A few years ago, if someone had asked me about my desire and plans to have children, I would have run and jumped through a window screaming at the top of my lungs. These days, however, it doesn’t seem like such an unfathomable thought. What makes me want to jump through a window screaming at the top of my lungs now is the inability to wrap my mind around the millions of products, bits of advice, tips, and information in the realm of parenting, a lot of which is utter garbage. I can’t imagine how a parent doesn’t feel completely inundated; how do they sort through so much stuff to find what a balance between providing good things for their children and not overindulging or smothering?

Hanes, the clothing line we all know and love for their basic and comfortable underwear and casual clothing, has recently launched a Hanes’ Kids Web site. Not only does the Web site provide parents the chance to order their kids clothing online quickly and easily, but there are a plethora of other components to the site. For children, there is the Family Fun Zone, which includes games kids can play on the computer as well as craft ideas and directions that parents and kids can do together. These crafts are simple, utilizing basic tools and supplies, and often a piece of clothing, to create a fun item that can be used all the time, such as a pillow, a digital pouch, or a personalized t-shirt.

There are also pages on the Web site that are helpful for parents, such as the Parent News sections, which feature famous moms talking about their tips and advice on parenting. A few weeks ago, actress Holly Robinson Peete was featured; Kathy Kaehler, a fitness expert, is currently discussing tips for a healthy lifestyle. There are also reading suggestions for both parents and children and tricks for busy moms to get organized.

The section that I found the most interesting was the Hanes Mom page, within Smart Solutions. Here you can find the Kitchen Spa page, where there are Homemade Facial recipes including scrubs, toners, and more. These easy to make, inexpensive concoctions keep with the whole idea of the Hanes site, which is that parenting does not have to break the bank. The crafts, the ideas, the book suggestions, all of it shows that spending a ton of money is not synonymous with being a good parent. Which brings me to the Hanes Kids clothing itself …