I haven't been posting for a while here. Partly it's because this nerd-lifestyle blogging is harder than I thought. I think parenthood and other adult responsibilities have forced us to normalize a little. When you can't rush out to buy every Lego set or video game that fills your nerdy heart with desire, the passion can wane a little. Christmas did bring an iPhone into our home, but it belongs to 1337 D4ddy.
I'm also spending some of my time posting at a new blog, to indulge my slightly (but only slightly) less nerdy, Martha Stewart wannabe side. This side of me is not necessarily interested in insider trading and the associated jail time.
But this is a new year. The offspring is older and I owe it to myself to get back in touch with my roots and myself. We have the good fortune of being able to attend Naka-kon again, this time with friends. My mother is bringing my younger brother, and we're trading kids. If I don't have to lug a diaper bag and stroller, it means I can lug a Ball Jointed Doll in full costume instead! I'm looking forward to wearing anime accessories without a toddler tugging on them, too. I might have to take her with us to get autographs though. She was such a big hit with the celebs last year.
Other than taking more time for myself and some home projects, I don't know what 2011 holds for us. If parenthood has taught me only one thing, it is that plans can always change- and often do.
Showing posts with label Nerd Mama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nerd Mama. Show all posts
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Holidays Ahead!
I like Thanksgiving. Food and family, what's not to like? But when it comes to holidays I really have to give it to Christmas. First and foremost it is about celebrating the birth of Christ. I really don't care that Jesus was not actually born in December, or that the Christian church only chose to celebrate during this season to keep people from participating in a pagan fertility holiday. I don't care that the Christmas tree, the feasting, and the gift-giving are all carried over from said fertility holiday. That doesn't change the meaning of the season for me. No matter what the circumstances of my life as a whole, Christmas always leaves me feeling fulfilled and blessed. It's hard not to feel God's presence when you are surrounded by people who love you.
If there is any one tradition that I'd like to pass on to my daughter and any future children, it is simply that they be surrounded by family. I can't imagine a Christmas season without going to three or four family gatherings, minimum. Sometimes it seems overwhelming to schedule them all, especially now that I am married and we have even more family members to see. I imagine that if we lived far away from family I would scrimp and save all year to travel home. I love having everyone together.
Do remember though, I am a nerd. Not all of my holiday memories are pulled from Hallmark cards. Whenever my parents claim that they are not nerds, I remember a holiday tradition that, sadly, stopped when I moved out. My parents worked at school so we had a vacation all the way through the new year, and in the vacation days after Christmas we would watch the original Star Wars trilogy. With the movies fresh in our minds, we gathered around the table to play Star Wars trivia. My dad was always Darth Vader. Still, they won't label themselves nerds... I suppose I'll let them slide since I won so often.
Even my nerdy memories are about family. They're not always cool, or easy to put up with, but if I didn't have family I might as well have nothing.
If there is any one tradition that I'd like to pass on to my daughter and any future children, it is simply that they be surrounded by family. I can't imagine a Christmas season without going to three or four family gatherings, minimum. Sometimes it seems overwhelming to schedule them all, especially now that I am married and we have even more family members to see. I imagine that if we lived far away from family I would scrimp and save all year to travel home. I love having everyone together.
Do remember though, I am a nerd. Not all of my holiday memories are pulled from Hallmark cards. Whenever my parents claim that they are not nerds, I remember a holiday tradition that, sadly, stopped when I moved out. My parents worked at school so we had a vacation all the way through the new year, and in the vacation days after Christmas we would watch the original Star Wars trilogy. With the movies fresh in our minds, we gathered around the table to play Star Wars trivia. My dad was always Darth Vader. Still, they won't label themselves nerds... I suppose I'll let them slide since I won so often.
Even my nerdy memories are about family. They're not always cool, or easy to put up with, but if I didn't have family I might as well have nothing.
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AmazonWednesday, November 24, 2010
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.
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.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Creating Creativity
Even though I'm making this post as an entry for a giveaway from Cotton Babies, it's something I've been meaning to discuss for a while. Creativity is very important to me, and I want to see the offspring blossom into an imaginative child. At eleven months (four days shy, how time flies!) it's impossible to know what talents she will have, so right now it is all about creating a mindset.
