What went viral this week: A trans father's birth pictures + why one famous Republican is voting Biden

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Sometimes stories go viralbecause they make us smile, and sometimes they go viral because they make us think.This week, a lot of the stories trending online have mamas talking about topics that are top ofmind asAmericans head to the polls.

From a dad giving birth to aKamala Harriscostume, these are the stories mamas are talking about this week:

These photos from a trans father’s home birth are stunning ?

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The moment a new baby enters the world changes everything for the adults and siblings who havespent nine months waiting to meet their little one. It’s a beautiful, emotional moment that manyfamiliesare choosing to document withbirth photography.During his fourth pregnancy, onetransgenderfather decided to hire aphotographerto capture thehome birthof his son, Tig. Yuval Topper-Erez intended the keep the photos private, as a beautiful memento ofthe moment Tig joined their family, but recently decided to share that moment with the world.“When I saw the photos I suddenly got the sense that they need to be out there, as they representso well two causes very close to my heart: normalization of home birth and normalization of transand non binary people giving birth,”wroteTopper-Erez, in a touching Facebook post.Tig was born in May 2019 in northern England after a “very rapid and intense labor.” Two midwives,including Topper-Erez’s partner, and the birth photographer were on hand for the experience.”I hope, among other things, that this album will inspire birth workers and future seahorse dads(AKA gestational fathers,)” wrote Topper-Erez. “I know how meaningful images like this could havebeen for me before my first pregnancy and how meaningful it is for me to see images of fellowbirthing trans and non binary people to this day.”Tig has two older siblings who slept through his home birth. “Our two older children were invitedto join us for the birth but chose not to wake up and came to meet the new baby shortly after thebirth was over,” wrote Topper-Erez.”I love when inspirational people share their births with the world and hoped that I could be thatperson for others,” Topper-EreztoldRomper. “Specifically, other trans people who have often been told that they could not be parents.I also was hoping my photos would start conversations among birth workers about the variety ofbirthing people and bodies.”Every family’s birth experience is different. Whether it’s at home or in a hospital, medicated ornot, a simple or a complicated delivery—it’s worth remembering that there’s no one “right”way for a child to enter the world.

Why Pete Buttigieg’s ‘late-term abortion’ comments are going viral

“I trust women to draw the line.” @PeteButtigieg when asked about term limits onabortion. https://t.co/iwaXsFxXtz
— Javier Happy Warrior ? (@javiergleddy)1558310254.0

Pete Buttigieg is no longer on the campaign trail, but he is all over social media this weekbecause checkmark users likeBusy Phillipsare sharing the way he shut down some misinformation about abortion.Way back in May 2019, when Buttigieg was a running for the Democratic presidential nomination, hewas asked during a Fox News town hall hosted by by Chris Wallace whether there should be a limit ona pregnant person’s ability to access abortion.Buttigieg’s response was incredibly thoughtful and reflected the painful experiences of a smallpercentage of mothers who seek abortions later in pregnancy.“I think the dialogue has gotten so caught up on where you draw the line that we’ve gotten awayfrom the fundamental question ofwhogets to draw the line and I trust women to draw the line when it’s their own health,” Buttigiegresponded.“Let’s put ourselves in the shoes of a woman in that situation,” Buttigieg said. “If it’s that latein your pregnancy, then almost by definition, you’ve been expecting to carry it to term…[Familiesthen] get the most devastating medical news of their lifetime, something about the health or thelife of the mother or viability of the pregnancy that forces them to make an impossible,unthinkable choice.”According to Buttigieg, “The bottom line is, as horrible as that choice is…that decision is notgoing to be made any better, medically or morally, because the government is dictating how thatdecision should be made.”According to the CDC, 91% of abortions in America happen at or before 13 weeks gestation, and only 1.3% of abortionshappen at or beyond 21 weeks of gestation.Abortion is a divisive topic, but it is one that America is talking about right now and we can’t ignore the facts during thediscussion.That’s why Buttigieg’s comments have resurfaced and are going viral. This is a topic where nuanceand continued discussion is important.

This 11-year-old dressed up like Kamala Harris + the internet loves it

“Mom, let’s play Vice President!” Grateful that my 11yr old sees herselfrepresented on the political stage.… https://t.co/9hsLIZJ6Oc
— Erinn Harley (@ErinnFHarley)1601991437.0

When kids see people who look like them in positions of power they are able to imagine themselvesin that spot, and 11-year-old Celeste Harley is proving it.A video of the tween dressed up as vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris is going viral. In theclip her mom tweeted, Celeste says: “When I become vice president, I want to help all the Americanpeople. I want to deliver health care for all, equality and justice under the law.””I had to laugh,”Celeste’s mom, Erinn Harley, told ABC News.“Because I thought, ‘Wow, she really has been studying Kamala Harris very closely, she even hadthat wave.'”Harris is the first Black woman and the first woman of South Asian descentto be on a presidential campaign ticket. Whether or not you plan to vote for her, her presence inthis election season matters a lot. Kids like Celeste prove it.[Editor’s note: Motherly is committed to covering all relevant presidential candidate plans as weapproach the 2020 election. We are making efforts to get information from all candidates. Motherlydoes not endorse any political party or candidate. We stand with and for mothers and advocate forsolutions that will reduce maternal stress and benefit women, families and the country.]

