by Dana on August 23, 2011
When I first started this blog my focus was to write about people, places, and things that let children play. This was to be a place not only to talk about the children’s products that I was developing, but share small business stories from which others might learn as well as find little nuggets online (and offline) that foster a child’s development.
If you’ve read the blog at all, you’ll know that impact of the rules of the CPSIA put an end to the children’s products business and Words to Sweat by took its place. And from the date stamp of my last post, it’s been a while since I’ve taken ‘residence’ at this blog especially since I’ve been regularly posting to the Words to Sweat by blog.
So I don’t know where this leaves things and I’m left at a crossroads. There are still a lot of small business-related drafts in my queue that I feel would help people learn from my experiences but then I figure someone else has probably captured the concept just as well on a business-focused blog. There are a lot of great children’s activities that need promoting – but that niche too has a whole host of sites and blogs.
I have some new projects in the queue in addition to running Words to Sweat by – so this blog may be a place to discuss how that progresses, get feedback, etc – I just don’t know yet.
Is it time for a new adventure all together? Only time will tell.
How have you tackled this kinds of quandry? I welcome your insights.
by Dana on February 6, 2011
Recently, we had another tragic event here in the Bay Area involving an abducted child being found only after it was too late. Upon learning the news, I was a bit shaken up and started talking to young woman I know about the situation.
She reflected on a speech class she took a couple of years ago (she’s still in college). At that time, a different abduction (and tragic death) of a child was also at the forefront of the news and a classmate used this event for one of her speech assignments. Apparently, the speech involved a very passionate argument that in order to protect children and not have an abduction like that happen again, a ‘law should be created that prohibits children from playing outside without parental supervision.’
And CPSIA-related bells started ringing in my head so I took a deep breath and politely asked her, “Do you speed when you’re driving sometimes?” She smiled and said, “yes.” I went on to explain that it’s against the law to go faster than the speed limit, yet we do it anyway therefore legislating everything in the hopes that people behave the way we want doesn’t ensure that it will happen.
I went on to say that we’ve had a breakdown in community and wouldn’t it be better if we related to each other instead of regulating as a means of control?
She thought about it for a moment and nodded.
And as I walked away thinking more about the topic of our conversation, a new CPSIA mantra was born: Relate, don’t regulate.
