Natural Parenting Carnival: Vintage Green
Posted By pchanner on March 9, 2010
Once I began my journey into motherhood my eyes have been opened and my conscious away to how important a natural, green life is for me and my family.
I can’t say that growing up my family was the greenest on the block, but we did have a few green corners here and there. My mom has always been a strong influential point of reference in my life and she lead the way for the few green movements in our home. She was always trying her best and wanted the best life for her children.
I can remember growing up in New Jersey and having a little garden in our yard. I can’t remember all the different fruits and veggies that she grew but I do remember distinctly (because I helped with these) strawberries and cheery tomatoes.
Recycling wasn’t really a big thing until I was in middle school, but when I was young we did do something close. We used to drive about 45 minutes to a spring with a car full of used milk and water bottles to collect our drinking water. We didn’t spend money to buy and throw away more bottles and because of the work involved getting it we were always careful never to waste or take for granted the water we had.
Well this is typical for most families but we had plenty of hand-me-down clothes. I was the only girl after two older brothers so I didn’t get much of their clothes (t-shirts maybe) but I did get a lot of clothes from my cousins growing up. I was and never have been ashamed or embarrassed about it either. I was actually quite proud to wear their clothes because I always felt that they were very sophisticated and successful women and I felt wearing their clothes would help me feel more confident and capable also.
One more thing I remember doing while I was young that I consider to be green now is making my own toys. My grandmother taught me how to sow growing up and together we made quite of few baby dolls and little clothe sets for my dolls. I am so sad that they all got lost in some of our moves but I was so proud of my little hand-made toys.
It is my heart, goal and intentions on living up to my mother’s standards and setting a good example for my children to continue to be green. There are many different ways, along with these methods that my household lives a green life today and I am always looking for more ways to green our home.
After I had my son in September my sister-in-law gave me a gift. She gave me a journal titled A Mother’s Heritage, A Loving Keepsake For Your Children by Ellie Claire. This is different from your every day journal in that instead of an empty canvas for you to free write, it has the topics and questions laid out for you. I like it because it prompts you to share insight to who you are that you may have never shown otherwise. Most of these questions are dealing with topics that, unless my children actually asked, I don’t think I would have jumped up and shared. Instead of writing them in the book, I decided it would be easier to do a blog post for each.
Follower of Christ, Wife to @ChannerChris, Mother, cloth diapering, baby wearing, breastfeeding, going Green, make it yourself doing, SAHM and Friend.