By Karen Stiller

I am an ENM (Environmental Nag Mother), and proud of it. There are a few reasons for this. First, of course, is the environment. We know that the world’s poor have been left to cope with the worst effects of climate change. The very people we are committed to helping in so many ways, including through child sponsorship, are hurt by our neglect of the environment.

That message is an essential one to pass on to our children—even if it means nagging them to turn out those lights.

What I have also discovered is that saving the world can save me work and money. When my ENM momentum lags, that can be the motivation that keeps me going strong. I admit it.

Here’s how I live out my ENM reality.

“Yes, you are walking to school again!”
My kids grow weary of me saying that their tough trudge up what is really a gentle slope to school is saving the planet. I’m sure they think I just don’t want to be bothered driving them, which is partially true. But, transportation is reported to be the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and air toxins in Canada.

I nag because I want them to see how single acts of pollution resistance add up. Our family can make a difference by them walking and by me not driving. And, given the dawdling nature of my kids, their walking has bought me an extra hour in my home office each day. Yay! And on the days that I join them the guilt I feel over missing the gym is reduced. It’s win-win-win.

“Turn out those lights!”
This morning ENM ritual includes me stomping up the stairs to make sure the lights are out. Because even after the yelling, there is usually still a light on. And sometimes it is mine!

We have made the switch to energy efficient light bulbs (the better ones are 75 per cent more efficient than conventional bulbs.) Making our homes more energy efficient saves us money and teaches our kids to pay attention to their surroundings. ENMs know that what is good for the planet is usually good for the wallet.

Laundry Basket Abuse
I think I have convinced my children that I will not wash their clean clothing. It is a rite of childhood to sneak your barely worn clothing in the laundry basket rather than fold it and put it away. Part of being an ENM is to reject and reform this sneaky behaviour.

Laundry detergents account for a big chunk of the average household’s expenditures on cleaning products. Non-green detergents that contain phosphate are a major source of pollution. Not to mention the water and energy used by washers and driers. Why would we want to spend and use more than we have to?

Plus, I don’t want to do all that laundry all the time.

You can give a gift to help a family struggling to cope with an environmental crisis, such as famine or flooding.