Of what are you especially tolerant? Different ideas, value systems and decisions. I am usually very good at talking with people who think differently and have wildly different opinions than I do.
What makes you lose patience the fastest? I don't do well with people who appear to me to be unwilling to think, period. (This is a little in conflict with the above, but there is a distinction for me.)
Would you rather be cut off in traffic or have someone else take credit for some bit of work you did? TRAFFIC. I'm an academic; credit is everything.
What's your favorite material for clothing to be made out of? Hmm. Depends on the context (where I am wearing it, weather, etc.) But if I had to pick just one, I guess I would say silk and cotton blends. So comfortable and they hang so nicely.
Do you have pets? No, we decided to practice with children first.
Do you like short stories? Yes, very much.
Do you "get" poetry? Yes. I write a little from time to time, too.
pi: I noticed you didn't answer your own questions . . . please do! Oh, I felt awkward doing that. OK, then.
What are some causes / charities / etc. that are important to you? International development (I did volunteer work in South America after college) and human rights. I donate and do some volunteer work along these lines. I am particularly interested in women's literacy and education.
Do you like to read? What are a few of your favorite books? (Either all-time faves, or ones you have read lately.) I love to read. I just added a new favourite to my list. I picked it up in a sale bin and absolutely loved it: Eternal on the Water.
What are your favorite guilty (or perhaps not so guilty) pleasures? "Reality" television. I adore Amazing Race, and I watch Survivor, too.
If you could take a one-month trip anywhere in the world, price no object, where would you go? Iceland.
What were you like as a teenager? If you could go back in time, what would you tell your teenage self? Shy and introverted. Generally wrapped up in some pretty nasty family issues. If I could go back, I would tell myself to tell someone about what was going on at home, and get some help.
How do you think your background and childhood influence the way you approach parenting? Both DH and I were raised by young, hippie-ish parents. (DH was actually raised on a commune.) So I think with our parenting, we end up pulling some of the aspects from our upbringing that we felt worked well, but also changing a few things. I'm much more willing to be the bad guy with DS than my mom ever was with her kids. I see my role as less of making him happy at every moment, and more of helping him to grow into a kind and compassionate person with integrity and a good work ethic. I find the checklist approach to defining AP off-putting, but it's certainly the style we fit best with. Basically, my approach is to treat children like people. Small people, with different capacities and limitations, but people nonetheless.
If you already have older children, tell us a little bit about each of them. DS is coming up on 5, and I am really enjoying this age. I love the conversations we can have now, and the thoughts he expresses. I am away from home this week and he gave me a sheet of paper with x's and o's on it in case I was lonely while away. He's a really thoughtful, perceptive and generous little guy. He's a lot like my DH in personality, and the more I know him, the more I love him, if that makes sense. I mean, I loved him from the start, but I didn't know him yet, and now that I do, I am just blown away by what a neat little person he is and what a privilege it is to be in his life.
Follow Mothering