My Geek Baby

During my pregnancy and early days with my daughter, I read a lot of articles and parenting books. One of the issues addressed was the ADHD and how it has been connected to vaccines. I never liked the idea of multiple vaccines given during a single visit but reasoned that I have to weigh the benefit with the potential harms of giving the vaccine.

The only quasi-evidence about the problems caused by vaccines involved a small percentage of children who also have been identified as having mitochondrial disease. Some of those children have been having health problems after vaccines. It’s very distressing and I feel horrible for the parents of those children.

Also in weighing the societal harm of delaying or choosing not to vaccinate, I had to think about the children who would also be protected, by what’s called herd immunity, by immunizing my child for all the recommended shots.

So it was interesting/scary to see in the news this week that one of the doctors who insisted that there’s a direct correlation between vaccines and ADHD, barred from practicing medicine this week.

I don’t want to base my decisions about how to care for my child based on one article, one study, or even a single doctor’s advice, but this serious misuse of power is frightening.

I wonder how many people were influenced by a single article, study or interview conducted by this physician, who have made decions that not only affect their children’s health but the potential health of infants and elderly who have budding or weak immune systems.

Anyone who watched the Yo Gabba Gabba episode with the refrain “Try it, You’ll like It” or read Dr. Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham knows that there are a lot of picky eaters out there. Indie, once the Wonder Eater, has become a bit more selective about what she’s willing to try. She’s not interested in mashed potatoes, for instance, and this seems like the one thing every kid eats. But she loves her strawberries, blueberries, carrots and corn, so I’m not too worried about her nutrition. She’s getting lots of good stuff. But I was intrigued by this cookbook written by Jessica Seinfeld.

This book has some great recipes! I’m thinking that it’s less about hiding veggies but consciously incorporating good stuff into the comfort foods I love so much. I love potato soup but am doubtful that there’s a lot of great nutrition in that meal. However, add some carrot and cauliflower puree to this soup and voila! Same goes for homemade macaroni and cheese, a house favorite with the adults but again Indie is lukewarm on it anyway so I might as well “health it up” while she’s still figuring out what food should taste like. She’s not a big meat eater so I give her fake chicken nuggets and soy hot dogs and she eats them up. So I kind of think that because there are so many varieties of packaged food and lots of recpes to make your own, she won’t necessarily think there’s only one way mac n cheese should taste. But then…on the flip side…

It’s possible I’ve contributed to her picky eating or food snobbery. I bought some cheese sticks from Target that were different from her usual brand. When we got home I gave her one and I also wanted a snack and opened up my Cracker Barrel sharp cheddar to have with crackers. The next thing I know she is throwing her cheese stick on the floor and asking for a piece of the cheese I was eating. So now she’s a cheese snob. Boy, elementary school lunchtime is going to be a lot of fun! I’ll just have to pack her Grey Poupon in her backpack and call it a day. Maybe it comes in fun size!?

I’ll circle back to Deceptively Delicious after I’ve tried a few recipes. We’re about to get socked with another snow storm so it’s likely that I’ll make both of these dishes this weekend. Stay tuned.

As a journalist in search of balance, I’d be remiss if I didn’t address the claim that Jessica borrowed (without crediting) her ideas from the author of The Sneaky Chef. The outcome of the court case was that neither copyright nor trademark law was broken. It’s very coincidental that the two books came out around the same time and have similar themes and recipes. I suspect neither author is the true “first” on this one; I”m pretty sure moms across the world have been sneaking carrot puree into batches of brownies since the invention of fire.

Aah, the magical quality of snow…

It drapes the trees that have lost all their leaves, covers last season’s hibernating plants, and creates an ethereal atmosphere.

The rumor of snow that takes me back to elementary school days when I wished for a Snow Day! We didn’t have a ton of snow where I grew up so every time it snows, as an adult, I anticipate it and enjoy it as much as the neighborhood kids.

Indira was in awe of the snow. It started coming down after she went to sleep so she was amazed to see it when she awoke on Saturday. “That’s a lot of snow!” she said, and then, “Yucky!” which seemed odd. Later on, when I mentioned snow boots and snow pants she was so excited to try them on and go outside. Once outside however, she wasn’t a big fan of the cold snow but we tried the sled a few times before we started to feel like Frosty.

The next day, the snow seemed slightly less intimidating. Nearly two feet of snow created a wonderland I only imagine in December. We started to clean off our cars and put the little one right to work.

Happy Anniversary Sesame Street! I’m now enjoying the show (that I watched as a kiddo) with my little girl. The show has changed over the years, added new characters, but the educational messages remain the foundation. Even with all the competing shows–we do love Yo Gabba Gabba and Jack’s Big Music Show–Sesame Street still stands out as one of the best children’s programs. No surprise that Indie’s favorite character is Elmo but I have a special place in my heart for Kermit.

Today there’s a whole website, Sesame Workshop, dedicated to all things related to those lovable monsters. Check it out!

Calling all kids who want to ride in the bike parade as part of the Nelson County July 4th celebration! If you live in or around Nelson County, VA (30 miles west of Charlottesville), you can watch or participate in the parade.

