Book Crash Review: The Prodigy Project by Doug Flanders

by Doug Flanders
© 2010 by Douglas R. Flanders
Published by Prescott Publishing



Doug Flander's, The Prodigy Project , is a medical thriller crafted around the author's personal experiences and lifestyle. Flanders utilizes 15 years of experience as an Army reservist and almost two decades of medical practice to write an intriguing story with excellent, thorough, and believable detail.

The story captivates the imagination of readers with a plot centered around an operation to awaken dormant viruses within human DNA in effort to create a biological weapon powerful enough to give its master control of the globe and the future of humanity. The discovery of the operation by two young Chinese researchers leads them to contact the United States with information about the operation and attempt to flee China before their actions are realized. Jon Gunderson, a doctor and an expert in bio-weaponry, comes to their aid with his wife and nine children in unknowing accompaniment. When plans for rescue begin to go awry, Jon must face his family and admit his dishonesty about his work but his family must reconcile their anger and disappointment if they are to rescue the young informants and leave China with their family intact. As the large and closely-knit family seeks to leave China in safety, Jon must also be mindful of the earth shattering consequences of failure to remove the researchers and foil the virus-reviving operation.

The novel is 327 pages of exciting and realistic detail complemented by a thrilling storyline and the broad knowledge base of the author. Flanders clearly describes scenes with excellent detail of landscapes, physical and emotional conditions, relationships, and communication between characters. He develops his characters extensively allowing readers to feel as though they know them but not to the extent that their actions and decisions are predictable. Flanders' attention to detail and medical expertise also contribute to the quality of this novel as he is able to craft scenes of medical complexity that can be easily understood by lay readers. The author's love for family (and big ones!) is clearly communicated in this novel and he is able to draw from firsthand experience in organizing and portraying a large family within the pages of the work.

Although an excellent novel, the author is somewhat emotional in his descriptions at both the beginning and the end of the work. There are a few instances in which he seems to be writing scenes as he would like them to (or perhaps as they have) played out in his own family. Additionally the author seemed to be attempting to include every good idea he could conceptualize within his book and seems to rush to cram as many as possible into the story near the end. Although this makes the work seem somewhat over-dramatic in its final pages, it does not reduce the overall quality of the novel.

In addition to offering readers excitement and great detail, Flanders also carefully weaves family values and the importance of faith, trust, and forgiveness into the pages of his novel. He easily integrates his faith and beliefs into the story and characters but also allows characters to make mistakes and experience failures in their own faith and family.

Overall this is an excellent novel. Readers will be easily caught up in the excellent story-telling and will experience difficulty setting the book aside. The work is well suited for both teenaged and adult readers.


I received this book from the publisher through the BookCrash program at no charge in exchange for this review.

Tyndale House Publishers Review: Oops! by Bill Myers

Oops!
by Bill Myers
© 2011 by Bill Myers
Published by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc

Oops! is the third book in Bill Myers' newest series for kids, TJ and the Time Stumblers. TJ (also known as Thelma Jean Finkelstein) continues in her pursuit to fit in at her new school in Malibu, California while attempting to keep the pesky time stumblers from the 23rd century, Tuna and Herby, from completely ruining her life with their crazy antics. In Oops! TJ learns to appreciate the people around her, despite their rude behavior, oddity, and strange habits, as the individuals God created them to be. But thanks to the 23rd century invention of the thought-broadcaster pen (which makes the thoughts of anyone it hits audible), TJ finds herself in some precarious situations that only seen to get worse with her attempts to fix them. In addition to hampering her struggle to fit in at school, the pen also creates havoc in TJ's developing friendship with cute-boy, Chad Steele. In a conversation with her dad, TJ learns how her mother had handled problems and situations that she did not like and she realizes that it is best to try to see what God sees in others, not only what she sees. TJ also learns that regardless of an individual's behavior or attitude, each person in the world needs to be loved.

This book is written for ages 8 (3rd grade) and up. It is comprised of eleven chapters in 158 pages. The book offers a great deal of dramatic design in it's pages with regard to fonts and spacing for effect, and gives young readers the opportunity to use their imaginations when reading particular words from the pages. The author uses a great deal of contemporary humor and made-up words that will appeal to readers in the 8-12 year age group as well as captivate their imaginations and leave them wanting to read more about this sort-of-crazy girl and her almost-out-of-control life.


Check out this trailer for the series:




The author shares the story well and uses characters that young readers will find amusing and to whom they can most likely relate. He uses characters and situations that most readers will find relevant and easy to imagine as well. Myers blends these elements with biblical principles that urge readers to consider what God would want them to do in similar situations.

Although this book is part of a series readers do not need to have read the previous books to keep up with the characters or storyline. Myers masterfully conveys the events and character development in such a way that allows readers new to the series to effortlessly follow the story and want to read more.

The author uses a variety of interpersonal relationships to tell TJ's story, but some of the situations and the context of certain relationships may be slightly too mature for readers closer to 8 years old than 12 years. Parents who are concerned with early exposure to relationships with the opposite sex should be aware that there is a great deal of emphasis on boy-girl relationships and the terms boyfriend and girlfriend are used in a mature context.

Overall this book is enjoyable to read, entertaining, and promotes a biblical message to kids in a fun way. I recommend this book and the series for young readers ages 10-12 years.

Tyndale House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review.

Book Sneeze Review: Thank You, God, for Blessing Me by Max Lucado

Thank You, God, for Blessing Me
by Max Lucado
© 2011 by Max Lucado
Published by Thomas Nelson
Illustrations by Frank Endersby





Thank You, God, for Blessing Me is a charming and delightful book written for pre-school age children. The book is classified as a "Read 2 Me" book, intended to be read aloud to children who are not yet able to read. This is a board book with heavy cardboard pages that cannot be ripped or torn and is appropriate for small children who will want to reach out and touch the colorful illustrations in this book.

The book offers nine pages of sweet and playful rhyming text. It offers a lesson on gratitude and gives parents and other caregivers an opportunity for a teachable moment with their children, encouraging them to be thankful for every-day things. The book has beautiful color graphics that are fun to look at and make the story come to life. Parents and children alike will want to linger on the pages of this text as the illustrations are truly fantastic.

This book is part of the "Little Hermie" series and makes some references to characters who appear in other books in the series. This could create a small problem for children who are not familiar with the other books and characters. However, this would probably be a minor issue while reading, and possibly looked over by most younger children.

Thank You, God, for Blessing Me is a wonderful addition to the collection of Christian books for pre-school age children and gives parents the opportunity to enjoy reading to and sharing their faith with their young children.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this review. I was not required to post a positive review.

BookCrash Review: Deliver Me Edited by Dianne E. Butts

Deliver Me: Hope, Help, and Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy
Compiled and edited by Dianne E. Butts
© 2011 by Dianne E. Butts
Published by Connections Press Pueblo, Colorado

Deliver Me is a compilation of short stories and essays in 235 pages and nine chapters. The book explores the decisions and choices of real women who faced unplanned pregnancies. It offers over 50 stories from women and men who faced questions concerning abortion, adoption, keeping their baby, facing family and society, as well as letters and essays written by husbands, partners, and family members affected by unplanned pregnancy. The work offers hope and encouragement to women (and men) who are struggling with unplanned pregnancy as well as healing and encouragement to readers whose experience is in the past.



