urbanMamas Portland

Looking at the date on our screen, we really cannot believe it is here.  Could it be the last weekend in August?  Already?  Here are some ideas for you to get out there and have some late summer fun!  Share your ideas for weekend activities, too.

Portland Art Museum - Free Admission Friday.  From 5 to 8pm this Friday evening, enjoy free admission to the Portland Art Museum and puzzle over works by Escher, explore the art of the tattoo, and more. 

Fiesta Italiana.  It's Portland's two day celebration of Italian culture full of entertainment, including bands, marionette shows, cooking demonstration, dance groups, a pizza toss competition, and Italian food vendors.  Friday from noon to 11PM and Saturday from 11AM to 11PM.

Interactive Shadow Puppet Theater.  This performance/workshop is designed to have the participants create their own shadow puppet play. Using simple materials, children are encouraged to let their creativity and imagination run rampant as they are in control of what happens in the story.  Saturday, 10:30AM Saturday (doors open at 10), Curious Comedy Theater, 5225 NE MLK Blvd.  $3-5 sliding scale donation.

Fall. ART. Live.  A free day-long festival celebrating Portland's performing arts, enjoy free workshops by OBT and Do Jump or in Beginning Indian Dance.  Also enjoy performances throughout the day by several dance troupes throughout the city.  Saturday, 11AM to 6PM at OBT Studios, 818 SE Sixth Avenue.

Multnomah County Library Days at Oaks Park.  Have the kids completed their summer reading cards yet?  If so, go to the library to get a coupopn for a $4 deluxe bracelet at Oaks Park.  Use your coupon from NOW until September 6th.

Concert in the Park.  Afincando (Salsa & Latin jazz) at McCoy Park, Saturday 2-4PM, (N. Fiske between Trenton & Fessenden)

Movies in the Park.  Friday night, "Mamma Mia!"  (Sing along) at Washington Park, Saturday night "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" at Laurelhurst Park.  Pre-flick entertainment starts at 6:30, movies start at 8pm/dusk.  Bring a blanket and picnic and cozy up!

"Local Lunch Box".  On Sunday, August 30 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the new King Sunday Market, kids can take part in a market scavenger hunt to learn more about good versus bad food choices, learn about a day in the life of a farmer, and experience fresh and/or new fruits and veggies.

Forest Music - Sweet Thunder Jazz Trio.  Music will fill the forest at Tryon Creek State Park as the Forest Music concert series returns to the park during the summer  These concerts are held in the covered Jackson Shelter where people of all ages can sit comfortably to listen to local musicians and enjoy the view of the park.  This event is family, friendly and free to the public.  Sunday, 2-3PM.

With the school year around the corner, I am struck thinking about the passing of germs and viruses running rampant, as it does every year as flu season approaches.  This year, however, beyond the typical question of the flu shot "yay or nay?", I am starting to think of the H1N1/swine flu shot.  Have you discussed this with your health care practitioner?  Decided whether or not to get the swine flu vaccine?  An urbanMama sends the timely email:

I'm wondering what other families are going to do about the swine flu vaccine that's being offered this year. I've never had a flu shot, and am not too keen on the idea. But I have a new baby and a three and a half year old who is starting preschool next month. I hate the idea of all of us being sick with a highly contagious, nasty illness. I'd love to hear what other mamas are doing.

For more info on H1N1, check out the CDC's site on swine flu.  And, to find a flu clinic near you, check the American Lung Association site or Oregon's SafeNet site.

In my household, one thing I am very anxious about is bedtime.  Friends who are teachers have told me that ample sleep is one huge thing that parents can do to help prepare their kids for learning, every day.  To prepare for those crazy mornings struggling to get to school on time, I've been trying to be more strict about the bedtimes, which have just slipped, slipped, slipped later and later over the past 10 weeks.  How we've gone from a 7pm bedtime to a 10pm bedtime, I really can't tell you.  All I know is that we've GOT to get our bedtime closer to 8pm, so the kids can get a reasonable amount of sleep before their [first] days of school.

