Bunchland

Recreating Plymouth Rock

Today’s Postcard from Bunchland comes from Bunch pal Zach Eisenberg in Seattle.

What we’re reading today:

1. Yesterday we talked table manners, today it’s gratitude.

2. No, we do not envy the single moms when they get sick.

3. Yeah. we’ve been talking about the Muppets a lot lately, but some people really believe Kermit changed their life.

4. Do we still need school photos?

5. And now a little bit of sugary sweet K-Pop just because:

Photo by gem66 via Flickr

What we’re reading today:

1. What’s the best vehicle for pumpkin? We like pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin ale, pumpkin lattes, etc. etc.

2. Hey new parents! Does having kids make you have to give in a little to Black Friday insanity?

3. Does seating your kid across the table from Grandma leave you anxious? Are you worried about “the open mouths, the feet on chairs, the slumping, the wrestling, the singing of songs about poop”? Here’s a crash course on table manners.

4. PETA is now marketing to kids with a billboard reading, “If you wouldn’t eat your dog, why eat a turkey?“

5. And now, Thanksgiving à la Wednesday Addams:

Photo by godutchbaby via Flickr

Mixing up some soon-to-be apple pie filling

Today’s Postcard from Bunchland comes from Flickr user angegreene.

Beth Blenz-Clucas blogs about music for kids that grownups will love too

Like many families, we’re trying to cut down on the amount of meat in our diet. Too much carnivorism is not good for the planet or us. But Thanksgiving is a time when tradition is strong . The holiday wouldn’t seem right without a giant bird roasting all day in the oven. As a compromise, and keeping in mind the freakish nature of today’s genetically engineered, factory turkey farming, that 59 cents-a-pound deal is not going to be on the menu. We’re paying top dollar for a bird who purportedly had a happy, hormone-free life before landing in our roasting pan. Veganism is virtue that I can’t adopt.

Still, in honor of all of our meat-free friends this Thanksgiving, here’s kindie star Joanie Leeds‘ cute music video for her “Tofurky Song.” Joanie even offers a fun craft here for you to try with your kids:  Read more...

Megan Pettit shares stories from a new mom

Ahhhhh yes, Thanksgiving long weekend. Just kicking back and thinking about everything I’m thankful for. Show up at a relative’s place, eating enough to audition for Woman vs Food, finding room for dessert and napping on the couch. This is what Thanksgiving used to be like before Jr. came along.

This Thanksgiving we had to have three family dinners. Three. Back-to-back. There were no couch naps. There was barely any couch sitting. Two dinners were at family member’s homes. Homes with drawers full of knives and ground level plants and pets that expect petting and not fur pulling. One dinner was at our place. I made the traditional Thanksgiving tuna casserole, which is tuna, peas, a can of mushroom soup and plain potato chips. My mom made this every year for decades since we didn’t eat turkey, and she has passed the Thanksgiving tuna torch on to me.  Read more...

Meri Perra blogs about the challenges she and her partner face in trying to raise their girls with feminist values

I’ve never been one to look forward to Thanksgiving. I’m not big into turkey, for one. More importantly, it’s always felt more like a Thanks-Taking Day to me. Which, when you think about the massive exploitation of Canada’s Native People, does not really induce feelings of partaking of a-plenty.

But being in a family of two busy moms with two little kids in daycare, I am up for any excuse to take time out and celebrate. Bring on the party, in a preschool and toddler friendly way, I say. (As long as it’s not too much prep work, I also say.) It’s why we’re thinking, for the first time, about turkey dinner. A simple turkey dinner, we’re thinking, with one good friend over as a guest. If we pull it off, I’ll let you know next week if the simple Thanksgiving / Taking dinner we’re thinking about is possible.  Read more...