Right now, she loves to dance, so we dance every day! Whether it is just singing silly songs or playing CDs to see what she likes, there is a lot of music in our house these days. She loves it all, from mommy singing the alphabet to rocking guitars! She definitely has her own moves and I don't know where she got them, so she is already getting creative there.
I think making independent choices is very important to creativity, too, so the offspring helps choose her clothes almost every day. For now her choices are limited, but she gets to pick from two or three options. She is showing preferences towards bright colors and bold patterns, which of course I love. It's great to dress her and know that she likes her clothes, and thinks she looks good.
Most of all I try to get her to use her imagination every day. She is welcome to play with some of my plastic bowls, and she takes the offer gladly. Some days they are drums, other days they are baskets for collecting smaller toys, and still other days they are hats. And some days, they are all three! I want to keep buying her toys that will encourage her imagination instead of just flashing lights at her. She does love gadgets like a proper little nerd baby, but there is so much more to life. For her upcoming birthday she is getting Megabloks so that she can build whatever she can dream up. For Christmas I plan to get toy food so that she can pretend to be a gourmet chef, or run a grocery store, or be a mommy cooking for her baby doll. And when she is old enough to hold them she'll get crayons and I will draw with her every day, because even at 23 I think crayons are one of the best things on Earth.
Creativity is a muscle, and if you don't nurture it, you can atrophy. I'll keep exercising the offspring's creativity every day!
Right now, she loves to dance, so we dance every day! Whether it is just singing silly songs or playing CDs to see what she likes, there is a lot of music in our house these days. She loves it all, from mommy singing the alphabet to rocking guitars! She definitely has her own moves and I don't know where she got them, so she is already getting creative there.
I think making independent choices is very important to creativity, too, so the offspring helps choose her clothes almost every day. For now her choices are limited, but she gets to pick from two or three options. She is showing preferences towards bright colors and bold patterns, which of course I love. It's great to dress her and know that she likes her clothes, and thinks she looks good.
Most of all I try to get her to use her imagination every day. She is welcome to play with some of my plastic bowls, and she takes the offer gladly. Some days they are drums, other days they are baskets for collecting smaller toys, and still other days they are hats. And some days, they are all three! I want to keep buying her toys that will encourage her imagination instead of just flashing lights at her. She does love gadgets like a proper little nerd baby, but there is so much more to life. For her upcoming birthday she is getting Megabloks so that she can build whatever she can dream up. For Christmas I plan to get toy food so that she can pretend to be a gourmet chef, or run a grocery store, or be a mommy cooking for her baby doll. And when she is old enough to hold them she'll get crayons and I will draw with her every day, because even at 23 I think crayons are one of the best things on Earth.
Creativity is a muscle, and if you don't nurture it, you can atrophy. I'll keep exercising the offspring's creativity every day!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Bento, Revisited
For a few months, early in my pregnancy, I was making bento lunches for 1337 D4ddy. I never really tried to do art bento, since D4ddy could care less whether or not his food is cute, but getting up in the morning and preparing any kind of lunch that is more intricate than a sandwich takes time. I have never been a morning person in my life and fibromyalgia makes it even worse, so the bento making dropped off late in my pregnancy and stopped altogether when the offspring was born. For a few weeks I have been looking with dismay at the drawer full of bento supplies currently going to waste, and thinking on the reasons that I started bento in the first place. I wanted something to encourage me in my ongoing quest to make our diets healthier, first and foremost, but a thoughtfully packed healthy lunch was also a way to send a little extra love to school or work. This school semester promises to be the busiest yet, so anything I can do to make it easier is good. I have resolved to start making bento again.
The time required is definitely the biggest turn-off in bento making, at least for me, but thankfully there are others with the same dilemma who have become dedicated to the speed bento. Over the last couple of days I have been dutifully combing over Lunch In A Box for tips, recipes, and resources. The author, Biggie, packs bento lunches for her son in what seems to be an average of about 20 minutes every morning. 20 minutes is a great window for me. The offspring can eat her breakfast or stay happy in the swing for that long. Even if I stretch it out to 30 minutes when I'm getting the hang of things, she will probably tolerate it.
