doesn't pronounce correctly and it is consistently one of my most delicious mama moments to listen to her say this word. It is the morning meal. It is what she calls "brek-fixt". In conversation the other day however she did indeed say with perfect composure "breakfast". A little something burst in my heart. What? What did she say?
I looked at her with a crumbly weepy feeling taking over. And then "brek-fixt" was back. I did not imagine it. She did say it correctly just once but once was enough.
Oh, brek-fixt, please don't go away..... Read more:Growing
Writing and Motherhood by Annie Downey 2006-11-28 01:29:00 Writing & Motherhood
by AnnieDowney
All rights reserved, Annie Downey
, 2006 I remember the first thing I ever wrote about being a mother. I was eighteen years old, my daughter, Iris, was eight months old. We had a tiny one bedroom apartment in downtown Burlington. I had just begun my first semester at college and had signed up for a creative writing class. Our first bit of homework was one of those basic "How to ___" writing assignments. Classmates shared their ideas aloud—one hip-dressed student said she was going to write about how to make an Orgasm (like the drink!)—another student chirped up and said that he was going to write about how to get a hot guy in the sack. Everyone laughed. I remember being panicked about what I would write about. My professor said to me, "Write about what you know" I went and picked up my daughter at the college daycare. As I pushed her stroller up the street to our apartment, I thought about how boring and du
Speak My Language 2006-10-13 20:40:00 This morning Sophia had a lengthy talking to with her favorite homemade paper bag puppet, Butterfingers Pinky-Mouth. B.P.M. scolds back in a Grungetta from Sesame Street cadence. This is not because she has watched Sesame Street but because sounding like Grungetta when exasperated may be genetically predisposed. (You can pretend it is from my husband's side.) Sophia was insisting that BPM "speak English" so she could understand him/her?... Finally at the height of the exchange she leaned over and whispered to the puppet which did the trick. When she careened over to the kitchen sink I asked what they were talking about. She explained she just had to whisper to teach how to speak to Butterfingers. She was satisfied that they had a thourough understanding.
Hmmm. Is this perhaps beacuse when I sound like Grungetta, Sophia does not process my words but if I get up close and whisper I have a beter shot? Oy.
Mama Says Update: I'm Off 2006-10-02 20:25:00 This is my last post. I will no longer be on Mama Says
. Any further questions should be directed to LindaP: mamasays942(@)hotmail(dot)com
For all the subscribers and faithful readers: Thank you so much for your support.I will be deleting the subscription service and handing it over to LindaP for re-activation. There may be a gap of time in between. If you have any questions about that, please contact her.
Again, I feel I have done what I could for Mama Says and it's time to move on.You can find me at my blog, always Writing In The Mountains. Read more:Update
Just A Reminder 2006-09-24 01:59:00 Jesse Ahee's "With Child" exhibit will be at The Cheshire Cat in Montpelier, Vt for the Art Walk, Friday September 29th, 4-8 p.m.
Check it out! Read more:Reminder
Mama Says Commercial Free Kids 2006-09-14 00:22:00 On the heels of Kris U's post it seems like the perfect time to unveil the project Mama Says
Action has in the works. We are starting a local chapter of Campaign for a commercial Free Childhood. I have been in contact with them and have some events and meetings on board. BUT because I want this blog to be only for creative work I encourage you to follow links to our Yahoo newsgroup for more details.Also Times Argus September first issue published my letter on this topic- check it out at library...
Mama is at work on line illegally- got to go Read more:Commercial
New Readers 2006-12-17 21:39:00 Linda Pruitt here to speak straight to some of you new readers who may be wondering how to become a contributor! If you would like to submit your writing to our blog contact me at mamasays942@hotmail.com and I will send you the invite. I look forward to hearing from all of you!
Hey, I'm Over Here! 1970-01-01 00:59:59 My piece about sleep deprivation is up over at The Whole Mom Go on over and check it out!
