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LARA FREIDENFELDS

Historian of Health, Reproduction, and Parenting in America

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    • The Modern Period
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    Lara Freidenfelds (Admin)
    • Apr 15, 2016

    Enforcing Death Rituals after Miscarriage is Just Plain Cruel

    The Indiana legislature claims it wants to protect unborn children and their parents. Last week Governor Mike Pence gave his blessing to a new bill aimed primarily at restricting abortion but also addressing miscarriage, explaining, “I sign this legislation with a prayer that God would continue to bless these precious children, mothers and families.” But knowing what I do about pregnancy and miscarriage, all I can see is increased pain and confusion in store for women who los
    9 views0 comments
    Lara Freidenfelds (Admin)
    • Nov 14, 2015

    Yes, I’m a Wife, But You Can Call Me the “Current Supporting Spouse”

    The year my second son was born, I went to work, and my husband stayed home. It was the most luxurious year of my life. In the mornings, I nursed my baby while my husband brought our older child to preschool. When he got back, I handed off the baby, said, “bye, Sweetie, see you later!” and enjoyed a quiet walk down to my office on the beautiful Wellesley campus. At noon, my whole crew trooped down to my office for me to nurse the baby again. I patted my beautiful little ones
    7 views0 comments
    “Cherish Every Moment” of Parenting?
    Lara Freidenfelds (Admin)
    • Apr 7, 2015

    “Cherish Every Moment” of Parenting?

    “Cherish every moment!  It goes by so fast.” A well-meaning stranger admired my teeny tiny 3-week-old son, as we searched for baby wipes at the local drugstore.  Out on our first foray into an inhabited, public space, I was ready to defend my newborn against strangers’ germy fingers, but I had not been prepared for the free advice I might find just as difficult to handle.  I smiled thinly at the friendly stranger, and said, “uh huh!”  But I was thinking, “are you nuts?!  I’ve
    27 views0 comments
    Lara Freidenfelds (Admin)
    • Jul 23, 2014

    If You’re Not My Kid, Please Don’t Call Me “Mom”

    The dentist peered in my child’s mouth, then turned to me. “Hey, Mom, you did a good job, no cavities!” I brought my kids for a check-up recently, and our wonderful pediatric dentist warmly complimented me. But why on earth did he call me that? And why did it irk me? Read the rest at Nursing Clio #parenting #mother #MomsRising #BettyFriedan #history #motherhood #mom #modern #PhilipWylie #mothering #RebeccaJoPlant #MommyBlogger #Lamaze #Victorian
    5 views0 comments
    Are We Having Fun Yet?  Jennifer Senior’s Smart, Historically-Informed Take on Modern Parenting
    Lara Freidenfelds (Admin)
    • May 28, 2014

    Are We Having Fun Yet? Jennifer Senior’s Smart, Historically-Informed Take on Modern Parenting

    In All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenting, Jennifer Senior asks why American middle-class parents so often find parenting intense beyond expectation, exhausting, anxiety-provoking, and not much fun, at the same time that they evaluate it to be the most rewarding and joy-producing aspect of their lives. Like many readers, I appreciated seeing myself and my struggles represented with compassion.  I have spent a number of years as a stay-at-home parent writing books
    3 views0 comments

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