1. Last week I put up a post saying I wasn't sure I wanted to do 7 Quick Takes anymore, for various reasons. But some people came back with comments that they liked it, so well, here I am.
2. I know this isn't a timely observation, but why do so many kids toys have to have a sound chip in them? It's a landmine of scary, unexpected sounds. You're walking through a room and just the vibration from your walking by sets off the chip. I've jumped feet into the air being scared by an unanticipated "Whoo-hoo!" from Old MacDonald or the spinning wheels of a dump truck. And some of them are just so loud! Even Alan doesn't like some of his toys because they're too noisy. There's already so much noise from TV, I don't understand why the toys have to add to the cacophony, as well?
3. Anyone know what's the cheapest, best-looking, and easiest-to-care for shrub or bush to plant in a yard - and - that's NOT anything in the evergreen family? Just asking.
4. Let's talk about Mother's Day; I have a question: Do you think that Mother's Day should be all about Mom? As in, do what SHE wants that day and give her gifts and a cake, etc.? Or do you think that it should be about Mom doing things with her kids that the kids like to do? I grew up mostly with the former - Mother's Day being about Mom and her wishes. But I'm coming to realize that many people make it about the kids. I'm torn as to how to approach Mother's Day for myself, since I'm in the early stages of being able to set the pattern for our own family. As it stands, this year we're travelling to Madison to visit an arboretum, and maybe a picnic or restaurant. But there's a part of me that also wants to be spoiled with the traditional gifts, flowers, and brunch. Is that kind of Mother's Day just too old-school these days?
5. While I have been hoping and praying for spring and summer to get here, since I'm sick of being stuck in a house all day for months on end with a toddler, it has recently occurred to me that the need for naps now potentially screws up the day. Anyone else feel this way? You know, you finally get everything rolling in the morning, get everyone dressed, collect all you need to go wherever - whether it's running errands or going to the playground - and within an hour of hitting the road, it's nap time! Do you turn around and trudge back home for the nap? Or do you press on and skip the nap and your child turns into a hellion? I know I ask alot of kid questions, but again, I'm a first-time Mom with no experience in younger siblings or babysitting in my life.
6. MORE kid questions (for anyone kind enough to respond.) Now that Alan is running around on his own and wants to be outside, it's time to break out the sunscreen. Except I have issues with all the chemicals in sunscreen. Last year I bought some paraben-free, low-on-chemical type kid's sunscreen and it sloughed right off within a half hour of putting it on Alan. Totally useless. Do I just need to bite the bullet and use what everyone else does? And what level of SPF protection is best for a 2-year-old? Mommy instinct says I should go with the highest possible, but does the highest SPF also mean the highest quotient of chemicals? And even more on my mind is this - how do you keep a hat on a toddler? It seems that's what you're supposed to do, stick a hat on your kid in the hot sun. But am I just kidding myself that it's possible?
7. I'm excited to do some yardwork today! In my dreams, I fancy myself as a master gardener, enjoying a gorgeous yard with just the right balance of shade and greens and colorful flowers. I'm a long, long way from that. But each year I do one or two little things that I hope moves me in that direction. Yeah that spring (REAL spring) is finally here!
Friday, May 8, 2009
7 Quick Takes Friday - May 8
Posted by Charlotte at 8:16 AM
Labels: 7 Quick Takes Friday, Bad Toys, Gardening, Landscaping, Mother's Day, Naps, Sunscreen
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9 comments:
I'm with you about the noisy kid toys. I refuse to buy them myself, but friends and family have no such qualms. At least we have boys - have you seen those awful motion-actived baby dolls? You walk by and they start crying. UGH!
Mother's Day in my family has always been about mom, as in my mother and my MIL. We try to see both of them during the weekend. I'm not a big fan of it, but you can't really refuse to see your mom for Mother's Day when you live nearby...
We do our errands either early in the morning, or post-nap. It's a pain, I agree, but it beats having a bratty child in WalMart.
I really like the Neutrogena (sp?) sunscreen. That's what my dermatologist recommends. I'm not a big fan of chemicals, but it beats sun damage. You might want to check out the SPF clothing that's available now.
As for the hat, I used to use a sun hat from Target that had a velcro strap under the chin. It had built-in SPF, so BB's nearly bald head had additional protection.
From someone who had skin cancer at 25 because of early sun damage (at my own hands in my teenage years, not due to my parents' negligence), the damage your son will receive from the sun by far outweighs any potential and unproven damage from sunscreen chemicals. I've never even heard of specific concerns about chemicals in sunscreen. Either way, either keep him inside, keep him fully covered by dark and thick clothing (not practical in the summer), or sunscreen every 90 minutes or so.
I second Heather's recommendation of Neutrogenia sunscreen. The one my derm says to get is the one with Helioplex. My kids (thank God) did not inherit my cheap Irish skin, so they get nice and tan like their dad. I think the spring sun is more dangerous than the summer sun, so I make a point to spray them down when they play lacrosse in the hot sun. By the time the summer rolls in, their skin has adapted to the sun and unless we are spending the day at the shore, I don't bother with it all that much. As I said earlier, they've never had a sun burn in their lives.
