When I was a baby

The other day I met a woman who knew me when I was a baby. I was surprised at how delighted I was! I live far from where I was born and brought up and I was the first child and grandchild in my family. So there are not a lot of people around who knew me all the way back at the beginning of my life.

As I near my fiftieth birthday, it was very moving to think that here was a witness to the fact that I was once new and fresh and tiny and cute. It made me think how important it is to me that I know about my baby-hood, that I know the whole story of my life.

When we parent our babies, we naturally and eagerly  look forward - to the day the baby will walk, talk, learn to read, play the piano, ride a bike. With our first child, we are especially likely to rush a little on the way to those exciting milestones. Those moments make up the story of our child's life and we passionately want to know what it is going to be. Wiser and more experienced parents tell us not to rush, to enjoy the baby time because it goes by so fast - but they are speaking from their own regret. They were in just as much of a rush as we are.

Although we rush and strain forward into the future, we can take time to document our child's baby years - the part of her life our child will not be able to remember for herself. Handing down photographs and baby-books, family stories and cute baby-talk sayings are important parts of providing our children with the background that makes them feel whole when they think back to the beginning of their lives. Those stories are part of our new family's culture, the set of stories that define our family as a group.

There are, of course, children who do not have information about the beginnings of their lives. Some adopted children, some children in foster care, find this challenging. Their parents may not be able to fill in all the blanks in the story, but having even a few details about their baby-hood can be helpful to these children. The story need not be perfect. It needs only to be lovingly told.

I am going away for a couple of weeks to celebrate my fiftieth birthday with a trip to Paris, a city in which I spent many years as a child. I am going to see some very old friends who have known me since I was very small. It feels good to reconnect with my past this way. I'll see you all when I get back.

Warmly, 

Eva

A Few of Our Favourite Things

We've got tons of new stuff in the store right now, fresh from Eva and erin's trip to the Vegas ABC Kids Show. We thought we'd put together a list of our favourites, and maybe get the ball rolling for some Christmas ideas (I know, Christmas already! Can you believe it?)

Eva: I love the i play kids umbrellas, because I remember how much I loved my umbrella when I was three years old.

Kaarina: I think the Little Life Animal Daysacks are so cute! They're just the right size for my two-year-old, and the bumblebee one has a weather cover with antennas on it - adorable!

Terry: Even though my kids are older, I love the Wean Cubes - the glass baby food containers. They're the perfect size for baby food, of course, but also perfect for small amounts of leftovers and for snacks. And they're not plastic!

To see more of our favourites, click here, or come into the store and find a few favourite things of your own!

Recipe of the Month

This month's recipe is for the house instead of our bellies. Many of us are concerned with what goes into our cleaning products, and yet the 'green' ones at the grocery store are so expensive. Here are some ideas for all-natural cleaning products that you can whip up at home from items you probably already have in your cupboard. 

Mold Killer

Our rainy winters make for damp living, which can cause mold. Here's a recipe that will knock it dead.

2 tsp tea tree oil

2 cups water

Combine in a spray bottle, shake well, and use it on everything from shower curtains to musty rugs. No need to rinse, just spray it on and let it do it's thing. It's got a long shelf-life, so just keep it in the bottle in a cupboard (away from children, of course).

All-Purpose Cleaner

This cleaner is great for pretty much anything, from the bathroom to the kitchen counter. Don't use it on marble, though.

2 cups warm water

2 cups white vineager

15-30 drops lemongrass essential oil

2-3 drops natural dish detergent

Shake it all up; there will be a few bubbles at the top. Spray it on and wipe off with a clean cloth. Lemongrass has anti-bacterial properties; you could switch it out for cinnamon essential oil, tea tree oil, or lavender, which have antibacterial properties as well, depending on your tastes. Happy cleaning!

You've come this far...

So you get a prize! Mention one of our staff-member's 'favourite things' and get 10% off when you purchase that item during the month of November.