The chapters in this book cover questions including who faces unplanned pregnancy, the concerns of her family, and who can help these women find options. The book also discusses issues including abortion, adoption, how to help women who choose to keep their baby, the affect of abortion on men, learning from women and families who have experienced abortion, and how to reach out to those in need.

Deliver Me is a relevant work that offers personal and real stories of women and men struggling with the choices surrounding unplanned pregnancy. The work offers current data and statistics surrounding the topics addressed and conveniently organizes the statistics within the appropriate chapters. The end of each chapter offers resources for readers who wish to follow up or learn more about particular topics or find solutions and help in their own situation.

The work offers a valuable and legitimate chapter concerning men and their role in the issues considered in this book. The essays are written by men who supported the choice of abortion, those who said they would support any decision made by their partner (thereby relinquishing themselves from the responsibility of choosing), and men who opposed the option of abortion. One contributor observes that while statistics indicate that one in three women in the church has had an abortion "women didn't do this all by themselves [and] one in three men in the church are post-abortive as well." He writes that "men seem invisible in this issue" and indicates that while the emphasis is usually on "getting to the women to save he babies" there should also be focus toward saving men and women from the regret that often follows abortion (p.96).

In addition to chapters devoted to relevant information, resources, and statistics, the work also offers several pages of notes and sources as well as brief biographies of individual contributors. These two sections lend credibility to the work and extinguish any skepticism regarding the validity and authenticity of the stories within the book. A unique feature of this book is a chapter specifically dedicated to educating readers about the role of crisis pregnancy centers. The chapter goes beyond describing the pregnancy-related work of these centers and illustrates that they also assist women who are struggling with abusive relationships, parenting issues, post-abortion recovery, and sexual abuse recovery.

Although this book has a great deal to offer readers, it falls short in a few areas. One of it's most glaring shortcomings is its relatively narrow target audience. A story about a grandmother struggling with her daughter's pregnancy with a biracial child could have been edited for content to appeal to a wider range of readers. While the story illustrates God's love, forgiveness, and power to change hearts, readers who are new in their faith, or who do not share the editor's faith, may find the story distasteful and offensive rather than heartwarming.

Some further editing would have helped to clarify a few of the stories in the book as some contributors seem to drift from their topics while sharing their experiences. Other contributors use rather dated lingo including words such as "cyberspace" (p.168) within their narratives that could probably be edited as well.

Additionally, the book's format lacks aesthetic value. The individual stories within the chapters do not flow well from page to page and would be more pleasing to look at if they were spaced out a little bit differently rather than just continuing from one page onto the next. The cover and graphics also appear to be somewhat dated and this looks more like a paperback from the 1990s than a recently published book.

This book would be complimented by a corresponding website that offers up-to-date links to the resources listed in the book. A website offering this type of information would be more user friendly, save readers from typing in long and cumbersome web addresses and would also keep the book current and allow for updates to resource information.

Overall this book is an excellent resource for anyone involved in an unplanned pregnancy including pregnant women, their partners, parents, grandparents, friends, family, and those involved in the work of crisis pregnancy centers. It allows readers to explore the experiences of others who have faced unplanned pregnancy and offers resources for those searching for answers to their questions. This book would also be an excellent piece of literature for those who are undecided on their position on abortion as it speaks to the human impact of the issue rather than just the political.

I received this book from the publisher through the BookCrash program at no charge in exchange for this review.

A Tribute to the Blue Recliner

Today would have been my Uncle Robb's 52nd birthday. He was a pretty cool guy and pretty much everyone he met liked him. He was a husband to my Aunt Debbie, a dad to my cousins, Amanda and Ryan, and an Uncle to several adoring nieces and nephews. He was also a son, a brother, and a good friend to many. He was an Iowa farm boy who knew the value of hard work and he applied it to his daily life. I remember him laughing a lot, teasing, telling jokes and goofing around. He always seemed to enjoy life, family, and friends. His life was cut short though, and after a years-long battle with cancer, he died at the young age of 34.

I wrote the following piece several years ago while in grad school. I had kind of forgotten about it but when I gave the PC to my Dad he found it saved in some random file. He thought it was neat and gave me a hard copy of it. I haven't changed much from the original piece aside from a couple of typos. I hope you enjoy it and can see a little bit of a really awesome guy who loved life, his family, and God.

I have in my possession a large blue lazy boy recliner. It's your standard, overstuffed, early nineties vintage recliner; not so attractive, but super comfy. Over the years it has drifted from garage to dorm room to bedroom to living room and back several times.

In the many years that I have been the owner of this fine piece of ugly furniture, may have tried to convince me to get rid of it. "Throw it out!", "That thing is hideous!", Why don't you get something else?" they say. But the blue recliner remains a member of my household. It has a tear in it that grows larger with each passing year, but the blue recliner lives on. Perhaps it is my own (sometimes pathetic) sentimental side that persuades me to keep the the chair.

You see, it once belonged to my Uncle Robb who spent many weeks in it during his battle with cancer eleven years ago. As a ten year old, I spent a large amount of time with him, my aunt and their two children helping out after chemotherapy treatments. I would rub his feet as he sat in the chair to help distract him from the pain and nausea of the vicious disease he was battling. I sat next to him and learned the pi equals not just 3.14, but 3.1415927! I hated learning it, and I still hate math, but I will certainly never forget what pi is! While he sat in that chair I read aloud to him to get used to talking with my retainers, and as soon as I would stop and try to take them out, a quick "No, Kathy, leave them in or you'll never get used to them!" would follow.

It's funny how something like an old recliner can shape and mold one into the adult they eventually become. When I sit in my recliner I think about the bravery and courage my Uncle Robb showed during his three year battle with cancer, I think about the strong hope of recovery that he carried with him for those difficult years, I remember his strong faith and belief in God that developed and grew with each passing day. I think about the love he felt and showed for his family, and his understanding that family should not be taken for granted.

It wasn't until adulthood that I learned that from his diagnosis doctors told him that the form of the disease in his body was fatal; the best they could offer was treatment to prolong his life for a few short years.

He knew from the beginning of his battle that he had no medical chance of surviving, but he battled the disease for three grueling years. When I feel discouraged about life and it's pressures, I think about my Uncle Robb and his crusade against the disease that eventually took his life. I think about his courage in the face of imminent death and his faith and hope that he could survive.

When I sit in the recliner I realize that fear of the future is completely normal, but I also realize that faith and hope are required to overcome that fear. When I'm worried about life or how things are going to turn out, I sit in my recliner and think about my Uncle Robb and the things I learned from him. I think about how one day, when I meet him again, I will thank him for all the things I learned from him while he sat in that old recliner - all of the things that have so deeply influenced my life.

And I will smile for him so he can see my straight teeth and laugh when I tell him that pi equals 3.1415927 and that I still HATE MATH!

