HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: jm5p+@andrew.cmu.edu (Judi Mancuso)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Names of teddybears
Date: 10 Nov 92 05:04:31 GMT
Article-I.D.: andrew.Yezwxzq00iV0M1dGYC
	<1992Nov03.221834.2217899@locus.com>
Organization: Student Employment Office, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA

The Christmas my son Vince was 2 my college roommate came for the
holidays and brought Vince a soft, biege colored Gund bear.  He fell
instantly in love with him and christened him "Bumbles"---we were so
curious as to why he chose that name--we are still not so sure (someone
told me that some character on "Frosty The Snowman" is named Bumbles). 
Anyway, 5 years later, he still sleeps with him every night--and asks
for him when he is sick.  Last Christmas, the same college roomie came
for the holidays and brought my daughter,Toni, the same bear--except
white. She aslo fell instantly in love with it---at the age of 6 months!
 She could not name it herself--but Vince did the honors--this bear's
name is "Bumblette".  My college roomie (who is 35, no kids) just thinks
this is the best thing ever!   What a great memory for all of us!  Judi
From: winner@Apple.COM (Stephanie Winner)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: a new fun thread??
Date: 9 Nov 92 16:59:23 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

We were in a Gymboree store when Erin was 18mo old and another
little girl started talking to her.  Erin didn't say anything
comprehensible back to her.  The girl's mother told my husband,
"she can't talk very well for her age."  My husband told her 
that Erin was only 18mo old.  Apparently, the woman assumed
she was 2 or 3 since she is quite big for her age (still no
excuse for the insensitive remark!).

Stephanie Winner
winner@apple.com

Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: allen@tessi.com (Allen Warren)
Subject: Re: Diapers and the Environment
Organization: Test Systems Strategies, Inc., Beaverton, Oregon
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 22:30:51 GMT

bwolfe@trentu.ca (BEN WOLFE) writes:
>One of
>every 25 people in North America is a baby in diapers. Divide the
>population of your community by 25 and then multiply by the number of
>diaper changes in a day. Now multiply that by 365 days in a year. In my
>community of 65,000 it comes to more than six and a half MILLION little
>bundles of joy a year, all destined for a landfill that is on the verge
                       ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>of closing. Siting the replacement has cost millions and taken close to
>a decade, with no end yet in sight.

One problem with your numbers:  you don't state how many of the diapers
are disposable vs. how many are cloth.  I can't accept your numbers until
you can show how many disposables are used vs. cloth. 

allen
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: dsc@gemini.tmc.edu (Doug S. Caprette Bldg. 28 W191 x3892)
Subject: Re: Incongruent discipline philosophies (Was: Re: 20/20 and Spanking)
Organization: NASA GSFC CDP VLBI
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 23:13:26 GMT

In article <1992Nov9.150807.14548@sequent.com> newell@sequent.com (Donald Newell) writes:
>
>
>...
>social calculus seems to be "don't criticize my parenting methods and I won't
>criticize yours". I reject that. Good parents, good people, can do bad things.
>We all do. Spanking is once such bad thing. It is absolutely clear that other
>methods work as well. Why not use them?
>
>        Tell your child how scared you are if they run into the street.
>

How do you suggest handling a child who runs into the street *BECAUSE*
they already know that it frightens you?


Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: smb@ulysses.att.com (Steven Bellovin)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: cute moments
Date: 12 Nov 92 21:59:14 GMT
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories

The other night, I asked Daniel (3.25) what book he'd like me to read
to him.  He selected one of his favorites, ``The Berenstain Bears
Visit the Dentist''.  He's memorized that book, so as I read aloud,
he recited it along with me.  Rebecca (6.33), not to be outdone,
read it as well.  So, there we were -- the three of us, stretched out
on the bed, all reading the book aloud.
From: Lynn Gazis-Sax <lgsax@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Date: 11 Nov 92 23:52 PST
Subject: Things My Parents Did Right
Nf-ID: #N:cdp:1427100040:000:2113
Nf-From: cdp.UUCP!lgsax    Nov 11 23:52:00 1992


The discussion of spanking made me think about why (though
I plan not to spank and I got some spankings as a child)
spanking doesn't seem to have had the really negative
effect on my relationship with my parents that some people
report, and that got me to thinking about some of the
things my parents did right.  If anyone else has examples
of things their parents did right, I would like to hear
them.  Here are some of mine:

1. They backed each other up, even after the divorce
(by which I mean that if one said something was permitted,
or forbidden, the other wasn't going to overrule the first
one's decision).