Does your summer bedtime approach the double-digits or have you remained vigilant about a consistent bedtime, even with the lure of all those summer concerts and the warm evening sun that won't set?  Is your summer bedtime well into the double-digits with wake up times correspondingly late?  How ever will we get back on track?

Rebecca, my FaceBook friend, posts the best links.  It is through her that I read a lot of interesting articles, and happened upon this article by Joel Stein Afterbirth: It's What's for Dinner. It is a humorous take on his wife's desire to "eat her placenta".  I don't even think I even took a peek at the placenta much less ever thought of taking it home with me from the hospital. It's not the first time I've heard this and in Portland, I'm certain it's something much more common than in other parts of the country. Have you heard of this? What did you do with yours? Also, don't miss the brief video whereby Joel interviews the lady that turn's his wife's placenta into pills, however, beware that it is not for the squeamish:

While our pediatrician recommendation archive is stocked with suggestions all throughout the Portland-proper area, it seems we could use more suggestions in the outer areas.  An urbanMama recently emailed to request suggestions:

I am contemplating finding a new pediatrician for my daughters, as we've moved from SE Portland to Vancouver. Trouble is, I can not find any reviews or recommendations on peds in my area. I chose our current pediatrician based on Urban Mama reviews, and would appreciate to hear from anyone who recommends someone in my current area. We're located near the Fisher's Landing/Camas area.

I started wearing glasses at a very young age, as did my husband.  We are preparing ourselves for children, who inherit our genes and who will need glasses at some point.  Some mamas are already there.  Emails an urbanMama:

My four year old needs glasses.  The optician shop associated with his pediatric opthalmologist doesn't have a very wide selection of kids frames, and I'd really like something that looks cute on him, rather than just serviceable.  Does anyone have any recommendations for eyeglass stores that stock a good collection of kids' frames?   (Friendly and knowledgeable staff would be a plus!)

Two years ago, we had a lengthy on urbanMamas on SIGGs and there seems to be many fans out there.  After making the switch to SIGG water bottles a few years ago due to the all the press about BPA, guess what?  It seems the company has fessed up to the fact that the water-based epoxy liners used on bottles pre-2008 contains trace amounts of BPA. They do state that even with the trace amounts through extensive testings revealed no leaching of BPA.  Despite this, I feel completely mislead.  It's not entirely about the money I spent on replacing our Nalgenes, but more about being completely disappointed and frustrated as a consumer and mama trying to pick the best eco-healthy choices for our families. But now what?  Will you continue to use your pre-2008 SIGGs, replace them, or??

Maybe it's the garage sale on Saturday, or the health care debate, or the effort to ban BPA in California.  Or, to be perfectly honest, after a little summer vacay we're itchin' to DO something, make some changes, protest!  Whatever the reason, we're feeling active over on Activistas this month, and have been talking about:

• PPS community care day on Saturday, 8.29.  Every year community volunteers spruce up Portland Public Schools (PPS) all over town right before school reopens in the fall  - with your help!  This year, volunteers are gathering from 9 till noon on Saturday, August 29th to beautify our more than 80 schools.
• Heck no!  We won't pump in the potty. A couple months ago we highlighted the the 2009 Breastfeeding Promotion Act.  We tip our breastpumps to our very own Senator Jeff Merkeley for championing this cause and introducing this act that will give moms all across the country the right to work and pump.
• Let's talk to our US Senators about health care reform.  Who else is gonna tell them what we think?  We, along with other members of MomsRising (because - of course - we're members too), are meeting with Senator Jeff Merkley's staff to discuss what we think families need from health care reform.  Join us on Friday, 8.28!!
• What happened to healthy camp snacks?  My son joined one of his best friends at summer day camp a couple weeks this year for the first time, to help fill the gap between school years. We were instructed to bring a lunch, water bottle and sunscreen which all seemed appropriate for a full day away from home.
• Activistas featured in Ms. Magazine!  We're featured in an article in this month's Ms. Magazine about political mom blogs.  You can read an excerpt of the article here - or pick up the magazine for the full version.

