Welcome to Parenthood! Recent Internet Reading

Now that I’m a mom, my Internet web surfing has turned from books, technology and mindless distractions to the burning questions of parenthood, such as “why is my son’s poop green?” (Apparently, that’s normal.) My browsing is limited to the short time in the morning that I allow myself to relax with my daily cup of coffee before I either have to take care of baby or the countless other chores. But during that time, I’ve run across several interesting reads on the Interwebs.

• One big concern of mine is reducing the amount of chemicals my son is exposed to. A lot of these chemicals are lurking in the plethora of cheap, plastic toys that crowd the toystore shelves. As he gets older, I’d rather see him playing creatively with Lincoln logs and art supplies than this junk. This article from Worldchanging, “Banning Toxic Toys to Build a Bright Green Childhood,” provide even more reason to avoid the avalanche of disposable toys.
• Speaking of buying things, here’s a great list of “5 Things to NOT Buy for Your Kids” from Mommy Gets Paid.
• Parenting Squad, a great blog for parents, has commonsense advice on “How to Maintain Your Identity When Everything Has Changed” and “Peanut Butter Baby Food.”
• There’s an interesting conversation on “Kids Running Free in Restaurants” on Slashfood.
• Techdirt also finds that “The Internet Is Not Especially Dangerous for Kids.”