Disqus - Friends of mattstratton

Re: More updates

ChiMomWriter — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:01:20 -0000

Thinking of you guys! Sending some prayers for little Joey so you guys can be holding him full-time soon!

Re: Would You Try Breast Milk Ice Cream?

ChiMomWriter — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:01:48 -0000

Check this out - Back in 2008, PETA apparently asked Ben & Jerry's to stop using milk from dairy cows and use human breast milk instead. Ben & Jerry's declined, obviously: http://www.wptz.com/health/...

Re: How to Get Your Picky Kid to Eat

ChiMomWriter — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:50:27 -0000

My daughter actually vomits her veggies onto the table at mealtime, so eating is super fun at our house. Although my little puker will generally try the food voluntarily, our pediatrician made the point to us this week that there's a big difference between continually presenting these foods and "forcing" them. Forcing will just set you back further.

Great tips!

Re: Most Plastics Still Leach Chemicals – What Will You Do?

ChiMomWriter — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:54:43 -0000

I'm not about to toss all of the plastic I've accumulated for the kids at this point. I do need to be careful about the microwaving. And clearly stainless steel and glass is the way to go for new stuff we buy. Critical? Maybe not at this point, but if given the choice, why not?

Re: No More Blueberries. Ever.

ChiMomWriter — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:33:00 -0000

It's a beast of a mistake, too, since regardless of poop on their hands, they still want to put their fingers in their mouth!

Re: Is She Really a Danger?

ChiMomWriter — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:46:37 -0000

I think it's terrible that offices dismiss patients' wish for a VBAC without the specific details of that case. VBAC doesn't make sense for every person. But given the research out there, you can't summarily dismiss a procedure.

Re: Is She Really a Danger?

ChiMomWriter — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:48:56 -0000

Mama Sully: Amen to that - When struggling after my daughter was born, her pediatrician sat me down and said something that I try to remember: "If Mom's okay, baby will be okay. And vice versa." It applies to a lot of situations. You have to do what is right for you and your particular situation.

Re: Does Preschool Determine Destiny? A New York Mom Sues

ChiMomWriter — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 22:20:00 -0000

I have to say I would not spend that much $ on a preschool, regardless of my financial situation. But, I'm a big fan of public schools, for more diversity as much as something else (not that my neighborhood is all that diverse). I will be thrilled if my kids go to Ivy League schools. But there are plenty of places that they can get a quality education.

Re: There’s an App for That (a.k.a. When Control Freaks Have Babies)

ChiMomWriter — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:04:25 -0000

Ha! I remember following strict instructions - "No more than an hour of activity gym time b/c they can't see their feet and then they'll NEVER walk..." And don't even get me started on the strict "tummy time" routines...

Re: AAP Car Seat Guidelines Updated: Car Seats Until Prom

ChiMomWriter — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 10:55:58 -0000

I counted the days until I could turn my daughter's seat around at one. She hated being in her car seat and screamed incessantly, which meant I turned around a lot while driving. There's a comment in the CNN article about how people just want to get to the next milestone, which is why seats get turned around so quickly. But in terms of safety, I felt with a kid that hated being backwards, I was more likely to get into an accident turning around and awkwardly craning for extended stretches while driving.

As for my son, he's 9 months now. I can't say I will wait until 2, but I'll base it upon the same reasoning. Right now, he's okay facing backwards, partially because he can see his sister. But if we reach the point where I'm trying to chuck snack over a rear-facing seat to keep him screaming during our day-to-day, that seat is getting turned around pronto.

Re: Push-Up Bikinis for Tweens: Confidence or Exploit?

ChiMomWriter — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 14:20:29 -0000

I was so flat for such a long time - Gotta say, I would have loved anything that gave the illusion of a chest. I really don't see these swimsuits as evil.

But, like most things, it's about your overall parenting. I'd buy this for my daughter if I thought it'd boost her confidence. But you can also bet that I'll be monitoring her overall clothing, makeup, and trying to positively address how she carries herself.

I'm going to do my best to encourage her to focus on her mind and the overall person that she is - but we all want to feel good about how we look, too, especially at that horrible age. I remember exactly how it felt to have one guy in junior high say daily as he patted a nearby wall, "Don't be jealous."

Re: Why?

ChiMomWriter — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 09:42:44 -0000

9-month-old: Is it ears or teeth? Ears or teeth? EARS OR TEEETH?

