But after writing a lot about the abortion debate in the last couple of weeks, I'm struck by the similarities between the vitriol Vernon reports and typical anti-choice rhetoric. She receives "terrifying" letters and e-mails calling her "selfish ... unnatural, evil." She is "now routinely referred to as 'baby-hating journalist Polly Vernon.'" Ring ( Read more... )

From Salon's Broadsheet:

I am no great defender of Rachael Ray, 30-minute peddler of EVOO and perpetual pep, but I was pretty aghast this weekend, when I finally sat down to watch a (week-old) clip of last Monday's "Nightline," in which ABC journalist Cynthia McFadden sat down with the talk-show host and convenient cook to talk about her life and ( Read more... )

Finally watched my DVR of Monday night's The Closer. Amid everything else that happened, did I actually see a couple on American television actually voluntarily opting not to have kids ( Read more... )

From Newsweek: True or False - Having Kids Makes You Happy:
The most recent comprehensive study on the emotional state of those with kids shows us that the term "bundle of joy" may not be the most accurate way to describe our offspring. "Parents experience lower levels of emotional well-being, less frequent positive emotions and more frequent ( Read more... )

We're hip-deep in babies around here! Not us personally, friends and family.

• Last month, one couple had their first child.


• Friday night, we were out to dinner with another couple, who are due next month. Their baby shower is this Saturday.


• Our other friends finally got the word that they can go to Vietnam and pick up their baby boy.


• And of course ( Read more... )

I...

Just...

Words fail me. Go read. And watch if you have the stomach.

What in the goddamn hell?

Weekend update ( Read more... )

Meme meme’d from
( Read more... )

From today's "Ask Amy" column, which I read in the Philly Inquirer, but is carried in plenty of other papers:
Dear Amy: I am the nanny of two 10-year-old girls this summer, and I am concerned with comments they have made about their looks ( Read more... )

From UPI:
Emphasis on children decreasing

OAKLAND, Calif., July 10 (UPI) -- As people live longer, Americans' child-free years are expanding and more young adults are delaying, or skipping, having children.

In 1960, nearly 50 percent of all households had children under 18, The Christian Science Monitor reported Tuesday. By 2000, that had fallen ( Read more... )