Archives › 2006 › July
Updated and Improved Resource Directory
I’ve updated and reorganized the Mombian Resource Directory for Lesbian Moms, and hope you’ll stop over for a look. This is an enhanced version of the links list to the right of the posts. I’ve added some categories that don’t appear on the main blog page, though, and tried to make it overall more useful. [...]
Taking a Stand on Potty Training
Today, I’m happy to provide a field report for all you new lesbian moms out there. I now have proof positive that it is not necessary to have a father in the home to teach one’s son to pee standing up. Despite the assertion of the New York Court of Appeals that “a child benefits [...]
Weekly Political Update
A busy week in the LGBT political arena: Five straight couples in Arizona are suing to block the state’s proposed ban on same-sex marriage, saying the bill would invalidate their domestic partnerships as well. They’re using the same argument that marriage-equality supporters in Georgia used unsuccessfully a few weeks ago, claiming that the bill violates [...]
A new federal law that took effect July 1 requires schools to meet certain wellness guidelines in an attempt to reduce childhood obesity. Schools must provide healthier meals, fewer sweets, and more physical activity. At the same time, as the Associated Press notes, the new rules don’t come with any consequences if schools don’t comply. [...]
ADHD Risks for Girls
Researchers have just announced results of the first long-term study of girls with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The scientists noted that although an estimated 4.4 million American children have ADHD, it has often been under-diagnosed in girls because their behavior tends to be less disruptive than that of boys with the disorder. The effects of [...]
Travel Preparation Advice for Parents
Summer is prime travel time here in the U. S. Travel—especially with kids—always goes more smoothly with a little advance planning. Here’s some advice that may help: The American Academy of Pediatrics has a good list of travel safety tips. If you’re a U. S. citizen traveling abroad, remember that all children, even infants, must [...]
Norman the Mooing Puppy
A dog that moos? Norman the puppy doesn’t know why. He was just Born Different. This great new awareness campaign from the Denver-based Gill Foundation uses a light touch to get people thinking about the nature of sexual orientation. While the ads are aimed at adults, kids old enough to understand what sexual orientation is [...]
New York Ruling Is Good Because It’s Bad
The New York Court of Appeals ruling against same-sex marriage has one thing going for it, argues Evan Wolfson on Advocate.com. The Executive Director of Freedom to Marry says that because it’s based on the same tired arguments we’ve been hearing for years, and ignores the majority of medical and social evidence about children of [...]
C Is for Cookie
My son, like most preschoolers I know, goes through phases with his book, CD, and video interests. For the past few days, his video of choice has been Sesame Street’s Learning About Letters. I love this video. I was part of the first generation of children to grow up with Sesame Street, and many of [...]
Steamtown
One in an occasional series of travel essays for families with kids: When most Americans think of our National Park Service (NPS), we have visions of forests and mountains, rivers and seashores. Not 1.2 million pounds of iron and steel churning out 6200 horsepower, capable of hauling 120 freight cars over mountains at 40 miles [...]
Mauresmo and Marriage
No, Amélie Mauresmo is not, to my knowledge, getting married. Her victory at Wimbledon yesterday, however, offers a lesson for those of us feeling dispirited after the same-sex marriage setbacks in New York and Georgia last week. In the final against Justine Henin-Hardenne, Mauresmo lost the first set, but pulled off the next two to [...]
Giant Panda Receives Giant Fruitsicle
Tai Shan, the U. S. National Zoo’s giant panda cub, celebrates his first birthday today. What do you give a 56-pound cub for his birthday? Tai Shan got a giant fruitsicle, a new soccer ball, and several other toys. If you have animal-loving kids, make sure they check out the live Panda Cam to see [...]
Lesbians, Tennis, and Inspiration
Some cheery news to counteract the political gloom this week. Out lesbian Amélie Mauresmo will contend for her first Wimbledon championship tomorrow, against Justine Henin-Hardenne. Mauresmo won their last Grand Slam final matchup, this year’s Australian Open, when Henin-Hardenne withdrew because of stomach illness. I’ll probably root for Mauresmo because she’s a member of our [...]
Weekly Political Roundup
I wrote at length yesterday of the disappointing New York same-sex marriage ruling. One new development is that lawyers in Massachusetts are now saying the ruling effectively prohibits New York same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts. Massachusetts law prevents out-of-state couples from marrying there if their home state does not permit their marriage. I’m no [...]
American Academy of Pediatrics Says Marriage Equality Will Strengthen LGBT Families
Terrance at the Republic of T points out the incongruity between today’s New York State Court of Appeals ruling and the American Academy of Pediatrics statement this week on children in same-sex families: There is ample evidence to show that children raised by same-gender parents fare as well as those raised by heterosexual parents. More [...]
New York State Marriage Ruling: Further Details
The New York Court of Appeals today offered two main “rational” reasons why the Legislature could refuse to recognize same-sex marriage: Because opposite-sex couples can become parents as a result of accident or impulse, the state could find that “promoting stability in opposite-sex relationships will help children more.” The state could also find “that it [...]
Breaking News: New York Court Uses Childbearing to Rule Against Guarantee of Same-Sex Marriage
The New York Court of Appeals this morning ruled that “the state Constitution does not guarantee a right to marriage for same-sex couples.” Even more infuriatingly, they used what I call the supposed “heterosexual-marriage childbearing privilege,” to do so, saying, “There are at least two grounds that rationally support the limitation on marriage that the [...]
Martina Retires—But First, the Quarterfinals
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has announced that she’ll retire this year. Martina, who will turn 50 in October, has not yet decided on her last tournament, but insists, “It’s time.” She says she wants to spend more time at home, promoting her new book, and “devoting more time to her partner, her animals and her [...]
The Benefits of Breast Milk
Two recent studies offer further support for the benefits of breast milk. One, appearing in this month’s Pediatrics magazine, claims that babies who are breast-fed for more than three months are less likely to become bedwetters. Non-bedwetters had also been breastfed for an average of three months longer than bedwetters. The researchers caution, however, that [...]
New York Same-Sex Marriage Ruling Still Pending
No news yet on the New York State same-sex marriage ruling, although rumors were that it could have happened today. I’m guessing that even if the judges have decided amongst themselves, they may have held off an announcement because today’s news cycle was full of the North Korean missle test and Ken Lay’s death. Or [...]
Activity Idea: Videotape Storytime
Here’s an easy activity idea: When grandparents, other relatives, or close friends come for a visit, videotape them reading stories to your child. You’ll soon compile a nice alternative to commercial videos for those times when your child insists on watching something. It’s a nice way to keep a family connection even when relatives live [...]
Mombian Books: Badges
Last week, I launched the beta test of Mombian Books, a place where we can share recommendations of good books for and about our families. Because it’s a group effort, it will reflect a wider variety of books and viewpoints than a list compiled by one person. I’ve just created some Mombian Books badges you [...]
Happy 4th of July!
Many of us in the U. S. will reflect today on the state of our country, and how well it upholds the historical ideals of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Many of us will conclude it comes up short under the current administration. Despite this, I do believe the American system is a [...]
Sticks and Stones
My partner and I have always agreed not to allow toy guns (or real ones, for that matter) into our home. I’m not even sure our three-year-old knows what they are. An incident today, however, highlighted the hurdles we’re up against in raising a boy who will not glorify guns and violence. We were taking [...]
Remember the Nightlight
As we head into prime vacation season, here’s a bit of advice if you’re staying at hotels with your kids. First, know that it’s often no more expensive to stay at a all-suite hotel than a single-room one. Having a “living room” space can be good if you don’t want to bed down at the [...]
