Today's post is sponsored by the letter P

Chances are, if you live anywhere in the south, you've no doubt noticed the temperatures creeping up, the flowers in bloom....and the ubiquitous yellow-green dust that ends up caking your car each day. Hooray! It's pollen season!

Yes, that lovely time of the year that wreaks havoc on your sinuses, rendering even the strongest individuals into sneezing, sniffling, sickly looking people, who can only meekly smile as they blow into their tissue, assuring you, "It's just my allergies."

My family does battle with this springtime annoyance each year and I'm guessing lots of other families deal with it too (since I had to go to six stores last weekend before I found ONE with only a generic form of children's Zyrtec on the shelf!) Although my car is parked in our garage most of the time, it's literally covered in that fine, filthy film at the end of each day. So, it got me thinking, since I'm outdoors occasionally, just as my car is, just how much pollen am I getting doused with each day?

It turns out, it might be quite a bit.

Each time we spend time outside during high pollen count days (especially in the early morning or late afternoon when counts are highest), we trek in copious amounts of the allergen on our shoes, clothing and hair. If you have a dog or a cat, they're also bringing unwanted pollen spores into your home. Allergists recommend those of us who are sensitive to pollen take several steps to minimize our exposure in our homes and avoid going outside as much as possible on days when the pollen count is particularly troublesome.

Some of the safeguards are frankly just not practical -- such as wearing a face mask when I'm out. I don't consider myself vain and I'm all about avoiding as much of the pollen as possible, but I must draw the line at anything that remotely resembles an impersonation of Michael Jackson. The same goes for showering as soon as I get home each day. Great idea. But then, who will cook dinner for the kids and get them to bed (and bathed to wash them of pollen) on time? Does changing my pillowcase on a regular basis count for something?

I can manage to remove my shoes when I enter the house, and while I'm all about saving energy and helping the environment, I refuse to line-dry my laundry since that would literally be a magnet for the icky stuff that permeates the air much of the year around here. And unfortunately -- like the Thought Police in 1984, even when you can't see it, pollen may very well be there.

We rarely open windows at the height of allergy season, opting instead to let the A/C and air purifiers work their magic. I do wear sunglasses most days, though this is honestly due to the actual sun, not the helpful byproduct of the glasses keeping pesky spores out of my eyes.

But even as paranoid and careful as we are, there is simply no way to avoid pollen, short of moving to Norway or Sweden, where the pollen count is apparently very, very low.

So for now, if you run into me or my kids and our eyes are a bit watery, our noses a bit runny, don't assume we're contagious. But if my hair has a green tinge to it, please let me know that a shampoo might be a bit overdue.

Bringing diaper duty to a whole new level

So, I just read that scientists in Japan are now taking a cue from Huggies and Pampers while trying to stop the ongoing radiation leak as a result of last month's devastating tsunami. Apparently, they are attempting to use the chemical absorbent found in diapers to stave off the leakage since this substance can expand up to 50 times its size when exposed to liquid. (I swear, I am not making this up!)

I don't know if this is ingenious, or disturbing. Maybe a little of both?

My lone child still in diapers uses the Seventh Generation brand, which I can only hope, does not contain the chemical in question. I mean, do we really need poo and pee protection that is strong enough fight a nuclear meltdown? (I can just see the new ads now, if it works!)

Then again, if it does work, what a simple and bizarre solution to such a serious problem. (and while I jest, I SO do not mean to be making light of this situation -- but I'm sure the irony does not escape whoever came up with this admittedly innovative idea).

Who knows...maybe the next time a water main breaks in town, officials will break out the Depends and save the day! 

At least now I know what my leftover stash is good for when we're finally potty trained. I'll be sure to set them aside for errant roof and pipe leaks. I thought I was spending a fortune on diapers but think of all the money I might now save in home repair costs!

We've (not) come a long way, baby!

My sister just had a baby on Monday (isn't my nephew adorable!) and I've been spending some time in the hospital where he was born. This particular hospital brings back memories because not only were both my children born there as well, I spent months on bed rest there with each child.

Let me tell you, if you haven't had the pleasure of being on bed rest while pregnant, consider yourself one lucky mama. While some misinformed friends would declare that they wished they could be like me and just "lounge around in bed all day," let me assure you, it wasn't all bon bons and manicures. Being in bed is one thing, being forced to stay in bed 24/7 for months at a time is quite another. Want to shower? Sorry, no can do. Need to go pee? Hello bedpan! You get the idea.

Needless to say, once my bed rest adventure commenced, I could no longer go to work, though I did telecommute to my office for as long as my doctor permitted. Unfortunately, I had to begin my maternity leave before my daughter was born, which left me with a whopping 10 days off after delivery. Now, most women (or people in general) would assume that 10 days is way too soon for a mommy to return to work after having a baby. My boss, who was 50 and single with no children of her own, thought it was perfectly acceptable for me to return and informed me that I'd have to resign if I wasn't able. I consulted with a cousin who is an employment and labor attorney who told me that unfortunately, there wasn't much I could do. So, though I loved my job (and the steady paycheck), I reluctantly resigned.