Mama At the Movies: The Libertine 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Mama At The Movies: One Non-Family Movie at A Time"Enough of this Disney crap and singing chipmunks…I need some real movies!!!!"The Libertine
I can't remember the last time I actually saw a movie at the theatre. I think it may have been The Last Samurai with Tom Cruise before he turned Christian Scientist wingnut. I thought that was an excellent movie despite him being in it.So, last night I saw the movie The Libertine (after The Girl's bedtime, obviously) with the fabulous Johnny Depp. I picked it up on a whim only knowing that it was about John Wilmot, the 2nd Earl of Rochester and Samantha Morton (of Jane Eyre) was in it.It was released in 2004, and I never heard a peep about it. I can understand why: the movie is dark, gritty, the Earl of Rochester is downright ugly and grotesque in every manner imaginable ("You will not like me'), there is content in the movie that absolutely would not appeal to the mainstreamer: there are no gaudy, drawn out battle scenes; no predicta
Kind Words for Mama Says 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Many thanks to Annie Downey for the kind words about Mama Says!Check out where this Hot and Bothered author will be in the coming months for book signings and other events! Read more:Words
Articles and Posts of Note:Mothers Movement Online 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Mothers Movement Online Articles
Birth, Choices:Melissa Wilkins An excellent article on demedicalizing the birth process.Reviving the Feminine Mystique: Judith Stadtman-TuckerJust a quick thought: It occurs to me that Betty Friedan's quote in 1985 (featured in the Stadtman-Tucker article) is purely right-on. I don't know if we will ever see something like the original Women's Movement or Civil Rights Movement again in our lives. This country would probably fall first before any of that happens. Read more:Mothers
Articles and Posts of Note: Yahoo! Post-Partum Depression in Dads? 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Uh, yeah...I don't know quite what to think of this one. Post-Partum Depression in men that are Dads?This is just a guess, but I think-hmmm-yes, I think it may have something to do with hormones, actually.(Really??? No.....)Is it any surprise, too, that both of the people they have chosen to quote are both men?Here are some snippets:Fathers usually feel elation after a birth, Coleman said, but that feeling of "engrossment" can fade away, depending on family circumstances. That can happen "if the mother is very, very controlling and wants the baby all to herself," Coleman said. "Also, fathers can experience frustration, sexual and emotional, if they forget to remember that the wife is not interested in sex at that time. If the wife is very motherly and maternal, he might feel kind of useless, on the periphery."Depression in a father leads to a well-known pattern of behavior, Coleman said. "He tends to work longer, to watch sports more, to drink more and be solitary," he said.If they f Read more:Articles
, Yahoo
An Assortment of Posts 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Mother's Movement Online Articles:'Time to Kiss the Mommy Wars Goodbye' -Tracy Thompson'Everybody Hates Linda'-Judith Stadtman TuckerA Mommy With An Attitude:'What the Hell Is Caitlin Flanagan Talking About? The Good, The Bad, And The Baffling!''Respecting Diversity, Especially When There Isn't Any'Motherhood Uncensored:One Is a Lonely NumberOn The Whole Mom: Essay: Having It All'The Hardships of Being a Mom to a Special Needs Child' on the Whole Mom, Laura J.From Shape of a Mother:One woman's story.Mom-101:Chutes and Ladders PostScarred For LifeEat it, SearsPoet Tree (Sam Kolber):Jewel TonesFalse 45th:Performance Art UpdateFinslippy:And here I thought the suburbs were boring...Yahoo!Co-SleepingDidn't the American Academy of Pediatrics (and Dentistry) at one point make a deal with Coca-cola to research funding a few years back? Whew. When I first read this, my immediate reaction was: How Ironic.Why is it that the media and all these certified 'organizations' tell us wha Read more:Assortment
Savory Bites 1970-01-01 00:59:59 From Sam's previous post:I bet I will go ahead and shower, but not before eating chocolate for breakfast. Sure, I could eat yogurt, a bagel, cereal, or a banana for a more healthy breakfast, but those don't seem to fill my need, or stuff it down is more like it.This inspired me to write a little something on FOOD.It feels like I don't have time to enjoy my breakfast or snack, double Latte, or even a plain old cup of black strong coffee.Nothing tastes good to me anymore.While The Girl is eating dinner (sweet potatoes tonight), I'm writing (as I am now), or doing some dishes (hey- I said some), or putting a weeks (or so) worth of laundry away finally.My snacks are less than tasty, sometimes, and can end up being my dinner (i.e. Chocolate or cookies, a single banana or spaghetti for the third day in a row), or "well, at least I ate something.' That last one appears quite often.And coffee-oh coffee. I down so much of this stuff, I don't even feel the buzz anymore. I should be Read more:Savory
