Liam in an Instagram post from 2015

So, if you know us, personally, you may know that Liam and I embarked on an interesting Journey sometime in March/April. Liam is now small business Brand Rep. I’ll explain a little more about it in a future post, but this post is really about one special shop, in particular: Wire and Honey.

Wire and Honey

Sarah Adams and her husband Stephan started a small tee-shirt shop, Wire and Honey, with a signature tee emblazoned with the trademarked term “Vaccines Save, Bro”. During her first Brand Rep search Liam and I were new on the scene and followed along but felt strange about entering – would they even want us? So I sent Sarah one message and asked if she’d take us based on the fact that she was doing things a bit differently than other shops and was creating a “team” with about 30 babies and their mamas who would support her brand and business. Wire and Honey was the first shop to take a chance on us when we had 300 followers. We would not have the Instagram account we have today without Sarah and Wire and Honey.

Backing it up to the tee, I don’t believe Sarah was trying to be controversial, but more so intended to start a conversation. Well, talk people did! And really, it’s an important conversation.

Vaccines Save, Bro tee from Wire and Honey

No matter the side of the vaccines controversy you cheer, we (Liam and I) want people to know more about Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) and how important vaccines are to help protect those who cannot be vaccinated or those who suffer from things like autoimmune disorders, vaccine additive allergies and even pulmonary diseases like asthma. VPDs can be prevented through the immunization of healthy children and adults, and the risk to the VPD susceptible population can be greatly diminished.

I understand that people do not agree on this topic, and that at times people make comments or have issue with Sarah’s famous t-shirt without really looking into what this tee stands for. Vaccines do save, but not just through vaccination. They save through the prevention of the spread of VPDs and they help protect those who cannot protect themselves.

What if your child was allergic to the components of a vaccine, or an additive, and an alternative wasn’t available? Would you be willing to put your child in a daycare or a play-group with children who were unvaccinated for VPDs like Measles, Mumps or even Chicken Pox? Whats the alternative? Living in isolation? I for one choose to vaccinate to protect little ones like my friend Danielle’s son Jax who is allergic to many vaccines. With a successful law enforcement career waiting for her return from maternity leave, Danielle had to make the tough choice to stay home with Jax because she could not, and cannot be certain that he won’t be exposed in daycare or play-groups. I’m sure it feels terrible and lonely at times.

Jubilant Jaxson and his mama Danielle celebrating his birthday Minion style!!

The photo of Liam’s outfit in this Buzz Feed article was reposted on Instagram by a really great brand, Plan Toys. They are eco-friendly, sustainable and very earth conscious. Their little wood baby car was our accessory in the regrammed photo. Angrily, a woman replied to Plan Toys telling them how terrible it was that they posted the photo of Sarah’s tee with the words Vaccines Save, Bro – her child “suffered a severe reaction,” and she was disgusted that they would repost our outfit photo, showing off their baby car alongside the pro-vaccine message. I was ashamed that an adult would choose to attack a great, eco-friendly and sustainable brand and Sarah’s shirt without considering the real message. The brand was simply promoting their baby car, while the tee we pictured was meant to send a message which this woman completely missed. It is meant to help protect the population who cannot protect themselves from VPDs. It is meant to protect her child and kids like Jax and even little ones like my Colin, whose severe asthma put us on an adjusted immunization schedule.

Cute baby outfit featuring our Wire and Honey tee.

Personally I CHOOSE to vaccinate my kids. I do so to protect children and adults who cannot protect themselves. I do so because I don’t know whose immune system is strong enough to handle a VPD and it’s not my place to put any one else at risk if I can reasonably prevent it. You many CHOOSE something different, but we can all be understanding, kind and more informed. Consider that the messages on trendy graphic tees may be saying more than just the printed words you read.

For more great tees from Wire and Honey’s shop check out these pics of Liam sporting some of their other rad graphics – many of which give back to various organizations!

Alright Alright Alright!

Believe in Music tee and tank – 100% of the proceeds donated to Baltimore’s Believe in Music foundation to benefit music programs in the city.

The struggle real!

Thanks for reading today!

Love,

Courtney XOXO