Why Etiquette Should Make A Comeback

Today was one of those days so many of us have.  In the course of what turned out to be a long day I and my family were honked at, shouted at, flipped off, almost run down at a cross-walk (that is the second time this week) and had a door we were trying to get through shut in our face. In and amongst it all, I just couldn’t stop thinking that it would have been better if more etiquette would have been displayed by my fellow citizens.

Really - whatever happened to etiquette?  As we are desperately trying to teach our toddler to always say “please” and “thank you” as well as “hello” to passerbys, it seems somehow we are being counter-cultural.  I understand that people are busy, and they are stressed, but a little etiquette makes life a bit better for all of us.

A little anecdote helps demonstrate this. The other week I was in the grocery store and with dread saw that it was the “wrong time” to be shopping and checking out.  Lines of customers were aggravatingly awaiting for their groceries to be scanned, all the while watching their frozen goods begin to thaw from their deep-freeze. You could see the faces of people turning a shade pinker.  I too joined a ridiculously long line with an over-filled basket and a toddler awaiting his own little melt-down.  Then I heard the magic words: “Line 8 is now open, please come across.”

Being in Line 7 I had a clear shot, but by the time I steered my finely balanced shopping over, a near stampede occurred, and I was convinced I would be relegated to the back of what was now a longer line. And then I heard something that sounded like a foreign tongue in this sea of “me, me, me, mine, mine, mine.” It was a woman at the front of Line 7, who positioned her cart to block those behind her, telling me “Please, go before me, you have a young child after all.”  Not that I think that a “young child” should always be a “get out of jail free card” but in this case, I was relieved. She proceeded to tell me “I used to be the sort of person that would have pushed you over to get in front, but I am not that way anymore and I am glad for it. That was ugly and obviously I was a worse person for it.” I have no idea what altered her behavior, but I was thankful for it (especially as I was a bit unsettled by the idea of her ‘pushing me over’).

And that is the crux of it, isn’t?  Even if it is warranted to snap at people, flip them off, or mow them down, are we really any better off for it? Obviously, I don’t think so. So we intend to “mind our p’s & q’s” and continue to raise our family the good old fashioned way – with manners, and yes, a bit of etiquette. Because it goes a long way.

Is it just me, or does Father’s Day get short shrift?

Honestly, I am being serious. It seems like the months of April & May are dedicated to hyping up Mother’s Day:

“Don’t forget to let mom know how much you love her.”

“Take mom out to brunch and spoil her.”

“Buy mom that little something she has always wanted.”

“Give mom a day at a spa to reward her for all her hard work.”

But somehow Father’s Day just doesn’t get the same spot on the marquee. Maybe I am missing all the hype, but it seems to me that Father’s Day comes and goes and yes, it would be nice if you got good ole’ dad something to do with a barbecuing, fishing, or sports – and a card wouldn’t be bad either – but we all know dad isn’t quite as special as mom.

Wow, how sad.  Having been blessed to be married to a fantastic man that takes fatherhood very seriously, and coming from a family where my dad was practically “Mr. Mom” – I think Father’s Day is just as important as Mother’s Day, if not more. Why? Because it reminds us all that many fathers play a crucial role in raising kids and keeping all the balls in the air.  Obviously, this is not the case for many families, and that is a difficult state of affairs, but for those families that do have “dad present” – please remember that he is just as important as mom and give him a bit of attention & honor this Father’s Day.

Mom’s Top Tips for Eating Organic Without Breaking the Bank

As I have mentioned several times, this mom believes in raising her family as much as possible in an “organic manner.” But with rising food costs this sometimes seems impossible while keeping our family budget. So Mom’s Favorite tips of achieving the balance in healthy & organic eating without breaking the bank include:

Pick and choose produce that is in season. Sometimes having a little patience and eating in season can save lots of money on all produce, not just organic produce.

Look out for coupons. Increasingly, as organic companies are becoming more popular they distribute coupons in mainstream newspaper circulars – so look out on Sunday for those great savings. You could also directly visit your favorite organic company’s website, as many post printable coupons.

Find a local health food store and compare prices. You might be surprised that most organic products are cheaper in these small stores because the demand is higher.

Follow the guide above to pick and choose the produce that it is most important to eat organically. Some produce simply acts as a sponge in soaking up unwanted pesticides, so if possible try and buy organic versions of high pesticide foods.

Just like with all of Mom’s Favorite tips – pick and choose your battles. Sometimes compromise is necessary, so if you can’t buy organic, do try to buy local, fresh, and healthy!

For more information on organic eating, see The Food News guide to organic & healthy eating or see the Health Section of the NY Times.

Mom’s Favorite All Purpose Bag

Today our town had a “sidewalk sale.” This is always a popular event, and the sidewalk ends up teeming with strollers, shoppers, and vendors. It is no small feat to negotiate around all the people to see what deals might be found. Most of the stores are locally owned businesses (which this mom really appreciates), and offer little “gems” not seen in big commercial shops. One find that I made was something that I have been looking for – a large canvas bag for carrying groceries, kid “kit,” or beach gear. I was thrilled to find (at a very reasonable price) this canvas bag from AU of Maine.  After doing a bit of Mom’s Favorite investigation when I came home, I discovered they do a ton of great, versatile, kid friendly bags. An added plus is that many of them are made in the USA (hooray!).

Beware of Baby Bottles

Although we are now past baby bottles, we are not past worrying about the reports of certain plastic bottles leaking the chemical BPA (bisphenol A) into drinking fluids. We were happy to see a report recently in Parents Magazine listing nine BPA free bottles. One that we used and is this Mom’s Favorite is from the Company Green to Grow and we think all companies manufacturing plastics should follow suit!

Personalize it!

This mom loves personalized products because they add that special touch. I just received a note from a friend, and I immediately picked up the phone to ask her where she got her cute note cards from. They were personalized figures of her three kids all uniquely characterized in size, dress, and accessories. She told me she wasn’t sure where they came from, as she received them as a gift. After a bit of Mom’s Favorite research, I discovered several online stores that sell personalized note cards “From the Mommy of”. They include Novelty Notes, Stationary Studio, and For That Occassion.

Top Mommy Treats

This Mom thinks all mommies deserve a little treat now and then. Mom’s favorite treats are ways this mom likes to indulge. They are little things that are great for mommy’s time out (if she ever gets one). Please be sure to share your mommy’s favorite treat with us!

Top Ten Toys

Overwhelmed when you walk into a Toy Store? Don’t know whether or not what you spend valuable money on will pass both the mom and kid test?

 Here are ten of Mom’s Favorite Toys, that are safe, reliable, durable, and reasonable. These toys definitely get this Mom’s (and her family’s) Seal of Approval. For Mom’s Favorite guide to buying safe toys click here.