neomott's Profile

Calderacraft- I researched elimination communication while I was still pregnant and was ready to give it a try when our son was born. I found with my schedule as a new mom, full-time student, and part-time employee who works nights I didn't have the time or energy to devote to it. Plus everything I read led me to the conclusion that using EC as a path towards independent toileting actually takes much longer than waiting to "train" a toddler who is developmentally and biologically ready to control their bladder and bowels. I think "coerce" is a strong word to use to describe toddler potty training. Like those who choose to use EC, parents who choose potty training are also helping their children get there when they need to go.

This is a truly beautiful home-full of warmth, soul, and individuality.

AT, can you make #9 a regular contributor please?

$89 on the site. I thought $28 was too good to be true.

Possibly another marketing ploy to keep consumers distracted from stories about Pamper's super-absorbent diapers causing horrible rashes/chemical burns?

Kate (NC), I hope my 7 month-old little man grows up to be as well rounded and amazing as your son. You should be proud, mama! Oh and about the movie...haven't seen it, but just watching the trailer and listening to the soundtrack makes me misty. It does seems like it's a movie about childhood (rather than for kids), which gives it a sense of melancholic nostalgia that gets me everytime.

Similar situation to be filed under "if it's too good to be true...". We rented a house, complete with garage, laundry, and backyard in an ok Chicago neightborhood close to the el and highway, for only $650. The owner was a friend of a friend who we knew would be an absentee landlord, but would also allow us to deduct the cost of improvements from the rent. After deducting the cost of replacing the rotting wood front staircase (after my foot went through one of the treads) and half of the cost of clearing and sodding the overgrown trash filled backyard, our absentee landlord declared no more rent deductions for improvements. We didn't even charge him for tearing out the disgusting moldy carpet and sanding the wood floors. So why did we agree to even renting a place with moldy carpet? Well...cheap rent, a large-ish green space, and grand illusions of turning the partially finished pine paneled attic into a northwoods tiki longe (high concept I know) clouded our common sense. $650 a month turned into $1000/month with gas and electric during most of the year and $1300/month during the winter due to drafty windows, outdated electric and furnace, and having to run space heaters so we didn't freeze. The electric was so outdated that I had to turn off everything including lights if I wanted to use the hairdryer in the bathroom. The attic tiki lounge never took off because the roof leaked and it was either 100 degrees or 30 degrees up there. The walls of the super small bathroom were full of mold and rot to the point where the tiles around the shower and tub were caving in, plus the smell was horrible and the toilet didn't always flush. We stuck it out for almost a year but I hit my breaking point when I tripped over a rat in the basement laundry room. I did a little investigation to find that said rat and it's little buddies had chewed through the rotting foundation in the corner of the basement and made their way up to the first floor pantry. I had nightmares of rats attacking our dog when we were at work or myself being attacked if I interupted a midnight feast on my way through the kitchen to the bathroom in the middle of the night. After that, we were packed and in a new place within 2 weeks.

My in-laws suffer from what's becoming an extreme hoarding problem that is negatively affecting relationships with their family. We can't visit them (they're 5 hours away) with their new grandchild because there is no place for us to sleep and honestly the mess stresses me out. When they come to visit us they bring at least 6 bags for just the 2 of them for a weekend visit (including one filled with what looked like old mail-I peeked one time). Now that we have the baby I feel like I need to speak up and get them some help, but then there's the touching in-law relationship....