[binkybear]

Just thought of one!

(won't comment anymore on the "mediocrity" point, that horse just died and my beatin' stick is retired! )

This one has bugged me since FOREVER! Parents who teach their kids to view the world as a please touch museum. I guess you could call it limitless boundaries (or just plain lazy parenting.)
Working in retail I would cringe at the chorus of "gentle, gentle, gentle". When I was a kid it was simply "don't touch". There was a learned respect for things that were not ours, that cost money, and for "other persons" home's and businesses. Today parents think a 3 year old has every right to fully expierience the touch, taste (gross), and all sensory fulfillments of that pretty piece of glassware, as long as they're "gentle". Drives me up a wall

[elledarcy]

I also don't agree with ear piercing for babies. DD can do it when she gets older and is responsible enough to take care of her own ears (that'll be a good little experiment, won't it?).

The pushing trends on kids one… well, we’re pushing our values and ideals and all that onto them, so why not our trends? I think it’s kind of cute to see kids in “grown-up” type shirts with bands or political stuff on them. (I already bought my DD a “Yes We Can” onesie and a pin for her diaper bag that says, “My Mama Loves Obama.”) I mean they’re going to learn about this stuff growing up with us, aren’t they?

Of course, “Future Trophy Wife” is pretty creepy. Unless, of course, your greatest aspiration for your child is to become brainless, arm candy.

[Saya]

Just a note on the ear-piercing. We considered this very seriously and then decided not to do it. But in Guatemala, where our daughter was born, almost all infant girls have their ears pierced. Our daughter's wonderful foster mother told us it was considered a practically a given, and was taken as a sign of love. In fact she really wanted to take our daughter to have them pierced and buy her her first pair of earrings when she was about 3 months old. When we decided we'd prefer she didn't get them pierced, she of course complied with our wishes but you could tell she was a little disappointed. I actually think pierced ears on a small child looks cute, but we wanted to wait and let our daughter decide when she's older. But I believe it's a culturally specific sentiment and that there's no right or wrong answer.

I am BIG on politeness - at 2 years old DD says (though not always consistently) please, thank you, no thank you, and excuse me.

And I REALLY want an Obama t-shirt for DD - where can I get one?

[aclee]

Originally Posted by Saya

And I REALLY want an Obama t-shirt for DD - where can I get one?

cafepress.com has a bunch...Ty has one

[Eponine]

Saya - that's what I was thinking, that pierced ears on baby girls is a cultural thing for a lot of hispanic/latino areas. Not something I would choose for my child but I know it's tradition for some.

I'll also chime in that some grown-up clothings, slogans are okay on kids. DS has a Starfleet Academy onesie but at 7 months, he doesn't have a clue what Star Trek is. I don't see that as any different than putting a baby in a sports team outfit, we're just geeks and not jocks. But when it comes to something like "future trophy wife" or "look at my package" well, that's just adult in a way that is not appropriate for kids....