Book Sneeze Review: The Fight of Our Lives by William J. Bennett & Seth Leibsohn

The Fight of Our Lives: Knowing the Enemy, Speaking the Truth, and Choosing to Win the War Against Radical Islam
by William J. Bennett, Seth Leibsohn
© 2011 by William J. Bennett, Seth Leibsohn
Published by Thomas Nelson



The book is comprised of eight chapters and notes in 186 pages. Within the chapters of the work the authors describe how America has arrived at this point of apathy concerning threats to our freedoms, the failure of current and previous administrations to deter terrorists and the politically correct rhetoric and actions of Republicans and Democrats alike, that have left terrorists unafraid to murder innocents at will. The work provides a history lesson spanning for September 11, 2001 to the months preceding it's publication. The authors offer information about the drastic change in American culture in the months and years following 9/11 and the switch from a country and government hard on terrorism to one that is soft and appeasing toward the threat of terror. They discuss the change in national rhetoric, from leaders in government and the press and the effect this change has had on the American psyche and will to battle against Radical Islam and the terrorists it produces.

This short work begins with the account of the massacre at Fort Hood in November 2009. The authors review the facts of the event and those leading up to it and point to the response of leaders in American government and military as evidence that our nation is entrenched in a battle for Western Democracy. They assert that America's leadership is more concerned with cultural diversity than human life (p.10) and give evidence to support this claim. They point to the events at Fort Hood and the following official report issued by the military as evidence that the United States is suffering from a serious "crisis of will" (p. 15) and failure to recognize the threat of Islam to our national security, rights, and way of life. The authors assert that American culture has made standing up to Islamic threat politically incorrect and that this apathy and failure to challenge those who wish to harm America will be the root of her demise. They cite facts surrounding the Fort Hood massacre as evidence that there was more than ample warning of Nidal Hassan's intentions, but too many were afraid to confront what they knew to be threats and too many were concerned about personal ramifications should they speak out against a Muslim. The authors contend that American leadership does not view action against terrorists and those who harbor them as imperative to our survival and instead seek to appease the enemy who is "made bold by our dismissal and appeasement" (p.4) inviting further attacks on America and her people.

This work offers readers reminders of why America became and has remained involved in a war of which many have grown weary. It's authors implore Americans to recall the human rights violations, the treatment of men, women, and children in the corrupt Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. They call on readers to remember that it was the man that America went to war with in 2002 whose record "of barbarism and terrorism was virtually unparalleled" who "by most accounts had killed more Muslims than any other person in modern history." (p.35)

The book also helps readers muddle through issues that are difficult to navigate and understand without research and historical knowledge such as the events and problems in Iran. The authors challenge readers to look at the way a nation treats it's children as a test of it's government's intentions and motives. They point to Iran's use of children as minesweepers in the 1980s and call on readers to recognize that "if you want to know what they will do to us, look at what they do to their own people." (p. 90)

The authors indicate that in dealings with Iran, Barack Obama has ignored the lessons of history and previous successful denunciations of regimes aggressive toward the United States. Instead he has opted to meet with leaders of countries that threaten peace and Western democracy "without preconditions" (p. 86) which has led to a more dangerous world and an America who appears weak and without resolve against terrorist threats against her people. The authors also assert that Obama is not dealing with the problem in Iran, rather he uses flowery rhetoric to appease terrorist rather than fight them (p. 104). The authors assert that despite his ostentatious speech it is really Obama's actions that have sent a clear message to terrorists regarding his lacking resolve to fight terrorism. Obama's bow to the Saudi King sent a message of submission to the leader of an Arab country with a disgusting history of human rights violations and one that is also known to fund terrorist organizations(p. 105). The work asserts that his action in this circumstance "showed national humiliation" and did nothing to counter the actions of terrorist organizations the globe over.

The book also offers a helpful comparison of violence in Islam and violence in Christianity and Judaism. It illustrates distinct differences in Old and New Testament violence and that found in the Koran. The authors discuss the difference between the Koran and the Bible arguing that those who "wish to equate the Bible and the Koran misunderstand, ignore, or deny the difference between a historical account and a living injunction." (p. 113) Using a quick test they ask readers to determine the effect of particular religions on terrorist activity by citing the "number of Jewish terrorists or criminals who have cited the Bible to justify their actions" (p. 112). They also indicate that Judaism (unlike many other faiths) "does not demand converts" (p.113) as does Islam.

This short book is appropriate for lay-readers and scholars alike. Although some of the information may seem repetitive to those familiar with the subject matter it is an excellent resource and a quick lesson in modern history and diplomacy. This book is required reading for Americans concerned about the future of their country and for those wondering what Islam's quiet appropriation of Western Civilization means to America.

The work debunks many popular arguments in favor of tolerance and gives readers the information they need to successfully dispute claims that America is selfish, weak, or sorry for her actions in the Middle East. Although the author's use a large portion of the book to discuss problems and the history of those problems, they also offer solutions and call on American leadership to recognize the threat to liberty and act swiftly in demanding change.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for this review. I was not required to post a positive review.

Blogging for Books Review: The Harvest of Grace: An Ada's House Novel by Cindy Woodsmall

Sylvia Fisher is not an ordinary Amish woman. She prefers hard work, milking cows, and tending to her family's dairy herd to managing a household, tending to small children, and participating in other more feminine duties as most Amish women. When she is forced by betrayal, scandal, and guilt to leave her home and beloved family farm she chooses to help another family try to rescue their dilapidated farm. In the process she falls in love with the farm, her work there, and adopts the couple who own the farm as her surrogate parents. Her hope to help the farm turn a profit is shattered when the couple's son and only living child, Aaron Blank, returns and announces that his parents should sell the farm and move to a nearby community where he plans to run an appliance shop for Plain folk. Sylvia and Aaron spend the summer working side by side toward the same goal, ridding the farm of debt, but for different reasons. While Sylvia struggles to accept God's grace and forgiveness, Aaron struggles with temptations of his own and battles to make his parents see the changes he has made in his life. Although Sylvia and Aaron both work against the goal of the other, they work together to bring the farm to prosperity, and to help each other find their path toward peace, living in God's grace, and in harmony with their community.

The Harvest of Grace is the third in the Ada's House Novel series by Cindy Woodsmall. It is comprised of forty chapters in 344 pages. The author offers an introduction to the Ada's House Novels series in the beginning of this book so that readers do not need to have read the previous novels in the series to follow the events and characters of The Harvest of Grace.

This book is an excellent piece of fiction that allows readers to feel more than just self-indulgent while ravenously turning its pages but also allows readers to learn and self-reflect while contemplating the situations, attitudes, and feelings of the characters within the story. Cindy Woodsmall expertly blends jealousy, betrayal, heartache, and anger with forgiveness, faith, love, and grace. Her grasp of the Christian faith, and specifically Amish beliefs regarding forgiveness and grace, allow readers to examine their own spiritual walk and faith. The everyday circumstances faced by her characters allows readers to consider their own faith, walk with Christ, and how they might react in similar situations.

Although the main characters of this novel are Sylvia Fisher, Aaron Blank, and their immediate families, the author nearly seamlessly weaves the stories of several other individuals in the community into the story as well. For readers of the Ada's House Novel series the transitions would be very easy to follow, but for readers who have not experienced the other books in the series the transitions may prove to be more difficult to discern.

