Surviving the Workday

I don’t read a lot of Mommy Blogs mainly because too much talk about children makes me want to poke out my eyes. (And, yes, I am a parent.) However, I have been struck a number of times when I pass by a Mommy Blog by the amount of consumption that is often included as a key part of parenting. There’s always mention of a great snack picked up cheaply at Target, some great pair of $50 leopard-print toddler sneakers with sequins, or maybe a trip to Disneyland to take rides and buy Mickey Mouse undies. The entire subject matter makes me want to gag.

I’m sorry. But. Disney. Leopard-prints for toddlers. Snacks at Target. Gag.

But, yes, excessive consumption is nauseating to me. Not the consumption that is necessary to survive, because, yes, we all must remain clothed most of the time, and fed. But the sort of glorification of consumption as if it is not only edifying, but cleansing, clarifying, and deeply religious.

It never occurred to me that most of these Mommy Blog posts were from parents who got the stuff for free, but apparently that’s the case.

I feel so naive. I even get stuff offered to me, occasionally, but most of it is workplace-related (often software), and not that interesting, and I always say no.

I think, in the interest of full disclosure, it would be ethical to tell readers when you were received merchandise for free.