In which poop disposal is evaluated...

Disposable diapers are much like Twinkies in that they will survive any number of Ragnaroks and Apocalypses (Apocalypsii?) The terrible shame is that they are hardly considered viable by ANYONE in this country, and without thought we throw gabillions of these into the earth everyday. Naturally I cannot be arsed to find you the actual figures, so if'n you don't believe me, you will need to google that shit or just trust me. It's entirely mind-boggling.

Worse than that is the sheer number of harmful and carcinogenic chemicals that parents put on our little babies derrieres by attaching these monstrosities. Would you rub cancer causing agents on your genitals? I suppose "different strokes," and all that - but I don't want to hear about it, thank ye.

If you have read this far, you've probably come to the conclusion that I am clothing Dumpling (nearly six months now) in reusable diapers, and you're welcome for that. And so is she! I actually hand wash fecal matter from cloth every night before I go to sleep... and I am entirely content - nay, gleeful - to do so. The experience has been so uplifting that I honestly have distaste towards anyone who does not choose to consider this. The most common objection is that it is difficult, and that one may not have the time, but I reject that. I am busy, quite possibly busier than you, and it is less hassle than washing dishes. Fer chrissake, buy them. They will save you THOUSANDS of dollars, and will last through multiple children.

I, too, have thrown those little Eco-bombs away in the dark past. When Smiles and Prairiedog were little tadpoles, we were given hundreds of Huggies to begin our journey into the realms of pooping humans. Of course the hospital sent us away with a decent stack as well. I lament my ignorance back then, and I blame our horrible societal tendency to blithely do what is most convenient for us without evaluating our personal impact on the planet, or our own children's health. If I were to do it again, there's no way I would do anything but cloth diapers. Save money? Refrain from (literally) taking a shit on Gaia? Keep my baby comfortable, basically rash-free, and refrain from putting poison on the nether bits? Yes, please.

A blog.... about dadding?

My dad suggested a few weeks back that I start a journal to document the dealings I have with my ex-wife, the mother of my lad Smiles (age 11 on the 20th) and daughter Prairiedog (age 8.) While I think this is a great idea, I feel that a blog about shoddy co-parenting is not a very thrilling prospect for a reader, nor do I find the idea very fun. So I shall make this both the place where I document (read: vent) and the place where I analyze the various eco-friendly/good fer baby/cool kids techniques that we are using. I will also try to bring some perspective with our "blended" family experiments. Sometimes it's a rather volatile mixture.

By way of introduction, I am your host "Pigeon"... I am engaged to my lovely gal "Lamb." We have her daughter "Bean" from a previous marriage, and we recently got full custody of my son "Smiles" and daughter "Prairiedog." But wait...There's more!! Lamb and I created a perfect little "Dumpling" recently (nearly six-months ago, to be precise) and we both consider ourselves fortunate to be able to raise her the way we want to (cloth diapers, breastfeeding, whole foods, Suzuki method, &c.)

To recap: One dad, one mom, three kids and a baby.