All I wanted were some pajamas

Great, you're thinking, just what we need, another post about an adventure in Target. But, my good readers, what you don't know, is that with the Thanksgiving holiday, my shopping season has effectively ended. Yes, from here on out, I let my fingers do the walking. I am already thinking of the few things that simply must be purchased from *shudder* a store, and how that can best be managed during this, the merriest of seasons.

So, before my computer, with Jamie's Christmas pajamas to purchase (so, I explain to him, we don't all look nasty in the Christmas photos), I get to thinking. Now we're treading dangerous grounds. Since I'm taking some time with this purchase, I would like it to be sweatshop free. I know, all of the other clothes in our closet were made by children in third world countries, but I'm all about the one starfish, the first step in the journey, blah, blah, blah. Also, I frequently, when Jamie, gets the seasons worth of clothes, buy used. Supposedly, it is then better that they were made in sweatshops, because someone else bought them first. I'm not sure I follow the logic, but I've been assuaging my guilt rather well thus far.

So, four hours later, I come to the conclusion, that not everything is so easily found in the internet. I start on etsy and hyenacart (sorry folks, it's Sun. morning, look them up yourselves). Great places, wonderful handmade stuff, often reasonably prices, presumably made by adults, generally in sizes up to 5, and adult. Because who wants to dress anyone in between? I could custom order, but I've waited a little long for that. Now for the hair splitting, going this way, who knows where the fabric was made, but that's not a path I'm willing to take the first step down.

So, I then recall the piles of Hanna Andersson catalogs I have received over the years, I've been mightly tempted but never purchased (too pricey). The catalog is full of their good works, the organic-ness; let's check them out. For the record, I did not contact Hanna Andersson, however, no claim to be sweat shop free seems, umm, sightly less than encouraging. Also, prepare to be shocked. I could care less about dressing my child organically. I know, chemicals, bad, ruining the earth. I get it. However, here's what I'm looking for, pajamas, made by an adult, in reasonably safe conditions, and they were paid a reasonable wage for their work (reasonable being defined by where they live). When I can get that easily, talk to me about your organic. O.k. Ms. Andersson?

Apparently, at least from the web searched I did, you can get that easily in the U.K. If you are willing to spell them pyjamas. I'm willing to budge on this point. However, I refer you again to the I waited a bit long for the shipping issue.

I did finally find a pair of highly priced pajamas for Jamie. I bought them (Stinky and Minky in New York, made in New York, not organic, red with robots, cute). They are not what he would want if any non sweat shot clothing manufacturer happens to be reading this blog (and wants to send along a free sample, we'll be happy to review). He wants fleece, "soft on the inside, soft on the outside," nowhere to be found.

Next year, I'll be sewing us all pajamas (extremely hard to find on the used clothing market), or maybe I'll make Jamie do it ;-), planning farther ahead, or putting Darren in charge of the pajamas. He won't think twice.

Maybe it's all the chemicals in the cotton that have confused my brain so.