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Joining Forces and Resolving to Fight Climate Change

Amber on January 23, 2012 16 Comments

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today. In fact, it may be the most pressing issue. As the evidence mounts, and the scientific community reaches a strong consensus that our actions are affecting the average temperature of the planet we live on, we can no longer turn a blind eye to the reality of what’s happening. The time has come to act. This is why, for the month of January, the Green Moms Carnival has decided to join our voices together to speak out and share what we’re doing to fight climate change.

When we’re faced with these big, overwhelming issues, it’s easy to feel paralyzed. That’s why it’s so important to join with others. When we all do what we can, it begins to add up, and really make a difference. Since it’s still January, we’re all sharing what we’re doing to fight climate change and reduce our own carbon footprints in 2012. Maybe, as you read what the Green Moms are doing, you’ll be inspired to make some changes of your own, too.

Food and Carbon Footprint

Linda at Citizen Green has resolved to Cut Out the Food Waste in 2012. She’s meal-planning, buying in bulk, composting and using leftovers, in order to reduce her carbon footprint. Did you know that 25% of the food grown in the US ends up getting thrown out? If you want to tackle your own food waste, read Linda’s post for tips.

Beth at My Plastic Free Life is trying out Recipes for the Semi-Vegan, Plastic-Free Lifestyle. By reducing her consumption of animal products, and avoiding plastic packaging, Beth is reducing the carbon footprint of her food and fighting climate change.

Abbie, a.k.a. Farmer’s Daughter, is sharing Five Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint by Choosing Real Food. Instead of opting for packaged and processed food, she’s cooking from scratch. Fewer food miles and less packaging are just two of the ways her choice is fighting climate change.

Deanna Duke, author of The Non-Toxic Avenger and blogger at Crunchy Chicken, has some lofty Urban Homestead Goals for 2012. She’s going in on a pig share, raising meat rabbits and joining a honey CSA, among other things. In the process she’ll reduce her food miles, and her carbon footprint.

Brenna at Almost all the Truth is also making food-based Resolutions to Fight Climate Change. She suggests reducing the amount of animal products you consume by observing Meatless Monday or Vegan Thursday, and reducing your food miles by eating local. Both will reduce your carbon footprint.

Image credit – tarsandsaction on Flickr

Getting Political for the Planet

Mary of In Women we Trust is making a Business Climate Change Resolution. She’s working hard to create real change. My favourite part is when she writes, “I resolve to stop referring to our business leaders as ‘leaders’ unless they truly are taking a leadership position.” Preach it, sister.

I didn’t write a post of my own for this carnival, but my resolution is to take more political action to fight climate change. For me this means writing letters, using my voice here on this blog and elsewhere, and joining groups that are fighting climate change. I want to make sure my elected representatives know how I feel.

Diane at Big Green Purse suggests Making a Big Hairy Audacious Green Goal for 2012. This is something significant and measurable. Her One in a Million campaign is urging people to shift $1000 of their annual spending to greener products and services. That sounds both audacious and awesome to me!

Harriet the Climate Mama is Fighting Climate Change with Facts in 2012. She’ll be speaking out, leading by example, and even testifying before Congress. Harriet protested in front of the White House against the Keystone Pipeline in 2011, so she’s already been making herself heard and taking political action to fight climate change.

In fact, Lynn at Organic Mania watched Harriet as she was arrested, and her post about Resolving to Fight Climate Change shares the account. She reminds us that together, we can accomplish so much.

Lisa at Retro Housewife Goes Green is making Green Resolutions for 2012. She’s been very vocal in her home community, working to promote local recycling and bringing awareness to cement kiln pollution. Her advocacy work is not only fighting climate change, it’s helping to protect the health of her neighbours, too.

Being Mindful

It’s probably no surprise that Micaela the Mindful Momma is writing about Being Mindful. She’s taking care of the planet, her community, her family’s health and herself. She’s trying to create a green and healthy life, which will certainly reduce her carbon footprint.

Karen at Best of Mother Earth is also making Resolutions to Fight Climate Change that involve being more mindful. She’s championing pause and choice, saying, “A lifestyle of less is more. In the end this produces less waste and we are healthier!” I agree.

Jenn of The Green Parent is making New Year’s Resolutions for 2012 that involve mindfulness, as well, including listening more and holding the guilt. She’s also planning to spend more time on Facebook, connecting with other green moms. Community is so important!

