Have the wish lists started pouring in? Count the brand names and advertising-driven items. When I asked about something on my daughter’s list, “Where did you hear about that?” she told me she heard it from friends. Heard from friends translated easily into Want It. Advertising to children looks like the marketing gift that keeps … Read more
As a season of family gatherings approaches, especially if you are a new mother, you may be wondering how best to breastfeed your baby while balancing the dynamics of your particular family. I tend to be of the whip-it-out militant breastfeeding crowd, but I understand that not everyone is comfortable baring their breasts to strangers—worse yet, … Read more
What kind of diapers did your grandmother use on your parents? With the holidays coming up, I’m going to ask you a favor. When you are sitting around in a quiet moment with your older relatives this year, consider asking them about what they did as parents. Ask your grandmother about diapers and see what she … Read more
Have you noticed more attention given to natural rubber products recently? From yoga mats to natural baby toys, what’s new about it? Natural rubber is the new (natural) substitute for the old (unfortunately toxic) substitute. From rubber to plastic and back. Plastic Like Rubber Though there were some plastic toys created before World War II, … Read more
Like so many holidays and community celebrations, Halloween becomes another opportunity for commerce. I see a lot of parents struggling to find the best way to instill in their children deeper meanings for holidays. Four inches of snow have definitively killed my pumpkin vines. These hearty pumpkins are my last harvest of the season. As we … Read more