So, as Kim has been preparing for this baby she and her husband have been making all the decisions that first time parents have to make. What car seat? Stroller? Doctor? Nursery theme? Name? Epidural?
And one decision that most of us don't spend much time thinking about, if ever.... disposable or cloth diapers? This question NEVER crossed my mind, nope not once. But Kim has decided that she is going to use cloth diapers and wipes. She is a very environment conscious person. Kim really prides herself on the fact that she has very little garbage in a week yet her recycle bin is always full. Disopasble diapers are just not something she is comfortable using. (I think she told me that a diaper takes 500 years to decompose...YEP. I just googled it. And anything you read on google is TRUE!)
Now, I know you are all immediately thinking that she is crazy (I do!) BUT, I TRULY commend Kim for taking a stand and making a decision that may not be easy but that she feels can make a difference. I like to think of this as the Power of One. I think that we all have made decisions in our lives that we feel make a difference. We might not be able to single handedly change the world but we feel that we can make an impact on our world, our community, or maybe just our own little families.
Here are a few of my Power of One decisions.....
1. I don't allow my kids to chew gum with sugar in it. I know, what a mean mom. I know, what a hypocrite cause my kids have LOTS of other stuff with sugar in it. It is just my thing. When I take my kids to the dentist and they have no cavities, I always chalk it up to the no sugar gum rule! My kids will even ask their friends' moms when they are offered gum if it has sugar in it. I know the moms think I am a nut. At Sirri's gymnastics her teacher always gives them a piece of bubble gum at the end of the class. Sirri will chew it as we walk out of the gym and when we get in the van she always volunteers to throw it out. So proud!
2. I don't drink caffeinated soda. I don't share this to look like I'm perfect or anything. In fact, it is just the opposite. I have so many shortcomings that I have to take advantage of as many easy decisions as I can. It is the same reason that I took out my second earring when the prophet said to wear only one. It is an easy choice that I can make that can make a little bit of a difference for me.
3. I won't buy any products that contain the artificial sweetener Aspertaine. I used to buy Yoplait yogurt with Aspertaine but after being alerted by a very wise sister I decided to not buy it anymore. There are studies that conflict each other on this issue of course. One says it causes cancer, the other says it won't. I'm just not willing to risk it for myself or my family. After my own cancer scare, it just seemed like such an easy simple choice.
So....what is your Power of One? What are the choices, small or large, simple or complex, that you have made that give you a feeling of power? I'd love to know!
P.S. Since this is my blog, I get to make the rules. And there is ONLY ONE. No one is allowed to poke fun of, laugh at or scoff at anyone else's choices. We should congratulate each other for trying to make a difference!
(Especially, Kim. Let's give the girl a break. She has heard it enough about the diapers and is having her first baby tomorrow for goodness sake! Plus, like I said, I'm proud of her for her choice!)
15 comments:
R-rated movies. Boring, but true.
When I met my husband, he already didn't watch them, so I stopped. It's just one thing you can just know you do what the prophets have said, no rationalizing about it.
And you really don't miss them. It's always a little miserable when the good movies are around but then they fade away as the year moves on, and I'm always glad I didn't give in.
I'm evil.
I don't recycle and I sometimes watch rated R movies. When I'm not nursing, I drink caffeine sometimes. I did take out my other earrings when the prophet said to wear one though. And we do read the scriptures every night but it's usually only a couple of versus. I don't listen to bad music. Mostly because I just hate it.
