“It’s not easy being GREEN.” - Kermit The Frog
Take baby steps…a lot of your favorite brands are now selling“green” versions of products that have less chemicals and residue. And, that has to be better for your family to breathe than the alternatives. (Although, admittedly I love the smell of bleach, I’m getting used to life without it.)
Green brands are being distributed to your favorite stores and online, so check them out and see if you like them…it might be easier than you think?!
“Respect your mother…mother Earth.”
Hmmm. To use or not to use, that is the question. Plastic water bottles are quick and easy…and they also require oil, emit toxic greenhouse gases when manufactured and, if not recycled, take over our land fills.
So, let’s keep it super duper easy and pick up some re-usable water bottles made from stainless steel…if they are lined with plastic, make sure they don’t contain BPA. Switch it up a little MAMAS…if we all use just one less plastic bottle a week, we’d make a huge impact.
“Pay it forward.”
Our kids watch everything we do (even when they pretend they don’t)! So, when they see us open a door for someone just cuz, it rubs off on them. If they hear us say “thank you” and treat someone with respect, it makes a difference. When someone is short on change and we can spare some, it shows them that we can do nice things for no reason at all. There’s no expectation, nothing in it for us, except a smile and a full heart.
It doesn’t cost us anything, but time and patience. These are priceless lessons we can teach our kids during the holidays…and every day!
“You gotta get the wiggles out.”
- The Wiggles
Now that it’s lighter, longer..have the kids play outside! Add a little run around and sweat time to your kids’ “to do” list this month, because childhood obesity is a serious problem in our country and physical activity is important to their long-term health and well-being.
Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease. It also increases the risk of stroke and such other major cardiovascular risk factors as obesity, high blood pressure, low HDL (“good”) cholesterol and diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
“Words matter.”
We teach our kids to choose their words carefully. Why? Words can empower and inspire people…they can also demean and wound people. There are so many words that are used to hurt each other that have just become part of the vernacular.
“Retard” is one of those derogatory words that has become part of our slang. For those kids with special needs, this term is heart-breaking. It is hard enough for kids to fit in at school and find their way in the world, we don’t need to make it any harder for those with special needs by calling them hurtful names in the process.
Teasing is part of being a kid. It happens. But, it is mean and hurtful and MAMAS are the ones that teach our kids better. So MAMAs, this month teach your child not to use the word “retard” and tell them why. You will teach them well, by opening their eyes and their hearts.
“The best inheritance a parent can give to his children is a few minutes of their time each day.”
- M. Grundler
We are so crazy busy that we are eating on the run, doing homework in the car, running to and fro always on the go go. So, stop. Set aside sacred kitchen table time with the kids. Sit down at the table and slow down enough to check in and find out about their day…have a laugh…digest. It is so important to stay connected and this is an easy time to do it. No phones. No tv. No interference. Just family time.
According to Time, “studies show that the more often families eat together, the less likely kids are to smoke, drink, do drugs, get depressed, develop eating disorders and consider suicide, and the more likely they are to do well in school, delay having sex, eat their vegetables, learn big words and know which fork to use.” Geez – enough said?!
