I am packing our suitcases for a big adventure. Each time I turn around the contents are all over the floor! My little "helper" is doing her job as I try to do mine. There will be tales from the road very soon, so thanks for reading and keep checking back!
Love to all,
~Momrit
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Spit out that Crayon...NOW!
Though my formal schooling is coming to a close, I am finding that my Education is just beginning. This is the type of education where you may never know what grade you will get, or if your blood sweat and tears paid off. This education springs new subjects and curriculums upon you at the most unexpected times, sometimes piled on top of one another and it is literally a sink or swim type classroom all of the time.
One of the beloved terrors of big kid school is the slow discovery of how toxic the world is to oneself and one's family. There really seems to be danger or toxicity at every turn, and sometimes it is too late before you find out (and that's often just by chance).
Just today I was halfheartedly telling my toddler to stop sucking on the crayons!
I say halfheartedly because I figured, well they can't be that bad... just wax and paper. The most I worried was that she could trip and choke or something of immediate consequence, but she is a generally well coordinated child who doesn't swallow objects- just tastes them. Fast forward to bedtime after she drifts off to sleep and I am browsing the web on my phone before bed. On Facebook I am reading a comment about amniocentesis tests and there is mention about cadmium and mercury in crayons. WAIT- WHAAAT??!! Dang it! Is there nothing sacred left in this world? Not even 'ye old crayon is safe anymore?? Of course this prompted an immediate research project about poison crayons which (long story short) indicated only certain colors contained these substances (Indigo, Blue Violet, Red Violet and Violet), but that many and most pigments used are not healthy to be exposed to, and that most crayons are made of paraffin wax -a petroleum product- that is also not healthy to have in contact with one's skin a lot. I did manage to find some momma-made 100% natural beeswax crayons with pure and non-toxic pigments, but sadly the array of colors was limited to 5. What? No "macaroni n' cheese" color? Lol, it's probably radioactive anyway...
So, will I go and throw away our crayons tomorrow? Probably not. I hate throwing things away (unless they are moldy or have been cluttering up a desk for too long), and I see value in using crayons, but I will say that no more crayons are going in the mouth of my baby and I may be anal enough to remove the violet, indigo, blue violet, and red violet. Life lasts a long time (in the best case scenario), and I would rather have incomplete rainbow drawings hanging on the fridge than find out that I have inadvertently exposed my dear one to toxic substances in the guise of scribbling.
I found another mother's blog who had better information which can be seen at: http://mommax6.blogspot.com/2012/08/mercury-in-crayola-crayons.html for those who are concerned about the crayons.
Happy coloring,
~Momrit
One of the beloved terrors of big kid school is the slow discovery of how toxic the world is to oneself and one's family. There really seems to be danger or toxicity at every turn, and sometimes it is too late before you find out (and that's often just by chance).
Just today I was halfheartedly telling my toddler to stop sucking on the crayons!
I say halfheartedly because I figured, well they can't be that bad... just wax and paper. The most I worried was that she could trip and choke or something of immediate consequence, but she is a generally well coordinated child who doesn't swallow objects- just tastes them. Fast forward to bedtime after she drifts off to sleep and I am browsing the web on my phone before bed. On Facebook I am reading a comment about amniocentesis tests and there is mention about cadmium and mercury in crayons. WAIT- WHAAAT??!! Dang it! Is there nothing sacred left in this world? Not even 'ye old crayon is safe anymore?? Of course this prompted an immediate research project about poison crayons which (long story short) indicated only certain colors contained these substances (Indigo, Blue Violet, Red Violet and Violet), but that many and most pigments used are not healthy to be exposed to, and that most crayons are made of paraffin wax -a petroleum product- that is also not healthy to have in contact with one's skin a lot. I did manage to find some momma-made 100% natural beeswax crayons with pure and non-toxic pigments, but sadly the array of colors was limited to 5. What? No "macaroni n' cheese" color? Lol, it's probably radioactive anyway...
I found another mother's blog who had better information which can be seen at: http://mommax6.blogspot.com/2012/08/mercury-in-crayola-crayons.html for those who are concerned about the crayons.
Happy coloring,
~Momrit
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