I recently read an article where Peggy O'Mara, publisher of Mothering magazine and a keen observer of American parents for the past two decades, says she believes the commercialization of parenting masks our insecurities.
"I think people think they need a lot of baby gear because so many people use their children as social collateral, and judge one another by what they have for them," says O'Mara.
What an interesting idea. I know I personally have received many emails from confused, overwhelmed expecting friends asking me for advice on what they need to purchase before the baby arrvives. It’s as if we have been brainwashed to believe we really NEED that wipe warmer, when in fact, 9 times out of 10, we’re wiping their stinky butts in the back of the car with a freezing cold wipe anyway.
I’d love to hear what you think about this notion that mother’s today use their children as social collateral. Have you found yourself or others buying to have rather than buying for need?
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