Parenting outside the box: Celebrating family in all forms.
Gifted evokes images of privilege, special treatment and unearned advantage. The gods of intelligence do not sound the trumpets when a high-IQ child is born. Brain fairies do not descend upon the delivery room with magical IQ dust.
Today my hubs underwent a vasectomy, and I am faced with the realization that I will likely have no more babies (unless I leave him for a newer model.)
“Mom, do people have sex when they’re not wanting to have a baby?” And there it is. The opening for me to have a great conversation about sex with my 10 year old.
We need to support breastfeeding moms in whatever way they choose to breastfeed. Shaming women or denigrating blankets or covers only harms new mothers that are trying to do the best for their babies and themselves.
The plan was to inform her that her uncle gave us a special “present” because making a baby requires a specific recipe, and we were missing one ingredient.
I’ve never been raped, but I understand rape culture all too well.
I had a fantastic relationship for eight years. And then we had our first son. And it wasn’t good for a while (longer than I’d like to admit).
Our definition of family always involves choice. We choose to bring people closer who are not part of the “typical” definition of family. We choose to distance ourselves from others who are. And sometimes, we are lucky enough to never need to decide. Sometimes, we are born with the family we would have chosen on our own.
When people learn I had natural childbirth with both my children, they usually say something like: “Wow, you must be super tough.” The truth is, I feel like a huge phony anytime someone commends me for my physical fortitude.
My daughter is a sensory kid. She’s also creative, bright, and hilarious. I embrace all these labels with the understanding that none of them alone define the child she is or the woman she can be.