Lucy finally found her toys, at least this toy bar, in the last week. When people say you don't need that much stuff, you don't need that much stuff. Fine by me, because I don't want to have that much stuff around. She is almost four months now and when we hold a toy in her face, she looks around to catch our eye instead. I just finished reading "Parenting, Inc," which is an exploration of the TRILLION dollar parenting industry. It made me want to take my baby and flee to the hills. But even the hills are filled with baby stuff. You can't escape it. And honestly, I was hesitant to have kids, not because of the long sleepless nights, but the solicitations and expectations of today's children. I know that I am guilty of some of these stories, but I'm working on it. I have many thoughts about this book that I haven't quite processed yet. The arguments about overconsumption deadening creativity ties directly into my graduate work regarding art, play and creativity. Although I wasn't thinking about the insanity of what we buy for today's infants at the time. Plus the growth of the industry has only mastisized over the last five years, since I finished grad school. If I had this book then, I would have definitely cited it. Many times. In the end, the author reminds us that all we really need is to remain confident about being a parent and what our children really want is to be loved, talked to and cuddled. I must say, naps are one of the best perks of being a mom. The best advice I received was from my lactation consultant, one of many parenting service providers explored in the book. She said, "You are the best parent for your baby. She is a mirror of how you are feeling." I often found that to be true. If I was tired, I realized she was tired. If I was stressed, so was she. And if I remain calm, Lucy is generally calm. "Parenting, Inc." hits on a few of the missing links, but maybe not all. I am eager to read back through my paper to see where we overlap. Freetime is a big thing, even if that means just staring out the window at three months. Multi-generations are very important. So we've planned a multi-state tour to visit the familias this month. Also, being part of a bigger community, like church, so kids can learn that it's not all about them. Overall, it was a great book and I want other parents to read it so that we can discuss it further. How can we stop the insanity?

For you dear, I was born For you I was raised up For you I've lived and for you I will die For you I am dying now You were my mad little lover In a world where everybody fucks everybody else over You who are so far from me Far from me So far from me Way across some cold neurotic sea Far from me I would talk to you of all matter of things With a smile you would reply Then the sun would leave your pretty face And you'd retreat from the front of your eyes I keep hearing that you're doing best I hope your heart beats happy in your infant breast You are so far from me Far from me Far from me There is no knowledge but i know it There's nothing to learn from that vacant voice That sails to me across the line From the ridiculous to the sublime It's good to hear you're doing so well But really can't you find somebody else that you can ring and tell Did you ever Care for me? Were you ever There for me? So far from me You told me you'd stick by me Through the thick and through the thin Those were your very words My fair-weather friend You were my brave-hearted lover At the first taste of trouble went running back to mother So far from me Far from me Suspended in your bleak and fishless sea Far from me Far from me