Welcome to “Tuesday Tours: What’s Happening on the Web” where I serve as your tour guide and showcase the best contests, freebies, deals, and reads for moms on the web…all in one convenient location.
Contests
Enter to win a $100 JCPenney Gift Card at 5 Minutes for Mom. Deadline: Oct. 8.
Local Love
There’s a new birth center in Phoenix, AZ. Has anyone delivered at Babymoon Inn?
Good Reads
Randy Elrod is making me want to move to Franklin, Tennessee! I’m curious: Do you have a “campus” culture in your neighborhood?
Elita asks important questions in her recent post, Babies & “Meaningful Work”: Why must they be separate?
Erin writes about Eating Out with Kids (and having a positive experience).
You’ve been on Swonderland, right? Erin’s candid way of storytelling will draw you in. Read: uh huh, okay to get a taste.
Miscellany
Jennifer shares ideas for Green Halloween Edible Treats for 50¢ or Less. What do you hand out on Halloween?
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*** If you have a contest or an announcement that you think might be a good fit for Tuesday Tours, e-mail me at stephanie@metropolitanmama.net.
I liked Elita’s piece a lot! I was thinking about that after reading some of the comments under the picture you posted of the Italian mother wearing her baby while voting in parliament. Someone posted something about that being the most inappropriate place to have a baby- what if she cried, how distracting would that be, the mom can’t possibly be doing her best work when she also has to focus on her baby. The commenter obviously wasn’t a mother, or probably even a parent, because moms can multitask like no one’s business (and my hubby does a respectable job as well!)
One of my favorite things about working on the campus I do is my department’s friendly attitude towards kids- I wasn’t going to be able to attend a faculty meeting due to a last minute cancellation with my sitter, and the chair (male no less!) asked why I didn’t just bring her to the meeting. I did- and wasn’t the only one! Two other fathers also had their kids with them. (Like most universities, my department has way more male employees than female.) I’ve brought my daughters to class a few times too (although normally a friend watches them), and have given entire lectures with my infant daughter sleeping soundly, and once just observing quietly, in the Moby wrap. They were good lectures too, not jumbled garbitty gook because I was distracted by my child.
And in a totally unrelated comment, I love that you tweeted about dancing to “Say Hey.” That’s my 5 month old’s favorite song, she started squealing once when it came on the radio and so now we sing it to her all the time and she laughs hysterically. And you’re right, you can’t sing that song without dancing!
Thank you for sharing your experience, Kara! You’re convincing me to get my PhD more and more every time your write about your department! ;) I wonder if all universities are as friendly to children.
P.S. My husband has done all kinds of things while carrying a baby too. I’d love to see more employers who celebrate, support, and encourage active fatherhood.
I forgot to ask: Are you on Twitter?
Unfortunately, I don’t think all universities are as baby/children friendly. Although I think its getting better- a girl who used to be in our youth group emailed me a few weeks ago because she said her professor reminded her of me. She’s in college in Maryland now, and her women’s studies prof has given a few lectures with her infant all wrapped up in a Moby wrap. My experiences with most universities so far is that there aren’t that many women (at least not in my field) and the ones who are there are well past childbearing years. When I told my department chair I was pregnant with my first, he said “Congratulations. Um, do we have to give you maternity leave or something?” So its not something people have a lot of experience dealing with, apparently.
And no, I’m not on Twitter yet, although I think I may need to change that. I honestly don’t quite get it- and most of my technology advances have been at the prodding of my youngest sister, who’s the most tech savvy of us girls. She made me text, got me on Facebook, but she isn’t on Twitter yet so I haven’t been prodded into joining. I kind of feel like I’m missing out though, so maybe I need to learn more about it!
The article about babies and meaningful work hits home for me as I am just back to work after having my daughter 12 weeks ago. I had to save up all my sick time and vacation time in order to get paid for the time I took off and while I work in a very supportive work environment it is still a struggle. Our country needs to revamp the family leave act. The United States falls far behind other countries in terms of what is given for new mothers/families. It is a sad state of affairs.
Love the Baby Moon Inn, such a cute name to go with a great idea.
Hi Steph! Wonderful links again! I am immediately adding swonderland to my list. It’s funny because I’ve read most of the commenters blogs, and I don’t know how my “radar” missed this gem.
I love “Say Hey” too. I always sing it to my son in the car. Not to get too philosophical on you, but if you listen to the lyrics, doesn’t it describe motherhood? Especially when he says, “Seems like everywhere I go, the more I see, the less I know.”
Also, I love Deana Carter’s “Did I Shave My Legs for This” CD. We played We Danced Anyway at our wedding. Thanks for the memory!
I love that line of “Say Hey” – so relevant to motherhood (and to life in general).
I like the Eating Out With Kids post. We take our son pretty much everywhere – restaurants (we like to eat out, probably more than we should) and to the movies. The few times we haven’t taken him we’ve missed him! It’s never been a problem and I think it teaches him to be well behaved in public settings early on :)
Thanks for the link on Halloween goodies. :)
I love the one about Franklin, TN. Funny, I live very close to there! My hometown was a lot like that. I miss it a lot. Knowing everyone and feeling like pretty much everyone is in your extended family. The only up side to living where you are anonymous is not always having to put on makeup to go grocery shopping.:)
I really like the piece about working mums and I love the photo that goes with it. I went back to work a few months ago and it’s definitely a juggle.
i always enjoy reading your tuesday tour links, often when i am nursing and reading on my iphone. thank you so much for including me this week!
Thanks for putting me in the tour, Stephanie!!
Got totally drawn in to Swonderland- lovely!