Good God!

My Godmother Elinor gave Arden this book "Good Dog Carl" for her birthday. Of course, Sawyer wanted to read it first. It's the story of a baby who is cared for by the family's Rotweiler while his mother goes out to run errands. As soon as the mom – with her blue dress, practical shoes and red gloves – heads out the door, Carl helps the baby out of the crib and they set out on a series of adventures around the house, from jumping on the bed to making lunch on the kitchen floor. When we got to this photo, Sawyer was transfixed:


It's very disturbing, actually. The whole premise of the book. And the dog who seems apt to kill the baby on several occasions:




I had to check and found out it was published in 1986 – perhaps a time when society didn't shun leaving the children at home in bed while the parents went out grocery shopping. We were reading the Cat in the Hat the other night — another instance when the mom not only leaves the children home alone but they let a stranger into the house.

I tease my mom now and then about some of the things they used to do - like letting us kids ride up front in the station wagon without seat belts - although she swears my memory is skewed. It's not that our childhood was so awful or that we were neglected and abused. It was just considered more acceptable (and not illegal) to let an eight year old stay home alone for an hour. Junk food wasn't going to make us all fat. And, tummy sleeping, cold medicine and peanut butter weren't the kiss of death.

When my kids are grown, they'll laugh at me for letting them run around the house without their pants on, sending them to preschool everyday, and microwaving their milk in non-BPA free bottles!