Because I am informed.

I made some assumptions when I started this blog.

I assumed that I am privy to a certain type or level of information that others are not, due to my own experiences and location. I assumed that if I didn't know it before, if I am only just learning something now, in my 30s, then there must be other people (parents) who also don't know about it yet.
I assumed that if I couldn't find information online to support the idea/info, it must not be very well known.

I assumed people are not informed.
I assumed people want to be informed.

(Wow, that's a lot of ass making. Oh my.)

That last one proves to be false most of the time. People don't want to be given new information, especially if it is news that what they are doing or using could be in some way harmful. I looked through the list of topics I want to write about, and most of them will touch on a subject that explains why that thing, or its alternative, is harmful.

I know that I will hear a lot of people saying "but my kid likes it" or "I did that and my kid is just fine". I'm sure both of those things are true. But we all know that liking something doesn't make it good for us (crack cocaine?) and the harmful effects that are not spoken about are the ones that are difficult to detect (like brain or emotional health and development), that we may not discover until our kids are grown, and so it is hard to say, really, whether or not our kids are, or will be, "fine". (also makes me wonder who defines "fine")

I don't want you to get on the defensive. I'm not trying to insult you. What I want is for you to know both sides of the story so that you can make educated decisions and find balance for yourself and your family. In most cases, I assume (again) the general public isn't aware that the thing is harmful at all. Maybe they never thought about the effects, or they were told otherwise, or who knows what. In some cases, I assume we (society?) just don't think to question safety in the ways I'll write about.

In the end, all I care about is spreading knowledge. I do get passionate about certain subjects, but I know that if I stray too far from my goal, someone out there will let me know.

-NinaMama