And last but not least, if you're a solid writer and a parent activist and have it in you to publicly take a stand on the issues we cover (toxics, education, healthcare, work-family policy, breastfeeding, yada yada), get in touch.  We love guest authors. 

If you love garage sales, there are two that are not to be missed this Saturday (and right down the street from each other in SE at that!).  You can get great used stuff AND support two great local organizations (they're fundraisers): Adoption Mosaic (71st & Yamhill, also on Sunday) and Family Forward Oregon (56th & Division) both work to support Oregon families and children.  Oh, and did we mention they'll both be selling super yummy treats too?

FRIDAY

Multnomah County Library Days at Oaks Park: Children who complete the Multnomah County Library Summer Reading Program get a deluxe ride bracelet for only $4. Must present library coupon. Friday through Sunday (plus all next week, except Monday). 12:00-10:00 pm.

Movies in the Park: Iron Man is showing at Irving Park(7th and Fremont) with the traveling climbing rock wall available at 5:00 (till 9:00) and the pre-movie music starting at 6:30.

SATURDAY

Neighbor Helping Neighbor Street Fair: A community resource fair that will include vendors and information from organizations that can provide help and support in these tough economic times. NE 34th and Knott, 10:00 am-2:00 pm.

Children's Gym Block Party: Celebrating their 25th anniversary, there will be inflatables, bungee swings, rock climbing wall, mist lines, dancing, music, and more.  Children's Gym (between Broadway and Sandy) Free for members, $5/family that are not members. 11:00 am-8:00 pm.

Crafts in the Park: Come join folks from the Hollywood Library for some crafting fun. Paint a shirt with cool stencils and make duct tape wallets. Supplies and snacks provided; bring a t-shirt (or something else) to paint. Grant Park (by the Ramona statue), 1:00-3:00.

Dogs Gone Dancing: Enjoy a spectacular show of canine freestyle performed by regional teams. See their winning dance routines, meet the dogs, and ask questions. Holgate Library, 2:30-3:15.

Child's Play 30th Anniversary: Presto the Magician will be putting on two shows at 2:30 and 3:30.  There will also be a Balloon Animal Artist between shows and toy walks throughout the day (think cake walk with toys). Child's Play Toy store (2305 NW Kearney).

Bill Naito Legacy Fountain Grand Opening: Come share in the opening festivities as Portland welcomes a new water feature that is part of the plaza that is the new home to the Saturday Market.  Face painting, music and dancing from around the world, and more.  Waterfront Park, near the Burnside Bridge. 11:00 am-4:00 pm.

SUNDAY

Portland Art Museum for Families: In August, visitors of all ages can puzzle over the art of M.C. Escher and create artwork inspired by this mesmerizing exhibit of his work. Includes family tours, art project, and storytime. Kids under 17 are free, adults are $12. 12:30-3:00 pm.

Jr. Ranger Program:  Join a park ranger and learn how to help protect our natural resources, plants and animals. Participating in nature games, nature crafts and park explorations will help junior rangers earn their badge. Ages 6-12, Crayfish is the topic du jour. 1:00-2:00 pm.

We wrote this piece about our running inspiration for a contest held by the Run Oregon blog. We didn't win: but we poured (all of) our hearts and souls into it, so ecco! You inspire us:

It is early, early in the morning one Saturday in August, 2007. I am in a field somewhere in the winding roads and misty mountains of Northwest Oregon and I am stealing a little sleep with my six-and-a-half week-old baby. When he wakes to eat, I put him in the sling and walk through the rows of vans with a friend, who's been helping to care for him these past 20-some hours.

A voice catches us with wisdom, smiles, from between two vans. "Oh! A baby!" says one woman. She's at least 15 years my senior, maybe more. She's with her teammate. "Oh, so many babies have been nursed in our vans," says the other. There are tears at the corners of their eyes. It is nostalgia but something else: a camaraderie rooted in millennia, "The Red Tent" but different, modern and ancient at once. We have been where you are, we know. My own teammate and I look at each other, overcome in that ‌inimitable way we are so often in the 30-some hours a year we spend running the Hood-to-Coast relay, flushed with the warmth despite the chill wet air, here, in a grass parking lot near Birkenfeld, Oregon.