Image credit – Jacob & Kiki Hantla on Flickr

Resolving to Fight Climate Change

Stephanie at Good Girl Gone Green has tips for Reducing Your Carbon Car Print. The time we spend driving plays a big part in how much carbon we emit, and she has ideas for cutting back. For example, by keeping your car serviced and reducing your idling time, you can help fight climate change.

Jen at Puddle Jumping in DC has a novel idea – Green Your Cycle with Reusable Menstrual Products. Cloth pads and menstrual cups are actually easier to use than you might think. I’ve been using them for years myself, and I’m a convert.

Lori at Groovy Green Livin’ is sharing Four Resolutions to Fight Climate Change. From choosing zero VOC paint in a renovation to getting a home energy audit, she’s working hard to reduce her carbon footprint.

Betsy the Eco-novice has made five Climate Change Resolutions. She’s cancelling catalogues, turning off power strips and more, in order to reduce her personal carbon footprint.

The bloggers at The Green Phone Booth are also joining forces and Changing for Climate Change. Their resolutions range from being sure to remember reusable bags at the grocery store to reducing energy use to moving from environmentalism to activism. Once again, working together reaps big rewards for the planet.

As you can see, fighting climate change can involve taking small private steps to big political actions. It doesn’t matter so much what you do, though. What really matters is that you do something. Take a look at your life, and see what steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint and fight climate change. The time has come to stand up, speak out, and act – if not for ourselves, then for our children.

How are you fighting climate change in 2012?

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Enviro-Mama, Politics

Tea Stash: The Showdown

Amber on January 18, 2012 15 Comments

Last week I issued a challenge: I asked me to show me your tea stash. Now, the day of reckoning has arrived, and the question of who has the most tea will be answered. I know it’s not me, because I’ve already seen at least tea stash that’s bigger([cough] Kelly [cough]). But I did promise to show you my stash, so whether it measures up or not, I will display it proudly.

So, how does me stash stack up? Just over a year ago I had 17 kinds of tea in my collection. As of today, I have 19 different kinds of tea in my collection – and that’s after I did some serious trimming. There are seven full-octane teas, nine types of herbal tea, one decaffienated tea (I actually bought that one by accident), and one assorted mix with both. So, what do 19 different teas look like, when they’re not all crammed into a drawer? This:

While I buy a lot of tea, and I do enjoy the occasional cup, the truth is that I am not a hard-core tea drinker. This is why I end up with so many boxes, tins and bags in my cupboard, and it presents something of a conundrum. I recently found a solution: iced tea. I brew a big pot, add a bit of honey, and let it chill. My kids – not usually big tea drinkers – really enjoy it. I kind of prefer it, too, because you only have to make it once, and you can enjoy it for days. Plus, it harkens back to my youth, when I used to carry herbal tea to school in my thermos. By the time I drank it, it was only ever lukewarm. Retro iced tea.

(By the way, in case you were wondering, carrying herbal tea to school in a thermos is just one of many signs that I was raised by hippies.)

As I had my stash all laid out on the counter, my son Jacob got in on the counting fun:

Now I’ve shown you mine, which means it’s time for you to show me yours. What does your stash look like? How many different kinds of tea do you have? I want to know!

If you’ve written a post, please include it in my link-up. Everyone who adds their post before 9:00pm Pacific time on Friday, January 20 will be entered into a draw. I’ll buy the winner a box of tea, on me. I may even ask about the winner’s preferences, so that I can be sure to choose something that will be appreciated. As I mentioned in my post last week, I’m not being sponsored in any way, I just want to share the tea love. I hope you’ll play along and share the love, too.

Now, what are you waiting for? Show me your (tea) stash!

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Tea

Vitamins, Minerals and Cartoon Characters, Oh My!

Amber on January 14, 2012 8 Comments

I was raised by hippies. As evidence, consider this photo of me and my father:

If you were to visit my family home 30 or so years ago, you’d see a few telltale signs that hippies lived there: jars of licorice root and dried chamomile flowers for making herbal tea, black market raw milk in the fridge and lots and lots of vitamins. My parents believed that a healthy diet supplemented by vitamins could help ward off disease. It’s certainly true that the vitamins and minerals we consume help to support a healthy immune system, so I can see their point. What this means is that from a very young age I have taken vitamins. Some of my earliest memories involve taking trips to the health food store and coming home with Swiss Natural products, with their blue and yellow label. And so, when I was asked to work as a Swiss Natural Ambassador, I agreed. I have been taking their vitamin and mineral supplements my whole life.