The primary characters in this work are well developed, likable, and interesting. The author carefully discloses information about the characters in such a way to leave the reader eager to read more and anticipate the actions and choices of the characters. However, the relationships between the primary and secondary characters sometimes seem underdeveloped and lacking. This is probably not a concern for readers of the entire series, but for readers of this novel exclusively it can cause some hindrance in piecing the intertwining stories together.

This work also offers readers a glimpse into the lives of men and women following the ways of the Old Amish Order in modern times. The author uses her unique knowledge of the Old Amish Order as well as extensive personal research and utilization of a consultant within the Order to assure that her stories are culturally accurate. (Watch a video on this here.) Her style of writing allows readers to imagine that the events within the story could have happened a year ago as easily as they could happen tomorrow.

Overall this is an excellent novel for readers looking for something that can be enjoyable, simple to follow, and informative. Woodsmall gives readers the opportunity to indulge in a good fiction story as well as get lost in it's pages (and isn't that why most people choose fiction?!) Her sentence structure, word mastery, and the ease with which she weaves together the stories of her primary characters make this book easy to read but her capacity for story-telling make it difficult to put down.

Click here to download the first chapter for FREE!

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I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

Nursing Moms: A Greatest Hits List

Today marked the last day of World Breastfeeding Week 2011. There have been events all week long- some of which you might have heard about through a local media outlet or social networking sites. What an great way to share and celebrate the awesomeness that nursing a baby is! Yesterday La Leche League USA sponsored "The Big Latch On" event where Moms and nurslings came together in public places to promote breastfeeding and aid in public awareness of breastfeeding. Over 4000 mamas and babies participated in this event at over 294 locations world-wide! Some La Leche League chapters sponsored picnics and moms around the world promoted nursing through Facebook and Twitter by announcing their participation in status updates or by posting pictures of themselves nursing their babies.

In recognition of World Breastfeeding Week and of the unbelievable joy I have found in nursing my own baby, following are a few lists of "Bests" of breastfeeding, according to me, at least.

Best Nursing Products: You don't need a million products to breastfeed your baby. In fact, you really only need your boobs, and, well, your BABY! But some products are fun and can make life easier!

1. Undercover Mama: No one wants to show off their post-baby belly to the world while nursing and shirts designed for breastfeeding with special openings or panels can be very costly - and not too cute! These tops turn any shirt into a nursing top and cost much less!




2. Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle: These supplements (herbs) have been used throughout history to help nursing mama's increase their milk supply. This is especially helpful for moms who want to increase their stockpile of milk or moms returning to work who plan to pump frequently.

3. Loved Baby Nursing Shawl: Breastfeeding is very special between mothers and their little ones. But sometimes we want to keep it that way--between us and our little one and not share everything we've got with the world. This shawl is very versatile and has many other uses; I've used it as a blanket, burp cloth, a playmat on the floor, and in a pinch, in a public diaper changing area where I didn't want to lay my baby down. The shawl comes in several colors and is a casual cover for nursing in public - unlike some covers that more closely resemble the shower curtain Halloween costume from The Karate Kid movie. In addition to being very useful the shawl is beautiful, washes very nicely and doesn't wrinkle!

4. Lansinoh Lanolin Cream: This is really a miracle cream for sore or cracked nipples. It's great for dry skin and chapped lips too! Available at most major retailers.

5. Washable Nursing Pads: Even though disposable nursing pads are available- washable ones are more comfortable and absorb better. And they come in awesome prints like these!

6. Electric Breastpump. There are several brands available and they vary in price. Medela pumps are housed in discreet black bags and are often preferred by moms who will need to take their pump to work. If they seem too expensive for you look for a good used pump and purchase new tubing, valves, and membranes through a retailer like Amazon. Sometimes hospitals and birthing centers rent breastpumps to moms who don't have funds to purchase their own.

7. Boppy Pillow: Some moms prefer the "My Brest Friend" pillow but the Boppy seems to have more long term use - like propping baby up and aiding in sitting up on the floor when baby gets bigger.

8. Nursing Tank Tops: These are great for sleeping and wearing around the house. The clasps allow for good coverage but quick and easy access for nursing your little one. (Much better than hiking up your sleep shirt or nightgown!) Check out this brand for pretty tops around $15 each.




Best Advice from Other Moms: When it comes to having a baby, everyone (EVERYONE!) has advice for the new mom. In my experience, successful breastfeeding moms have some of the very best advice though. This is what I learned:

1. Attend a La Leche League meeting BEFORE your baby is born.

2. KEEP GOING to La Leche League meetings AFTER your baby arrives! Moms in these groups can help new moms be successful and overcome problems or discomforts with nursing.

3. Smile and nod! Others are bound to make insensitive or irritating comments about your choice to breastfeed. Sometimes its best to just smile and nod and let the comment pass. (Disclaimer: This is much easier said than done!)

4. Don't buy a stockpile of nursing bras before your baby is born. Purchase one or two comfortable bras ahead of time and the rest after baby arrives. It's hard to know when you're pregnant exactly what will fit you once your milk comes in. You can save a lot of hassle by waiting until a few weeks after baby is born to purchase as many bras as you think you will need. The best kind to start off with are soft sleeping bras or sport-style nursing bras.

5. You don't necessarily have to spend a lot of money to get a good nursing bra. Check out stores like Target and Motherhood Maternity for a good selection of low-cost nursing bras.

6. Drink plenty of water! Keep a large cup or water bottle with you all of the time and refill it often! Staying hydrated is key to breastfeeding success.

7. Don't worry about losing the baby weight right away. Nursing your baby and drinking plenty of water will help you lose the weight safely over time and not at the expense of your health or milk supply.

8. Make friends with other nursing moms! Their support and friendship will be invaluable. If you can't find someone in your local area, join an online forum through a site like Mothering.

9. Change nursing holds frequently. This can help ease engorgement and maintain milk supply. It can also help relieve the symptoms of mastitis.

10. Learn the side-lying nursing hold. This position allows you and your baby to relax together.

11. Find and utilize a lactation consultant. Try to find a consultant who can come to your home and help you learn proper latch and nursing positions in your own environment. We spent about $120 for this service when our baby was born but my husband declared it to be the best $120 we ever spent! If you have your baby in a hospital there is sometimes a consultant on staff. (Be sure to ask if she is IBLCE certified though as more moms are reporting nurses with only workshop hours in lactation posing as consultants!)

12. Consider co sleeping with your baby. This can help maintain adequate supply and help mom and baby BOTH get more rest than getting up and going to the baby's room several time each night to nurse.

12. Read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.

13. Wear your baby. Babywearing has many of advantages including bonding, some hands-free time for mom, and babywearing can help soothe a fussy baby. Some research also indicates that babywearing can help mothers produce and adequate milk supply.




Best Breastfeeding Websites: Sometimes a Google search can render more results than anyone can begin to search through or decode. These websites offer great advice for getting started with breastfeeding, finding solutions for issues, and getting the support moms need.

1. La Leche League International: Established by seven women in 1956 (after breastfeeding rates in the United States dropped to nearly 20%) to help, support, and educate mothers who wish to breastfeed.

2. La Leche League in the USA: the U.S. branch of LLLI. Offers links to local chapters and a Breastfeeding Helpline.

3. Mothering: Mothering Magazine was created in 1976 and continues today as a web company. Moms can find information on many natural parenting related topics, including breastfeeding.

