Comments on: Why Is It So Hard to Get My Mom to Go Green?

By: Luanne

Luanne — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:13:09 +0000

Rich, it takes no time at all. Make little changes every day.

By: Rich

Rich — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 00:44:46 +0000

my mum and indeed both my parents are very green. i suppose they have always been very careful with money etc when they were younger and to be honest it keeps them busy so fair enough.

unfortunately with my lifestyle it is difficult to fit in the time to be green. its a rubbish answer but its the truth.

By: Luanne Bradley

Luanne Bradley — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:58:45 +0000

I agree with Amy and Stephen. And I think the small changes are very doable every day from separating trash to reusable bottles, etc. It does add up. Hear that Mommy?

By: amyd

amyd — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:25:12 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree Stephen.
Takes a little extra thought to make small changes but the changes add up.

By: stephentan82

stephentan82 — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:12:55 +0000

There are many ways to go green as well. Not just in shopping and food, but in electricity and transportation as well. How many of us using train/bus to shopping mall? How many of us driving big car? How many of us forgot to turn off the light/electrical appliances when we are going out/sleep? How many of us still printing unecessary document in office? It’s all important too, right?

By: Franke James

Franke James — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:30:58 +0000

Great piece! I laughed and cringed at “Why Is It So Hard to Get My Mom to Go Green?”

It struck a nerve with me since my mother-in-law refuses to recycle, and yet she considers herself “green” because of her concern for the preservation of the trees in cottage country. No amount of talking will get her to sort and recycle her trash — however if our City actively levied fines against people who don’t recycle, she would start recycling in a hurry.

I think it’s a matter of society using different levers for different personalities. (See my visual essay “The Real Poop on Social Change” for more on levers that can change behavior: http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=96 )

By: amyd

amyd — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 02:29:58 +0000

My mom recently called me from a tent sale and told me “How could they price things for $19.99 when it was all crap?!”
She wasn’t going to buy anything for that price when it occurred to me to tell her that thanks to people like her expecting cheap bargains all the time, the place she was at got to overproduce and then, thanks to not being what anyone wanted, got to be incinerated at a landfill.

It’s the lack of appreciation for all that’s created and then wasted that kills me!

By: Luanne Bradley

Luanne Bradley — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:33:23 +0000

Thanks, Sara. I’m not a daily shower person, except if I work out. Never have been, and I also don’t wash my hair daily because it really dries it out. I have many friends who take showers daily and insist their kids do too. Mine don’t. And no, my mom isn’t mad at me, cause she hasn’t seen this yet. I have yet to convert her to using her computer, as well. But It’s all in good fun.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:00:26 +0000

Hilarious! Hope your mom’s not mad at you!

By: Sara Ost

Sara Ost — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:59:30 +0000

Love this article, Luanne!

My parents were religious recyclers – our entire utility room was full of different bins, as you had to sort in those days – and growing up we often bought used items, including cars. They were always big on not wasting things. Dad’s deeply into eco issues but Mom still needs to trade in that Caddy! 🙂 (hint hint, Ma)

Caitlin, I’m with you on the showers, and I also don’t wash my hair so often since it’s fairly dry to begin with.

How has everyone else fared with getting family members to go green?