Darlings,

Today is the official start of my maternity leave, and so I must bid you adieu until October. Please continue to email me with comments and love. Most important, get yourself the best summer ever, and I’ll see you in the fall.

Air kisses galore!
Magazine MILF

Mr. MILF sent the most beautiful bouquet! Per yesterday’s post about a New York Times Styles story on the Obama date night that’s pressuring American men into romancing their wives — my favorite being the man who sends his wife flowers every Tuesday — Mr. MILF messengered over a gorgeous bouquet of red everything that’s gonna make the upcoming Hump Day extra special. So, between date night and Ms. Michelle, could the Prez have the ladies’ vote any more locked up?

Yoganomics — now there’s something New York Times parenting columnist Lisa Belkin could have really sunk her teeth into. Alas, all we got were bitemarks by Emily Bazelon in The New York Times Magazine this week. Writing about the perilous fate of urban freelancers during the downturn, Bazelon focuses on a single mom named Lisa Feuer who became a yoga instructor after divorcing her husband and losing her job doing publicity for his record label. While Bazelon glosses over Feuer’s childcare issues and how they prevent her from supplementing her meager income by, say, bartending, one can just imagine how, in the hands of Lisa Belkin, this would have been a heartbreaking story about the perilous fate of middle-class single moms who equally desire an honest living and time with their children, and how being an employee usually prevents that kind of best-of-both-worlds, nice-life scenario. What’s more, women require safer working conditions than men, limiting their choices as well as their compensation — because even the rich people on whom these female independent contractors typically depend are savvy enough to cut private yoga instruction immediately in a recession. As everybody knows, though, there is no safety net for trust-fund-free single moms. But the services they provide — yoga, massage, family photography — are often the things that, however trivial and indulgent they may appear to be, promote health and happiness. Don’t these women deserve the same?

Dear Mr. MILF,

Did you happen to catch that New York Times story about our First Couple’s date night? You know, the one that’s getting American men all bitter about the pressure to spend quality time with their wives? I left it out for you. Folded to the exact spot I wanted you to see. It’s not that you don’t take me out — every Saturday night and then some is fantastic — but there was that bit about the guy who’s got it in his Blackberry to send his wife flowers every Tuesday. Doesn’t that sound so nice? Being that I’m nine months knocked-up with your second child and all?

French Kisses!
Magazine MILF

p.s. You all read it here first: I’m calling Michelle Obama’s shoulder blades as the next must-have body part.

Sorry for the pause, peeps! I was lost on book leave last week, but now I’m back! Lots of MILFy tidbits coming your way. Kisses!