MamaBlogger365 - New Cooperative Workspace at M.O.M. and Meet the Experts This Week

We have a great line-up of programs scheduled this week at the Museum of Motherhood, plus, our new cooperative work space is available (sign up now to reserve your spot)!

Our MamaBlogger365 project continues online, where we welcome writers who share their stories about reframing motherhood. We are so grateful to Coach Julie, RN, who's celebrating ten years of Nurturing Your Success; Mindy Stokes, working to transform language into action; *Dr Mama* Amber Kinser, who shares how, for all of us, it's simply complicated; Shira Adler, Diva Mama, who realizes why everyone goes crazy for the big game; and Jax Resto, who continues to share with us her adventures as a mom-rocker.

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Our Meet the Experts series continues in February, featuring speakers, activities, mom and baby groups, and support groups. We're located at 401 E. 84th St. in New York (Tues-Sun 10:45-6:30, call 212.452.9816 l 877.711.MOMS for info).

Monday: Calling All Creative Kids; After-school creativity theater for kids with Lynn Schaul, artist, UES mother. Starts Feb.6th Mondays 4:30-5:30 $30 per class or $250 for ten weeks. Pizza included. Call Lynn for more info: 646.567.0818.

Wednesday: Circle Of Life a grief and loss group at noon (open to all, led by BirthFocus); BirthFocus's Meet the Doula at 1 pm, with Elizabeth Mangum-Sarach. Change-makers luncheon is 1:30-3:30 (preregistration is required; $20). Come enjoy sample Prenatal & Mama Rub Down Massage - Licensed massage therapist at M.O.M. from 4-6 pm (10 min for $15, 20 min for $20).

Thursday: Renee Sullivan – Babybites at 10 am (Meet the Pregnancy & Infant Leader); Babybites groups at noon and 1 pm.

Friday: La Leche League Toddler Meeting at 10 am; Sara Lise Raff, Arts Education Consultant answers questions 10:45-noon; Meet Psychotherapist Mariama Duncan from 3-4pm: Where Is The ‘I’ In Family?

FEES – All programs include regular day-pass fee of $15 per adult, kids free, students $13, unless otherwise noted.

Disclaimer – Our ‘Meet The Expert’ series demonstrates our intention to be a community gathering place and offer great information to spark conversations. Volunteers, artists, experts and just plain folk are invited to sign up to participate at M.O.M. This is not intended to replace medical advice or to offer anything more than an opportunity to connect and inspire.

For more information about each of these programs, visit our Meet the Experts page!

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NEW! Cooperative work space available Monday 1-4 pm and Wednesday 6-9 pm, with the opportunity for additional hours:
• Share cooperative workspace in a female-friendly environment that nurtures your business and empowers your personal vision.
• Access to group bulletin board (online and onsite)
• Shared table space with WiFi access / or private desk rental
• Opportunity to network and blog cooperatively through our sister sites: Museum Of Motherhood, Mamapalooza, Mamazina Magazine and even Working Mother Blog.
• Opportunity to interview about your project, passion or business on MediaMom.com, featured on MingleMediaTV.com; between 300-3,000 viewers per show.
• Networking and discounted vendor & exhibitor opportunities
$10 per hour for co-op workspace / $40 Monthly storage (optional)
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED and space is limited; apply by e-mailing MOMmuseum@gmail.com.

Mamablogger365 - New Beginnings by Mindy Stokes

The word family has seen a transformation in the past couple of decades. At one time, it meant only those biologically related to you. In this day and age, it’s been expanded to include those with whom we have shared values or choose to spend much time with. For me, family represents those people who have become near and dear—those who’ve found their way into my heart in profound and deeply meaningful ways. This list includes my mother, grandmother, aunties, uncles, cousins, brother and dear friends. My nuclear family, those with whom I wake up every day, and who bring me joy, are Katie my partner of 13 years, and Soleil our vivacious five year old daughter.

Unfortunately, the concept of family has been hijacked by certain individuals and organizations in our society who wish to define what “family” is. Far too often, these individuals and organizations claim they have the Good Book and God on their side and that He is the ultimate authority, thus rendering them experts on a particular issue. The issue I speak of is marriage equality.

These religious folks assert they must protect the “family” from special interests and only their definition of “family” qualifies for this protection. They broadcast that marriage equality will bring mayhem to the traditional institution of marriage between one man and one woman. And that if same-sex couples are granted the civil right of marrying, then our nation’s morality is at stake and finally our children will suffer. According to them, the welfare of these children is at the center of this argument.

They are erroneous for three reasons...

Click here to read more.

The Museum Of Motherhood is the first and only facility of its kind, celebrating the “her”story of mothers around the world. We need your help -- please make your tax-deductible contribution today!Visit the Museum of Motherhood, NOW OPEN in NYC - Tues.-Sun., 10:45-6:30.

Photo credit: anon | MorgueFile

MamaBlogger365 - Why Marriage Equality is Essential to Healthy Families by Mindy Stokes

The election cycle is gearing up and already I'm experiencing the inevitable: anti-homosexual rhetoric. Politicians are working on getting elected and one of their favorite galvanizing issues is marriage equality. The reason: this subject gets the party base out to vote. The result: LGBT communities are used as pawns -- political footballs if you will. Let me explain why this is highly offensive and ultimately hurtful to me, a lesbian, my life partner, and our daughter, who happens to be five years old.

Click here to read more!

Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011! Your tax-deductible donation in ANY amount will help us make our fall POP-UP exhibit in NYC a permanent reality - visit our Members page to learn more.



The Museum of Motherhood is NOW OPEN in NYC! Come visit us!
401 East 84th St. (at 1st Ave.), New York, NY | Tues. - Sun, 10:45 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.


Photo credit: dieraecherin|MorgueFile

MamaBlogger365 - Why Does Ursula Get a Bad Rap? by Mindy Stokes

My daughter will turn five in a couple of weeks and she wants to have a Barbie party. I told her that a party with an anatomically incorrect icon is never going to happen on my watch. So then she asked if she could have a Little Mermaid one. I conceded. Isn't Ariel better than Barbie? At least she can be a little sassy, right? She did disobey her father, King Triton, on occasion. This gives me hope.

Let me give you some context to my reasons for denying my beautiful daughter Barbie. I'm a lesbian and so is her Mama (I guess you figured that one out). We conceived Soleil using artificial insemination through a fertility clinic. My partner and I are both Caucasian, the donor African-American, thus Soleil's hair will never be long, blond or red. Instead she's got an amazing afro with curls strangers long for. I teach women's studies, so I'm a proud feminist (yahoo!) and I'm keenly aware of beauty ideals and eating disorders. And to top it all off, I don't appreciate Disney or Mattel making their way into my life using princesses, mermaids and unreasonably thin dolls with the ultimate message of patriarchy: what a girl looks like is more important than her mind and in Ariel's case, her voice.

Click here to read more!

Support MamaBlogger365 and help the Museum of Motherhood secure a permanent home in 2011! Your tax-deductible donation in ANY amount will help us make our September POP-UP exhibit in NYC a permanent reality - visit our Members page to learn more.

Photo credit: den_lille_havfrue by pedrojperez|MorgueFile




The Museum of Motherhood is NOW OPEN in NYC! Come visit us!

401 East 84th St. (at 1st Ave.), New York, NY