2. There were basically pretty clear rules and consequences.
I only once remember being punished without knowing why
(I got yelled at for unintentionally making a rude remark
about my mother's anatomy - I didn't understand what I
had said wrong).

3. We could do all kinds of things if we asked nicely
(like taking the wicker chairs in the living room and
turning them over to make houses).

4. I felt they spoke to me respectfully from a young
age, listening to my opinions and answering my questions.

5. I was allowed to grow up.  As I got older I would
get certain freedoms, and if I was given a freedom,
my parents would stick by their word.  For instance,
we were taken to church every Sunday, but were told
that after we had gone through confirmation class
we could choose to be confirmed or not and could
choose to go to church or not.  And, when I announced
in high school that I was an atheist and wouldn't go
to church any more, my mother stuck by her word and
did not get on my case about it (I eventually became
Christian again).  Now that we are adults, they are
careful about giving unsolicited advice, and, when
they do give it, they have the grace not to repeat
it (I can take it or not, and either way that will
be the end of it).  As a result, I am much more willing
to talk to them and ask for advice than if they shoved
it down my throat.

6. They were clear about the few things that were important
to them, but beyond that it was OK for me to be different.

Lynn Gazis-Sax

Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: lowry@watson.ibm.com (Andy Lowry)
Subject: Re: teething biscuits
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 15:58:29 GMT
Disclaimer: This posting represents the poster's views, not necessarily those of IBM
Organization: IBM T.J. Watson Research Center

In article <3935@wyse.wyse.com> donna@wyse.wyse.com (Donna Diloreto x2231 dept302) writes:
 > I've seen the threads for finger foods, but haven't seen any for infants
 > that don't have teeth yet.  Does anyone have any suggestions on what to
 > give infants who are eating baby food, and are ready for teething
 > biscuits?

Lindsay enjoyed (still does) bagels.  When she was teething, frozen
bagels gave her something cold and soothing to bite on.  The bagels
are good because they don't disintegrate immediately.  They do
disintegrate eventually, though, and when they start getting ragged
and soggy you need to start worrying about the child managing to pull
off a sizable chunk which then becomes a choking hazard.  So at that
point you remove the ragged bagel and perhaps replace it with a fresh
one.

--
Andy Lowry, lowry@watson.ibm.com, (914) 784-7925
IBM Research, P.O. Box 704, Yorktown Heights, NY  10598
From: shack@cs.arizona.edu (David Shackelford)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: 20/20 SPANKING COMPLAINT
Date: 8 Nov 92 08:27:32 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Arizona CS Dept, Tucson

In article <3110@contex.contex.com> liz@marvin.contex.com (Elizabeth Cyr Jones) writes:
>In article <25765@optima.cs.arizona.edu> shack@cs.arizona.edu (David Shackelford) writes:
 >>
 >>I'm not trying to tell you to spank your kids.  Don't tell me not
 >>to spank mine.
 >
 >
 >Pretty good job of backpedaling, Dave. Doesn't it make you wonder about the
 >merits of alternatives to spankings if practically everyone in this
 >group disagrees with you? 
 >

Can you quote one of my posts and show where I *tell* someone to
spank?  I can remember suggesting it, but the "no spanking" people
want to make it illegal.  I would never try to make it mandatory.
Herein lies the difference.

Alternatives are a good thing.  I have said "I'll do whatever it
takes."  This implies that I will try other things.  It does not
imply an order I'll try things in.  The situation will dictate
what action I take first, not net.opinion.  I value my parents
and grandparents opinions more.

Dave
From: dsegelho@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Diane Segelhorst)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: critical relatives
Date: 5 Nov 92 14:13:28 GMT
Reply-To: dsegelho@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Diane Segelhorst)
Organization: Annapolis Detachment, CDNSWC

In misc.kids, judy@locus.com (Judy Leedom Tyrer) writes:
>>lindsay@sesame.lbl.gov (Lindsay Schachinger) writes:
>>
>>> My father and stepmother are visiting me this week, and I'm going
>>> crazy already (they just got here on Monday). I was hoping I
>>> might get some support from the net.
>
>Hang in there!  Remember that you are no longer a Mommy, but now a child
>yourself and it is the child in you that is reacting, not the adult.  Also
>think of how David will feel 30 years from now when you come to visit.  It
>will be JUST THE SAME!  This is the dynamic of parents and children.  In
>general I practice the smile, nod as though you agree, and completely
>ignore everything they're saying method.  Then, dump on your spouse when
>they're not around so you can have reserves for the next span of time.

