Once again, the fragile state of the markets, our shaky economy and that angry man on the debates last PM made me cry. But there is relief, I am reminded in art.. behold this rendering of the latest installation in the Mall of America’s food court and please laugh til it hurts…it will feel so much better than anything else so far this week…

 For more of  funny-girl 14’s inspired etchings and musings – check out The Gallery of the Absurd….genius!

The lead story on today’s Page Six included an ignorant, hateful quote from Dennis Leary on Autism. It is angry, absurd and full of venom. And really in bad form (especially considering Karma - why go there?) Here is the excerpt they shared from his latest rant book:

“There is a huge boom in autism right now because inattentive mothers and competitive dads want an explanation for why their dumb-ass kids can’t compete academically, so they throw money into the happy laps of shrinks . . . to get back diagnoses that help explain away the deficiencies of their junior morons. I don’t give a [bleep] what these crackerjack whack jobs tell you - yer kid is NOT autistic. He’s just stupid. Or lazy. Or both.”

What is most upsetting to me is not the (quite expected) flow of fact-free fury rolling of his tongue, but rather the comments that have found their way onto Page Six. With a few exceptions, there appears to be a widespread mistrust and misunderstanding of the facts. A great resource, for those interested in gaining better understanding rather than simply dismissing a very real and penetrating issue (complex neurobiological disorder) affecting families, check out Autism Speaks. According to Austism Speaks - “Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined”.  Leaving me wondering why there is so much anger and hatred directed towards parents who seek out quality care, and a much improved quality of life for their children and their families.

 The comments communicate a deep hatred today’s parents - placing full focus (blame) on their vanity and overzealous desire to have perfect children.  There seems to be a clear consensus that parents simply seek out a reason to explain away their less than perfect children — for convenience and for ego. This overarching and negative view of parents rears it’s ugly head way too often. Leaving me to wonder, what is the real problem at hand? Here are a few (typo-laden) gems:

And dont get me wrong, there are lots of genuine cases of autism. and yes, they just weren’t catching it before, and simply calling it out as “lazy” and “stupid”. But, there are some parents who are overreacting to normal personality traits that they dont like or cant imporove on. and there are doctors who are enabling them.

and

In the current “me” climate, everyone thinks they are the smartest, or their kid is the smartest. And if thats not the case, there has to be a reason.

So this boils down to the basic breeder v. non-breeder hostility…really?

Funny, funny that both Babble and CBB(two sites I adore) had to comment on The Babies Brangelina being toted around in Graco Car seats as news – ya know - they are practically slumming it, signs of our new economic reality, etc. Well, not really — the Infant SafeSeat is one of the very best on the market and certainly what I recommend to all of my peeps (celeb or not). And even more on my mind — nice score Lindsay Lebresco!

Talk about impact….The Huffington Post, among  a myriad of others have got the cover of November’s W magazinewith Lady Madonna herself — Angelina Jolie nursing on the cover…a little sneak peek of what will hit newsstands in a few days…

Intimate images are promised on the inside pages and I am sure we are going to see AJ in her favorite Bravado nursing bras.

I am sure there will be completely uncessesary controversy to follow…and of course with NO reason.  We can now just sit back and wait for the ridiculousness to follow. And, in the meantime - and really first and foremost — thank you, thank you Angie for getting it - for sharing it and of course, for making the whole of motherhood (and in particular breastfeeding) appear so natural and beautiful.

 As for why we are stuck in a place where Hooter Hiders (seriously!??!) are the best we can do to create ease and comfort in nursing mothers — this one is much more complex and challenging to explain. Better, let’s stay in the moment and applaud Brad’s images, Angie’s Moxie and maternal insticts and mothers everywhere.

I have been getting complaints – and since they are coming from some of my nearest and dearest – they have neither been candy-coated nor kind. The gist – why the hell did you stop blogging? Kathryn From said I was crazy not to be blogging. Karen Gurwitz seemed genuinely miffed that I would stop writing. And tons of people at the ABC show expressed their displeasure….So first – THANK YOU – thank you for being honest, thank you for missing me and  most of all – thank you for pushing me back into blogging mode. I am here and ready to rumble – so where to begin?

