This morning I was DE-LIGHTED to see BabySteals.com offering the fantabulous, super-awesome, life saving, colic soothing Miracle Blanket for $15. I pounced on that bad boy and ordered one right away. We only had one for Kendall, and I planned to add another to the stash before this baby arrives so we might be able to avoid the “Oh shit, he had a blowout/puked all over it, naptime is in 3 hours, wash it NAOW” situation we often faced the first time around.
The one Kendall wore every day of his life for at least 4 months was *GASP* pink. I purchased it out of desperation from a local baby boutique on a day I was particularly about to lose my f-ing mind. When I walked in and asked for it the sales lady turned her face into a bit of a frown and prepared me for some bad news. “Oh, hon. All I have is a pink one… but I’ll get more blue and green ones in next week.” I did not care if that thing was covered in glittery silhouettes of Richard Simmons face and lined with a fuchsia feather boa, and no way in hell was I waiting a week. I bought it, and my life was forever changed.
So I had to LOL and, yes, roll my eyes a bit at some of the feedback on the BabySteals.com Facebook page. There was much upset over the only blanket available for purchase being “too girly!” Many going on about how they would LOVE one and have heard so many GREAT things about them, or already have one that was a life saver and would really like another but… but…BUT IT’S FOR A GIRL! Okay, sure, if this were a full price retailer we’re talking about, if Babies R Us only ever carried “girl” colors, I could understand, to a degree, the outrage. But this MIRACLE was 1/2 price on a baby bargains website. You take your miracles where you can get them people, especially when the come 1/2 price!
Listen, I’m not saying we all have to dress our kids ambiguously. I enjoy a good “boyish” romper from Gymboree, too. I can understand not wanting to put a bow on your son, but a blanket? That they’re going to sleep in? What’s the aversion?
Reminds me of this time when I worked at a baby/kid’s boutique while pregnant with Kendall. A 5 year old boy came in with his mother and decided he wanted a pack of markers. We carried 2 versions of these markers- primary colors and bright pastels. He wanted the bright pastel box. I don’t blame him, those colors kicked the primary color’s ass. His mother spent 15 minutes talking him out of them, many times telling him, “But THESE are for girls, honey… see? There’s a pink one in it… and a purple one.” What harm is going to come from letting your son color with pink and purple?! It’s not like you’re buying him eyeshadow. And really, these are just a couple examples of the extreme opposition some people seem to have of any and all things pink coming in contact with their son.
My now 2 year old son, who spent a good portion of his young life wrapped tightly in a pink blanket, is about as rough and tumble as they get, he’s also kind and inquisitive, he’s sensitive and sweet. He loves to play the keyboard and throw footballs (not crediting the pink blanket for any of that… that’s the point). He wears a purple diaper to bed some nights…
A lovely Bum Genius 4.0 we're testing out
And his 2 favorite sippy cups both happen to be pink…
OH! And horror of all horrors, did you know Kendall is a popular girls name? What will become of my little boy? Well, only time will tell, but for now I can confidently say his penis and balls are still intact.
Kendall is 2 1/3 and I’m 23 weeks pregnant… with a girl… who will surely wear a ton of blue hand-me-downs.
By the way, as of 8:15 CST there are still Miracle Blankets available to “steal” from BabySteals.com!