Now I have kids, and I have had to make my own decisions about vitamins. I wouldn’t say that I am as sold on their value as my parents, so I did some research. The Dietitians of Canada say that while they’re not a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet, vitamin and mineral supplements are needed at certain stages of the lifecycle to promote good health. For example, the Canadian Pediatric Society recommends that all breastfeeding infants get at least 400 IU of vitamin D every day. Studies show that 10% or more Canadians don’t get enough calcium or vitamin D, and that there are also a significant minority who don’t get enough vitamin C, vitamin A, B6, folate, B12, iron, zinc and magnesium. And while taking too many supplements is a cause for concern, studies on over-supplementation only found problems in people who used 20-30 times the recommended daily amount.

My kids ran as fast as they could, and they caught the gingerbread man. Was it the vitamins?

That information – none of which comes from Swiss Natural, by the way – suggests that our first priority as parents should be ensuring that we offer our kids a variety of healthy foods. But even if we’re doing that, we may still want to offer certain supplements, and at normal doses those supplements are safe. I’m especially concerned about my kids’ vitamin D levels. On top of that, my kids can be very picky. I’m not always confident they’re getting all the nutrients they need. This is why, like a lot of parents, I’ve opted to give my kids a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement to cover my bases. And since I’m not giving them 20-30 a day, I think we’ll be okay.

My kids got some Total One Kids Multi Vitamin & Mineral from Swiss Natural to try out, and they like them. They’re now proud members of the Swiss Kids Club. Like pretty much all children’s vitamins, Total One Kids come in exciting shapes – an orca, a penguin and a bear. They also come in three different flavours, and fun colours. Plus, they contain 500 IU of vitamin D, which in the winter in Canada is a pretty good thing. I like that they aren’t masquerading as candy, like gummy vitamins can. I also appreciate that they don’t contain artificial flavours or colours. Have they made my kids noticeably healthier? No. But as I said, I feel like my bases are covered. And I’m willing to overlook the fact that they’ve grouped a polar bear and a penguin together.

Right now, Swiss Natural is running a contest to name their “Polar Pals” – the bear, orca and penguin. Visit their Facebook page for full details. You could win a family fun gaming prize pack worth $1000. Plus, you’d have the satisfaction of having named the Polar Pals well, and no one can put a dollar amount on that.

Now, tell me – do you offer your kids vitamins, and how do you choose which ones to give them? I’d love to hear!

Disclosure: As a Swiss Natural Ambassador, I was paid to write this post.

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Parenting, Sponsored

Who Has the Biggest Tea Stash?

Amber on January 11, 2012 19 Comments

A little over a year ago I shared my tea collection with you. At the time, there were 17 different kinds of tea in my cupboard. After going through them all, I tossed several very old, very stale boxes. I didn’t toss them all, though. That would be wasteful. I kept some, and in the intervening 13 or so months I’ve collected a few more boxes here and there. I may or may not be back at 17. In fact, I may or may not have more than 17 kinds of tea right now. I’m not saying. I will, however, submit some evidence to help you reach your own conclusion.

The Evidence

I recently re-organized my kitchen pantry, and set aside a designated tea drawer. Before this, my tea was all up high and out of reach, which meant I was frequently reduced to drinking whatever happened to be within jumping distance. Now that it’s all in one easy-to-reach place, which is great. But when I open the drawer for guests to choose their own tea, they gasp in amazement at the sheer quantity.
I have at least three variations on chamomile in my drawer right now.
I recently fell in love with the new tea shop in my local mall.
I have a photo, which I will label “Exhibit T”:

Does this sight make you gasp?

Show me Your Stash!

I was chatting with some friends on Twitter about our collective penchant for buying tea, and it seems that I am far from alone. I thought it would be fun to see if there are other people out there with a drawer like mine – or maybe even several drawers. I can’t have the biggest collection of tea in the world, there’s no way. So I’m asking you to show me your stash!