Pink’s husband Carey Hart posts photos of daughter’s gun lesson, explains why he’s a Republican butvoting for Biden

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Pink’s husbandCarey Hart has always been pretty open about his love of fire armsand how he’s teaching the couple’s kids, 9-year-old Willow and 3-year-old Jameson about responsiblegun ownership.Recently Hart posted a series of photos to his Instagram showing daughter Willow’s gun lesson. Inhis caption he explained that he is “a firm believer in teaching [his] kids to shoot, but moreimportantly, handle a fire arm.”Hart’s comment section and Twitter replies were full of hot takes, but none attracted moreattention than his own. When a Twitter user said they were confused as to why Hart would “wouldsupport the democrats who have stated they will take our guns Unless only the rich will be allowedthe privilage [sic],” Hart explained his political views.”1st they don’t want to take your guns, and why has none of the 44 before been able to take them??”Hart responded. “Second I’m a republican who hates Trump, so I have no choice.”Hart’s parenting has always attracted attention online. Hopefully this latest controversy will getpeople to the polls (no matter who they plan to vote for).[Editor’s note: Motherly is committed to covering all relevant presidential candidate plans as weapproach the 2020 election. We are making efforts to get information from all candidates. Motherlydoes not endorse any political party or candidate. We stand with and for mothers and advocate forsolutions that will reduce maternal stress and benefit women, families and the country.]

Why this mom wants parents to stop saying ‘our kids have lost so much’ during the pandemic

what went viral this week trans birth photos 0 - Motherly

Mom and nurse Jesse Brunette is going viralthis week after posting a Facebook message on Monday stating that she is over the phrase “our kidshave already lost so much” being used in conversations about the pandemic.As of this writing the post has more than 45,000 likes and thousands of comments. Brunette suggestsparents need to frame the pandemic not as a loss, butas an opportunityfor families.She writes: “Using a current issue as an example, are kids really going to ‘suffer’ of they don’ttrick or treat? No. Only if WE (the adults) model a ‘loss’ mindset. What if, instead, familieslooked at it as a way to plan a really fun evening? Maybe doing a family art project, bobbing forapples in mixing bowls, packaging up sweet treats to door drop for neighbors, creating a spookythemed meal together.”Brunette’s mindset shift may work for some families, especially those who are privileged enough tohave not lost a friend or family member to COVID-19, and whose social lives and incomes have notbeen lost. It’s hard to feel like you’re learning or like the pandemic is an opportunity for growthwhen you’re in that situation.If you feel like this is a moment of loss for you, mama, that’s okay. It’s okay to feel that way.If you feel like this is an opportunity to lean into a growth mindset, that’s okay, too.We’re all experiencing this pandemic differently, and Brunette’s viral post is a reminder of that.

The viral tantrum-ending trick parents are raving about: Popsicle showers

what went viral this week trans birth photos 1 - Motherly

@i_marta via Twenty20 Parents of the internet are going wild this week for a new life hack that some say is practicallyguaranteed to tame a toddler tantrum.Have you heard of popsicle showers, mama? ‘Cause parents are swearing by them.As first reported by CafeMom,the hack is simple: If your kiddo is feeling some big things, give them a popsicle and guide themto the bathroom for a tub or shower. Once they’re in the warm water, holding onto a cool treat,they calm down.The hack first went viral on Reddit, where one parent recently posted to r/Parenting, thanking theoriginal poster for introducing the hack.The post reads:“Parent of a 3 year 3 month old boy. Saw someone on here a few weeks ago post a thank you for anadvice they saw awhile ago about putting their child into the bath/shower with a popsicle when theycould not calm them down.Thank you.My son was having a horrible uncontrollable meltdown. He was yelling, throwing stuff, crying,running in and out the house, running in his room to cry..which turned into a scream. The wifetried to rock him and he was not having it. 30 mins go by and I remember this advice so I ran awarm bubble bath, grabbed a sugar free popsicle (that was all we had) and invited him into thebathtub with a popsicle as a lure. He cried as he took his [clothes] off and as soon as his toetouched the water, while holding his popsicle he stopped…He sat in the tub eating his popsicle quietly.. and when he was done he was smiling and playing inthe tub and still is as I write this. So again. Thank you.”So the next time you have trouble with a tantrum remember this recipe: Cool treat + warm water =calm kiddo.

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