Rookie Moms — Two geeky girls' guide to the first year of motherhood.

Activity #588: Host a FRESH movie screening

by RookieMom Heather

in Eating, Indoors, Mommy, Month 5, Sleepy

Last week I saw this eye-opening documentary, Fresh, about our overly-complex food system and I wanted to share. My favorite story from the movie was about the woman who figured out how to get grocery stores in her area to label Fresh and Local products so it is much easier to support our local farmers and artisans. Another guy, Will Allen, was doing amazing things with his plot of urban garden to teach inner city residents how (and why) to grow their own food.

Here’s a preview:

Having read The Omnivore’s Dilemma, much of the message was not new; however, seeing it all on the big screen offers a more emotional impact. Plus seeing the movie is totally a Cliff’s Note version for busy parents who will never make the time to read such a loooong book.

If you’re a new parent, your brain is probably still mush and you might struggle to keep your conversation topics from veering toward sleep training. Seeing this movie is a fast and easy way to become literate about the nation’s current conversation about FOOD (access, quality, justice, etc.). Even if you totally disagree, you’ll have a crash course in the topics and an opinion to share next time you’re at a party.

Unfortunately (for the fresh folks), the movie does not have wide distribution so they’re getting it out there with a bunch of house parties and small community screenings. Rookie Dad Alec and I considered asking our preschool if we could hold a small screening… but then we’d have to deal with all the kids. Ugh.

Fortunately for us, if you’re housebound with a new baby, you can order up a screening kit and show a limited edition first-run movie in your own home while your friends bring (hopefully-fresh) food to your house for a little soiree?! For $20 its less than the price of a pair of movie tickets and a babysitter.

Lay your baby down for bed as per the usual routine or hold, shush, and bounce as needed while you learn important lessons about food. Besides if you don’t get a chance to actually watch the movie when your friends are over, you’ll have the DVD to try again some day during naptime!

Let us know in the comments if you order a screener of Fresh!

{ 0 comments }

Useful links for July 1, 2009

by Whitney

in Free/Cheap

For likely-to-bonk-their-head-on-a-daily-basis toddlers: Newborn baby hats make good ice pack covers from Parent Hacks
For parents of preschoolers who need to kill 15 minutes at the dinner table before the food comes out: Q-tip counting trays from Mama Jenn.
For design junkie parents who need to store toys in a stylish way: Rustic Rolling Bins from More Ways to Waste Time
For those who can sew and have little girls to dress: Transform a Mens Shirt into a Dress from Recycled Crafts

{ 0 comments }

Activity #231: Say something other than “No”

by Whitney

in Free/Cheap, Preschooler

One of my fondest memories of childhood is kneeling on my dad’s kitchen floor alongside my closest cousin, face down into a bowl of cereal that I was eating directly with my mouth, doggy-style.

My cousin, one year older than I (and my roommate for many weeks every summer as we grew up), was a dog lover and much better at pretend play than I was. She boldly asked my stepmom if we could move our bowls from the breakfast table where we were eating like normal(ish) kids down to the floor, you know, to be dogs. “Why not?” my stepmom must have said.

And really, “Why not?”

It was so much fun for us and really didn’t impact her negatively.

I was reminded of this memory when I came across the below post from the Feeleez blog.

blue playdough on the feet

What if we said YES even when our gut response was NO? What if we used all of our empathetic powers to imagine what the other person was feeling? Would we say YES more often? If you really tried on the idea of what it would feel like to squish into warm, home-made play doh with your bare feet while standing on the kitchen table would you still say NO to the kid’s request? If you imagined that squishy goodness squeezing between your toes in a delightful, cozy, embrace would you still say NO?
Probably not.

Thus, my son wore protective eye goggles to preschool this morning. I mean, why not?

{ 3 comments }

Make a mini water table

by RookieMom Heather

in Free/Cheap, Indoors, Month 10, Silly

Misty’s found a way for her baby to enjoy some summertime water fun: Fill baby’s high chair tray with water for warm weather splashing!

I love this activity for hot, housebound babies everywhere (especially those of us jailed by an older napping child).

Baby Madeline’s high chair has a very deep lip, enough to hold about half an inch of water. Misty filled that with tap water, stripped her down, and let her splash around as she wants. It is amusing to see her reaction when she splashes herself, and her obvious enjoyment of the new experience.

[This fun trick discovered on ParentHacks]

{ 4 comments }

← Previous Entries