A new partnership - for an awesome cause

I'm going to be 100 percent straight up about this: Having a blog, that people actually read and seem to enjoy (I occasionally really DO get an email from someone saying they have had their day brightened/conscience soothed/LIFE CHANGED by this website, I SWEAR IT) (ok, so maybe not the life changing part, ONE CAN DREAM) is pretty awesome. So is the fact that I've made an umpteen number of connections with other parents and people, many of whom I've gotten to hang out with in PERSON, and some of whom have become some of my closest and most treasured friends.

There's also that whole thing about how this blog – this little bitty corner of the Internet – has occasionally done way more than list all the things that are annoying about House Hunters/toilet paper commercials/children who barf repeatedly on long car rides... this blog has helped people. I'm sure most of you remember our friends Katie and Brian Mandell, who lost their sweet daughter, Emily, to brain cancer a couple of years ago. It was because of this blog and the amazing, wonderful help of people who read and comment and took action that we raised close to $60,000 to help them cover their medical costs, including, most heartbreakingly of all, many expenses related to Emily's funeral and burial. Sixty thousand dollars, you guys. That's staggering and mindblowing and humbling, too, because I really think that there are people out there who want to help people, but just don't know how or where to give.

Blogging, for me at least, is most definitely about a sense of community – and I love it best when that community can do something unexpected and inspired for people who might never have imagined it would be possible. And it is happening more often than ever, all over the Internet. I love that something as big as the Internet is still able to narrow down into thousands of little communities that can help each other out, you know?

Anyway, all that to say that I was approached by Huggies® a few weeks ago to see if I was interested in becoming a blogging ambassador for their Every Little Bottom campaign. And once I heard what the program entails and what this company is trying to do, I signed on immediately, and I am super excited to be a part of something else GOOD and HELPFUL and HOPEFUL on the Internet. Is there anything better than being able to use your (somewhat limited, but go with me on this) powers for something GOOD? To possibly help improve someone's (or many someones) life/lives? To maybe be able to change things for people, even if it's just one little bitty step at a time? YES YES YES. Of COURSE.

Here's the thing, Huggies did an extensive survey in 2010 (real research conducted by a research and strategy organization) that found that one in three American moms have struggled with diaper need. That means that one-third of moms in this country have either sacrificed other needs like clothes, food or medications to provide diapers for their children, or have been forced to do things like extend the amount of time their children stay in one diaper or even clean out and reuse soiled or wet disposables. Moms who are short on diapers can't take their kids out to run errands, or go to work, or to doctor appointments. And this is reality for millions of American moms. MILLIONS, you guys. Poverty and hardship is real in this country, and it breaks my heart that there are women out there who only want to mother their children the best way they can, and yet, they can't.

You know the guilt we feel for feeding our babies jarred baby food instead of freshly prepared organic? Or the stress we create wondering if we haven't signed our preschoolers up for the best schools/soccer camps/swim lessons? I'm not saying those things aren't important or are to be completely discounted, but just imagine the guilt you would feel as a mom if you were unable to put a fresh, dry diaper on your baby. Imagine it. It would feel awful; it would feel demoralizing and depressing and hopeless and embarrassing. It would feel like failure.

So last year, in an attempt to do something about what amounts to a staggeringly common problem, Huggies donated 22.5 million diapers to food banks and other charitable organizations that were distributed to needy moms around the country – but they want to do even more this year, and not only do I think that's amazing and commendable, but I am honored to be asked to assist. I'm not sure exactly where this journey will take me, but I am thrilled to be tasked with getting the word out about the Every Little Bottom program, and with the chance to help Huggies raise awareness as well as more diaper donations to be distributed to those who could use our help.

The Internet is a fantastic tool for doing good in this world, it just needs some people to channel some of that good, charitable energy directly into a needy cause. I am here to do just that.

Disclosure: I have partnered with the Huggies® brand to help promote the Huggies® Every Little Bottom program. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program, which includes writing about it here.  However, my opinions are entirely my own.

Comments

[EB]

I'm not sure I've ever commented on your blog but I've been reading you for awhile now. Sorry, I am horrible at commenting! I'm not shy in person but I am on the Internets. Weird, I know.

Anyway, I have a 14-month-old daughter and the thought of not being able to properly diaper her made me tear up while reading this entry. I'm excited for you to get to help Huggies with their campaign and if there is a way for your readers to help, sign me up!

[adequatemom]

For realz Emily, YOU HAVE CHANGED MY LIFE. Your entry a million years ago about how hard it was to breastfeed Asher, and how you were going to stop, and how you felt about that? I think that entry saved my life. And it helped me let go of Breastfeeding Perfection with my daughter. And it helped me realize - so freaking important - that I was not alone. I could go on and on about it, but ... I won't. Anyway, I love the hell out of you, and you are a major reason why I blog, and I am thrilled that you've found a cause you believe in.

(Though ... cloth diapers? Better for the environment, more affordable, etc? No one thought of that?)

