things we’ve actually used the shit out of since becoming parents

I could not believe how much mothereffing (pun sort of intended) gear people were telling us we had to buy when they found out we were actually having a kid. Everyone’s “very curated list” was actually so, so long. It seems like there are two camps- people who think a baby can sleep in a drawer and play with a whittled stump, and people who have purchased enough gadgets to Kimpossible their way up a skyscraper. 

Much like kids laying out the perfect backpack before school, nailing the commerce gives us some vague illusion of control over one of the least controllable processes there is: guiding another human through every possible situation and milestone. I keep saying it feels like one of those movies where a kid is made the guardian of a dragon and is like “what do they eat? Wow, it turns out they love crab apples and if you keep them in a wicker basket then they’re very happy and don’t shoot flames!” 

I don’t pretend to be a mommy blogger, newborn expert or postpartum doula.  This is not medical or safety advice (and BTW I’m not even getting into carrier/stroller/formula culture because that feels more dangerous than freesoloing El Cap.)

I am just a chronically ill girlie who has been NOT a parent for many decades and who loves joy and ease. And these are things that have brought joy and ease into our home and made transitioning into this new era easier and a bit more playful!