Well, Lindsay did it, now it's my turn to complain.  AARRRRGHHH!
We are living with my in-laws for a few weeks while our new house is
being completed.  We have a great relationship with them.  I just hope
it survives the next few weeks!

Generally, I do what Judy suggests: let them offer all the advice they
want, smile pleasantly, and ignore 99.5 percent of it. I also know that 
it is a grandparent's prerogative to spoil a grandchild.  Usually you 
can dispel any undesirable behavior at home by saying "that's not how 
we do things at home." But now we are living there.

My MIL is being really good about it.  For example, I know before we 
were living there, when she fed Brad a meal she used to play games and 
bribe him to eat.  I figure when he is hungry he will eat, so I don't 
play games. The other night she ASKED me if she could bribe him with 
dessert to get him to eat his supper.  (I said no - he could have dessert 
regardless of whether he ate his supper.)

My FIL is DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!  The other night, Brad wanted to do something
- I don't remember what.  I told him no, he dissolved into tears in
a heap on the floor.  I sat in a chair nearby, letting him cry it out,
ready to offer hugs and kisses when he needed them.  My FIL rushed over,
picked him up, cuddled him, and then proceded to let him do the very
thing I had told him no about!  He also disrupts the bedtime routine,
lets him watch more TV than I do, and generally caters to Brad's every
whim.

Hopefully we'll only be there three more weeks, but I know I'm going
to have some MAJOR tantrums to deal with sooner or later!

Diane Segelhorst
Mom to Brad, 2 1/4 years, and Carrie, 4.5 months
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: bwolfe@trentu.ca (BEN WOLFE)
Subject: Re: Diapers and the Environment
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: Trent University Computer Services Department
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 1992 04:26:00 GMT

Elise Wade writes:

The biggest % of landfills -- about 1 / 2 in fact -- is taken up by
newspaper.  The next biggest items is yard wastes, such as grass
clippings.  So, if you *really* care about the environment, stop
buying newspapers (they don't have the capacity to recycle all
that is produced) and put your leaves and grass clippings in a
compost pile.



A couple of other people have come up with similar statistics. Actually
this is far from accurate. The *total* amount of paper of all kinds in
landfills, including newspaper, fine paper, corrugated cardboard, packaging
and so on is about 40%. Organic material of all kinds, including grass
clippings, comes in between 25% and 30%. ALL of the paper waste except a
few odd bits that consist of multiple materials or contain hot-melt glues
is currently recyclable. VIRTUALLY ALL of the organic material is easily
compostable.

In terms of newspapers, many major papers in the U.S and Canada are now
using significant percentages of recycled content in their papers. They're
doing it because of public demand. Three major new recycled newspaper
plants are opening in Ontario within the next two years because receycled
paper makes such good economic and environmental sense. If there is a lot
of newspaper going into the landfill in your community, it's because your
community is behind the times. Ask your politicians where they have been
for the last ten years.

In Ontario, backyard composters are given away free or at huge discounts,
by the tens and hundreds of thousands, in most significant-sized
communities. Grass-cycling (using a mulch plate to mix grass clippings
back into the lawn) is widely recommended and increasingly practiced.
Organic material in landfills causes enormous problems and costs huge
amounts to pick up and deal with.

These problems deserve to be taken seriously and resolved, not used as
excuses for continuing with other environmentally irresponsible behaviours
such as the use of billions of disposable diapers. Two percent of the
waste in landfills is an unimaginably large amount. For example if the
disposable diapers used in Canada last year were laid end to end (a rather
unsavoury prospect) they would circle the Earth 17 times. The United
States uses about 10 times as many -- so they would make a band the width
of a 14-lane highway, all the way around the planet. That's in one year.
Tell me again why that's "insignificant" and an acceptable legacy to leave
our children ...