Poem: Loss, Without Regret 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Now, a nameAmong millionsShe sits without regret.Still, the dreams persist:Of love, of loss and gainReclaiming the childOnly to give it upAgain and again.Through all attemptsThe woundAlready a year and a half old,Has refused to heal.She sits through all attemptsWithout regretsReclaiming the childOf love and lossAlready a year and a half oldOnly to give it up again and againAs the dreams persist. Read more:Regret
Articles and Posts of Note: Yahoo! Co-sleeping 1970-01-01 00:59:59 I found this article about co-sleeping on Yahoo
! today.Didn't the American Academy of Pediatrics (and Dentistry) at one point make a deal with Coca-cola to research funding a few years back? Whew. When I first read this, my immediate reaction was: How Ironic.Why is it that the media and all these certified 'organizations' tell us what is right for our children, and make us feel guilty if we are not following the guidelines?Perhaps co-sleeping is right for some and not for others. I am all for the co-sleeping. It has seen me through alot of nursing nights when The Girl was just a wee babe and it enabled me to get some much needed sleep. She doesn't nurse much during the night these days and we still happily co-sleep. Read more:Articles
Mama Says Announcement 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Jesse Ahee's painting exhibit: 'With Child', featuring works of her daughter during pregnancy, has been extended another full month at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph. Go check it out if you can!If you can't make it to Randolph, it will also be exhibited in Montpelier at Cheshire Cat for the Art Walk on September 29. Read more:Announcement
, Mama Says
Mama Says Update 1970-01-01 00:59:59 So, You may have noticed that alot of the sidebar is missing. Mama Says
is being overhauled as I write.I feel I have done what I could for Mama Says and that it's now time to move on. Whoever would like to pick it up from here, is more than welcome. (most likely LindaP)I will be moving to another site later in the month (here). In the meantime, I will be reorganizing Mama Says and building my new site. All of my old posts from Mama Says will be on the new site as well as new material.To our subscribers: Do not fear! You will stay on as such to Mama Says.All the writing will stay as is on M.S., all the archives will be there and everybody who is on will still be able to post.I will update as new things come along. Read more:Update
A Sleep Issue 1970-01-01 00:59:59 See this on The Whole Mom Read more:Sleep
Mama Says Update 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Thank you to Kris U for all her work on the blog. Yes of course I, Linda will keep cranking. I have been doing Mama Says
for two and a half years now and some of the projects on the horizon are the most exciting yet...Kris's departure means I will return the blog to its original intent as an online version of the print newsletter. In other words it is a showcase for creative work-- poetry, reflective essays, creative pieces of length (no maximum word counts, plenty of space). One of the features I would most like to revisit is the "Interview with a Local Mama" which was so popular in print. Please get out there and talk to a mama you love and write her up for us with pictures, art etc.Some of the bloggy flash will remain in terms of sidebar but this has always been about the power of each mamas voice. I want very much to return to that essence now. I can't wait to share with you the amazing projects the political action circle is working on. I can't wait to hear from you, in your w Read more:Update
Links Page 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Questions to ask your health care provider, hospital, midwifeWhat to ask your careproviderWhat to ask your Hospital, Doctor, Midwife or Birth CenterWhat to ask your Pediatrician, Doula and moreAll about the Midwife Health Care Info.ALACE: Association of Labor Assistants & ChildbirthEducators. List of home birth midwives and doulas inVermont.Vermont Nurse Midwives: List of Midwives in Vermont.Le Leche League of VermontLe Leche League InternationalLe Leche League of Central VermontRecall's.gov:Find out if any toy, carseat, etc., has been recalled by the government here.
