Cross posted from Docudharma.

Mijo.  Pronounced mee-hoe.

Mijo - Conjoined Spanish slang of affection.  Mi hijo, "my son."

18 years ago today I was sitting in the Infant ICU at West Paces Ferry Hospital in Atlanta cradling a 7 pound, twelve and a half ounce bundle of pure wonder.  [Written Friday, 8/15/08.]

This is a coda to my post yesterday, "Abortion Changes You."

A discussion of how much American women are forced to pay economically for making the choice to become parents. A dark look, through the eyes of author Andre Dubus III, at how struggling single working moms are forced to balance work and taking care of their kids.

And recalling pre-Reagan days, more family-friendly days, when a family with children could flourish with only one parent working.

Update [2008-4-1 18:40:14 by clammyc]:  damn....I go out to pick up a few things and got this kind of response.  Thanks so much for all the well wishes.  If I don't answer every comment, I apologize, but will read each and every one and thank you all for the kind words.

******

No, this isn’t an April Fools Day joke - yours truly is now officially a daddy (hat tip to Booman for breaking this news last night).

The latest progressive to join our cause, and in the words of fellow Daily Kos member The Maven "eligible to run for President in 2044" and already ready to be groomed for the position - Peter Samuel Lambert, joined us on Sunday morning, weighing in at 7 lbs/6 oz and 19.5 inches.  Of course I am biased, but he is a total cute little peanut, and to all of you that already told me so, it is simply amazing how all things get put into perspective immediately.  For someone who is rarely at a loss for words, I can’t think of any words to describe how it feels to have a little baby.

In today's society, where do we draw the lines of privacy? Who decides you're right to privacy? And what about the kids?

Abortion and motherhood are typically regarded as conflicting issues, and we often assume that women who have abortions do not want to have children or are unwilling to raise a child. But the numbers tell a different story. The majority of women having abortions, 61%, are mothers. Even among teenagers, almost a quarter (23%) of those terminating their pregnancies have at least one child. New research by the Guttmacher Institute, published in the Journal of Family Issues, reveals some of the stories behind these statistics. Below, I provide some highlights from the article, as they suggest yet another way those of us who support abortion rights might approach the issue.

Welcome to the world Abigail Emily.  You were born on May 21, 1996, a lovely spring day with plenty of sun and plenty of blooming flowers.  Your grand entrance onto the world stage caused your mother much pain and many tears, something she may remind you of when you cause her anger in the future, but they tears of joy she shed when she first held you will always prevail in the end.  This is your first lesson in life:  love conquers all.

I've written before about being new to parenthood.  I make no claims of being perfect at it, but what I saw today while on my stepdaughter's field trip truly alarmed me inside.

A fan whirrs in the bathroom. A car with squeaky brakes pulls up and parks at the curb across the street. Off in the distance, a train whistle blows through the night, like a cliche. Somewhere south of here, Ernesto soaks the earth and plots his slow move north. And a few rooms away from where I type, a five day old boy lies and sleeps in a wooden cradle.

This diary is a change from my usual diaries, because it is a special day for me. Today my son graduates from junior high, and I am crying already. Is it always so tough on the parents?

More below

The fight against gay marriage opened up the fight against straight divorce.  The fight against gay people adopting kids is opening up the fight against unwed parents.

I keep saying this and it surprises me in how many situation it is applicable: the beast they are creating will eventually eat them too.

Here's the links for those who want them.  The divorce one requires a free login.

Divorce
Parenthood