I really do want to blog more this year, but here's the thing: most of what I spend my mental energy on is so specific that I doubt many of you would be particularly interested in it. But I'm also proud of myself for a lot of these things, so today you're getting a list of some lists I could easily turn into entire blog posts but realistically won't ever. If you're wondering where my time and energy go when I'm not actively chasing around a small child, here's a large portion of the answer.
Clothing that actually fits well over cloth diapers
This one is a little older now, since we finally (mostly) potty trained last summer, but I spent so many hours buying pairs of pants online, looking for something that would work for my child. Plus, I went to every secondhand store and flipped through all their pants, comparing them to the one pair I knew did work. It was ridiculous, and time-consuming, and my child's pants stayed up and covered his bum without dragging on the ground or tripping him so it was totally worth it.
Outerwear for being outside every day in every kind of weather
Very early on in parenthood, I made it a goal to get outside every day that I possibly could. Which, it turns out, can mean every single day if you dress right, at least where we've lived. No matter whether it's 90 degrees or 9 degrees, I have an outfit and a plan for it - which is a butt ton of work, by the way. Lately my kid has taken to asking why no one else is out playing when it's cold and windy, or when it's raining, or when the weather is otherwise less than ideal. And I tell him the truth - it wouldn't be fun to be out if you didn't have the right clothes. But we do, so we're good to go!
Durable barefoot/minimalist shoes that my child will actually wear
When my kid started walking, I did some research and made the decision to outfit him with minimalist shoes as much as possible. My goal was to find shoes he liked wearing that didn't cost an arm and leg, especially when he was going through a shoe size every two months! Now, at almost four years old, he has definite opinions about his footwear, and shoes I've been really excited about haven't always gone over so well with him... It also turns out he has somewhat expensive taste in shoes, but I've gotten to be an expert at hunting for deals and navigating the crazy world of BST groups.
Affordable and not ugly toy storage that can also hold a child
For a while we were using old diaper or wipes boxes, but I just hated seeing them all over my living room - attractive they most definitely are not! Also, it's amazing what qualifications you find yourself thinking about as you shop for stuff as a parent. Seriously though, I think my child has fit himself inside every single box and basket that we own, or at least worn them on a foot or on his head. Now if only I could get him to regularly put away his toys in the proper baskets instead of just chucking them wherever...
