Today’s topic: Pumping and driving - and I’m not talking gas. 

I was perusing a parenting message board earlier this week and a woman was gushing on about how she used this contraption to express milk hands- free during her commute. 

Oh my. 

Now, I am all for finding short cuts and efficiencies for busy moms - but really?  This is a whole new kind of distracted driver that I hadn’t been aware of.  What if the ganglion of tubing gets caught up in your steering wheel? What if one falls out while you’re making a left turn? What about the guy in the semi in the next lane? What if you get pulled over? I know that some breast pumps do come with a car charger but I always assumed that was for a road trip to be used once you reach your destination.

I appreciate the multi-taskiness of the halter for reading and typing. Let’s face it - pumping milk can be a chore and would be nice to be able to easily flip pages in a book or magazine whilst doing so. It’s actually a pretty ingenious invention. (And look! The models seem so HAPPY!)   But nowhere on the site does it say “great for driving!”

So my question is - was this just a random scenario on a message board or are women out there really expressing themselves in the other lane on 35W ?�

Judging from the crowds at the Current’s  popular “Rock the Cradle” event last month at the MIA there are a LOT of Twin Cities parents listening to 89.3.

I think every last one of you was there, cause I certainly couldn’t navigate a baby and a toddler through the masses. I kept bumping (literally) into friends and having truncated conversations - “Oops - toddler running towards fragile exhibit see ya!” Or just plain gesticulative (is that a word?)  conversations. They went something like this… “acknowledging wave hi from the stairs, shake head, point - don’t go in that room too crowded, ok got it! thumb and pinky to ears call me bye”

Well now the station is catering to the parents and kids niche by creating this HD station Wonderground Radio which you can also stream on your computer. A nice alternative for when you are Wiggled out.

Check out the playlists a great mix of old and current songs that appeal to all generations. You might discover some new groups to add to your collection.

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Colleen Lindstrom of FM107.1 Get Real Girls recently requested to share the story of her daughter Brady with our Cribsheet community. It is a subject that is difficult to share but close to her heart - SIDS.  This is hard to read, but her goal is to raise awareness of safe sleep habits and what you can do to reduce the risk.
In her own words: Our daughter is so deeply missed. She was our ultimate teacher in living life joyfully, and I honor her by sharing our story.

At 11:56 pm on March 19, 2005, my firstborn drew her first breath.  With that first breath of life in the midst of a bustling birthing room, came her glorious newborn cry.  As long as I live, I will never forget the wailing sounds she produced as we welcomed Brady Judith Lindstrom into this world.  In that instant, our love story began and we made plans, just as all first time parents do.  Her Daddy would teach her about baseball and how to appreciate a really good rock song, and I would take her to dance classes and instruct her on the importance of an appropriately timed punch line.  We would live happily ever after, aside from the occasional bump in the road during the Junior High years.   I thought my heart would actually explode right then and there.  I had never tested its capacity with love like this.  So, I sang to my little girl:

You are my sunshine
my only sunshine
you make me happy
when skies are grey
you’ll never know dear
how much I love you
please don’t take my sunshine away…

Each day I was amazed that I could love her more and more.  We marveled at each new skill she developed, each new sound she made, each new expression that she revealed.  She was perfect.

And then… 

(more…)

Saturday’s Source featured relationship reporter, Gail Rosenblum’s article on men’s waning libidos. This article was in part inspired by readers comments from a previous Cribsheet post concerning one of Gail’s articles on new moms and lack of libido.  

Read her “Lackluster Libido” article here.

Does this topic ring true for you? Share your situation below. It’s okay - you can be John/Jane Doe.

Today we’re wrapping up “Mother Words Week” here at Cribsheet with Ann’s essay about her son’s love for “all things amphibious”

Critter Love

From an early age, Alex had an incredible eye for detail. He has been able to spot the tiniest Box Elder bug, the squirmiest snake and see the flash of a minnow before anyone else. He spent much of his early childhood squatting in the yard—diaper-laden shorts nearly touching the grass, his pudgy thighs supporting his tireless examination of the soil.

When Alex was about nine, an interest in “all things amphibian” blossomed. He spent afternoons at the library inspecting the shiny drawings and colorful photos in the DK series of animal books. His grandfather sent him clippings about nature camps in Vermont and we all began to picture a grown-up Alex photographing rare animal species for National Geographic. One summer afternoon, I was cleaning out the car after a weekend visit to the family cabin. As I collected cold french fries and sticky Dairy Queen cups from the rear seat, I was horrified to discover the skeletal remains of a frog in the cup holder of the minivan. At the time, Alex disavowed any knowledge of this animal or responsibility for its demise or presence in our vehicle. (more…)