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Who am I?

I'm me! I am a biological mother to one, life partner to another, daughter of a third and fourth, sister to a fifth, friend to some, work partner to several. - which of these defines me?

This journal is initially about some of my journey into parenthood, the whole baby shebang has struck em as an alien world. Not just the actual reality of a living human being that you managed to create but the social and cultural side of it.

I have never seen/heard such vitriol, such passion, such strong beleifs!

BC (before child) very few people in my circle made any comments about my life choices, in fact many sounded faintly admiring of my refusal to fit into boxes. (ecept when I liked them so much I made a home in them and took in my best tea set to play with)

I was astounded at the wild claims that are made in support of one parenting method or choice over another, i was also astounded at how strong gender expectations became. If I'd had £1 for every time people commented that of course I must want to stay home with my son, or that it was 'different' for men, etc etc

I looked around me (i work with teenagers) and what I could see was that I couldn't tell the difference between the breast fed children and the formula fed ones, those who were allowed sweets at their first Xmas and those who had to save up their pocket moeny for them, the real differences seemed to be about the love, support and confidence in their family.

Some of this annoyed me a bit, the arguments were so vicous at times and so emotive. So I decided to apply my brians to some of the wilder claims. Why do people get so worked up? what are the marketing myths? why does the governement promote/warn against certian choices. What are the real financial costs? what associative (class) values do certian choices have?

I began with cloth nappies.....

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