There is a ton of interest in the Stokke Tripp Trapp high chair, and for good reason. This versatile, attractive and well-made high chair is one of the best baby products on the market. Many parents have questions about the ins and outs of the Stokke Tripp Trapp, and in this post I’ll go over…
In an ideal world, all of our children would love to go to school, love to learn, love to work on their reading comprehension and writing skills, and be effortlessly talented with numbers. As a parent, it’s natural to wonder how to get your child interested in school. In reality, kids sometimes dislike studying. And there…
If you have a young kid, you know the appeal of superheroes. In this gift guide I’ll go over the best Spiderman toys for the superhero fan in your life. Spiderman ranks as one of the all-time classics. Kids today are just as into Spiderman as they were decades ago, so it’s no surprise that…
This weekend it struck me: My daughter, who is just a year old, will never know a world where there hasn’t been a woman in the White House. And until the age of 41, I’ve never known a world where there has. My kids will never live in a country where there hasn’t been a…
Photo credit: Kourtney Buchanan, Baby Bloom Photography
Guys, this may surprise you, but there are some things going on in my life that I am not *entirely* an expert on. Like, for example, being a mom and writing a blog. But, you may be thinking, aren’t those the only two things you’re doing right now? Taking care of a baby and writing a new blog? Why yes, you are correct. This can pose a dilemma when it comes to crafting material for said blog.
Another item for your consideration: Nolan is still too young to talk, or walk, or crawl. Ok you’re right, he’s not too young to crawl, but he IS too lazy. The reason I bring this up is because I’ve found myself in the position of writing a blog about being a mom to a largely inanimate object, whose opinions and thoughts I can only guess at by his various bird-like sounds.
It’s not like I can write about all of the funny things Nolan did at pre-school, ya know?
Although, that does remind me of something funny he did the other day. We were at a restaurant and Nolan was sitting in a high chair and completely flirting with this baby girl who was in the high chair across the way from him. He was talking in his best pterodactyl voice and flipping his hair back and forth in a come hither way (also in a way that kind of looked like a twitch). And the baby girl was totally eating this up, babbling back to Nolan and showing off her headband (which, poor thing, was just sitting there on her bald head. I told Nolan not to make too much of a big deal about his luxurious hair but it was like he couldn’t even hear me through his sideburns). Anyway, as it turns out, the entire time Nolan was flirting he was doing so with an enormous dump in his diaper. That’s not how to win a lady, Nolan.
Now to my point. I could use a little help with ideas for the blog and/or expertise from moms who actually know what they’re doing. Some of the best ideas for posts so far have come from readers. Baby-Celebrity Looky-Likey Contest? Thank you Chrissie! 10 Pieces of Advice to My 22 Year-Old Self? Thank you Lynda! Comparing Match.Com to Care.com? Thank you Tina! (I haven’t written that one yet, but I will and when I do, watch out!).
What’s been really cool about having a blog so far, besides the fact that I’ve made almost enough money in 5 months to buy a single sweater from The Gap, is the interaction with readers. Getting emails and comments makes my day. Nolan could care less, but he’s a diva that way. I try to tell him “No man is an island” but he’s all “What’s an island?” and the conversation stops there.
So. The purpose of today’s post is to solicit ideas from you, the readers. Got topics you think would make for good blog material? Leave them in the comments section! Funny news items that would be good fodder? Comments section. Contest ideas? Well, if you don’t know where to leave your suggestions by now I can’t help you (hint: comments section).
Finally: If you have any ideas for regular weekly features that you’ve seen on other blogs and think I should steal for this blog – that’s right – leave them in the comments section.
To sum up: Any ideas you have for what you’d like to see on the blog, throw them my way. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving an idea in the comments section just shoot me an email at amothershipdown@gmail.com.
It would be super helpful and ensure that I don’t have to think too hard, which I’ve heard is bad for your looks. And remember, this is your blog too. Unless it becomes wildly financially successful, in which case it’s exclusively my blog. Thanks everyone!
