Comments for A Little World Made Cunningly http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone Satisfaction is a lowly thing; how pure a thing is joy. This is mortality; this is eternity. Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:49:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Thoughts on Women’s Rights and Motherhood by Imogen http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=510&cpage=1#comment-12926 Imogen Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:49:22 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=510#comment-12926 Nice post. :) I, too, love being a mother. I stayed at home for a year with Toby, and I guess I was a homemaker during that year. (Though honestly I was really a baby feeder and exhausted mess for the first 6 months - does that count?). I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the time with Toby, but I also now enjoy being back at work and Toby being at daycare. Does that make me less of a mother? I don't think so. I think both sides have it wrong, in the extremes of the debate (as is wont to happen). Is there anything wrong, or of less value, of staying home and being a homemaker? Absolutely not. But is there anything wrong, or of less value, of choosing a career outside the home? Absolutely not. And for my children (of *both* genders, if I have them), that's the lesson I want to instill. So while I absolutely support and encourage your individual choice, I do not think it is one that should be foisted upon women wholesale (and that's where I and your church disagree, I guess). I say let people do what is their natural inclination and talent to do, and let gender stay out of the equation. If that means a stay at home Dad and a working Mum so be it. Or both parents working and a wonderful daycare. Or, as is common, Mum at home and Dad working. Whatever works best for each family and the individuals within it. Nice post. :)

I, too, love being a mother. I stayed at home for a year with Toby, and I guess I was a homemaker during that year. (Though honestly I was really a baby feeder and exhausted mess for the first 6 months – does that count?).

I enjoyed it, and I enjoyed the time with Toby, but I also now enjoy being back at work and Toby being at daycare. Does that make me less of a mother? I don’t think so.

I think both sides have it wrong, in the extremes of the debate (as is wont to happen). Is there anything wrong, or of less value, of staying home and being a homemaker? Absolutely not. But is there anything wrong, or of less value, of choosing a career outside the home? Absolutely not.

And for my children (of *both* genders, if I have them), that’s the lesson I want to instill.

So while I absolutely support and encourage your individual choice, I do not think it is one that should be foisted upon women wholesale (and that’s where I and your church disagree, I guess). I say let people do what is their natural inclination and talent to do, and let gender stay out of the equation. If that means a stay at home Dad and a working Mum so be it. Or both parents working and a wonderful daycare. Or, as is common, Mum at home and Dad working. Whatever works best for each family and the individuals within it.

]]> Comment on The borders of language by Brinestone http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508&cpage=1#comment-12077 Brinestone Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:23:21 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508#comment-12077 An "m" sound for hunger makes perfect sense; it's made by opening and closing the mouth, just like a baby does when nursing. An “m” sound for hunger makes perfect sense; it’s made by opening and closing the mouth, just like a baby does when nursing.

]]> Comment on The borders of language by Suzanne http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508&cpage=1#comment-12070 Suzanne Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:20:00 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508#comment-12070 I find childhood language acquisition fascinating, too. OK, that's probably obvious since I became a speech pathologist, but I've been even more amazed as I watch each of my children and how they develop and use language so differently. Adriana actually learned how to sign some words (and use them intentionally) before she was six months old, and then she started talking (saying words consistently with the same meaning) at 7 1/2 months and using sentences at 12 months. Miriam used sign language a lot more than my other kids because saying some sounds were difficult for her, and she didn't start talking until she was one. Even now she often likes to let Adriana do the talking for her. Darren (20 months) does say words, but he really prefers to sing lines from songs or make funny sound effects. What I really find amazing is how well these kids communicate what they want (RIGHT NOW!), in their own ways, and how we as mothers learn to clue in to their cues. Way to go on picking up on El Guapo's muh sound to mean he's hungry. There are some interesting studies that have been done on how different sounds in and types of cries mean different things, and an "m" sound for hunger is the most universal. Sorry to write you a book here, but I too find this all really interesting. :) I find childhood language acquisition fascinating, too. OK, that’s probably obvious since I became a speech pathologist, but I’ve been even more amazed as I watch each of my children and how they develop and use language so differently. Adriana actually learned how to sign some words (and use them intentionally) before she was six months old, and then she started talking (saying words consistently with the same meaning) at 7 1/2 months and using sentences at 12 months. Miriam used sign language a lot more than my other kids because saying some sounds were difficult for her, and she didn’t start talking until she was one. Even now she often likes to let Adriana do the talking for her. Darren (20 months) does say words, but he really prefers to sing lines from songs or make funny sound effects. What I really find amazing is how well these kids communicate what they want (RIGHT NOW!), in their own ways, and how we as mothers learn to clue in to their cues. Way to go on picking up on El Guapo’s muh sound to mean he’s hungry. There are some interesting studies that have been done on how different sounds in and types of cries mean different things, and an “m” sound for hunger is the most universal. Sorry to write you a book here, but I too find this all really interesting. :)

