I just got my issues of The Mother magazine, and Mothering magazine. To look at them side by side is funny. It totally made me realize that even though Mothering is geared toward a more natural hippy dippy kind of parent, they still are a big magazine that have to run ads to make it happen. So while Parents magazine has ads for Pampers and expensive strollers, Mothering has ads for Bum Genius and expensive baby carriers. But they're still the same--selling me things I don't need!!
I remember when I learned about slings and I wanted to get one on a limited budget. Some of them were pretty expensive but I always saw how you could make your own. I never did. I spent the money and got a ridiculously expensive Hotslings pouch, which I love, but now that I know I didn't have to fork over that much...sheesh. And my Ergo, I just had to have one but never could fathom spending over a hundred dollars on one. The only reason I have one? I found one at the thrift store for $8!!
It was the same with cloth diapers--I went the inexpensive route at first, got some used fitteds and some covers, they worked just fine and kept Ingrid dry. But it wasn't enough. I had to get the newest FuzziBunz, in cute colors. I had to try the Bum Genius, and even though I hated the velcro, I still ended up with seven of them! They don't work any better than what I had, but I thought I had to have more.
Isn't that what I'm trying not to do? Aren't I trying to live with what I have and be happy with what I have? Aren't I trying to teach Ingrid that it's what we do that makes us happy, not what we own? But dammit, you see these glossy ads in magazines and think your life would be so much better if you just had a different diaper, a better wrap, another glass bottle with bpa free nipple. Or that organic cotton whatever that costs five times more than I can afford.
What can you do, we live in a material based culture. It's up to me to figure out that I can read the articles and enjoy them while ignoring the ads and knowing I don't have to have every little thing that's out there, it will not, in fact, make my life easier or my baby happier. It's so easy to get sucked into it though!!
A New Path
10 months ago
2 comments:
I love new stuff that sparkles and smells good....ahhh... SO since I too am constantly sucked in, we give ourselves three days to think about our "Want" purchase to really THINK if we need it. Usually, the want goes away and I'm happy again knowing I really didn't need it, or my trusty old stuff is just fine. I mean, college paid for and an actual retirement is going to be soooo much more rewarding :)
well said!! the bum genius are such money traps-- and they really start to smell nasty after awhile...i have more luck with my 2nd hand prefolds....!!
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