Mama Drama!

I wanted to make a Thankful post tonight, but instead I feel like I should write on a topic that has been bothering me.

I've seen it all over the place lately: mothers putting down other mothers, women insulting women, and always over petty issues. It's ridiculous. And I don't care if you do it without naming names, or if you hide it under the veil of "just your opinion". Your opinion, when you express it in a way that is derogatory, inflammatory, and self-righteous, can hurt people. And if you're okay with that, all I can say is that I'm sad for you.

I say 'you' not because I have anyone in mind, but because we have all been guilty of it. I have, too. It's so easy to sit in judgement, to pretend we know best. But what's the point? Who are we helping when we raise ourselves on a pedestal? And how will it ever change the world for the better?

If I were to bring my past self forward in time and tell her to give her opinion of my life, I think she would judge me harshly. After all, my daughter barely naps, gladly ignores the word 'no', climbs like a maniac, and sleeps in our bed despite my best efforts. I never thought this would be me. The only thing separating the two of us is the experience of raising the offspring, but it makes a world of difference. So how can you possibly criticize someone without knowing what they have gone through? What makes you think that your so-called success could repeat itself in their situation, or that your choices would make them happy?

I do have something to be thankful for. I have met a unique community of women with low doses of drama, gossip, and general unpleasantness. Some of us have nothing in common other than having children born in the same month, but we get along. Every woman should be able to find that kind of support system, but too often someone decides to be catty, or worse. It can ruin a woman. Words hurt.

Next time you decide the internet is your personal high horse, think again. If you really want someone to hear you, try treating them with respect. Educate instead of lecture, think instead of rant. Remember that your words have power, but with power comes responsibility.

Yes, I had to make that reference. This is a nerd blog after all.

Stop CPSIA: Help save handmade!

You can't have missed all the reports in the news recently about dangerous levels of lead and phthalates in mass-produced childrens' toys. It's a scary thing to hear about as a new mom who wants the brightest and best future for her kids. But, as it is often wont to do, Congress has responded to the problem by taking extraordinary measures that in the end can do more harm than good.

The Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) is a well-intentioned bill, like most. It seeks to regulate the levels of lead and phthalates allowable in products intended for children under the age of 12. But the law does not restrict itself to large manufacturers, and in fact gives some of them a loophole to avoid responsibility. Instead of placing responsibilities for testing on the original manufacturer of products like fabrics, yarns, sewing notions, paints, or other craft products, the law requires that the creator of the final product do batch testing to make sure that they fall within the safety regulations. The tests needed are prohibitively expensive for a small business, especially when you take into account the very nature of some handmade items that are limited in quantity or even one of a kind. Worse yet, some of the tests are destructive, making limited items difficult and one of a kind items impossible!

Simply put, CPSIA will endanger, if not destroy, thousands of small businesses and hobby businesses across the country. It even makes me nervous to give handmade gifts to children. Will Big Brother stop me from making baby booties for a friend or try to take away the handmade quilts from my daughter? Heaven forbid.

For more in-depth information and updates, you can check out http://coolmompicks.com/savehandmade/ and http://www.endangeredwhimsy.com/. Cool Mom Picks can also show you how to contact your Congress person. Make your voice heard and save our handmade future!