August 31st, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Not Ready For This

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August 31st, 2010

Breaking Up with Chinese Made Products

I’ve been thinking a lot about how we spend our money, especially since I stopped working. I will admit that I am a sucker for the deal, most of my stuff is from Target and is replaced all to often when it inevitably wears out. Quality is inconsistent, but every once in a while I score my holy grail – a cheap pair of jeans that lasts for years. We had made an effort to purchase American-made products whenever possible, but that fell by the wayside when Spencer came around. Made in the USA baby-stuff is hard to find or really expensive, but it can be done. We just weren’t doing it.

We did decide that things that went in to Spencer’s mouth (and were meant to) would not be Chinese-made. Bottles were pretty easy; Target had some Made in England bottles.  European and English pacifiers were also pretty easy to find.  But then, we got to sippy cups. We had been given some Chinese-made sippy cups as a gift, so we started with those. And then I went on an internet search that spanned days and finally found the single Made in the USA sippy-cup brand on the internet. And bought three.

I gradually became lax about even looking at where my purchases were from. It was just so easy to buy the cheapest thing at Target or Babies-R-Us. And then I started thinking. I care about where my food comes from, why don’t I care more about the rest of my stuff’s origins. I would love to buy most things American-made. I try and buy local food, maybe I should try and buy local things. I thought about trying to only buy things Made in the USA for a week and that seemed overwhelmingly daunting. So, I pondered. And pondered some more. What if I just didn’t buy anything from China for a month. Nothing. Not even Spencer’s beloved Mum-Mums. This seems doable and so it will be done. This September, the Baby Baby Lemon House will not purchase anything Made in China.

To be clear, this is not a boycott. I am going to do my best to pay attention to where my dollars are going. I will continue to use anything in my house that was Made in China that was previously purchased. If someone gives us a gift and it is chinese-made, we will keep it. To be quite honest, I have not really done that much research as to how hard this will be. And this is a month we need to buy things like a major appliance; I need a complete make-up overhaul; and Spencer needs new shoes, to replace the shoes we bought 3 weeks ago that are already wearing out. Guess where those were made. This should be a fun adventure.  Feel free to leave shopping suggestions in the comments. Or join me on this adventure, fellow shoppers welcome.

August 31st, 2010

Missed It

The things you miss when you go to the post office… I cam home to a soaking wet, pantless, but happy baby. My husband said, “Well, he can turn the spigot.” I looked out the window and saw pants, socks and shoes laid over a chair to dry. I guess they went outside to water the plants. Spencer toddled around on the grass and the patio for a little while, but was apparently watching hubs fill the watering can. After a few minutes, hubs glanced over just as Spencer turned the spigot himself, soaking himself and the patio. That boy is a quick learner!

August 30th, 2010

Saying No

I was not prepared for the relentless need to say no. No Spencer, don’t fling yourself off the couch. No Spencer, don’t throw my phone. No Spencer, it is not nice to gouge out my eye. No biting. No climbing. No pinching. No throwing food. No spitting food. No. No. No.

It is sucking out my soul. I ended up curled up in a ball on the floor, near tears, because I couldn’t take saying it anymore. With him smacking me in the face of course. Up until now, I felt like I was taking to this whole parenting thing pretty well, but now I am at an utter loss. I’ve tried distraction. I’ve tried redirection. I’ve tried trading the off-limits item for a toy. There is about a 50% success rate with the other half of the time resulting in screaming and crying.

I think it is book time. I’m looking at No-Cry Discipline Solution and Happiest Toddler on the Block. I also think I need some more local friends. Or maybe I just need to make more of an effort with the few that I do have. I’m feeling frustrated and trapped in the house, but at the same time feeling too lazy to go anywhere. Maybe Spencer is acting out because he is bored. He didn’t act like this in San Francisco. One thing is clear, some things have to change or I am going to go insane.