We are an all-mama team; under the care of this year's 12 women are 28 children. And what inspires us most is each other, and all the other mamas whose paths we cross on the road, in the parking lots, and the ones we've left at home cheering us on. We are inspired by mamas.

This is our first summer with a child out of school for the summer.  Until this year, our kids have been in year-round childcare, where summer is no different than the rest of the year.  Back in February of this very-different year, I got busy planning the summer so my husband and I could work, and the kids would be in good care, have some down time and some fun time.  We mixed a few week-long camps with a family vacation or two and some visiting grandma and cousin time (they "watched" the kids).  Good variety, some fun, quality care, and mostly no boredom. 

Well it's August now, and I'm nearing the end of this first summer vacation after many years without.  As a long-time proponent of shorter summer breaks for kids, I've been pleasantly surprised at how much more summery (for lack of a better term) life feels this summer with some real vacationers in the house. 

Yet I struggle with some of the anticipated issues, too: camps are far more expensive than public school (and Multnomah county's SUN program, while excellent and very reasonably priced, came out with its schedule so late in the spring that this I-gotta-have-care mama was done planning by then), logisitcs are challenging and ever-changing (life jacket this week? snack or not?), a professional degree in planning is required, many camps don't run on a 9 to 5 schedule and so aren't an option for many, and finally, I gotta work, already! 

Does parents' work trumps kids needs?  I wish I was designing a great summer more with my children in mind than our work schedules.  While of course we considered both, it's clear to me that our summer "plan" was driven more by our work schedules than our kids' needs.

What about your family?  How's this summer thing working out for your family's work schedule?  Did you recruit family to help?  Get an Au Pair?  Find a great, affordable, nearby summer-long program?  Think summer break should remain 12 weeks, or is it just too dang long?  I'm thinking about 9, myself.  You?

[Thanks to wsilver & Flickr CC for the summer-y pic]

It's a weekend of neighborhood street fairs, check out Multnomah Days on Saturday and the Hawthorne Street Fair on Sunday.  Also the India Festival will tempt all with dancing and food at Pioneer Courthouse Square on Sunday.

Friday

Penny Puppets: Our favorite puppeteer is back with a new show, Under the Sea. Central Lutheran Church (1820 NE 21st Avenue), $5/person or $17/4 people. 10:00 am.

Teeny Tiny Theater:  Kids get a chance to make their own simple puppets and participate in a short puppet play as well as hear stories and sing songs. $5 suggested donation for materials, best for kids under 8 years old. Airplay Cafe (701 E. Burnside), Noon-1:00 pm.

Movies in the Park and Traveling Rock Climbing Wall:  Rock Wall (5:00-9:00 pm), music (The River City Band, Portland Teen Idols, and One Night in Frogtown, 6:30 pm), and a movie (Wizard of Oz, starts at dusk).

Saturday

Roland's Robot Rockalong: Come meet Roland and his android who will sing for you, accompanied by the electronic tones of the keyboard. Kids and parents are invited to join in and try making funny robot sounds themselves with their voices or by using the keyboard.  Free, Airplay Cafe (701 E. Burnside), 10:00 am-11:0 pm.

Curious George at Child's Play: It's Child's Play's 30th Anniversary and they are celebrating all month long. Curious George will be stopping by to see all his friends and kids can participate in a toy walk (think cake walk). Child's Play Toy Store (2305 NW Kearney), 10:30-noon and 1:00-3:00 pm.  

Intercultural Community Gathering: Celebrate and learn about the richness of cultural diversity on our community. Facilitated conversation, world beat music, plus games, art, and stories from around the world.  Free BBQ lunch at noon. Overlook Park, 11:00 am-5:00 pm

Portland Festival Symphony: Playing the music of Beethoven, Hayden, and Mendelssohn at Laurelhurst Park (37th and Oak) at 6:00 pm.

