In the News - Updated
Tuesday (that's tomorrow) will be a big day in the global ESP discussion! First up, journalist Sharon Jayson, who covered a bit about equally shared parenting recently after our presentation at the Council on Contemporary Families meeting, will be showcasing ESP in more depth in a feature article in USA Today. Sharon interviewed each of us for this piece, as well as two wonderful ESP couples we've come to know as a result of writing our book - Catherine and Silas from Pennsylvania, and Brian and Corinna from Oregon. We haven't seen the article yet, but we'll link it up here once we do. Check it out! Update: Click HERE to view the article, which focuses on how mothers must let go of control at home and with the kids in order to make room for ESP.
Second, Catherine and Silas are also scheduled to Skype in for a followup piece on the TODAY Show tomorrow morning (scheduled to air around 8:00am EST)! If you're up and near a TV tomorrow morning (or can set your DVR tonight), you may want to tune in to see this segment. We'll link this up too, assuming it is available online after airing. Update: Click HERE to view the segment.
And we welcome new readers to this website who may have found us from either of these venues. Please have a look around and let us know what you think. We'd love to be a part of helping other parents think about how to create and sustain a life of equality and balance. Could that be you?
Lastly, we have an official title for our upcoming book! Drumroll, please....
Equally Shared Parenting: Rewriting the Rules for a New Generation of Parents
posted by Amy @ 7:05 PM
3 Comments:
I've been reading your blog for a few months, and my husband and I are practicing equally shared parenting. I loved the video of Catherine and Silas, but thought that Anne Curry's attitude was really offensive. She seemed to view this as something really unusual... and the comments after the USA Today article were incredible. Is this a generational thing? My husband and I are 29, and our friends don't think that equally shared parenting is anything unusual.
Oh, wow. I am (nearly) speechless! I just finished reading the USA Today article - which I thought was interesting and fine. I literally sat with my mouth hung open and my heart in my throat as I read the comments after the article. I am really so sad. Does that stream of comments represent the feelings of most people out there about Equally Shared Parenting? Jim and I share parenting (as you know, Amy and Marc) and we are in our late 30's and early 40's. We have a few friends who have their own versions of shared parenting that are closer to equal than average, and we have quite a few who have more traditional relationships. Most of them admire and/or respect our approach to parenting. How can so many people misunderstand ESP, as evidenced in the comments after that article? And I agree, Jenny - I was astonished at the level of surprise and "how did you convince him to do this?" perspective that Curry brought to the interview.
I totally identified with Catherine and Silas. ESP isn't something you convince anyone to do. You choose it because it's an amazing opportunity to maximize life experience, for both partners!
The other thing I so want to say to Curry - and anyone else out there who is amazed by ESP and finds it such a mystery - is that it's really quite simple. Anyone can have it! And it's gorgeous, partnering this way with another human being. And it's so cool to share in our kids lives in so many more ways because we have more time with them. And - it's not for everyone. That's cool with me, too. But wow - I had NO idea it was such a threat to people's sense of parenting and partnering identity. Sad.
Jenny and Michelle,
It's kinda crazy, huh?! In our experience so far speaking out about ESP in the media, I can pretty much discount the angry anonymous comments left on any online piece. These USA Today readers (at least those who comment) are evidently an odd bunch; it seemed as if their comments quickly dissolved into fighting against each other about topics that weren't even related to ESP (like deadbeat dads and angry moms). I gave up, sadly, trying to find the gems hidden in the mix. But the obvious venom sure made it easy for me not to take any of their ideas seriously - or personally!
The more thoughtful commentary usually comes later, on blogs and followup pieces that link to the articles.
Catherine and Silas were spot on with their comments on the TODAY Show. They are a fantastic representative ESP couple, and I'm glad they didn't take the bait about 'convincing him' to do ESP.
So we must all just carry on! Keep on pushing past those who are threatened (and of course never judge them for their own family arrangement choices), and continue to get the word out that ESP is really quite simple (well said, Michelle) and is possible for any two willing partners.
Onward and upward! Data show that the majority of young parents (women AND men) want equal partnerships and balanced lives; if we can be of help to others in realizing these dreams, we've done a world of good for many families.
p.s. Jenny - thanks for commenting! It is always wonderful to meet another ESP couple - hope you continue to read/contribute and perhaps even think about writing a Real Life Story for us...send me an email if you are interested!
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