the culture wars...

In addition to their ongoing anti-feminist articles about young women wanting to stay home with children, the New York Times also has had repeated articles about clashes between people with children and people without children. Today's instalment is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/09/national/09bakery.html?8hpib

My response is well-covered by Bitch, PhD in this essay (http://bitchphd.blogspot.com/2005/04/moms-at-work-over-there.html) and can be summed up this way: children are part of society. Yes, parents should encourage them to be well-behaved in public, and should not take one-year-olds to Michelin 3-star restaurants. But a casual neighborhood cafe at brunch time or early evening? Give me a break.

in less controversial topics...

Casper has two new teeth! I noticed that her lower 2 year molars are both partway in.

In other body part news, she announced in the bath last night, "This is my penis."

I love a good cobbler. mr. flea took my old black Danskos to the cobbler across from his work, and they re-did the worn down heels and did something nice to the leather, and they're like new, for $20.

recent quotations of interest

"Anyone who has ever fallen deeply under the spell of the desperadoes, especially in childhood, carries at the back of his mind a rogue ideal of piratical nonchalance. He is forever suspicious of pomposity, subservience, and solemnity..." William Vivian Butler, The Durable Desperadoes, quoted in Jessica Mann, Deadlier than the Male.

"Try to remember that our society encourages mothers to cultivate guilt like a little flower garden, because nothing blocks the awareness and expression of legitimate anger as effectively as this all-consuming emotion." Harriet Lerner, quoted in Barbara Behrmann, The Breastfeeding Cafe.

Casper makes us go wah

This morning Casper pitched a fit as I left for work. After I was gone mr. flea sat down to try to calm her down and asked why she was crying. She said, "Mommy left me!"

Later he was explaining that he's leaving on Saturday for a trip. She said, "I'm going to cry!" He said, "Why?" She said, "Because you are going away!"

Wah! My poor baby!