I'm considering getting tickets to a production of Mamma Mia. I've seen it before and know that the premise of the story is that a girl doesn't know who her biological father is, and there are three possibilities, all brought together by her wedding. I think that's OK for DD. But I don't remember if there's any overt innuendo or lewd comments that might push things too far. As background, I took her to a performance of West Side Story about a year ago, having completely forgotten the rape scene. At the end of the play, DD said, "Mom, next time can you go online and see if it's appropriate for children?" A big mothering fail. Anyway, would appreciate any feedback or opinions. Thanks!

Rainbow Loom and bands Lego Friends kit Journal with a lock and key Kind of odd, but I'm getting my DD a headlamp and books, and I think she'll adore them.

My DH buys tons of these on Ebay - supposedly for DS but I think he likes them for himself. He gets them super cheap, always shipped from China. Probably knock-offs? I was teasing him the other day that the NSA is going to think we're running spy ring based on all the shipments we get from China. "No, officer, they're just fake Star Wars figures. I swear!"

And does this photo help to improve this situation? Would an employer considering a bf-friendly policy be more or less likely to adopt a pro-bf position after looking at this photo? Especially a small business where there may or may not be a private, non-bathroom area for bfing. I don't think it helps for them to picture their employees "multi-tasking" which could very well mean sitting at a desk taking calls while pumping.

Boggle Scrambled States of America

I agree that is part of her job, and I have no problem with that. But not everyone's job can be so easily accommodated to breastfeeding. No one would suggest that a checker at Wal-Mart would have as easy a time standing at the register while bfing. I'm just saying that it's easy to make blanket statements about worldwide laws to require 6 mos of bfing but life isn't like that for everyone. And I'll also say that I don't think that her job makes it this easy to bf every single time every single day. Like any other job, I'm sure there are instances when the demands on her time make it inconvenient to bf, and I give her props for keeping it going. I just don't think she should comment on the choices others have to make (although, of course, it is her right to do so).

Yes, but that was also after she was back-pedaling from the brouhaha from her initial comments.

Sure, she's allowed to say anything she wants. Just like a mother is allowed to make any feeding choice she wants. Because there's no law against it.

Yes, and that's exactly why she shouldn't be making blanket statements about worldwide laws for women to be required to bf for six months. Just as I'm not going to suggest that celebrities should have to wash their own dishes or hang their own clothes because it builds character.

I'm pro-breastfeeding, and as a working mom I dragged my pump into the office every day for a year to make it work for our family. That being said, I have a real issue with Gisele in that she was the one who said she thought that it SHOULD BE A LAW that mothers have to breastfeed. Well, this photo shows that she has no grasp on what others go through in order to bf. It's easy for her to sit there getting her nails and hair done (by two people no less!) and dictate what others should do. Here's a link to her comments on making it legally required to bf: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/02/gisele-breastfeeding-law_n_667738.html

Our favorites here: The Saturdays series by Elizabeth Enright Anne of Green Gables Pippi Longstocking The Secret Garden A Little Princess There are also early reader series that we try to pick up at library book sales for a quarter a piece. I figure if DD goes on a run of them, it's good to have them on hand to feed the reading fire. Magic Tree House Rainbow Fairies Judy Moody Dear America American Diaries American Girl Doll Boxcar Children

Congrats on the new baby! Your girls will love their new rainbow looms. Here's a link to an organizer that holds the looms plus bands. This one is personalized. The one my DD has is plain, but she received it as a gift so I'm not sure where to get it. This box holds the loom, the hook, and a bunch of bands. She really likes it. https://www.etsy.com/listing/153410335/rainbow-loom-organizers-personalized?ref=sr_gallery_24&ga_search_query=rainbow+loom+organizer&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto1&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=rainbow+loom+organizer

West Michigan looks amazing. Just mapped the drive and it's 14 hours from Boston (boo), but looks like Niagara Falls is just about at the halfway point. Maybe a great stopping point for a nice driving vacation. Leave on Thurs, spend Fri at the falls, drive to MI on Sat and spend the week at a cottage on the lake. Complete in reverse for the ride back home. DH is talking Disney this summer, but I like the sounds of this other plan better. Hmmmm.

