Baby Dog Days may be ending soon. But like the evolution of life it will evolve into something else.
It's partly 'cause I want to try out Wordpress, but mostly because I thought being that the baby is not so much a "baby" anymore, it might be the start of a different chapter.
Speaking of chapters, I'm thinking about writing a book/guide...No, seriously. Ha, 'thinking' is the key word.
I've been more of a pessimist so long and have been thinking and trying to be more of an optimist so I don't know if I'll still be 'Angry'. Although MSO would think I still am.
So we'll see how things evolve. Book/Guide included.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Warning Alert: Polycarbonate Baby Bottles Containing BPA
Just received a breaking news e-mail from the authors of Baby Bargains regarding the use of polycarbonate bottles made from a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). Not good news considering we had used them for our child and I know others have used them as well.
If you don't want to read the whole e-mail content blurb below:
Link to an article that talks about the issue at hand can be found here.
Three examples of polycarbonate bottles containing BPA can be found here.
Examples of BPA-free bottles can be found here.
Stay away from bottles that have a #7 on their recycling label as they are most likely made of polycarbonate (and contain BPA). Damn, my Nalgene bottle has a friggen 7 on it! Although they say this. Sheesh, is anything safe in this world?
e-mail content blurb:
Baby Bargains book withdraws recommendation for certain plastic baby bottles
(BOULDER, CO) The authors of BABY BARGAINS, the country’s best-selling guide to baby products (700,000 copies in print), today called for parents to stop using baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic.
Polycarbonate bottles are made from a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). In an article in a peer-reviewed medical journal last week, a group of 38 scientists said BPA caused a significant health risk.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-plastic3aug03,0,1828523.story?coll=la-home-nation
Also last week, a federal panel convened by the National Institutes of Health said there is “some concern” the chemical could cause behavioral and neurological problems in young children.
Specifically, parents should stop using Avent’s Natural Feeding Bottle and Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow (or any bottle made of polycarbonate plastic)---these products were previously recommended by BABY BARGAINS.
“All baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic should be avoided,” said author and consumer advocate Denise Fields. “If you are shopping for bottles, chose an alternative made from BPA-free plastic or glass. If you have polycarbonate bottles, throw them out.”
So, what is BPA? How is it harmful? See the FAQ below for answers.
Q. What the heck is BPA? Why is it dangerous?
Clear plastic baby bottles (as well as some food containers and water bottles) are made of polycarbonate, which contains a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). It is the BPA that makes the hard, clear plastic bottles . . . well, hard and clear.
Here’s the rub: BPA’s chemical bond with polycarbonate breaks down over time—especially with repeated washings or heating of the bottle. As a result, BPA leaches out of the plastic bottle or sippy cup . . . and into the liquid (that is, breast milk or formula).
While most data on BPA comes from animal research, studies show even low-levels of BPA MAY be linked to everything from early puberty to breast cancer, to attention and developmental problems.
We wrote a detailed article on BPA and plastic baby bottles in our Baby 411 book. Click here to read it online on our web site:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/baby411/bpa.html
===
Q. Do we really know that these bottles are dangerous to humans?
No, we don’t. There have been no human studies on BPA—so far, researchers have only found problems in animal research.
There is a split opinion here among scientists. The same federal panel that said it had “some concern” about behavioral and developmental problems in babies also stated that links to other ailments like birth defects and adult ailments were “negligible.” Of course, the plastics industry says BPA is completely safe.
That contrasts to the group of 38 scientists who last week called the health threat from BPA as “significant.”
But the fact the federal panel said there were “some concerns” for the health of babies tipped the balance for us.
As parents, we realize it can be hard to decide what to do when the debate is so heated. As always, our mantra is “show us the science.” We believe enough science is now in to recommend a change in course.
===
Q. Isn’t it a bit alarmist to say stop using these bottles? When will we know for certain BPA is harmful to humans?
The truth is we won’t know for YEARS if there is a human health problem from BPA. And it could be YEARS more before the government decides to take some regulatory action.
We have consulted with pediatricians and other experts before making this decision. The consensus of these experts is: if concerns exist today (and that is backed up by reputable scientific research), then why not limit your baby’s exposure to this chemical?
Babies are especially at risk when it comes to exposure to harmful chemicals—that’s one thing we all can agree on.
