"Finding Myself"

I hate to use such cliché terms such as “finding yourself” but sometimes I guess clichés became so for a reason because I just can’t seem to come up with a better phrase to describe what I want to say. So, I’m sorry it’s corny but it’s all I’ve got :-)

Finding yourself can be a wonderful and amazing journey. It can also be the most difficult thing you’ve ever attempted to accomplish. For me, finding myself has meant digging deep within my heart and soul and opening myself up to the higher levels of compassion and empathy that I found there. It has meant making the changes to ensure that my son was left whole at birth, to promote tolerance and awareness of all those that are “different”, to eliminate flesh from my diet, to try for baby-led weaning, to co-sleep, to hug-it-out rather than cry-it-out, to use cloth diapers, to make my own cleaning products and incorporate as many reusable things into my daily life as possible.

Many people do not understand that my aspiration for change is coming from a deeper longing to bring more love into the world. I think it all boils down to looking not just at what we are doing but why we are doing it. The choices and changes that I have made have all been with the underlying purpose of increasing compassion in my life and in the lives of those around me. Even if we have to fumble our way through to find what works for us, as long as we try to make the changes in our lives to be towards adding more love, empathy, and understanding to our lives, we’ll be doing alright.

 

Rock The Boat

Why are people so insistent that the only valid information is that which comes from scientific studies provided more often than not by companies or organizations that have money at stake? Other people who have had direct experience with any particular subject are far more reliable, honest, and real than any company will ever be. How many times do we have to watch the pattern unfold where we find out that what we were told was safe, even necessary, is then later deemed harmful? Sadly, only after too many people have been hurt, and those who tried to speak up have been ignored or ridiculed. It seems to be the norm for people to start to speak up that something is wrong and then be faced with a battle not only from the organization(s) that stand to lose but also from all the other people who don't want to acknowledge that they have been duped. I will never understand the last group. Those who stand to gain monetarily...I get that. I don't think it's right but, I understand. The people who seem hell-bent on keeping the wool over their eyes are baffling to me. Why? Why would you not want to find out everything you can even if it goes up against what was formerly believed? It used to be acceptable to own another human being. It used to be acceptable to discriminate against someone based on their skin color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation or gender. It used to be acceptable for a wife or children to be beaten. It used to be acceptable to smoke around our children in our houses and cars. It used to be acceptable to use lead paint. When people spoke up against any of those things you bet your ass there were people there to argue against the change. For some there were even all sorts of "scientific" studies done to show that previously accepted behaviors were still safe. It is still considered acceptable to circumcise our sons but, a lot of parents are starting to see the truth behind this mutilation (did you know there have been medical articles published about how circumcision reduced the occurrence of masturbation, then believed to cause all sorts of health problems?). It is still considered acceptable to vaccinate our children but, a lot of parents are starting to see the truth behind this toxicity. It is still considered acceptable to use disposable diapers but, a lot of parents are starting to see the truth not only behind the environmental damage but the potential chemical damages done to our babies as a result of the processing of disposables. Most of the reasons arguing using or participating in these thing boils down to laziness. Putting our faith in chemicals (that require minimal testing) gives more allowance to not take proper care of ourselves. You can avoid far more illnesses by eating healthy and exercising than you ever could with vaccines but it's far easier to get a shot and eat that hamburger while sitting on your ass staring at the TV. It's easier to "snip-snip" than to maintain and teach our sons proper hygiene and safe sex. It's easier to selfishly succumb to convenience than deal with a little extra cleaning. If anyone out their is content to stay in their little bubble of illusion and false security (ironically derived most often from fear mongering) that's on you but, do not expect me to sit and take it silently if you come to tell me that I have not educated myself because I don't see things like you do. I do not feel and will not feel that I am wrong for looking deeper into things or for trying to change things towards the better, even if it's only with me that the changes are made. Just because you might not want to hear the truth it does not mean that I am somehow morally obligated to shut up and get back to my proper place in line just so I don't make you uncomfortable. I will not be a sheep just to avoid rocking the boat! As far as I'm concerned we'd all be better off if we just flipped the damn boat over.

Cloth Diapers, part 3

I started with a blog post about why I chose cloth diapers and then another post entirely devoted to prefolds and covers. Here, I'm going to sum up a few different options.
Modern Cloth Diapers include options such as pockets, AIO (all in one), and hybrids.

Pocket diapers are made of two layers, with an opening either in the front, back, or both, for the insert to go in. The inner layer is usually a fleece or something similar that will feel nice and comfy against the baby's bum. The outer layer is PUL which is a waterproof/water resistant fabric. What you put in the pocket is up to you. Many companies will include a (usually microfiber) insert for you to use. You can also buy inserts made of bamboo, hemp, or other fabrics. Microfiber is absorbent, but shouldn't be placed directly on baby's skin because it can cause irritation. Bamboo and hemp blends can cost more, but are also more absorbent. These diapers come in all sorts of colors and patterns, and can range in price from $5 to $25 (about) depending on where you get them. Sometimes you can find them online and have them shipped from another country for very little money. I have personally stayed away from this as I have heard that you occasionally will have to pay an import tax before you actually will receive your diapers.
Since they come apart, they dry faster than other options, and you can double up on the inserts or even put an insert in the pocket and lay a folded prefold inside the diaper to help boost absorbency for heavy wetters or nighttime use. They can be a bit bulky. You can get pocket diapers in different sizes to fit your needs, or buy one size diapers that will fit your baby from very early to potty training.

AIO diapers are less bulky than pocket diapers, but also take longer to dry. These are a good bet if you use cloth diapers for daycare or for other caregivers. They are very simple to use, just like a disposable except you don't throw it away. There are no inserts or fancy folds to worry about like with pocket diapers or prefolds and covers. Like the pocket diaper, you can always lay an insert or prefold in the diaper before diapering your baby to help boost absorbency. These diapers have the same outer layer of PUL as the pocket diapers.

Unlike the prefolds and covers where you can change the prefold out and re-use the cover before washing, with these two options you will need a new entire diaper each and every time. Ten to twelve is the bare minimum that you will need to be able to do laundry once a day, every day for an older baby (a newborn will require more). I recommend more, and once you get started you'll be wanting to buy every cute diaper you see. Even though these are more expensive, if you choose the one size fits all diapers, you'll still be saving money vs. buying disposables with just one baby (unless, that is, you buy every diaper you see!) and the savings multiply if you use the diapers with future babies. These diapers eventually may need 'work' such as replacing aplix fasteners or elastic around the waist and thighs. You can buy these diapers new or used, I have had good luck with both.

When washing cloth diapers, I recommend finding a good laundry detergent that is free from chemicals, dyes, perfumes and enzymes. Wash according to the manufacturer's directions. If you experience staining, there are several things to try such as lemon juice and sunning your diapers. Do NOT bleach diapers. The bleach that lingers in the fabric, combined with the ammonia from your baby's urine can cause some pretty nasty chemical burns on your baby's bum, and it's not recommended by any diaper manufacturer that I've seen so far.

Soon, there will be a guest post from a Mama who uses G Diapers, and she'll tell you all about them. I can't wait to learn more about them, it's one of the ones I haven't done much research on yet.