How are you raising your child to care for creation?
Whenever people ask how life as a parent is, I usually say, “Every day feels a bit like an experiment.” What worked yesterday doesn’t work today. What didn’t work last week is the magic trick this week. It doesn’t matter how much I read from reputable resources, there is no resource out there that is made specifically for our baby.
In an age when an answer to every question can be found at the tips of our fingers, it feels like there is so much pressure around every parenting decision.
Talk About Pressure
Seriously. Let’s talk about that pressure.
In our home, we’ve made the conscious effort to acknowledge the ideal then make realistic choices about what we can and will implement. We take what we want and leave the rest.
Our daughter lives her days experiencing how she is deeply loved and cared for by her parents and other caregivers. My husband and I believe that the best thing we can do for our daughter is to pour into our marriage, family, and our community.
Gifts from our commitment to each other, our family, and our community will overflow into our daughter’s health and well-being. Everything else will fall into place.
I choose to live in that space of grace.
Grace Not Guilt
This is why, when it comes to caring for and celebrating our planet (among other topics), I find Paula Kuka of @common_wild relevant and refreshing.
In her post, “How to raise planet allies (without terrifying them),” Paula suggests ways we can become earth-friendly without guilt or fear.
I want to raise a child who is curious, cares for our planet, and sees Creation as the gift that it is. I want our daughter to be a good steward of resources and a kind human being, but most days I’m just trying to clean her bottles before she needs to eat.
Wise, Kid-Friendly & Parent-Possible
For a task-oriented woman like me, guilt-free, achievable, and mission-minded tasks are crucial to my sanity. It is easy to get lost in the weeds of everything we “need” to do, be, and become.
This spring, instead of getting lost in the weeds, I am making three measurable goals that are wise, kid-friendly, and parent-possible ways to care for Creation.
3 Parent-Possible Ways to Care for Creation
- Eat seasonally
- We have to eat anyway, and it is both environmentally friendly and financially responsible to eat seasonal produce.
- Choose books that demonstrate compassion, hope, human dignity, and care for creation.
- Examples of books we are reading or have on hold at the Columbus library this spring are:
- ABCs of Kindness by Patricia Hegarty
- A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead
- Good People Everywhere by Lynea Gillen
- How to Be A Lion by Ed Vere
- If You Plant a Seed by Kadir Nelson
- Love Monster and the Last Chocolate by Rachel Bright
- The Monster Who Lost His Mean by Tiffany Strelitz Haber
- Examples of books we are reading or have on hold at the Columbus library this spring are:
- Get outside.
- We’ve been cooped up inside many days throughout the winter, and we are ready to get back to extending time outdoors! This spring, we will spend time on walks at our favorite metro parks and exploring bike paths in our community.
What parent-possible actions are you taking to care for creation? How will you be a planet ally this spring?
