Green and Clean Mom - Latest Comments in Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

littlepurpleroom — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:21:42 -0000

I try to live a frugal life. Is EVERYTHING I do frugal...no.
I splurge at times.

But the thing is I believe people who are SO into this Green thing mostly do it because it's "trendy". They drive this or that because if they didn't WHAT WOULD PEOPLE THINK?

It's called keeping up with the Joneses. While the rest of us, plug away realistically reducing our carbon footprint as we can, they are out there going into debt purchasing what they hope others will notice and pat them on the back for "doing the right thing".

We drive a truck that is 29 years old. It could not pass an emissions test if it wanted to. BUT, its paid for. My DH does not have to drive every day to a job and use gas and resources to pay for some new hybrid whatever. He stays home eeking by on his retirement growing vegetables building this house, and affording what we have without any debt.
We drive that old truck 2x a month to town and thats it.
So who is "greener"?

Weird how some people get caught up in things we should all be trying to do because its "trendy". And then look down their noses at others.

Like Molly says, we should all be taking those small steps and learning from each other along the way.
Being kind is also being green.

Just like these "green homes" on TV. Should I rip out my old oak floors and put in Bamboo because its "greener"?
No. I should just wash my old floors with a natural cleaner and that makes me "greener" and saves about 10,000 too.

<abbr>littlepurpleroom’s last blog post..I WON !! A necklace and I have an apple.</abbr>

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

Molly — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:49:42 -0000

I think it is a lot more useful to the average person to hear about someone like themselves on their journey to live a greener lifestyle. Reading a blog about someone who has already conquered all the obstacles in the way of greening their lives is nice, but it is much more useful to hear about the things that people like you have tried, whether they worked for them or not. We get to hear about the small steps as they happen and it makes the green lifestyle a lot more approachable.

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

greenandcleanmom — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:20:20 -0000

I think about that too but when I went to DC it wasn't like that at all. I've learned that those I surround myself with at conferences and events recognized me as a person who is real and genuine and the others I just don't associate with or surround myself with their "negative" energy. I'll never do it all perfectly and can't afford everything organic but like Diane from the Big Green Purse suggests, I'm shifting my dollars where I can.

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

Condo Blues — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:12:16 -0000

Sommer,

I've felt the same way too. Especially now that's BlogHer's coming up. I wonder once others find out that I'm a Green blogger will they start looking at what I'm wearing, what I'm doing, and even the swag that I've decided to accept more closely. I'm probably being very silly about it. I hope I am.

<abbr>Condo Blues’s last blog post..How is the Economy Treating You?</abbr>

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

greenandcleanmom — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:06:35 -0000

I don't believe in the all or nothing mentality. Things just aren't one color or the other - there are shades.

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

greenandcleanmom — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:05:27 -0000

Kathy,

I'd like to go all the way and do everything eco-friendly but tomorrow I'd find out that wasn't eco-friendly. I just have to keep trying and remember that it isn't just me but my family whom I'm trying to encourage to change with me. That's a big leap and not always easy.

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

greenandcleanmom — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:03:44 -0000

Thanks Bec, that means a lot to me and I'm so glad you let me know how you feel - I do try to be positive.

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

Bec — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:03:39 -0000

Sommer, I love your site. I try to add being green into our family and we make the changes that we can. It is a growing and learning experience for all of us. The one thing that I love is that your site is positive no matter what. Even when you are down about something, you still have a positive spin. I do look at other sites, but honestly can't say that I look forward to seeing what they have to say. Keep up the good work and thanks for the motivation to keep trying!

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

Kathy — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:02:37 -0000

Yay for you and for this post! In my work for an architecture firm that specializes in sustainable building, I meet constantly with people who think that if they can't (or don't want to) go for the whole enchilada (ie. a platinum LEED rating), they shouldn't do anything at all. They've been trained by society, I guess, to think they've got to do it all or nothing and it takes a lot of retraining on my part to get them to see that making 5 out of 10 "green" choices is better than making none. I'm sure there are other firms that would say we're posers, but I'd rather see people do what they can afford, live with, etc. than do nothing at all because they don't meet some standards set by god only knows who.

I look at my own life the same way. I do what I can to be eco friendly, and I try to make new changes every day, but have I ever went to the grocery store without my reusable bags? Threw something in my garbage disposal because I was just too lazy to bring it to the compost pile? Took a hot shower for far longer than anyone would consider responsible? Used non-green cleaners when I was in a hurry to clean my house for a showing? Of course!

Anyway, great post and I love that you encourage people to do what they can...it's the small things that are going to make a difference in the long run. :)

Kathy

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

Lynn from Organicmania.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 10:39:09 -0000

Sommer - great post. I think we'll have more "fun" with this at the next Green Moms Carnival, because Jenn (The Green Parent) wants us to post about our "Eco-Confessions" - how we're all not so green.

There's a great quote about this in the Bible: Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.

I agree, I never defined myself as a Mom blogger but rather as a Green blogger. A lot of my readers are male. However, since the "Power Mom" thing came out, I've felt I had to embrace the "Mom blogger" description a bit more. However, each niche within the vast "Mom blogging" community is vast. Just imagine if Hillary Clinton started a blog. Would she be a Mom blogger too?

<abbr>Lynn from Organicmania.com’s last blog post..Organic & Green Savings: CVS, Whole Foods & Bethesda’s Giant Food</abbr>

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

Eco-Office Gals — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 09:05:17 -0000

Good for you Sommer! I tagged Eco-Office Gals "Growing small business green" I would probably not make the mark for many, many hard core "greenies", but I'm growing and sharing what I learn. I think that's what life is about. My mom always said "the day you stop learning if the day you die"...
So, if that's the case; all the hard core, know it all's out there judging those that are learning and sharing... your knowledge is dying, you're not sharing, your not seeking knowledge... you're stiffing yourself, your hurting and discouraging others. Anyone that chooses to be that way must wither away (intellectually, I'm nit proposing physical death for sure!) :)

<abbr>Jen @ Eco-Office Gals’s last blog post..Eco-Options: Trade Shows</abbr>

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

Brenna — Sun, 31 May 2009 16:31:38 -0000

I love this post! I have been thinking on this issue all too much lately. A green lifestyle is something that I am always striving for, but I am certainly not perfect. I do not have organic sheets on my bed, although I wish I did and they are on the baby's!

The people who criticize and accuse are certainly not doing anyone any good. If anything they turn people off from making small steps. Going green is not all or nothing, and it isn't with most choices that produce such extreme views, it just seems that way sometimes.

Keep going, keep learning, keep sharing, keep teaching, you are needed.

<abbr>Brenna’s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: The Zoo</abbr>

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

greenandcleanmom — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:28:07 -0000

Yes, that make sense and it does seem like there are lots of shovels to hand out these days with everyone having an opinion.

Re: Haven’t We Graduated From High School?

JessicaGottlieb — Sun, 31 May 2009 15:07:52 -0000

I leave the more outrageous comments on my blog. Sometimes when folks are digging their own graves handing them shovels can be fun

<abbr>Jessica’s last blog post..Lightbulbs: Friday Confession</abbr>