My husband purchased refurbished ipods and the desktop I'm typing on at this very moment. We've been very happy with our Macs so far. They are giving us a software update that's coming out in a few days, because we bought our desktop right on the cusp of the upgrade. I like their customer service practices.

You have had some great responses so far. I can only add that I had a somewhat similar experience when I was involved in Montessori education. The toddler and primary programs were packed, but the elementary and higher programs were sparse. It seemed as if many parents perceived Montessori ed. as messing around, and once the children were 5 or 6, they needed conventional schooling. Sigh. The biggest drawback for me as a parent in a situation like you describe (my children are ages 4 and 17 months) is that I'd be sad for my little ones to make friends with home schoolers who were going to be public schoolers. It's not that I mind the variety in their friendships; I just want to make sure they have home schooled friends, too. Anyway, good luck with whatever you implement.

Same here.

I agree. You may get lucky with a megastore bike, but it's sheer luck. Full disclosure: My husband owns and operates a bicycle business (custom stuff, and a lot of handbuilt wheels). He's no BMX expert, but I'm sure he'd suggest that you support your local bike shop. Or maybe go to a spot where older kids/men are riding and ask them for bike recs for your kiddos. Ride on, young WTMers:)

I think I understand. I finally just said to myself, "Do your best to minimize the chemical onslaught. Don't obsess over it." I'm trying to take my own advice.

Mojito? Mint, if not contained by a physical barrier, will spread far and wide.

We are going to a (smoke-free) bar to watch. My Dh loves the footie. Friends of ours are in South Africa now, but we do not have the means for such. Still, it's exciting:cheers2:. I lived in Ghana for a summer, so I am rooting for them after the USA gets knocked out...if and when, of course.

"It is impossible to make an adequate public defense of one's private life." -Wendell Berry

I heard about Susan's book on a blog I read (Macrina's). I liked what I read and I like forums (most of the time).

Grant to your servant, Timothy, O Lord, blessed repose and eternal memory. :grouphug: to you, mama. I am deeply sorry.

For newborn to about 15 lbs, I like the Moby wrap for longer carries. I like the Maya ring sling for tummy-to-tummy hold and hip carry. What I use most is my Didymos woven wrap. DH likes his mei tais (that's a MT in my avatar). http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd176/dyad_album/th_DSC_0203.jpg

Wow. I love it. And I love to quote the line about Bilbo's house: "It was a hobbit hole, and that means comfort." Or something like that. Anyway, thanks for sharing.

My sister is a teacher. So here goes: Safeteria (like cafeteria), Urunique (you are unique), Terijuana (like, well, you know). Those are just the kids I know. Sigh.

I'm Lucy. I have been with my DH for over 10 years and we have a son (age 3) and a daughter (under 1). We always knew we would not send the children to school. I found the WTM while reading Macrina's blog, and I am enjoying Susan's book very much. Before that I read a lot of John Holt. I love to knit. My first project was a sweater like this one for DD, and it turned out pretty well. I am now into knitting socks, and I hope to learn to spin when the babies are older. I am still waiting for the newest book in George RR Martin's latest series. Sigh. We own a small business and we do not own a car. We have one of these instead. I love your avatar; we are Byzantine catholic.

Here's another perspective. My DH was very good at soccer. He played throughout his childhood and eventually had a tryout for the US junior national team. At that tryout, he looked around and realized he'd be an alternate at best. He still loves to play and watch soccer, and he doesn't talk about his experience negatively. Everyone has a moment in which they measure themselves against others and see the good and the bad. HTH

I love coleslaw. Mark Bittman has a great recipe for a version without mayo. I like pretty much any cabbage-based dish. Yum.

:iagree: Mine don't bicker yet. But they will, and I can still remember bickering with my sister. We were horrid children:lol:. Have you read "Siblings Without Rivalry"? I've heard good things about it from other parents. Hang in there, mama.

I can only imagine, and I'm sorry your chicks were killed. I hope a resolution can be found that works for everyone, but it seems unreasonable to me for your neighbor to keep such an animal as a pet.

We had brunch and now I'm knitting....and knitting some more...and foruming (is that a word? I say it is.).

This made me laugh (in a sad way). It's too true. Still, I'll take the AAP over the ACOG any day... And b/c there has been mention of pot stirring (I haven't read the other threads in question) and b/c I am pretty new here: I am not a troll, I promise. I come by my passionate internet presence innocently enough and I don't mind a heated discussion. We had trolls on my baby wearing board during election time 2008 and it was just awful.

Greta, I agree with you that we need to defend all children against circ. I could have been more clear when I said we need to defend boys first. I mean that since we routinely circ. male infants in this country, we need to look at that practice before we claim the authority to tell FGM practitioners to stop. Again, I'm not suggesting that differences of degree don't matter in ethics generally. In this particular case, differences of degree aren't fundamental differences in my view. FGM is more dramatic, yet the distance b/t it and RIC is farther in our minds b/c many of us view RIC as no big deal. It's horrid in its own way, and I think we need to recognize that and do something about it before we claim moral authority over FGM practitioners. I'm not sure we have even begun a wide and thorough investigation of the effects of RIC. I have not seen any data on it, anyway. I'm not so much interested in anecdotes. Which brings us back to the main topic of this thread, which is (as I read it), how we in the US (both professionals and lay people) should dispose ourselves to the question of genital cutting. Until the AAP comes out forcefully against RIC and censures pedis and OBs for practicing it, I don't see how they can credibly make suggestions on the topic. Finally, I will re-read your posts, Greta, and give them more thought. That's always worthwhile when the posts are thoughtful, which yours are. I appreciate that:).

I am not arguing that the two procedures are medically exactly the same, but rather that the differences don't make one more ethical than the other. Why get bogged down in the minutiae of how grotesque circumcision is? I can barely watch a video of a male infant being circ'd, and I know enough of anatomy to imagine how horrible it must be for a girl. But who hurts worse is secondary to the main point: we could defend girls better if we defended boys first. I understand, but what makes you think male infants dont feel the same pain? Most routine infant circs are performed without anesthesia. Videos of typical RIC lead me to guess that the babies feel as much pain as any adolescent initiate.

Yes. So in order for Americans (and the professional organization in question) to establish credibility, we need to advocate for genital integrity for everyone. One procedure amputates part of the genitalia and the other amputates much more. Should making this distinction persuade us that human rights are being violated more for one than for the other? I'm not convinced. Why is it acceptable to use terms like "after care" for infant circumcision, but not for FGM? Isn't the difference that we are used to infant circ. in this culture? What's disturbing to me is the way some posters insist on critiquing the cultural norms of others without first turning an eye to the normative violence we do here to male infants.

We disagree as to what is germane, Bill. Your position isn't any more self-evident than mine. Both male and female circ. are rituals. Neither is medically necessary and both are amputations. Some of us believe the AAP should take a stance against any ritual, non-medical cutting of a child's genitals.

Bill, if you don't want to talk about it (and need some bean dip) why come onto the thread? I am not trying to bust your chops, but I am curious. What's it to you if people want to discuss this topic?