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Cat Links Parenting

Envy, grief and partial acceptance: thoughts as I embark on a new Exclusive Pumping journey

Posted on Aparna

For me the resentment and grief related to exclusive pumping falls in these categories: Inefficiency and the ensuing sleep deprivation: I hate things that are inefficient and EP is the most inefficient way of feeding a baby. With breastfeeding you have the breast and your baby, and your milk comes out perfectly clean and at the right temperature. No equipment required. May be a nursing pillow or 3 nursing bras if you wish. But those are optional. Pumping takes equipment required to the next level — and the monetary expense and time to clean and sanitize said equipment only adds to the burden … Continue readingEnvy, grief and partial acceptance: thoughts as I embark on a new Exclusive Pumping journey

Indian woman decluttering her bathroom, looks a bit guilty and is carrying a bag of toiletries to throw out
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Cat Links Personal development, Sustainability

Spring Cleaning My Conscience: Confessions of a Reforming Toiletries Hoarder

Posted on Aparna

When it comes to decluttering, toiletries are often the most guilt-inducing. While clothes and books have options for secondhand donations, expired or unused toiletries typically end up in landfill. In this post, I dive into the ways we accumulate excess beauty and hygiene products—from corporate freebies and bulk-buy sales to well-meaning gifts—and share strategies for reducing waste. … Continue readingSpring Cleaning My Conscience: Confessions of a Reforming Toiletries Hoarder

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Cat Links Personal development

All heroes fall: the dangers of idolization and the need for critical thinking

Posted on Aparna

Being critically engaged is exhausting, especially in our information-saturated world. It’s tempting to adopt someone else’s complete worldview rather than developing our own. This might be practical for minor matters, but it’s so dangerous for consequential issues. … Continue readingAll heroes fall: the dangers of idolization and the need for critical thinking

A black and brown sheep in a flock of white sheep
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Cat Links Brown culture, Personal development, Social justice

Pigment and Prejudice: Reflecting on Colorism’s Insidious Impact

Posted on Aparna

As a child born in India, I learned that being “Snow White” was the epitome of beauty, a lesson reinforced by media, family, and society. But this isn’t just about personal aesthetics; colorism has real economic consequences and feeds into broader systems of oppression. Will we ever break free? … Continue readingPigment and Prejudice: Reflecting on Colorism’s Insidious Impact