Show & Tell: Brains, Babies, Bratz, and Breastfeeding

BRAINS: "You mean men and women's brains are different???"

A new study reveals what us moms already know: boys and girls are indeed different. An excerpt from a great article about the study about brains & gender:

"Equality feminists will be even more disturbed by science that confirms what most of us already know: women are more emotional than men. Cutting to the chase, that means girls are more prone to over-reaction than boys. Were we to map the female brain, Brizendine says the connecting routes for emotion look more like super-highways, compared with the country roads you'd find inside the male brain."

BRAINS AND BABIESMore and more, our culture says to women: brains and babies don't mix. Two articles (plus one follow-up article) give insight to this phenomena.

(1) A Harvard grad revisits her old stomping grounds- this time, with four children (*gasp*), and finds rampant anti-natalism greeting her at every turn. It's really worth the read; this intelligent mom of four is treated with contempt and the miniscule value of children to the intellectual elite is evident and saddening. She recounts a humorous story:

"I remember the last time I was in the GapKids store in Harvard Square before we moved away. I had my two little boys and was five months pregnant with my third. A customer behind me in line, looking me over and observing the two little ones in the stroller, asked me in all seriousness how I was going to get around once I had my third. Surprised, and mildly humored, I explained that I fully expected that my oldest would be able to walk by the time my third was born. It was a partly facetious answer for a mostly absurd question — my eldest son could already walk, of course, but, like all kids, preferred to ride if he could. Yet it was a revealing question. I’ll be the last to make light of the difficulties involved in transporting three little kids all about Cambridge. But the tone of the question bothered me, as if it was meant to imply: 'Didn’t you think over the transportation issue before you got pregnant again?' As if getting around by stroller would ever figure into my calculations over whether to have a third child."

(2) One of the most offensive women on the planet regurgitates her same philosophy: that the only women who should stay at home with children ought to be those with no potential- no brains- nothing to offer the world. And that those of us who have these things and stay at home as wives and mothers are doing more harm than good (her words, not mine). An excerpt from the interview:

"Q: Are you angry or frustrated with women who stay home with their kids? 

A: I think they're making a mistake. The most frustrating thing about the whole business is the nonsensical stories that they tell themselves and me about what they think they're doing. The delusional quality of it is a little weird. "

(3) For a critique and rebuttal of her odious opinions, check out Dr. Al Mohler's response to Ms. Hirschman.

BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLICA couple of everyday dads discuss public nursing. It's good for a laugh but also for a common-sense perspective on the whole thing. (It's a video, so give it time to upload.)


BABIES, BREATHING, & CARSEAT SLEEPINGEver hear that babies sleep better in their carseats? Ever let your baby sleep in the carseat? (Our oldest used to sleep in his all the time... on the other hand, our daughter hasn't ever been in one; they're not even sold where we live!) 

You may want to read this article about breathing risks affecting babies in car seats.


BRATZ DOLLS (need I say more?)Called Hooching Up Little Girlz, this blog article from Crunchy Con will give you even more reasons to avoid the purchase or giving of these childhood-stripping (intended literally and as a pun) dolls.
Happy reading!