2 1/2-year-old: Why have you suddenly developed an accent? Have you gone Madonna on me?

Both kids: Why does even a weekend of "vacation" entail a week of hell when we get back home?

Re: Are the Other Moms still out to get me?

ChiMomWriter — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 09:08:10 -0000

Newly suburban, I remember having lunch at Chipotle with my first baby in tow, and ending up in a long conversation with another mom. I sat in my car for 10 minutes debating whether I give her my # or what the "protocol" was. Instead, I slunk home.

Navigating other mommies is far worse than dating ever was. And I wasn't ever all that hot on the dating game in the first place.

I have nightmares about the Other Mom Once-Over.

Re: Tips for Hosting an Allergy-Friendly Play Date

ChiMomWriter — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 09:25:00 -0000

Two other tips I've learned: (1) Be mindful of snack traps and sippy cups and where they are. Common sense, but kiddos love to grab onto anything and they're quick. Learned the hard way. (2) Keep a file with a note of allergies and suggested foods for frequent visitors so you don't have to ask the same Qs every time.

Re: Worst Things About Parenting, No. 7: Crappy Books

ChiMomWriter — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 08:24:06 -0000

I'm furious that there are Yo Gabba Gabba books. It's bad enough enduring the show, and now my daughter has found that crap at the library, too.

Re: Fashionably Late: Joining in the Ultimate Blog Party!

ChiMomWriter — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:11:19 -0000

Nice to meet you, too! I'm enjoying your blog.

I'm done with two (because, you know, everything else has gone EXACTLY as planned). The rest of the crew is a mixed bag, ranging from one to four kids.

Re: Worst Things About Parenting, No. 7: Crappy Books

ChiMomWriter — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 23:14:46 -0000

They learn SO QUICKLY about the exact order of the story and the wording. My 2-year-old calls me out all of the time. Both on pages and lines. Oy. Thank goodness for the library to mix things up.

Re: Mama Manifesto: How To Simplify Your Blog-Reading Habit

ChiMomWriter — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:57:43 -0000

Stopping by from the UBP. Love the tips - Just started using the google reader not too long ago and it has changed my life. Between FB, twitter, UBP, HootSuite, BlogFrog, StumbleUpon... I'm dizzy. I'll take any tips I can get! ;)

Re: Why Daddy Always Gets to be the Good Guy

ChiMomWriter — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 13:00:00 -0000

Nobody cares about the Ringmaster... they all just want to see the clowns. Okay, maybe not the clowns. They're creepy. But at least the lions, tigers and bears - Oh my!

Well said. I'll toast my SB chai latte to that, calories and all.

ChiMomWriter
http://www.itbuildscharacte...

Re: The Adventures of MommyHaha

ChiMomWriter — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 22:06:52 -0000

Found your blog through the UBP. I'm also pretty new as a blogger (outside of our "family album"). Really looking forward to reading more - I'm so impressed with parents who homeschool!

Re: “What’s Your Word?” Series: Adventure

ChiMomWriter — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 22:59:25 -0000

I will definitely be checking out your new site. And look at you - on the road right now with the 3 kids solo! I'm sure you'll have many tales. Looking forward to the posts. Traveling Pumper will be at Mom Summit as well!

Re: School Bans Homemade Lunch -- YOU'RE KIDDING ME, RIGHT?

ChiMomWriter — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:52:18 -0000

Just don't let kids bring soda to school - That, I get. Not being able bring lunches? Not so much. The school lunches are not necessarily healthier, since they're completely ignoring the level of preservatives in the food. It's more expensive to force kids to buy. There are kids who have to think about a myriad of food allergies. I want to send my kids with their organic produce I've purchased. The list of issues goes on. And clearly the school didn't try to work with the parents on any level here. Poor form, all the way around.

Re: Red-Shirting Our Kids for Emotional Development: Coddling or Protecting?

ChiMomWriter — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:08:12 -0000

That's really helpful insight! My daughter's teachers and I were talking about that a little last night, too, because you can see a huge difference between her older classmates and her. As the parents, we only see the beginning and end-of-day interactions. Her teachers are the ones who see how timid she is around other kids all day, and I trust them!

Re: Raising Kids Without a Dog?

ChiMomWriter — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 07:43:10 -0000

How many years do I have to wait for that??

Re: Why Personal Trainers are a Waste

ChiMomWriter — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 15:05:49 -0000

Damn Starbucks!