Usually, my writing is more about working things out for myself than actually writing for an audience.  Sometimes, a post bounces around in my head for a few months before I actually commit it to writing.  And sometimes, it never makes it past my brain, because I work it out and forget it, or because someone else says it better than I could.  Here are a couple examples of the latter: Messy by my sister-in-law Jodie (A must-read for adoptive parents . . . and anyone who knows . . .

wwI've been way behind on linking, which is why this is gonna be a long list.  But here are some of the posts I've enjoyed in the past few weeks: I love everything about Catherine's writing at Her Bad Mother, especially her bad mother manifesto, so it's hard for me not to link to pretty much everything she writes.  But I loved her post entitled Love Is A Many-Splendored And Sometimes Sort Of Exhausting And Anxiety-Provoking Thing.  I think that sort of says it all. I think . . .

This week in That's What She Said, I'm keeping it light.  And unisex.  And maybe a little judgemental.  Because really, in pop culture, there is just so much to mock these days. Kristina covers some of the best celebrity quotes that may or may not be true. John Acuff talks about his embarrassment for male singers who don't play instruments. Jessica Gotlieb talks about the dance routine in which 8-year-olds are grinding and dressed like strippers.  These kinds of parents . . .

This week, I'm switching it up and highlighting some of the most interesting posts from the testosterone set. Tim Wise poses an imaginary world where the tea party protestors are black.  I think his observations are provocative, but accurate. Backpacking Dad is always good for a laugh, but this post on teaching our children and letting them fail will resonate with any parent. Max Reddick at Soul Brother 2.0 takes a critical look at the mordern gun rights rally, and questions the . . .

Troy and Tara Livesay's daughter Paige is running a half-marathon to raise money for Haiti.  Paige is 15 years old and has lived in Haiti for four years.  I have never seen a teenager with so much compassion for others.  The day after the earthquake, she was literally fighting with her parents to be able to go out to the street clinics and help the wounded.  She is an amazing girl.  Her goal is to get a few houses built for a few families who have lost their homes.  . . .

Some things I've enjoyed reading this week: Catherine thinks that babies are people too, and I have to agree. Sue describes, with perfect accuracy, how expectations suck the joy out of life.  Los Angelista talks about the public obsession over Obama's racial identification on the census form Rachel talks about her desire to exit the rat race, and the ensuing guilt. And Metalia made me pee myself from laughing with this post about how gross raising toddlers can be.  . . .