Articles written by Stephanie Joynes

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About me - Stephanie Joynes

I'm a new mom, and that's pretty much my identity right now.

Prior to motherhood, I grew up in a small town in Ohio. When I graduated from high school, I left Ohio and started studying English and Anthropology at Syracuse University with every intention of

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Politics, News & Issues > Family Law There should be restrictions on the availability of abortion, except when the mother's life is at stake: 1 of 30

No one is ever Pro-Abortion. No one ever says, "Yes, everyone should have an abortion. It's a great idea!" This is a difficult issue with serious emotions involved. But when it comes to providing the choice of an abortion, it is important that we provide that option to American women. Prior to the decision of Roe vs. Wade, t...
Hobbies & Games > Kids Games & Toys Are Bratz dolls appropriate for young girls?: 2 of 24

Every generation has their toy icons, from Charlie McCarthy to Cabbage Patch Kids to Barbie dolls. Then the Bratz dolls came along and this controversy of the representation of women is again in the limelight. Between Barbie, Bratz and other dolls with their impossibly tiny waists, large breasts, flashy clothing options and ...
Style & Beauty > Hair Care How to care for curly hair: 1 of 10

How many times has someone told me, "You are so lucky to have curly hair!"? Clearly they didn't see me during that awkward stage where I had no idea what to do with my uncontrollable hair that looked too poofy when it was short and too frizzy when it was long. Eventually, after using every kind of product out there, from gel...
Arts & Humanities > British Authors Should Harry Potter author, JK Rowling, have announced that the character Albus Dumbledore was gay?: 2 of 18

JK Rowling has always been very open about who her characters are, who they aren't, and what their motivations are for their actions. She has crafted each character with little details proving she knew more about their past, present and future than any reader could fathom. Even the most minor of characters was represented wi...
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: Positive birth stories: 6 of 35

It was my expectation to go through hours upon hours of labor and excruciating pain. I had gone to the childbirth classes, practiced my breathing and fully expected to have a natural childbirth. Well, I didn't get what I expected and I'm actually pretty grateful for it. The night before my water broke, I had an overwhelming ...
Parenting & Pregnancy > Baby Accessories Layette essentials: How to anticipate clothing needs for your newborn: 2 of 10

My daughter is almost 17 months old now, and there is a huge garbage bag next to her changing table waiting to be donated to charity. It's filled with onesies, sleepers, t-shirt and pants that she has miraculously outgrown overnight. I still have to go through the bag to see what should be kept for another child, what should...
Relationships & Family > Ancestry & Genealogy Genealogy: The importance of writing down your grandparents' stories: 8 of 37

When I was working in a cultural museum, I was amazed by how many people wanted to learn about their family history. There are myths and legends in every family, but people wanted to learn what was fact and what was fiction. Was there a Cherokee grandmother? Was their grandfather a slave or a free African-American? How did o...
Arts & Humanities > Museums & Galleries Museum etiquette: How to behave when visiting an art museum: 3 of 12

We call it "edu-tainment" in the museum field; a cross between education and entertainment. But museums are not amusement parks, nor are they cold boring places either. They are intended to give visitors an experience they will take with them for the rest of their lives. After working at the Smithsonian Institution for sever...
Celebrations & Holidays > Gifts for Women Best baby gifts for new mothers: 17 of 65

My mother, mother-in-law and a family friend threw me one of the biggest baby showers I ever could have imagined. Due the mass amounts of gifts that arrived when Sadie was born, I have a gained a tremendous amount of knowledge of what's a great and useful gift and what isn't. Since my baby girl is now approaching her first b...
Society & Lifestyle > North American Culture Native mascots: Right or wrong?: 4 of 15

The issue of Native mascots has been huge in American Indian communities for decades. Some people will say it is political correctness run amok. I say these people have probably never had a single conversation with a Native person. I've worked with Native communities for several years, and while there are serious issues faci...