As some of you know, last week I tried out a new feature on the blog called The Friday Five (Things I Love This Week). I’ve determined, based on zero actual data, that the first ever installment of the feature was a “dazzling success” (my words).
As you’re reading this weekly feature, I believe it helps if you imagine Oprah’s “Favorite Things” extravaganzas and pretend that I, like the Big O herself, am giving away cars and other assorted items of great value. Now to be clear I’m not actually giving out anything (of value or otherwise). I just want you to imagine that I am for the sake of creating a festive reading environment in your head.
Now, you may recall that I had hopes of achieving riches beyond all imagining from last week’s post. I’ve checked my bank account, and I did NOT secure great wealth over the course of the past 7 days as was my aim. I certainly did not achieve “upper class” status, nor was I able to finance expensive home renovation projects off of this blog. This comes as a huge surprise to all of us, I think.
If you enjoy reading these posts and/or would like to help me achieve a lavish lifestyle, the best way you can do that is to send me cash. But short of that, the best thing you can do is “share” and “like” posts on Facebook or Twitter or whatnot to keep traffic flowing this way. But again, cash is great.
And now, onto the main event.
The Friday Five
1. Boyhood – The Movie
I haven’t been to the movies in ages, which is Nolan’s fault, but I’m not here to point fingers. (I’m pointing at Nolan’s baby monitor right now). But this movie I had to see. Amazingly, Richard Linklater had the patience to film over a 12 year period, creating a portrait of childhood unlike anything I’ve seen before. It’s realer than real. Realer, even, than The Real Housewives.
Also, the whole thing impresses me since I don’t even have the patience to hard boil an egg.
2. Foam play mat
Never before have foam and the alphabet come together in such a magnificent partnership. I’m not in marketing, but I’ve just now come up with a tagline for this product:
It’s a play mat. It’s a puzzle. It’s a revelation.
Let me be clear: We bought this mat out of desperation. Last week on Facebook I noticed that Nolan’s friend, baby Theo, was on a foam mat in his internet debut as a crawler. It occurred to me that perhaps lacking this mat in our home is what’s holding Nolan back from movement. That, and his pervasive sloth. Also, on the rug Nolan gets very distracted by lint and it slows him down. He seems to have a penchant for textiles, this kid.
Enter the foam mat. While it’s true that Nolan still has yet to crawl (the mat’s a revelation, not a miracle worker) – it has made a significant difference in his ability to maneuver himself round and round in circles, which is a good start to a career as a whirling dervish. So we have that going for us, which is nice.
Anyway, I’m loving this mat -it’s surprisingly cute in place of a rug, and I like having it to designate a play space for Nolan.
3. The Overprotected Kid article in The Atlantic
This article takes a really interesting look at how (and why) society has changed in one generation regarding the safety and protection of our children. I read it after I wrote a post a few weeks ago (Child Safety, Then and Now) on this same topic. I wish I had read it earlier, as that would make me a writer who uses ‘research’ and ‘references’ in her work instead of relying on wild impulse. But I digress.
You should read it if you’re curious as to why today’s kids are handled so cautiously, never out from under the gaze of adult supervision for long. As a parent I think it’s a question worth considering.
As an aside, this reminded me of the fact that I’ve only broken two bones in my entire life (my arm and my rib) and both bones were broken on the very same dinky slide in a playground near my parents’ house. The incidents were 12 years apart. What are the chances of that? Maybe if I was playing in a junkyard laden with saws and fires I would have fared better.
4. Inglesina Fast Table Chair
I love this little chair. It takes up minimal space, and more importantly it gives babies a sense of how to comport oneself on a bar stool early on in life. And obviously I want nothing more for my baby than to someday grow up to become a beloved fixture in his local pub. I can practically hear people yelling “Norm!” as I look at this picture.
Oh, and also, using this chair made it really easy to give Nolan dinner while also keeping him entertained during dinner prep, because he felt in on the action. I’ve mentioned before that he has serious FOMO (fear of missing out). If your baby has FOMO and you don’t want a chair the size of a forklift in your kitchen, this little number might be for you.
Another plus: it’s really portable and convenient for road trips.
Negatives: You have to make sure it will fit over the lip of your table if you don’t have an island or peninsula to attach it to. And your counter will get really messy, assuming your kid is gross like my kid.
5. Victoria Elizabeth Barnes
You may have caught wind of the fact that I’m pumping myself up for home renovations. And nobody is more pumped up about home renovations (more specifically, about renovations and the accompanying treasures that you can find to make your house fancy) than Victoria Elizabeth Barnes. This girl is a riot. Check her out, and if you want a stellar post to start with, start here: The Kingdom Mirror.
There you have it folks, this week’s Friday Five. If you have thoughts on these items or others, let me know in the comments. And in the words of Jerry Springer: “Take care of yourself, and each other.”