The bottom line: we suggest stop using polycarbonate baby bottles and sippy cups NOW. Since there are quite a few BPA-free bottles on the market (see below), we believe this is an easy call for parents.
===
Q. The Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association said plastic baby bottles are safe.
In a recent statement, the JPMA said the federal panel’s report on BPA “reaffirms the safety of plastic baby bottles.”
With all due respect to the fine folks at the JPMA, we’re not sure they were reading the same report we did. If they did, they would note this sentence: “The Expert Panel expressed SOME CONCERN that exposure to BPA causes neural and behavioral effects (emphasis added).”
Click here to read it:
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/draftBPA_MtgSumm080807.pdf
What part of “some concern” did the JPMA miss?
We realize you can argue that the panel didn’t call for the ban of products with BPA. But, that’s NOT what the panel was asked to do. It will now take years of debate among scientists, researchers and politicians as to the best course to take with BPA.
The JPMA does a good job at representing the manufacturers of baby products and lobbying the government on their behalf. But we would hardly call them unbiased experts on this subject. In fact, Avent (the U.S. largest seller of polycarbonate baby bottles) sits on the JPMA’s board of directors.
For the record, Avent told us they believe their bottles are safe and pose no heath threat to babies.
===
Q. Which bottles should we NOT use? Which ones are BPA-free?
Polycarbonate baby bottles make up about 90% of the bottle market. The most common polycarbonate bottle are Avent’s Natural Feeding Bottle and Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow. But other major baby product companies like Playtex and Gerber also make polycarbonate bottles.
Click here to see pictures of polycarbonate bottles:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/BPAbottles.html
Here are the alternatives that are BPA-free:
• Use glass bottles. Obviously, there is a risk of injury to baby or mom if the bottle is dropped, so glass isn’t a perfect alternative.
• Use bottles made of opaque plastic. These bottles (made of polyethylene or polypropylene) do not contain BPA.
• Consider a BPA-free plastic bottle. Born Free makes a BPA-free clear plastic bottle (Newbornfree.com) sold at Whole Foods. But these cost about $10 each, twice the price of Avent bottles.
• Use a drop-in system. For example the Playtex Drop-in System is BPA free (that is, the bottle liners do not contain BPA). Avent’s Tempo liners are another example.
We have pictures of these on our web page here:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/BPAFREEbottles.html
===
Q. Is there a way to tell if a bottle has BPA?
A. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy. Here’s a general guide:
BAD:
• Bottles that have a #7 on their recycling label most likely are made of polycarbonate (and contain BPA).
GOOD:
• Bottles that have a #2, #4 , #5 are made of polyethylene or polypropylene—these do NOT have BPA.
We call on the government to require disclosure of which bottles have BPA, so consumers can make an informed choice.
===
Q. What about sippy cups? Breast pump collection bottles?
A. Basically, the same advice applies: avoid those made of polycarbonate plastic. Sippy cups made of opaque plastic are fine. Again, check the bottom of the cup for its recycling number (#7 should be avoided). For breast pump collection bottles, consider BPA-free bottles (such as those from Medela).
===
Q. I just bought $50 worth of Avent bottles. Are you saying I should throw them out?
A. Yes. We know this in an inconvenience—but if you think about it, buying replacement bottles would run only $50 to $100. When it comes to safety, we think this is a worthwhile investment.
In the last printing of Baby Bargains, we realize that we recommended Avent and Dr. Brown’s polycarbonate bottles and said that polycarbonate bottles were safe. This was written before the release of the latest BPA study and federal panel report last week.
We have changed our recommendation on this subject based on new scientific evidence and the results of the federal panel discussed earlier. We will be revising our book in a new printing later this year to reflect this advice. We realize this is of little comfort to a reader who just bought $50 worth of Avent bottles and can’t return them—but we owe it to all readers to get the best and accurate advice out there as soon as it is available.
(Note: the advice in this update differs slightly from what we previous wrote in Baby 411 3rd edition. In that book, we said parents could still use polycarbonate bottles if they limited washings/heated drying, etc. Given the latest scientific evidence, we will revise that book to reflect the above advice to STOP using these bottles altogether.)
We will continue to blog about this subject. Check out our blogs here:
http://baby411.typepad.com/babybargains/
http://baby411.typepad.com/baby_411_blog/
If you don't want to read the whole e-mail content blurb below:
Link to an article that talks about the issue at hand can be found here.