The only real disadvantage to making bento again is that it tempts me to buy all kinds of gear that I don't strictly need. I adore kitchen gadgets and my brain has apparently filed bento boxes and accessories as kitchen gadgets because it can't get enough of them.
The bento making will not begin immediately because I'm going to build up my freezer supply first. Freezer foods can be key in speed bento. D4ddy can manage in the meantime and a few days' wait will be worth it, if all goes as planned. I'll make sure to keep an update on how it goes!
The time required is definitely the biggest turn-off in bento making, at least for me, but thankfully there are others with the same dilemma who have become dedicated to the speed bento. Over the last couple of days I have been dutifully combing over Lunch In A Box for tips, recipes, and resources. The author, Biggie, packs bento lunches for her son in what seems to be an average of about 20 minutes every morning. 20 minutes is a great window for me. The offspring can eat her breakfast or stay happy in the swing for that long. Even if I stretch it out to 30 minutes when I'm getting the hang of things, she will probably tolerate it.
The only real disadvantage to making bento again is that it tempts me to buy all kinds of gear that I don't strictly need. I adore kitchen gadgets and my brain has apparently filed bento boxes and accessories as kitchen gadgets because it can't get enough of them.
The bento making will not begin immediately because I'm going to build up my freezer supply first. Freezer foods can be key in speed bento. D4ddy can manage in the meantime and a few days' wait will be worth it, if all goes as planned. I'll make sure to keep an update on how it goes!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
High-Tech Low-Tech
Geeks and nerds are usually known for loving all things high tech and modern. In our house this often holds true. 1337 D4ddy drools over tech blogs daily and if we could afford to have all the most up-to-date appliances and electronics we definitely would. Sometimes though, "modern" just doesn't work the way you want.
The offspring is seven months old now. We have been using disposable diapers the whole time. They're a wonderful modern convenience, just toss them when you're done and you rarely have to touch poop and pee. They're super-absorbent thanks to the miracles of science and chemistry. Unfortunately the leaking gel and gallons of trash they produce seem decidedly inconvenient to me, and you would think that science would find a cleaner alternative by now. Still, it sounds better than folding, wrapping and pinning those cloth diapers on. What is a mommy to do?
Whether it is out of desire for convenience, concern for the environment, or maybe just a love of innovation, cloth diapering has been reborn in so many new ways. Moms (and Dads!) have re-designed the diapers to fit any lifestyle. From gadgets that simply replace diaper pins to whole systems with adjustable one-size covers and optional disposable inserts for those times when you just can't use cloth, the old fashioned option is turning into a highly engineered piece of baby gear.
Maybe I'm just making excuses for introducing a decidedly old concept into our usually modern home, but I do know that if cloth had not been improved in recent years this Nerd Mama would not be traveling back in time. Sometimes great things are just an improvement on the old.
The offspring is seven months old now. We have been using disposable diapers the whole time. They're a wonderful modern convenience, just toss them when you're done and you rarely have to touch poop and pee. They're super-absorbent thanks to the miracles of science and chemistry. Unfortunately the leaking gel and gallons of trash they produce seem decidedly inconvenient to me, and you would think that science would find a cleaner alternative by now. Still, it sounds better than folding, wrapping and pinning those cloth diapers on. What is a mommy to do?
Whether it is out of desire for convenience, concern for the environment, or maybe just a love of innovation, cloth diapering has been reborn in so many new ways. Moms (and Dads!) have re-designed the diapers to fit any lifestyle. From gadgets that simply replace diaper pins to whole systems with adjustable one-size covers and optional disposable inserts for those times when you just can't use cloth, the old fashioned option is turning into a highly engineered piece of baby gear.
Maybe I'm just making excuses for introducing a decidedly old concept into our usually modern home, but I do know that if cloth had not been improved in recent years this Nerd Mama would not be traveling back in time. Sometimes great things are just an improvement on the old.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Nerd Immersion
It will be years before 1337 D4ddy and I know where the offspring's true interests lie, but in the meantime we are making her part of our very nerdy lives. In February we were fortunate to be able to attend Naka-kon 2010, our first anime convention. We brought the offspring along, and she was a huge hit. One of her "aunties" made a moogle poncho for her, so naturally baby had to cosplay on Friday. It didn't last long. About fifteen minutes in, she was trying to pull the hood off. Despite the costume being short-lived, people were still talking about it on Sunday! She was adored by the guests as well as the con-goers and even made it onto Christopher Ayers' website. (About 1/3 down, she's the baby being "autographed") She now has a hat embroidered with Cthulu- it reads "elder snack".
