New Parents are the Fiercest Eco-Warriors.
We are all busy and if we are not actually busy doing productive things we fill our downtime by relaxing with TV, movies, and social media, and by the time we are “bored” with that distraction, we have run out of daylight and energy. In general, we do not take the time to go out of our way to learn new things and when we do start some sniffing around, it gets difficult or confusing and we quit. But new parents are different. New parents are compelled to learn new things to prepare for their little human that is going to arrive in less than a year. They are thinking not for themselves anymore, but also for their new little human and reimagining everything from their point of view as well. From my observation, this is the reason why new parents are the ones who make the most radical changes with the most well-founded reason to do it. And most importantly, there is a sense of urgency and responsibility.
Their why: Provide the best for their baby.
Did you know that “microplastic particles have been revealed in the placentas of unborn babies” recently? That means that before our babies take their first breath, they have already been tainted by our bad habits. That’s just microplastics - what about pesticides, growth hormones, antibiotics, heavy metals, and toxic chemicals? Before the baby comes, mother starts to think about her own nutrition and how it affects the baby. That’s when the switch to organic, fresh, unprocessed, and non-gmo foods kick in. When the bun is out of the oven, it’s the worries about non-toxic soaps and household cleaners that start because everything the baby touches the baby will put in their mouths. What about diapers and whatever chemicals and toxic substances used to make them leakproof and smellproof? It is a big commitment to switch to reusable diapers but there are more eco-friendly alternatives. And let’s not forget the problem with pesticides when growing cotton for the baby’s clothes and bedsheets, which can be absorbed through their skin. Then for those parents who truly think about the future world their child is going to live in, they will consider their meat and plastic consumption. Industrial meat is the single biggest contributor to greenhouse gases and once plastic is created, it cannot actually be recycled and will take thousands of years to decompose.
New parents who start pulling at the strings of how the world runs and all that is related to a new baby, will start to unravel and question everything. But my thing is: why wait to have a baby to realise everything that we as humans need to improve. What is bad for a baby is also bad for us, we are all humans after all. We need to stop walking through life like zombies. We all need to start living consciously and purposefully.
