Preamble: Recent debate—pointed out by a new member—about this article has prompted me to make a few clarifications to avoid further misinterpretations. First, this article refers to a fanatical minority of mothers and I have made minor text adjustments to clarify that point throughout. Second, I have added some commentary in response to criticisms, which appear in italicized parentheticals. I would also like to express the opinion that there can be great flexibility in parental practices without compromising functionality, but that context must be considered. That said, this article is intended to promote examination of a topic, not to offend those who make well-informed, context-dependent choices. In the spirit of Open2it, I hope that readers will ask questions and point out logical flaws (as well as data) so we can all benefit from the wisdom of an informed and astute collective. Onward. . .
Recently, I found a video on YouTube about a British mother who has extended breastfeeding to an extreme—regularly nursing one 8-year-old daughter and having nursed another for five years—and I posted it on Open2it. I was hoping for some insightful feedback and, indeed, it wasn’t long before a member suggested just what I had thought myself: that extremely extended breastfeeding is more about the mother’s needs than those of her children.
The American public has spoken and their answer is Obama. There is no question in serious minds as to the historical nature of America’s decision. In the eyes of many voters, Barack Obama was as improbable a candidate as one could imagine, yet he stands before us today our president elect.
I was recently shocked to see just how many essay writing companies have sprung up on the internet, literally hundreds of them. They all bill their services as a ready resource for students looking for that extra edge for cheap. I learned about these writing services through Google AdSense advertisements that showed up on Open2it. Interestingly, Google had planned to ban such ads well over a year ago, but apparently some of them have slipped through the cracks.
Last weekend my kids—Blaizon (age 6) and Arianna (age 5)—and I packed up and went for a two day outing with my brother, Ron, his fiancée, Gilma, and her seven-year-old son, Danny. Ron and I had not spoken to each other for six months owing to some hurt feelings over an altercation that we had the last time we all took a trip together. It was time to put all of that behind us and, besides, my kids had been complaining that they never got to see Danny, and I was running out of honest excuses to give them. Members of my family had also been putting pressure on me to patch things up with Ron. The funny thing is, Ron and I really never spoke about why we didn’t speak, and we still haven’t spoken about not speaking.
My friend, Grace, is going through a divorce right now, a misfortune that we share in common. Her breakup has not been bitter or deceitful or raucous, and her husband has never raised a hand to her or their two kids. He did not pick fights or sleep around. He was not controlling or manipulative, and he will not likely withhold support or run away from his obligations. In fact, she has a hard time pinning down exactly why she wants to divorce him—at least when it comes to articulating it such that others can sympathize with her.
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