In addition to the big events, the offspring is of course involved in our day-to-day geekery. We host a D&D group once a week and I happily play with the offspring on my lap, or even nursing right at the table while someone else rolls for me. We make jokes about rolling a halfling character for her, but we're a little bit serious too. Someday we'll teach her how to play. Dice games can help with her math skills, and roleplaying fuels the imagination, plus it's a game that requires us all to sit down together and talk to one another. As busy as society tries to keep families nowadays, that will be something to treasure.
I don't know if my daughter will ever join her own D&D group, if she'll want to go to anime conventions (with or without us) when she's a teenager, or if we will someday have long discussions about The Lord of the Rings. Maybe she will geek out over something that has yet to be invented and I will feel connected, yet disconnected at the same time, as I'm sure my own parents have felt sometimes as they watch me grow nerdier than they could have ever predicted. But we are going to share lots of memories in the meantime.
In addition to the big events, the offspring is of course involved in our day-to-day geekery. We host a D&D group once a week and I happily play with the offspring on my lap, or even nursing right at the table while someone else rolls for me. We make jokes about rolling a halfling character for her, but we're a little bit serious too. Someday we'll teach her how to play. Dice games can help with her math skills, and roleplaying fuels the imagination, plus it's a game that requires us all to sit down together and talk to one another. As busy as society tries to keep families nowadays, that will be something to treasure.
I don't know if my daughter will ever join her own D&D group, if she'll want to go to anime conventions (with or without us) when she's a teenager, or if we will someday have long discussions about The Lord of the Rings. Maybe she will geek out over something that has yet to be invented and I will feel connected, yet disconnected at the same time, as I'm sure my own parents have felt sometimes as they watch me grow nerdier than they could have ever predicted. But we are going to share lots of memories in the meantime.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Fun Times with a Nerd Baby
Shopping for nerd baby toys is disappointing at best. Sure, there are plenty of nerdy toys in the world, but honestly most of them are targeted at adult collectors. Even the ones meant for children are usually only for kids old enough to be trusted with small parts. Nerd baby or not, I really don't want to take the offspring to the ER because she stuck a Lego up her nose, or swallowed a plastic laser beam. Even plush toys usually have button eyes or details that aren't really safe for an infant.
So far, our best solution has been handmade toys. There is of course Thu, the hand crocheted Cthulu that we received in the delivery room. The Nerd Mama isn't half bad at crocheting either, so I've whipped up a stubby little astromech droid and have a couple of Mario 'shrooms in the works. But the offspring isn't much interested in plain plush toys yet. She likes things that rattle or light up, or that feel interesting when she manages to stick them in her mouth. She has no shortage of these kind of toys, but how much fun would it be if her favorite toy was a Moogle rattle-headed blanket plush instead of a pink elephant? Sure, it would be mostly for my own pleasure at this point, but it would make for some fond memories down the road too.
Unsurprisingly, our non-toy play tends to find itself taking a nerdy turn. The offspring loves the motorboat or running game where we bicycle her legs, but at our house it is called "playing Bat-baby", because we run along to the old Batman theme song. She also loves to be held up and danced around, and D4ddy will have her dance to the Imperial March. The TV is enchanting to her when it's full of bright lights and movement, and of course super hero cartoons and D4ddy's video games are full of that. Even computer start up screens are a delight and make the offspring smile. Despite the lack of nerdy baby toys, there is no lack of nerdy baby fun to be had.
So far, our best solution has been handmade toys. There is of course Thu, the hand crocheted Cthulu that we received in the delivery room. The Nerd Mama isn't half bad at crocheting either, so I've whipped up a stubby little astromech droid and have a couple of Mario 'shrooms in the works. But the offspring isn't much interested in plain plush toys yet. She likes things that rattle or light up, or that feel interesting when she manages to stick them in her mouth. She has no shortage of these kind of toys, but how much fun would it be if her favorite toy was a Moogle rattle-headed blanket plush instead of a pink elephant? Sure, it would be mostly for my own pleasure at this point, but it would make for some fond memories down the road too.