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No advice. We are in the exact same predicament here but fortunately without the ticking clock as his preschool is lenient with training. I've concluded ds just isn't ready. He will sit and sit on the potty but has yet to get a single drop in there. I thought for sure a couple days of cold turkey would do the trick but no. Just lots of laundry and pee everywhere in the house.

How about spinach and artichoke dip? http://www.food.com/recipe/crock-pot-spinach-and-artichoke-dip-154551

This stone house number sign is really pretty, too: http://www.etsy.com/listing/93506844/stone-house-numbers-address-carved-12?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_query=house+number&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_ship_to=US&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all

Does she have a yard? These handmade pottery birdhouses can be quite beautiful with a wrought iron hanger. Small ones are in your price range. http://www.eldrethpottery.com/birdhouses.aspx

I work out of the home now, and at several times during the roller coaster of motherhood, I have explored options for lower-pay, part-time work with a shorter commute. In all instances - for me - I have determined that since I'm going to be out of the house anyway, I might as well bring home as much money as I possibly can just to make it worth the headache of juggling childcare and other responsibilities. I've also come to the sad realization that my career-level position generally requires less actual work and offers more flexibility than many of the lower-paid, part-time positions that are out there. Not suggesting you should dive head-first into full time, as there are so many different variables for each family - especially with your DD's autism - but just sharing my experience.

I think most things are about as hard as you make them. I work outside of the home 4 days a week. I remember going to a birthday party and having my eyes glaze over when I joined a group of SAHMs who were having a 20-minute conversation on the pros and cons of giving their children a daily multi-vitamin. If I had to agonize over things like that - either at work or with my kids at home - I would find any task difficult. I also think that many aspects of being home are frustrating, but not necessarily hard. It is annoying to be in the kitchen cleaning while my toddler tears apart the living room. But neither cleaning the kitchen nor restoring order to the living room is terribly hard - just annoying. I have yet to master the talent of getting said toddler to work with me in the kitchen to avoid the chaos in the living room.

I'd likely bring a small box of nice chocolates or an ornament for the tree. Definitely a token, but still something.

Are you sure that the address was deliberately omitted from the invitation? Maybe BIL is (incorrectly) assuming that you have his address? I might call someone to invite them with half of the details to sort of park the date on their calendar and say, "I'll get back to you with the details later once we iron them out." Details in this category might be exact time of the event, if they should bring a side-dish or dessert, if there's going to be a Yankee Swap. When is the party? Are we talking about tomorrow or three weeks from now? If the latter, there's still time for BIL to show his sincerity by getting back to your DH. In general, I love to please my parents and DH's parents. If it was important to my in-laws, I'd likely grit my teeth and go. But that's just me.

I love love love my Shark for my tile floors in the kitchen and entry way. Like a PP, I find that they work best when the pads are a bit damp. I also hold a spray bottle of vinegar while I mop. If I come to any spots that don't come right up, I shoot them with vinegar, wait a few seconds, and then run it over with the Shark. Works great. I also had a heavily soiled area in our entry hall (textured tile where the dirt gets stuck in the crevices). Using the Shark alone did nothing to clean the tiles there. I coated the tiles with Scrubbing Bubbles and waited five minutes then went over them with the steam mop. Looks soooo much better. Not as good as if I'd gotten down on my hands and knees and used the Mr Clean Magic Eraser - there were still a few dirt marks in the deepest of the crevices, but completely acceptable to me, especially considering the substantially less effort that went into the project.

Same here! DD didn't go to day care, so I used to be firmly in the anti-day care camp and felt sorry for those poor little children being left all day. I cried and cried when we had to send DS to day care. But day care has been GREAT for our family. DS loves it and is happy and engaged all day long. His social skills are through the roof compared to DD's at that age (and even still now in some areas).

I'll take it one step further. I don't understand why people keep pets at all. I think it's gross and weird to bring animals into your home for entertainment.