Seems not much has changed in the nearly 7 years since my ordeal. A new report by Human Rights Watch details how U.S. paid paternal leaves falls radically short when compared with other nations. According to the study, 178 countries have paid maternal leave laws in place, with the notable exceptions of the U.S., Swaiziland and Iran. Fifty nations go so far as to guarantee paternal leave for new fathers.

Current American law covers companies with 50 or more employees, guaranteeing them at least 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth of a child or to care for a sick child through the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). While I was fortunate enough that my company did indeed pay a portion of my salary during my bed rest, that was only because I went on short term disability. It had nothing to do with FMLA, but somehow, it ran concurrently with that unpaid leave, so I was left with just over a week to get acclimated to my new child before I was expected to report to the office.

Estimates show that only 10 percent of companies in the U.S. have paid leave plans in place. The current law (in place since 1993) puts low income workers at a distinct disadvantage since they are losing a paycheck at a time when they need it most. Renewed efforts to update the law and make it more "family friendly" have failed, in large part because the massive business lobbies argue that it would create an undue burden on employers.

There is a dim light at the end of the tunnel. While I sincerely hope that the law is brought into the 21st century very soon, both California and New Jersey currently have paid leave programs in place, each giving families six weeks of paid leave to care for a new or seriously ill child.  President Obama has set aside $23 million in his latest budget proposal to encourage other states to pursue similar legislation. The programs in NJ and CA are paid for by small payroll tax contributions but $23 million would go a long way in helping with start up costs in other states. One such beneficiary, Washington State, passed a law regarding paid family leave, but has been unable to implement it since 2007 due to lack of funding.

While employers fret over employee absence and the effect on the bottom line, imagine what such a plan would do to boost workplace morale and loyalty. Most new moms can relate to the challenges that come with new motherhood and often, the ensuing depression, roller coater of emotions and sheer lack of sleep that takes its toll in the first few months. Think of the positive effect a paid leave policy would have in putting some of those fears to rest. I would gladly have considered returning to my previous position (or a similar one, if mine couldn't be held open), if I had been given a decent opportunity to bond with my child without having to choose between her and my job.

My sister is a teacher and while she plans to return to work after her maternity leave ends, she's fortunate that her 12 weeks of paid leave, will be followed by several more weeks of unpaid leave, since she would have been off work during the summer months anyway.

Almost makes me want to move to Canada (or Australia) where new moms get more than 15 weeks of PAID leave (as well as optional additional months, unpaid). Or what about the Czech Republic, which offers three years paid leave. Or the UK, which grants 52 weeks (more than 4 years!), 39 of which are paid.

How embarrassing that the world's superpower, The United States of America, doesn't give paid maternity leave, while countries like Burundi, Cameroon, Madagascar, even Saudi Arabia, Rwanda and Afghanistan have such laws in place.

For once, maybe we can take a page from their playbook.

A Dr. your kids actually like

If he were still with us, today Dr. Seuss would celebrate his 106th birthday. No doubt he'd have an appropriately silly, non-sensical rhyme to go along with the occasion. His prolific prose still resonates (The Lorax and The Sneetches come to mind as particularly prescient) and whenever my kids choose one of his titles to read before bed, I breathe a sigh of relief because I know it won't be some inane story about fairies or dragons (who wants to read a scary story at bedtime? Do these authors not know that they are just asking kids to wake their parents in the night?)

In case you've never heard about the origins of The Cat in the Hat, it was written as a way to get kids to recognize what were then considered the most important words for first-graders to know. Publisher Houghton Mifflin challenged Seuss to compose a story using only these words. The resulting tale used 236 of the 250 words he was given. And as any parent can attest, The Cat in the Hat is indeed a classic that still manages to sell hundreds of thousands of copies each year, even though it was first published more than 50 years ago.

Surprisingly, Dr. Seuss never had any kids of his own (though in true Seuss-fashion, he had an imaginary daughter, Chrysanthemum Pearl, to whom he even dedicated one of his books). Before he made his living as a children's writer, he supported himself by writing ads for companies like General Electric, Standard Oil and Ford Motor Company. Most know that Dr. Seuss was a pseudonym (his real name was Theodor Geisel) -- he also wrote under the name Theo LeSieg and Rosetta Stone. He is responsible for more than a dozen of the best selling children's books of all time including those mentioned above, as well as Green Eggs & Ham and One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. (an interesting side note -- Green Eggs & Ham was written after a bet that he could not write a book that used no more than 50 words).


His own path to success was marked by fits and starts with more than two dozen publishers turning down his first book. What a great lesson in perseverance for our own kids! Most modern writers can't hold a candle to his creative ingenuity, how fortunate for us that he didn't let a few nay-sayers deter him.

