Wednesday, February 28, 2007

lactivists

I have a friend who said, "I think there are extremists on both sides." Now, for pretty much *any* topic, she'd have made a very safe statement. Usually there are two or more sides to an issue, and usually there can be extreme views on two or more sides.

But we were talking about breastfeeding in public, and in this case I think she's wrong. There certainly are extremists on one side, who believe any breastfeeding in public is offensive and should not be allowed. And on the other side, there are:

1. Those who believe in breastfeeding when the child needs feeding, which is reasonable parenting, not extreme;

2. and a subset of these who will breastfeed in public specifically during calls to action to raise awareness about breastfeeding.

But I have never heard of breastfeeding "extremists" who actually do anything that *extreme*, like what- going nude and making sure the breast is exposed?! But I do think it is extreme to try and prevent people from feeding their children, and that is what anti-breastfeeding-in-public people are about. So it seems that the extremists in this case are only on one side. Because at the end of the day, being a lactivist seems to be about standing up for your child's right to be nourished and not go hungry just because some stranger is uncomfortable about it (even though that person wouldn't even see more breast exposed than in a low cut top).

Um, QED! And happy four month birthday dear Paloma!

Monday, February 26, 2007

boo yeah! I'm the Mom on the Block!

So there's a high school (mind you, a private expensive Catholic high school) near my apartment. All the schoolkids who take the bus walk by here every morning and afternoon.

This afternoon I heard thumping against the side of the apartment wall (we're on the ground floor). Paloma was nursing, and then smiled and expelled a giant poo. Hooray! Here was my chance to investigate the thumping. I closed up shop, pulled down my shirt and went outside.

Three boys were along the side of the building. I said "Take it easy! I could hear you against the apartment wall and I've got a baby here." I held up Exhibit A, who was feeling very mellow and looking very cute.

And it hit me- I am now old enough to inspire a little fear in the young uns. I'm not old, but old enough. Good stuff! They filed away, apologizing.

And the poop wasn't nearly as big as I'd thought! This makes her lack of napping much more bearable. Oh the ways that parenting changes one's perspective! Makes me laugh.

p.s. I'm going to try to make a pumpkin soup for dinner tonight!

Friday, February 09, 2007

I don't have enough to do

Wha-? Oh, I meant I feel like I don't have enough to do. In reality, being a new mom is plenty to do. But I feel like I'm not doing enough. That's right, I have succumbed to New Mom Guilt!

And I even have guilt about calling myself a new mom and getting the right to feel guilty, since I've been at it a whole 14.5 weeks and should be past all this. Right?

I told a group I volunteer for that I can't make a five hour meeting at a place thats 1.5 hours away next Saturday. Minkie (aka Paloma) would need to be nursed in that time, and Derek would have to watch her, and we freaking need our Saturdays. Because as a professor in his second year, he's working crazy hours. I mean, go to bed at midnight or one or two or three am, then leave the house by eight or eight-thirty. It's So. Wrong.

So then I felt guilty for that. Like, how am I so busy that I can't even make this meeting which happens all of three or four times a year? Nursing, cleaning the apartment, nursing, changing diapers, nursing, checking email and thinking on MomsRising stuff. It all takes time but somehow, today, it doesn't feel worthy.

Doesn't that suck? Most of the time I don't feel that way, but today I do. Maybe it's the gray weather. Maybe it's the fact that I wish I could be bringing in a salary, and the fact that Derek works SO HARD for his. And the fact that his salary supports all three of us.

But at least I feed us well! See previous post. :)

Also, I read an article in the SF Chron about Tangerine Brigham, this awesome talented woman who overcame a tough childhood to be this fabulously productive government worker who gets to her desk at 6 am and meets all her deadlines and wows her superiors who beg her to come back and work for them and implement groundbreaking programs with huge social justice implications.

Just allow me this one little moment: I'm so jealous! Okay, moment over, I'm done. I love my life (seriously- best husband ever, best baby ever, happy neighborhood- things are good). I don't neeeeed it written up in the paper. But damn it, I'm a Leo- hell, I'm a *human*- I like a pat on the back! So- yay me for being a good mom- there, it's published in a blog.

What is wrong with me that I want a glowing Performance Evaluation (and a raise to go with it!)? Le sigh.

Gotta go kiss a sweet baby! At least we're happy together!

Monday, February 05, 2007

shopping 101

I have learned that making a weekly dinner menu makes my life So. Much. Easier!!

No more thinking about what to make, looking balefully at the cupboard, and blankly reaching for the pasta, feeling like I've made a good effort by throwing some extra spinach and garlic into the Trader Joe's marinara.

Now I actually crack open my fabulous cookbooks. Favorites include:

  • The San Francisco Ferry Building Farmer's Market Cookbook (gives recipes by what's in season locally)
  • The Cheeseboard Collective (if I'm feeling ambitious and in need of amazing bread recipes)
  • The Millenium Cookbook (no better vegan paella out there)
  • things out of Sunset magazine (I'm in love with Sunset magazine)
  • I don't have it yet so not sure if it'll be a fave, but I'm looking forward to getting Lorna Sass' Pressure Perfect cookbook. I'm excited about using my pressure cooker more!

I pick out recipes that look good, and then shop away. It makes shopping quick, which is good considering I don't know how long Paloma will last at any given awake moment. Usually she's mellow, though.

Next challenge- how to tote her around - she's a little too heavy to carry and the Strolee plus handbasket is a little too unwieldy in the supermarket...