We just had a little first birthday party for Little S on the weekend. Although there was a tonne of snow that just kept coming down and coming down, most of our guests (including my in-laws who had to drive 4.5 hours) still made it to celebrate the occasion with us. It was great to have everyone here.
I remember one time before Little R was to be born, my colleague-at-the-time pointed out that I had a control issue because I stressed my concern that I did not want certain things for my unborn baby's "shower." I really did not mean to sound ungrateful. It was wonderful that people were thoughtful and wanted to give gifts, but there were just things that I (for my children) would prefer not to receive. Well, my colleague explained to me that people are nice to get you something; don't complain. You can't choose what people give you. Also, I requested that people NOT use gift wrap/bags... or rather if people did want to wrap things up to do it with used newsprint. That was when I was called a control freak. I stopped pushing my beliefs, had my party, grinned and thanked everyone.
There was a lot of wasted paper (I don't even know if that was recycled because I didn't take care of the clean-up), cellophane, etc... I guess it really was my fault for not voicing my concern. It was politeness that caused so much waste. Or perhaps I could have politely requested a greener party... but that was my control freak issue. I wasn't even supposed to know about the shower.
People who have known me know that I do save wrapping paper (it takes me a littler longer time to precision unwrap a gift). I don't know how much I really complain about waste, but those closest to me probably do roll their eyes at me or over the phone.
Well, there is hope. In all my talking about conserving energy, reducing waste before recycling, I see that someone has been listening to me. My mother-in-law is a very generous woman who loves showering people with gifts. She also liked wrapping them so that when you opened the gifts you would give off a surprised reaction. She loved seeing the reaction on your face. Her gift giving "addiction" has seen much improvement in the last three years. She has really impressed me with some green actions: setting up a compost, reducing her recycling by not buying bottled water any more, giving vintage gifts (I still can't sell this one on DH, though) and wrapping gifts creatively.
For Little R's first Christmas my mother-in-law (M-in-law) wrapped our gift in a bath towel. she thought that it was pretty clever. I was genuinely impressed that the towel could be reused again and again after it was unwrapped. Just recently she also decided to give all her grandchildren savings bonds for their education. This is just very smart. There's virtually no waste with this, and the money will grow. Now for Little S's party she wrapped a vintage music box in a set of 4 orange place mats. How practical! And this also helped her throw in a gift for us. She also wrapped a wonderful peek-a-book that featured Little S in a small lace tablecloth.
Not only has she been "greening" by herself, she has also influenced her circle of girl friends to give vintage gifts as well. It is sheer hopeful joy when I see her cheery enthusiasm in greening her life-style. I'm very proud of her. I'm glad that my "nagging" (and I really don't think it's nagging) has found an attentive audience.
Hi Kim! Thank you so much for your kind words, but I owe everything I learned from you and Alexander. You are my inspiration. You always teach me something greener or organically better. With your teaching I can give my children and Grandchildren a cleaner and healthier environment to live in. I feel so much healthier with the way you have taught me to cook and eat and how to pick out healthier foods . Keep up the good work. I appreciate you Kim.love your Mother in law Nancy
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