[HereWeGoAJen]

Hey, I changed someone's life once by blogging about how seriously useful it was to have the teething stuff in the house already. And she went out and got it and then had it already when her son went miserable one night. Small steps, people.

To the cloth diaper question, yes, there is another program being started to provide free cloth diapers. It's still in the beginning stages though, I think. And cloth diapers are not for everyone, some people don't have the access to washing that they'd need to make it work. So I am for both programs. :)

[Jaime]

I think that's awesome. As someone who has at times struggled to pay for diapers (though we always had the money, just had to adjust our already squeaky grocery budget) I think that anything anyone can do to help is awesome. We now cloth diaper and so thankfully don't have to cringe every couple of weeks when the diapers are on the list.

[Karen]

Just last week my husband and I were in Target, dithering over which diapers to buy (it's been four years since we've had a baby around, and this baby is due in a month, TIME TO STOCK UP). We had the luxury of debating store brand vs name brand, and what size, and how many to get.

I'm proud to report we went with Huggies, partly because I remembered seeing that icon on your blog and that Huggies is doing something for moms who don't have that luxury that I do. Thank you for using your blog to do good out there in the "real world," as my son puts it.

[Jessica]

I have heard of moms having to re-use a dirty disposable! I can't imagine having to do that! Although I do agree with Adequetemom about cloth diapers being a better option! I use cloth and I understand Huggies is not in the cloth industry but maybe that is something they will consider.

[Roberta]

Emily, because of this post, and because of the way you described how awful it must feel to not be able to have diapers for your baby, first I cried, and then I donated diapers to the DC Diaper Bank via the Huggies website. I was able to do it online through Amazon in just a few clicks. Also re: cloth. Great idea, hard to execute in the current reality. If you're a poor mom who lives in an apartment with shared laundry facilities, or only access to a laundromat, washing cloth is going to be tough or impossible for you. If you're a poor working mom, the vast majority of daycares will not use cloth diapers and require disposables. Let's meet the immediate needs of these women and babies now! Thanks, Emily.

[Meghan]

Emily, I wanted to email you a few years ago when I had a miscarriage a few months after you did. I wanted to let you know that what you shared here in coping with it was really such a tremendous comfort to me, but ... I don't know. I just never sent the email. So, thank you for that. And for everything else that has made me laugh and cry for all these years. Keep up the good work!

[Megan]

What ever happened with Brian and Katie? How are they doing these days?

On a side note, I can't imagine having to reuse a diaper, or having to go longer in between changings because it means using "another" diaper. Those poor parents.

[Kristen]

Ok I have never commented but I've read you for a while and follow you on twitter and all that...technology jazz. Anyways, I think you have such a great thoughtful, honest and caring perspective and that isn't always something you see in the world of 'mommy bloggers'. I always read your posts about all the cool things you do with your kids and think "wow, I want to be a great mom like she is!". This is one of those posts so I thought I'd comment for once and say hi! And that I love reading what you write and hope that you keep it up - I have a 1 1/2 year old and I only wish I was able to connect with moms like you in real life.

PS can't wait to read about the kitchen remodel. PICTURES! YEAH!

[Kristen]

Also! I love the new pic, you look great!

[Kerri]

I love, love, LOVE this program. A few months back they were having a program through their "Enjoy the Ride" program where you enter the codes off your diapers, wipes, Pull-ups at their websites and you get a certain amount of points for each item...blah, blah, yeah I know you know what I'm talking about. I had dutifully been entering all my codes and never spent them (except for the occasional win a trip to Atlantis in the Bahamas contest...no, never won), waiting for some great thing to come along to buy with them. When I saw their program that for every 5 points donated, they gave away 1 diaper to a mom/baby in need, I realized THAT was the great thing I was waiting for. I gave away all my points, which granted was only like 500 and some, but you know what, it was the best gift I could have received through them. My points are building up again (twins, they pee a lot), but I'm patiently waiting to give them my points for that program again. Kudos, Emily, kudos, for supporting such an a great program.

[Jenna]

Congrats! I'm excited that you are able to be a part of such an awesome program!

Jenna
momofmanyhats.blogspot.com

[Life of a Doctor's Wife]

I think yours was one of the first blogs I ever read. And one of the reasons I love it is that you write so well about so much. You can be hilarious, you can be poignant, and - like today - you can be really moving in an uplifting way.

Congrats on this newest venture. It sounds like a fantastic program and I have no doubt you'll do fabulously. I can't wait to hear about it!

[lisa]

As soon as I saw this program advertised, I started buying only Huggies. It must be the absolute worst feeling in the world to not be able to take care of your children in the way you desperately want to.

[Geege]

Good for you Emily, for helping out where you can with something that is important.

You're showing Asher and Lucy how awesome it can be to get involved to help others.

[Rachel]

Thanks for sharing this. I have recently started my own website, and am dreaming of the day when someone will tell me it has touched their life in some way! It is awesome to find a way to reach out to soo many people!

[kimberly]

http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/ just finished a flats and handwashing challenge for simplistic and CHEAP cloth diapering. Lots of families took up this challenge and proved that less than $100 was needed for years worth of cloth diapering.

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