Take some time this week to write a blog post about your tea stash, and then come back here on Wednesday, January 18. I’ll be sharing the nitty-gritty details of my own stash in a post that morning, and confirming exactly how many boxes, bags and tins I have. I’ll also include a link-up. Let’s see who takes home the compulsive tea collector crown – or who has the utmost restraint in the tea aisle. To sweeten the pot, I’ll be drawing one name from the folks who play along and sending the lucky person one box of tea, on me. I’m not being sponsored and I’m not acting on behalf of big tea. I just want to share the love.

I’ve created a button, which you can use in your post:

Now, what are you waiting for? Show me your (tea) stash!

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Navel Gazing, Tea

Seeking Clarity: Working Together

Amber on January 5, 2012 1 Comment

It’s Thursday, so I’m Crafting my Life! If you’d like to craft your life, too, and find a greater sense of purpose, check out the Crafting my Life Playbook. If you’d like to share a post about your own Crafting my Life journey, drop me a line.

Last week, I shared my quest to find a word for 2012. I had a really hard time, and I went through many words. But then, in a moment of serendipity, I heard the word, and I knew. My word for 2012? Clarity. I want clarity. I want clarity about who I am, what I’m doing and why.

There are some things in my life that I feel very clear about, like my choice of husband. Because I have clarity around my partner, I’m not investing a bunch of energy into that area of my life. I’m not posting my profile to online dating sites, spending time at places where I’m likely to meet a man or agonizing over how best to approach that guy who’s caught my eye. Any of the time that I would spend doing that is now free to spend elsewhere. In the same way, my hope is that if I get some greater clarity around my life’s direction that I’ll have more energy free to focus on the stuff that actually makes a difference.

It’s a theory.

Step one of my search for greater clarity is to come up with a plan for Crafting my Life. Here’s the thing – I love Crafting my Life. I’ve had a great time running the online classes, and writing the Crafting my Life Playbook. I love helping people figure out what they’re meant to do, and make progress towards their goals. It energizes and inspires me in a way that few other things do. Because you know what? People really are amazing, and they have some really great dreams. Being able share in them is an amazing privilege.

In spite of my enthusiasm, up until now I’ve just kind of floated along with Crafting my Life, sending out the occasional newsletter to my mail list, or posting a link on Twitter and Facebook. One of the things that has become clear to me (and, as you know, I’m all about clarity), is that I need to practice what I preach a little bit more, and use my voice. If I believe (and I do) that my work is meaningful, and helpful, and useful, then I should share that. But I can’t do it alone.

I’m looking for people to help me spread the Crafting my Life message. I believe that great things happen when people work together, so I’m asking if you’d like to work together. I have a few ideas for how this could work.

I’d be happy to write a guest post for your blog about living with greater intention.
I’m looking for a few bloggers to review the Crafting my Life Playbook.
I’m always eager to accept guest posts for Strocel.com about your own journey to live with greater purpose and authenticity.

If any of these sound like your thing, send me an email at amber [at] strocel [dot] com, or fill out this handy-dandy form:

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If this isn’t your thing, that’s okay, too. We don’t have to share every interest in common to be friends, right?

Now, tell me – do you have a word for 2012? And how do you bring greater clarity into your own life? I’d love to hear!

My apologies, the original form wasn’t working. I’ve updated the post, though, and this one should function. Isn’t technology fun?

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Crafting my Life, Navel Gazing

Podcast: Susan Larkin of UNICEF Canada

Amber on December 23, 2011 1 Comment

Sometimes, an email comes through your inbox that you can’t ignore. That’s how I felt when I was contacted by UNICEF Canada, asking me to volunteer as a Digital Ambassador for their Survival Gifts program. Survival Gifts are real items that are shipped to children and families in need all around the world. They include things like bicycles so that children can get to school or just have fun, support for a child orphaned by AIDS, malnutrition relief bundles and water purification tablets. I actually bought some gifts through UNICEF last year for my mother, sister and grandmother. I believe in what they’re doing, and I knew I wanted to talk about it.

The thing that strikes me about the Survival Gifts is how very affordable they really are. For example, a Learning Bundle with a soccer ball and pump, five storybooks and five school supply sets can help five children get an education, and it’s only $80. I spend more than that on school supplies for one child each year – and I don’t get a soccer ball. A vaccine pack, with 73 polio vaccines, 73 tetanus vaccines and 83 measles vaccines is only $40. In the developing world, these diseases still pose a real threat to the health of children, and yet the vaccines cost so little.

