Okay, sorry. It has been forever. And so busy. I have a lot of projects going on at the moment, including getting into some freelance article writing, getting my first children's book published, and going back to work at least part time. And of course all the while I am focused on my darling son and keeping his ever-growing imagination entertained and sense of mischief within safe limits.
My son turned one recently and this was an exciting and tricky milestone. There was of course a party, a big noisy stampede of kids and grownups through a freshly painted house - and a course of happy birthday from 80 or so people that may or may not have scared the bejeezus out of my little birthday boy. He did really well with it all - the chaos, the new faces. In fact he entertained like a pro, using his newly polished walking skills to bound from one packed room to another introducing himself like a gentleman and offering to freshen drinks. Okay maybe not quite, but he did seem to understand that it was all for him, and was rather pleased with himself for it. There was also some sadness and tearful reminiscing - on my part mostly, I'll admit.
After the party ended and all our family waved goodbye from the bottom of our sloped driveway, I realized he would never turn one again; never be swaddled or fall asleep next to me on an activity mat looking up at the bottom of a stuffed elephant. I must have replayed every single memory of his first year in my head over the next few days. I like to keep them from gathering dust in the cluttered attic that is my brain. I thought about his first cry and the moment he was placed in my arms for the first time. I thought about our naps together and night time feedings, and those first nervous car rides; the first time he rolled over, crawled, and took his first steps. I will miss those days.
But I have so much to look forward to. Every day a new facet of his personality glimmers. Being with him is like eating ice cream in a sunshine-warmed car, or the first swim of Summer. And watching him grow and helping him thrive in every way is the project of a lifetime.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
"Made in" Voyage
For those of you who know me, you will be happy to find that today's post is one of my familiar unbridled rants. For those of you who do not, brace yourselves. I'm well known for climbing onto the soap box, building my house there, and now that I'm a parent, joining taking over the local PTA (because the bitch who currently runs it screwed up last year's bake sale something godawful).
Today's rant is brought to you by the made in China label affixed to virtually every product we buy nowadays. I subscribe to an email feed from the CSPC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) which alerts consumers to recalled children's products. If you are a parent, you need to be on this list. https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx I receive at least one notice weekly of a recalled children's product and I'd say 90% of the products mentioned are manufactured in China. We've all heard the news, but it's worse than most of us realize. The latest points to the use of Cadmium which has been used in place of the dreaded lead, but is just as toxic. Kudos to Wal-mart for it's voluntary mass recall of these products.
I'm no expert, but double-u-t-f?! What gives? After hearing this news I promptly weeded out half of my son's toy bin into a newly fashioned "recall bin." This bin is full of toys and other gear manufactured in China and is now at the top of the danger (big skull and cross-bones) list ahead of the clorox bottle and the cat litter tray. Okay, maybe that's a bit extreme and as a marketer, I'm willing to concede a margin of media spin in these stories (I've never wanted to buy Made in the USA more no matter how untrendy it is). But on the other hand, I've come to an incredibly important conclusion as a new parent: No one but NO ONE can protect your child the way that you as his parent can because frankly no one else gives a damn about him. Certainly not China and realistically certainly not insert just about any toy/baby gear manufacturer here. Being a parent is about more than just having all the right gear and the right advice. It's a whole new level of instinct and yeah I'm saying it, distrust. It's about thinking twice and reading the fine print, and then asking a gazillion questions and having some jackass at the toy depot look at you like you're mad. And that's okay. While he's on his ciggy break out back laughing about the crazy bitch asking if the stuffed giraffe is BPA free, I'll be skulking over to the diaper aisle to gingerly pry open the box and read the label affixed to the unmentionable area of my child's would-be new cuddly friend to find it's DAMNIT - Made in China.
Today's rant is brought to you by the made in China label affixed to virtually every product we buy nowadays. I subscribe to an email feed from the CSPC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) which alerts consumers to recalled children's products. If you are a parent, you need to be on this list. https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx I receive at least one notice weekly of a recalled children's product and I'd say 90% of the products mentioned are manufactured in China. We've all heard the news, but it's worse than most of us realize. The latest points to the use of Cadmium which has been used in place of the dreaded lead, but is just as toxic. Kudos to Wal-mart for it's voluntary mass recall of these products.
I'm no expert, but double-u-t-f?! What gives? After hearing this news I promptly weeded out half of my son's toy bin into a newly fashioned "recall bin." This bin is full of toys and other gear manufactured in China and is now at the top of the danger (big skull and cross-bones) list ahead of the clorox bottle and the cat litter tray. Okay, maybe that's a bit extreme and as a marketer, I'm willing to concede a margin of media spin in these stories (I've never wanted to buy Made in the USA more no matter how untrendy it is). But on the other hand, I've come to an incredibly important conclusion as a new parent: No one but NO ONE can protect your child the way that you as his parent can because frankly no one else gives a damn about him. Certainly not China and realistically certainly not insert just about any toy/baby gear manufacturer here. Being a parent is about more than just having all the right gear and the right advice. It's a whole new level of instinct and yeah I'm saying it, distrust. It's about thinking twice and reading the fine print, and then asking a gazillion questions and having some jackass at the toy depot look at you like you're mad. And that's okay. While he's on his ciggy break out back laughing about the crazy bitch asking if the stuffed giraffe is BPA free, I'll be skulking over to the diaper aisle to gingerly pry open the box and read the label affixed to the unmentionable area of my child's would-be new cuddly friend to find it's DAMNIT - Made in China.
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