George H.W. Bush 'Comes Out' in Support of Marriage Equality ... Sort Of

donderdag 26 september 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Maressa Brown 2 hours ago

Looks like another small but encouraging step has been made by a Republican showing support of marriage equality: Former President George H.W. Bush and his wife Barbara attended the wedding last weekend of two female friends Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen in Maine. Furthermore, Bush was an official witness, having signed the couple's marriage license! Very nice.

Although Bush spokesman Jim McGrath made a point to state that the former president and his wife attended the affair as private citizens, tongues are now clucking that this was the elder Bush's attempt to make a quiet statement that he supports same-sex marriage.

Hmm, it's quite possible ... After all, he wouldn't be a lone wolf in the Bush brood! And it would have been a long time coming! After all, we've known for a while now that George W. Bush's wife, Laura Bush, their daughter Barbara Bush, and George W. Bush's former vice president, Dick Cheney (whose daughter, Mary Cheney, is openly gay), are all publicly supportive of same-sex marriage.

While H.W.'s spokesman's statement is a bit disconcerting -- because why do they have to be so "private" about their true feelings here? -- I still feel like we could see the 89-year-old's presence at the happy occasion as a good sign. The 41st president may not be giving speeches at gay pride parade a la Lady Gaga, but his attendance at this wedding is still small but significant proof that representatives from both sides of the aisle are coming together on marriage equality. Cheers to that!

Do you think #41 supports same-sex marriage? Do you think it matters?

Image via Mark Wilson/Getty

Click "Like" for more on issues that are important to moms. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Maressa Brown

has enjoyed reporting and writing for a variety of entertainment and women's magazines and websites. More often than not, you'll find her blogging, hitting the gym, reading, researching something on her iPhone, laughing, chatting at an above-"normal" volume, or getting her caffeine fix.

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12-Year-Old Boy With Scary Brain Eating Amoeba to Be Taken Off Life Support

maandag 26 augustus 2013

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AppId is over the quota
by Sasha Brown-Worsham 6 hours ago

In a horrifying story out of Florida, a 12-year-old boy has lost his battle to fight the brain eating amoeba he caught while swimming in a ditch this summer. Zachary Reyna of LaBelle, Florida was diagnosed with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis, which is a form of meningitis caused by the amoeba naegleria fowleri. He never recovered.

The amoeba infects people when they take in contaminated water through the nose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although it is rare, when it strikes, it is often deadly. 

Heartbreakingly, Reyna is never going to recover and though he is on a ventilator for today, his parents plan to take him off tonight. As a parent, it is something that just sends chills down your spine. How could this happen?

Apparently Zach was infected while knee boarding with friends in a ditch near his family's home on August 3. Earlier this month, a girl contracted the same deadly illness and managed to survive it, but it is rare to survive once infected.

For parents, it's important to know the initial symptoms. They are vomiting, fever, nausea, and stiff neck. As it progresses patients exhibit confusion, lack of attention to people and surroundings, loss of balance, seizures, and hallucinations. Death can come between one and 12 days.

This infection is more common in the Southeastern United States and can best be avoided by wearing a nose plug. Of course, it can also be avoided by never allowing children to go into the water, but how realistic is that option?

Sadly, there are many dangers we can't see and we can't anticipate. As parents, our job is to keep our kids as safe as we can by playing the odds. While I would likely not play in a ditch, I can imagine to a 12-year-old boy, that would look like a great time. Never in a million years could anyone have imagined what horror might come from it.

It's a tragedy, to be sure. But it's rare. And while we can talk about nose plugs and what to look out for, the reality is, we can't avoid every danger in the world.

Reyna's parents plan to donate his organs in the ultimate act of generosity. My heart is broken for them and I hope they can find strength in this horrible time.

Do you worry about this amoeba?

Image via Mike Fisher /Flickr

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sasha Brown-Worsham

can't decide whether she is a mother, writer, or runner, but is usually all three at some point each day. She has written for dozens of print magazines, newspapers, and websites. She rarely ever writes on bathroom walls.

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What to Wear to Show Your Support for Breastfeeding Moms

donderdag 15 augustus 2013

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by Tracy Odell 2 hours ago

Happy Public Display of Breastfeeding Day! And Happy Breastfeeding Awareness month! To celebrate, over at The Prowl today, we're collectively putting together a board of t-shirts and onesies showing pride for nursing mamas. If you're breastfeeding and want to proudly proclaim it to the world or you just want to support nursing moms, here are some shirts that will spread your lactivist message.

Peace, Love, and Breastfeeding. This shirt is more subtle than some others in its message and the simple design is cute and stylish.

Nursing moms really are superheroes. Who else could deal with those flailing arms, leaking ta-tas, and the endless search to find someplace semi-private to pump? This t-shirt gets it right.

And let's not forget the little milk drinkers out there. They can show their pride for their nursing mamas, too (and look darn cute doing it!).

To see more t-shirts and onesies celebrating breastfeeding mamas, stop on over to The Prowl. See what else we've collected so far and add your own ideas to the board!

Click the "Like" button below to get Natural Parenting stories on Facebook. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tracy Odell

is the mom of two young, energetic boys. She's quite fond of reality TV, books, anything caffeinated and exclamation points(!). In her spare time, she works as Executive Vice President at CafeMom, Publisher of The Stir, and is the co-founder of The Prowl.

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6 Best Shoes to Support Baby's First Steps (PHOTOS)

vrijdag 26 juli 2013

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by Mary Fischer 16 hours ago

Watching your baby take his or her first steps is probably one of the proudest moments a parent feels -- though things do tend to get a little more hectic once our kiddos are mobile!

And while most babies walk around barefoot at home, making it easy for their little toes to grip the floor -- they definitely need a good pair of shoes to protect and support their feet while they're out and about. But with so many adorable baby shoes on the market, which ones are best for our little ones?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies wear lightweight and flexible shoes that allow their feet to move naturally.

They should also be made of leather or mesh material to allow baby's feet to breathe and have rubber soles to ensure traction to make sure that they don't slip.

Based on those guidelines, here are six great choices for your baby's first pair of walking shoes, all of which are approved by the American Podiatric Medical Association as being beneficial for baby's feet.

Image via Stride Rite

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Pediped offers plenty of adorable styles for both boys and girls in their "Originals" collection. This is the Harvey style, in chocolate brown, currently on sale for $33.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mary Fischer

is the writer behind The Mommyologist, and the mom of a future famous comedian. Her current loves include cosmopolitans, reality TV, and shoes that don't pinch her feet.

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