MARKETING OUR FEARS

GOOD MOTHER:

Onesies, booties, blankies, pacies,
the just-like-breast nipples
for the bottles, the dense kilo-packaged
diapers, the coordinated
catalogue-ordered crib and
dresser/diaper changing station,
the gingham glider rocker
and matching ottoman
that glides too.

It all must be the best for baby
i.e. the most expensive,
even better, European,
the bouncy seat must vibrate, light up,
sing tinny lullabies,
and have a simulated ocean scene
with vibrant plastic fish
swimming in dyed glitter water.

The exer-saucer, 360 degrees
of engaging, developmental
activities within reach, must
eliminate the need for a parent
to actually get on the floor
and play with their child.

What we now call baby proofing
was once supervision,
or so my mother says,
what we now schedule and buy
to gain status of good mother
is our absence
from their childhood.