Sunday

Sunday Parkways: Don't miss the last scheduled Sunday Parkways! This 9-mile Southeast event will feature two loops, a 5-mile relatively flat loop through portions of the Buckman, Kerns, Laurelhurst, Richmond, Sunnyside neighborhoods. A second, more challenging, 4-mile Mt Tabor loop will be optional to summit the only volcano in the City limits. Not to mention some great food and entertainment along the route.  9:00 am-4:00 pm.

Jr. Rangers: Kids ages 6-12 can learn how to help protect our natural resources, plants and animals. Participating in nature games, nature crafts and park explorations will help junior rangers earn their badge.  Free. The Saturday topic is the cycle of water and the Sunday topic is ladybugs. Tryon Creek State Park, 1:00-2:00 pm. Ladybugs 1:00 pm.

Forest Music: Also at Tryon Creek State Park, hear the music of Beltaine, 2:00-3:00 pm.

Portland Art Museum for Families: In August, visitors of all ages can puzzle over the art of M.C. Escher and create artwork inspired by this mesmerizing exhibit of his work. Includes family tours, art project, and storytime. Kids under 17 are free, adults are $12. 12:30-3:00 pm.

We're gearing up for a great urbanMamas multi-family garage and bake sale fundraiser next Saturday from 9 to 3 in the parking lot of the future Cafe au Play on SE Division.  And we're happily getting great donations from all over Portland - thank you! 

Bake.  Donate.  Shop.  Wanna help?  Got stuff to donate?  Love to bake brownies?  Excellent.  Help us raise the big bucks for Family Forward Oregon by donating, shopping and baking for the sale.  Donations of stuff and baked goods happily accepted during the sale.

Email activistas [at] gmail [dot] com, and we'll find a convenient way to get them from you.  Sale details here. 

Dying to know more about Family Forward Oregon?  It's all here  - and all good.

See you next Saturday!

[Thanks to colros & Fickr CC for the image]

It is a hard-fought title, but Monroe wins. At age two, he's clearly risen above the bar previously set quite high by his now-seven-year-old brother, Everett. Oh, I have seen bad temper tantrums. But never quite like this.

Twenty minutes ago, his dad and big brother drove off in great-great-uncle's car to help the in-laws move. He wanted to go with them, and the answer was a non-negotiable "no." In a few seconds he went from the happiest smiliest toddler in the back seat of a car (where he'd hopefully climbed to hang out with his most beloved big brother) to a screaming, kicking, destructive ball of mad. Before I could grab him, he tore up a couple of handfuls of clover (thankfully, easier to pull than the pumpkin and watermelon vines a few inches away). He screamed. He stomped on the strawberry plants. He looked at me. "NO, NO, NOOOOOO!" was all he could say.

I have a strategy now, which is mostly to talk calmly with him (not that he can hear anything I say over his screams) and, as gently as possible, hold his arms against his body so he can't hit me (he's hurt me plenty of times) or grab anything to throw in anger. It's hard to hold a screaming child for that long, and it's also hard to watch the stares of passers-by, so I brought him inside after five minutes. Distracting him doesn't work. Sometimes, I can get him to nurse away the mads: not this time. I brought him in and he wiggled away from me, to scream and kick for the next 15 minutes on the floor between the couch and the wall. I tried a favorite toy. I tried to offer him a pillow. No dice.

I went to my computer to wait it out, when the friend who helps with our yard came in. "I can't work with all this screaming!" he said. "Can I try?" "Good luck," I said resignedly. I'd tried everything I could imagine.

