Green

[dancerjodi]

Over the years I've tried to take steps to be more 'green', less wasteful, more conscious of chemicals and how I consume things. Having a kid and being responsible for all of the 'stuff' she is exposed to makes it yet more important.

I struggle with the cost, convenience and 'green' issues related to things related to Mina. For the most part we gave her organic baby food, and the cleaner of those options. If you actually read the ingredients on the Gerber organics, you'll see a lot of crap in it that isn't food (or added sugar). This came at great expense, but we had the luxury of doing it. We made our own sometimes (as much as cooking and mashing a potato is making your own). But we are both working, and have things to do. There is the formula of time/money/talent to consider.

Convenience and cost really are the big factors. The $10 cotton PJs at Old Navy that come in lots of cute styles and fit her perfectly are such a sticking point. Fit her well. Soft/good for her skin. Cheap. Easily accessible. But Old Navy = Gap companies = questionable labor practices. I can't bring myself to spend $30 on organic PJs online, that take a while to arrive at our front steps, that may or may not fit her, and if they do, she'll only wear for a short time. On one level I'm OK with this - you make an educated decision and do what works for you. But Old Navy! We have tried to find good-quality stuff in hand me downs from friends or at thrift stores, and have succeeded for the most part with the exception of the PJs. That counts for something, right?

I've had similar struggles with her bed. I'd like her to have the schmancy, 'green' mattress like Brian and I do. But she is a kid, that is going to do lots of gross things to that mattress reliably for years. There are covers and all, but really? We ended up getting one cheap at a local shop that sells a good traditional product. We'll splurge on the natural latex when she's older. Convenience, cost, practicality. It is a mattress on the floor, and we've been playing around with options for a simple frame. Low to the ground, something we can put a rail on. There is the convenient/cheap/easy route (Ikea) which is quite disposeable and made with questionable materials. The next level is more work/time (Craigslist). A local wood furniture store has a simple wood-platform style one which isn't crazy costly, so we may go with that. Her mattress is sliding all over on the floor so she ends up between the bed and the wall OR rolls out and across the floor.

We are learning that parenting is all about the balance. Sometimes having some kind of fruit is more important than having local/organic/fresh fruit. Sometimes, you gotta buy the processed pears in water in a plastic-sealed cup so that you have something in the morning when life has dictated that you can't get to the grocery store for something perishable. Sometimes you just gotta order a pizza.

We all experienced this kind of stuff and 'we all came out fine'. Only time will tell what health/societal impacts have come from our quick/easy/instant lifestyles. Folks didn't know 50 years ago what cigarettes would do to them. I wonder, what did I do to my kid now that will be something seen as just terrible years from now? I think the most important thing I've gained as a parent in myself, is the ability to just chill a bit and let those kinds of thoughts go, just to get through the day sometimes. There is always an argument on one side or the other. You could make yourself crazy trying to be "perfect".

Anyway, this rambling brought to you by a cold, quiet Friday morning at work. Have a wonderful weekend, peeps.

Comments

[nepenthedreams]

For PJs, I just try to avoid the flame retardants. Gap has the organic cotton kind and they sometimes go on sale, and then we stock up. Most places though now have non-flame-retardant cotton PJs, even Target. You just have to look for that yellow label warning you that it doesn't contain flame retardants. So anyway, the reason I'm mentioning this is that I realized the other day that despite all this effort, our couch and especially the new LoveSac which he loves is all made of flame retardants - so all that careful PJ picking was for naught.

[ahaseurus.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of ways to look at "green". Impact on global/local environment, toxic contents here, workers' conditions... In New England, we're living in a hostile climate. In Holland, enormous greenhouses grow local produce year round - yummy - costing many, many euros in electricity. Here, only some greenouse tomatoes from NH or Canada. Unless one wants to subsidize Sandoz (Schwiez) - the biggest producer of vitamin C in the world - buying fruit shipped in at great expense is a good choice. Given the environmental catastrophe in China, does choosing "Made in USA" make sense for the globe? And so on. Yeah, at some point the opportunity cost of "doing the right thing" is too high. I think approximate trumps perfect 100X. You're doing the best you can, so stress as little as possible and raise a good kid! (from all reports, you are)

[jetgrrl01.livejournal.com]

I had to let a lot of it go early on. Not that I don't try to buy organic where possible, and certainly I read ingredients on any packaged food and stick to things that have ingredients I recognize, but the days where it's enough that we're eating something at all... I can't worry about it too much! I think you're doing marvelously!

[roaming.livejournal.com]

(Looking for the "like" button to let you know I came, I read, I liked)

[lachesis.livejournal.com]

Mina's well loved, and (last I noticed) not on fire, so I think you're ahead, Jodi. :) Hugs to all!