4. Peaceful Parenting: A blog devoted to kind parenting offers many breastfeeding related articles.

5. Ask Dr. Sears: William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN. Pediatrician and parents of eight children, Dr. Bill and Martha offer advice on many parenting related issues they've encountered in their own family and through 40 years in pediatrics.

Still Waiting For the Big Reveal: Blogging for Books: What Are You Waiting For: The One Thing No One Ever Tells You About Sex. A Review.

The following is a book review for the Blogging for Books program through Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing. The publisher's posting of this review can be found here.

What Are You Waiting For: The One Thing No One Ever Tells You About Sex by Dannah Gresh, is the author's newest book in her campaign to encourage women to maintain sexual purity until marriage. Gresh covers a variety of topics relating to sex and sexuality in sixteen chapters and 178 pages. Several of the chapter titles seem particularly riveting including "The Lesbian Question", "Friends With Benefits" and chapters designated for topics including pornography and masturbation. Gresh claims that her book holds the secret to fulfilling sex and the reason that women should hold sex as sacred and reserved for their husbands.

In this book Gresh adequately answers some relevant questions about sex and aids readers in navigating issues complicated by pop culture and media. Her conversation regarding the effect of pornography on love and marriage illustrates that a brain addicted to porn can lose it's sensitivity and capability to love because it is overcome by lust. She uses scientific explanations to describe how the porn addicted brain is desensitized to love and becomes hooked on the need for pornographic stimulus. Gresh also gives readers advice concerning relationships in which pornography is an established problem.

The author gives useful advice to young women seeking to maintain their sexual purity and helps readers to not cross "the line" into premarital sex. She discusses kissing, fondling, and the burning question of whether or not oral sex is really sex. She offers readers helpful advice for refraining from situations in which their intentions could be compromised by physical desires. She also urges young girls to practice modesty in their clothing choices to avoid creating situations in which sexual temptation is more difficult to resist.

Gresh carefully weaves scientific information throughout the book and explains how the female human brain reacts to sexual stimuli through the creation of oxytocin which creates a chemical attachment to the sexual partner. Gresh calls this chemical attachment "emotional glue" (p. 114) and asserts that this is why casual sex is not possible; every sexual encounter causes the participants to be emotionally bonded whether they choose to be or not. Gresh also uses scientific evidence to illustrate how physical love is biologically emotional and that human sex is biologically different than sex between animals. (p.43-44) She also explains to readers that "not all sex is the same" (p.35) and encourages readers to search for the experience of sex that goes beyond only the physical act.

One of the author's more triumphant moments is her illustration of the standard that Christian women are called to. She demonstrates that communion with God is not a pious attitude and living as close to the sexual line as possible without sinning. She indicates that closeness with God comes from living honestly and performing regular self-checks to maintain an honest and strong relationship with God. She calls her readers to pursue "a life that is free from any hint of sexual sin." (p.118)

The book falls short in several instances though including rather simple theology that does not leave readers with much sense of spiritual growth. Although her discussion of the Hebrew language and her examination of the Bible's original meaning in verses relating to sex and sexuality are interesting, they are not quite deep enough to be more than somewhat impressive. The point of this book, the secret that Gresh promises to share, is not revealed until chapter four of the book, and when revealed, does not really offer anything particularly mind-blowing.

The author's writing style is also somewhat distracting as she seems to be overly intent on connecting with a younger generation rather than communicating her ideas. Words and phrases such as "girl", "push pause, push play" (p.112) and references to establishments in her immediate locale (p.134) make it difficult to focus on the topics she believes are important. Although this writing style may be appropriate for teenaged readers it is probably not appealing to readers at the college level or beyond. Additionally, Gresh tries to add relevance to some of her topics through inclusion of comments made and questions posed by young (college age) women. Unfortunately her research pool is not very broad and in chapter 12, "The Line", her conversations with college age girls seem to be restricted to only her two interns. (p.111)

The work is not free from the commonplace Christian guilt on this particular subject either. Gresh relates a conversation she had with a young woman who had allowed a recent boyfriend to get "under her shirt" (p. 45) and the woman's deep sense of guilt and shame regarding the incident. Gresh indicates that she encouraged this young woman by reassuring her of "how much of herself she still had to give to her future husband." (p.45) While this seems like an excellent point of consolation, it seems that some reference to God's forgiveness and a repentant spirit might be more relevant to spiritual growth than a conversation about one's future spouse. In a later chapter, Gresh uses verbiage that seems condescending and sententious when she discusses "preparing your heart to confess (sexual sin) to your future husband" (p. 125). Additionally, her advice regarding sharing past behaviors with a boyfriend until "you are certain that the relationship is headed toward marriage" (p. 123), although well-meaning, may disappoint young women who wait too long to share important details of their lives with future partners.

What Are You Waiting For, regrettably, left me waiting for something of a little more substance. This book claims to be more ambitious than it actually is and, although it covers relevant topics, it only minimally does so. Sixteen chapters in 178 pages does not leave much room for real depth and spiritual growth. The author seems to be more intent on convincing women to maintain sexual purity than on fostering a deeper relationship with God.

The book is probably best for girls between 13-17 years old. The writing style and minimal spiritual depth will probably cause disappointment in older readers. I would recommend this book to young girls interested in this topic and who are beginning question the biblical significance of sexuality and encounter the many sexual issues and questions that are prevalent in modern culture. It would also be a useful tool for parents (particularly mothers) of teenage girls who are looking for an avenue to discuss these issues and questions with their daughters.

For a chance to win a FREE copy of this book, please rate my review here.

I received this book from the publisher.

Babies and Stuffitis: The Marketing Campaign to Empty Your Wallet. Part 2 - Ignoring the Force-Fed Guilt to Determine What You Need!

Read Part 1 of this article here. A Google search for "list of necessary baby items" resulted in more than 52 million hits. This is not terribly surprising, considering the target audience of baby items, the monstrous marketing campaign for all things baby as well as the ability of Google to find anything and everything on the web. Conservatively we can say that maybe one quarter of those hits are actually relevant to the search topic- this still leaves over 12 million results perhaps slightly related to the subject at hand: babies and stuffitis.

The most common items listed in the search were things like a crib, crib mattress, stroller, infant carseat, highchair, playpen (pack-n-play), changing table, rocker, diapers, formula, and the list goes on and on and on. It is incredible the amount of stuff that Google thinks babies need! Okay, so maybe not Google - but the fact is - babies really don't need all of the stuff that the world seems to think they do.

Babycenter.com offers a baby cost calculator that estimates the one-time costs that most parents will have in preparing for their baby. The average total amount of these items is $2058. By adding a few luxury items the one-time costs rise to a staggering $3031! Sadly, this amount does not include ALL of the items that are suggested (or needed) by first time parents- things like a convertible car seat (used after baby reaches the 25-30 pound weight limit of the infant carseat/carrier), or a breast-pump- required of breastfeeding moms who return to work!

