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The Making of a Green Mom - Brooke Shields
Healthy Child
Monday, January 05, 2009
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When you make choices to live better, greener, more organic, it's not always so clear-cut; that is, you want to do the right thing but you also have to do what works for you and your lifestyle. Sometimes that means choosing the lesser of two evils. An example from when I was a teenager: In 1982, I got a job at the San Diego Zoo working with wild cats. Everyday we fed them so much meat that eventually something in me just snapped and I didn't want to eat meat anymore. For thirteen years, I was a vegetarian—no beef, no fowl. I was doing a good thing, I thought, a virtuous thing. But over time, I felt weaker and weaker. I wasn't getting enough protein, my doctor told me.
In 1995 I was in Russia and I saw these chicken kebabs...and I took a bite. Suddenly I felt like I was a balloon in the Macy’s Day parade, being lifted up by animal protein. I so desperately needed that protein. Other people don't. The morning I got pregnant I woke up screaming for beef. At least I try to make it organic.
When you become a parent, you would think the choices become more obvious, and they do—you always know who comes first—but then there are still trade-offs; there always are. I switched to chlorine-free diapers for my daughter. They're better for the environment but not as absorbent as the Elmo diapers she was wearing. Do I live greener and use the chlorine-free diapers all the time, including at night, when she pees more, and I lose sleep because I have to change her in the middle of the night because they can't hold as much? Or can I use the Elmo diapers just for the nighttime, sleep through the night, and put her in the environmentally-friendly kind during the day? You do all you can but there are particulars to your own life that you must respect. I've changed all our products to eco-friendly ones but sometimes I have to bring in something less eco-friendly as a supplement. I use all recycled paper products except toilet paper. It's like: You want the hybrid but then you're driving your kids around in this gas-guzzling tank of a car and you feel safe...which is ironic, of course, because it's cars like that that contribute more to something that doesn't make us feel safe for our children.
I’ve gone in both directions. First, it's, Okay I’m going to do this completely. Then something happens, I feel guilty about how much electricity and water my home uses and I think, What's the point? It's a real psychological battle. Plus, I'm the type where, if someone from an organization—Save the This or Save the That—makes me feel inferior because I'm not doing everything I can, I'll get stubborn. I'm not going to be shamed into action. But then maybe I'm cutting off my nose to spite my face. As I learn more and think further down the road, I find myself doing more. I realize that just because I can't go all the way and in every area, I still can make a sizable difference. In my mind, I may still lament that I haven't gone even farther, and sometimes at night I can't sleep thinking about all the things I haven't changed in my life and in the lives of my children. In my actions, though, I try always to be forward-moving, to focus on the change I am making. I'm thrilled that my children began with organic food and therefore won't have to make that switch to it, as I did. It feels good to know that once I adapt in certain areas (say, eating and cleaning), I'm better armed to attack areas that previously seemed out of reach.
Brooke Shields is an actress, model, and mother to Rowan and Grier. Excerpted from our book, Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Green, Safer Home
Posted by Tracey Miller on 01/07 at 11:21 AM
Brooke,
I enjoyed your article about becoming a green mom. I think a real movement has begun and it’s important for moms to hear that it not always the easy choice, but that we need to do what we can. I do my best, but do feel guilty when I leave lights on or don’t recycle. Every positive action we take makes a contribution and sets a good example for our kids as well as our friends and family. And, glad to see that you were “eating local” on your show! .
Best,
Best,
Tracey
Posted by Sarapage Bauguss on 01/07 at 12:27 PM
Becoming a mother changed me and the way I look at things. I want to make the best choices I can for our environment and for our health. It’s really hard on a tight budget, but I’ve made the changes that I think are the most important. Through my research, I felt I needed to change to local, organic food and organic cleaning products.
Being a mother is such a blessing and it inspires me so much to see other moms making the same effort!
Posted by Shelley Kramer on 01/07 at 12:59 PM
I love Brooke, she looks like my niece and has a great heart. Unfortunately she is advertising for a toothpaste company that still contains known harmful ingredients. Is she more interested in the money or her health? Perhaps she is just uneducated on all the things she can avoid in her use of personal care and beauty cosmetics.
Posted by Kimberly Grustas on 01/07 at 08:19 PM
Shelley,
Nice knowledge about toothpaste. I’m willing to cut her some slack. Perhaps she was not aware of the harmful ingredients in toothpaste when she signed on. I haven’t seen the commercials in a while so perhaps she now understands the links to the harmful ingredients in mainstream cosmetics and personal care. We’ll keep a look-out for her endorsement choices in the future.
Posted by Anna M. on 01/08 at 08:29 AM
I was surprised that that was published on healthy child!
I was very disappointed in almost everything that was said. It was almost like she wants to do better but she just can’t get there because it’s too inconvenient.
And regarding not getting enough protein…humans have become like roaches and can eat anything - but the human body is not made to eat meat - our hands, teeth, and digestive tracks prove that. if she wasn’t getting enough protein, she wasn’t eating right (she needed to be eating legumes, whole grains, veggies, small amounts of fat).
And I agree with the post above - she promotes a product that is not good for us nor the environment - only to make money.
Sadly - almost all the problems our world faces are because of money and greed :(
Posted by Janelle Sorensen on 01/08 at 12:22 PM
Healthy Child is grateful for every person that supports our work and takes steps to protect children’s health and the environment. We don’t expect anyone to be perfect and we don’t feel it’s our place to judge whether or not someone is being “green” enough.
This type of judgmental discourse all too often discourages parents who have just begun their green journey. Please help us keep this forum a community of openness and respect.
Thank you!
Posted by Shelley Kramer on 01/08 at 01:27 PM
I am not judging that Brooke is not green enough. I am just stating that she must not understand about the harmful chemicals in the toothpaste and products she is getting paid to represent. This is not a judgment call, as you state, it is a factual statement.
Posted by Bob Unternehmen on 07/06 at 11:38 AM
This is a wonderfully written article, Brooke! I have always admired you as an actress, model…and now, as a mom. I love your green ideas. It is good to hear that there are still people who would think of being green despite their busy lifestyle. Well, keep this up and continue inspiring other moms out there.
Posted by Affiliate Program Malaysia on 07/06 at 02:38 PM
I think it’s admirable the way Brooke Shields tries to incorporate saving mother nature with parenthood. You’ve got give her credit for trying!
Posted by Money Maker Ideas on 08/17 at 08:22 PM
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Posted by Kimberly Grustas on 01/07 at 10:45 AM
Thanks for posting this excerpted piece. Her struggle to balance is so common among all of us and compounded by the fact that we are caring mothers. Mothering our children as well as the planet. I offer words of comfort to anyone who is struggling to balance healthy choices. Any choices in the right direction are good. There is no need to move mountains, to beat yourself up or compete with the next guy. Making healthy choices does not happen overnight. It can be a slow process but one that is overwhelmingly rewarding. Healthy wishes to you all in 2009!