Unsurprisingly, our non-toy play tends to find itself taking a nerdy turn. The offspring loves the motorboat or running game where we bicycle her legs, but at our house it is called "playing Bat-baby", because we run along to the old Batman theme song. She also loves to be held up and danced around, and D4ddy will have her dance to the Imperial March. The TV is enchanting to her when it's full of bright lights and movement, and of course super hero cartoons and D4ddy's video games are full of that. Even computer start up screens are a delight and make the offspring smile. Despite the lack of nerdy baby toys, there is no lack of nerdy baby fun to be had.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
On raising girls
When I found out that the offspring was going to be a girl, one of my initial reactions was panic. It's a difficult world to raise a girl in. There are so many potential role models competing for little girls' attention, and as a parent it's up to me to make sure that the ones my daughter chooses are positive. But even if I can control her influences inside the home, her friends might introduce her to something new. It seems like there is only so much I can do to help her respect her body, love herself, and make the right choices in life.
Not to brag, but as a woman I feel like I've turned out pretty well. I don't feel the need to starve myself or wear makeup to fit the Victoria's Secret beauty standard. I'm not afraid to speak my mind. I want my daughter to have that kind of confidence when she grows up, so the natural thing to do should be to introduce her to the same role models that I had. Problem is, according to the critics I should be as insecure and appearance-driven as any typical woman supposedly is. I played with Barbies that cause body image issues. I watched Disney movies where the princesses need a big strong man to come save them. I had baby dolls that encourage stereotypical gender roles. So what is it, really, that makes a girl grow up confident?
I'll be honest, I don't know the answer. Even when my daughter is grown I may not have figured it out. But I'm beginning to suspect that a woman's simple nature has a lot to do with it. I think that every little girl is strong from the beginning, and if we encourage them to be themselves they will stay that way. Throughout history women have adapted to fill every imaginable role, from nurturers to providers to leaders, and so many combinations thereof. And that's before the advent of Women's Lib.
I started this blog post fully intending to talk about an article that I read today supporting super heroines as role models for girls. Then I realized that even now, when my love for comics is tenfold what it was as a child, Wonder Woman and Batgirl aren't really my thing. I loved my heroes for who they were and what they could do, not for their gender. Despite the Power Rangers being made up of both genders, my favorite was the Blue Ranger (male, for anyone who didn't know). Still, my daughter may not be so gender blind as I was, and I wish there were more powerful women out there for her to look up to. Then again, there are so many things I wish I could change about the world to make it perfect for her.
I'll leave you with an excerpt from the article I mentioned, but please do read the whole article if you have the time. If it prompts you to register for the NY Times, it's worth it.
In the end, that is the true drama of the superhero: the ordinary Joe who discovers that he has a marvelous gift, something that sets him apart from everyone else, simultaneously elevating and at least potentially isolating him, forcing a series of moral choices about the nature of might and goodness. It’s a story writ large about coming to grips with power: accepting it, demanding it, wielding it wisely. Those themes are rarely explored in the fantasy culture of little girls, yet given how problematic power remains for adult women — in both fact and fiction — perhaps they should be. -Peggy Orenstein, "Wonder Girl"
Not to brag, but as a woman I feel like I've turned out pretty well. I don't feel the need to starve myself or wear makeup to fit the Victoria's Secret beauty standard. I'm not afraid to speak my mind. I want my daughter to have that kind of confidence when she grows up, so the natural thing to do should be to introduce her to the same role models that I had. Problem is, according to the critics I should be as insecure and appearance-driven as any typical woman supposedly is. I played with Barbies that cause body image issues. I watched Disney movies where the princesses need a big strong man to come save them. I had baby dolls that encourage stereotypical gender roles. So what is it, really, that makes a girl grow up confident?