Changing Directions: On Writing/Journaling 1970-01-01 00:59:59 You can also see this on The Whole Mom(Preface: I know this is a long one, but please, take the time to read it)I write regularly in my journal. I take that back-I used to write regularly in my journal. This past year, I have gone from being a faithful, detailed, everyday journal keeper to writing a sporadic, intermittent mix of half coherent fragments from the day. When I wrote on a regular basis, I could easily fill a two hundred page hard-bound journal within a month or less. These days, it takes me a disappointing four months to finish a book with the same amount of pages. In the new journal I recently started, I write half sentences, ideas that go nowhere, fragments of events that I wanted to record, all left hanging in mid-sentences.These days, I find I put most of my journaling energy into the Mama Says blog. That, in a sense, has become my journal. However, I am not completely satisfied with this. I don't want it to become my journal. A journal, to me, is something that is pe Read more:Changing
, Directions
, Journaling
Completely and Utterly Blogworthy 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Whoa. Solstice came and went. Now we are near the end of February and we have placed our Fedco seed order in ravenous anticipation of fecundity and sunlight.Tonight I registered my daughter for Kindergarten.The ease with which I type these words does not begin to reflect the YEARS of anguish over this moment. Yet, about two months ago I had a mama awakening and it was beatific indeed.I have always known that my little buddy was "A Number One Homeschool Poster Child". You know the drill -- cosleeping, nursing, and so on. She has never had childcare/preschool and indeed is only away from my side when I work my library gig on nights and Saturdays. Suffice it to say that we are a package deal. I was in gut-roiling torment ( and I do not say this lightly) about what would happen when years down the road she was of age for Kindergarten. I thought that I could just gently give positive school vibes while staying somehow non chalant about the inner monologue of dread. I didn't want to pawn al
Rites and Rituals of Mothering 2007-03-05 19:13:00 A few years ago I did a mama writing workshop and just found the notes-Here they are: Mama Writes: Journaling Through the Rites
and Rituals
of Mothering
With Linda Pruitt The rites of mothering begin with pregnancy and birth. The rituals of mothering begin as you lift your baby to your breast, as you startle awake for the very first time to your tiny infant’s cry and they continue into grandmotherhood. Opening Rites for this workshop: The Matrilineal Map Start with the sentence, “I am (name here), daughter of (your mother’s name), daughter of (your grandmother’s name), daughter of (your great grandmother’s name). Go back as far as you can. Use only the first and middle names of these women. When you have finished, and have read through slowly, jot down your first emotions and thoughts about the list. How far back were you able to trace? How do you feel about that? Why write? Free writing allows us to get a deeper perspective, a reflective flow going. Free writing is abo
Early Childhood Legislative Day 2007-03-09 03:45:00 Friday, March 16, 2007Capital Plaza Hotel and Vermont State HouseJoin parents, early childhood practitioners and policymakers in advancing 2007 early childhood legislative priorities through a day of legislative updates, advocacy speakers, a rally, legislative lunch and work sessions. Can’t join for the day? Consider attending the work session hosted by Mama Says Action, Kids Are Priority One, Voices for Vermont's Children, and Building Bright Futures State Council and Parent Committee from 1:15 – 3:00 at the Capital Plaza Hotel.Participants will view the film, “The Motherhood Manifesto,” identifying critical parent and family needs, including paid family leave, quality school programs, accessible and affordable childcare. A facilitated discussion will identify current education and policy opportunities and design actions steps to spur positive change. For questions or to RSVP for the work session, contact Kelly Ault at kault1@earthlink.net or 223-1080. Read more:Early
, Childhood
, Legislative
, Early Childhood
Sick, Sicker, Sickest 2007-03-15 18:50:00 Caring for a sick child is hard. Caring for an energized, happy, healthy kid when you are sick is harder. Then when you are getting sicker, their fever sets in. Over 15 hours at 102 degrees or more. Up to 103.5 a few hours ago. That's the sickest.And suckiest. Read more:Sicker
Pretty Pretty Pirates and More Snow 2007-04-12 15:32:00 The brutal two week marathon of respiratory distress is a memory. We were so sick that Equinox is a blur- although the fairies came and it was lovely..Since then we look at the crabapple tree in the back yard, shivering , alive with goldfinches and watch snow fall. Right now Sophia is coloring mandalas and watching the flakes drift down quickly and silently.At almost five years old she is not in a princess phase but a pirate one...Her speech liberally sprinkled with "methinks". She created an amazing pirate treasure chest out of cardboard and filled it up with construction paper coins-- "the gold doubloons of the pirate queen."Wearing an eyepatch she flips around on my (totally neglected) yoga mat as a "pirate gymnast". Honestly sometimes I hide the eyepatch so she doesnt freak out her vision...Yesterday in our traditional approach to grasping at springtime it was chalk art time. I stood with the sun at my back, hands in my pockets with my shoulders scrunched up. Sophia stared at my s Read more:Pretty
, Pirates
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