Monroe calmed down almost immediately, tearfully going outside to walk around the block with Matt. I guess it was just me to whom he was responding with such frantic anger. But... I won't always have another adult to intervene. Prevention is great, but today (and many times, I'm sure, in the future) I had no idea the temptation of a car would intersect with his big-brother-and-calming-influence leaving. When you're faced with unavoidable tantrum-stimulating situations, how do you disconnect the child from his anger? How do you cope? How do you get other children to stay out of the fray? (Truman always picks these times to decide he's "frustrated" with Monroe's proximity to the wall, or something.) And long-term strategies would be nice, too: how do you teach a two-year-old barely verbal child to calm himself when his anger carries him away?

To characterize the past few months as going through a rough patch in my relationship with my kids is an understatement.  Nearly every day my 4 year old who reminds me, "I hate you mama!" In between shouting matches, the 6 year old telling me "I'm lying" to him, and the both kids constantly being rough with their baby brother, I rarely keep my cool these days. So as I was perusing our overflowing inbox, I came across this email I had to chuckle:

Parenting is awfully challenging especially when the little ones grow and develop a mind of their own and learn to think for themselves.  I tell myself that everything is cyclical and some of the challenges we are facing right now will soon pass.  Despite the challenges and obstacles, there are beautiful relationships between mamas and their daughters as well as mamas and their sons out there.  Do you have one of those?  What is your secret to having a great relationship with your child?  

An urbanFamily is not quite ready to take the meatless plunge. However, she wants to be more knowledgeable about the condition and source of animal products. Any thoughts? She writes:

We are trying to eat less meat, but are not ready to go complete vegetarian or vegan. Yet as sometimes-meat-eaters, we are looking for the most humane possible sources for meat and dairy. There are the meat and dairy cases at stores like New Seasons, "organic" and "free range" labels, etc. But we're not sure how to accurately assess the conditions the animals were raised (and/or killed) under. Are there any other meat and dairy users who have advice re: which farmers/stores to support? Any thoughts on finding the most humane local sources?

I'm one of the lucky ones who has chosen  - and gotten - paid work that provides health insurance.  Good health insurance (a relative term, to be sure, in this country).  But my partner isn't; he works for himself.  Which, BTW, is a terrifically flexible parenting set-up.  But as the sole health-insurance winner in our family of (now) four, the provision of this treasured resource has dominated every. single. one. of my employment decisions as a mother.  Not exactly how I'd imagined pursuing a career. 

I bring this all up not just because of the explosive events occurring around the country right now related to national health care reform, or even the impressive health care series that a Portland mama is writing over on Activistas, but because I wonder, as fellow Portland parents, how much your family's employment decisions are driven by access to health care? 

While I am truly thrilled (which is in itself ridiculous) to have health care for my entire family through my work, I regret that the type and amount of work I do is driven by access to health care.  We tried me working P/T with no health care and, while it was wonderful time-wise, it was perfectly dreadful vis-a-vis everything else: it was complicated, expensive, different plans for adults and kids, and - importantly - one child denied (yikes).  No thanks, not again, not this mama.

Of course, "in this economy" it feels crazy to complain about any of this, honestly - I definitely get that.  Yet, because health care reform is very much on the table, it seems relevant.  I, for one, don't think access to health care should drive people's employment choices - parents or not.  But untangling that historical link ain't gonna happen this year.

What employment decisions has your family made to access health care?  Are they working?  Are you happy with them?  Or do you feel a bit trapped by it all, like I do?  Or maybe you've found an excellent end-run that the rest of us should know about?  If so, I'm all ears.  This work-family balance thing is hard enough, without forcing my hand so I can take my kids to the doctor and prepare for unforseen illnesses without bankrupting my family. 

It's a big topic, this health care reform.  Big enough to scare even an incorrigable activist away.  But when I think about it in terms of my family (and therefore all families), it seems important enough to dive right in.

[photo thansk to flickr CC & superhua]

Friday

Free Friday at Portland Children's Museum: The Oregon Zoo will bring a variety of animal friends from lizards to chickens and you can make your own low-maintenance pet rocks, too. 5:00-8:00 pm.

Washington Park Summer Festival: Portland SummerFest Opera in the Park: La Traviata by Verdi. 6:00 pm.

