Sneaky Life Style Changes

[Cathe Frederic]

What does a mom like me do, knowing what I know about pollution and contamination of our environment, yet having to accomodate other adult individuals living in my household? When ever I try to give scientific explanations behind what I want to do, their eyeballs roll back into their head and you would think I was making them pick up dog poop in the back yard! I was thinking about this yesterday as I bought my mom the requested items she had placed on her shopping list. (plain white sugar and sweetened canned evaporated milk) I felt like a theif or something purchasing these things for her even though they were for her own use. I also have a husband who is reluctant to change old habbits. (like using floridated tooth paste) It all boils down to habit and convienence. I am currently buying Costcos version of laundry detergent which is formaldehyde free, petrochemical free and a neutral ph. But I know that all I really need to clean my clothes is Borax water, a little bit of Dr Bonners soap, and then a vinigar rinse. It would be cheaper and I wouldn't have to worry about what might be in the detergent that they are not telling me about. But it would also require doing all the laundry myself. The other adults in my home seem unwilling to alter things of this nature. As long as the required change, looks, feels, smells, acts like the original product they have no problem with substitutions I make. But ask them to place 1/2 cup of Borax along with on tablespoon of Dr Bonners into the washing machine and then be there for the rinse cycle to add 1/4 cup of vinigar, why you would think I was asking them to have their teeth pulled without novacain! So currently my life consists of making alterations in our lifestyle that don't inconveniance the other adults too much. Like mom never knows when I've grated zuchini and carrots into the spagetie sauce! The kids are no problem! They do what I say because I said so! I'm the mom, that's why! (explanations come later when I am not tired) The question is am I willing to take over the entire washing chore. I'll have to think about that!