HAND WRITTEN NOTES TO THOSE I LOVE AND/OR APPRECIATE.
a few years ago, a little incident happened that made me better understand the power of telling someone thank you...for being an example, for loving you, or for just being them. when this happened, i promised myself that if i EVER had a thought come into my head to write someone a note of appreciation or encouragement, i would do it.
here is the deal...i use to be very hesitant to do this simply because i have always been (and STILL AM!) mocked (lovingly, i am sure)for being the kind of person that wears their heart on their sleeve. there are so many times i can think of that i felt i should remind someone how grateful i am for them, but i didn't because i was scared they would think i was a bit overboard or just too cheesy. i still get scared...but i have to remind myself that i have seen the power to change and uplift that an extra pat on the back has.
p.s...don't worry lis, i cried as well today when i got a message from kim telling me our little monkey is probably coming tomorrow morning! you know that for me, not having a family of my own...my nieces and nephews are my EVERYTHING. it's going to be a hard month until i get to love on that baby! I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF BEING AN AUNT!!!! love you, sister!
OK. New rule....HOLLY! You are not allowed to mock yourself either! Evil, you are not.
I've been boycotting Madonna since 1993. And I'm bringing her to her knees, I'm telling you. But the point is I'm taking a stand.
I'm also boycotting Calvin Klein and have been since 1996 for some inappropriate advertising, but I'm considering forgiving him. He has been on good behaviour.
Oh! I will not buy or allow my daughter to have Bratz dolls. I just hate them. I recently wrote McDonald's a letter regarding their bratz doll wanna be's in their happy meals.
Geeze, I sound a little nuts.
Good for your sister! I don't think my stomach is strong enough to handle cloth diapers...but I commend anyone who's willing to try! I have a friend who buys these really cute cloth diapers called Sugar Britches.
http://sugarbritchesdiapers.com/homepage.html
My family only eats organically...OK so im lying...but wouldn't that be neat if we did! SOMEDAY! (maybe...)
Hurray!!! We have another little great-granddaughter!! We are so thankful everything is alright with both Mama and baby!! And, I think Kim is so smart using cloth diapers!! Of course, I used them for all four of ours! I loved hanging them on the line! They smelled so good when we brought them in!! I am sure she will use the dryer, but they come out so soft and fluffy!!! Little Snap will love them!! I don't like tatoos! If God wanted us to be all decorated up, he would have done so!!
I love you!!
What a great post! Like Jessica, I gave up R movies and trashy books, tv and magazines. It's not so bad. Your other ideas are inspiring, too.
My brain feels constipated while trying to come up with something.
R movies. Yeah, that one is easy since I don't see any movies anyway.
Sometimes I take stuff out to the compost bin if it isn't too cold outside.
I always turn off the water when I brush my teeth.
GOT IT! I never include greeting cards. Waste of paper. I rock. Sharpie on the gift works just fine.
We gave up R movies a year ago last July. I wanted to be able to tell my boys that we don't watch them. It was really hard, too, actually. Especially for Hubby. But now it's easy.
I think that's it. I'm weak. We tried to start reading scriptures in the morning before school this week. #1 woke up every morning and Hubby and I slept in. How pathetic is that. I promised we'd start next week.
I drink caffeine and don't recycle anything and leave the water running when I brush my teeth.
OH! I thought of one...I don't flush the toilet at night. Phew.
Just one!!??
Ha ha ha! Hmmm.. now that I think of it, it's hard to think of ANY one. Well, at least something that hasn't already been mentioned. Well, I'm going to take the what one thing have we DONE, rather than given up track... I guess I could say the Derick thing, cause though it's just one little boy, it's one less little boy who will have a crappy life and if it doesn't matter to too many people, it matters to him, his mom and my HF. And that's enough.
who is baby snap? i'll have to check cin's blog. and i'm not an auntie either, sad day, huh?
power of one: i'm planning on homeschooling my kiddos. and i'm scared out of my mind!! but, i really think that's what our family needs to do, so how can i argue?
I used cloth diapers on my daughter for her first 3 mos. They are actually easier than people think. And they are soooooo cute! The styles and patterns to choose from, oh my! It's easy to fall in love with them.
My Power of One:
Not letting hugs go down without a fight. The "politically correct" will have us believing showing affection through physical embrace is offensive or worthy of a harrassment charge when, really, it's a simple and effective way of showing God's love for one another. HUG SOMEONE TODAY!
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