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August 1976--Feminism and Motherhood

11/17/07 7:49pm by grandmamaryjoan
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Reading my 1970's journals is both fascinating and disquieting. Do I still know this woman? Would I make friends with her? Would I read her blog?  Read more >

Why Do I Feel This Way About Diagnosis of Childhood Mental Illness?

10/14/07 8:36am by grandmamaryjoan
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Some parents have asked me why I feel so passionately about preschool psychiatric diagnoses when my own daughters didn't have such serious problems. I will let you in on a secret. Bright, creative children can have a terrible time adjusting to traditional American grade schools. Bright bored children don't finish worksheets, don't pay attention, daydream, forget assignments, leave books and homework home, ignore the teacher, read ahead of the class and miss their place if called upon, miss many days of school.  Read more >

What's Wrong With My Three Year Old?

10/13/07 7:06pm by grandmamaryjoan
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I have been taken aback by how many mothers of preschool boys worry that their sons are autistic. In 62 years, I have not encountered seriously autistic children, though I suspect I have known, even been related to, men who would now be diagnosed along the autistic spectrum. They all are scientists, mathematicians, and computer programmers. Sure they are weird; surely they are not the most stimulating conversationalists,; sure they don't have a huge number of friends. But they can be great sons, brothers, husbands, and fathers with successful careers.  Read more >

Discipline: Baby Boomers and Their Daughters

10/12/07 12:53pm by grandmamaryjoan
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Reading other mothers’ blogs, I am feeling all of my 62 years and every strand of my silver hair. Although I might feel more comfortable with these eloquent younger women, I belong to their mothers’ generation and might symbolize for them their mothers’ mistakes. I was born the day after the atom bomb was tested in 1945; I am six months too old to be a baby boomer. Most of my contemporaries didn’t stay home with their kids, didn’t have 4 children, and pitied me for my domestic imprisonment.  Read more >

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Information

Full Name
Mary Joan Koch
Member Since
October 2007
About Me: 
A lifelong feminist, I have 4 grown daughters, 3 sons-in law, and 1 grandson. I have 5 younger brothers, 11 nieces and nephews, and 45 younger first cousins. Since 2001 I have been married to an English computer programmer whom I met on the Internet in 1995; I am divorced from my first husband of 28 years. I have worn many hats: book editor, children's and young adult librarian, social worker, La Leche leader, childbirth educator, manic depressive. I stayed at home full-time with my girls from 1973 to 1989, and I cared for my mom 24/7 for the last three years of her life. Taking care of my grandson three days a week, I am remembering and re-evaluating my early mothering years. Since his mother was born 34 years ago, society hasn't changed very much to make it possible to combine parenting and careers. I am also interested in exploring why children are so frequently diagnosed as mentally ill.
Location: 
New York City
About Me Tags: 
blogher,blogher
 

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