I typically don't use my blog as a platform for discussing current events. In most cases, there isn't much I can say that hasn't already been uttered by a thousand other bloggers. As such, I have not mentioned the much-maligned "Octu Mom." Until now, anyway. Nadya Suleman continues to be in the news, ad nauseum, so it's hard to avoid her. It's like trying to avoid oxygen or McDonald's.
The truth is, my seven-year struggle to become a mom left me with the complete inability to be fair to this woman. My perspective is colored by the loss of four babies. I have two beefs with her (well, probably more than two if you want to get all technical about it). The first is her comments regarding her life as an only child. Nadya Suleman has repeated several times in various interviews that because she was an only child, she did not get enough love growing up. I cannot wrap my brain around this at all. My daughter is an only child (at least in our home - she does have a biological half-sibling out there) and as such, she gets the undivided attention of two parents. She can't get away with much because we are on her like white on rice. She is not some undersupervised child among fourteen. If anything, she will grow up saying that we smothered her with our attention and affection, not that she "didn't get enough love." She has grandparents, cousins, and friends galore. Lonely she ain't.
Now, when my daughter was born, I did pose a few questions to friends and co-workers who are only children. I wanted reassurance that one can grow up healthy and well-adjusted even without brothers and sisters. Some stated quite honestly that they wish they'd had siblings. Others said they wanted for nothing and didn't mind being the sole offspring of their parents. I don't think most couples set out to have only one child, but sometimes the universe has other ideas and you find that you're a party of three for the long haul.
The other beef is, of course, the utter lunacy of it all. Fourteen children? Even the Waltons would have thought this woman was a few bricks shy of a load. If you want to know who is most offended by this whole circus, try visiting some internet message boards for people who are suffering from infertility. Or an adoption message board, where hundreds of anxious couples wait eons for a child. One of my online acquaintances (who has been battling infertility for several years) pointed out that she doesn't want eight babies. She's not even asking for two. Just one. One baby would make all of her dreams come true.
When pressed about why she felt she had to use all of the embryos, Nadya Suleman stated that if she hadn't used them, they would have been destroyed or adopted. In the scheme of things, is adoption really the worst thing that could happen to those embryos? I know some people feel a little oogy about having their DNA out in the world, but is anyone's DNA really that sacred? Was carrying those eight babies worth all the risks, some of which are so extreme that they had never been calculated until now? A woman's uterus was not meant to carry a litter. It's really just that simple.
Speaking of which, have you seen this clip from the Jimmy Kimmel show? So inappropriate but so darned amusing.
Tasty Tuesdays
This week's Tasty Tuesdays is totally indulgent. There's no arguing that!
I hope you'll all take a second or two to leave a comment with a link to your favorite themed recipes this week!
This week's Tasty Tuesdays is...
Tasty Tuesdays: Cupcakes Galore!
I can't think of too many things that evoke total indulgent pleasure than sinking my teeth into a scrumptious cupcake...and the more delectable frosting...the better! Cupcakes are just one of those things that bring you back to your childhood...make you reminisce the pure joy of innocence! Oh...and they're just stinking good too! Since cupcakes are enjoyed by adults and children alike - and everyone in between and beyond for that matter - I thought it was a perfect theme for this week's Tasty Tuesdays!
Here's a yummy recipe for Shamrock Cupcakes - perfect for today!
Shamrock Mint Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 box chocolate fudge cake mix with pudding
water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on the cake box
1 cup creme de menthe or mint baking chips (from 10 oz bag)
I container fluffy white whipped frosting
24 large green gumdrops
Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in baking chips. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.
Bake 21 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely, about 45 minutes.
Stir peppermint extract into frosting until well blended; spread on cupcakes. To garnish each cupcake, cut 1 gumdrop into 4 slices. Place 3 rounds on cupcake to make shamrock leaves; press remaining round into thin strip and place below leaves for stem.
Enjoy!
I hope everyone has a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!
Tasty Tuesdays: Cupcakes Galore!
I can't think of too many things that evoke total indulgent pleasure than sinking my teeth into a scrumptious cupcake...and the more delectable frosting...the better! Cupcakes are just one of those things that bring you back to your childhood...make you reminisce the pure joy of innocence! Oh...and they're just stinking good too! Since cupcakes are enjoyed by adults and children alike - and everyone in between and beyond for that matter - I thought it was a perfect theme for this week's Tasty Tuesdays!Here's a yummy recipe for Shamrock Cupcakes - perfect for today!
Shamrock Mint Cupcakes
Ingredients:1 box chocolate fudge cake mix with pudding
water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on the cake box
1 cup creme de menthe or mint baking chips (from 10 oz bag)
I container fluffy white whipped frosting
24 large green gumdrops
Directions:
Heat oven to 350°F. Place paper baking cup in each of 24 regular-size muffin cups. In large bowl, beat cake mix, water, oil and eggs with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds; beat on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in baking chips. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full.
Bake 21 to 26 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cupcake comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan; cool completely, about 45 minutes.
Stir peppermint extract into frosting until well blended; spread on cupcakes. To garnish each cupcake, cut 1 gumdrop into 4 slices. Place 3 rounds on cupcake to make shamrock leaves; press remaining round into thin strip and place below leaves for stem.
Enjoy!
I hope everyone has a wonderful St. Patrick's Day!
If you're not sure what Tasty Tuesdays is all about, click HERE.
If you're wanting some more fun GREEN recipes in honor of today's holiday, click HERE for last week's post.
If you're wanting some more fun GREEN recipes in honor of today's holiday, click HERE for last week's post.
Your cupcake recipes do not have to be St. Patrick's Day themed...let's get a variety!! Go on...share you're scrumptious recipes!
Recipe courtesy of Pillsbury
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)