Translation Alphabet
The ABCs of Raising in the USA:
A is for Aveeno Baby products -- great products and choices for kids with eczema, but products not available in Aus.
B is for Bordeau's Butt Paste -- very fast and effective for diaper rash, but I disagree with the advertising of "pleasant scent."
C is for car seats -- different safety standards in the USA. Ben's "lazyboy" Australian carseat with side impact protection has been replaced with a "padded, folding chair" but it's function is the same and meets standards here.
D is for diapers -- Huggies are ultra thin here! They are all unisex, not designed just for boys or girls as the Aussie Huggies are. And cheap!
E is for exersaucers -- Everybody seems to have one or more! And it's an improvement on the previous baby walker or jolly jumper -- stays in one place, the baby can 360 degrees but doesn't have the same risk of falls or biomechanical concerns for the developing child. Ben loves the one we were able to borrow.
F is for finger foods -- ok, Gerber Graduates has these puffed finger foods that melt in your mouth (similar to rice cakes but in small, bite sized pieces). A favourite of 9+ month olds because they can pick them up, chew/let them melt, and keep going. Very cool and Ben loves them!
G is for grass -- at least here in Michigan the grass is deep, very green, and some neighborhoods seem to judge people by how great their lawn is. You'd think you'd see kids outside playing in this great soft grass, but you don't.
H is for Hazy, Hot, & Humid and all around HEAT -- though DC wasn't as HHH during our visit this summer as it could have been, our arrival in Reno, NV was meat with 40C+ temps! Coming home to temps in the single digits will be quite a change.
I is for Independence Day -- Ben has now celebrated his first US 4th of July along with his first Australia Day back at home in January.
J is for jarred baby food -- plenty of choices including organics. I was surprised that the textures were so smooth even in stage 3 foods! The lumps are bigger in the jarred foods in Aus.
K is for Kwik-E-Mart -- A special visit to this tv family Simpsons' favorite shop spot, strangely located in Bladensburg, MD instead of the close-by and more appropriate Springfield, VA, was brought to us by the promotion for the upcoming movie to be released the end of July.
L is for lattes -- and cappuccinos, the homemade kind thanks to the birthday gift we got my father this year. I got to show him the tricks to become an even more skilled barista from the ones I have made at home for Dean and I. Plus the price was so much better than what Starbucks could offer -- FREE!!! Ben liked the foam the best.
M is for Metro -- Ben has now utilized the DC public transport system as well as in Adelaide.
N is for nursing -- also known as breastfeeding, but nursing is the preferred word here. You don't see nursing mothers in public very often -- it's a behind closed curtains and doors thing here. However, public spaces don't have the nice parenting rooms as they do in Aus, so nursing in the car has been a common occurrence for Ruth and Ben.
O is for Ohio -- just one of the many US states Ben has visited here. The rest include: Michigan, Maryland, Virgina, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Texas (the airport), California (airport), and the District of Columbia (which, really isn't a state).
P is for play equipment -- lots of cheap play equipment is available! In some neighborhoods, it looks like a park playground behind everyone's houses -- but again, where are the kids!?!?!?
Q is for quick -- Since learning to do more than just rolling, Ben has become a speed crawler. I miss the times when I could turn around to pick something up and have him in the same place I left him.
R is for restrooms -- again, I miss the parenting rooms with breastfeeding areas, microwaves, and change areas with large counters that are in most malls in Australia. However, many restrooms here do have baby change drop down wall units, and many more stores also have public toilets so you don't have to walk far to find a restroom.
S is for strollers -- hardly any 3 wheelers, lots of "cheap-looking" plastic ones with small wheels, and ones with carseat attachments to carry the reward facing style without having to take the baby out.
T is for teething -- Ben cut his first two front bottom teeth while in Michigan and continues to gnaw on everything in site. I'm expecting one morning to wake up to see there are 8 new editions simultaneously there with how much he's been drooling and clicking his tongue!
U is for urgent care -- I was so thankful that when Ben got his first bout of conjunctivitis (+ more) while in Michigan the people at the Lansing UC facility were so kind to us. We were seen quickly and the doctor perscribed antibiotics that we could get at a local pharmacy for free. If this had to happen away from home, I'm glad it was here.
V is for Vegemite -- the ultimate source of Vitamin B was tried by a few Marylanders, but they just don't have the Aussie tastebuds.
W is for the Wiggles -- everyone loves the Wiggles.
X
is for xylophone -- yes, Ben really did start playing with a toy xylophone so I am not just making this one up to fit.
Y is for Yummy Mummy -- one of the many day time shows marketed to Mom's on TV during the day.
Z is for Zzz -- some things are fundamental, human needs. 