Valentine Day Blocks
Posted on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 at 2:50 am
My baby (Bam Bam Squirrel, my stepdaughter has named him) will be busting into the world shortly after Valentine's day 2010, and I want to make sure he has some great educational toys. Something I read at Amazon has convinced me to slough off the Fisher Price Brilliant Basics Baby's First Blocks gift idea.
What made my decision? A review about toxicity.
Now I know that Fisher Price is Numero Uno in the Kids' Toys department, especially for children's toys (although maybe Playskool cuts a close second. Or maybe Playskool is first. What the heck? It's neck and neck.) But they screwed up on this one.
I'm not saying that Fisher Price toys are toxic. But if you'll read the review, you'll see that there was a warning on the Amazon.com product page for the abovementioned infant toy. (It is currently the most recent review.)
The review goes on to mention the reviewer's efforts to get to the bottom of this once he noticed the toxicity notice was taken away. Just click to read the Baby's First Blocks Review.
Now to me, this really didn't look like a horrible toy. I know how educational a shapes toy can be for young developing minds. And like all good educational gifts for the little ones, it comes in multi-color mode.
But I know my kid's going to be chewing on it, and if there's even a hint of toxicity--well, I'd rather my kid just chew on some old dog gristle.
That's the problem of running a toy review blog, sometimes. You see an award-winning toy (literally award-winning) by a trusted manufacturer and you want to review it on your blog because you know it'll make people happy, and make yourself a little money.
But I can't in good conscience promote something that might be toxic--even if the warning was somehow in error (as the review says that Amazon and FP are trying to imply).
Plus, if I sent parents off to buy a toy that might be toxic, do you really think those people are ever going to want to buy anything through my links, ever, at all? Probably not. And I wouldn't either.
Someone recommended I promote the Fisher Price toy. But instead, I figured I'd go with the Tolo Toys alternative, which is actually a sphere and probably better anyway (for reasons explained right here.)
My Dad didn't contact me on Valentines Day..??
My dad is an extremely abusive person. I moved in with my mom a few months ago and we have been trying to keep things between us "civil". I have so many stories, and I feel like I just have to keep them all bottled up and I'm going to explode. I confronted him on my childhood and his abuse and told me I was a lier and manipulator and an unworthy daughter. I am only 15, and he is just awful. He didn't even contact me on Valentines day. How do I get over this, I just can't seem to move on from this and it's blocking me from so many things.. What can I do?
Also- I am already in therapy and my dad is a therapist (ironic huh?). He always finds something wrong with the many therapists we've gone to.
I understand Valentines day is for lovers, but in our family he used to always get me at least a card. He used to make it a pretty big deal actually..
I am sorry you are having family trouble. It stinks, I have them too. As for your father contacting you, it does take two to have a relationship. Did you try to contact him too? I'm not trying to defend him, I don't even know him. However, maybe he is doing the best he knows how. We all screw up and need more chances.
The only way I know to move on is to get moving. Start with anything to make a small change and then work from there. It can and will happen.
Good luck.
"Valentine Girl" by New Kids On the Block sung by Matt Morella and Christian Kerns
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