Bated Breath

S. F., my 12 year old, is writing a metaphor paper, and she's not allowed to use any cliches. They've been focusing on cliches so much that I'm having a hard time not noticing them in my own day to day life.

I was starting to write a post about keeping an eye on my 7 1/2 month old to catch any signs of autism. Of course in the first paragraph, I wrote about waiting with bated breath hoping that he doesn't have autism. Then it hit me, what the heck is bated breath!? I know it means waiting when something is going to take a long time and is difficult, but why bated breath? Why is it still part of our lexicon?

So naturally I stopped writing my post and went on an Internet search instead. I learned that the earliest written occurrence of the phrase comes from Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice in 1596: "With bated breath, and whispring humblenesse." Bated is actually the shortened version of the word abated, which makes a lot more sense, since it means to bring down, lower or depress.

I'll admit I was a little disappointed; I was hoping for something a bit more fun or interesting in the origin. Just as I was about to stop looking into it and get back to my post, I came across a cute poem by Geoffrey Taylor that makes a play of words on the phrase. Here it is:

Cruel, Clever Cat

Sally, having swallowed cheese
Directs down holes the scented breeze
Enticing thus with baited breath
Nice mice to an untimely death.

I hope my time wasting Internet search brings you a smile or chuckle as it did me.

Toothbrushes

I love my Oral B electric Braun toothbrush, but it has a major flaw. The back of the brush is rounded, not flat.

"So, the back's not flat, what's the big deal?" you ask.

Well, the big deal is that it's virtually impossible to get toothpaste on the brush one-handed. I realize that most people aren't trying to brush their teeth with one hand, but I am brushing my teeth one-handed on an almost daily basis.

I find myself holding the fussy, teething, acid-reflux complaining baby with one arm, while trying to place the brush between the Dixie cup dispenser and a lotion bottle with the other, in the hopes that it will stay steady as I try to gently plop a pea sized amount of toothpaste onto the brush, while praying that the dang thing doesn't roll over and put toothpaste all over the bathroom counter. Let's just say that some days I worry about the vocabulary I'm teaching my 7 1/2 month old baby.

Might I suggest to all of you companies who make products that mothers of young children use, that you actually have your testers use your products with a baby tucked under one arm in order to improve ease of use! :)

The Christmas Quest

Only 44 more shopping days until Christmas!

With all the toy recalls from China because of excess levels of lead and other wonderful poisons, I'm doing my best to find good, quality toys made right here in the good, ole U.S.A.

I've been able to find stuff for my 12 and 4 year olds on the web that are appropriate, but the baby is another story. Other than wooden blocks, a couple of styles of wooden rattles, and a wooden stacking toy, I just can't find baby toys appropriate for an 8 month old (that's how old he'll be come Christmas) that aren't made in China.

Even websites that say their toys are made in the U.S. or Europe have some toys made in China. They put disclaimers up like, "Made in China under the close supervision of put company name here." Like that's supposed to make me feel all warm, fuzzy, and safe about the toy.

As I find websites or stores that are featuring safe, American, lead-free toys, I'll post their links on my blog.

Wish me luck on my Christmas Quest!