(Wo)Men's

The other day I witnessed something a little weird...

In a women's restroom on campus, a woman had brought her young child in with her. I assumed her little one was perhaps two or three. But then they came out of the tiny stall. A rambunctious boy about five or six years old burst out. The two of them had both fit into a single stall! 

So excited was he to get out, the boy ran around the entire restroom, meeting all sorts of women. From every angle. He was so liberated & curious, that at one point he crawled into another stall, which was occupied by a poor (and  embarrassed) college girl! Needless to say, most everyone was horrified. 

I'm not opposed to bringing young kids into the restroom with you. If your boy is two or three, I don't expect you to leave him wandering in a mass of unknown people. But where do we draw the line? I can honestly say I've never seen a dad bring his little daughter into the men's room. No matter how old. So how is it okay that women bring their more the toddler sons into our place of privacy?

At some point, your little guy needs to be able to go to the bathroom on his own. 

Sometimes the women's room isn't even that. 

{Curious}...Stuffed Animals: How Long Is Too Long?

As I get older, I am increasingly more curious about the childhood stuffed animal. Throughout my youth I favored various buddies, including Teddy, Purple-Berry, Oatmeal, Employee Bear (weird name, I know), Horsey, etc. Teddy, being my all time favorite, has aged with me, for he has been around since I was born. The others would come and go like transient nomads as my interest would ebb and flow. 

But I have a confession.

I still have my stuffed animals. A few maintain a permanent residence at my parents' (my childhood) home. But I have the others. And... sometimes (almost always) I snuggle up with them. After all this time, I can't seem to rid myself of them. But why?

Some of my theories include: 

It's just like having a companion to sleep with, which is comforting, but they lack body heat. I can't stand being warm when I sleep, so this makes sense. The snuggle without the sizzle. 

Those who cuddle with their childhood animals are yearning for those carefree years. I understand that; it's like a portal to an easy, cozy time. Doesn't the adult world seem to filled with so many worries? 

They're just so darn cute. And soft. 

A less interesting idea, but definitely possible for me... They're squishier than pillows! I swear. Stuffed animals feel better for resting your head than standard pillows. Why? They have limbs, and extra fluff, and they're flexible. Perfect for adjusting your neck and head. 

So I'm curious. Do you still have your buddies from long ago? If so, do they sit in a corner, or do you still cuddle up every once in a while? I've heard of parents who basically ween their child from their stuffed animals. That seems a little harsh to me. What's your opinion? How long is too long? When is time to let go?

Backpack Leashes

Have you ever seen back pack leashes? I saw one for the first time a few years ago and was pretty horrified. Today I was even more appalled when I saw a child writhing on the floor screaming bloody mary, wearing a backpack leash. The poor child's guardians (or what I assumed to be guardians) just stood there, holding the leash, barking at him to stand up. There was no sensitivity, no attempt at actually changing the child's behavior. They were satisfied that at least he wouldn't run off anywhere since he was tethered to their wrist. 

I am immediately confused why any parent would subject their son or daughter to this kind of treatment? Do we really live in a world where children are treated like pets? It may be tempting to secure a child into this harness if they are unruly and rambunctious, but there must be better  ways to deal with such issues. 

What are your thoughts on backpack leashes? To me, the look like straight jackets. Do you think they serve a good purpose? Would you try one? Or are you upset that children are forced by their exhausted parents to wear them? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Photo via