Casey F
I def checked out some of the products you recommended last week… but couldn’t justify spending $$ on another stroller. But I coveted it. I’m sorry that my coveting did not translate into $$ in your bank account. To make up for it, I tell every mom I know about your blog because it makes me giggle.
Liz
Your word of mouth is worth at least $150 to me. I will gladly take it 🙂
Mer
I love Nolan’s face in the picture with the foam mat… it’s like “Wait, you want me to crawl around AND learn the alphabet? What is this?” We have a similar one that has fish/sea creatures instead of letters… much less educational but it was only $6.99 at Sears and my MIL had a coupon. Who goes to Sears anymore? Also, I love the comment about preparing him for his place on a bar stool later in life… this is a clutch life skill! You should let him know though that most bars require footwear these days… he’s cute, but I’m not sure even his amazing hair can get him a pass on the “no shirt, no shoes, no service” thing…
Linda Walter
I never even heard of Boyhood (this is coming from a mom of 3 who only watches Tom & Jerry and Labrats) but am intrigued! Is it out now? And the puzzle mat is the best!
Although I think we lost ours in Hurricane Sandy, or it’s in storage, or we just don’t have room for it. LOL
Liz
Hey Linda! Yes the movie is out now. It’s almost like a documentary feel, but it’s fictional. Very unusual…
And I love the puzzle mat! Maybe our boys can all play together on it when we see you. Although I am thinking Zach is well past that by now….if not we should talk about age appropriate activities for him 🙂
Liz
Super good point Mer – he absolutely can NOT expect service when he is topless and shoeless. It’s a hard life lesson but one better learned now than in middle age.
Pasca
Super post, as usual. The design of that chair is a tangible reminder that we need a percentage of our babies to grow up to be engineers, to know physics and related stuff.
Liz
True fact. Our babies can’t all become hair models.
Chrissie
Yes! I love that article from the Atlantic. Let’s take the boys to England on vacation next summer. Can’t wait for them to play with fire in a trash can and rusty tools!
Liz
Done Chrissie. I already booked the tickets. You owe me $10,000.
Erin H
Do you think the mat would help with forward motion? C’s mobility these days is limited to crawling backwards long enough to get stuck under various pieces of furniture and I’d like to avoid installing rearview mirrors on him, if at all possible. You’ll have to let us know if Nolan suddenly starts running and/or breakdancing thanks to his new foam mat.
Liz
Erin – Nolan is just like C – he goes backwards and gets stuck under things. So far he has not gone forward, but he seems to like being on the mat. I’m optimistic. I will issue a dramatic ALERT the second he moves forward 🙂
leslie kendall dye
Man, you are a terrific writer. Breezy and fun and elegant and swift. How do you do that? im with you on 4 of the 5. I had some trouble with the playground article. I think it doesnt account for a middle ground of parents who let their toddlers run pretty free and take lots of chances and fall down without entering zoos of death. There was a creepy7 con servative joe the plumber tinge to that atlantic piece. My daughter is a true monkey on the playground and we let her free, but i think the excessive nostalgia for a time in which kids also felt a lot more alone in many ways was troubling. Thats my two cents. Anyway, please keep you friday fiive coming! im sharing now, if i can figure out how to do it from my phone!
Liz
Hey Leslie! Thanks for the nice words!
Hmm, interesting take on the Atlantic piece. I think you have a good point about a middle ground of parents who give their kids some freedoms within reason. But I also can see a huge change in how I was raised compared to how school aged kids are being raised now, mainly in terms of kids’ freedom to do unsupervised activities rather than activities structured by their parents. That was my main takeaway – not so much that we need kids to play in those “adventure playgrounds.” Although it’s interesting that there have been no major accidents in 2 years on “The Land” playground. It probably looks more dangerous than it is, but is structured in a way that appeals to a kid’s need for adventure. I craved that sort of thing as a child for sure.
I was curious what others would think of the article, so I’m glad you commented!
Momma C
Nolan definitely has a penchant for picking at fabrics. His favorite is our family room rug but he most definitely loves clothing stores where he can touch all of the sweaters and shirts.
Liz
He also really loves my closet, specifically one orange sweater that he goes right for. He’s drawn to it like a moth to a flame…
Brooke Takhar
I loved Boyhood too. 🙂
Liz
I was totally intrigued by it! They are lucky that the boy turned out to be cool. It could have been an awkward 3 hours if they picked the wrong child…
Katie
We just got the Inglesia chair too (in black too). Isn’t it the best!? I especially love the enclosed catalog of other Inglesina gear (especially the pic of the woman and her baby dining on something heavenly near the Colosseum); only the Italians can make parenthood look so easy and attractive!
Liz
Katie I haven’t gotten it yet, I used it at my friend’s house and now I want it BAD! Our high chair takes up too much real estate. Speaking of real estate, I hear babies love the Colosseum 🙂