I wanted to know more about the work that UNICEF Canada does, so I spoke to Susan Larkin, the Director of Community Engagement for the organization. She’s a mom herself – she has a six-year-old and a three-year-old, just like me. She explained to me exactly what UNICEF does, and how the Survival Gift program works. Like most people I’m familiar with UNICEF, but I wasn’t clear on what makes them unique. Susan explained that. She also shared tips on how to discuss issues like poverty with children, and shared some first-hand stories of how Survival Gifts have changed children’s lives.

If you still have people to buy gifts for, why not consider something that will have a real impact? You can go online, buy a Survival Gift and print out a gift card. You don’t have to leave your house, and you can do it in a few minutes. And the program doesn’t end once the holidays are over. You can visit UNICEF Canada year-round. Literacy packs make great end-of-year teacher gifts, for example – especially if you suddenly realize on the last day of school that you forgot to buy something. (I can’t be the only mom who’s done that, right?) Plus, you get a tax receipt with your purchase.

It was really great to speak with Susan. I was so proud of myself for getting through our conversation without dissolving into tears. As a mom, I feel the need so strongly. I can’t imagine what it would be like to not have medicine for my children, or not have the means to send them to school. I was very glad to hear about a program that allows me to make a tangible difference, easily and affordably, without having to go stand in line at the mall. If you’d like to know more about UNICEF Canada and the Survival Gifts program, or you’d just like to hear how you can talk about big issues with your own kids, listen to the podcast:

Interview with Susan Larkin of UNICEF Canada [ 26:20 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I’m off next week, but I’m working on lots of great interviews for January. I’m even trying a new format for a podcast on family size. I’m really looking forward to another year of talking to really cool people, and sharing their insights and inspiration with you. Subscribe to the Strocel.com podcast in iTunes, and you won’t miss a minute!

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Christmas, Giving Back, Interview, Podcast

Depending on Technology I Don’t Understand

Amber on December 20, 2011 3 Comments

When I sat down late last night to write this post, my website wasn’t working. It’s been an ongoing problem with Strocel.com. I try to log in, or save a post, or search for something I wrote a few months ago, and … nothing. All I get are database errors and connection problems. It frustrates me because it’s interfering with my writing, and because I imagine people trying to access the site and getting only errors. It also frustrates me because this technology issue has been ongoing for some time, and so far it hasn’t really been resolved.

In order for this website to work, I pay a hosting company. The hosting company has some space on a server farm that is allocated especially for me. And that little computer, that lives somewhere in the Southwestern US, just isn’t working. It’s having a rough go of things, and not holding up its end of the bargain. Jon and I have decided to get a new webhost, which hopefully won’t have the same issues. We’ve got our web ninja friend Dave Zille helping us, and our plan is to have all of our sites moved over by the end of the month. So if you’ve seen those connection issues, too, just know that I’m working on a solution that should be rolled out really soon.

One thing these web issues has really driven home for me is just how dependent we are on technology that we don’t really understand. I’m pretty tech-savvy. I have an engineering degree. In university, I took classes on robotics, I soldered together circuit boards, and I even worked in a clean room and made semiconductor chips. In my professional life, I wrote computer programs that controlled motors and lasers. I’ve studied quantum physics and hung out in chemistry labs. And now I spend my life working on websites, and sometimes even building them.

In spite of my technical background, the truth is that if I found myself in one of those post-apocalyptic movies where all of the technology stops working, I would be toast. I might have a vague understanding of what is involved in getting a car to go, but I wouldn’t have the first idea of how to actually fix mine. I don’t know how to make a toaster or a clock radio or a microwave oven. I don’t even know how to make a regular oven. And in spite of my background, when my website breaks all I can do is send yet another problem report, and hope that someone else fixes it for me.

Like most modern people, I depend on technology that I don’t really understand to live my daily life. And if that technology died I’m not sure that I’d have what it takes to survive. I’m really ill-equipped to live off the land. I love to garden, but my harvest is always fairly mediocre. I love to knit, but it takes me two months to make a pair of socks. I went fishing one time with my grandparents when I was four, and after I threw the expensive motorized fishing rod into the lake and it sank like a stone, that was the end of that. If I were left on my own in a world without technology, my odds are dubious, at best.