How are parents supposed to navigate these giant lists of things, the advice of well-meaning friends and family, and end up with enough to adequately care for baby without breaking the bank? It's actually quite simple. IGNORE all of it. This doesn't mean that parents should not prepare for the arrival of their baby or that there is anything wrong with accumulating things that will be required. But the trick is to accumulate things that YOU will require. Not that others require or suggest, and certainly not what major merchandisers so kindly suggest that you will need.

The best way to prepare for YOUR baby is to talk about how you plan to raise your baby. What parenting style will you use? What do you wish to teach your child? What kind of lifestyle do you want your baby to have? What expectations about things do you want to foster in your child?

If you intend to follow the guidelines of attachment parenting, you may want to forgo a crib and purchase a co-sleeper for your baby instead. If you want to keep your baby close to you to help her adjust to the world then you might choose a baby-wearing device such as a sling, wrap, or soft-structure carrier instead of a stroller.

If your family is concerned with saving money and reducing waste, perhaps cloth diapering- at least part time- is an option for you. Likewise, if you are concerned with using only organic, chemical-free, and other natural products for your baby you may consider exclusively breastfeeding and using cloth diapers full-time.

If you are concerned about raising a child who is overly preoccupied with (and over-stimulated by!) things and wish to foster creativity within your child rather than entertaining them with battery-powered toys, look around your home for items that are safe and practical for your baby to play with as he/she grows. There are very few parents who don't recall wiht humor at least one instance of their child cleaning out a kitchen cabinet full of pots and pans or plastic ware!

Beware of the temptation to buy all new things for your baby. Having some new things is lovely, however, having ALL new things is absolutely not necessary and does not contribute to your baby's well-being as much as happily involved parents do! And it's difficult to be happily involved if you are worried about money. Consider purchasing items second-hand at baby-themed consignment sales or stores, online through sites like Ebay, or from other moms you know (Don't know any moms? Attend a La Leche League meeting!) Even if money is a non-issue for you, consider purchasing some things second hand anyway- finding a good deal gives a great sense of accomplishment AND you'll be truly surprised at the exceptionally short amount of time your baby uses (or is interested in) some "necessary" items.

Following are a few items that we have not found useful or necessary and some of the items that we use instead. Some things we found we simply not useful at all.

Crib: Our daughter has not slept in it. Not even once. We use an Arms Reach co sleeper instead.

Stroller: Carrying baby leads to better attachment and bonding. We like to use an ErgoBaby or a ring-sling carrier like a Maya Wrap.

Infant Carseat: We did not purchase an infant carseat because convertible carseats are designed for babies from 5 pounds to between 45 - 80 pounds (depending on the brand and style) so they are useful much longer than the infant seat which only holds baby up to 25-30 pounds. The convertible carseat does not double as a baby carrier as the infant seat does but we prefer to carry/wear our baby. Before you purchase an infant seat, consider that it is possible for your baby to spend many hours in the seat without touch from another human. The convenience of these seats (home to car, car to stroller, stroller to restaurant car seat sling etc) can lead to your baby receiving much less touch from you than you may prefer or realize.

Baby Bath Towels: Regular bath towels work just fine. But they aren't quite as cute. ;)

Baby Bath Robe: We've never used this....and can't figure out in what circumstance it could be easier than dressing the baby...or why we would want her to be without a diaper after a warm bath anyway!

Boppy Seed Lounger: Our baby fit in this for about 15 minutes. Not worth the $30 investment!






One of the easiest (and hardest!) ways to stay out of the baby-stuff-trap is to wait until baby arrives to purchase things that will not be used right away. It's very easy (and fun!) to get caught up in buying cute baby gear, but parents might find later on that the $150 pack-n-play or a $160 baby swing weren't really as necessary- or as convenient- as they had hoped. Waiting to purchase things are they become necessary can result in substantial cost savings and can keep the accumulation of expensive baby things to a minimum.

Don't miss out on the enjoyable parts of preparing for the arrival of your baby. But don't get caught up in what the world thinks you need either. The best way for new parents to prepare for baby is to talk about how they want to raise their baby and how that effects the things they will need to be prepared for his or her arrival. These conversations and preparation go much further than a crib set toward helping baby to succeed in life; parents who agree on a parenting style are much more prepared than those who only agree on a nursery theme.

Go ahead and enjoy getting ready for your little one, but think about all of the cash you can free up to dump into a college fund if you can avoid the baby-stuff trap!

Babies and Stuffitis: The Marketing Campaign to Empty Your Wallet. Part 1

In the duration of my pregnancy I had the good fortune to only enter a Babies R' Us store on two occasions. Both of them were in the same week and happened only because the furniture stores in our area did not have a very good selection of glider-rocking chairs. My parents had very generously offered to purchase one for us as it had become kind of a tradition in our family with each of my sisters receiving a glider from my parents before the birth of her first child. It was a lovely gift and one that we have been able to use more than we ever imagined! My mom and I had a good time choosing the glider- and even more fun getting the manager to give us a good deal on the last display model of a discontinued color. All of that said, however, I do not plan to set foot in one of those God-forsaken places again.

The ridiculousness that is Babies R' Us (or insert any big-box-baby-superstore here) can barely be described. Wall-to-wall shelves and aisles crammed full of the latest and greatest in baby gear, baby wear, baby feeding, baby travel, baby furniture and every thing else. You name it and they probably have at least 10 different options of essentially the same thing. A quick search for "travel system" indicated almost 20 different options available in-store and a separate search on the mega-store's website returned over 70 options for "convertible carseats"! Incredible! The choices seem almost infinite and are utterly staggering.

And that is the problem with entering the baby years. It's mind boggling, completely overwhelming and can easily get out-of-control-expensive. Marketing techniques convince new parents that they "need" the latest technology and would be irresponsible to attempt parenthood without it. (Watch a commercial for just about any baby product and this subtext will probably jump out at you now if it didn't before.) Even Amazon is on board with the "needs" of babyhood. They recently posted their editors picks for "Newborn Essentials: 10 Products You Probably Didn't Know You Needed" which lists items like a "White Noise Machine", a "Moses Basket", and swaddle blankets along with a convincing blurb describing why new parents will absolutely require the item.

Many soon-to-be and new parents look to seasoned parents for advice on which items to register for and purchase, but most of us also observe and respond to social norms and trends regarding raising baby. That is how we ended up with a crib, crib bedding set, crib mattress, and TWO of those waterproof crib mattress pads that the Amazon editors indicate as positively necessary, and that we have NEVER used. And probably never will.

As we prepared for the arrival of our daughter we began to collect the things we thought would be necessary and to prepare a room for her. Compared to some we didn't really buy too much stuff. We were much less convinced than most that we would need every available baby item in order to be adequately prepared. We also opted not to learn our baby's sex ahead of time and to wait to make certain purchases until after the baby arrived.

Well, it turns out that most of the items we did buy were really NOT necessary. Even the crib. Especially the crib, in our case, actually. It's too bad that we spent so much money on it too, since when I eventually Craigslist it we probably won't get much of it back!

The guilt-ridden marketing toward soon-to-be parents is deceptive and dishonest, at best. While there are SOME things that are certainly necessary, they don't even begin to add up to the thousands of dollars in baby merchandise that marketers try to convince parents they will need to succeed in bringing-up baby. Parents would be better off to purchase a few small things to get started and determine what they really need as they raise their baby. That would definitely free up some cash to start a college fund for that same kiddo.

