Two Sides To Every Coin!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am pro Australian Made...even more so WAHM (work at home mum) made.

I like the idea of supporting Aussie families, giving our young'uns jobs and helping mums to be able to afford to stay home with their kids.
After all, I am one of those mums, and my kids will all too soon be those young'uns.

And then there's the fact that many of the overseas factories that mass produce the cheaper products on the market use child labour and waaaaay underpay their workers, and I definitely do NOT support that.

But lately I have been thinking a little bit about the other side of the coin.

What about those children and families over in China and other countries?  They may not get paid much for the work that they do, but what they do get paid puts food on their families' tables. 
If I boycott all overseas manufactured products, will that change their plight? NO!  
If all of Australia, all of the Western World boycotts these products, will that make a difference?  Maybe, but would it be a positive one?  I'm not sure.

If these factories close and these families become unemployed then who will put food on their tables?  Certainly not their governments, and humanitarian agencies are already stretched to the limit.

So what is the solution...to be honest I have no idea.

As I said I can NOT support child labour, but neither do I support child hunger...in Australia, in India, in Africa, in China or in ANY country.

Kinda makes you think doesn't it?

Happy New Year 2013!

Well the new year is here, but here at The Zoo Train, new years day kinda takes a back seat to Grub's birthday.  Today he is 2 and while he will always be my baby, he has officially left his baby days behind him.

But we've had a pretty cruisy day...

Once daddy was up we opened presents...

My favourite was his new baby from Mama28 Dolls!

Then I spent most of the morning pottering in the kitchen...which is okay, it's where I belong, where I am comfortable.

We had some of my family round for lunch...

And icecream cake...

...some of which I got to wear...

Thanks Bubba M!

And once it got a bit cooler, the Geek upgraded the sliperydip for them and they had an awesome time :)

Followed by baths, leftovers for dinner and of course beloved bedtime!

Happy New Year Everybody!!!

How was your day?