Photo credit: Christina McPherson
Similar to match.com vs care.com would be to bring the tinder of parents to life as well.
Maybe I’ll just join Tinder so I can be my own case study. I doubt Brian will mind.
I love all your stories, but my kid is about a month younger than Nolan, so I’m probably biased. Here are some pretty vanilla ideas that I’m sure you could turn into pretty funny material:
– Weird ways having a baby brings you closer to your partner – kind of like how date night or anniversaries change, similar to your vacation post (which I loved and suddenly wished I had family I’d be willing to vacation with)
– How kids embarass us (inspired by a story of a 4 year old banned from a local doughnut shop for asking a lady if she was pregnant – she wasn’t)
– How much has changed regarding acceptable child rearing practices since we were kids (i.e., I’m sick of my Dad’s passive aggressive comments about how me and my siblings are lucky to be alive)
– Anything re: pp bodies because WEIRD
That’s all I’ve got right now. Nothing too great, but I have faith you can turn coal into diamonds!!
OH and more parodies of the all of those crazy, competitive mommy-bloggers out there. I love watching people with no self awareness tout their kid as the next Beethoven or Obama.
Hey, if you know any specific bloggers along these lines you can point me to, please do via email 🙂
Erin, I love how many suggestions you have! You are a good blog reader 🙂 I especially like the suggestion about how child rearing practices have changed since we were kids – I also get the “you all survived” thing all the time, not even from my parents necessarily but just from people with grown kids. There is some good material there for sure.
Have you ever found anything in Nolan’s leg creases? My little guy has some roly legs as well and you should have seen the powder I found caked up in there one time.
Hmmm…blog idea…weird things your child has eaten? Or picked up off the floor? Or found in his leg crease/neck crease?
More breast-feeding humor would be great…maybe how it changes as baby grows?
Oh Jamie, I have found entire hidden civilizations in Nolan’s leg creases….
One thing that baffles me is the overwhelming interest that strangers have in my baby… I really thought that shiz would stop once I wasn’t pregnant anymore (you know, the endless personal questions, living in fear of strangers touching you without asking, etc…) but now, when I’m stuck in elevators or in line somewhere I frequently get “What’s her name? How old is she? Is she walking yet? Sleeping through the night? Oh, she’s crying… maybe she’s teething!” During these encounters I’m usually thinking “Am I allowed to tell this person that she’s 37 and her name is Tinkerbell so she’ll leave us alone?!” I’m honestly fine with the typical “oh – cute – a baby” while someone starts an impromptu game of peek-a-boo, but I really don’t love random chit-chat with strangers, nevermind telling them details about my kid even though they’ll (hopefully) forget 10 minutes later. There are also those people who reach out to actually touch her “chubby cheeks” and I cringe… that’s just crossing the line! Don’t just touch my kid with your random stranger hands! I’m fine with letting her play in the dirt… maybe eat some sand at the beach (eventually), but please tell me I’m not alone with my “stranger danger” (or, at least “gross stranger hands”) attitude!
Haha, I love “Don’t touch my kid with your random stranger hands!” Just today someone grabbed Nolan’s face. For some reason that doesn’t bother me, although it is odd, isn’t it? I don’t *think* I used to do that to random babies? Huh. I do not think you’re alone at all with your “gross stranger hands” attitude – I think many, many moms and dads are right there with you 🙂
I have found myself doing things I always thought were really gross when I saw other parent’s doing it in my pre-baby days. Like eating leftover food that has been sucked on by my kid. Or smelling the weird stain. Food or poop? Oh, and he has recently started the open mouth to mouth kiss, and I love it! Please tell me I’m not the only one who now does totally gross things?
LOL – You are not the only one Anne. Bird-feeding anyone? :-/
I’m in the same boat. I stick my face right in Nolan’s butt to tell if he’s pooped, don’t even think twice about it. This morning he was in my bed for like an hour nursing, and I realized after the fact that he had peed through his clothes. I’m sure our sheets are soiled. Did I change them? Nope.
I’ve been wanting to do a blog about using my baby to conduct sociology studies out in public. But I’m too lazy, so I offer the topic to you.