Three examples of polycarbonate bottles containing BPA can be found here.
Examples of BPA-free bottles can be found here.
Stay away from bottles that have a #7 on their recycling label as they are most likely made of polycarbonate (and contain BPA). Damn, my Nalgene bottle has a friggen 7 on it! Although they say this. Sheesh, is anything safe in this world?
e-mail content blurb:
Baby Bargains book withdraws recommendation for certain plastic baby bottles
(BOULDER, CO) The authors of BABY BARGAINS, the country’s best-selling guide to baby products (700,000 copies in print), today called for parents to stop using baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic.
Polycarbonate bottles are made from a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). In an article in a peer-reviewed medical journal last week, a group of 38 scientists said BPA caused a significant health risk.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-plastic3aug03,0,1828523.story?coll=la-home-nation
Also last week, a federal panel convened by the National Institutes of Health said there is “some concern” the chemical could cause behavioral and neurological problems in young children.
Specifically, parents should stop using Avent’s Natural Feeding Bottle and Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow (or any bottle made of polycarbonate plastic)---these products were previously recommended by BABY BARGAINS.
“All baby bottles and sippy cups made of polycarbonate plastic should be avoided,” said author and consumer advocate Denise Fields. “If you are shopping for bottles, chose an alternative made from BPA-free plastic or glass. If you have polycarbonate bottles, throw them out.”
So, what is BPA? How is it harmful? See the FAQ below for answers.
Q. What the heck is BPA? Why is it dangerous?
Clear plastic baby bottles (as well as some food containers and water bottles) are made of polycarbonate, which contains a chemical called bisphenol A (BPA). It is the BPA that makes the hard, clear plastic bottles . . . well, hard and clear.
Here’s the rub: BPA’s chemical bond with polycarbonate breaks down over time—especially with repeated washings or heating of the bottle. As a result, BPA leaches out of the plastic bottle or sippy cup . . . and into the liquid (that is, breast milk or formula).
While most data on BPA comes from animal research, studies show even low-levels of BPA MAY be linked to everything from early puberty to breast cancer, to attention and developmental problems.
We wrote a detailed article on BPA and plastic baby bottles in our Baby 411 book. Click here to read it online on our web site:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/baby411/bpa.html
===
Q. Do we really know that these bottles are dangerous to humans?
No, we don’t. There have been no human studies on BPA—so far, researchers have only found problems in animal research.
There is a split opinion here among scientists. The same federal panel that said it had “some concern” about behavioral and developmental problems in babies also stated that links to other ailments like birth defects and adult ailments were “negligible.” Of course, the plastics industry says BPA is completely safe.
That contrasts to the group of 38 scientists who last week called the health threat from BPA as “significant.”
But the fact the federal panel said there were “some concerns” for the health of babies tipped the balance for us.
As parents, we realize it can be hard to decide what to do when the debate is so heated. As always, our mantra is “show us the science.” We believe enough science is now in to recommend a change in course.
===
Q. Isn’t it a bit alarmist to say stop using these bottles? When will we know for certain BPA is harmful to humans?
The truth is we won’t know for YEARS if there is a human health problem from BPA. And it could be YEARS more before the government decides to take some regulatory action.
We have consulted with pediatricians and other experts before making this decision. The consensus of these experts is: if concerns exist today (and that is backed up by reputable scientific research), then why not limit your baby’s exposure to this chemical?
Babies are especially at risk when it comes to exposure to harmful chemicals—that’s one thing we all can agree on.
The bottom line: we suggest stop using polycarbonate baby bottles and sippy cups NOW. Since there are quite a few BPA-free bottles on the market (see below), we believe this is an easy call for parents.
===
Q. The Juvenile Products Manufacturer’s Association said plastic baby bottles are safe.
In a recent statement, the JPMA said the federal panel’s report on BPA “reaffirms the safety of plastic baby bottles.”
With all due respect to the fine folks at the JPMA, we’re not sure they were reading the same report we did. If they did, they would note this sentence: “The Expert Panel expressed SOME CONCERN that exposure to BPA causes neural and behavioral effects (emphasis added).”
Click here to read it:
http://cerhr.niehs.nih.gov/chemicals/bisphenol/draftBPA_MtgSumm080807.pdf
What part of “some concern” did the JPMA miss?
