Some New Thoughts Since Theodore

Since Theo has arrived, I've found myself particularly happy that I've been working so long toward reducing toxins and plastics in my life in all of the ways that has taken shape.

When Theo was about three months old, I had my first outing without him. I was overwhelmed, all consumed with him, I wasn't sleeping and my body was still very much healing, but we were getting low on laundry soap. I knew I needed to venture out to a refill store. It was just second nature, my habit kicking in, the deep grooves in my brain- I didn't go to the nearest grocery store to buy a plastic jug of detergent. Instead I got my jars and bags together and away I went. It hit me later on that I was so grateful that I had my system in place and I could just fall back on that when I had this very drastic life change and not give it a second thought. These habits we build will be there for us when we need them most.

Later, when Theo was at the stage where he was licking everything and sticking everything in his mouth (he still does that to a certain degree), I had a moment. He was sucking on the knobs on the lower kitchen cabinets, and I realized that I was so grateful that we clean with non-toxic cleaning products. I didn't have to worry that he was ingesting horrific chemicals and what that would do to him. He has licked and sucked my face as well- same thoughts. My makeup and face lotion is food grade or close to it so I don't worry about what is going into his little, growing body while he is doing that. I just am able to be amused and enjoy the moment.

Plastic has taken on a new meaning, too. When Theo is my age, what will our oceans look like? What will the land look like? And the skies? He will turn to me in anger and ask why didn't we do something? Didn't we know? Will I be able to say that I did everything in my power to stop it? I won't be able to say that I did everything within my power, but I could say that I did do what I could, day to day, choice by choice, to choose as wisely as possible within my means and the information I had at the time. But maybe this scenario won't come to pass, perhaps we will turn this all around and instead, he will be asking me a different question. I don't know. Time will tell.