As I consider the fact that I’m totally dependent on technology that I don’t really understand, I’m somewhat ambivalent. It’s just not possible for any single person to have the knowledge to make every single thing work. The phone system isn’t run by one guy – countless people work together. The internet wasn’t created by a single person, either. There’s not a single individual out there who can build or fix everything. And so, I just accept things. The actual likelihood of an alien invasion that causes all of our computers to suddenly die is low, so I don’t lose sleep over it at night.

I do sometimes spend more time than I should swearing at technology that doesn’t work. I’m not sure it’s good for my anxiety level to be faced with something that’s broken, and I don’t know how to fix. But since I live in a world where I use a lot of stuff that I don’t really understand, that’s just a fact of life. And so I do my best to navigate the web of service providers and tech support, until I can find a solution. And I hope that the next time I need my microwave, it’s there for me and it works like it’s supposed to. It’s pretty much the only course of action I have.

Are you able to keep your calm when technology breaks? And does it worry you to depend on so many objects that you don’t really understand? Tell me!

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Navel Gazing

Pregnant Women are Still People

Amber on December 13, 2011 17 Comments

I have a strongly-held belief, and it goes something like this:

Pregnant people are still people first and foremost, and they deserve the same autonomy as everyone else.

It’s true that when you’re pregnant the choices you make can impact your baby. This is why I made some lifestyle changes when I was pregnant myself. For instance, I stopped eating sushi made with raw fish, I didn’t taste raw cookie dough and I avoided certain cheeses. I did this because I informed myself about the potential dangers certain foods posed to my unborn baby. I then used that information to decide, on my own terms, to do my best to avoid those dangers wherever possible.

While I made certain adjustments when I was pregnant, there were some dangers I didn’t avoid. For instance, I went ice skating when I was pregnant with Jacob, while another expectant mother sat on the sidelines and watched. I was in my first trimester, I was convinced the risk was low and I made a judgment call. When I was pregnant with Hannah my co-worker came to my office to let me know they were giving out free flu shots, and told me I should get one, and I declined. He disapproved of my choice, but it was my call to make.

I think that our society can sometimes have a very paternalistic attitude towards pregnant women. We know that they’re literally carrying the future, and in response we start treating them differently than we did when they weren’t expecting. We raise our eyebrows when they eat junk food instead of salad, we offer them unsolicited advice, we hold doors for them and exhort them to take good care of themselves and their babies. It’s as if our ideas around gender equality go out the window when the baby bump becomes noticeable. And sometimes, I think, we cross the line into treating expectant mothers as if they’re not, in fact, adults capable of making their own decisions.

Recently, I saw a photo on Facebook of an expectant mother smoking. The implication was that what that woman was doing was horrible. A quick search on YouTube also turns up lots of videos chastising women for smoking while pregnant. Clearly, many of us are acting as the pregnancy police, passing judgment on those who act in ways that concern us.

Let me make this clear: I don’t condone smoking while pregnant. The risks associated with smoking in pregnancy are well-known. I did not smoke during either of my pregnancies. In fact, I have never smoked, ever, in my entire life. Not one puff. And I will admit that when my daughter Hannah was in the NICU, and another mom in there was mean to me and I saw her lighting up as she left the hospital, I passed some judgment. I knew she had a very small baby who was dealing with a lot of health issues, I knew that prematurity is one of the risks associated with smoking in pregnancy, and the situation left me ranting to my husband. I’m human. It’s normal for human beings to form opinions on the actions of others, especially when we don’t have a good relationship with them.

The problem for me isn’t that we see people doing things we disagree with and inwardly draw conclusions about them. The problem is that sometimes we see people doing things we disagree with and feel the need to weigh in. It’s even more problematic when we feel the need to weigh in by publicly ridiculing them on social media. Because once we start, where do we stop? If it’s okay to post an image of a pregnant woman smoking in order to pass judgment, is it also okay to post an image of a pregnant woman eating a bag of Doritos? What about a pregnant woman lifting something that we feel is too heavy? What about a pregnant woman wearing something we just think is ill-advised?

I am not pregnant, but I have been, twice. And I can tell you that while those hormones did a number on me, I was the same person while I was pregnant that I am now that I’m not pregnant. I was every bit as able to gather information and make my own decisions. I think other pregnant women are, too. They don’t need us to judge them, post videos of them or police their lifestyles. Maybe they are making bad choices. Maybe you can’t help but pass judgment in your head. All of that is understandable. But you absolutely can keep your judgment to yourself, instead of broadcasting it for the world to see.

