Thoughts on Parenting

Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change and Our Family

Our family has had a very exciting summer, but unfortunately, I didn't take the time to write about it. Hopefully, there will be time for introspection later. But for now, it seemed like Blog Action Day would be a good re-entry point into the blogosphere.

We drove over 5,000 miles this summer, passing through at least 14 states on a road trip that makes our Road Trip to the Edge of Sanity look like a little jaunt to Starbucks. Even though I had visited most of the places we went in my youth, visiting with my own children and seeing American's wild places through their eyes was nothing short of exhilarating. The prairies and one-of-a-kind rock formations of South Dakota, the beauty and bison of Yellowstone, the grandeur of the Grand Tetons. In our visits to over 5 national parks this summer, I was reminded again of the foresight of our forefathers in preserving the massive and beautiful lands of our amazing country for everyone to enjoy. These places are truly amazing gifts for the future.

The main reason for our huge road trip was our family's move to Oregon. Having lived in Alaska while growing up, I've always been very conscious of nature and our impact on it, and now that we are in Oregon, it is easy to see the impact humans have on the earth... much easier than when we lived in Texas. What concerns me most is America's seemingly short sighted view of climate change. Usually we are the leaders in the world, but for some reason, on this topic we seem to be lagging behind and jeopardizing our children's future in the process.

My son loves Arctic animals and many of our conversations center around whales, walruses and polar bears. I will never forget the day that Jack said he wanted to grow up and go to the Arctic to see polar bears. It was soon after they were added to the Endangered Species list and I couldn't believe that it was actually very likely that they would not be around by the time he was grown. I had never had a realization like that before.

So, at the risk of repeating everyone else on the earth, here are some things we do to try and help save the polar bears, walruses and other Arctic animals that are being urgently threatened by the receding ice:

Recycle. We now recycle more than we throw away. We also try to consciously buy things that are used or have very little packaging. This is especially difficult when it comes to toys!

Drive less. We are very fortunate that we now live in a place where taking public transportation is easy and considered quite normal. The kids just love taking the train into town.

Unplug. Did you know that cell phone chargers that are plugged in, but not being used by a phone still use electricity? I didn't until recently. Now I'm vigilant about unplugging things we're not using... even the television.

Buy less. I know that is totally un-American of me, but I'm trying to raise children who are content without a lot of stuff. Cheap toys are so easy to come by these days the kids don't appreciate what they have, and who knows what the factories (mostly in China) are doing environmentally while they produce $3 toys for America's children.

I know there's not much new here, but I would urge you to educate yourself -- for your children's sake. This issue is a huge one, and one that can no longer be ignored. American's traditionally have a spirit of ingenuity and a reputation of rising to the occasion. I think it will take an entire generation of American creativity and knowledge to help make an impact of change. The best place to start is at home with our own families. For a good jumping off point, visit the EPA's climate change site for kids, and in the process help save the future for our children.

What to do about Swine Flu?

Having just found out that all the local schools will be closed this week thanks to the H1N1 Virus, everyone in our town seems to be facing the reality of a real modern dilemma: What do you do if you have to stay home for a whole week with your children?

At first I found the idea quite stressful. It was an unwelcome change in routine during an already highly stressful time (with moving and graduation coming up). As I thought about it some more, though, my perspective shifted. What an amazing gift that we are not often given these days! With our modern inventions, weather and illness are rarely greater than our capacity to deal with them. Life never seems to stop anymore, except for the occasional snow storm or hurricane.

I remember when I got to stay home with the Chicken Pox for a week. Other than the smell of calamine lotion and being really itchy, it was kind of cool. My parents worked to make the week special, and I even got a new Duran Duran record out of the deal from my dad. But thanks to vaccines, that right of passage through childhood has been eliminated, too.

In the spirit of Throwback Mountain Dew, I'm planning on going old school this week, too. We're gonna limit the TV and enjoy some of the things that our modern life often doesn't leave time for:

Board games: The kids are finally old enough to enjoy some games like Aggravation (my grandpa's favorite), Life and Monopoly. Of course there are also some  of our long standing favorites: Tot-zee, Sequence, Crazy Eights and Uno. For other board game ideas, check out the Top 10 Classic Board Games for Kids.

