Dear Toy Manufacturers...don't traumatize my kid

P438

For anybody out there who makes toys, designs them, or produces parts for toy companies:

Please make it easier to change the batteries. Or better yet, make it so the toys don't need batteries. Maybe you can invent some sort of power cell that recharges when the baby cries....that would give a baby toy all the power it would ever need.

Again, I ask that you consider the following when determining what it takes to change batteries in your product:
1-I'm sleep deprived.
2-Taking out tiny screws is tough on anybody, but especially the sleep deprived.
3-it's awkward for me to reach into the back (or butt) of any animal to insert or remove batteries.
4-Did I mention that I haven't had a full night of sleep in a while, and yet you require me to find tools, open up an animal, and perform surgery on it?!!
5-As the child gets older and more aware of what's going on...no kid needs to walk into the kitchen and find daddy removing things from the backside of a silent, lifeless giraffe that normally sings and makes noises. Please...don't traumatize my kid by setting me up for failure like this.

Sincerely,
A Dad Who Is Trying To Do It Right

Baby Gadget: Itzbeen

(download)

We got this nifty device from our friends Rusty and Megan a while back. They said it was great for helping them keep track of feedings and changings... You know I'm gadgety so I'll write back later after we've used it a while to give my report.

Has anybody ever used this? Success or failure stories to share?

Here's a post about what we can learn from kids

Kids are a gift from the Lord.  I love working in ministry w/ kids because they are impressionable and receptive to the things of God.  Kids are so genuine, so loving, and can teach us a lot.  This post by Garr Reynolds is a great list of things we can learn about kids in life and in communication.  Garr is the author of a great book called Presentation Zen.

My favorites on this list are #1 and #10.  Emily and I have been talking lately about "being present in the moment" with each other and with our child that is coming soon.  And creativity is something I'm pretty skeptical that I have, except in rare moments...but this was a good reminder that we can all have good ideas, artistic abilities of some sort, and creative thoughts from time to time.