Over the past year or so, I’ve become a regular reader of quite a few blogs…many on psychology, some medical, several on politics, etc.

One that’s a little different is “Waiter Rant,” a blog by a career waiter in NYC. He’s amazingly well-spoken (or written), and his sense of humor is enough like mine that I really enjoy reading him. Today’s post just left me amazed, and I think I’ll continue to think about it for the rest of the night.

If you have the time, take a look. This is WELL worth reading.

Melanie and Sean were here in town over the holidays to see Sean’s family. We didn’t get to visit for long, but even just a short time at my house and lunch at the Ritz provided for *some* time to catch up.

Here, Sean takes in that irresistable smell of baby head (it’s addictive).

These two show why I probably should consider getting a “real” camera someday — a better digital for better pictures!

See how much better the lighting is?

Clay snifs the baby.

Like mother, like daughter. (Nyah!)

Everything is still new for little miss Maya. I hope she never has to lose that sense of wonder.

Even living with her, I’m not immune to the intoxicating smell of a baby’s head.

playing with photoshop

Auntie Laine sent Miss Maya a care package, complete with a handmade snowbunny hat!

Lounge baby

So, my local grocery store has Lean Cuisine entrees on sale half price. As a single mom, this is a GOOD thing — they’re tasty (especially some of the new ones - try the rosemary chicken), fast, and relatively balanced health-wise. Half price means most of them are roughly $1.60 each.

I piled my cart high, trying to visually estimate the size of my freezer. As I check out, the clerk informs me that because I bought a dozen of these, I get free ice cream…a half gallon. Oh, but wait. The ice cream is on special, buy one, get one free. So, I get TWO half-gallons of ice cream free.

Lean Cuisine / Ice Cream… Are they trying to perpetuate a cycle here?

Yes, I got the ice cream, but I opted for the sugar-free, fat-free variety.

Response from the American Optometric Association:

Allison:
One cannot believe everything one gets from the Internet. Unless you are taking an excessive amount of photos each day, a camera flash should do no harm other than create a temporary afterimage, the dark spots that you have likely experienced when flashed. There is actually a vision screener called a Photoscreener that helps to determine whether a child has any eye problems by photographing the child and examining the reflex from the retina in the photo. One thing you may not know: We recommend that a child’s first eye examination (not just a pediatrician’s screening) occur at age 6 months. This will assure that any factors that could become a problem later in life are addressed and corrected early if necessary.

Not only is flash photography not a problem, the DOCTORS even use it in cases for retinal diagnoses.

I’m glad to know that my gut feeling on this was on target.

From the comments on an earlier post: I hope you aren’t using a flash…. I really hope. It can really hurt a developing youngsters eyes in a serious way. Just warning you.

Great - just what I need - something else to fixate on. My initial response (per my norm) was to google the hell out of phrases like “flash photography infant eye harm” and “infant eye safety.” I found very little, so I submitted questions to the optometric association and another site that specializes in retinal health.

From two pediatric nurses now, I’ve heard this is a load of hooey. Immediately post-birth, the flash can startle a baby certainly, and overused might have the potential to cause harm. One of these is now doing her own research to see if she can find any additional information, and she’ll share it as she finds it.

In the meantime, I’ll continue to take photos as it makes sense to me, either with or without the flash. Fact is, I prefer photos without a flash, as long as the lighting permits it. Sometimes, the lighting simply doesn’t permit it. Parents have been taking pictures of their babies for a long, long time, and if this were the “serious” issue that the annonymous (of course, this person couldn’t be bothered to provide research, or a contact email for questions!) poster indicated, there would certainly be more information readily available.

Well-Meaning … or Meddlesome?
That brings me to the next series of thoughts…other peoples’ opinions about how I parent my daughter.

I’ve learned quickly that nearly anyone I speak with will have opinions — widely differring ones, thanks — about the “right” way to raise a child. The good news for me is that I tend to do my homework, and when/if a question arises, I usually have a well-considered response. If I don’t have that response, I’m willing to listen to what someone has to offer. Listen…and draw my own conclusions.

A few of the sorts who offer their advice don’t seem to catch the concept of “listen” and “draw my own conclusions.” It’s amazing how offended someone will get — not from my arguing a point with them (if I disagree with someone’s vehemently held parenting ideas, I tend to just let it ride, not argue), but because I don’t immediately jump up and start doing things their way, proclaiming, “THANK YOU FOR SAVING ME FROM MY IDIOCY!”

Guess what? It’s not my problem if these folks are offended. That’s their CHOICE. And MY choice is to continue to read/research/follow my instincts so that I can take the best possible care of that little girl who’s now asleep in the other room.

G’night all!

In all the excitement (well, mine anyway) about Maya’s first roll over, I neglected to mention something else new — she’s found her feet.

For the first time today, Maya pulled her feet up toward her hands and grabbed onto them in what seems to be a conscious manner. Cool.