I've gotten used to being scoffed at when it comes to my political bona fides. Because the word "mom" is in the name of my site, I'm often dismissed as someone who isn't focused on current events, our political climate or electoral events. I'm a mother, so I must only be interested in what [...]
When did women get to the point where they have to declare themselves moms above all else in order to be perceived as acceptable to the public? We heard it again and again and again at the presidential nominating conventions. And if not mothers, then caretakers of some sort -- supportive friend, helpful wife. Even [...]
If someone asked you to take a day out of your life to help mothers and children who are the poorest of the poor, who need the things we take for granted every day – enough food to feed our children, vaccines to prevent diseases, medicines to keep our families as healthy [...]
Yes, things have been a little quiet here, but I promise, I have good reasons: Welllll, I've been launching a new project I think you'll enjoy called The Broad Side. It's a new online magazine that will feature the best women's commentary from around the web. Just in time for the 2012 campaign season, but [...]
Where have I been hanging out this week besides PunditMom? No, I wasn't in that beautiful Giverny garden in France, but I was a few other fun places .... I was honored to be selected by Working Mother Magazine as one of the most powerful mothers in social media! I'm in some amazing company. [...]
It was pretty hard to contain my excitement when I saw my book, Mothers of Intention: How Women and Social Media are Revolutionizing Politics in America. The book actually didn't come to me -- I went to it when I attended Book Expo America in New York City a couple of weeks ago. The distributor [...]
Networking in non-traditional settings is nothing new for women. When our husbands think we're just hanging out with the girls or managing the soccer game and birthday party schedules for our kids, we know that those relationships can be, and usually are, much more than just lost time. So when I read a recent New [...]
Women with children bring a unique perspective to the political process. It's no big secret I believe that and I'd like to think at this stage of the political game, it shouldn't be a surprise to other politicos. But one of the candidates for governor in Oklahoma has taken that idea beyond its logical conclusion. [...]
Last summer on our family vacation to Yellowstone National Park, we actually got to see a grizzly bear. Fortunately for safety's sake, it was from a very far distance while we were on a rafting trip, but I was surprised at its color. I had expected grizzlies to be dark brown, but the one we [...]
Just because our official once a year Mother's Day celebration is over, doesn't mean we should forget about what mothers are thinking about. So, I thought a special Mother's Day edition of Mother's of Intention was in order. So, here is some excellent reading from some moms I like, and they're not just thinking about [...]
After reading about two new volumes out just in time for Mother's Day, I've resigned myself to the notion that Mother's Day will continue to be the hook on which some capitalize on their own insecurities, both intellectually and financially.Instead of praising stay-at-home moms, what if the media praised all mothers? I'd rather not think [...]
If you're like me, trying to find that perfect Mother's Day gift is often a challenge (though I made it easy for Mr. PunditMom and PunditGirl this year by asking for an addition to our lawn furniture!)But MomsRising sure knows how to make a mom feel good about all the things we do that, to [...]
Women love makeovers. We can't help it. Even the most serious-minded of us like a little change now and then. Who doesn't crave a new lip gloss or yearn for an updated hair style from time to time? (Excuse me for a moment, I hear the Bobbi Brown counter calling my name!) The same thing [...]
As I discovered last year by reading a lot of blogs, and from the wonderful essays all my Mothers of Intention contributors wrote, moms are a lot more political than the we get credit for. Politicians think they know us and give us labels that make it easier for them to find pat stump speeches [...]
Why did it take the nomination of Sarah Palin to be John McCain's running mate to get the mainstream media talking to women bloggers about politics?On the heels of McCain choosing the Alaska governor, networks were scrambling to talk to moms. So what better place to find us, I suppose, than here in the blogosphere. [...]
Loads of media types are already wondering aloud, what kind of parents the Obamas will be. For me, that question is sort of silly -- won't they continue to be the same kind of parents they've always been?My question, hopefully not as silly, is whether Michelle Obama's presence in the White House as a highly-educated, [...]
No, I did not suffer a severe head injury or have a GOP epiphany since yesterday. My progressive bona fides are very much intact, thanks (I am the Goddess of All Things Liberal, after all!).But as I was thinking about all the appearances Sarah Palin has had in the media since the Republicans' defeat last [...]
I suppose it's only natural that people try to revise the part of their histories that doesn't fit with their self view. So I guess Sarah Palin is no exception. But it's important to be careful how far one goes with reinvention or revisionism, 'cause ya' know -- these tapes are going to be around [...]
The Obamas were pretty successful through the presidential campaign keeping one kind of criticism at bay-- whether Michelle was home enough as a mom and who was caring for the kids. The few times that Sasha and Malia Obama were permitted to be on the public stage, they presented like lovely, well-adjusted little girls.But criticizing [...]
Two years ago, I wasn't sure that Hillary Clinton would be elected the first woman President of the United States in 2008. Turns out my sense about the common wisdom at the time was right. But now, I'm wondering what slot in the new Barack Obama administration is available for the woman I WAS thinking [...]
Politics aren't just for old white guys anymore! You know the ones I mean, the ones on the cable news talk shows. They don't have a lock on pithy political commentary anymore. (I guess some of them aren't so old, but you get my point!)Don't get me wrong -- many of those guys are good [...]
Need something to do while you're eating lunch on Friday?Please join me and my guest Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director of MomsRising Friday at noon Eastern time on my new BlogTalk Radio Show!We'll be talking about how an Obama administration may address the core issues of MomsRising -- maternity/paternity leave, flexible work hours, health care for [...]
