Un-Environmentally Friendly Parenting
I feel I need to apologise to fellow environmentally friendly people. Yesterday I drove around for the best part of an hour in an effort to get a poorly The Kid off to sleep.
It doesn't matter how economically you drive or how environmentally friendly the car, driving round for ages in an attempt to soothe a child makes you very un-green.
Usually I look for greener alternatives to things; - re-usable bags as opposed to plastic, cloth nappies instead of disposables, home-made over jarred foods - but I can't think of another method for getting over-tired, colicky or sick babies to sleep. (My Nan swears by a nip of brandy, but I don't know if that's even legal, let alone recommendable!)
I don't think jumping on a bus would provide an effective way of lulling little ones to sleep- I've seen people kipping on the 50 night bus before now, but I think this might have more to do with alcohol than the soothing sound of the engine.
What about car-sharing? Frustrated parents could just take it in turns to drive around the neighbourhood with all the babies who have colic or just need a little help to nod off.
Seriously though - I wonder how many miles have been travelled, how much petrol expended and how much money spent on helping restless infants doze off. I'm sure I could have circumnavigated the globe at least twice during the times when my two children have been ill.
I could ask Esther Boyd, or accept this as my only crime against the environment - and if it's either this or start listening to my Nan, I know what I'd rather do.
Older/Newer
« Baby-Space Rage | Food Fight »
2 Comments
Leave a comment
Profile
Laura Yates - Brummie mum Laura Yates is a 27 year old mother of two from Kings Heath. She gives her take on family life in the city.
Done it.
Drove Josh to the petrol station and back (half hour journey), but did actually fill up at the same time, so perhaps the aided sleep was a by-product of the journey :)
In the interests of green-ness, how about buying an arcade-style racing car simulator? There myst be some on the bay! The kid could use it to sleep in and the rest of the time you could use it for road rage practice.