Shortly before his death to throat cancer in 1991, Seuss was asked if he had any lasting words he'd like to leave to America's children. His answer -- "We can...and we've got to....do better than this."

Profound words from a premier poet.

For more great ideas and info on you can best celebrate the life of Dr. Seuss and the NEA's Read Across America Day, check out www.seussville.com

Let's Make a Deal

Each morning when I check my email, I normally have at least two dozen sitting in my inbox since I checked it approximately 10 hours prior. While some of these are late-night notes from friends, many are emails from various "deal" sites that I willingly signed up for.

At first, it seemed quite harmless and beneficial. I mean, who wouldn't want access to great restaurants and shops at a fraction of the regular price? But as time went on, I realized that this new trend was becoming something of an addiction. Instead of saving me money, these so-called "deals" sometimes end up costing me. I often lose track of the things I purchase, only to find them expired by the time I remember. Or, something that seems enticing in the moment, loses its sparkle once I've shelled out my $19 to spend on a random website, museum, art store or ice skating rink I rarely visit.

I've no doubt I'll keep logging into these emails daily, lest I miss out on a fabulous find that I can't live without. I guess I should be grateful I live in Atlanta and not Denver, as I just read about a crazy deal site that just went live there earlier this month.

You might say that MMJdailydeals.com caters to a niche market. While they claim to have a following of 10,000 in just two short weeks, this coupon site isn't one that offers exclusive access to the latest in haute couture or laser hair removal -- rather, MMJ deals in something a tad more controversial -- medical marijuana.

Each day, subscribers get access to coupons for things like pot-infused cookies and brownies, smoking accessories and other cannibis-related discounts. Playing on the Groupon/Living Social model, clients get a kickback when they reefer (oops, Freudian slip, I mean refer) friends.

Seriously?

Since Colorado is currently the only state allowed to sell medical marijuana at a profit, I don't think this little startup is going to start a new revolution. But the fact that this exists begs the question, is there any limit to what consumers are willing to buy these days?

Guess some inboxes have officially gone to pot.

Save Sesame Street!

Did you know that Congress is contemplating a bill that could cut all funding for Public Broadcasting? I don't know about you, but I consider Ernie, Bert and Cookie Monster old friends and I'd feel awful if they were taken off the air. I seriously love PBS and the quality programs they provide.

"Sesame Street" first went on the air just months before I was born and I still remember many of the skits, songs and themes from those shows. Now, my own kids get a kick out of shows like "Sesame Street," "WordGirl" and "Curious George" and I feel good knowing these programs are consistent with my values without major commercial interests.

If you care about PBS too, take 5 minutes and go to www.170millionamericans.org. Here you'll find great information, including links to letters you can quickly send to your Congressman via email, voicing support for Public Broadcasting.

While there are certainly other reasons to support Public Broadcasting, other than just their offerings for kids, aren't the Muppets enough?

The death of common sense?

Summer Infant recalled millions of baby monitors today after two infant deaths were linked to their products. When I first read the headline, I thought perhaps the deaths were due to the electromagnetic field around the monitor or something innocuous and terrifying like that. But no, these two children died because their parents were such geniuses that they put the cameras and cord in reach of their kids and the babies strangled on the cord.

Now, I don't mean to be flip or callous, but honestly, is this the manufacturer's fault or the parent's? Do we need warnings on EVERYTHING to protect us from our own stupidity? If this is the world we live in now, shouldn't everything have a warning label on it because frankly most things we own can be treacherous if misused.

I am so so sad for these parents and their infants who died needlessly. But truly, our job as moms and dads is to be on the lookout for hidden dangers (though I'd argue that this one was not so hidden). If you choose to mount a camera and cord to your child's crib and your baby suffers as a result of it, who is to blame?  And not that their lives are not precious, but these are two kids out of millions who's parents presumably know how to properly place a baby monitor. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, only seven kids have died since 2004 as a result of baby monitors placed too closely to their cribs.

If a parent leaves a loaded gun on a table and their toddler accidentally shoots himself, is it a horrible accident that the gun manufacturer should be held responsible for? If you leave coins out and a baby swallows one, should we sue the bank the money came from? Or the federal government who issued the coins?

Wake up and take some accountability people!

I know those examples seem like a stretch compared to the baby monitor recall, but you get my point. As parents, we do all sorts of things on a daily basis to protect our kids -- we hold their hands crossing busy streets, place them in car seats, keep them away from sharp objects or hot stoves, stay with them while they bathe so they don't drown etc., etc. We do all these things precisely because small children can't be trusted to look out for themselves. As parents our brains should always be attuned to things that might pose a risk to our kids. So just as we teach our children to take responsibility --  unless an accident involves some tragic unforeseen event -- I believe parents need to look within and not be so quick to seek blame elsewhere.