We realize you can argue that the panel didn’t call for the ban of products with BPA. But, that’s NOT what the panel was asked to do. It will now take years of debate among scientists, researchers and politicians as to the best course to take with BPA.
The JPMA does a good job at representing the manufacturers of baby products and lobbying the government on their behalf. But we would hardly call them unbiased experts on this subject. In fact, Avent (the U.S. largest seller of polycarbonate baby bottles) sits on the JPMA’s board of directors.
For the record, Avent told us they believe their bottles are safe and pose no heath threat to babies.
===
Q. Which bottles should we NOT use? Which ones are BPA-free?
Polycarbonate baby bottles make up about 90% of the bottle market. The most common polycarbonate bottle are Avent’s Natural Feeding Bottle and Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow. But other major baby product companies like Playtex and Gerber also make polycarbonate bottles.
Click here to see pictures of polycarbonate bottles:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/BPAbottles.html
Here are the alternatives that are BPA-free:
• Use glass bottles. Obviously, there is a risk of injury to baby or mom if the bottle is dropped, so glass isn’t a perfect alternative.
• Use bottles made of opaque plastic. These bottles (made of polyethylene or polypropylene) do not contain BPA.
• Consider a BPA-free plastic bottle. Born Free makes a BPA-free clear plastic bottle (Newbornfree.com) sold at Whole Foods. But these cost about $10 each, twice the price of Avent bottles.
• Use a drop-in system. For example the Playtex Drop-in System is BPA free (that is, the bottle liners do not contain BPA). Avent’s Tempo liners are another example.
We have pictures of these on our web page here:
http://www.windsorpeak.com/babybargains/BPAFREEbottles.html
===
Q. Is there a way to tell if a bottle has BPA?
A. Unfortunately, it isn’t easy. Here’s a general guide:
BAD:
• Bottles that have a #7 on their recycling label most likely are made of polycarbonate (and contain BPA).
GOOD:
• Bottles that have a #2, #4 , #5 are made of polyethylene or polypropylene—these do NOT have BPA.
We call on the government to require disclosure of which bottles have BPA, so consumers can make an informed choice.
===
Q. What about sippy cups? Breast pump collection bottles?
A. Basically, the same advice applies: avoid those made of polycarbonate plastic. Sippy cups made of opaque plastic are fine. Again, check the bottom of the cup for its recycling number (#7 should be avoided). For breast pump collection bottles, consider BPA-free bottles (such as those from Medela).
===
Q. I just bought $50 worth of Avent bottles. Are you saying I should throw them out?
A. Yes. We know this in an inconvenience—but if you think about it, buying replacement bottles would run only $50 to $100. When it comes to safety, we think this is a worthwhile investment.
In the last printing of Baby Bargains, we realize that we recommended Avent and Dr. Brown’s polycarbonate bottles and said that polycarbonate bottles were safe. This was written before the release of the latest BPA study and federal panel report last week.
We have changed our recommendation on this subject based on new scientific evidence and the results of the federal panel discussed earlier. We will be revising our book in a new printing later this year to reflect this advice. We realize this is of little comfort to a reader who just bought $50 worth of Avent bottles and can’t return them—but we owe it to all readers to get the best and accurate advice out there as soon as it is available.
(Note: the advice in this update differs slightly from what we previous wrote in Baby 411 3rd edition. In that book, we said parents could still use polycarbonate bottles if they limited washings/heated drying, etc. Given the latest scientific evidence, we will revise that book to reflect the above advice to STOP using these bottles altogether.)
We will continue to blog about this subject. Check out our blogs here:
http://baby411.typepad.com/babybargains/
http://baby411.typepad.com/baby_411_blog/
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Entitled Children
In this Family Tree blog post, she writes about how a colleague of hers bought his 18-year-old(!) daughter a new SUV, and reflected on her past car ownership experiences.
I'll reflect and say that I was a bit spoiled (and still kind of am) because my mom did help me to purchase two cars (one used and one new) that I owned in the past, but I really like what one of the commentators said to this particular post:
It's somewhat difficult because we do want to make our children's lives better than ours, but my goal is to raise a child that doesn't feel entitled to such things as a brand new SUV and a Wii. Yes, the 18-year-old daughter might have "worked" for it somehow, but it does seem to subdue that willingness to work hard, sense of accomplishment, and especially personal growth.
