Ask any parent what they fear the most, and the answer will almost always be if something happens to the kids. Our instincts tell us to protect them no matter what, and that is of course a good thing. Our kids are dependent on us taking good care of them. As a result there are few real dangers left in our modern society. The food we eat is relatively safe, many illnesses are eliminated, we travel safely, dangerous child labor is in the Western world more or less extinct, we have stopped smoking and now our playgrounds are soft. That, however, is not necessary a good thing. This summer we could read in NYTimes Magazine that "Norwegian psychologists Leif Kennair and...
Amanda’s Project A story about how wool gave comfort to a little girl called Amanda, her parents and then every prematurely born baby in Norway and their parents. In the midst of summer 2010, Bjørg and Bjørn gave birth to a girl they named Amanda. Unfortunately, Amanda wasn't a healthy baby, she had severe problems with her heart and lungs, and were immediately put in intensive care. And while it looked like she would pull through, her short life ended just ten days after it began. As a bystander it is easy to feel helpless. When Amanda's grandmother asked if there was anything she could do, maybe knit something, the nurse replied with a big yes, and asked if she...
Wonder when people first started dressing up? Wearing strange, crazy and weird clothes just for fun. Dressing up like a fantasy, another occupation or like dead people. And why, religion? Let of steam? Be kids again? Well, who cares - Halloween is over us again and no time for philosophical thoughts. Costumes need to be made (ok, purchased), we have pumpkins to carve and candy to buy. As frugal Scandinavians we observe the Halloween traditions with one part eye rolling (isn’t obvious that it's just yet another commercial holiday created by an enormous industry to sell even more crap made in China?) and one part pure joy. After all, it's so much fun! It's fun for the kids, I mean,...
It was 97 degrees the summer evening we packet for our holiday in Norway. So tempting just to throw all our shorts and pretty singlets and Ella's summer dresses in the suitcase and call it a day. But we knew better. Summer in Norway would be defined as fall by any other nationality, so deep down in the drawers we found the clothes that for so long had not been in use - the woolly stuff. Most importantly, the thin merino sweaters for small and adults alike, and even long johns for the kids. Worst case, we would borrow hats and gloves from friends there. Sigh, "summer" here we come. There were days our shorts and pretty singlets actually saw...
Ok, raise your hand if you can come up with at least three reasons not to wear wool. Either on yourself, or force it on your precious baby. It itches, is a hassle to clean and costs a fortune. Only three? We can add heavy, ugly and high maintenance. Who has time, energy or enough arms for hand washing with a newborn around? Well, we want to challenge you on all of the above. Myths about wool have been kept alive for long enough; it is time to look at what it actually is. Myth: Wool’s always itchy Truth: Nope, merino wool and alpaca wool are not itchy. They are, in fact, very soft. Your baby will love it, and...
