Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic

I used to think I was "lucky" that I had a child who, nearly three years in, hasn't exhibited any food allergies. I really felt for fellow new mothers who were painstakingly and scientifically cutting food groups out of their own diets as they struggled to figure out what in their breast milk was adversely affecting their babies. I quaked over the stories of Urgent Care visits and EpiPen deployment that were required to deal with surprise vomit attacks, hives, swelling and breathing issues. And while other mothers sought out allergen-free crackers and cookies, snacks and meals, I bought whatever I wanted. With all the stresses that motherhood brings, going blind reading the cramped and excruciatingly tiny-fonted list of ingredients in order to make sure I don't send my child into anaphylactic shock wasn't one of them. And I felt lucky.  Read more >

Well, another of THOSE articles has come out. What, you didn't hear? Francis Lam wrote a piece on Salon asking, "Is it possible to dine out politely with kids?" Just reading the title made my blood pressure rise.  Read more >

As all good Star Wars geeks know, the day to celebrate all things Star Warsian is today, May 4th. OF COURSE we all know that the first movie -- A New Hope -- was ACTUALLY released in 1977 on May 25th, but it's clearly way more fun and in keeping with this high holy day to celebrate Star Wars today, just so we can go around saying, "May the Fourth be with you!"  Read more >

I used to have a real problem with people disliking me. Like, a real problem. I couldn't let it roll off my back, I couldn't "get over it," and I couldn't stop thinking about why. Whyyyyy don't they liiiiiike me?! And then along came Television Without Pity, and I learned what it meant to be really, horribly, histrionically hated. I also learned what whackjobs exist on the Internet.  Read more >

Lord knows I'm not a prude when it comes to language. I probably use more profanity than my parents are comfortable with -- though I don't ever use it in their presence -- and I know that I'm cutting that shit out now that I have a child of my own. That said, the "c-word" really bothers me more than any other cuss word. In the same way I don't use the n-word, I don't use the c-word. Not that I'm comparing the two in terms of what they mean or stand for or all that crap, I just can't ever bring myself to form the necessary sounds and syllables. So, the idea of this child, this little girl saying the c-word in the new movie Kick-Ass? Yeah, I find it pretty freaking disturbing.  Read more >