Even though it feels like old news already, I can’t ignore the headline grabbing TIME cover controversy. But there was so much more that caught my attention this week—like cottagedreams.ca, Savvy ‘momisms’, twitter parties and wall stickers.
1. If you haven’t been following the controversy over the cover of the most recent TIME Magazine, then it’s time to crawl out from under that rock. An image of a beautiful model-esque mother in her twenties with a three-year-old boy sucking on her breast has got the whole world talking about attachment parenting. As a mom, I couldn’t care less if this woman chooses attachment parenting. Some women can’t breastfeed, some don’t want to and some don’t want to stop. It’s a choice—there’s no right or wrong here. As a mother of two teenage boys, I do feel badly for her son. Kids can be mean, and they will be…for as long as the internet (and that picture) is around.
As far as TIME Magazine goes, it was a home run. Sales increased and exposure was huge. As far as raising awareness for attachment parenting, it worked. But awareness doesn’t always generate conversion. Many are disappointed with the cover because it turned so many people off and didn’t promote the movement.
The question remains: who really benefited the most from this? Not the mom, not the child and apparently not the attachment parenting movement. That leaves TIME. Responsible media or sensationalist news?
2. In more charitable news, Sarah told me this week about a new organization called cottagedreams.ca. It matches weeks at people’s cottages with families of recovering cancer patients. I don’t have a cottage (and I’m fine with that, really) but if I did, I’m pretty sure I would sign up. To date, over 1,100 families have enjoyed time away through the Cottage Dreams program but there have been 60,100 new cancer cases diagnosed in Ontario last year and a 67% increase in the number of placement requests this year alone. The placement goal for 2012 is 350+ families. If you have a cottage, you might consider this charity.
3. I have a picture frame at home with a really nice family shot taken at a wedding. We look very spiffy under the caption ‘Remember, according to everyone else, we’re a perfectly normal family.’ It’s one of my favourites. But I think this wall sticker kicks that up a notch. I want it.
4. We ran a contest on Facebook this past month and asked our readers what was the line they remember most from their mother…we called them ‘momisms’. The answers came pouring in—the most we have heard from our readers yet with close to 150 responses. Here are a few of my favourites:
If you keep sticking your finger in your nose your head will cave in
I’m not going to college with you, so you better learn this now
If you fall out of that tree and break your leg, don’t come running to me
And the most original goes to: ‘Get your hands out of your pants or I will cut that thing off and give it to your sister.’
5. We’re having a party next week which is very exciting for all of us at Savvy HQ. Firstly, it’s our first party at the HQ. Secondly, it’s in celebration of the launch of SHOP.CA—Canada’s newest shopping destination online…so there will be shopping. Need I say more? We’ll have lots of food, wine and of course…lots of shopping. What’s not to love? We’ll even have a few token males there in the form of the executive team from SHOP.CA. Time to clean up my office!
There is much to report. Google’s self-driving car, pregnancy must-haves, more Fifty Shades of Grey, mason jars and sandwich bags—they all caught my attention this week.
1. The movie What to Expect When You’re Expecting is coming out next week. With a star studded cast (Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez), it’s sure to be a hit with moms. We’re excited—especially after we received a nice big package to the office promoting the movie. What did we find inside the box? Condoms and a Trojan Vibrating Touch (that would be a mini-vibrator that attaches to your finger—yes). Pregnancy must–haves? The promoters did include a few other items such as a very large pickle, a First Response pregnancy kit and some Nair hair removal products. I’m not sure about all of you, but pregnancy seems a whole lot more fun than what my memory serves. Babymoon, anyone?
2. Google just announced that the first ever self-driving car passed its drivers test. Let’s review. A car that drives itself. Think of the hands-free opportunities this provides for moms. Did the baby keep you up all night? Have a nap in your car. Hungry toddlers, dropped toys and sibling spats can all be solved without having to turn around and drive off the road. Finally, all that pesky traffic isn’t your problem. You can watch a movie with your kids, text, sext, read, apply makeup, surf and parent all at the same time. A world of opportunity awaits you in your car. Note that you have to live in Nevada first—it’s the only state that will allow it for now. (Side bar: what would we do without the state of Nevada?)
Let’s wait to see who slaps the first Baby on Board sticker to their Google car. Britney?
3. The fascination with Fifty Shades of Grey just isn’t going away anytime soon. Apparently, well over 2,000,000 copies of the book have been sold and even more on Kindle. Here’s a hilarious skit on SNL I wanted to share with you. Is mommy porn the new reality TV? I suppose things could be worse.
4. Have you stuffed anything into a mason jar recently? If you have, then apparently you’re on trend. Foodies and decorators can’t get enough of this classic container. It seems that everywhere I look these days, I see them. What’s amazing is the speed at which their popularity has risen. Should we be crediting Pinterest for this? Whatever the reason, I’m definitely going to dig out my old jars and use them.
5. Worried about your kids’ lunch getting stolen or traded? Tired of not being able to control the lunch situation? Make sure they eat what you pack with these handy disposables. The Anti-Theft Lunch Bags might not be the most eco-friendly option but you can be sure nobody else will touch your kids’ lunch. Helicopter mom or hilarious mom?
Comments
LOL! I love the sandwich bags! Hillarious. And the self driving car… sign me up! Any extra nap time I can get is welcomed!
another great round up! OK - gotta go google that SNL skit!!