From: janem@hpfcdc.fc.hp.com (Jane Marcus)
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 14:39:41 GMT
Subject: Re: mites and down comforter?
Organization: HP Fort Collins, Co.
Newsgroups: misc.kids

I am allergic to molds.  My allergist told me to get rid of feathers in
my household since these can harbor mold.  So this is one reason why
some people should not use down comforters.

Jane Marcus
jane@apollo.hp.com
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: owens@gargoyle.uchicago.edu (Christopher Owens)
Subject: Re: Diapers and the Environment
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 17:59:42 GMT

In <27354@dog.ee.lbl.gov> julian@frey.lbl.gov (julian cortella) writes:


>With a diaper service, the newer, more efficient washing machines use
>less water and less bleach than in manufacturing a disposable.  This
>is according to all the diaper service literature (unreliable source)
>and a couple of the baby mags I've been reading (Parenting, for one).

Please also consider that the washing machine may be using water in a
locale where water is in short supply (e.g. California), while the
diaper factory is using water in a region where it is plentiful.
From: jj@alice.att.com (jj, curmudgeon and all-around grouch)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Not Limiting Sweets (was Re: Halloween Stories)
Date: 13 Nov 92 15:58:13 GMT
Article-I.D.: alice.24171
Reply-To: jj@alice.UUCP (jj, curmudgeon and all-around grouch)
Organization: NJ State Home for Bewildered Terminals


What I find amusing about our offspring (2.5yr) is that she has
shown a great more interest in examining and counting
her Haloween booty than she has in actually eating it.
I'd have to say that of today, about 90% of it is still
in its plastic pumpkin.  Occasionally it gets removed,
examined, counted, and put back.

It's not like she is unaware of the fact that it's candy,
either, of that I'm sure.  The "Smarties" didn't last
past the first night.

You figure... :-)
-- 
Extremism *Copyright alice!jj 1992, all rights reserved, except transmission
   in the    *by USENET and like facilities granted.      Said permission is
  defense of     *granted only for complete copies that include this notice.
 liberty is no vice.  *Use on pay-for-read services specifically disallowed.
From: shack@cs.arizona.edu (David Shackelford)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: Don't SPANK....Instead do this.....
Date: 9 Nov 92 20:36:43 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U of Arizona, CS Dept, Tucson

In article <1992Nov5.222720.26219@aio.jsc.nasa.gov>, cobarruvias@asd2.jsc.nasa.gov writes:
 |> My experience:
 |> We were having a bar-b-que outside. Taylor was playing in the back. The pit,
 |> one of those with 3 legs, was not protected by a small fence or similiar
 |> inclosure. It is at just about the right height for her to put her hands up and
 |> touch the hottest surface. Anyway, after it was flaming away, she walked into
 |> that general area. This is where a quick spank would have kept her away, I
 |> think.
 |> 
 |> Instead, after realizing that it should be in an inclosed area, or well guarded
 |> (my fault), I picked her up in a very rushed manner, telling her it was HOT! So
 |> immediately she understands that something is definitely wrong. She understands
 |> hot and understood it a bit better when it was HOT! Anyway I got here a bit
 |> closer so she could see the fire and continued the HOT HOT. Then I put her down
 |> after her curiosity subsided. I then got one of those things you put in door
 |> ways to block the door and surrounded the pit. Spanking would have been easier,
 |> but it didn't solve the problem that I created in the first place. 

This is a very good example of a case in which spanking was not necessary.
I'm curious what you would have done if she didn't get the point and managed
to get near the barbeque again.

My brother uses the same approach with my nephew.  Scotty didn't understand
at first what HOT meant, so my brother got some tap water that was hot
enough to feel uncomfortable without burning, and let him touch it.  He
got the idea right away -- next time he got near the oven (off at the time,
but something to avoid anyway) he was told "don't touch, that's hot!"  He
stepped back, said hot, and has steered clear since.

Dave
Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: masmith@ccu.umanitoba.ca (Margaret Smith)
Subject: Child Care
Organization: University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 1992 19:42:37 GMT


What do you think is a reasonable amount to pay for child care?  My child will be seven months old, the sitter is babysitting at her home which is a registered day care.  I must supply the food and diapers.  Also, at which point does one f
feel the baby moving?  I am 16 weeks pregnant!

