Caught green-handed: when your kids become the eco-police

Hello, fellow eco-warriors! 🌿 Today, I'm going to talk about raising the next generation of eco-champions. In a world brimming with plastic temptations and fast-fashion pitfalls this can feel like cooking dinner with a blindfold. But fear not, fellow green parents! Our family's journey, filled with triumphs and stuff-ups, serves as a beacon of solar-powered light for those aiming to cultivate a more sustainable lineage. Here's the lowdown on nurturing your very own homegrown eco-warriors, one compostable cup at a time (but for goodness sake take the keep cup).

Our little environmentalists, Mr. 9 and Miss Tweenager, are stepping up as the unlikely heroes of our sustainability saga. With each passing day, they're not just following in my eco-friendly footsteps; they're ready to lead the charge. And let me tell you, their keen eyes miss nothing, especially when it comes to our green habits (and the occasional misstep).

But first, a quick reminder: Adding our voices, our time and our resources to advocate, educate or act for change (collective action👯) can be one of the most immensely impactful ways to fight the climate crisis. For me, collective AND individual actions still matter, especially in high-income nations like Australia, where the combined impact of our individual choices are baked into our National climate plans. Our individual actions also help us flex our "trade-off" muscles, where we weigh decisions, actions, and consequences— and can extend that muscle to our work and activism too. Every step on this journey counts!

The Beef Inquisition

In our first year of changes I had to get everybody on board with what was going down and why. Involve them in the process of choosing options, explain different environmental impacts of food groups. Show the Our World in Data charts (Hannah Ritchie has also released a book - Not the End of the World - Christmas list please fam).

Our World in Data: Environmental impacts of food

So I can't complain that every now and then I am faced with the Great Beef Inquiry. With Miss Tweenager at the helm, questioning the origins of each dish like a seasoned detective. "Does this have beef in it?" she'll ask, her eyebrows knitting in concern as I asked if she wanted a sausage roll when we were out and about for lunch. "Should we be eating that?" Suddenly, the dinner table feels like a courtroom, where every ingredient is on trial, and sustainability is the law of the land.

TO: enjoying the new way we eat around here

FROM: first attempt at non-beef burgers

Plastic Patrol: The Curious Case of the Condemned Containers

Enter Mr. 9, the eagle-eyed plastic patroller. His recent act of eco-bravery unfolded at Farmer Jack's, where I, adorned with the badge of eco-conscious parenting, was caught in the act of choosing convenience over conservation. The plastic jug of juice and the 2 litres of milk, one in each hand, might as well have been a smoking gun. "Are we really buying plastic?" Mr. 9's words echoed off the aisles, a poignant reminder of the power of leading by example... and the occasional slip-up. I stumbled over explanations of Aunty Mon asked me to pick them up on the way to family brunch.... but the accusation was real. I was caught red-handed, a sustainability advocate turned momentary eco-villain.

It's moments like these that remind us of the lessons that stick. Just a week earlier, we'd popped in to said Farmer Jack's and I'd caught Mr. 9 just as he was about to grab a plastic bag off the roll. I'd pointed out the absurdity of wrapping nature's already packaged fruits in plastic. It was a teaching moment that had clearly taken root, and came back in public reprimand.

The Path Less Paved: Embracing Imperfection on the Road to Sustainability

As a family we've learned to aim for consistency and new habits built up over time and be ok with the occasional misstep. Whether it's an impromptu plastic purchase or the discovery that some "eco-friendly" packaging actually needs an industrial setting to decompose, (after sitting whole, in our compost for month after month, as stubborn as a teenager refusing to clean their room). It's ok. After all, sustainability isn't about perfection; it's about making more conscious, better-informed choices, more often, and inspiring our little ones to do the same. It's in these moments of imperfection that our children shine the brightest, showing us that the seeds we've planted are growing into something beautiful (with the occasional momentary public shaming for buying plastic).

Charting the Course: Practical Tips for Aspiring Eco-Families

1. Dive into dinner discussions: Use meal times as an opportunity to discuss the environmental impact of food choices, from farm to fork. Hey, I'm a nerd so find the occasional useful graph / visual aid can help here (hello Hannah Ritchie).

2. Supermarket sustainability: Empower your kids to be plastic detectives during grocery shopping, turning it into a game of "find the eco-alternative." Add in trips to the local farmers markets or bulk food store so they see there IS an alternative and to make it fun with live music, lots to see and taste and buy.

3. Composting chronicles: Involve the kids in composting efforts, sharing the successes and the laughable moments of this earthy endeavor. They'll have fun tearing up paper strips, bug-hunting and eventually learn how to empty the counter-top bin when it gets smelly (or midgies start taking over the kitchen).

So, to all the families out there navigating the tumultuous seas of sustainable living, remember: it's not about being perfect. It's about trying, learning, and laughing along the way. It's about raising little eco-champions who aren't afraid to question, challenge, and lead the way to a greener tomorrow.

In the end, our green revolution is a family affair, full of teachable moments, heartfelt efforts, and the occasional eco-misadventure. And while we may not always get it right, we're in it together, building a more sustainable world, one hilariously imperfect step at a time.