Saturday

Penny's Puppets: Come celebrate the 30th Anniversary of one of our favorite Portland toy stores with a performance by one of our favorite puppeteers. Three Giraffes Gruffis appropriate for all ages and the  paper bag puppets you can make after the show is best for ages 3 and up. Free. Child's Play Toy store(2305 NW Kearney), 10:00 am

Central Library  Block Party: The mother of all block parties. All ages clothing swap, face painting, parade, bowling, circus skill class, crafts with scrap, cupcake decorating, and much more. Central Library (Taylor between 10th and 11th) Noon-4:00pm.

Lone Fir Cemetery Tour: What better way to tour a cemetery than a sunny Saturday? Family friendly and full of history about the whose who of Portland's founding families. $10:00-1:00 pm.

Creating an Eco-Friendly Home & Family: This family-friendly event (feel free to bring the kiddos) will provide helpful information on how to make safer choices when purchasing common household items.  There will also be an opportunity to test toys for lead-based paint. Ecotrust's Natural Capital Center (721 NW 9th Avenue), 1:00-3:00 pm.

Lorna Miller's Little Kids' Jamboree: Join Lorna Miller as she entertains adults and kids with music, rhythm, and movement. Mississippi Pizza, $5 per family, 4:00-5:00 pm.

Neighborhood Concerts: Come enjoy the Portland Festival Symphony while the kids clamor away at the playground.  Grant Park, 6:00 pm.

Sunday

Providence Bridge Pedal: With 38, 24, or 14 miles routes, this celebration of bicycling and bridges has something for everyone. Leaves at either 7:00 or 8:30 am, depending on which route you're riding.

Forest Music: Come enjoy the lush sounds of Millennium Brass while surrounded by the lush beauty of Tryon Creek State Park. Free, 2:00-3:00 pm.

I love the 70's and 80's Dance Party: Get down, boogy! $5/family. Airplay Cafe (701 E. Burnside), 5:00 pm.

It's one of those nights when I'm glad no one's going to audit my browser history. Having recently started my cycle again after my last childbirth (a scary-long 22 months), I had been toying with the idea of trying the DivaCup. This month, I finally ran out of the large stock of tampons I'd amassed from before I became pregnant, but I was nervous to take the $34.99 plunge for a DivaCup, so I picked up a package of "Instead" softcups -- I'd never even heard of them before, but evidently they've been around since the mid-90s.

As I had in my head the concept of reducing waste, after the initial test-run I tried rinsing and re-using the Instead.  And so, I've been searching the 'net finding out if re-using temporary brands of softcup menstrual fluid holders is safe. (The manufacturer says "no," but the internet says "yes," as long as you just rinse with water and dispose of the cup when your cycle is complete.)

We've talked about softcups before, and it appears now there is an even greater variety of options out there. Lots of women seem to find them uncomfortable -- and I admit, the Instead wasn't the most natural thing I've ever felt down there (though a long run while wearing one went fine; cut to the stock shot for every tampon commercial, ooh, I should have been playing tennis and wearing white!). And 12 hours capacity? Not for this mama. More like 2-4 hours during my heavy flow. But, going with the one-per-cycle concept, it's the cheapest.

I've got another 28 days now to decide whether to stick with the Instead until my package runs out, buy a cup (which one?) or go Glad Rags (has anyone sewed their own cotton pads? seems simple enough). After much contemplation, cotton pads seems the gentlest on a body, while the DivaCup or similar seems the greenest (no cotton pads to wash). Are any of you considering making a greener change? What have you tried?

Join working mamas for a back to school (already?!) lunch special. How was your summer? Any first week of school stories to share? Come and eat and visit. Trying a new place recommended by some lunching mamas. When: Thursday, September 10th @ 12:30. Where: The Original (http://www.originaldinerant.com/) 300 SW 6th Avenue @ Oak. Please RSVP in the comments by Tuesday, September 8. If you can’t make it downtown, see if there are other mamas in your area that want to have lunch.

As mamas, we could use support at all stages of our mamahood.  An expecting mama recently emailed: