CPSIA Outrage

I find it ironic that just as I was posting pictures from the children's goods I made today, my inbox was filling up with emails asking for my opinions regarding the new CPSIA legislation.

In a time when American families are struggling to make ends meet, the government NOW decides to step in and do something about the tainted toys that have been pushed across the checkout lines of mass market retailers. Bravo?

See, the problem here lies in the fact that this hurts the very individuals that it is supposedly intended to protect: Families. Children.

I am a work at home mom. When I sell some of my products - which are, by the way, largely for children, I take about half of what I make (which is marginal) and put it back into purchasing supplies, and half to buy groceries. Yes, you read correctly. My small income from making burp cloths, boutique wipe cases, and lovie blankets covers a portion of the cost of our groceries.

Our legislative body passed a 700 billion dollar bill to bail out big businesses who made poor financial decisions in an effort to help boost the economy of our country. Did anyone ever stop to think about the HARM that the CPSIA legislation will cause?

I find it difficult to think that a WAHM (translate: Work At Home Mom) who is trying to support her family, her children, would sell a product knowing that it is harmful to children. Furthermore, I find it even more difficult to believe that a conscientious parent would give a product to a child without personally checking to make sure it would not harm their child first.

Maybe I'm way out in left field here, but this size XL non-waterproof bandaid approach to fixing a problem that should have been address long ago seems to be more of an infection breeder than an injury preventor.

I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, suggesting that there should not be legislation to protect our children from irresponsible manufacturing of harmful products that can cause injury or even death. However, I am outraged that the single mother who is posting handmade onesies, burp cloths, soft blocks, and blankets on Etsy to support her children is being held to the same strict regulations as mass market toymakers like Mattel and Fisher Price.

I am appalled at the number of small businesses and private shops that are now going out of business as a result of this legislation. How is this going to help our economy, our trust in our government, and the progress of our country?

I encourage you to go to www.change.org to learn more and contact your local and state representatives to push for revision of this bill.

Love, hugs, and blessings,
The (very angry and frustrated) Mama