But what do I know, I'm just a rookie parent.
I'll reflect and say that I was a bit spoiled (and still kind of am) because my mom did help me to purchase two cars (one used and one new) that I owned in the past, but I really like what one of the commentators said to this particular post:
My parents didn't buy me a new car when I got my license, they didn't buy me a new car when I graduated from high school or college. I was always lucky enough to borrow their car. When I finally bought my first car, it was an accomplishment, something I earned and could look back upon as having achieved on my own.
Though I envy the new SUV your friend bought his daughter, he hasn't taught her anything. He has deprived her the right to achieve a goal and take pride in her accomplishment. Hopefully, she's a good kid that won't grow up feeling entitled, that everything needs to be fair. As parents, we should teach our kids resiliency and relying upon their strengths, while recognizing their weaknesses. This is the best gift a parent can give their child...it will contribute to their personal growth and hopefully success in life.
I don't mean to rant, but sometimes in wanting to make our children's lives better than our childhoods, we prolong their dependency as our children and don't allow them to fully grow as adults. My daughter knows I love her and we are a close knit family. At her young age, she's won some well earned recognition from school for fundraising (all on her own) and donated some of her recycling money to the Hawaiian Humane Society. She may not have a Wii, but she has a big heart and a willingness to work hard for things she wants.
08/13/07 @ 16:48
It's somewhat difficult because we do want to make our children's lives better than ours, but my goal is to raise a child that doesn't feel entitled to such things as a brand new SUV and a Wii. Yes, the 18-year-old daughter might have "worked" for it somehow, but it does seem to subdue that willingness to work hard, sense of accomplishment, and especially personal growth.
But what do I know, I'm just a rookie parent.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Disaster Preparedness
Per The Honolulu Advertiser, some tips on what to do follows. Are you prepared?
----------
In the event of any hurricane or natural disaster, all residents should make sure they have a disaster plan. Here are some disaster preparedness tips:
* Stay informed about the weather and keep in touch with family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled.
* Where will we meet? What if children are at school, parents at work and otherwise scattered through daily activities? Plan a backup meeting place, someplace familiar to everyone.
* Consider an off-island telephone contact - a sister in Arizona or an auntie in Las Vegas - so that people here can call there to check in. During the Iniki aftermath on Kaua`i, people could call the Mainland but not across the street. That out-of-danger person can keep track of everyone and offer help and assurance.
Your evacuation plan
* Arrange transportation. Fill up gas tank.
* Plan a safe room. A bathroom, pantry or hallway with no windows or only a small window, where your family could stay safely sheltered through a storm.
* Develop a family plan.
* Plan for special needs. Have what you need to care for babies, family members taking medication, senior citizens and people with disabilities.
* Know how to shut off utilities: gas, water, electricity.
* Plan what to do with pets.
* Assemble supplies and have a carrying case nearby if you need to evacuate. You can buy a cheap duffel bag at a secondhand store or use a cooler or backpack. Each person in the family should have a kit.
* Have important family documents and small valuables where you can grab them.
* Store family photos and things you can't carry in a windowless room above flood risk levels.
----------
One site's recommendation for the contents of the 72-hour kits.
Here is a link to building
your family's 72-hour kits.
Link to Ready America or Ready Kids.
Hawaii State Civil Defense Disaster Preparedness Kit
----------
Suggestions for pets in times of emergency:
* Pet carriers or cages.
* Collars that fit, with ID tags and leashes
* One to two weeks of dry pet food
* Spill-resistant food and water bowls
* Unbreakable containers with a three-day water supply
* Kitty litter, newspapers, plastic bags and cleanser to take care of pet waste.
* Pet's special medications, if needed
----------
In the event of any hurricane or natural disaster, all residents should make sure they have a disaster plan. Here are some disaster preparedness tips:
* Stay informed about the weather and keep in touch with family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly and disabled.
* Where will we meet? What if children are at school, parents at work and otherwise scattered through daily activities? Plan a backup meeting place, someplace familiar to everyone.
* Consider an off-island telephone contact - a sister in Arizona or an auntie in Las Vegas - so that people here can call there to check in. During the Iniki aftermath on Kaua`i, people could call the Mainland but not across the street. That out-of-danger person can keep track of everyone and offer help and assurance.
