Lifestyle
For the lives that we love, and everything that comes with it.
Kittens: Cuddly Baby Cats, or Merciless Death Machines?
I don't recall at any point in my life owning a kitten. I always regarded them as adorable little balls of fluff, that would occasionally paw at you with a wannabe ferocious paw, or meow at you when they were hungry. I figured, like adult cats, they'd be a little lazy, perhaps stretch out with a yawn and sleep in the sun every chance they got, and eat anything meaty. Boy, was I wrong!
Daniel FrancisPublished 7 years ago in PetlifeAll I Wanted
All I wanted was a cat who loves me. One that would cuddle with me a little bit, here or there. Nothing fancy, nothing crazy. Just a companion to sit and be with me and then also purr next to me.
My Thin Privilege
As with all topics discussed openly on the internet, the Thin Privilege argument has descended into a battle in which a side must be picked. You're either pro-fat or pro-skinny, and there's no middle ground. Well...
Katy PreenPublished 7 years ago in VivaGuilt-Free Distance: Creating Boundaries with Family
Many of my friends in the queer community or those of us who were repeatedly abused by a parent know that there is no how-to manual for making peace with these challenging family relationships. Even years after we have left a situation, it has been my experience and observation that many people who come from these backgrounds feel that they are operating at a loss. I’m here to offer a point of view recently given to me that has been extremely freeing: careful boundary work.
Parenting Problems
Walk into any public venue or walk down any public street and you will find any number of people who have an opinion on how you should parent your child. Read a magazine or go online and you will find a ton of people voicing their opinions on how to raise your child. Co-sleeping vs crib sleeping, breast feeding vs bottle feeding, time outs vs taking things away. As a parent these things can be helpful but also aggravating and very confusing. We all want to be the best parent we can be and we all want to do everything completely right by our children and it can be hard to figure out what the right thing to do is.
Kimberly EssenburgPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesThrough the Eyes of a Toddler
I’ve previously written a blog called “Through the Eyes of a Newborn.” Now I’ll do the same kind of thing, except for it being about the next phase of my life, which was my toddler years. I’ll begin with my second birthday as that is the age a child generally begins to get called a toddler.
Rebecca SharrockPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesTwin Mum Truths
So I’m a mum to beautiful boy / girl fraternal twins. They’re currently coming up to being 14 weeks old. Those 14 weeks have been the hardest ever.
Natascha WainwrightPublished 7 years ago in FamiliesWhat's Wrong with My Vagina... And Can Baking Soda Really Help?
I have always been fascinated with the human body and its organs. When I got my first period, unlike most, I was truly elated! This meant I was a woman and I could start kissing and having sex! It wasn't until very recently in my mid-20s that I started experiencing a huge shift in my own body's way of operating. It was no longer a self-oiled machine. I was not eating properly for many years and was partying extensively. If only I knew what crazy effects this would have on my sex life! I began to develop a strange odor from my vagina. I became extremely self-conscious about "her" and the odor she was giving off (especially since this was a new sensation for me). This prohibited me from having any sex at all as I was too worried about what others might be thinking. It doesn't sound like an issue for the press, however, to a girl going through a similar situation, I can promise it is. I even damaged a couple relationships due to my "between me down there" issues. I was DEFINITELY too embarrassed to talk to any of my girlfriends and found myself surprised that I couldn't even approach my own mother about the topic. Instead, I left it alone. I did nothing to rectify my issue. In fact, I made it worse by ignoring it. I would come home after work to see my panties soaked with discharge, so badly it was ruining all my Victoria's Secret underwear! Besides the odor, I was experiencing a nasty itch that I (literally) could not scratch. My girl friends and I always do a "movie girls night sleepover" once a week. We decided that even though we are closer to 30 than 20, that we would make a pact to keep our young spirits alive by having these nights together. My kitty problem got so internally and externally terrible, I stopped attending my precious girls nights for I was NOT going to let anyone get a whiff of what I was putting out there! I just wanted to be alone.
Molly MabeesPublished 7 years ago in Viva