Family Matters
Kirsten Edmondson Branch
- Location
- Bay Area, California,
- Bio
- Kirsten Edmondson Branch is a freelance writer, blogger (http://www.relevantmom.blogspot.com) and mom who writes about news, current affairs and politics that affects families.
MY RECENT COMMENTS
- “Wow...someone went into
my vault and I appreciate
the
feedback
immensely.
I
shoul…”
April 21, 2009 02:07AM - “Oh sooooo can relate.
Excellent post.”
April 16, 2009 12:49AM - “Well said.”
February 17, 2009 03:57PM - “Simply put...beautiful.
Thanks for sharing.”
February 17, 2009 03:28PM - “Prayers and virtual hugs
to you and your family...at
least he
has a soft place
to…”
February 06, 2009 12:15AM
Kirsten Edmondson Branch's Links
- My Blog
- Relevant Mom
Throwing Eight Babies Out with the Backlash
Fiscal Feminist Freak-Out
I recently opened my 401 K statement, and I knew it would be bad, but my stomach nearly fell through my feet. What ensued was a full-tilt "what the heck have I gotten myself into" feminist freak-out. Financial fireworks aside, those women who have "off-ramped" will completely und… Read full post »
Not Just Another Mommy Rant
Pardon me, but I'm going to step up on my soapbox
now:
I'm aware that I don't write the typical "mommy blog," and I'm fine with that. Fact is that I'm just not all that into adding yet another virtual chapter to the saga of losing the baby weight, sex… Read full post »
No Virginia, There Isn't a Santa Claus
… Read full post »
President-elect Obama is moving swiftly to name his
team, and the order of his nominations and appointments could be
seen as an agenda priority list. First, the economy, then national
security, and
next up is energy and environment, with several prominent names
from science and politics in the… Read full post »
He Can Sling A Grenade, But Can He Teach Aerobics?
My Reuters feed was just chock full of nuts this morning, and I just had to share. Life can be so absurd, so you just have to laugh! Or cry. Suit yourself.
- You know it's bad when...
Motherhood Performance Anxiety
As parents (I should say moms, we're really the
neurotic ones, let's face it) these days we are so obsessed with
"getting it right" with our kids; the right foods, the right
education, the right activities. We analyze our every move. One of
my wisest and oldest friends visiting with… Read full post »
When I used to manage a multi-million dollar business unit, I got used to business metrics and analysis. I wasn’t a natural, I had to work at it, but over time the patterns that could be found in these facts and figures became fascinating to me. It was reassuring and satisfying.… Read full post »
What Came First: The Chicken or my Vote?
So, I voted. It was easy out here in the California burbs. No lines, in and out at 10:00 am in the morning. My husband, who probably would have liked me to change my vote for his birthday today (we don't agree on our top pick this year),… Read full post »
Moms Help Other Moms Vote
I thought that this idea from
MomsRising.org was so brilliant and so simple that
I just HAD to pass it along:
Before election day,
put out the word to your personal network of friends and family
to support one another and make sure you help each other out if
it's proving tough… Read full post »
And Now A Word From The Toddler Party Candidate
Down the homestretch, and some may be feeling some election fatigue. But, take a moment to listen to just one more woman with a plan. Her wardrobe is no where near $150,000, and she knows how to capture the female vote; greek columns won't do it, but a well appointed bathroom… Read full post »
I Can't Marry You If You Don't Vote

I like spicy oppositional relationships. I religously watched the television series Moonlighting, and gleefully watched Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepard passionately go at it. I like movies that feature spunky couples that don't always see eye to eye, like Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepbu… Read full post »
What's Your (Political) Sign?
Something seems amiss, and I'm trying to work it out.
I often choose to take the "scenic" neighborhood routes to get around my town. But on a recent trip something just didn't seem right. I realized that hardly any house or car I passed had any political signs affixed or… Read full post »
What Is So Wrong With Having A Brain?
I started to fume just now. Can you see the smoke seeping out of your screen? Peter Ross Range, writing in Der Spiegel wrote the following:
"McCain clearly has the gut advantage; Obama has the brain advantage. This does not augur well for Obama. Watching the two men, I found myself drawn… Read full post »
Them's Fightin Words

Sure, our standing in the world is mud, but this is just the final blow:
According to Horace Engdahl, the head literrati for the Nobel Prize in Literature, "Europe still is the center of the literary world." Furthermore, he asserts that "the U.S. 'is too isolated, too insular' and doesn'/… Read full post »
My Thoughts Exactly: Debatable Dialogue
Whew...just made it through all the headlines and coverage about last night's debate, and the "my thoughts exactly" headline winner goes to...(drumroll)
Tom Shales, The Washington Post's Style Columnist (which I find strangely appropos and disturbing all at once):
Palin on Women’s Issues: “Return to Sender”
Sarah, Sarah, this is not the way to convince female voters that your entry into the race signals that the issues that really matter to many women, and a key voting demographic, will be taken seriously. I received the following update from MomsRising.org:
“Dear Friend,
Yesterday, Mo… Read full post »
How Far We Have Not Come
A good friend sent this to me the other day, and it made me so profoundly sad that it could just have well been delivered today.
Thanks, Andrea P :-)
Today she is still fighting to get the world's attention.
The Female Vote Is A Lot More Colorful
We hear an awful lot about the the ubiquitous and mercurial white female swing vote, but what about women of color? Will they come out to vote? What will motivate them? What will prevent them? What do they think about Sarah Palin? Why don't we hear more about them in the endless pundit… Read full post »
What did desperate mothers do before You Tube?
My son has bounced off the walls and attacked every one of momma's precious book shelves. Nothing in the house is interesting enough. Everything that has been presented for his enjoyment has been summarily tossed aside in disgust by the Little Prin… Read full post »
Since there seems to have been a cat open call I missed along the way, I to shall jump on the bandwagon and share my kitty vignette, although probably not nearly as movingly as I have read elsewhere.
My love affair with cats goes way back to infancy. Long story short,… Read full post »
American Families Bridge to Nowhere

So, how’s that free market working for you?
I should say for the record that I am not a socialist, communist, et al., and I support capitalism on principle. Lately however, the practice of capitalism is frankly scaring the living daylights out of me! And/… Read full post »
It worked brilliantly for one J.K. Rowling, so from here on out she shall be known as "She Who Must Not Be Named," if I am interpreting current Democratic strategy correctly.
Recognizing that to continue to engage her, and make every headline coming out focused on th… Read full post »

Source: DOD
Amidst all the talk of patriotism and honoring the sacrifices of those, and the families of those, who have given their lives while in the service of our nation, the issue of properly honoring those who have died on behalf of the nation… Read full post »
The Fever of Love
My son has a fever today. We’re all sick, but the vermin virus that has overtaken us proclaims itself to the world most insidiously in the flushed and hot little body of my normally wriggling 17 month old.
I always feel guilt at times like these. The normal things are… Read full post »
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