five little things that made my week.
1. flowers.
{delivered to my door. not once, but twice. an embarrassment of riches.}
2. blocks.
{and the papa in our house playing with them.}
3. old things in new places.
{apartment rearranging as stress relief.}
4. this “diaper” pouch.Ā 
{for toting with me on a rainy walk (and bus ride) to an afternoon movie.}
5. this rosy swaddle.Ā 
{fighting toxic masculinity one pink-clad baby boy at a time.}
other things:
we who believe in freedom cannot rest…
38 Comments
Blocks!! Have you read about the Bank Street School of Education’s block curriculum? One of my colleagues uses it for our K-1 class and it is AMAZING! I think it’s something you would be into for your daughter!
Did you take your little guy with you to the movies? I’ve been so movie-deprived since having a baby, I’m wondering how you did it! Did he stay snug in a wrap? Please share your magic.
Yes! It was a special screening for parents with little guys/folks with special needs but he slept and nursed the whole time and barely made a peep! I carried him in a wrap!
When my kids were little and nursing (but when they could go like 2 hours between eating) I would go to the movies every Saturday morning all by myself. My hubby had time with just him and the kids. The two house were magic. I could feed them right before I left and then when I got home. My hubby then went to the same movie by himself and we would talk about it together. It was a great way to share the movie, not pay a sitter, just the right amount of time between feeding, and gave me some much needed alone time and my hubby some special time with his boys. All the best with your new little ones. Mine are in high school…so my hubby and I have tons of time as they are now busy with their own stuff.
I used to take my babies to movies even 40+ years ago, but they were pretty good about nursing and being quiet if I picked the right time of day.
Thank you, this week more than ever, for such a thoughtful round-up that balances the heavy & the heartening.
Oh that black and white rug is amazing! Could you tell me where you got it from?
Thank you!
I believe it’s from joinerynyc.com š
Yes! It is!
Thank you so much!
Fighting toxic masculinity – I love it!!!! Keep up the great work, mama.
Love the swaddle, but I would urge you to stay away from the phrase “toxic masculinity,” which completely denigrates men and is unnecessary. Masculinity, like femininity, is a beautiful and natural thing.
Only taking issue with the toxic kind!
What do you use as a diaper bag when going out? I love the Peg and Awl pouch! I feel like you probably use something equally as chic and durable to hold everything else…
There’s a whole post in the archive about diaper bags!
The list from the St Louis is so…I have no words.
Oh *&#^ – that St. Louis Manifest. That just hit me like a ton of bricks. I don’t even really know what to say.
I’m curious to know if you would allow Faye to wear pink if she wanted to, also. I understand your motives in using non-gendered colours and toys, but I think you can relax a bit. My daughter loved pink and purple. She also loved Barbie dolls. She is now 21 and an ardent feminist. My son loved cars and pirates and all that kind of thing. He’s now 22 and also a feminist as well as being a very kind and gentle man (with no interest, at all, in cars etc.). Kids turn out the way they do because of the conversations in the home and the things the parents model for them. It’s got nothing to do with the colours they wear and the toys they play with. Obviously they should be encouraged if their interests are not traditional for their gender. But to deny them traditional interests is just as harmful. Sorry. I’m finished ranting now.
Kari, I’m being mostly facetious here, of course. I’d of course allow my kids to both wear what they’d like and of course any person wearing whatever pleases them can be as feminist as anyone else.
I love Faye’s pink red Creek handmade pants, I saw the other day they still fit.
We love them too! They’ve held up beautifully!
Sorry. I sometimes find it hard to tell when someone’s being facetious. And I think we’re all feeling a little touchy right now. I just want to make sure that while we’re struggling to let people out of the cages they’ve been in, that we don’t create new cages for them, instead. If that makes any sense. And thanks for all your passionate fighting.
In full support of fewer cages!
I am curious, what does toxic femininity look like?
I’ll let you know as soon as the matriarchy arrives.
Brilliant.
Hahaha exactly, Lanen.
Love seeing babies in all colors. I so appreciate you standing up for these things, when inevitably folks will react unkindly. As a trans person it really is a relief to see these conversations happening outside of trans and queer spaces. Thank you, Erin.
Thanks so much, Lanen!
Loved your objects this week. My girls both wear all kinds of colours, rarely skirts and we haven’t pierced their ears. When they were babies most people would refer to them as ‘he’, since nothing in the appearence would reveal their gender. The eldest is obsessed with princesses and pink though. Apparently (as adviced by her montessori guide) all we have to do is to relax and act like it’s not a big deal so the obsession will dissapear on its own. She told us if we try to ‘battle’ it, she’ll be aware it’s something really important so the ‘phase’ will extend. So frustrating to this feminist working mom!
As a mother of two lovely, kind boys I’m frequently concerned by the ease with which mothers of girls imply that boy things or behavior is not as desirable as that of girls. It’s often couched as being Feminist thinking or being pro-female, but It is really just hurtful. Please don’t confuse bad behavior by human beings as just that regardless of the gender.
Of course not what I’m doing here!
Hello! I have to ask, did you ever select a winner for the Simple Matters giveaway from the beginning of the month? š I so hope it’s me!
As promised! Thanks so much for reading (and entering!)!
i love coming to your blog for lightness as well as awareness in this time. your links fuel my friday morning with hope and a renewed strength to keep the “good trouble” rolling.
thank you for doing your part in keeping the troops rallied but also hopeful.
Geesh, thank you for this. I’ve been wondering how to capture my political fury and heartbreak while staying soft, present, and open. You do a beautiful job of showing gratitude and keeping your heart warm, while standing for what you believe in. Thanks Erin.
“fighting toxic masculinity one pink-clad baby boy at a time.” — love this!
Amen on the swaddle color! While I was pregnant last year I wrote a whole blog post about boy, girl and neutral things. I just wish it were all one lump without the labels, I get bored of so many things being blue or pink, princess or jungle themed… https://eemmllee.wordpress.com/
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