a kick in the face to dads

It looks like an in-house brand that targets stores owned by Safeway -Randall’s, Carr’s, Dominicks, Vons, Genuardi’s, et al. Anywho, after purchasing groceries, and with one child barely under control, I still stopped by the managers office to tell him what I thought.

“I find the ads offensive,” I said. “I don’t like being told by my grocery store – which has no right to dictate my family job roles – told by my grocery store that baby diapers and wipes are for my wife, not for me. Actually, it makes me mad as hell.” He thanked me and I left, but can’t really stop thinking about it. For a few other reasons, too.

I’ve heard some great conversations going on about what we should be using and putting in our bodies. Organic produce, rBSTs, etc. The same is true of child care and chemicals et al in some products. Suddenly I find that Safeway/Mom to Mom is excluding me from that conversation. Made by moms, for moms. Don’t bother asking 50% of the responsible party.

Look, I can appreciate that Mom to Mom wants to celebrate (& monetize) the special connection mothers have within families, often as the primary caregiver. But it’s inappropriate. We should, all of us, be celebrating the family that comes together in sacrifice and service to each other when we have children. When something becomes exclusive to the mom, it takes responsibility with it, squarely on the moms shoulders. Aside from implying a bigger workload for mothers, it excludes dads from the conversation, which tells the child they have reason to doubt both parents can confidently raise her.

happy christmas

Happy Christmas!

Sophie vs Haystack

Sophie vs Haystack
There are many pictures of Haystack Rock. This one is mine.

Doap

So, there I am, shredding some pot-roasted pork for tonite’s Mexican meal, when Nels approaches. He just woke up, and he’s hungry. However, Nels understands that a trade must take place. Like the savages of old who traded valuable furs for gold trinkets, Nels offers me a toy ViewMaster and then says “Hung-ee?” Unfortunately, this savage can only speak broken English, and not enough for us to communicate fully. As for his native tongue, it’s a Godless, pagan one I do not comprehend.

This savage also understands intuitively the role that status plays in our modern world. At the end of the bath time, I prompt him “Say goodbye, soap.” He looks at the soap, but catches the trick. Addressing the Enhancing and Revitalizing shampoo with a serious look, he says “Good-bye, Dampoo.” Then, and only then, can he address the lowly surfactant with a simple “Good-bye, Doap.”