A few excellent things!

[mamagotcha]

I am currently besotted with the writings of John Gottman (click link for an interview that touches on his past and present research). He is studying things that I've known at a gut level but have been unable to articulate or bolster with any kind of scientific proof: that your attitude and relationships during pregnancy and infancy of your babies will affect both your own relationships and your baby's emotional health, that treating other people (both kids and partners) with respect pays off in healthy long-term relationships, oh heck... just go read the link already. I'd love to meet and interview this guy! Thanks a TON, wordweaverlynn! (jedusor, do you already know about his work? What do you think of him?)

I've also been doing some giftmas shopping online today, drinking a mocha with the last bit of Bill's raisin bread, basking in the memories of the wonderful dinner and companionship that jillcook offered us last night (including a whack at last Sunday's NYT puzzle), some great conversations with Clay, all because my sweet husband and baby are off in Washington State for the weekend. I slept sprawled across my king-sized bed with a blindfold until I was thoroughly rested, and have been geeking with Bill's laptop (that he kindly left for me; he took the heavier work laptop with him on his trip).

Clay and I are off to his parkour lesson soon, where I will knit and chat with a bunch of interesting homeschooling parents, and then I think we'll hunt down a tree together.

I want to send out cards this year... if you want one, please comment and I'll make sure one comes your way!

Oh, and Bill's had a pretty amazing week so far, too... he got news that a paper he submitted was going to be published soon with only minor edits (a fairly rare phenomenon in the science world, I understand), and he got another job interview. I'm almost scared to jinx it by talking about it, but I can't see how it would hurt... it's in a place very near and dear to me.

It's shaping up to be a lovely weekend at my house... how are you all doing?

Comments

[corva.livejournal.com]

wherewherewhere?!?

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know about him. He's done some really cool stuff with relationship analysis--he can predict long-term relationship success based on a short observation period with remarkable accuracy, something like 97%, I think. I didn't know he studied pregnancy and kid stuff, though. Thanks for the link, I'll watch it in a bit.

[jedusor.livejournal.com]

I just checked it out on Wikipedia, and the accuracy rates are a little lower than I remembered: 90% for 4-6 years, 81% for 7-9 years. Still pretty impressive.

[waterfaery.livejournal.com]

At least two people who are personal friends of mine (including our former postpartum doula) have done clinical research work with Gottman. :) The other gal I know was a research assistant in his lab.

[mh75.livejournal.com]

please card.
we're sad that we can't go to spokane two weekends in a row...

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

Oh damn, I know Bill was really hoping to connect with J. Well, he brought a very late b-day gift for J with him, I guess he'll let Lorraine give it to J's mom to deliver to J eventually.

Did you ever get our little pre-holiday goodie? It was supposed to get there a few weeks ago...

Card will happen!

[jillcook.livejournal.com]

I would love to receive a holiday card from you! You're already on my list :)

And, about the research, isn't it satisfying to get some 'official' validation now and then?

[lunacow]

Always happy to get a card for our mantelpiece here at Halflab. Hope your weekend is going wonderfully!