Parenting Sites 411

It’s time for another YNTR installment! Like last week, I’ve got some great posts for you this week. People have had some great stories to tell, news to share (and some not so great), and the level of sharing is just wonderful. There are times that I love this parenting blog community. We stick together, we give each other support. We help each other through the sticky times. And lets face it, times aren’t often more sticky than they are when we have little ones at home.  It’s just wonderful.  Anyhow.  Enough schmoopyness, on with the reading!

• “What is it about Black Friday?” from Rancid Raves.   Cagey thinks that Christmas doesn’t have to be all about the present and the spending, but that it can be about the memories and togetherness.  I’m so glad she said it because I totally, 100% agree.  How much would we all enjoy Christmas if we were able to remove the stress of buying so many gifts at the holidays?
• “when i am queen” from house of h.  Honestly, who doesn’t have these thoughts??  And, can I just say, I think her suggestions are fabulous and if she’s queen someday I’ll totally back them up.
• “Goodbye 1st trimester, hello due date” from misszoot.  Can I just tell you how glad I was to see this post?  I’ve had fingers and toes crossed for Zoot with this pregnancy. She’s suffered so many losses and heartbreaks that I really feel this is owed to her.
• “It’s Much Harder To Be Good” from Oh, The Joys.   Another awesome discussion and afternoon with her kids and an ingenious way to get a child to nap.  Will have to remember this when my little one gets older and more stubborn about such things.
• “Day 53” from Lag Liv.  I absolutely cannot believe she and her family are still going through this nightmare.  And although the nightmare isn’t as scary as it once was and everything will probably turn out okay, I can’t imagine what torture this is for her.  Let’s hope she gets resolution (and a good resolution at that) and soon.
• “Something” from a little pregnant. Oh my God!  Julie’s pregnant!  This was off her first cycle with a donor egg and I have everything crossed for her that this pregnancy is a sticky one for her.  I know she’s going through a rough time with her grandfather here and that has a lot of her attention, so my prayers are with her as well.
• “Everything I’ve learned in Life, I’ve Learned From Watching The Nuge” from Rockstar Mommy.  I can totally sympathize with her predicament here and I would have been hard pressed to have behaved any differently.  This is exactly the sort of thing that gets my blood boiling.
• “A lonely isle of estrogen floating in a sea of testosterone” from Loralee’s Looney Tunes.  Boy, can I relate to her here.  I too have three boys at home (one of them being a husband) and often feel like the only female representation (as our dogs hardly count, I think).  It would be awesome to have a little girl to buy dresses for, no?  As wonderful as boys are (and they ARE), there are times when a woman wants a daughter.
• “Little Black Clouds: An Exercise in Self-Pity” from IzzyMom.   Yet another post I can relate to.  There have been times in recent years where it seems like everything is against us. Nothing goes our way.  We are faced with nothing but troubles, tribulations, stress and depression.  Luckily, these phases come and go.  But it doesn’t make them any harder to live through.
• “Unruffled by frump and solitude” from sweet | salty.  After her frustrations last week from feeling trapped and stifled, this week Kate reflects on what is good about just bundling yourself in with your children and enjoying the warm, quiet moments together.  Very poignant.
• “Wanna see some baby pictures?” from mother goose mouse.  As she stares down the barrel of her third child, MGM contemplates on what it’ll be like to have three more years of diapers, among other things.  On the other hand, she tells herself to not worry about what the future holds and instead enjoy the moment.  Hard to do, I know it!
• “No Matter What” from Her Bad Mother.  HBM got some potentially very bad news about her pregnancy earlier in the week.   It’s a situation no mother wants to find herself in, and as she says in this post, she knows it won’t be easy.  But that they’re ready to take things as they come and embrace their child, whether it has issues after birth or not.  I cannot imagine how difficult this must be, she could use all our support.
• “‘Her’” from Loralee’s Looney Tunes.  Another one from Loralee this week, but it’s because yet again she spoke to me with her post.  She talks about the woman who was buried next to her son who passed away at three months old.  She used to feel resentment for that woman, but now she has found peace with the situation.  She also talks how difficult it is to embrace the fact that her child’s body is underground and that I can definitely relate to.

I hope that gives you plenty of reading to enjoy this weekend, in between trips to the mall for Christmas shopping.  Enjoy, everyone!