(not an actual pic from the parade, but these kids are pretty cute)

My sister Kim noticed something was missing from her small close-knit community a few years back; a July 4th celebration. So she started one. It grows more each year; more people want to get involved, and this year the local radio station will be there too, with radio personality, “The Bear.”

Here are some details.
What: 4th of July Parade
When: Friday, July 4, 2008
Time: 11:00am
Where: Front Street & Main Street, Lovingston

Sign up:
e-mail: nelsonparade@yahoo.com
phone: 263-6700
fax: 263-6713
address: P.O. Box 352, Lovingston, VA 22949

More information on the Nelson County Parade blog

Concerned readers asked how Miles Davis the girl cat and Bartleby are adjusting to having a new human in the house. They’re doing fine. In fact, I think they’re dealing with their feline jealousy by being extra cute.

See what I mean?

Bartleby is trying extra hard

Posts will slow down this week - Indira and I are going on a road trip!

by Kim Bryant

House cleaning with kids around is a challenge for anyone. When they are babies, you do what you can in the time that you have between feedings and diaper changes. When they start walking, you have less time and more distractions, so inevitably, the house doesn’t ever really get “clean”. But by the time the two’s roll around, you have a helper who won’t leave your side.

All of my children around the age of 2 – 2 ½ have become fiercely independent and want to help with everything. Get out the vacuum cleaner and they act like Christmas just rolled around again. Currently my 3-year old cannot be left alone with the cleaning supplies (no chemicals, just brooms, dust pans and empty buckets). He thinks that the swiffer is the all-purpose tool, to be used on floors, walls and tables, and in that order.

Yesterday I was sweeping my back walkway, and my son insisted on helping. Never mind that the broom probably weighs more than he does and is twice his size. He diligently worked that broom and himself into a sweat. And after a brief rest, went back to it. Of course 30 minutes later he took the snow shovel and moved mulch from the garden back onto the walkway.

Kids like to help and they also like feeling a sense of accomplishment. So give them a job. Let them dust, sweep or just about anything that is safe and age appropriate. And if they swiffer your kitchen table, it’s not the end of the world.

Babble has an interesting post about parenting coaches; people hired to help kids learn everything from potty training to riding a bike but I wonder if this is taking away from the role of the um, well, parent? Granted, I would hire a lactation consultant if needed, and the idea of someone giving me reliable tips to get baby to sleep after a restless week of no sleep but some of these coaches sound like paid parents. Isn’t there something to be said for the first-time parents who get through the brutal phases of childhood with both them and their kids learning a lot about what NOT to do as well as what works? I understand that many parents need childcare and nannies who may help potty train their child but paying someone to help the kid ride a bike? I wonder in this scenario: where is the parent when the kid is taking the training wheels off? What if the kid falls off the bike and skins his knee after the bike teacher leaves? Shouldn’t you want the kid to look to YOU to help them through this? What’s next? A bedtime story reading, boogie-monster removal service, “Ghostbusters for tots?”

For many people becoming an adult is measured in milestones – signing up for a retirement account, making a roast in a crockpot, or buying a home. But for me, gentle readers, it is in the purchase of a rocker recliner, and let me tell you. I love this thing. Knit me an afghan and call me Granny, I’m home!

I am declining to name the company where we bought it, I’m not endorsing them or anything but let’s just say it rhymes with CrazyToy. I innocently went into this warehouse store recently, just for a look-see, and if I had simply stayed on my feet, I could have swept through the store without whipping out my credit card. But take heed to this warning; if you sit you will buy something. Possibly something ugly but SO COMFORTABLE. This company has come a long way in terms of style and once I started sitting on the recliners, I was simply finished. Done. Cooked. And luckily, because they have made major improvements in style and size, mine is both comfy and approximately half the size of the football recliners of my youth.

What does this quasi-commercial have to do with kids and their intelligence? A lot. This rocker is going to log many hours rocking, comforting and providing a lounging nap place for baby girl and me and baby girl and her dad. Her comfort can only be beneficial for her emotional stability and create a cozy environment from which to read books and sing songs. Put simply, come January, we will be ready to rock! It’s a variation on a theme, seeing how Jake is actually a rocker, playing bass in a post-punk band, Scanner Freaks but I don’t think this next step toward parenthood takes away any of his street cred.

(Guest editorial)
Having children was the best decision I have ever made. I love raising kids. People think I’m crazy because my three children range in ages from 2.5 years, to 11 to 19. There aren’t many folks that, while packing their teenager for college, have to stop and change a diaper.

Raising children teaches you many things that you didn’t know about the world and about yourself. Specifically at home, I always thought that the house rules would be: wash your hands before dinner, turn the light off when you leave the room, don’t hit the dog with a hammer, etc. Before having children, I read the books, searched the magazines in the OB ’s office and watched other parents. After all, I was a child at one time and did know some of the rules. However, since there was no guidebook specifically for my children, I had to make up a few of my own rules. These rules are based in the actions of my children. Here they are:

To have a peaceful home you have to have a few rules. But don’t forget that when you have children, do your best to maintain a sense of humor.

- Kim Evoy Bryant