The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.
WHAT
IS CUTER than baby toys, baby clothes, and baby furniture? Nothing,
except maybe Baby! Right about now you are probably feeling the desire
to feather your nest even more intensely. Let’s capitalize on this
hormonal phenomenon with well-timed organizing projects. (You might as
well be focused in your quest rather than finding yourself scrubbing
walls at 3:00 a.m. because it seemed like a good idea.) This month we
move to what is perhaps my favorite organizing project: getting your
baby’s room ready. Even if there will not be an entire separate room
for your child, you can adapt the tips to whatever space you are
turning over to him or her. From paint for the walls to finding the
best changing table, I’ve got you covered—in ways that can save you
time and money.
This month you’ll also be
out in the world looking at many items that your emotions will urge you
to buy. Don’t do it. After all, I’m sure there’s a baby shower in your
future, not to mention a few friends who could loan you some key items.
You don’t have to purchase everything you need. And if the item isn’t
on your list, press the pause button and wait forty-eight hours. See if
you still want it two days later. Ask your experienced mom friends if
they know anything about this item. Is it worth the price? Work on your
budget and shop within the sane parameters it sets for you.
In
2008 the United States Department of Agriculture calculated it would
cost a family $221,190 to raise a child born that year to the age of
eighteen. This figure did not include college. And of course you’ll
have to adjust for inflation. But don’t panic: About $70,000 of this
study was housing expenses and you’ll have those with or without
Junior. You are in control of how much you spend in many areas, like
toys, clothing, and entertainment. You don’t have to fall down this
slippery slope.
In fact, that’s why I chose
the quote from Helen Keller for this month. Yes, Baby needs “stuff,”
but more importantly, he needs many intangible things, like a loving
home that’s filled with peace and calm. You can create a sanctuary for
Baby without going overboard. I promise you’ll have the right furniture
and enough onesies and diapers.
Baby isn’t
the only one who deserves a sanctuary. Mom and Dad do as well.
Sometimes I enter a bedroom that’s a chaotic mess; I’m never surprised
when everyone tells me they have trouble sleeping at night. Now that
we’ve cleaned out the closet, we end this month with a return visit to
your bedroom. We need to be sure it functions perfectly, welcomes you
at the end of the day, and is dedicated to sleep and fun. Ideally your
home is your sanctuary from the world—and your bedroom is the ultimate
respite from the turmoil, trouble, and strife you may encounter from
time to time.
HABIT OF THE MONTH
Keep Romance Alive
Are
you shocked to see a note about romance in a book designed to keep you
organized? Remember that Zen Organizing isn’t just a system of tips and
tricks to get organized. As a philosophy it goes much deeper than that.
The goal of Zen Organizing is to help you create an environment that
nurtures and supports you at every turn so you can fulfill your life’s
purpose. When the home is calm, organized, and peace filled, it’s
easier to consciously nurture your relationship with positive words and
actions. When hormones are flowing, tempers can flare. And then there
are all those unconscious fears floating around: Will I be a good
parent? Do we have enough money for a down payment on a house? What
about college? We drive ourselves crazy with “what if’s” during normal
times. Now everything is heightened.
Remember
to embrace the person who made this journey possible. It’s so easy to
take the people we love the most for granted. Say please and thank you.
Leave surprise “I Love You” notes around the home. Plan a regular date
night, and aim to keep this tradition alive after the baby is born.
(Interview prospective sitters now, and plug their numbers into your
speed dial.) In the not-too-distant future you will be teaching your
daughter or son the importance of manners. Start now to consciously
demonstrate what manners look like. They are, after all, a way of
expressing love.
23 WEEKS PREGNANT
Make Baby Feel Welcome: Transform His Room or Living Area
This week, you can • Become more aware of contaminants in common household products and items, and investigate healthy options
• Clean out the room intended for Baby
• Decide on what improvements are necessary
T
HE GOOD NEWS about this week is that most people won’t be saddled with
a big, renovation-style makeover of a room for Baby. For most of you,
it will involve simply moving some types of furniture out and
purchasing a few baby-geared pieces in their place. But while you’re
doing so, it’s good to consider the pros and cons of various types of
paint, carpet, wood flooring, and area rugs, especially when it comes
to environmental toxicity. The goal this entire month is to help you
create a welcoming space for Baby that will adapt to his needs over
time without breaking your bank. Let’s get started.
CREATE A NONTOXIC ENVIRONMENT
Before
you purchase paint and furniture, be aware that some new materials may
emit toxic volatile organic compounds, also known as VOCs. The issue is
called “off-gassing”—but Beano can’t rescue this situation!
The
fumes we smell, like those from fresh paint, varnish, or wood stain,
tell us that VOCs are present. The volatile organic compounds being
released can be hazardous to your health, especially if the area in
question is enclosed (new car smell, anyone?). Breathing the chemicals
in, as well as absorbing them through the skin, are the big concerns.
Keep in mind, however, that some harmful compounds may emit no odor.
I
had never been really conscious of this phenomenon until a few years
ago when I painted my apartment, got new carpet, and purchased new
furniture. Because I rent my apartment, unfortunately I had to go with
the carpet the management wanted. The fumes were toxic and noxious. As
far as new furniture, the smell coming from the mattress and box spring
alone was overpowering. There are petroleum-based by-products used in
the manufacture of these products.
At the
time, I had an old golden retriever and several birds. They were all
shipped to a friend’s house until it was safe to come home. I was with
the various workmen all day but slept at my friend’s house with my
pets. When I came home, I bought an air purifier, which saved the
situation.
Your baby is developing quickly
and every day counts. Over the next month, his brain development will
be particularly rapid. According to the Natural Resources Defense
Council (NRDC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency among
others, the gases that paint and other solvents release over time can
cause a variety of problems. The list is long and includes nausea; eye,
ear, and nose irritation; damage to the liver, kidneys, and central
nervous system; and of course cancer (
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/voc.htm and
http://www.nrdc.org/thisgreenlife/0905.asp).
While
no studies have been performed to date to determine the possible
effects of exposing pregnant women to VOCs, I think it’s safe to assume
that the less off-gassing you’re exposed to, the better. Let’s keep
your home environment as clean and pure as we can.
Read
the labels of any new products you plan to use, especially during
preparation of your baby’s room. The first line of defense is to
purchase products that are as pure as possible, such as paints marketed
as “low VOC” or better yet “zero VOC.” Begin with a visit to your local
paint store and use your favorite online search engine to find the
latest in these products. Famous makers like Benjamin Moore and
Sherwin-Williams each have lines of low-VOC paint. I also found a
company called Baby Safe Finishes (
www.babysafefinishes.com) that specializes in safe products for you and your baby.
Next,
be sure to keep the area well ventilated. Wear protective clothing
including gloves, a mask, long pants, and a longsleeved shirt. If you
begin to have any unusual symptoms like burning eyes or difficulty
breathing, leave the area immediately. If you aren’t able to purchase
non-toxic furniture or low-VOC paints (yes, they can be expensive),
consider going out of town for the weekend while the painting is going
on and/or while new furniture is being installed. Leave windows open if
possible and/or run an air purifier to eliminate some of the gases from
the air.