]]> Comment on The borders of language by Brinestone http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508&cpage=1#comment-12067 Brinestone Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:16:16 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508#comment-12067 That's so interesting! Babies are strange little people. That’s so interesting! Babies are strange little people.

]]> Comment on The borders of language by Marie http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508&cpage=1#comment-12053 Marie Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:13:10 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508#comment-12053 Edison started smiling more or less from the beginning. I know people pass it off as other things, but he would consistently smile when he heard Evelyn's voice, whether she was talking to him or just around him. Edison started smiling more or less from the beginning. I know people pass it off as other things, but he would consistently smile when he heard Evelyn’s voice, whether she was talking to him or just around him.

]]> Comment on The borders of language by Anna http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508&cpage=1#comment-12019 Anna Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:39:39 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=508#comment-12019 Lukas has said MAMA for a long time, but it doesn't mean Mama necessarily. Well, I guess it kind of does. He says it when he wants me to pick him up. Sometimes it's more like MAMA MA, but it's always basically the same. I don't remember my other kids doing anything like that at all. the other kids were kind of late talkers, so its fun to see he has associated a sound with a result so "early". He's 11 months. Lukas has said MAMA for a long time, but it doesn’t mean Mama necessarily. Well, I guess it kind of does. He says it when he wants me to pick him up. Sometimes it’s more like MAMA MA, but it’s always basically the same. I don’t remember my other kids doing anything like that at all. the other kids were kind of late talkers, so its fun to see he has associated a sound with a result so “early”. He’s 11 months.

]]> Comment on Keeping the blog eclectic by Kayla http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=500&cpage=1#comment-11313 Kayla Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:48:19 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=500#comment-11313 Oooh, I like that you added some sparkle underneath! That's awesome. And your blog is super familiar. I must have been here before. The name "Galactic Cactus" isn't really one you forget! Oooh, I like that you added some sparkle underneath! That’s awesome.

And your blog is super familiar. I must have been here before. The name “Galactic Cactus” isn’t really one you forget!

]]> Comment on Keeping the blog eclectic by Sarah in Indiana http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=500&cpage=1#comment-11312 Sarah in Indiana Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:17:34 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=500#comment-11312 Hi, I clicked over becauseI liked your ”outfit upsidedown” description. I agree with you that I found the striped shirt to be the most inspiring element of this outfit. It's something that's totally doable for a non-fashionista like myself, and it's a simple way to add a little zing to the boring outfit that I would have otherwise put together. Nice idea to take the same concept and add a little sparkle! Hi, I clicked over becauseI liked your ”outfit upsidedown” description. I agree with you that I found the striped shirt to be the most inspiring element of this outfit. It’s something that’s totally doable for a non-fashionista like myself, and it’s a simple way to add a little zing to the boring outfit that I would have otherwise put together. Nice idea to take the same concept and add a little sparkle!

]]> Comment on Keeping the blog eclectic by Erica http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=500&cpage=1#comment-11303 Erica Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:37:47 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=500#comment-11303 Your son was right - you are pretty! And the sparkly shirt underneath was perfect - adds that perfect touch to the outfit. Thanks for participating! Your son was right – you are pretty! And the sparkly shirt underneath was perfect – adds that perfect touch to the outfit. Thanks for participating!

]]> Comment on Keeping the blog eclectic by Amy http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=500&cpage=1#comment-11301 Amy Thu, 08 Dec 2011 16:03:47 +0000 http://galacticcactus.com/brinestone/?p=500#comment-11301 I love your interpretation with the dark red sweater. It's so cute! Thanks for participating! I love your interpretation with the dark red sweater. It’s so cute! Thanks for participating!

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