Puzzles: I remember simpler times without TV when my mom, sister and I would work puzzles together on rainy or snowy days. It's a great activity that allows conversation to bloom.

Bake: I'm usually in too much of a rush to do this with the kids, but since we don't have anywhere to be this week, there's no rushing! We have all the time in the world to bake that banana bread I've been wanting to make for months. (For the most amazing Banana Bread recipe EVER, click here.)

Art: Again, I'm usually in too much of a rush to deal with the mess that comes from the kids' artistic endeavors (sad, I know), but with no agenda this week, I think we'll attempt some art. Check out The Crafty Crow for awesome ideas!

I'm sure we'll need some other activities to keep us busy, so I'm also planning to build a fort, play with play-doh, have a sing-a-long, tell stories, get out the Invention Box and continue packing boxes. Looks like we'll be rather busy after all, and I hope we can build some awesome memories from "that time when we all had to stay home because of the swine flu."

Don't forget the baby!

I remember the first time I heard about a baby being accidentally left in a hot car. I was working for the Red Cross and my boss was about to have her first baby. We discussed how on earth something like that could happen. She expressed an understanding and fear that the same thing could happen to her. I, however, as a newly married and childless 22-year old could not possibly see how such a thing could ever happen to a loving, attentive parent. How do you forget your own child?

Of course, that was nearly 15 years ago. I’ve now weathered the difficult waters of infancy and toddlerhood as a parent. I now completely understand how such a terribly tragic mistake could occur. As a parent, especially a new parent, we are surrounded by a swirling vortex of sleep-deprivation and chaos, the likes of which can make your freshman year in college look like a cake walk. Our list of a million modern day things to keep track of suddenly jumps to over a billion little details that our highly adpated, yet still human minds, must coordinate. Pack the bottles, brush teeth (mine, not the baby’s), bathe two humans, get dressed, check for spit up stains, pack the nursing cover up, diapers, wipes, sun hat, sunscreen, matching shoes (mine AND the baby’s), finger foods, water and snacks (mine, not the baby’s), changing pad, change of clothes (mine AND baby’s), plastic bag for poopy diapers. The list is truly endless. Add to that list work obligations, car trouble, meetings, flights, meal plans, etc. and it soon becomes quite easy to imagine yourself doing the unthinkable.

In a gut wrenching article on the topic of parents who forget their children in their carseats, Gene Weingarten of the Washington Post, does a terrific job of presenting a very human view of the parents who have done such a thing. The article is long, but well worth the read. It will make an impression on your brain, no matter how busy and cluttered it may be, and hopefully, on a very busy day when the details your brain continually tracks are beginning to slip, this article will still be there in the back of your mind preventing another unthinkable and horrifying death.

Here are a few of the suggestions from KidsAndCars.org about minimizing your risk of leaving your child in his or her carseat:

Always put something you'll need for work -- cellphone, handbag, employee badge, etc. -- on the floor of the back seat, near the child.
 
Keep a large teddy bear in the child's car seat when it's not occupied. When the child is placed in the seat, put the teddy bear up front in the passenger seat. It's a visual reminder that anytime the teddy bear is in the passenger seat, the child is in the back.
 
Make arrangements with your child's day-care provider or babysitter that you will always call them if your child will not be there on a particular day as scheduled. Ask them to always phone you if your child does not show up when expected.

Toxic Toys

It's hard to be a parent these days. On top of the impossibly long list of responsibilities we parents have already had for decades, now we must check our kids' toothpaste for anti-freeze, scour the juice aisle for China-free apple juice, and monitor all the toys coming in the house (even the ones from Mattel) for lead laced paint. What's a parent to do?

Well, I found this great website at HealthyToys.org. You can search for the toys in your home by brand or type to see if they are toxic. You can request that a toy be tested for toxins, and you can also request to receive updates and alerts via email. This site can't help with edible items such as toothpaste and juice, but at least when your 12-month old tries to eat your 4-year old's silver ballet slipper necklace that Aunt Suzie gave her for Christmas, you'll be able to find out what exactly your child may be ingesting.