RSS :: blink ::
Filed in BlogI’ve been reading up about blogs and stuff, because sometimes it feels as though I am only just skimming the surface of what is out there, what’s available, and all that good stuff, so I figured I’d do some homework. But I came across a site tonight that made me blink.
Trixie Update is, or at least started out as, a website where every last detail of a child’s life was tracked. Originally the mother had to go back to work leaving a SAHD who, apparently being gifted with statistics and programming, kept her in touch with every last diaper change, ounce of milk, and nap through this website. With little graphics.
They counted all their diaper changes–lots and lots and lots of them! There are even charts to illustrate the beginning of the end of the diaper nightmare, and a distinction is made between normal and laundry-inducing (hassle) changes.
I’ve only ever seen one or two soiled diapers in my life, and that was really plenty.
As needs arise, so do solutions: they received enough interest that they launched the software and now sell subscriptions to it from a sister site.
I’m torn between being gobsmacked and…well…impressed. I’m gobsmacked because I have to wonder what Miss Trixie is going to think and say about all of this when she grows up. It’s a bit like the BBC’s 7/14/21 etc. series: someone will inevitably recognize her. And I’m gobsmacked that a loyal following would build up around bottle feeds (to the ounce) and nap times and have fights over whether to use disposable or cloth diapers (as well as lots of witty comments).
It’s like the kid has ten thousand grannies and grampas.
I’m impressed because they came up with a truly innovative solution to the whole “keeping in touch with baby” issue (and that the traditional gender roles are reversed too) and that it took on a life of its own because, really, the internet is like that. You never know whether the next click will take you somewhere that makes your mind, or life, explode.
Trixie is now four. They’re not recording every last detail any more but they still post frequent photographs. And, while I think the software could well be perfect for those with OCD, I can also see how it might be useful to know when a kid is sleeping so that one can work around it. I’m not a parent so I don’t have a feel for that. And besides, it comes with pretty charts. Pretty charts are cool.
I’m offering a very bemused thumbs up just based on the pure “blink” factor.
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7 Comments, Comment or Ping
pussreboots (158 comments.)
As much as I love blogging about my own kids are reading parenting blogs, Trixie Update sounds too weird for me.
Jul 31st, 2007
Linda R. Moore
Indeed! It’s more general-interest now: they don’t micro-report on the kid now she’s growing up, and it’s more like a regular blog. But, still…
Jul 31st, 2007
Buffra
When I was nanny-ing, the mother always wanted to know how many ounces baby had eaten. Sometimes she asked if she napped well. I don’t think she EVER asked about number of diapers….and that’s good, because I wouldn’t have been able to tell her!
Aug 1st, 2007
Linda R. Moore
When were you a nanny?
Yeah, I don’t think anyone needs to know how many diapers a kid does. ;)
Aug 1st, 2007
Buffra
Mm….I lived in Boston and in Hartford, CT for about 6 months, nannying. Then I went back to school. Then, the following summer, I spent a few more weeks with my little one, who had gone and gotten bigger without me!
She’s 7 now. I was there when she was 3 months to 9 months and then when she was about 15 months to a year and a half. Gosh. That was a long time ago!
Aug 1st, 2007
Marina (86 comments.)
Back in my college days, when I interned at the child laboratory, we did this sort of tracking all the time. I also did something like this after Anthony was born, mostly because if I did not write it down, I would quickly lose track of what had been done.
Yes, that’s what new motherhood does to a woman–takes away all but 3 functioning brain cells and runs away laughing. So, yeah, if we wind up pregnant again, I’m signing up for the service. Thanks for finding it for me. ;)
Aug 1st, 2007
Linda R. Moore
Buffra — how neat! Yes, they get older *fast.* No fair.
When I was a kid we only got to Slovenia every 3 years or so, so I was always going “duh!” when all the family members were going “Wow, hasn’t she *grown*. But now that I have nieces, and I don’t see them often, I know exactly how that felt. :(
Marina: :: cackle :: … well, be sure to tell them where you found out about it. ;) Btw, somewhat relatedly, you might wanna update your Markeroni profile. ;)
Aug 2nd, 2007
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