Pint-Size Eco-Police, Making Parents Proud And Sometimes Crazy

The New York Times:

Sometimes, Jennifer Ross feels she cannot make a move at home without inviting the scorn of her daughters, 10-year-old Grace and 7-year-old Eliza. The Acura MDX she drives? A flagrant polluter. The bath at night to help her relax? A wasteful indulgence. The reusable shopping bags she forgot, again? Tsk, tsk.

"I have very, very environmentally conscious children -- more so than me, I'm embarrassed to say," said Ms. Ross, a social worker in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. "They're on my case about getting a hybrid car. They want me to replace all the light bulbs in the house with energy-saving bulbs."

Read the whole story: The New York Times

Comments

[1rewd1]

My kids acted like this towards me there would be consequences. If they want to do things on their own or discuss "green" topics and talk about changes that's fine, but in the end I'm the adult and what I say goes ... including, when appropriate, sit down and shut up.

I had one child who "found religion" and hounded everyone in the home to become born again and come to Jesus. That conduct was unacceptable and came to an end, the same would happen in this situation.

I'm sure the EcoNazis approve this type of behaviour and some view it as "cute" but it shows a complete and utter lack of respect for parental authority as well as respecting educated differences of opinion in general.

My home, my rules. The kids don't run the place.

[LewDan]

You might encourage your little Green Youths to THINK rather than adopt green prejudices. The energy required to manufacture a new car far exceeds any savings from the hybrid. Those energy efficient CFL light bulbs have their own issues as the contain highly toxic and very UNgreen mercury. Their massive use will likely result in environmental hazards from toxic homes to poisoned ground water as most are unaware of the hazard of a broken bulb or how to properly dispose of toxic waste. Those reusable bags are made of plastic from nonrenewable petroleum.

As for those baths, cold meals would would save even more energy although you'd be far more likely to become seriously ill due to germs or parasites. Going green should not be a life threatening endeavor. If you want to go green, do not over-consume. Replace items only as needed, and yes with the best available alternatives. But going green, like everything else in life, is about balancing priorities. Life shouldn't be lived by a blind adherence to a set of rules, any rules. Life should be about good choices, informed choices.

As my dad told me when I was a boy, "You can do anything you want. You just have to be prepared to face the consequences." I've since learned its the figuring out the consequences (before they actually bite you) that's the tough part.

[TimmySlagle]

Great.

A victory of indoctrination, courtesy of the Public Schools.

Now all we need, is a way for kids to turn over their parents to the Green Police.

[RightWingMarine]

Little Johnny might not know how to read or do simple math compared to so many other countries in the world but he knows how to sort through trash which should come in handy later in life as it is the only thing his education has prepared him for.

Maybe some of the people who complain about the education standards of American schools here on HuffPo will also see this article and make a connection. wasting time talking about feel good but pointless things like recycling means less time studying something useful like real science or math.

[Semaj51]

Ahh, the joys of reliving 1984....

[degenerate1991]

Parsons would be proud of her children.