Blog It!

Anyone who knows me - will tell you that I can get evangelical about things. Especially new things I've discovered.
(Must be the Bible thumping childhood I experienced!)
So it follows that I am now shouting loudly about the joy of blogs.
I will be the first to admit that in the past I have been skeptical about their purpose.
Then I read Mosey Along (forgive us our mutual adoration society.)
My eyes were opened. I have since found too many wonderful blogs to mention. I'll get to adding a list when my baby stops demanding so much attention. Say, 18 years from now.
Whatever your interest, peeve, soap box issue - someone else is writing about it. Marvelous. Instant community.
I also love that the barriers around writing are squeaking open. With all due respect to those who have studied and are slaves to their art, it's nice to be allowed a platform without first having to get a masters degree.
If you've been reading my blog you'll see which category I fall into!
However, my inner hippie has been screaming to get out. Can we comment in a touchy, feely, constructive criticism kind of way?
Can we stop falling into the trap set by the deliberately controversial? Can we all just get along?
We parents are tired, wracked with guilt and angst about every kid related decision. Struggling to keep our 'selves' separate from the great big vacuum that is parenthood. If we know how much thought we put into each choice we make related to our kids - can we assume that other parents did too.
Vote with your keyboard. If you don't like what you read - navigate away.
Still here? Great - let me tell you how I feel about sugar........

Ssssh!

I'm finding the world to be very LOUD. Conversations, music in shops and cafes, cars, dogs, just about anything.
It's only been happening for about the last eight months - coincidentally, the age of my baby.
It seems to be a conspiracy of volume. It over-stimulates, startles or wakes my baby everywhere we go.
Can't everyone see my baby with tiny, vulnerable ears?
Isn't the stroller quite obvious. Shouldn't it cue the entire rest of the world to quiet down?
Perhaps I'm being unreasonable.
But seriously, when my baby is sleeping peacefully on our walk, DO NOT stick your head right in the stroller and boom - "Look at that sweet, sleeping baby."
Try not to activate your car alarm, just as we stroll by.
Consider starting your cell phone call just a few meters past us.
It might prevent mommy meltdown - a condition to be avoided at all costs. Ask any Dad.
You may have wondered why harried looking women with unwashed hair have been scowling at you.
Did they, perchance, have a stroller with them? That little backpack they appear to be accidently wearing on their front - actually carries a pair of tiny ears.
Why don't they sell tiny ear plugs?
Note to self: Contact the patent office - I've just had a brilliant business idea....

Obama Mama

I watched the inauguration of President Obama with a group of moms.
We marveled at the event. Not least because we actually got to sit down and watch it uninterrupted!
It was such a hopeful event. We felt this for ourselves and our beloved children.
We swallowed when Obama said that the next generation would have to lower it's sights.
We immediately thought of how we could re-frame that for our kids.
We felt the joy, optimism and unprecedented unity, deeply.
It was a rare moment in which to feel our hopes and dreams for our children are uninhibited.
It was a beautiful moment in time.
A wonderful day to be a parent and feel the full force of a hope filled future.
Later, as I shared the event with my 5 year old. It was evident that the happy, positive mood was infectious.
As my child sang 'We Shall Overcome' in the car on the way home, we talked about how much had been overcome.
How we could continue to keep that spirit going. What she could do to help 'Oh-Bam-Ma.'
It was a good day!

WARNING! Controversy Ahead.

