Going Green Without the Guilt

I have always been concerned about preserving nature and the delicate balance of our global ecology. Becoming a mother has only magnified those feelings and I have certainly tried to do my part. My husband and I have always been responsible recyclers, but more recently we bought the energy efficient lightbulbs and power strips, I bring a reusable bag with me when pushing the stroller to the organic market in town, and we fully intend to buy a hybrid car when making our next auto purchase. However, it never feels like we do enough. I will always be thinking about how the beautiful Brazilian cherry wood floors in apartment contributed to deforestation, how every online purchase means more of those horrible little plastic peanuts will be used, and how during the summer our building issued air conditioner will run almost constantly (we live on the 22nd floor and I can attest to the fact that heat does rise). I recently read an article in the New York Times that referred to this feeling as "ecoguilt."

The article was about a group of women called EcoMoms who gather for green parties to swap ideas of how to be more environmentally conscious at home. At the end of the article they mention how the hostess of the party was chided for her interior paint, carpeting, and even the fresh cut flowers she put out for the event. It was so sad to me that this woman opened her home to others in an effort to raise awareness about this important issue and became a target of the group's criticism. Was she supposed to completely renovate her home when she decided to become a supporter of environmental causes?

I also recall Al Gore being attacked for his electric bill and lack of attaining complete carbon neutrality in his own life, while preaching to others about the importance of going green. His dedication to environmental issues is one of the main reasons that this extremely important topic has become a part of the national consciousness, yet he is scrutinized for his efforts although they are far and away more than most of us will ever commit to. It is certainly not easy and maybe near impossible to live a completely green life, so why do we demand absolute perfection from eco-crusaders?

One of the reasons that environmentalists are so passionate is the time sensitive nature of the issue. The need to act now and act fast is not lost on anyone who has seen "An Inconvenient Truth." However, it seems to me that we should support those who make any eco-friendly choices in their daily lives, no matter how small. Those combined efforts are the start of something larger. If we let go of "ecoguilt" and focus on the difference we are capable of making, instead of that which seems impossible, we will understand just how powerful the actions of one can be. The products we buy at the grocery store will send a larger message to corporations and our vote at the polls will let government officials know that we expect them to start making changes, too.

Thankfully the responsibility of taking care of Mother Earth is something our children will understand early on. I intend to not only teach my children about ways that they can participate in saving our planet, but to be an example to them through my actions. I am proud to say that my son is already an environmentalist in the making. He reuses empty boxes and plastic bottles as toys and his favorite song is Jack Johnson's The 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) on the Curious George Soundtrack.

*Originally posted on NYC Moms Blog.

Comments

[Erin (Graco)]

I have been trying to make a huge effort to "go green." I don't have children yet, but I feel as though if this way of life (preserving the environment the best I can individually) becomes rutine to me, than my future children will live in a better world and grow up to be proactively green!

[caitlin]

Sadly, I agree that some moms definitely seem to try to "out-do" each other in terms of how "green" their family is. People should just be commended for whatever changes they are making. It all counts.

[Cheryl Wenzel/New Mom Central]

I think it's a reflection of how hard everyone is trying. And, as is typical in America we tend to go to extremes on everything. Things are either all "good" or all "bad." We really need to learn how to live in the middle. I mean, realistically, there is only so much one human being can do, especially considering the fact that ecogreen is a recent phenomenon. I mean, are we responsible for the materials used to build a home pre-ecogreen? Come on. It borders on ridiculous--no, it IS ridiculous.

[Alix]

Thanks for capturing the essence of eco guilt. I"ll never forget how I felt the day I was in the granite store after having installed new granite counters. I noticed a calendar they were proudly displaying - of razed hillsides, ruined by granite quarries. It made me sick. Why was there a calendar of these horrible quarries to be admired, like the playboy pet of the month?

Anyway, it is reality that we cannot convert overnight, so I made a personal pledge to do one more green thing each year. This year's task - composting kitchen scraps and learning to grow more food in our yard. So far, I have a neighbor who agreed to deliver a worm bin... it's not here yet.

Alix blogs at Silicon Valley Moms Blog and at http://mednauseum.blogspot.com