The Vaccine Book

As soon as I read this book my first thought was: Where was this 16 months ago!

While I was pregnant I researched many things about parenthood, and vaccines topped the list. But try as I might, I was not able to find any information that I felt was helpful. There were definietly two sides to the issue, but they offered data in direct opposition to each other while each claiming that following their advice over the "propaganda" of the other side was a matter of life or death. This was insane, and utterly unhelpful.

So I turned next to friends, but found essentially more of the same. Some were strongly on one side, and others were strongly on the other. Many felt like throwing their hands up as I did.

Next, I turned to my Doctors and Chiropractor, all of whom I respected. They walked me through some of the pros and cons, and told me what they had done for their own children.

But in all of this, I never felt that I was being given well researched data. Opinions, repeated opinions, and some helpful perspective, but not what I'd been hoping for. We made the decisions we made, and I'm happy with them. But I was thrilled to now have Dr. Sear's The Vaccine Book.

Sears bends over backwards to not give parents yet another guilt trip and list of "shoulds." Instead, he speaks openly to both parents and doctors, acknowledging the limitations in all our educations regarding this issue. For each vaccine he gives a description of the disease, the risks of the disease before and after vaccination became standard, the ingredients and production method of the vaccine for each manufacture, any controversy regarding the ingredients, production methods, or side effects, as well as detailed information about the risks of each. Sears does not come down on either side of the vaccine debate, but does wrap each chapter up with a helpful summary, and documents his research thoroughly.

As I read, I did not feel that I was being pushed one way or the other, simply being given access to the data I've been wanting all along. With this information in hand, my options have increased. I now know specifically which vaccines I think are important, and why, and which brand I would prefer, and when I would like to get them for my child.

If you have a child still in the vaccination stages, I highly recommend at least a perusal of this book, if not making it part of your parental reference library. I wish I'd had it 16 months ago, but I'm grateful to have it now.

There's a whole book club discussion going on here if you'd like to know more about what others think of the book. Also, the Chicago Moms Blog and our sister sites had a fascinating discussion about breastfeeding yesterday; I posted my own story among others - come check it out.

The Other Mother - Review, Book Club, and Giveaway!

Gwendolen Gross' novel The Other Mother, in my opinion, does an excellent job of describing what it means to be a mother, and the bizarre "Mommy Wars" we inexplicably wind up in. The story is narrated by two moms - Amanda, a brand new mommy about to head back to her corporate office, and Thea, a stay at home mom of three. The two women happen to be neighbors, and while their common journey through the throws of motherhood bring them together, their different career choices hold them at a distance. And it doesn't get any easier when Thea ends up acting as a nanny for Amanda.

I always feel stuck in the Mommy Wars. I stay home with my baby, but I do have two jobs which I do part time, mostly from home. While in some ways I know I have the best of both worlds, it often works out to be the worst of both worlds, and judgment from both sides to boot. I've also been a nanny and I know what it means to be the person caring for the lives of another mother's child.

These issues are so complicated, not as cut and dry as they appear to be when looking from only one perspective. Having at least a foot in the Stay Home World, the Career World, and the Nanny World, I believe that Gwendolen Gross has nailed all sides of this issue. Her perspective is nuanced and insightful, right on.

Over at ChicagoMoms, we're doing a book club featuring The Other Mother this week. And right here at Opinionated I've giving away not one but two copies! So, enter to win by leaving me a comment anytime between Monday, October 29th and Friday, November 2rd. I'll choose two lucky winners at random and announce on Saturday, November 3rd.

This Giveaway is also in conjunction with Fall Y'all Giveaways, so once you've left me a comment, surfed over to ChicagoMomsBlog.com for the book club, don't forget to check out the other giveaways going on! (And if you don't win one, stop by Amazon to buy your own copy!)

Oh, and stop by everyday life as lyric poetry for my main blog and my other giveaway...and click here, where my best friend is giving away a ring sling baby carrier!

Name your tune!

When I was a kid, I loved to have things with my name on them. Pencils or bookmarks or wall hangings - I couldn't get enough. My favorite was a set of books my cousin bought me for a birthday present - the publisher had come up with a great idea - tell a story, and insert the name of the individual kid into the story. The main character in my copies shared my name, my town, my age. I loved them, and I've kept them to this day!

While I didn't have an unusual name, most Catherine's went by Cathy, or spelled their name with a "K." It was the rare item that was marketed to "Catherine." So when it came time to name my son, I kept this in mind. Ironically, the name we settled on is much less common than mine was.

Which is why I'm so excited about Name Your Tune. Now, you don't have to rely on what's popular - you can have items custom made with your child's name. You can purchase a CD full of favorite children's songs, specifically with your child's name inserted! Instead of McDonald having a farm, its your child. There are fourteen fun songs on my cd, and the best part is seeing my son raise his head curiously when he hears his name being called out from the speakers.

If you'd like to buy one yourself, or get more information, here's where to go!

Name Your Tune

info@nyt.ca

http://www.nyt.ca/

NAME YOUR TUNE The Personalized CD for Children is an iParenting Media Award Winner for Outstanding Product 2006!

Babywearing!

A ring sling is something I recommend to absolutly every parent, without exception. This one piece of baby-gear has been a life saver to me again and again. When my baby was a newborn, this was a place he could sleep, or just hang out, close to my heart and curled up tight and close to me. During a stage of colic that he experienced, it was the only place and time that he would not cry. Whether he was awake or asleep, he was cared for, we were close, and I still had my hands free to do other things.

Now that he's older, we use it differently. It helps to carry him long distances when my arms are tired, gives him a place to hang out when he can't be running around (like in church!), or a place to sleep if we don't make it home for naps.

At any age, I really can't imagine what having a baby would have been like without my sling.
My friend Farrah makes and sells slings like the one I have. She sells them near and far, so don't worry if you live far away. If you are pregnant, have a little one, or even a bigger one, or just know someone who does, click here for more information.