Wednesday, June 22, 2005
The Rise of The Alpha Mom
And here I thought I wouldn’t read an article that would irritate me more than Neil Pollack's recent piece for Salon – "When Toddlers Get Fired". Of course, I took offense with Pollack’s actions, not Salon’s…
Continuing in the fine tradition of the media presenting unrealistic portraits of mothers, the New York magazine’s story “Empire Of The Alpha Mom” on Isabel Kallman’s new venture, Alpha Mom TV, allows her to paint herself as a supremely driven, frightening, wealthy, type-A Mom who sees baby as a business opportunity:
“She had begun talking to Craig (her husband by this time; she liked his drive, too) about finding a new product, when the discussion somehow got knotted up with having a baby. It was soon decided that Isabel would take some time off, consider her career options, do the baby while she was at it.”
Product, eh? Clearly the article means to poke fun at Isabel, though the author never has to be obviously snarky because Kallman says such ridiculous, horrible things on her own.
Turning the experience of having a kid into something marketable and/or useful is not a bad thing. But there is something disturbing about Isabel’s drive to encourage other women to be more perfect mothers and mistrust their instincts because there are better answers “out there” than what you have inside. Every discussion about her baby eerily lacks any kind of emotion.
But what’s offensive about the article is not the person it covers. It’s that a magazine would focus negative energy on Kallman, who I do not think is in any way typical of a workforce Mom. The Post continues to feed us tired images of women in the workforce who, as “business women”, are shitty Moms. Women who are "ball breakers" don’t care about their kids! They are rich bitches! They hire nannies! It’s easy to dislike Kallman – too easy. Women’s anger should be focused at Randall Patterson for presenting readers with an image that speaks very negatively of women who combine business & family.
Some nice thoughts via The Rage Diaries:
http://schmeiser.typepad.com/the_rage_diaries/2005/06/i_have_no_idea_.html
Continuing in the fine tradition of the media presenting unrealistic portraits of mothers, the New York magazine’s story “Empire Of The Alpha Mom” on Isabel Kallman’s new venture, Alpha Mom TV, allows her to paint herself as a supremely driven, frightening, wealthy, type-A Mom who sees baby as a business opportunity:
“She had begun talking to Craig (her husband by this time; she liked his drive, too) about finding a new product, when the discussion somehow got knotted up with having a baby. It was soon decided that Isabel would take some time off, consider her career options, do the baby while she was at it.”
Product, eh? Clearly the article means to poke fun at Isabel, though the author never has to be obviously snarky because Kallman says such ridiculous, horrible things on her own.
Turning the experience of having a kid into something marketable and/or useful is not a bad thing. But there is something disturbing about Isabel’s drive to encourage other women to be more perfect mothers and mistrust their instincts because there are better answers “out there” than what you have inside. Every discussion about her baby eerily lacks any kind of emotion.
But what’s offensive about the article is not the person it covers. It’s that a magazine would focus negative energy on Kallman, who I do not think is in any way typical of a workforce Mom. The Post continues to feed us tired images of women in the workforce who, as “business women”, are shitty Moms. Women who are "ball breakers" don’t care about their kids! They are rich bitches! They hire nannies! It’s easy to dislike Kallman – too easy. Women’s anger should be focused at Randall Patterson for presenting readers with an image that speaks very negatively of women who combine business & family.
Some nice thoughts via The Rage Diaries:
http://schmeiser.typepad.com/the_rage_diaries/2005/06/i_have_no_idea_.html
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Do you guys know where I could get one of those gold necklaces with the ‘T’ on it?
My favorite website for today (my boss is gone): The Balboa Observer-Picayune, featuring, The Bluthcyclopedia. Sumthin' for you to fill in the void until Arrested Development comes back on.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Fluffy Makeral Pudding And Other Delights!
Some of you may or may not know about my love of horrible recipes from the 60’s and seventies. I have two books with Jello recipes so craptastic that reading them will make you vomit instantly. My friend Henna sent me this link to some Weight Watchers recipe cards from 1974 with silly commentary. Check ‘em out: http://www.candyboots.com/wwcards.html And if that doesn’t turn your stomach quite enough, you can always view the more established Gallery of Regrettable Food. Gah!
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
I've Become My Worst Fashion Nightmare
I’m staring down two big lists of things to do – one for work and one for home. And yet, at the moment, I’m doing….neither. I’m thinking about how dorky I look today. Unless you’ve got plenty of cash on hand, it’s difficult to look fashionable while pregnant. The inevitable look is one of…hippy-ness/yoga instructor. Loose skirts, t-shirts and drawstring pants…oh my! Just today Dave asked if my pants were made of hemp and granola. Yeah, har har. Tailored is strictly out. No cute shoes -- just flip flops. But mark my words, friends. I will never, wear overalls. NEVER. If I do, you have permission to rip them off my body and burn them.
Friday, June 03, 2005
And Malcolm and Angus Won't Like It One Bit!
Another weekend away (in Houston)! We’re going to visit Dave’s parents as it’s his mom’s birthday Sunday. We’ll also pick up the crib we bought (um, ok, they bought) last time we were there. So the final element of the nursery will be in place. For nursery pics, please visit our baby blog.
In other news, work is freaking kicking my ass. Basically, the woman who sort of had my position at our other division was fired and I’m picking up about half her work. Of course, they tell me this two days after giving me my yearly review (and less of a raise than I asked for). Coincidence? I think not. Bah. I find myself going entire days without even looking at the internet (except for work purposes). Oh God! What has my life come to?
Other than missing Deadwood (I hope Leslie & I can write about the show for the Fall issue of Bitch…), I’ve been staring at my bulbous stomach wondering how on earth it could possible get larger? How will I not teeter over forwards when walking? I already had to have Dave paint my toes the other day (he did a good job, too, except for the big toes, but he swears it was the polish). I did find out one of my best friends, Gina, is having a girl (her second), so now she’ll have either a girlfriend or boyfriend for little Frankie, whatever gender he prefers.
In other news, work is freaking kicking my ass. Basically, the woman who sort of had my position at our other division was fired and I’m picking up about half her work. Of course, they tell me this two days after giving me my yearly review (and less of a raise than I asked for). Coincidence? I think not. Bah. I find myself going entire days without even looking at the internet (except for work purposes). Oh God! What has my life come to?
Other than missing Deadwood (I hope Leslie & I can write about the show for the Fall issue of Bitch…), I’ve been staring at my bulbous stomach wondering how on earth it could possible get larger? How will I not teeter over forwards when walking? I already had to have Dave paint my toes the other day (he did a good job, too, except for the big toes, but he swears it was the polish). I did find out one of my best friends, Gina, is having a girl (her second), so now she’ll have either a girlfriend or boyfriend for little Frankie, whatever gender he prefers.
