Reusable or Disposable Diapers?

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Choosing how to diaper a baby is simple, really. I remember when I was faced with this decision 26 1/2 years ago, everyone just assumed I would use disposable diapers. After all, they were the most amazing things since

sliced-white-bread-in-a-plastic-bag-from-Kroger's.

Just buy a bag of diapers, tape one to your baby's bum, then (here's the best part) toss the smelly thing into the trash bin. Never to think about it again.

(unless the trash bin sits too close to the house)

But, I didn't want to use disposable diapers on my baby. First of all, I couldn't imagine having a chunky plastic and paper thing taped tightly to my waist and bum. ACK, that sounds seriously uncomfy. So, why would I tape this plastic thing to my tiny, soft newborn baby?

Oh, that reminds of how I went crazy when I heard that La Leche League International agreed to take $$ from Proctor & Gamble? Yeah, it was extremely horrible. P&G made these butt-ugly (of course) plastic (of course) bags with their sickening information plastered all over them, then stuffed the stupid things with some of their sickening pamphlets. We were expected to give these horrid bags to new mothers! I thought I would die.

Anyway, plastic diapers were not happening for my baby.

Besides the uncomfy-factor, I was pretty creeped-out by the chemicals used in plastic diapers that turned to a heavy, stinky gel after it got wet. More fun for baby.

Then, I was extremely weirded-out by the fact that plastic diapers sit in landfills (full of human feces, full of disease, leeching into soil/water) for more than 500 years! Didn't think I could handle that responsibility.

Oh, that reminds me of the time when I wrote to P&G about their horrid products and what they're doing to the planet? I was pretty upset. This was way before it was popular to worry about our pitiful environment.

So, when my sweet, little (6lbs 11oz) baby girl was born, her soft little bum never felt those nasty plastic and paper and chemical diapers. I can't imagine.

We used reusable, breathable, cotton diapers.

Sure, we had to learn how-to use cloth diapers, how-to pin them onto baby without poking a finger or the baby, and how-to clean dirty diapers.

It was worth it.

All five babies were given the same gift.

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cheryle

dusty memories

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Since Caroline and I have been sewing lately, she thought it would be fun to look through my old sewing patterns. So, yesterday afternoon we hiked out to the barn attic to dig out my seriously-old box of patterns.

Every pattern is from the 80s, and older! ACK!

Caroline had a good laugh as she sifted through the crazy selection. And, what's even funnier, I actually made clothes from those patterns! Puffy sleeves, jumpsuits, leggings, and long over-sized sweatshirts. Even I forgot how much clothing I made for the kids and myself back then. [those were the days]
Then, to continue on our treasure hunt, we decided to look through every storage box. Again, we found some great memories buried in those boxes. As I was telling Meg, I gave-up the kids' baby/child clothes and toys in stages. So, by the time we moved the fourth time in 12 years, I downsized my "keepsake" boxes for each kid. (small box)

Yesterday, I looked through each box, again.

How sweet.

As I pulled items from the boxes, I was immediately reminded of that child wearing that item. Sara's favorite dresses (she was a dress-girl), Logan's favorite velour sweat-suit (I made), Griffin's favorite herringbone suit jacket (size 3), Caroline's dresses she never wore (not a dress-girl), her favorite overalls, and Quinn's favorite cowboy boots (size 4).

Sweet memories, for sure. Some items are very worn, because obviously it was much-loved and worn often, or maybe constantly. Some are like new. Sara has the majority of saved clothes, as she always had the largest wardrobe to start with. She received lots of nice hand-me-downs from family and friends.

Sara wore that cute little swimsuit (above photo) when she was about nine-months-old (and up), and of course Caroline wore it also. You realize that means I saved it for more than 10 years! Those little shoes were also Sara's (Caroline went crazy when she spotted them-took these photos), she wore them until I discovered soft-soled shoes. (of which I have many pairs)

We also found some of my old children's book collection. There are many more somewhere. I found most of these books at garage sales. Caroline and Quinn found them fascinating. (as if they didn't grow up with these books!)

Now, I'll launder all of the clothes I found and ask Sara if she wants any of her items for Baby. And, put away the rest for later.

We had a great time. . .dusty memories and all.

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~cheryle

Homeschooling Thoughts or Vapors

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People often ask me about homeschooling. And, each and every time they do, I experience a brain-freeze. Why?

Because it's impossible to explain, share, or educate in a few sentences or a few minutes.

Homeschooling is a very broad topic!

Educating our children at home is what the word implies. After that, there are as many definitions to homeschooling as there are pecans in Georgia.

Also, I might mention that everything I share here is from my personal point-of-view. Since I'm not very good with spitting back names of authors, titles of books or quotes from notable figures, feel free to surf the internet for that type of info.

Sure, I've devoured countless pages on the subject throughout the years, but first-hand experience is what I know best.
(Okay, my favorite author is John Holt, be sure to look him up.)

First, let me say that I feel all parents homeschool their children from the
moment their baby is born.
(I think you'll have to agree that you've been educating-at-home all of this time.)

After reading John Holt's books, and really latching on (ha!) to the concept that children are always learning, and that they learn best their own way, through play, imagination, music, textures, movement, relating with their family and the world, etc.. . .in other words. . .
provide an environment and let them go, it all made sense.

That was a turning point for me.

I could relax and watch my kids grow-without-schooling. Everything and anything that encourages growth on any level of a child's life, counts. Rest assure, all of my kids, at very different times, learned academic-related skills. That is what most parents want to know, "When did you teach reading and writing and math?"

Well, I prefer the slip-it-in-when-they're-not-looking method of instructing. So, gradually and at their natural pace, those concepts are introduced.

Since I think most of you are mostly interested in homeschooling young children (under 10), we'll save the older-child questions for another time.

I hope this was a tiny-bit helpful. I'm happy to chat further, anytime.

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cheryle