Perilous Daycare

For the second time in just a couple of weeks, I picked up my baby from daycare and found - to my horror - that her clothing was ruined with bleach splotches.

WTF??!?!?

The first time it happened, the care giver explained that they use diluted bleach spray to clean the diaper change table and it must not have been dried well before my baby was put on the table. Okay, I thought, s**t happens, especially when there's a room filled with active babies/toddlers playing and running amok. After all, my baby's been in daycare for just shy of a year now and this was the first time this happened. Chalk it up to a fluke. (oh, and never mind that the top that got ruined was totally cute and from grandma and from a very shi-shi store and this was the first time she wore the top. In the moment I was very salty, but when all is said and done, it's just a top that she'll outgrow in a couple of months anyways).

Fast forward to today, just a couple weeks after incident #1. This time, another relatively new article of clothing got ruined. Same situation. Now I'm fuming.

I completely understand the need to disinfect and to be vigilant about it too. Especially in a day care environment. My baby is cootie-free, of course. But the place is a virtual petrie dish of cooties, germs and other potentially bad things.

So here's my rant about the situation: Whatever bleach concoction they're using, it's not being managed with enough care. Clothing can be replaced. But to think that the bleach spray is strong enough to splotch her clothing is troubling (and I'm not talking about just a droplet spot here and there...it's a full on smudge splotch). What makes them think that my baby won't accidentally touch the wet bleach drizzle on the changing mat. Then later she'll be sticking her fingers in her mouth. Or feeding herself Cheerios. Sure, the caregivers are all protected, wearing rubber gloves when changing the diapers. But my child and the other children at that daycare are at risk.

I'm gonna have to call them out on this. It might get ugly. But I've got to protect my child. I may need to re-consider my daycare provider. This is not good!

Black Friday Bullies

I don't know what I was thinking. It's not like I ordinarily brave the madness on Black Friday's. But for reasons that I'm still mulling over, this year was different. Somehow, I deluded myself into thinking, "really...how bad can it be on BF? I can handle it...I'll just get there early."

Famous last words. And define "early"!

Afterall, I've managed to juggle my hectic life as (1) a new mom, (2) a relatively newlywed wife (and yes, in case you're wondering, marriage came first, before I got sperminated), and (3) an ambitious career woman....and I've lived to tell. Not to mention that (1) my child is healthy and blossoming (2) my husband still thinks I'm pretty cool and (3) I haven't gotten fired.......yet ;-/

So I braved the crowds and headed out on my bargain hunt on BF. Oh, and did I mention that I brought my 1-year old with me? (I know, what was I thinking....seriously! Someone needs to call CPS on me!)

When we got to the parking structure on the less frequented side of the mall, it was all too promising. Parking O'Plenty! And why wouldn't there be. It was not even 8am. But, evidently, in spite of the pseudo-mirage of plentiful parking, it was a complete mad house the moment I set foot inside the mall. All I could think when I stepped in was: "where the hell did all these people come from and where did they park!?!?"

Long story short, it was a miserable time that was best summed up by the woman who bullied her way into the elevator at Macys.

One thing you notice when you have kids is that there never seems to be enough elevators. Period. And you'll find that you mentally take note of where things are in the mall relative to the nearest lift.

On all days, not just on BF, I would suggest that elevator priority goes to the elderly, anyone who has a blue placard in their car, anyone with walkers/wheelchairs, anyone with a leg/ankle/foot in a cast/moon-boot/ace bandage, and people with strollers. I'm not saying that all others are relegated to the escalator or stairs. Just let these folks go first when there's a line for a lift, that's all.

So back to the BF Bully Lady at the elevators in Macys.

Me and my baby in her stroller, a woman in a wheelchair and her party all comforably filled the lift. Then here comes the BF Bully Lady who risks her arm by sticking it in the way of the slowly closing doors. At first glance, it all seemed okay. She appeared to have a stroller with her. Mind you, we were pretty full to begin with, and it was questionable whether another stroller would fit.

So we all scooched in a tad closer to each other to accommodate this woman who I call the BF Bully Lady and her stroller. But wait, here's the thing -- her stroller was piled high with bags and bags of loot from the Disney store. No baby in sight. Or horror of horrors - is her baby underneath all those bags??!!

After the door closes and we're all sardined inside the lift and people are bumping my baby's stroller (while she's trying to nap!), one of the women called her out: WHERE'S YOUR BABY?

And get this: BF Bully Lady says all snippity "are you kidding? there's no way I'd bring my baby here."

WHAAAAT??

First of all, if that's a back-handed comment directed at me, that was sooooo uncalled for.

And second of all, why not just liberate a shopping cart from Albertsons instead of using your stroller as a cart for you loot. That's just weird. It clearly required pre-meditation. And to top it off, your baby stroller is like your fast pass to the front of the line for the lift. No baby necessary. Details. Details.

The lesson: No more BF adventures for me. Viva online shopping!