Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Chemical Free?
For the last two years, I have been trying to reduce my family's exposure to chemicals. This is a very hard thing to do, especially on a budget. I should clarify what I mean since one of my more skeptical medical student friends told me haughtily that "everything has chemicals in it." I have tried to keep myself, Bee, and to some extent Izzy away from products made with chemicals that have been proven harmful to humans, either because the cause cancer or interfere with normal bodily functions. For personal care products this includes parabens, pthalates, sulfates, formaldehyde, oxybenzone and petroleum, among others. It is amazing how much of this stuff we cover our bodies in on a daily basis.
I started doing so on purpose around the time I found out I was pregnant. I had read that aluminum (part of the active ingredient in anti-perspirant) was bad for the baby and might cause breast cancer, so I bought aluminum-free deodorant. I am still looking for one that works well and is reasonably priced. I was already using a lot of Burt's Bees products and mineral makeup, which are better than most products. As I research further, I find that these are not the best products available, but they are what I can find and afford right now. Eventually I want to work to find better products, but the prospect is overwhelming to me considering how little time I have for such things.
I have given up regular nail polish, and found a mascara without formaldehyde, started washing my hair with baking soda and vinegar, since I couldn't find a chemical - free shampoo that didn't destroy my hair. This change has actually saved money.
I have had a hard time finding baby products that are good for the little one. I have used Burt's Bees, but a lot of their baby products do have questionable ingredients. I like California Baby products, but I can only find a limited number of products in stores. We use cloth diapers and buy expensive baby wipes that are chlorine and alcohol free.
It is amazing how many people mock me for doing all of this. I understand that none of us are in danger of an immediate health crisis, but things like this add up. We are pretty healthy; my little girl has only had one small cold in 15 months, and it may help that her body spends less time absorbing and processing harmful chemicals.
Additionally, I am a high risk for breast cancer. Going without good deodorant and fun beauty products that include parabens is a small price to pay to decrease that risk. At least I think so.
Some other time I'll post about food.
I started doing so on purpose around the time I found out I was pregnant. I had read that aluminum (part of the active ingredient in anti-perspirant) was bad for the baby and might cause breast cancer, so I bought aluminum-free deodorant. I am still looking for one that works well and is reasonably priced. I was already using a lot of Burt's Bees products and mineral makeup, which are better than most products. As I research further, I find that these are not the best products available, but they are what I can find and afford right now. Eventually I want to work to find better products, but the prospect is overwhelming to me considering how little time I have for such things.
I have given up regular nail polish, and found a mascara without formaldehyde, started washing my hair with baking soda and vinegar, since I couldn't find a chemical - free shampoo that didn't destroy my hair. This change has actually saved money.
I have had a hard time finding baby products that are good for the little one. I have used Burt's Bees, but a lot of their baby products do have questionable ingredients. I like California Baby products, but I can only find a limited number of products in stores. We use cloth diapers and buy expensive baby wipes that are chlorine and alcohol free.
It is amazing how many people mock me for doing all of this. I understand that none of us are in danger of an immediate health crisis, but things like this add up. We are pretty healthy; my little girl has only had one small cold in 15 months, and it may help that her body spends less time absorbing and processing harmful chemicals.
Additionally, I am a high risk for breast cancer. Going without good deodorant and fun beauty products that include parabens is a small price to pay to decrease that risk. At least I think so.
Some other time I'll post about food.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Advent
Advent started just over a week ago. This is my favorite season of the Church year. Advent is about stopping and observing the place we find ourselves in, personally and as a community. During this time, we recognize the brokenness that is in our lives and in the world and also remember the hope we have that the brokenness is not permanent. It is also a time that we can think about how we participate in restoration ourselves.
I love that even though this is a time of honest reflection on the brokenness in myself and in the world, there is hope and that hope brings peace, joy, and love.
As a child, my mom made Advent really special and I want to pass that on to little Bee. Every day she planned something for us to do together and to look forward to. It is one of my favorite memories of childhood.
I have been working over the past few years to prepare a home that expects Advent practice to happen. That has been difficult because of how foreign the practice of doing something as a family every day, of preparing for Christmas, and everything else that is invovled in observing Advant is to my husband. He really is a good sport, and it gets better each year. He has participated a lot this year, which means a lot to me since Bee isn't aware of what is happening yet. He has taken ownership of our daily reading and even put a handful of ornaments on the tree last night.
As I watch the change in him from each year, I am so thankful to whoever gave me the wisdom to start doing things I want my children to experience long before the children are aware of or can appreciate them.
I love that even though this is a time of honest reflection on the brokenness in myself and in the world, there is hope and that hope brings peace, joy, and love.
As a child, my mom made Advent really special and I want to pass that on to little Bee. Every day she planned something for us to do together and to look forward to. It is one of my favorite memories of childhood.
I have been working over the past few years to prepare a home that expects Advent practice to happen. That has been difficult because of how foreign the practice of doing something as a family every day, of preparing for Christmas, and everything else that is invovled in observing Advant is to my husband. He really is a good sport, and it gets better each year. He has participated a lot this year, which means a lot to me since Bee isn't aware of what is happening yet. He has taken ownership of our daily reading and even put a handful of ornaments on the tree last night.
As I watch the change in him from each year, I am so thankful to whoever gave me the wisdom to start doing things I want my children to experience long before the children are aware of or can appreciate them.
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