DC Metro Moms

Testimony by Anita Shreve: A Silicon Valley Moms Group Book Club

This month, for Silicon Valley Moms Group bloggers' monthly book club, we read a novel that many of us, as mothers, found tough to read. But probably every mother should read it. And their teenagers too - especially their teenagers.

Join in as Silicon Valley Moms Group bloggers discuss the book Testimony by Anita Shreve.

• DC Metro Moms Blog's Amy G. leads us off with hoping she has done enough
• Wife and Mommy from Wife and Mommy thinks of all the moments she knew her life would never be the same
• Jennifer from Connect with your Teens discusses the ramifications and repercussions of teenage drinking
• Melanie from Tales from the Crib forecasts the future
• Bonggamom from Finding Bonggamom remembers temptation
• The Fabulous Miss S from Fabulous Miss S screamed in her head "No! Don't do it!"
• Silicon Valley Diva from Blog on the Wall shudders when she thinks back to her teenage years
• Kim from Passion & Art says no one asks to be raped
• Chefdruck from Chefdruck Musings gives her own testimony
• Jessica from It's My Life thinks about when the best isn't the best after all
• Robin from Who's the Boss gives her testimony
• Gayle from Everyday I Write the Book reviews Testimony
• Christina from The Carpool Reader goes through the evolution of a marriage
• Linsey from Me Too You is glad she got caught

More posts will be put up throughout the day on our writer's personal sites, so be sure to check back to follow along.

.... and if you have a post up on YOUR personal site on this topic, please leave a comment below and we will add your link!

About the book - from the publisher Hachette Book Group:

At a New England boarding school, a sex scandal is about to break. Even more shocking than the sexual acts themselves is the fact that they were caught on videotape. A Pandora's box of revelations, the tape triggers a chorus of voices--those of the men, women, teenagers, and parents involved in the scandal--that details the ways in which lives can be derailed or destroyed in one foolish moment.

Writing with a pace and intensity surpassing even her own greatest work, Anita Shreve delivers in TESTIMONY a gripping emotional drama with the impact of a thriller. No one more compellingly explores the dark impulses that sway the lives of seeming innocents, the needs and fears that drive ordinary men and women into intolerable dilemmas, and the ways in which our best intentions can lead to our worst transgressions.

Past Silicon Valley Moms Group Book Clubs have included:

• Comfort Food by Kate Jacobs
  
• Much to Your Chagrin by Suzanne Guilette
  
• It Started with Pop-Tarts by Lori Hanson
  
• Who By Fire by Diana Spechler
• The White Trash Moms Handbook by Michelle Lamar
• Writing Motherhood by Lisa Garrigues
• The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert W. Sears
• The Other Mother by Gwendolen Gross

The Birds and The Bees and 5-Year-Olds

It was a normal day, matchbox cars everywhere, a nice afternoon, and then my 5-year-old son got up to go to the bathroom.

While he was going to the bathroom, he asked me, completely out-of-the-blue, 

“Mom, why do girls sit down to go pee-pee?”

By the way, my son closes the bathroom door at friends’ houses, and out in public, but sometimes he ‘forgets’ at home… and I don’t make a big deal about this because I don’t want him to ‘feel embarrassed’ about his body, blah, blah, blah, psycho-babble, blah, blah, blah. 

So I very matter-of-factly told him,

“Because girls have vaginas.”

I’ve told him this before, but he forgot, probably because he just doesn’t care that much...

“Faginas?”  He asked with a funny look on his face.

“V-aginas.”  I answered. 

He started laughing,

Sex, A Dirty Little RECAP!

RECAP!!!  From our day dedicated to SEX.

Honestly? I feel like a dirty little girl right now...sneaking porn from the book store racks and reading stories about your private sex lives. Pregnant sex is better or is sex after the kiddos? Or, apparently sex stinks after kids?

Whatever the case, each of us moms (and dad) has an opinion on sex. Each of us has loved, learned, and some of us have lost. Because, fortunately and unfortunately, that is how it happens. The best thing about sex though, no matter how one looks at it, is the love we share when we are in committed relationships.

So, wrap your arms tight around your little ones and your lovers tonight and be thankful for what you have together and what you make together.

Stephanie (aka. Lawyer Mama) started us all off with her fabulous intro post that got us...well... blogging about sex!

Here is what our contributors had to share!

Silicon Valley Moms

• We started the day a little risky with some Tantric Sex from David, our new male writer from Silicon Valley. Leave it to the guy to throw everyone for a loop, eh?
• A Love Letter (to Elmo) from Robyn.
• Getting Over Sexual Issues by Lia puts Date Rape in the spot light.
• All About Breasts: Ana asks a simple question...are you happy with yours?

Chicago Moms Blog

• Wham, bam, thank you ma'am, an ode to a mattress by the ever so talented Kim Moldofsky.
• Farrah from BabyLove Slings writes about sleeping instead of sexin' it up in Sometimes you would rather have the sleep
• Marcie Pickelsimer shares her blogging rules including her reasons why she doesn't talk about sex in I Don't Talk About Sex
• In Sex Ed, Then and Now,  Cindy contemplates the differences between generations and how sex has changed so much in the last 20 years.
• Did you know sex after kids can be even better? Tracey does (and so does her hubby!) Lovin it more now, than ever
• Or, is Pregnant sex the best sex? Alma believes so...
• Ah, and controversial sex can be the most interesting...Extra-marital Sex (after Kids) may just peak Oprah's ears this month. Stay true to who you are girl!

DC Metro Moms Blog

• Jessica is feelin' Sexy in the Bathroom
• How many is too many? The (Low) Number by Sandie
• Julie is out to Blame Barbie for infertility.
• Victoria explains why keeping That Dirty Degree is essential even after childbirth.
• Amie wants pizza or to be a 17 year old boy...I can't figure it out. Read Mad, Passionate, Wild Sex -- Oh, the Memories so you can decide.
• Is it bad when kids ask, Mommy, What's a Condom? Robin found out!

New York City Moms Blog

• Let's Talk About Sex, Baby...because everybody's doin' it. Alexandra tells her 3 month old about sex...I think she might be ready, don't you?
• Sex After Kids is like Having Sex with the Flu. Contrary to Tracey's view, Vicki is sooo not into it.
• Who's you daddy? Cynthia wants to know if your spouse calls you Mommy.
• Just Do It AKA...where did the Magic GO? by Kelcey Kintner
• And so it begins...Amy gets questioned about Sex.
• Karen Dreams of Johnny.

50 Something Moms Blog

• Viva Viagra and all things over 50? Lollie discusses her daughter AND her parents.

New Jersey Moms Blog

• Rox explains how Real Estate: (is) The New Sex
• Cats vs. Chickens: explaining sex to your children. Our moms did it great, right? Can Monica do it just as well?
• Gender Bender: Lynette explains Male and Female parts.
• Lois writes about The Ups and Downs of Being a Mom
• Vanessa is already Dreaming of a Second Honeymoon

Deep South Moms Blog

• Cassie writes about Abstinence Only Sex Education: A teacher's viewpoint
• Marty's Momma Left This Part Out  (and she shouldn't have)