It’s official, I have fallen victim to the “green” craze and the organic movement. It was the cleverest marketing gimmick anyone could have ever come up with. Target mothers, first time, neurotic, germ-phobic mothers and market a “safer,” more gentle chemical that will keep your children protected from the world around us.
Don’t get me wrong, I believe there is validity to the argument (otherwise I wouldn’t have fallen so far into it) but it’s become a bottomless pool or paranoia. At first I started changing our light bulbs to the energy saving bulbs. Then I stopped buying bottles of water and starting reusing canisters. It was somewhere around $50 farm raised, organic salmon and $400 green clean sanitized carpets that I have now realized I have plunged into the deep abyss of the green marketing ploy.
I do believe that my son is better off with the cleaning chemicals that we now use, I do believe that pesticides on fruits and vegetables can be damaging, I do believe we need to conserve energy and minimize our landfills but at what cost? Where do I draw the line and say that my pocket book will no longer be victimized by the fear of a non-green, non-organic lifestyle? Or do I just keep following the path of green?
I have heard many people make the argument; “our children survived just fine with…” I don’t agree with that because thanks to evolving science and the struggles of those before us, we live longer and have a better quality of life. However, how far is too far?
I can’t help but feel that the “frequent customer” card I use at the grocery store or coupons sent to my email (although nice cost savings) are some monster company’s ploy of targeting me as a sucker that will subscribe to any fear mechanism to keep my family safe. Or am I just an environmentally conscious person that is making wise consumer decisions? And as I check out at the grocery store and my bill is three times what it would have been if I had avoided the green or organic products, do I feel more confident that I have done right by my family and community? Or do I just feel more broke?
I'm a mother, wife, daughter, and friend. Until recently I was also an employee. Now that I'm a full time mom, I've decided to make my thoughts, concerns and feelings public.
