How Far We’ve Come
October 30, 2010
A year ago, I began a journey to make our family life a bit more natural. Out with processed foods, out with chemicals, out with disposable diapers, etc, etc. I knew this wouldn’t happen overnight and to be honest, it is still a work in progress that will always be a work in progress. But, here are a few things we have changed about the way we live in the last year. Some have been easy, some, not so easy.
1. Out with disposable diapers, in with cloth – This has been easy for the most part. Washing diapers is not a big deal. The big deal is remembering to change them more often than a disposable. If you don’t, they will leak. Other than that, after the initial learning curve, it has been an easy transition for us. We have saved hundreds on diapers so far and Judah rarely gets diaper rash with cloth on. My kids have sensitive skin, so it is nothing for them to constantly have a rash in disposables. Definitely a great decision.
2. Bye-Bye Microwave – This was probably the easiest thing I have done. I just put it in the basement about a year ago to see if I could live without it. The answer: yes. No biggie. It is like I never had one.
3. Chucking Chemical Cleaners – Our daughter, Arwyn, has awful eczema and strong smelling cleaners aggravate my lungs quite a lot, so I tossed them and started making my own. I have a great recipe for disinfectant cleaner, sink scrub, dishwasher detergent and toilet cleaner. Borax, baking soda, vinegar, and a few essential oils will go a LONG way. And instead of using Gain or Tide, I use Charlies Soap for everything from diapers to delicates. My cleaning supply costs have been cut dramatically, especially on laundry detergent. While Tide costs about $.25/load, the Charlies Soap I bought (in bulk) costs about $.11/load and it cleans like a dream.
4. Purging Processed – I make 100% of the bread my family eats. Yes, 100%. I make everything I possibly can from scratch and we eat a lot more fruit, veggies and cheese. We still eat meat, just not as much. This is probably the biggest challenge. After all, it takes a lot of time to do everything homemade, and I have 3 children under 6. So, while shopping, I buy very little processed, but we definitely have a few things that will never be given up. Goldfish, pastuerized milk, occasional deli meat and a trip to Chick-Fil-A. My life is busy, so I have had to find a balance here. However, my grocery cart, when leaving the store looks vastly different than those around me. And, it doesn’t cost me more money to do this. Just more time.
Like I said, it is a work in progress and I have big goals ahead. But for now, I am happy with how far we have come.
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