Newsgroups: misc.kids
From: clare@nynexst.com (Clare Chu)
Subject: Re: Feeling the baby move for the very first time
Organization: Nynex Science and Technology
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 92 16:42:29 GMT

In article <9211092245.AA22794@deepthought.cs.utexas.edu> ff@mtung.att.com writes:
>
>	I was wondering approximately when is the first time most people 
>felt their baby moving. I now 16 weeks pregnant and I think I have felt my baby,
>but I can't be quite sure.  Last night as I lay in bed I felt something
>that was sort of a fluttering feeling and it happened again this morning.
>I am afraid it could simply be "gas", but I don't know, it felt different
>for some reason.

  It's probably the baby!
>
>	I know there is no set time for it to happen for everyone, but I
>would like to hear other peoples experiences so that I have a general idea.
>So, I'd love to know when it happened and and how it felt.  If there is
>enough interest I will post the responses.  This is my first time mailing
>a post, so hopefully this is going to work.
>
>Thanks in advance,
>
>Frances 
>(first time mommy to a baby due April 16th)
>ff@mtung.att.com
>
>
>

Frances, congratulations!  16 weeks is a good time to feel the baby.
To tell the difference between "gas" and baby, try and see if the
movement is concentrated in a small area.  Also try and lie on your
stomach and see if the movement intensifies.  There is an intelligence
to baby movements (unlike gas), so that if you lie on your stomach
and some little critter is protesting, you'll know it's the baby.
Another thing is to switch sides.  Lie on one side for a while,
and then suddenly switch to the other side.  The baby will respond
by readjusting his or her position.

For my first pregnancy, I felt my son move around 16 weeks.  It felt
like a little mouse was scrabbling in there trying to get out.  My
husband was able to feel it soon since I didn't have any fat then.

For this pregnancy I felt the baby move at 14 weeks.  This happened
when I was lying on my stomach and some denizen of the womb got
highly agitated and upset, knocking me a few times and pounding me
for good measure.  Nowadays (18 weeks) I feel him/her moving around
every day.  Although my husband can't feel through my layer of fat!  :-(

Good luck, and enjoy!
From: dank@tekig6.PEN.TEK.COM (Daniel G Knierim)
Newsgroups: misc.kids
Subject: Re: 20/20 and Spanking
Date: 5 Nov 92 20:11:51 GMT
Reply-To: dank@tekig6.pen.tek.com
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Beaverton,  OR.

In article <1992Nov4.192750.22209@dcs.qmw.ac.uk> arodgers@dcs.qmw.ac.uk (Angus H Rodgers) writes:
>In <1992Nov4.173541.12544@cbfsb.cb.att.com>
>mdw@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (mark.d.wuest) writes:

>>[...] I sincerely believe a lot of people
>>who are avidly against spanking at any time are over-reacting.  Kind
>>of like reading about a plane crash and refusing to fly.

>The analogy is bad. A plane crash is just a fact; but spanking is,
>in the strict sense, an intentional act (however thoughtlessly or
>routinely it may be performed); and it's the intention which people
>are reacting so strongly against. (And, yes, we sometimes overreact.) 

I think the analogy was not meant to pair spanking with a plane crash.
the analogy is:

   reading of someone dieing   <==>  reading of an axe murders who says:
   in a plane crash            <==>  "I did it because I was spanked as a boy."

   deciding not to fly         <==>  deciding not to spank

>Several people who have advocated spanking during this thread have,
>to my mind, shown good intentions; . . . .

>But many, and I would even say *most*, people who advocate spanking
>do so in what I can only call bad faith: they have never seriously
>considered either the alternatives to the practice or its possible
>consequences; and they produce rationalisations and religious dogmas
>instead of reasons or feelings.

Is it really *most* people, or just the most vocal.  I've seen articles from
many net.parents who spank, that seemed as if they had carefully studied
and/or thought about the issue, and made the decision they felt best.  But
the articles that get quoted and requoted and rerequoted are the ones that
are more controversial, which I think tends to skew perceptions.  I am trying
to participate in this discussion as a parent who believes spanking is not
*required*, but can be useful in some situations and for some families, and
as a parent who wants to learn from others how to be a better parent.  I'm
not sure whether to attribute the lack of responses to my posts as indication
that I'm being too considerate to be worth flaming, or as indication that I'm
being so rude that I'm already in everyone's kill file.  :-)

- Dan Knierim
These opinions aren't worth the standard disclaimer form they're printed on!
Newsgroups: misc.kids