Jennifer
Hi Marian,
Thanks for visiting my blog.
In general, as concerns sunscreen, I think I agree that the chemical risks outweight the skin damage risks. However, I assure you that parabens are a risk and our family has worked hard to eliminate them. Especially since parabens are rountinely found in breast cancer cells and are starting to be implicated in other kinds of cancer.
Parabens are a preservative in lotions (mostly), but also shower gels, face products, shampoo, and even (gross) toothpaste. They exist in products only to extend shelf life so that, say, your lotion from Bath & Body Works can last for 5 or 6 years in a stable state. The natural replacement for parabens is Vitamin E (tocopheryls).
What makes me mad is that many industries are granted "trade secret" status by the U.S. government. Thus, all kinds of companies and products (example - toothpaste manufacturers and Estee Lauder corp.) don't have to disclose (and won't) whether their products contain parabens.
What also gets me mad is that many products contain multiple papabens - methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, etc. Check the labels on your skin and body care products and your eyes will be opened.
So, it seems that in our world, it comes down to choosing which side of the cancer fence is more harmful. In this case, I'm going to go with traditional sunscreen. But for everything else, no way, I'm not buying into the argument that parabens are "safe." The largest organ on our body IS our skin. I have spent years of slathering on products filled with parabens, endocrine-disrupting fragrance, and other chemicals. It makes me sick that my skin has been soaking all of that up.
I'm sorry that you had skin cancer. I hope that more progress in made in terms of better protections for all.
Thankfully, my skin cancer experience has had no long lasting consequences for me except increased education and awareness. I have heard of parabens and am aware of the risks. Have you considered the spray sunscreens? I find these to offer better protection, and they're easier to use. That might eliminate the risk! A friend of mine uses a brand called Kinesis for her kids, and, from what I remember from our brief discussion a year ago, it's somehow more natural than other spray sunscreens. (I'm not sure about the spelling, but that's what it's called.)
Also, Jennifer, you should realize that any change in pigmentation greatly increases your children's chances for skin cancer later in life. A tan is nothing more than damaged skin that we've determined is attractive. I hope that you'll consider this and be more cautious with your family with sunscreen year round.
Thanks for listening!
Not a believer in sun screen...keep him inside (for that nap) fron 10a-2p...have fun outside earlier and later...
There is an epidemic of vitamin D deficiency partly due to "blocking" all those UVB rays...
(Check out Fr Corapi's story)
Be wise, use sunscreen if he will be out for a long long time, or at the height of the sun, otherwise...sun really is healthy
(we can't metabolize calcium without Vitamin D...we can't get enough from food/ supplements.
My kids also wear swim clothes that cover neck to knee and elbow and are very comfotable...they are actually 98% sunprotection...My girls are MUCH more comfotable being modest, especially in "company". They end up with a little healthy color in summer and I trust the rest to God.
BTW: we have been slathering gunk on for YEARS now and the skin cancer rates are rising...perhaps there is a negative correlation?
God Bless, and have fun with your little one!
Marian,
Thanks for your concern. I too am a skin cancer survivor. I've undergone two surgeries to remove irregular moles on my back and three MOHS surgeries to remove basel cell skin cancer on my face. I've also had four moles exised on my arms and legs in the past three months. I'm 42.
As for my children, I tend to agree with Elizabeth that healthy sun exposure (for vitamin D) and staying indoors during peak sun times (here in NJ its 10 to 2) during the height of the summer. I am a product of the sixties and seventies of little or no sunscreen, plus spent years going to FL during winter break and scorching my skin. The worst thing a fair person can do is go from cold climate to scorching sun. A gradual acclimation to the sun and careful exposure is far more healthy and beneficial.
I'm not living my life in fear of the sun.
I should say Mother's day is for you! Children don't think about or appreciate their mothers enough as it is. I think it is so good for them to be encouraged to think about you. I would be a selfish pig if I expected my mother to cater to me on her day. That's what she did every other day when I was little. Besides, there's another day on the calendar named children's day.
You mothers deserve this!!! You are angels! ...Sorry, had to get that out of my system. All the best to you, of course, whatever you choose for your family! :)
Have you ever put a little tape over the holes in the toys where the sound comes out? It can muffle them enough to make them a little more bearable. I've done it more than once.
We schedule our lives around nap and bedtimes, too. It's the only way to have a pleasant child, at least at my house. I may push my little one as in she falls asleep for nap on the way home from errands, but then I just put her to bed and she finishes nap there. I had no choice with my oldest; she would start screaming as soon as the little clock in her body hit nap or bedtime mode and literally not stop until she was home and IN her bed. You just learn to live with it. He'll outgrow his nap eventually and then you'll miss that break in the afternoons. I know I do with my oldest.
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