Sleep training. Possibly the most controversial of all parenting topics. I find myself wondering why? There are hundreds of baby books that offer varying techniques, advice and methods for everything we need to teach our children, from first foods to potty training. The approaches differ and we choose the ones that work for us quite happily.
So, what's the difference?
Well, with sleep training it seems we can't help slinging some mud at the other approaches.
What makes us so defensive about our chosen method and worse so vehement that other methods are JUST PLAIN WRONG.
Google the topic, plow through the books, blogs and magazine articles and you will find opposing opinions not so strongly expressed since Sarah Palin graced our TV screens as VP candidate.
Let's face it - we're tired. Exhausted even. It comes with the territory. Is that the reason behind the cranky defense of our chosen method?
Is it because some methods involve tears? (Ours and babies!)
Tears, apparently, are unacceptable if left unmopped.
As you may have begun to suspect - I'm a 'cry it out' kind of mom.
I prefer the method where you offer some comfort but without words or eye contact.
Why did I choose it? For me and my babies - it worked. It worked quickly (2-3 nights.)
It involved less than an hour of intermittent tears. You know the kind - there's a pause every few sobs to see if you're coming.
Quickly followed by a peacefully sleeping baby and blissfully happy parents.
So, let the mud slinging begin. I'm out - loud and proud. I sleep train. There was crying involved.
We all survived and are happy and whole lot less sleepy.
I am so much less cranky I don't even care to comment that your method still seems to be causing sleep loss for you and baby.
Honestly, I have no opinion : )

Have you seen My Brain?

Ok, so we all know that when you push out a baby your brain seems to get pushed out too.
Add to that the sleep deprivation and general exhaustion and you're just not going to qualify for Mensa.
So, last night my sweet husband booked me a massage. I had been sick, struggling with fatigue after eight months of breast feeding and then hurt my back. It was such a sweet loving gesture - I was very touched.
I jumped in the car with great anticipation. Drove to the local spa and walked through the door already feeling greatly relaxed.
"I'm here for my 7.30pm massage." I said. "Come on in." They said. The masseuse is sitting there waiting for me. I confirm it's an hour and a half and off we go.
I float out of there blissed out and deeply relaxed. Then, I looked at my cell phone. Four missed calls. Hmmm.
I eagerly listen to the voicemail.
"Hello, this is the Super Spa* and Massage, we have you booked for a 7.30pm and we're just wondering where you are?"
I call my husband. "Honey, where did you book my massage?" "Super Spa of course, your favorite."
So, why did I go to Sweet Spa?
Well, it's the closest - surely my husband just booked the closest spa. No, he booked my favorite.
But Sweet Spa had a reservation for me and a masseuse waiting. How is this possible?
Multiple phone calls later.
No reservation just a massuese on standby and an opportunistic receptionist.
Super Spa now want to be paid for an hour and a half massage I failed to show for and my brain is clearly lying on a lounger sipping a cocktail somewhere.
At least I was relaxed for 5 minutes.
* Spa names have been changed

Label Mania

I have discovered a new psychiatric condition. It occurs mostly in kids under 10 years old.
It seems widely prevalent and does not discriminate between boys and girls. It is Label Mania.
The first symptoms seem to be related to clothing. While it may cause your temperature (and blood pressure) to raise, the first sign you will see in your child is itching. This will be followed by multiple changes of clothes accompanied by much whining.
The cure? A pair of scissors.
Top tip - make note of the washing instructions before you snip and discard.
After clothes, Label Mania will spread to soft toys and shop tags (try to remove before you leave the store for fast relief.)
You, like me, may think you will be able to convince your child that a piece of material less than an inch square is no big deal, is actually soft, not scratchy and needs to stay in place. Give it up - get snipping.
My five year old would have me snip off all labels everywhere, regardless of who they belong to or what they are for. I am hard pressed to convince her we need to keep the label on until we pay for something.
I actually carry a cute little pair of scissors with me at all times in case of an emergency attack.
In all other ways my child seems, happy, calm and reasonable. However, Christmas morning she became a little unstable. "Why would Santa give me labels? CUT THEM OFF!"
It's a good job Santa was already back in Lapland to miss the tongue lashing he got in our house.
Note to self: Clue Santa in for next year.
Thankfully, there's light at the end of the tunnel. Labeless clothing is here and although I doubt we'll see washing instructions printed on the cute furry bottoms of cuddly toys - I hold out hope.