I'll be honest, I don't know the answer. Even when my daughter is grown I may not have figured it out. But I'm beginning to suspect that a woman's simple nature has a lot to do with it. I think that every little girl is strong from the beginning, and if we encourage them to be themselves they will stay that way. Throughout history women have adapted to fill every imaginable role, from nurturers to providers to leaders, and so many combinations thereof. And that's before the advent of Women's Lib.
I started this blog post fully intending to talk about an article that I read today supporting super heroines as role models for girls. Then I realized that even now, when my love for comics is tenfold what it was as a child, Wonder Woman and Batgirl aren't really my thing. I loved my heroes for who they were and what they could do, not for their gender. Despite the Power Rangers being made up of both genders, my favorite was the Blue Ranger (male, for anyone who didn't know). Still, my daughter may not be so gender blind as I was, and I wish there were more powerful women out there for her to look up to. Then again, there are so many things I wish I could change about the world to make it perfect for her.
I'll leave you with an excerpt from the article I mentioned, but please do read the whole article if you have the time. If it prompts you to register for the NY Times, it's worth it.
In the end, that is the true drama of the superhero: the ordinary Joe who discovers that he has a marvelous gift, something that sets him apart from everyone else, simultaneously elevating and at least potentially isolating him, forcing a series of moral choices about the nature of might and goodness. It’s a story writ large about coming to grips with power: accepting it, demanding it, wielding it wisely. Those themes are rarely explored in the fantasy culture of little girls, yet given how problematic power remains for adult women — in both fact and fiction — perhaps they should be. -Peggy Orenstein, "Wonder Girl"
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
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!
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!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Meet the Family Nerd
Welcome to our little corner of the Blogoverse, dear readers! From this day forward I will regail you with the tales of wonder and horror that result when nerds meet, court, marry, and procreate. I'm the Nerd Mama, and I will be the main (if not sole) author. My husband and I met as students, and we have been happily married for two years. Among other things we have bonded over a nerdy love of things like anime, Star Wars, graphic novels and video games. Now we're getting ready to bring the next generation of nerddom into the world.
I'm also a collector of Asian dolls, an amateur artist, a writer and a lover of all things crafty. Don't be shocked to find me showing off a few handmade creations here and there. I'm looking forward to showing off a small arsenal of baby gadgets and I'll make sure to let you know how the offspring responds.
Hubby, 1337 D4ddy, is a computer builder and overclocker as well as a general tech geek- hence his use of numbers as letters. His video game skills far outrank my own, and on the rare occasion we can get the D&D group together he's our DM. He's currently in school to become a Nerd Herder (aka Speech and Debate coach).
The offspring hasn't arrived yet, she's due in a month, so we're not sure what areas of nerdity will appeal to her. She does have the strange habit of kicking quite a bit when 1337 D4ddy and his friends are talking computers, but we can't make any assumptions yet!
There is one more inhabitant that will never forgive me if I didn't include him- we're the proud keepers (I don't dare say owners) of a Bearded Dragon named Loki, a creature full of attitude and the least nerdy inhabitant of the house. Still, who but a nerd couple would so proudly announce that they have a pet dragon?
So if you're ready to see what happens when nerds have babies, stick around!
I'm also a collector of Asian dolls, an amateur artist, a writer and a lover of all things crafty. Don't be shocked to find me showing off a few handmade creations here and there. I'm looking forward to showing off a small arsenal of baby gadgets and I'll make sure to let you know how the offspring responds.
Hubby, 1337 D4ddy, is a computer builder and overclocker as well as a general tech geek- hence his use of numbers as letters. His video game skills far outrank my own, and on the rare occasion we can get the D&D group together he's our DM. He's currently in school to become a Nerd Herder (aka Speech and Debate coach).
The offspring hasn't arrived yet, she's due in a month, so we're not sure what areas of nerdity will appeal to her. She does have the strange habit of kicking quite a bit when 1337 D4ddy and his friends are talking computers, but we can't make any assumptions yet!
There is one more inhabitant that will never forgive me if I didn't include him- we're the proud keepers (I don't dare say owners) of a Bearded Dragon named Loki, a creature full of attitude and the least nerdy inhabitant of the house. Still, who but a nerd couple would so proudly announce that they have a pet dragon?
So if you're ready to see what happens when nerds have babies, stick around!
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