It’s Enviro-Mama Thursday, and today I am stepping into the confessional. Sometimes I fear that when I’m writing here I’m projecting something that isn’t real. I fear that I’m projecting a level of environmental perfection that just doesn’t exist. While I do really try to live a green lifestyle, I would hate to come across as judgmental or preachy as I write here about green topics. The truth is that I am really in no position to judge anyone.
I’m actually not the perfect green mom. I do the best I can, but I live in a suburban neighbourhood in a developed country. Like most other people in my situation, I’m using far more resources than the earth can afford. My lifestyle is far from carbon-neutral. So come into my confessional, as I come clean on the ways that I fall short.
The Enviro-Mama Confessional
1. Sometimes, when there’s something really, really icky rotting in a container in the back of my fridge, I just throw the whole thing in the garbage. Yes, I could hold my nose and try to dump it into the compost, while trying not to gag. And I could try to scrape the 15 layers of green mold off the sides of the container and wash it for re-use. Or, failing that, I could at least recycle the container, since many are recyclable. But on some occasions it’s just too gross and I don’t.
2. I store food in plastic. I know that there are lots of chemicals in plastic, that could be leaching into the food. But there’s no way I’m going to be able to fit 40 pounds of blueberries into my deep freeze if I use plastic jars. And while I have some glass containers, when I send them to school with my kids (1) they can break and (2) their backpacks are really heavy. And I haven’t found stainless steel containers that I like. Plus, replacing my existing plastic containers would be pricy.
3. I eat meat. While I do try to eat less meat, I still have it at least five or six times a week. And when I’m not eating meat, I’m often eating eggs or dairy, so I’m just replacing one animal product with another. Meat production is a major contributor to climate change, so I feel guilty about this. But for a variety of reasons I’m not ready to go vegetarian.
4. I average at least one car trip a day, maybe more. Since my husband and I each have our own cars, it’s just so much easier to drive than it is to wrangle two kids on to public transit. As the rains start to fall on Vancouver, and the kids get into their activities for the school year, I’m spending even more time in my car than I did over the summer.
5. I adore take-out sushi. It’s one of the few fast food meals my whole family can – and will – eat. Plus, I feel that compared to most other fast food options, it’s fairly healthy. When I’m not up to cooking, and I’m also not up to sitting in a restaurant with two kids, it’s the perfect answer. But it comes in styrofoam containers, which go straight to the landfill.
6. I have never made my own home cleaning products. I do use things like vinegar and baking soda in cleaning, and I try to buy greener brands for almost everything. But you won’t catch me mixing up homemade laundry detergent or floor cleaner. I’m sure it’s fun and easy, but I just can’t muster the energy to make it happen.
These are far from all of my environmental sins, but they should be more than enough to give you a picture of my failings. Honestly, though, in the end I don’t think it’s fruitful to beat ourselves up for the things we don’t do. If we allow ourselves to become overly focused on the idea that we can never do enough, it’s a short leap to believing that our actions don’t matter. I think we’ll get a lot farther by focusing on the little things we can do. Those little things add up.
In the spirit of sharing, and without beating yourself up, I invite you to step into my confessional. Share your green sins. I promise, no one will judge you!
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I too sometimes just toss out the container with the scarey things growing in the back of my fridge. It also warmed my heart a bit to know there is another mother out there who will admit to having those things in fridge at times.
Heather’s last post … Jabs
- I still buy loads of imported foods (and yes, I pick organic from New Zealand over conventional Ontario apples)
- I use (and only occasionally re-use) plastic zip-lock bags
- I still drive my kids to school instead of getting them (and myself) up 30 minutes earlier to walk to school. Or walk myself to work (as I still value those extra 40 minutes twice a day more than carbon footprint)
- sushi is my kryptonite, and yes, we are ordering sushi/tempura take out twice a month (at least)
- my kids devour their shoes at amazing speed, and I don’t bother with anything else but to walk into store and buy next pair. Or any other clothing item for that matter.
- I will not bother with clothes exchange this year for halloween costumes
- I have been known to “lose” clothing gift (that was waaay to big) somewhere in the house, so I purchase something else instead and kids outgrow the misplaced gift in meantime. (at least local GoodWill benefits…)
- My vegetable garden does not exist (weed does not count, right?)