2 examples:
1. I can have my baby girl dressed in pink head to toe, like a Pepto Bismol bottle, and STILL someone at the store will say, “Oh, how cute! How old is your baby boy?”
2. We adopted our baby, and she is Latina whereas we are both as Scotch-Irish-looking as they come. So it amuses us to no end when people look at her, look at us, do a double-take, and then say, hesitantly, “Oh, she [or he] looks just like you …”
Haha I love it! I get the same thing with people asking me about my baby girl, when Nolan looks very manly, if you ask me. Once he was dressed in a button down little boy dress shirt and pants, with a combover, and still people thought he was a girl.
And I love the Latina/Scottish-Irish confusion – those ethnic groups are classic looky-likey’s for one another 🙂
Maybe give us a humorous look into babies of a similar age around the world. Their first names, clothing, traditions, how they are cared for. How they live their daily lives versus the ‘typical’ American baby, in terms of food, activities, that type of thing. You can also compare and contrast human mothers and their offspring versus animals. Consider grooming, developmental milestones, teaching life skills, disciplining.
I like the “babies around the world” thing. Although that does require me to do some research instead of just talking nonsense. It may be worth it though. Also, according to my blog analytics, there are a good number of international readers of this blog! Hello, lone Armenian reader! Would be interesting if those from other countries who read the blog could weigh in on this…
Tips on remodeling your entire house for baby as they grow keeping in mind that you as parents also need to live in the house.
Ooh, I like it. Actually, this general idea for a post was mentioned to me by another friend yesterday! We’re trying to figure out our remodeling plans (as you know, Betsy) and I can’t even believe I’m considering using our nice front room as a playroom! A few months ago I firmly felt that no play room was needed. Now I’m singing a different tune.
Love your stories about everyday life … what about the realities of grocery shopping; why Babies R Us is such a strange place (does anyone else feel disoriented in there, even after months of visiting??); our lack of perspective on age (didn’t the 10 week old babies seem old when you had a two week old; and yet already the difference is fading); Feeding solids – just the pure evolution of it (how we obsess; how they have that horrible face of not liking something; how we search for something more interesting to give our baby; and how we all secretly wish on some days that just a bottle would do – b/c wasn’t that easier …); similar to your contrast with your old self – how our sense of place in a community has changed, how we are attached to our communities in new ways (e.g. aware of when story hour is in at the library – not just what section to go to get a good summer reading book …); if your like me – why Amazon is now your best friend and every week there are BOXES and BOXES in the recycling (it is kinda startling!)
Wow Becca, lots of good stuff!! I completely agree on the Babies R Us situation – something is just off about that store. I’m totally missing the boat on Amazon, however. I’ve heard I should be ordering from Amazon because it’s a great deal for moms or something? What am I missing?
Pay for Amazon Prime(so all shipping is free) and you can set up auto delivery for things Nolan needs all the time(i.e diapers, food, wipes etc.) so it’s one less thing to think about and it just shows up on your doorstep on a regular schedule. The items are usually discounted too.
And Amazon is addicting … with Prime it is FREE TWO Day Delivery … so in addition to never having to think about buying diapers again (because they magically show up if you signup for Subscribe and Save … you sit in your PJs, spit-up soaked cloths at home – click on anything you need (new sippy cups, plates, bibs, car seat), and bam a package arrives. And if you sign up for their credit card you get 3% back … somehow justifying the fact that you so casually purchased a bunch of items …
I think I need to get on this Amazon Prime boat.
If you do, can you please write posts about the random & ridiculous stuff you end up ordering? I’m sure it would make for some great reading…
This could get me into trouble. But Mer, I will.
And another thought: The Art of Collecting Useful Hand-me Downs, and avoiding the not necessarily useful. E.g. there is a 15 year old, well worn car seat, currently sitting on my porch
1.) The joys of food introduction. 2.) Baby boys and their penis obsession. 3.) Hair care for boys with awesome hair. 4.) The trials of teething
#2. On it.