There are several short and long term complications caused by this very successful marketing scheme that go beyond the ridiculous surplus of stuff in American homes. The first and most obvious is a shortage of cash in the short term - cash that might otherwise be used to begin a college fund, or allow a parent (or both parents) to stay home with their baby for awhile longer before returning to work. This critical time with baby can especially effect breastfeeding success, parent-child bonding and attachment. Another issue may be a decrease in birthrates due to the perceived cost of raising infants. (Likewise, the cost may very well get out of hand because of the materialistic nature of our culture. But that is a topic for another time.) Requiring so much stuff for the arrival of and first year of baby's life is also setting a standard for the rest of the baby's childhood and maybe their entire lives. More and more stuff leads to "stuffitis" which can ultimately lead to poor priorities and poor checkbooks in adulthood. Maybe this seems like a stretch for some but take an honest look around and see if you still think it's untrue.

This doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with having some fun and frivolous things for your baby, or that there is anything wrong with being prepared with silly, pretty, or cool baby stuff. It just means that parents should consider the short and long term gains of the things they buy, if they can really afford them or if that money would be better spent on something else that is of more value to their baby (time, college tuition, etc). It means that parents should not buy into the commercials and advertisements laced with guilt directed at them for not having the newest and- almost always - outrageously expensive piece of baby equipment available.

It is important for parents to consider their parenting style and how they plan to raise their child as they prepare for baby's arrival. Conversations about these things are of much more value than stuff, and can lead to important, and possibly money saving revelations about which items are necessities and which items are more frivolous.

Next: Babies and Stuffitis: The Marketing Campaign to Empty Your Wallet. Part 2 - Ignoring the Force-Fed Guilt to Determine What You Need!

The Simple(r) Life: Not Just For Paris?

A few months ago I read a story in Mothering magazine about a woman who converted a 40 foot long Blue Bird bus into a home for herself, her husband, and three daughters, aged seven years and younger. Their desire to live simply and eliminate debt from their lives led her to the decision to park the bus on a piece of property owned by a relative, complete a moderate renovation and move her family in. Their family's lifestyle became one of simplicity, careful consideration of resources, and cooking entire meals in only one pot using as much whole food as possible. My reaction to the article was a strange combination of shock, horror, respect, curiosity, and realization that perhaps there are other ways to live outside of rampant consumerism and the proverbial rat race.

Although I have always considered myself to be frugal in many areas of life and I am certainly a self proclaimed disciple of Amy Dacyczyn, author of The Tightwad Gazette, I have not really been as frugal as I could be. This is at least partially due to spending the last several years enjoying two incomes- sometimes frugality is the result of necessity as much as anything else.

Last fall, anticipating a change in our living situation and a transition to a single-income household, my husband and I participated in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. Although we were familiar with many of Ramsey's concepts, the class gave us the opportunity to begin practicing the methods that will allow us to ultimately live debt-free. Ramsey's famous adage "Normal is broke be weird!" struck a proverbial chord with us and has allowed us to see how encumbered we had become by things and the stuff we were keeping around the house, and without realizing, had fallen into the habit of regularly accumulating more of.

We followed Ramsey's advice and began to sell off the "junk" we weren't using. Utilizing websites like Craigslist we listed (slowly at first) things that we had not used in the last 3 years...followed by things we hadn't used or looked at in 2 years....and as the stuff rolled out and the cash rolled in, our momentum increased and we accomplished an extensive liquidation of "stuff". In all fairness, I must admit my tendency to get carried away with projects like this and although my husband has had to reign me in a time or two (but the baby doesn't REALLY need her crib-she can sleep in the pack n play!) for the most part our purge has been pretty reasonable. We parted with old gaming systems, books, clothes, furniture we weren't using and were keeping "just in case" (in case of what, we have no idea, of course).

The benefits of this project have been pretty awesome and even a little bit surprising. We found space in our house that we didn't realize was there because it had been so crammed with stuff, accumulated a big chunk of cash, unloaded "things" that at some point we thought couldn't be lived without, and have gained an (odd) sense of fulfillment by dumping the "junk"!

Life and financial situations can be especially troubling when headlines abound with stories about the United States' consumer bust and what happens if the government can't agree on how to handle our tax dollars. In a world obsessed with owning things, in which the quality of one's life is judged by the ability to accumulate things and the way we are perceived by others is largely influenced by our possessions, it can be difficult to recognize how quickly objects and our pursuit of them, can encumber our happiness. Although I am not an advocate of a miserly existence or one that does not allow for some comforts and modern conveniences- I want new living room furniture as much as the next person!- I think that evaluating our want versus need scenario can do a great deal for our sense of satisfaction in life and help us feel at ease in a world of perpetual financial unrest.

Until rather recently, I have never really considered the uncluttered and simpler way of life that is part of modern-day minimalist living as something that was even remotely feasible for my family. And I'm not sure I can entirely embrace it now- but I know for certain that the Blue Bird bus family inspired me to re-evaluate what is really important for my family. With some help from Dave Ramsey, a sense of humor, and a huge amount of determination, our family is determined to live a less-cluttered and more fulfilling lifestyle.

“Our life is frittered away by detail ... simplify, simplify.”

Henry David Thoreau

No, No, No! It's Still About the Pages!

This weekend an opinion piece in the New York Times criticized modern book lovers for their attachment to books. Not the attachment to reading books, but rather the attachment to the physical objects and their aversion to the digitizing of centuries worth of published papers, records, and written items belonging to the famous, the brilliant, the rich, but mainly, the dead. (And largely the long dead.)

The author, James Gleick, begins by sharing a memory of the opportunity he had to personally examine the papers of Sir Isaac Newton. He describes the experience of touching and closely examining the very pages upon which Newton wrote his notes and ideas. Gleick relates to historians as he describes "the exhilaration that comes from handling the venerable original. It’s a contact high." He indicates that there was a distinct difference in physically examining the original papers rather than only the microfilm version. He notes specifically that he would never have known the diminutive and precise penmanship of Newton from the microfilm or that Newton began his text at both ends of his notebooks and worked toward the center.

After sharing this memory, which is sure to warm the hearts of readers, researchers, and historians, he halts abruptly and begins to chastise those who believe that these types of opportunities are nearing extinction because of projects that seek to make historic documents digital and available to anyone. He indicates that a recent project launched by Google and the British Library that will "digitize 40 million pages of books, pamphlets and periodicals dating to the French Revolution" and many similar projects, including one that recently that digitized a Bulgarian document dating from 1221 and the Swedish Rok runestone, which predates Leif Ericson, have provoked mixed feelings.

He argues that those who see this technological advancement as an affront to the art of research are simply caught up in the romance of touching or being near something hundred of years old. He indicates that while some believe that this technology devalues their own work and makes incredible and surprising discoveries impossible, he believes that online research can offer the same amount of "unexpected twists and turns of research" as traditional archival research.

Gleick asserts that opposition to this digitization is simply the notion that "what one loves about books is the grain of paper and the scent of glue." He charges the opponents to this progress with "sentimentalism" and "fetishization", faulting them for their love of the physical presence of books, manuscripts, and historic documents.

