From: thespouse@hotmail.com
To: ceo@fancysoftware.com

Hey, big-shot software developer, why hasn't your fancy software
company developed any software to solve peoples' real problems?

Since I've become a parent, I've totally lost the ability to keep
track of anything, yet suddenly I have so many new things to keep
track of!  Every time I turn around, I've forgotten to write down a
big milestone that the baby reached, or forgotten to take her for
her jabs, and I can't ever remember what I need to be doing to make
sure she develops properly at every age.

All the resources are spread out all over the place, in books, web
sites, parenting groups, and shops, and I give up!  I can't manage
it.  I can barely manage even to write this email.  But I'm obsessed
with my baby and want to keep track of everything, and I'm always
scared that I'm missing something.

What I wish is that I had software that:

1. Reminds you when it's time to do everything: time for jabs, time
to get on a kindergarten waiting list, how and when to start saving
for university, time to consider introducing solid foods, etc.,
etc., etc.

2. Pops up a prompt from time to time on your computer screen: what
did your kid do in the last few days that's new, unique, a
milestone, whatever? And you can reply right there: "she rolled off
the bed!" and hit enter, and it dates it and organizes it for you.
This would be the best feature of all -- a Virtual Grandma!!!

3. Pops up developmental milestones during pregnancy and for months
(or years) after the birth, right when they are relevant, so that we
can see if our baby is ahead of the average or (heaven forbid!)
behind.  In effect, it combines pregnancy, post-partum and
child-rearing manuals. It should contain all the information from
all 30 of the books I read.

4. Has a great search feature, where you can just run to the
computer and type in 'greenish poop!' and it pops up the relevant
information.

5. Helps keep track of thank-you's owed for gifts (during pregnancy
and after the birth).

6. Is full of resources for post-partum moms (links, organizations,
etc.).

7. Can show you where your child compares to the average child; i.e.
'if she weighs 9 pounds at 9 weeks old, she is in the x percentile,'
or 'if she is teething at 4 months, she is early,' etc.

8. Contains an address book where you can enter info for doctors,
dentists, baby yoga teachers, other mummies, and all other numbers
relevant to baby.

9. Has ready-made documents: a will telling what you want done with
your child if you should croak. A ready-made sheet to print out for
the babysitter. Etc.

10. Has a newsletter feature where you can easily send cute-looking
updates and photos to a pre-set mailing list of people who want this
information.

11. Organizes a photo album.

12. Has ways to update your software periodically, so you can get the
latest information in its vast child-rearing encyclopedia.

13. Can be used while typing one-handed while nursing.

14. Has a database of lullabies ready to play.

15. Has a database of childrens' songs, stories and games.

16. Has a 'when you should worry' feature. For example, 'by this
time your baby should be responding to sounds. If not, she might be
deaf. Take her to the doctor.'

17. Includes software for starting a babysitting co-op. I've been
thinking a lot about this. The models I've seen require a secretary
(usually people take turns being secretary) to keep track of how
many hours each member has logged babysitting, versus how many hours
they've requested a sitter, etc.

18. Important! The software should be smart! It should know your
baby's name, gender, birthdate, and many relevant facts about her.
It should learn and respond to information about your child and
about your own personal parenting style. For example, if you tell it
that you are co-sleeping with your baby, it should not prompt you
that 'your baby should be sleeping the whole night in her cot by
now.'  Instead, it should 'learn' what kind of parent you are.

19. Parent your baby for you.


Can you have that ready by Easter?  And call it Parent Magic?

Love,

Your spouse