Well, you may or may not know that even before I found out I was pregnant, I had started to make an effort to replace things in my life that ran out with the healthiest, non-toxic, yet affordable product I could find. The end goal is to feel 100% secure, educated, and healthy with the things that surround my home and my family.
What have I learned so far?
1. We are all dumb, blind sheep. We believe that if a store sells it with a leaf-shaped sticker or if a doctor recommends it, it must be OK, even beneficial. Common items from Febreeze to disposable diapers to dishwasher detergent to scented candles are full of poisons, toxins, cancer-causing agents, and irritants.
2. I still don't understand how we got here, collectively, as a society. Normally, I like the belly laughs, even in the face of rather serious things (like eye cancer) but I can't find one single thing that is funny about this particular soapbox. Obviously convenience, affordability, and profitability have driven this "movement" like most others, but when did it become acceptable to put poisons known to be absorbed through the skin into disposable diapers without a warning on the box?! Is it because we don't see the INSTANT detriments, like tar in the lungs after smoking? Because the facts are there...babies, especially boys, absorb dioxin and other toxins from their diapers through their genitals and have a serious of varied reactions ranging from infertility to less serious problems like chemical burns. When did it become alright to put similar toxins and chemicals in our candles, in our detergents, and even in our candy? When did we become so lazy or so gullible that we continue to bring these things into our home without a second thought?!
3. It takes a hell of a lot of research to cut through the bull s**t to figure out what you really are "consuming" and how it actually affects your body. Sometimes, even after DAYS of research, I still don't have answers backed by valid science so it becomes a matter of following my gut and/or seeking alternatives that seem like they could be better.
4. Being non-toxic as possible doesn't have to be expensive or inconvenient. Hopefully I can show you easy alternatives and already have done the research for you in future posts.
5. It's easiest to take it slow and choose your battles very carefully or you'll burn yourself out and want to go live in a sod hut in the middle of nowhere. I am trying to keep an eye on things that are getting low so that I have time to do the research and be ready to purchase when the item finally runs out. I'm using plenty of things, daily, that I know are full of obnoxious chemicals, but they aren't empty, I paid good money for them, and I like them so they are staying until they're empty!
6. It's better to be safe than sorry. Call me paranoid, insane, goofy, a hippie, or a liberal. I will cop to being the first three. We have all of these maladies and ailments cropping up in alarming excess and nobody can explain why. Why are so many more kids allergic to peanuts? Why are so many more kids diagnosed with autism, ADD, ADHD, epilepsy, etc? Why can't the US bring down it's maternal and infant mortality rates? (The USA is the third WORST of all the developed countries.) Will being a paranoid goof prevent my future children from all of these problems. No. I am honest with myself about that. But I will have no regrets, no reason to kick myself because I know I will have done my absolute best.
7. I don't actually care that much about the environment. Oops. There, I said it. I will not buy a product just because it has a small carbon footprint or whatever, unless it is also the best non-toxic option for my house. If it does have "earth perks" then that is wonderful. Here's a gold star. In the end, though, it's about making my home as safe and happy as possible first and foremost. I'll get to the planet later, right?!
Whew. That's a lot of learning. And re-reading all of that, I'm now completely certain I sound like a nut-job, but I am also completely certain that I'm fine with that.
Finally, I'm hoping to throw out miscellaneous posts with information that I've found throughout all of this. In some instances, there will be links directly to retailers. Please do not feel pressured to buy using my links, but know that if you do, it does benefit me a tiny, itsy bitsy bit. Also, if you find a better price, send it my way, pretty please!!
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