Largest Supermarket Chain in the World puts Babywearing on the Map

        Let me start by saying that this will not be a discussion on the ethics of Walmart and its' owners. I have always gone to Walmart to shop due to ease, regardless of how I feel about the other shoppers I surround myself with.

         Now, Walmart is getting attention for a whole new reason. Babywearing parents are lifting the supermarket chain up in celebration for taking on Chimparoo, a French Canadian baby carrier design and manufacturing company. Their shelves are now stocked with cross-twill woven wraps by Chimparoo, which have been revered as being lovely and worth the investment by the babywearing community for years.

        Despite the positive attention babywearing has received in the recent decades, many parents still claim to be stared at and even approached by strangers who believe that babywearing must be for lower class families and that wraps are "cuts of tablecloth". As an avid babywearer myself, I always try to answer questioning looks and questions about babywearing when I am out in public, because knowledge is power. There will come a day when no one questions or stares because it will be a societal norm, and that day will come much sooner with the help of this marriage of Walmart and Chimparoo woven wraps.

        I truly believe that Walmart, yes Walmart, is doing a noble a good thing here by giving access of the art of babywearing to such a broad range of people, and I hope to see more mothers and fathers wrapping their baby close enough to kiss.

        My favorite part of the listing is this "Woven in cross twill certified free from toxic chemicals- The woven wrap is the preferred choice for those who want to wear their child from birth until about 34 years of age, and who plan to carry their baby frequently for long periods of time". Legitimately laughing out loud over here! 

Favorite typo ever.

        This typo (or is it?) gives truth to the favorite babywearing meme of the moment:

       

The Sling Diaries, Sakura Bloom Slings' Babywearing Mother Manifesto

        I recently discovered something that I should have been aware of ages ago: The Sakura Bloom Sling Diaries. For those of you who are like me and have not heard of The Sling Diaries, they are a type of motherhood manifesto sponsored by Sakura Bloom Slings. About every six months or so, a new group (usually around 15 or more) of mothers and their children are chosen to contribute their photos and diary entries, one each month for a half year of their lives. 

A photo from one of The Road Is Home's diary entry for Delight.

        The diary entry may contain any number of words and may be written in any style, but must portray the overall theme as well as a monthly sub-theme, and also include pictures.. I am truly fascinated by this project, which fits me too perfectly to not audition for the next round of diarists being chosen next month. So, I have been putting together a small diary entry on courage, as per Sakura Blooms' guidelines, and I'm going to reveal a bit of it here, with you:

"Now, you reach for my face knowing it will one day be your own, and wrap your tiny limbs around me. And I feel your strength. I see your courage each day, with the trust and love that you already exhibit. You meet my gaze and smile a toothless smile. You are already so much more brave than I, and you will only continue to amaze me with your own fearlessness." -excerpt from Babywearing It Out's Sling Diary entry for Courage

        I am very excited for this opportunity andI hope that Sakura Bloom is too. This is only an excerpt of my entry and I'm only withholding the rest in order to not jinx myself, as this is an audition.
        I encourage other babywearing and especially sling-wearing mothers to audition as well, the deadline is May 1st (so very soon!) and the guidelines are on their Instagram: @lovesakurabloom. My Instagram is @babywearingitout , just in case you'd like to follow my photo adventures, and this weekend, see my full entry.

        Also happening this weekend is The Great Cloth Diaper Change, and I will be attending for my first time in Denver, Colorado tomorrow! My family is so excited not only to take part, but also to meet more parents like us in Denver. You can find a list of where you can participate tomorrow here. As always, I will have a new blog post about it up on Monday. Have a lovely weekend and tell someone how much you love them.