There’s a saying “No influence is so powerful as that of the mother.” Every day I see my children as different extensions of me. They challenge me to be my best self because they watch my every move. As great mothers, we are intentional about displaying behaviors like humility, love, forgiveness, diligence, and determination because we want our children to model these qualities too. Think for a second about moments that you have made it a point to insert a lesson about the character to your child. Let’s explore how simply showing your passion for the planet can have a positive impact on your child’s character too.
Frugality 101
Some environmental concerns are based on the size of our carbon footprint as individuals. The damaging actions that negatively affect the ecosystem include how much electricity we use. Electricity production generates the second-largest share of greenhouse gas emissions. About 62% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. Educating our children on how to use and consume only what they need inadvertently shows them how to live within their means. Not to mention; this method of living will save some money on the electricity bill! Screentime is also a concern for mothers. The love of doing my part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions increased my ability to find alternative activities away from the screen.
Thinking Bigger
We can teach them about finance and how to balance a checkbook, so let’s teach them about the great potential of their money too. Most of the time moms will ensure children know how to buy land and secure their own basic needs. After all, The role of a mother is greatly defined by the success and happiness of her children (no pressure). We can take it a step further by walking into the world's environmental potential. For example, Tigers and other endangered animals can repopulate and the oceans can be 100% cleaned. Children of today need mothers who put their money where eco problems are. Showing kids that their money can feed the hungry, restore ecosystems, and build communities opens a window of possibilities that may be overlooked in that finance lesson.
Values
One of the principles of living more sustainably is adopting low waste habits. You may recall the 3 R’s of sustainability: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. There are now actually 10 R’s of sustainability — but that is the subject of a different article. The large landfills all over the world are causing pollution for us and future generations. Rightfully so, moms worry about the consequences of over-consumption and waste mismanagement. So, when we keep that spaghetti jar from dinner and reuse it for a DIY project or storage; we are choosing to introduce value to our youth. Simply seeing opportunities where others may see waste is monumental for green living. A mother’s life lived with eyes of value produces children who can see the potential of everything.
Healthy Choices
While most of our not-so-good daily choices and habits come from routines developed during childhood, and although we can change them; it is not easy. Eco moms are ahead of the curve by implementing healthy habits early like eating seasonal fruit and vegetables, using fluoride-free toothpaste, and valuing nature. These happy habits develop over time and result in an adult who cares for themselves and others; concerning the environment. The idea of more ecocentric individuals being the leaders of the future makes me more hopeful about tomorrow.
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