Mamels life animal

Kristen Hawkes and Wenda Trevathan have organized an incredible symposium "Birth to Grandmotherhood: Childrearing in Human Evolution" at the  Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA) next month.   Sarah Hrdy , Kim Bard , Sue Carter , Barry Hewlett , Hilly Kaplan , and Melvin Konner !   Luckily for me, I will be so riveted by all the other speakers I won't have the chance to get nervous about my talk. The talks are Friday afternoon, February 21st, 2014.  Admission is free for this event, but registration is required for each person who will attend. Click here to register & for more information . Best of all, if you can't attend in person, there will be a Live Symposium Webcast (which also requires online registration ).

My younger brother and I were, at times , somewhat enthusiastic and not terribly considerate of my mom. Between our grand schemes, monumental battles, and overabundance of personality, I can’t even wrap my head around how exhausting we must have been. When we were especially appalling Dad would call us to the carpet: “You kids have got to stop turning your mom into ‘Mother Butter.’ She is a goddess who gave you life and would do anything for you- QUIT SHAKING HER UP AND CHURNING HER AROUND.” by Garth Williams “But… but…” “No buts, you don’t have a counterpoint, she’s your mom, you will appreciate and respect her at all times and that’s the end of the discussion .” Only now that I study mother’s milk, do I recognize the fantastic word-smithery of “Mother Butter.”  So here’s to all the wonderful, exhausted, loving, exasperated, nurturing, driven-to-their-wits-end, magical mothers. May your darling demon children grow up to be in awe of all you’ve done and all you are. I know I hav