The demise of Two Knives, or, Welcome Corporate Babysitter
I quit working about 18 months ago to enter the world of SAHMs.
My job as an events coordinator with a for-profit higher eduction company had left me a tad, well, wrung out. Depleted. Wasted. I was a quivering mass of jelly and bones piled in the corner of my office at the time I quit.
Husband: So, what are you going to do with all your time now?
Two Knives: I don’t know. I thought I’d write a little.
Husband: Oh.
I had been yearning to write, as many of us do, because I thought I had something to say. I also wanted to figure out exactly what I really wanted to do for the rest of my life so that I could start a grown-up career. And stop counting meatballs.
The idea of writing a blog did not occur until several months later. One daughter was in school, the other in preschool parttime, so I had a few hours free every day. I decided to just do it.
I dove in head first. I started posting with only the goal that I post almost every day. I found the exercise of writing and posting, without the time for second drafts or feedback, invigorating. I joined a couple online communities. I posted comments on other people’s blogs. And people began to read mine.
In the midst of all the writing and posting and commenting, something happened: a theme emerged. As much as I wanted to be funny and write about parenting and housework – I couldn’t. I kept returning to the topic that really made me angry: corporate marketing directed at children.
Angry? I should say really pissed off.
Some days, I would scan the jobs openings at local nonprofits to see if something caught my attention. No more corporate jobs for me, no sir. After all, I had taken courses in nonprofit management along the way to my master’s degree. And I wanted a new job I could be passionate about.
But my mind kept coming back to the children’s marketing issue.
Then I started to realize something. Perhaps the anger I felt wasn’t so much anger. Maybe it was — passion?
Could this be what I was passionate about?
Then I got this really crazy idea: Why not do something? Why not create a nonprofit? With an agenda I could be passionate about?
Can you do that?
I guess you can. I’m pleased to introduce Parents for Ethical Marketing and its blog, Corporate Babysitter.
If anyone’s still reading I want to thank some people: those kind bloggers who befriended me at the beginning and kept me going: Roy, Jessica, Zesty, Liz Strauss, and StealthBadger; bloggers Chilihead, Amy, and Mom for their tremendous support and encouragement; & Mel, for his ear and editing kindness.
And most importantly, thank you to my husband, who has tolerated my obsession, maintained enthusiasm for it, and supported me one hundred percent.
Thanks for reading. Now, let’s get to work.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:17 am
Wow! The PEM site looks great. We’ll be sorry to see Two Knives go, but PEM appears to be a significant subsitute. I wish we could see both. But, I know, a person has to make choices, and I think you made the right one.
November 13th, 2007 at 8:19 am
Wow. THis stuff looks great!!
November 13th, 2007 at 8:46 am
My heroine! I am bursting over this. It seems like the PERFECT direction for you. Woo hooooooooooooooo!
November 13th, 2007 at 8:50 am
YAAAAY, GO YOU!!!!!!
Please keep visiting, and consider your new venture duly blogrolled!
Give ‘em hell!!!
*cheers you on!*
November 13th, 2007 at 9:02 am
Aww, thanks you guys! It means a lot to me!
November 13th, 2007 at 9:43 am
This looks amazing, TK. I know you already know how much I admire it and how excited I am to be a regular babysitter with you. Thank you for doing this for all of us who share this concern. It’s GREAT. I’m so impressed I could cry!
November 13th, 2007 at 9:45 am
Don’t cry! Then I’ll start crying!
November 13th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Oh. Rats. You mean the New Project isn’t going to be a new Web site devoted to the Beach Boys or whatever that band is you like so much, The Jerry Mathers Band you’re constantly going on about? Whatever.
Wait, that’s not right. Dave Mathers. Jerry Mathers was the kid on the Andy Griffith Show.
You people have a good sense of humor. You’re not going to be all serious now, are you?
PS: Hey, and give me my ear back now, though, I mean, if you want it for that other radical leftist pro-homosexuality antinucular family viva Sergei Rachmaninoff deal you started as if you even care about the forthcoming terrorist attack on Kaplan Brothers or Mall of America, my brother, Mel Lipschutz, might be interested in doing some profreading.
November 13th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
WELL DONE! Funny how this bloggin this can reach so many and add a whole new level to life + work.
I think you’re FAB! Congrats on taking the brave step forward and rockin’ the net. Clear voices like yours are more important than anyone realizes.
:)
November 13th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Good for you Lisa! I think the orgins of our true passions in life are divine. Looking forward to hearing more of your thoughts on corporate marketing.
November 13th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Brilliant!
November 14th, 2007 at 8:22 am
I will definately check out your new blog. Sounds like it could really lead to some positive changes.
You asked about Crayon rolls…
http://mycrayonbox.blogspot.com/2007/10/easy-crayon-roll.html
This link should work!
November 14th, 2007 at 9:34 am
Thanks for the shout out. I can’t believe I actually helped anyone with anything by coming here and posting snarky comments, but I’ll take any praise others may want to heap upon me.
Also, I think I might start a competing blog. You know, sort of just to be a jerk, but also to keep you on your toes. Competition fuels people to do ever-greater things. Plus I could probably make a pretty penny by hawking my wares to your kids. What are their email addresses, btw?
Seriously, though, I think it’s awesome that you’ve found something to be passionate about, and the new site looks great. Congrats!
November 14th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
Wow! I love it- good name too.
It’s interesting how blogs evolve isn’t it. I’ll be back often since I have found on my own blog I have more and more (since I am a marketer) started to discuss the marketing aspect of the industries and products about which I write.
November 14th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Thanks again everyone!
Mel, the Dave MATTHEWS fan site is on my calendar for 2009. Watch for it.
Zesty, I dare you. No, I DOUBLE DARE you. Actually, I was hoping for some clever webcomics from you for my new site. That is, if you can possibly create one without any sexual references.
November 14th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
What if I make it so clever and heavily veiled that you would have to be looking hard for a sexual reference to spot it, and even then might consider it a stretch?
No? Okay, I just thought I’d ask. Sure, I’d be happy to contribute.
November 15th, 2007 at 6:08 am
Wow - good for you. That is brilliant! I will definitely follow you over to the new site. I’ve been surprised to see how much blogging has helped me recognise my passions also.
February 18th, 2008 at 4:03 am
[…] their marketing practices sustain healthy kids and families is a vital component of PEM. When I started on this venture last November, I didn’t think we’d have the opportunity to engage companies — or […]