Your evacuation plan
* Arrange transportation. Fill up gas tank.
* Plan a safe room. A bathroom, pantry or hallway with no windows or only a small window, where your family could stay safely sheltered through a storm.
* Develop a family plan.
* Plan for special needs. Have what you need to care for babies, family members taking medication, senior citizens and people with disabilities.
* Know how to shut off utilities: gas, water, electricity.
* Plan what to do with pets.
* Assemble supplies and have a carrying case nearby if you need to evacuate. You can buy a cheap duffel bag at a secondhand store or use a cooler or backpack. Each person in the family should have a kit.
* Have important family documents and small valuables where you can grab them.
* Store family photos and things you can't carry in a windowless room above flood risk levels.
----------
One site's recommendation for the contents of the 72-hour kits.
Here is a link to building
your family's 72-hour kits.
Link to Ready America or Ready Kids.
Hawaii State Civil Defense Disaster Preparedness Kit
----------
Suggestions for pets in times of emergency:
* Pet carriers or cages.
* Collars that fit, with ID tags and leashes
* One to two weeks of dry pet food
* Spill-resistant food and water bowls
* Unbreakable containers with a three-day water supply
* Kitty litter, newspapers, plastic bags and cleanser to take care of pet waste.
* Pet's special medications, if needed
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Fewer Words With Baby Einstein?
A new study is out about "Baby Einstein" and "Brainy Baby" video series, saying "[f]or every hour a day that babies 8 to 16 months old watched such popular video series as "Brainy Baby" or "Baby Einstein," they knew six to eight fewer words than other children."
Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington in Seattle, and his colleagues surveyed 1,000 parents to determine their babies' vocabularies. They used a "standard set of 90 common baby words, including mommy, nose and choo-choo".
"The researchers found that 32% of the babies watched the videos, and 17% of those watched more than an hour a day, according to the study in the Journal of Pediatrics."
More than an hour a day?! Wow, that's a lot considering the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO television for children under 2.
"Christakis said children whose parents read to them or told them stories had bigger vocabularies."
Well MSO and I hope we're contributing to our child's growing vocabulary 'cause it has been somewhat difficult for us to give up TV.
Dr. Dimitri Christakis, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Washington in Seattle, and his colleagues surveyed 1,000 parents to determine their babies' vocabularies. They used a "standard set of 90 common baby words, including mommy, nose and choo-choo".
"The researchers found that 32% of the babies watched the videos, and 17% of those watched more than an hour a day, according to the study in the Journal of Pediatrics."
More than an hour a day?! Wow, that's a lot considering the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends NO television for children under 2.
"Christakis said children whose parents read to them or told them stories had bigger vocabularies."
Well MSO and I hope we're contributing to our child's growing vocabulary 'cause it has been somewhat difficult for us to give up TV.
We're Poor
According to Paul Graham, "the poorer people are, the more stuff they seem to have." Or is it because our abode is so small it seems like we have so many things? Nah, we got too many stuff, including statements that date back to who knows when.
Been trying to declutter 'cause it actually does cause me to feel like my spirits are sapped, depressed, and even exhausted. MSO can't understand why I get all frustrated when I see like five empty milk cartons around the sink that he's saving for his mother. Or why it's bothersome to see a desk chair in our child's room when all it's doing is holding his clothes. Yeah, I shouldn't sweat the small stuff but this explains it. =S
And unless you're extremely organized, a house full of stuff can be very depressing. A cluttered room saps one's spirits. One reason, obviously, is that there's less room for people in a room full of stuff. But there's more going on than that. I think humans constantly scan their environment to build a mental model of what's around them. And the harder a scene is to parse, the less energy you have left for conscious thoughts. A cluttered room is literally exhausting.
(This could explain why clutter doesn't seem to bother kids as much as adults. Kids are less perceptive. They build a coarser model of their surroundings, and this consumes less energy.)
Been trying to declutter 'cause it actually does cause me to feel like my spirits are sapped, depressed, and even exhausted. MSO can't understand why I get all frustrated when I see like five empty milk cartons around the sink that he's saving for his mother. Or why it's bothersome to see a desk chair in our child's room when all it's doing is holding his clothes. Yeah, I shouldn't sweat the small stuff but this explains it. =S
Thursday, August 02, 2007
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