What do you think? When you were pregnant, did you ever feel that you were subjected to judgment for your actions? And do you share my concerns about where this kind of judgment leads, or do you think I’m blowing things out of proportion? I’d love to hear!

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Feminism, Pregnancy

Podcast: Jeanette Miller of Limelite PR

Amber on December 2, 2011 1 Comment

Jeanette Miller Limelite PR Strocel.com Podcast

I first interviewed Jeanette Miller of Limelite PR via email in July of 2010. You can read what she had to say in Life Crafting Role Models: Jeanette. At the time, I was most interested in what she had to say about balance. Since then, though, my focus has changed. I decided to stop worrying so much about balance, and to start seeking manageability, instead. I also started a podcast, which I am totally in love with. So when I thought it would be interesting to talk to someone in PR about bloggers and PR, I immediately thought of Jeanette.

Not long ago we connected and had a great chat. I get the feeling that Jeanette and I share a lot in common outside of our interest in mom-focused media. She’s really fun to talk to, and she gives an excellent perspective on how bloggers and PR people can work together to create mutually beneficial relationships that also benefit blog readers. My key take-away from our discussion is that it’s possible for everyone to be professional and ethical, while working together to share a message and create great content.

I had some burning questions for Jeanette. I wanted to know if she’ll work with any company who comes her way, or whether she has specific criteria that she uses to help her decide. Speaking for myself, I view my blog as a conversation with friends, so if I wouldn’t talk to my friends about something, I won’t write about it. I was curious how Jeanette makes those decisions. I also wanted to hear from her exactly what PR is, and what PR people do. I think there’s a lot of confusion and misunderstanding, so I was eager for her to clear that up. And after hearing so many bloggers share their PR pet peeves, I wanted to hear what irks people on the other side of the fence.

I had a great time speaking with Jeanette. Her answers were thoughtful and funny, and she offered a lot of insight. If you have a blog, or you’ve ever considered starting one, you’ll want to hear what Jeanette has to say. Listen here:

Interview with Jeanette Miller of Limelite PR [ 34:44 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Next week I’ll be sharing an interview with Alyson Schafer, who’s talking about kids and science. As someone with a science background, I was eager to hear her suggestions for cultivating an appreciation of science in my own children. Subscribe to the Strocel.com podcast in iTunes, and you won’t miss a minute!

Tagged With: Bloggy McBloggerson, Interview, Podcast

Wonder

Amber on November 28, 2011 7 Comments

Why does a mother drag herself out of bed before 7:00am on a Saturday, and rush her groggy six-year-old through breakfast? Why does she pry her protesting three-year-old off of herself as she grabs her older child’s hand and runs out the door? The easy answer would be that she was invited to a media event at the local aquarium, which started before the doors opened to the public. The mother in question didn’t feel up to wrangling both children single-handedly, so she took the one who was least likely to dart off.

All of this is true. But that’s only the superficial reason. After all, being invited to an event and actually attending the event are not the same thing. So why does one drive through the early-morning rain, while listening to an endless string of questions from the back seat, when one would really rather be sleeping? Why does a parent put on 3D glasses and stand in line for cookies they can’t eat (because of the gluten)? Why does a mother make an origami jellyfish, or spend far longer than she would like examining every single thing in the gift shop? You could say she’s doing it for her child, and that’s true, but it still wouldn’t uncover the true rationale.

I accepted the invitation to see Luminescence at the Vancouver Aquarium. I watched a 16-minute version of The Polar Express and learned that electric eels aren’t actually eels, they’re fish. I watched lights bounce off of paper jellyfish and added milk to my daughter’s hot chocolate until it was the perfect temperature. And I did all of this because, for just a moment, I could see pure wonder on my child’s face. And when I did, I felt that wonder myself. I lived vicariously through my daughter’s joy, and it reminded me of something inside myself.

Moments like these are the real reason we have children. They’re the real reason we put up with the mess and the inconvenience. They’re the real reason that we go out of our way to accept invitations to events that we know our kids will enjoy, even if they require us to get out of bed early and endure a little bit of wetness. And they’re the real reason we tell stories about Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. These moments are what make it all worthwhile, and we’re forever chasing them. Those moments of wonder, when we see the world through new eyes.

What lengths have you gone to, to see the wonder in your child’s eyes?