http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865 I love to learn new things. My husband claims I’m always reading “boring books.” That is, books full of interesting information, or “how to” books. Not kissing and swooning books.   A book leapt off the shelves at me while at the library yesterday called “Healthy Child Healthy World – Creating a cleaner, greener, safer home.” I didn’t let the fact that it has contributions by Gwyneth Paltrow, Brook Shields and other stars scare me away. I mean honestly, with money like that I’d have an organic Alpacha mattress for my baby too! I thought it might have some good information on how to make your own cleansers and useful tips like that. It did, but it also was stuffed to overflowing with scare tactic statistics.   Like PETA, groups such as these tend to “inform” by making you wet yourself with fear and want to send your child off to school with a kiss though a giant plastic hamster ball. At first, I was very interested in the statistics and like our friend Dwight from the TV show “The Office,” was happily spouting them off to my husband in bed. “Oooo! Did you know that 66% of 139 streams tested in 30 states were found to contain disinfectants!” Or “WOW! Up to 600,000 babies are born each year with IQ damage due to in-utero exposure to mercury from the mother eating fish!” Each page this book would have a “wow” statistic on the sidebar. After a few chapters of this, it was no longer interesting, or frightening, but manipulating.   Yes, they stated their sources and yes, I believe they are accurate. I don’t however think that scaring parents (or pregnant women) is a smart way to make change. I started to feel like too much information could be a bad thing. Actually making us all into hyper vigilant hypochondriacs. "Healthy Child" is (like PETA), a non-profit agency with a very successful website. I’m sure they honestly do want to help families become more aware of the environment and health, I just think you can do it in a more gentle way. A way that doesn’t make me want to take a Silkwood shower after playing with my child at the park. Do you think TMI (too much information) can be a bad thing? I love to learn new things. My husband claims I’m always reading “boring books.” That is, books full of interesting information, or “how to” books. Not kissing and swooning books.   A book leapt off the shelves at me while at the library yesterday called “Healthy Child Healthy World – Creating a cleaner, greener, safer home.” I didn’t let the fact that it has contributions by Gwyneth Paltrow, Brook Shields and other stars scare me away. I mean honestly, with money like that I’d have an organic Alpacha mattress for my baby too! I thought it might have some good information on how to make your own cleansers and useful tips like that. It did, but it also was stuffed to overflowing with scare tactic statistics.   Like PETA, groups such as these tend to “inform” by making you wet yourself with fear and want to send your child off to school with a kiss though a giant plastic hamster ball. At first, I was very interested in the statistics and like our friend Dwight from the TV show “The Office,” was happily spouting them off to my husband in bed. “Oooo! Did you know that 66% of 139 streams tested in 30 states were found to contain disinfectants!” Or “WOW! Up to 600,000 babies are born each year with IQ damage due to in-utero exposure to mercury from the mother eating fish!” Each page this book would have a “wow” statistic on the sidebar. After a few chapters of this, it was no longer interesting, or frightening, but manipulating.   Yes, they stated their sources and yes, I believe they are accurate. I don’t however think that scaring parents (or pregnant women) is a smart way to make change. I started to feel like too much information could be a bad thing. Actually making us all into hyper vigilant hypochondriacs. "Healthy Child" is (like PETA), a non-profit agency with a very successful website. I’m sure they honestly do want to help families become more aware of the environment and health, I just think you can do it in a more gentle way. A way that doesn’t make me want to take a Silkwood shower after playing with my child at the park. Do you think TMI (too much information) can be a bad thing? en-us I'm a big believer in blissful ignorance. BTW, Did it happen to mention a statistic for our children's increased alergies, cases of asthma and resistance to antibiotics because of our overreacting, overcleansing over medicating society? http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83601 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83601 I'm a big believer in blissful ignorance. BTW, Did it happen to mention a statistic for our children's increased alergies, cases of asthma and resistance to antibiotics because of our overreacting, overcleansing over medicating society? Actually, it did. They talked about how the air outside is cleaner than the air inside (so open a window!) And that house plants are the best for keeping the air clean. Don't know if I 100% agree with that frame of thought (especially in the Spring) but can see the arguement. And yes, it did talk about anti-bacterial being beyond pointless and into harmful. The point of the book was to be as "green" as possible with every aspect of your children, diet and house. From decorations, bedding, food, etc... I'm not arguing that their point isn't valad (or even that I disagree with it.) It was the onslaught of "scare tactic statistics" that irked me. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83603 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83603 Actually, it did. They talked about how the air outside is cleaner than the air inside (so open a window!) And that house plants are the best for keeping the air clean. Don't know if I 100% agree with that frame of thought (especially in the Spring) but can see the arguement. And yes, it did talk about anti-bacterial being beyond pointless and into harmful. The point of the book was to be as "green" as possible with every aspect of your children, diet and house. From decorations, bedding, food, etc... I'm not arguing that their point isn't valad (or even that I disagree with it.) It was the onslaught of "scare tactic statistics" that irked me. When someone tries to convince me by using emotion, it's because they have no facts to back up their ideas.  Give me data, don't give me melodrama! http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83604 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83604 When someone tries to convince me by using emotion, it's because they have no facts to back up their ideas.  Give me data, don't give me melodrama! Seriously. Sometimes I think my kids will just have to learn boundaries by breaking an arm. I think the whole issue that Kelli brought up was a big conspiracy by protor and gamble to see hand sanitizers/anti bacterials that we never needed in the first place. Don't get me wrong...I'm not going to feed my kids malathion and I do believe in non-hormone milk products, but some of this stuff is so over the top. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83605 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83605 Seriously. Sometimes I think my kids will just have to learn boundaries by breaking an arm. I think the whole issue that Kelli brought up was a big conspiracy by protor and gamble to see hand sanitizers/anti bacterials that we never needed in the first place. Don't get me wrong...I'm not going to feed my kids malathion and I do believe in non-hormone milk products, but some of this stuff is so over the top. Good blog! I like to think of myself as pretty even-keeled. (If you freak out over every statistic you hear as a teacher, you're liable to have a heart attack by 35.) There are certain facts about our environment that I find very disturbing, and I do act on them. My rule of thumb is if I hear something that sounds just awful, I find another source that confirms or denies. Kind of like a second opinion. It has helped me out in terms of separating panic from really concerning issues. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83606 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83606 Good blog! I like to think of myself as pretty even-keeled. (If you freak out over every statistic you hear as a teacher, you're liable to have a heart attack by 35.) There are certain facts about our environment that I find very disturbing, and I do act on them. My rule of thumb is if I hear something that sounds just awful, I find another source that confirms or denies. Kind of like a second opinion. It has helped me out in terms of separating panic from really concerning issues. Great comments everyone. You're all so well balanced! I love it!! Love the new profile pic hmoeckli. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83613 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83613 Great comments everyone. You're all so well balanced! I love it!! Love the new profile pic hmoeckli. What??????  you mean that if i eat less than 15 cups of broccoli a day i might actually be, ummm  fine?  hmmm i think you're on to something here... great blog as per usual! http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83617 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83617 What??????  you mean that if i eat less than 15 cups of broccoli a day i might actually be, ummm  fine?  hmmm i think you're on to something here... great blog as per usual! Hahah. You made me LOL... as per usual wmds. http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83618 http://www.sacmomsclub.com/home/Blog/creatress/9865/#c_83618 Hahah. You made me LOL... as per usual wmds.