Although the piece is convincing enough, there is an incontrovertible difference between online research and digging through musty old papers. There is a difference between electronic words and the printed page. Although I own a Kindle (lovingly given to me by my husband two Christmases ago) and appreciate it for its convenience, especially while traveling, I have downloaded very few digital books (and those have been mostly free). When I want to read, I don't automatically grab my Kindle. I search through the shelves of books in my office (lovingly built by my husband) and search for one that I can pick up, hold on to, turn the pages, and inhale the faint scent of "book" from. When I want to do scholarly research, study, or work without interruption, my first choice of venue is not in front of a monitor, it is the library archives or my own office, surrounded by books that I love within arms reach.

Although I agree with Gleick that digitization of articles is an advancement in scholarship and will make some types of research simpler and more cost effective, I do not agree that it is going to allow for more amazing discoveries than non-digital research. I think that those who genuinely enjoy research and digging through piles of dusty papers and books, those who enjoy turning the pages and closely observing the intricacies of the pages and penmanship, are who will make discoveries in ancient works. Their zeal and zest cannot be matched by the online researcher and that is what will make the difference.

"I cannot live without books."
— Thomas Jefferson

Banning the Babies: Are Kiddos Going Out of Fashion?

Almost three weeks ago Malaysia Airlines announced that they have banned infants in first class on all of their Boeing 747-400 jets and intends to do the same for other flights as well. People all over the world have voiced their opinions ranging from relief and elation to outrage and chagrin.

Two similar stories highlighting an attitude of inconvenience toward children have made their way into the news just this week. Near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania a restaurant has banned all children under six years old due to complaints from retirement-age patrons that children were causing a "ruckus". ABC News reported that the establishment's owner announced to patrons that his restaurant was "not a place for young children" and customers had been disturbed during their meals "many, many times" by these kiddos.

The second story involves one mother's office dilemma. New York Times contributing writer Lisa Belkin shared a letter in which a mother described conflict in her workplace due to her breast pump. (Yes, her breast pump!) This mom stores her breast pump in a discreet black bag under her desk when she is not using it in the space allotted for pumping by her company. Her office mate happened to see a few empty bottles in the partially open bag under the desk one day and immediately filed an HR complaint. (This mom also notes that complaints were made when she stored the bag in the designated nursing area.)

These stories are disconcerting because they represent an attitude of inconvenience and annoyance toward children. I will admit that I have often felt annoyed by a screaming child at dinner or during travel, but I have not wished them to be banned. And I don't think most people do. At least, I hope not. Most people who have children are empathic to parents attempting to comfort an upset child. In my pre-motherhood years I often wondered why those parents didn't take their child home and put them to bed. Now I know that sometimes parents want to get out of the house too! Additionally, allowing children to accompany their parents on outings and social occasions teaches them appropriate behavior and how to conduct themselves in particular social settings.

When people fail to recognize the value of children, which includes acknowledging and respecting their needs, they are doing themselves and the children who need their patience and understanding a terrible injustice. There is inarguable evidence that breast milk is THE best nutrition for babies. Breastfeeding is the best way to give children the best possible start in life. It is troubling to think that there are those who are more concerned with how breastfeeding (and pumping, by extension) makes them feel than the invaluable nutrition it provides to babies.

The banning incidents also indicate that there is likely a problem in our society in addition to a lacking sense of empathy. Although children have been unruly, loud, and inconsolable at enormously inopportune moments since the beginning of time, perhaps today's parents are too passive in their response to these behaviors. I've noticed parents ignoring their toddler's screams in a restaurant and carrying on conversation as usual more often than I'd like to think about. I wonder on how many of those occasions the kiddo could have been soothed with a little bit of attention from his or her parents rather than left to entertain themselves.

The real questions these incidents raise are probably more disheartening than the events themselves:
Are infants and small children going out of fashion? Would people prefer not to be bothered with seeing or hearing them?
Or is our society becoming less and less tolerant of kiddos and there sometimes (and sometimes often!) unruly behavior?
Are parents and lacking discipline to blame for the bans against babies and small tots?
Are there really people who are not concerned with the general health and well being of the next generation?

A change in attitude toward infants, small children, and their needs will require a great deal of patience and understanding. People would do well to heed the words of a very wise man:

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

— Dr. Seuss (Horton Hears a Who!)

NEWS FLASH: Sex is For the Bedroom ONLY!

Recently an opinion piece appeared on the New York Times Sunday Review Opinion Pages asserting that today's generation of young women and mothers find sex to be passé and basically revolting. The author, Erica Jong, argues that the mothers who made the feminist revolution in the United States failed to pass along the ideals of feminism and free sex to their daughters, resulting in a generation that finds sexual satisfaction less and less motivating. Additionally, she argues that our culture shows "signs that sex has lost its frisson of freedom", possibly because sex and rampant sexuality are no longer restricted or taboo. The author also argues that young women today shun sex and sexuality and hold a "nostalgia for ’50s-era attitudes toward sexuality" and that young female writers are "obsessed with motherhood and monogamy" rather than sex.

Jong alleges that young women today find sex dangerous (which, coincidentally, seems to be in sharp contrast to her previous assertion that sex and passion are more desirable when forbidden). Rather than embrace their sexuality regardless of the consequences as a few women in a rather trashy (but wonderful) HBO sitcom-gone-cinema series did, today's young women refrain from sex, passion, and intimacy for a safer, sexless lifestyle (or at least a lifestyle of less passion).

Jong's worst offense in this piece though is her brazen statement that categorizes today's generation of young mom's as anti-sex and unwilling to be near their partners, let alone have sex with them. Her sweeping statement alleges that women would prefer to sleep with their children and turn their backs on their men as well as "wear one’s baby in a man-distancing sling and breast-feed at all hours so your mate knows your breasts don’t belong to him."

There are a few problems with her statement. First of all, Jong wrongly assumes that the bedroom is the only place for sex! Such thinking is quite archaic and really only points to her own disconnection with the younger generation she chastises in this piece. I'm pretty sure co-sleeping parents are utilizing other spaces in their homes for sex! I, for one, am proud to wear a t-shirt emblazoned with the phrase "co sleepers do it in the kitchen" - much to the dismay of my family.

Additionally, I can name at least a dozen places that are MUCH more fun for sex than the boring old bedroom! Seriously, who can't?

The author's comment regarding baby-wearing and breastfeeding only adds to the already significant evidence of her disconnect with women, families, and a generation younger than her. It's particularly interesting that she notes her idea that breastfeeding "at all hours" (baby-led breastfeeding) sends a message to one's mate that "(your) breasts don’t belong to him." It is particularly fascinating that an ardent feminist such as Jong would consider breasts something that should "belong" to one's mate. Ponder that for awhile.

Jong's statements were really nothing less than a vilification of a parenting style that she, in addition to the concept of sex outside of the bedroom, clearly does not understand. Her comments have little to do with sex and certainly very little relevance to this generation. It is unfortunate that she has used her celebrity and status to berate young parents, and especially young moms, since she seems to have very little knowledge of the parenting styles she tries to reprimand. Perhaps Jong should focus her future opinion pieces on something she has a little bit more knowledge about or, at the very least, enough connection with to adequately compose a few pertinent thoughts.