options that include eating less meat,
switching to pasture-raised, “humane” healthykids
meat, and opting for a few non-meat
entrées per week. Vegetarianism has be-
come “the elephant in the living room,” Positive
but even in this food-conscious age, it
is not easily made the centerpiece of an
activist agenda.
Parenting
Michael Jacobson at the Center for
Science in the Public Interest argues
that cutting down meat consumption
Toolbox
should be a top public health priority.
“From an environmental point of view,
by Chick Moorman and Thomas
the less beef people eat the better,” he
Haller
says, citing the release of methane from
livestock and noting the increased risk What if the urge to
of colon cancer and heart disease.
When supplied such facts, many
simplify and happify your
meat eaters ask, “Where would I get my
life took on a new and
protein?” According to the latest medi-
cal research, a balanced vegetarian unexpected twist? What
ing, you will have diffi culty noticing
diet provides all the protein needed for
his benevolent acts. Throwing out such
glowing health—and avoids meat’s high
if you decided to change
labels reveals each child’s true depth
cholesterol and saturated fat.
how you relate to your
and possibility.
Were humans meant to eat meat,
just because our ancestors did? “Non- children, family and Be out of your mind.
sense,” says Dr. Milton Mills, a physi-
cian with Fairfax Hospital in Virginia
yourself by giving yourself
Use silent times to wash away old
and useless thoughts. Resist the urge
and a free clinic activist. “The human
a parenting makeover…
to overanalyze parenting issues. Stop
gastrointestinal tract features the ana-
thinking and cluttering consciousness
tomical modifi cations consistent with
with incessant chatter. Pay no atten-
an herbivorous diet.”
“The fact that this cornerstone of
the American diet aids and abets cli-
W
e have found that purposefully
tion to the outdated thought that, “My
removing ineffective tools from
parents did it to me and I turned out
a parenting toolbox means
alright.” Listen instead, to the intuition
mate change is an ‘inconvenient truth’
pitching any technique that is disre-
of your heart.
many of us don’t want to face,” remarks
spectful, demeaning or counterproduc-
Joseph Connelly, publisher of VegNews
tive to your goal of raising responsible,
Appreciate the moment.
magazine. He chides Al Gore for not
caring and confi dent children. Perhaps
mentioning meat-based diets in his fi lm
The best gift to give a child is to be fully
you, too, agree that old-style parenting
and giving them only glancing coverage
present when you are with them, rather
tools are no longer working.
in his book, An Inconvenient Truth.
than dwelling on past problems or
Yelling, shaming, scolding, lectur-
A 2003 Harris Poll found that
future fears. There is only one moment
ing, inducing guilt and spanking, for
between 4 and 10 percent of the
to see, feel, express, learn, grow or heal
example, as well as bribing children
American people identify themselves as
with your child. This is it. All the rest
with stars, stickers and performance
vegetarians. Five years later, Connelly
is just cluttering up precious parenting
charts, give only the illusion of being
says that number seems to be holding
moments.
effective. These outdated strategies ulti-
steady.
mately lead to fear, resentment and lack
“From a sustainability point of
of self-esteem; they do not build self-
Reawaken curiosity.
view, what’s really needed is for people
reliant, self-responsible, self-motivated
Clean out your present expectations and
to understand the connections between
children. It is time to trash them and
assumed knowledge of why children
factory farming, meat eating and envi-
become skillful in using more appropri-
do things. Return to wonder and fi nd
ronmental impacts,” he advises. “That’s
ate parenting tools:
fascination with what they do. Allow-
the fi rst step.”
ing curiosity to bloom opens the door
Jim Motavalli is a freelance environmen-
Eliminate judgment.
to awe. See with beginner’s eyes, as if
tal writer based in Fairfi eld, CT. Reach
seeing this moment for the fi rst time.
Judgment keeps you from seeing
him at
JimMotavalli.com.
children clearly. If you judge a child as
Source: Adapted from E/The Environ-
lazy, you are less likely to see ambitious
Clean up the daily schedule.
mental Magazine, at
Emagazine.com.
behavior. If you judge him as uncar- Every child in the world spells love,
20 Greater Oakland, Macomb & Livingston
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