The plastic island that lives rent free in my mind
Or, how the Great Pacific Garbage Patch has influenced my daily parenting style
Welcome back to my substack! It’s been a few weeks since I wrote, but I am back and working on showing up even when I am doubting myself.
Something that has come up a lot for me as a parent has been the endless bounty of stuff that comes into our lives. Whether it was creating a baby registry, navigating gifts at birthday parties, or classmates who bring gift bags to school, I am always trying to navigate how to be a more conscious consumer while also balancing those delicious dopamine fixes my kids crave when it comes to getting stuff.
That 80’s childhood…
I can vividly recall commercial breaks between the Beetlejuice cartoon or the Care Bears where I was brought into an imaginary world where my plastic baby really ate food. Or where I could dissolve her diaper in water and I would find a surprise inside. I remember wishing for five puppies to come out of my stuffed puppy mama, and usually only getting three. Begging for a quarter so I could get a sticky slappy hand out of small plastic ball, hoping she would say yes in the toy aisle at the pharmacy, watching as paper tickets spilled out a machine so I could get a bouncy ball after spending $50 of my dad’s money, digging through the cereal for a shiny plastic ring, I mean I really could go on, and on, and on. So, I get it kids…I really do.
A plastic island
Cut to my senior year majoring in environmental studies and finding out there was an island of plastic the size of Texas in our ocean. I had never even contemplated such a thing! I mean, in the 90’s Nickelodeon’s Big Help said that all we had to do was, “recycle, reduce, reuse, and close the loop”!
I spent the majority of my time in higher education learning about how our ways as consumers affect the environment. As both a lover and believer of science and a believer in a higher power, I know that we must care for the earth, because it is the right thing to do.
Back to the bags of plastic crap
Whenever a bag of plastic crap comes home with my kid, I say to my husband, “I would literally rather her eat a cupcake every. single. day. then to take home this crap.” I know she loves it, but when she is asleep I hide it in a large bag under the kitchen sink. When it disappears she never asks for it again, and another cellophane bag bites the dust, and probably ends up in the ocean.
My eco-parenting hacks
While I can’t change everyone’s behavior, I certainly can change our family’s behavior and attitudes towards consumption.
Plastic Island meet Present Mountain
I don’t always say, “no presents” when my kid has a party. I have before, but that was when I invited her whole preschool and I knew that was overkill. With the pandemic now affecting nearly 1/3 of her life, I sometimes feel like a little present opening is a fun part of childhood I don’t want to take from her. But when her birthday or Christmas rolls around, she gets SO many gifts, that I have taken to hiding a bunch of them from her that are duplicates, gifts we don’t need/want, or that are too young for her. And with that, I have created a very useful inventory of gifts that I can now have on hand for other birthday parties. Save money, save time, save plastic.
Recycle, Reduce, REUSE!
We don’t need new things, but mama loves a little retail therapy. I often put things in my cart and never buy them, or do a Target run to stave off my feelings. Clothes are my weakness, especially cute ones for my kids! One way I ensure we don’t spend too much, and we also reuse, is by selling our old clothing. Clothes that are good enough I bring for consignment, or sell online. Most of the time I use the balance to purchase more clothing for the family! You would be really surprised at what you can sell online or in person, with just a minimal amount of effort. I recommend Poshmark for online clothing sales - it is really easy to use!
F*ck your treat bags
I can proudly say that we have never given out a bag of plastic treats at one of our child’s birthday parties. Here are some non-plastic ideas, both food and non-food. I know that the parents coming to your parties will appreciate these! You also are not required to or expected to provide a treat bag.
Cookies - get a fun cookie cutter in the shape of your party theme, or get some ready-made cookie dough from the store. Put them in a pretty little paper pastry bag and write the child’s name on the front.
Book swap - have each child bring a used book in good condition wrapped in paper, and at the end of the party each child leaves with a book that is not the one they brought. We got one of our favorite new books that way!
Plants - start some seeds with your kids in little peat pots, and then give them away at your party. Try some easy to grow veggies like beans, or a native wildflower.
Seed bombs - my favorite choice! You can make seed bombs really easily with things you probably already have on hand. Here is my favorite recipe for seed bombs. Use paper in the color of your theme (pink/red for Valentine’s Day) and you can even shape in different ways using molds or using your hands.
Stickers - some stickers are made of plastic but many are made of paper.
Crayons - melt some old crayons and put them in silicone molds that are fun shapes.
Piñata - fill your piñata with candies that come in paper. Here are my favorites: Nerds, Fun Dip, and Starburst!
Make something - make something together as a group. Whether it is jewelry made with wooden/glass beads, some kind of art, or a special treat to take home, this can be a great activity plus a gift!
Entertainment - spend your money on entertainment instead. Hire a face painter, balloon performer, or magician. Support an artist!
And I can change the world
I realize this Clapton song is not about changing the world to prevent climate change, and similarly I realize that my efforts are not alone going to change the world. However, the way I reason with myself is that I have to do this to take care of the planet because it is the right thing to do. I know that I also purchase technology that ends up in landfills and that I drive a non-electric car. But, I take the steps I can take while taking care of my family with the means I have. I hope you take some of these ideas and use them - if you do, please let me know!
And now for something downright delightful. Since we are on the topic of shifting behavior in the name of caring for our planet, let’s talk about a couple of my favorite creatures.
Western Snowy Plover: This is a special critter from my neck of the woods. What I would refer to as “a dumpling with legs”, you can catch this and other shore birds running to and fro along the beach collecting little sandcrabs and other tasty treats. These are an endangered species, and one of the many reasons I love nature and teaching my children how to care for it.
Decorator Crabs: I cannot even handle this creature. So matter of factly it uses little ocean tidbits to blend in, hoping to camouflage itself. Enjoy this video!