Raising

In Memoriam: Ina Mae Murri and Stella Lopez-Armijo

Via the Bay Area Reporter (BAR) comes the sad news of the deaths of Ina Mae Murri, 75, and Stella Lopez-Armijo, 76, a lesbian couple from Fremont, California, who were killed in a car crash in Idaho two weeks ago. The women had been together for more than 35 years, and were mothers, grandmothers, and […]

“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 111

I’m vlogging solo, as Helen is away on business again— this week I discusses my views of The Kids Are All Right, the new movie about a pair of lesbian moms and their teen children. I also explain how the U.S. passport application needs to be updated to include all families, and share the latest

National Education Standards: Good or Bad?

Less than two months ago, U.S.  governors and state school chiefs released recommendations for national education standards in math and English. The standards were developed by the states, which can choose whether to adopt them, but U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan said he is “ecstatic” about the initiative. The New York Times reports today that 27

“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 110

Helen and I discuss the delightful geekiness of the new Lego Harry Potter Wii game. I also share a book about being a nonbiological mother—and we then discuss why the bio/nonbio distinction doesn’t fit for us, even though we did not adopt. Helen also shares a book that she hopes will help her figure out

“The Kids Are All Right”: The Perfect Lesbian Mom Date Movie

(The Kids Are All Right opens in select theaters tomorrow, and in wider release soon thereafter. My short review: Go see this film. My longer review, which first appeared in Bay Windows, is below.) I was a skeptic. When I first heard of The Kids Are All Right, a film about a pair of lesbian

How Marriage Bans Teach Children Marriage Isn’t Necessary

(Originally published as my Mombian newspaper column.) Parenting took center stage in the closing arguments of the Prop 8 case on June 16. Attorney Ted Olson, by most accounts, made a superb argument for marriage equality. There was one point he left out, however, that is worth exploring here. Attorney Charles Cooper, speaking for the

What Are You Doing for Summer Fun?

Time for this week’s discussion thread. Now that Pride is almost over and the hot weather is upon us, what summer plans do you have for you and your family? Our son is in a few local summer programs for July, but we’re hoping to do family stuff in August, so I’ve left that pretty

“She Got Me Pregnant”: Episode 109

Helen and I discuss how we can’t believe we now have a seven-year-old, and why our son’s birthday party means coming out to new neighbors. We also share the adventures in pond life around our house and how teaching science to kids doesn’t necessarily mean knowing the difference between a pollywog and a tadpole. (If

Gary and Tony Have a Study Guide: What Do You Think?

CNN’s hour-long profile of two gay dads, Gary and Tony Have a Baby, airs Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET. In preparation, CNN has put together a study guide of “Before-Viewing Discussion Questions,” aimed at students in grade 11 and up. They include: “How would you define the traditional American family? Can you think of

Happy Birthday, Mombian!

Five years ago today I began this little blogging endeavor. My son was barely two, just learning to talk; I was barely beginning to realize the full range of things it means to be a mother. Now, he is finishing first grade, reading anything he lays his eyes on, building complicated Lego spaceships, and riding

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