How about this – a few great shots from the ABC show in Vegas and a promise to be back and blogging.

xxoo

Gina Contursi (Forty Weeks)                                   Julia Beck (Forty Weeks)             
Beth Ann Cohen (People.com)                                Nancy Deane (Chronicle Books)   
Danielle Friedland (Celebrity Baby Blog)  

                                                    
David Burke’s Cheescake Tree                             Sara and Stacy (Bravado)
                                                                                   Julia Beck (Forty Weeks)
                                                                                   Margo Siegel (Our partner at Truth Be Told)
                                                                                   Maryann Scandiffio (Bravado)

Having just taken the “Guess the Baby Bump” pop quiz on People.comI am proud to announce that I am a Baby Genius! Check out the quiz, but first - behold my perfect score (please don’t even try and imagine me back in college….tres competitive!!!!).

It was a snow day in DC — really an ice day — and all the kids were home. So after a bit of time doing the at home mellow hang thing we hit the mall (I know, not my fave - but really - they love it). Let me please just take a second to comment on the girls — Lila and Rebecca really seem to get how retail works and actually asked me if it would be ok if they each got "one impulse item"….so this may actually trump the fact that Lila can ID strollers and diaper bags (and tell me the ones who are my clients) from a distance. I am filled pride and also quite thrilled to have left the mall! Happy Friday…

What a busy month (and only half over) — and  really lots of great stuff going on….Amanda and I are BLOWN AWAY by the recent love fest for Bravadoamong the celebrity Mommy club in LA — especially the newer ones. And why not - the line continues to grow and expand with new offerings (lace for example is truly exquisite) and a wider range of sizes and services (check out their new sizing program!).

Mothers Work posted their first quarter 2008 earnings, which were in a word - down. But wait — there is a plan…

1. Knock -off yet another small, successful and enterprising company such as the adorable and savvy women of Ingrid and Isabel.  Take their iconic and much loved BellaBand, call it the Secret Fit Belly and distribute the hell out of it.

2. “Better” manage, manipulate and market their customer database to allow marketing partners paid access (profit center) to new parents till the cows come home.

 Anyway, Rebbecca says she and her team are hardly to blame — a super warm October plus those pesky non-maternity brands that cut baby-doll style are wreaking havoc on her plans to dominate the belly universe.

 Got it!

I have been watching this one go down….here from where I watch trends and gather the buzz, I have been watching this little storm brew it’s way to shore. We have had years of decrease in the teen pregnancy rate. Impressive years where the fruits of educational and public education efforts have paid off. We taught about birth control, we showed our daughters and sons their power and their responsibility. Maybe so much so that we have stopped talking about it enough - to each other, to our children, to the media. So quietly we have been going along — focusing on other trends such as fashion and gear and babymoons (and shame on us as so many of them have much less significance than our progress in this critical area) - some high, but mostly low-brow dialog and coverage, you know - When Did it Get Hip to Be Round (guilty as charged). And now I see this:

Teen Pregnancy Hip or Blip which cites an Canadian magazine article which asserts that the unwed celebrities having babies (Nicole Ritchie, Jessica Alba)  plus the teen pregnancy Oscar contender that is Juno (factor in here too Waitress and Knocked Up) plus Jamie Lynn Spears have made teen pregnancy the latest in the long list of cool.

 I don’t’ see it, I don’t buy it. Teen pregnancy rates have been consistently down since 2001. And yes, for 2006 there is a slight rise in the number. However, there is a rise in the number of pregnancies of women in their 20s, 30s and 40s as well. These numbers have shifted based on a wide range of pyschographic and demographic profiles. And due, is a large degree to major lifestyle changes in the US. And while we watch in awe and with female familiarity as celebrities make their way into motherhood (why not, this is likley one of the few common experiences we will have with Angelina Jolie or Heidi Klum) we are not molding ourselves in their image. Our interest, our fascination is simply a passing fancy — not a guideline for living.

 Let’s be clear — ultimately our lives and our choices are ours — neither mandated nor suggested by film, celebrity nor another loose association. And to take will and choice away from women or even girls (as influenced by real women in their lives) and lump them into a trend is a real misinterpretation of associated facts — nothing more.

I don’t plan on moving away from being central in the dialog about the fun of pregnancy - I won’t remove myself from the discussion of  fashion, design, lifestyle and the pure joy of it. I will however, make an effort to use my voice to keep the conversation more balanced and sound.