Life in a small cabin, and how well do you regulate yourself (Mattel)?

Okay, so you may have noticed that I haven't been as diligent about commenting on the many interesting, helpful and diverse comments that come in here at Non-Toxic Kids. I'll explain.

We are renovating our entire house, and have moved into a small cabin in the woods with no phone, internet or bathroom (we do have a lovely outhouse to use). Yes, our four person family is living in a space probably the size of your living room. After a shaky few days, everyone is settling in quite nicely, and I am remembering how much I love to read and write in my journal (at night when the kids are asleep, of course--it's all there is to do!). I'm also trying to see the humor and beauty in this kind of living for the summer, which sometimes is easier than others.

But, of course, that means I can only post and check comments every couple of days. So if you have posted a comment I will try to respond as soon as I can. I also will try to keep up my regular posting as best I can.

So how many of you would drive the speed limit if you knew no one was going to pull you over? Apparently, Mattel is trying to amend the toy safety bill slowly moving through Congress to allow it and other companies to use their own labs to test for safety. Sure! Sounds like a great idea, seeing as how Mattel has earned our trust (from the Chicago Tribune and shared also on Enviroblog):

"Mattel has recently had serious safety problems. In the last two years the California company recalled more than 14 million toys for lead paint, potentially deadly loose magnets and entrapment hazards. Mattel's Fisher-Price unit has twice paid federal fines to settle civil charges that it failed to report serious defects in toys that injured children. The company's handling of its Polly Pocket doll recalls for loose magnets remains the subject of an active investigation by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Tribune has learned."

So of course we should let them regulate themselves! This is completely asinine, and let's hope our politicians will see it this way.

Over at the Tribune I also found a great link to a year long Pulitzer Prize winning series of articles about the safety of products for children. These articles share safety information about car seats, cribs, toys and magnets.