Eco-Mothering Celebrates Its 5th Anniversary with a Giveaway!

Can you believe it? It’s been five years since my very first Eco-Mothering blog post. A blog that originally existed on Save The Bay’s website and was only read by a few friends and colleagues.

I blogged irregularly and infrequently those first several years, from 19 times in 2008 (to an all-time low of 6 blog posts in 2010—what was I doing that year?) until I got serious in October 2012 and whipped out 37 posts in three months. Between this blog and Facebook, Eco-Mothering now reaches about 20,000 people weekly. Woohoo!

I love doing this. I love that my passions for the environment and for parenting have found this amazing intersection that inspires other people. Thank you for reading and for sharing.

I’m celebrating my 5^th anniversary with a personal giveaway of three eco-themed books for the family. (PLUS 2 Melissa and Doug Whittle World Wooden Farm Sets thanks to Microempowering!) Enter the giveaway below this reprint of Eco-Mothering’s very first blog post:

Cars R’ Us (originally posted on April 29, 2008)

This past weekend I picked up my new osprey license plate. Woo-hoo! My 18-month-old daughter Sofie is very excited that we now have a little “bordie” on our car — a 12-year-old Toyota Corolla that still gets 33 mpg even if it has lost all of its hubcaps. I would own a Prius if I could afford it. Money aside, I’ve always imagined myself behind an SUV, but now, as a mother, I find myself thinking things like: What message would that send to Sofie? Do we need a monthly car payment and increased insurance? (No!) Do we really need all that space? (Of course!)

Walking the talk has been high on the agenda for my eco-conscious husband and I. Especially now that Sofie’s of the age where she notices everything and is somehow assimilating it all into her worldview. Mimicking her parents is also high on her list these days. So how can I be all pro-environment and then buy a gas guzzler?

Oh, but it would be so nice to have a brand new car for once! We image-conscious Americans get sucked into thinking our car is part of our identity. I am guilty of this. In addition to my “an SUV would make me part of the cool crowd” dreams, I sometimes make judgments on other drivers based on what car they are driving. And I am dead set against ever getting a minivan merely because I don’t like its associated “suburban soccer mom” aura.

However, I am learning that, more often than not, parenting is about sacrifice. And teaching values. I want to teach Sofie respect for her environment, for Mother Earth and all the animals and plants that share her with us. I want Sofie to feel connected to nature. To feel a part of something larger. To understand the symbiotic relationship between humans and the environment. To know that every day we make decisions, big and small, that affect the planet. To know that what she does really matters.

And if that means keeping our ‘96 Corolla until the wheels fall off, then so be it. It gets us places. We use less gas. And now we’re sporting a license plate that supports environmental education. What could be a better message than that?

Learn how to reduce your car’s carbon emissions

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5^th Anniversary Giveaway

The folks at Microempowering heard about my anniversary and wanted to be a part of it. They’ve generously added 2 Melissa and Doug Whittle World Wooden Farm Sets to the giveaway package! The nine-piece set includes farmer, animals, hayloft chute and tractor. Keep one for your child and give one away as a gift.

In addition to the toys, one lucky winner will receive the three books below. With a children’s picture book, nature activities and a guide to saving green while going green, it’s a well-rounded collection for any eco-minded family.

The entire giveaway package is valued at $85. Enter now!

• The Eco-nomical Baby Guide: Down-to-Earth Ways for Parents to Save Money and the Planet by Joy Hatch and Rebecca Kelly. Written in a funny, straightforward style, this book from two resourceful moms focuses on how to raise a baby while being budget and eco-conscious. From diapers to daycare and food to baby gear, the guide offer tons of practical tips.
• Get Out! 150 Easy Ways for Kids & Grown-Ups to Get Into Nature and Build a Greener Future by Judy Molland. This well-rounded and easy-to-use handbook is full of fun activities to inspire a love of nature. Molland’s ideas are excellent for families and classrooms, encouraging people to get outside, learn about nature, and experience the world in new ways. This book is a Gold Mom’s Choice Award® Winner in the Adult Books: Outdoors and Nature. Ages 10 and up.
• The Adventures of an Aluminum Can: A Story About Recycling by Alison Inches. Told in diary format from the point of view of an aluminum can, this fun and educational picture book shows the journey of the can from bauxite rock to manufacturing plant to garbage can to new life as a baseball bat. Ages 4-8.

Enter the giveaway below (open to U.S. residents only).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: Thanks to Microempowering.org for providing two Melissa and Doug Farm Sets to include in the giveaway. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.