- there is a pile of toys in the rooms (and 7 HUGE containers in the basement storage)
- I just purchased leather sofa to replace 9 year old fabric sofa
I get fits of “green” in me all the time. I open refrigerator and forget what I was looking for because I start thinking how refrigeration is using up too much of energy in whole food chain. Or become depressed when I pour water in stainless steel bottles that are adorned with tons of plastic on the outside to make them “nice-looking” for kids. Or walk into shower thinking about luxury of hot water at every tap, every second of the life and how that is not sustainable. You are right, too much introspection can stall you. But I still want to remind myself that I should be mindful of living in such energy-lavish lifestyle. You know, to remind myself to do one more thing every month (or every quarter).
Twitter: Nicole013
says:
I hear you on the plastic containers with expired food. I figure, I cloth diapered and cleaned up some pretty big and nasty messes that way. I’ve paid my dues. (Balance, right?) In fact, I did that just yesterday because I’d left a salad with a steak garnish (steak is so too a garnish) in the fridge at work. So I dropped the whole thing in the “landfill incinerator” container.
I (my nanny) uses vinegar on the washable floors. Otherwise, Fantastik is our friend for cleaning.
And on replacing plastic with glass: I have resorted to mason jars. They’re inexpensive and fit well in my and Darren’s lunch containers. The Poptart still gets plastic for preschool because they don’t allow glass (or juice, or peanuts. Kill me now), and I have not found the stainless steel ones I want – besides, most of those have plastic lids.
Nicole’s last post … One of the lucky ones
I must confess…….I hardly recycle. I know that sounds horrible and I have every intention of doing so but everything just ends up in the garbage.
- signed a too busy mom
I really want the kids to walk or ride bikes to the store but most times we run late so I have to drive them even though it’s only a 5-10 min bike ride away.
I used to always bring a re-usable coffee cup to coffee chops. Now I always take the disposable and throw it away when I’m done..
We get take out far too often for my liking.
We store a lot of our food in plastic and my husband still uses plastic wrap.
Melodie’s last post … The Night My 7 Year Old Made Dinner
We use our garbureator instead of composting. We get takeout sushi once a week, takeout pizza from Whole Foods once a week, and I put an individually wrapped non-homemade granola bar in my daughter’s lunch every day. And fruits, sandwiches etc. all in plastic containers because (like you) I have yet to really bond with any of the pricy stainless steel stuff on the market and glass? For a 2 year old and a kindergartner? Forget it – way too heavy! We have two cars. AND my husband flies frequently for work then we fly on vacations….but we cloth diapered! We recycle! And I bake stuff for breakfasts and treats! And bought that toy made from recycled orange juice containers made by Sprig! Every little effort has to count for something, right?!
Great topic Amber.
eva’s last post … Happy Birthday Emily!
Twitter: courtneysplza
says:
I drive a big SUV. I justify it because we’re a one-car family, we get pounded with snow, and we don’t drive much – I’m at the gas station once a month, max. I’m at home and my husband works a few blocks away. Still, I wish we could get away with something small!
Courtney’s last post … Project Pumpkin Carving – Yes, that’s the International Symbol for Breastfeeding…
I appreciate this post and couldn’t have read it at a better time. I’ve been feeling pretty guilty at how I’ve wandered off my previously super green lifetyle, though I am trying to get back on course doing the little things I used to do like picking up litter when I notice it. Our family also recycles everything but we do not compost. I suppose that is one change we could make since we now have a yard.
Guilt. Doesn’t it just stink? Ugh. I really do try my best but little reminders are good too. As is doing little things to make a big difference, right?
Jessica’s last post … Portland
Twitter: tea4tamara
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Sigh. Is any one else suddenly craving sushi?
Tamara’s last post … Five DIY Ways to Relieve Cold Symptoms
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
Okay, that made me laugh.
It also made me crave sushi. So, yes, at least one other person is.
THANK YOU for keeping it real. Seriously. The world could use more of this.
I’m so jealous that your whole family will eat sushi – or ANYTHING for that matter. My two boys will not eat the same foods. They came to some contractual agreement that what one loves the other will hate so I end up either letting one of them starve or being a short-order cook.
TheFeministBreeder’s last post … Anatomy of a Very Public Illness.
Twitter: AmberStrocel
says:
Sometimes I’m pretty sure my kids are working together to mess with me, just for their own amusement. Luckily they do both like sushi, but whenever we’re in a public place they give each other this look and then run in opposite directions.