Welcome to our latest monthly column, “Mom on the Street” (ya know, like “Man on the Street”).
Each month, we’ll be asking moms just like you for a slice of their sage advice, insider tips or
tried-and-true wisdom in the hopes that their unique brand of mothering inspires, assuages, calms,
strengthens and even amuses you.
 Samantha C. is an in-demand communications consultant living in Washington, D.C., with her husband and two dogs. Here’s what this mom-to-be has to say:
“This holiday season, my efforts to give back to others include giving back to those around me who I know and also to those I don’t know. I will continue my long-standing donation efforts to a national children’s charity that helps families and kids in need. To me, at this stage in my life, I find it incredibly meaningful to be able to donate old clothes, books, household goods—anything that these families can find useful. Additionally, I’m lucky that I live in a very friendly neighborhood where the unspoken agreement is that if you keep an eye on my house, I’ll keep an eye on yours. This holiday season, with people going on vacation to nice warm places, I will give back to my neighbors by collecting their mail and packages and just generally keeping an eye on things. Lastly, I will continue to engage in open, friendly dialogue with those in my community, like the woman in the knitting store who helped me pick out yarn to make a baby blanket and the woman at Starbucks who asks how I’m feeling. This type of dialogue between strangers seems rare these days. I’ve noticed that children open up a whole new conversation that previously didn’t exist, and it’s often a conversation that includes lots of smiles.
In 2009, I plan to continue my donation efforts on a periodic basis. I also plan to continue to host parties at our home where neighbors and friends can relax and have a good time. I aim to give back to myself, too, by taking the time to sign up for a yoga class so that I can recharge my batteries and maintain the energy I need to continue to give back to others.” |
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Chance Claxton is the founder of Kids Konserve (www.kidskonserve.com), a reusable, waste-free lunch kit designed to empower kids to do their part in saving the environment. Here’s what this San Francisco mother of two has to say:
 “2008 was an amazing year for my family: Gene, my husband; my daughter, McLaine; and my son, Riley. We took what has been a family endeavor, reducing the amount of trash we put into the landfills, and made it a business that will help all families.
My daughter, McLaine, goes to a school where they have the kids take home their lunch trash. Last year, I was shocked by how much trash came home and started making little changes that reduced her lunch waste as well as everyone else’s. It became an obsession—I wrote a children’s book about it and kept looking for other ways to motivate other families to participate in reducing what we put into our landfills…especially the plastic that ends up in the oceans!
My husband is so supportive and my kids became equally excited when they understood what it means to reduce. By spring I was working with my dear friend, Lynn Julian in Phoenix, as she too agreed the schools in her area needed to do something to help change what I call the Costco mentality when it comes to trash. We quickly partnered up and formed Kids Konserve. So it became two families working hard to give back, and in 2009 our goal is to spread the word and create a nationwide movement.
I feel that if we can create awareness via our Waste-Free Lunch Challenge Fundraiser and teach about not creating waste, Kids Konserve can help lead to a major savings in our landfills and hence reduce greenhouse gases. The average child creates 67 pounds of garbage in his school lunch alone each year!
I hope to empower families via our products and fundraisers to make more changes for the environment and to create a movement for a waste-free nation.
Now it is not only my daughter packing a waste-free lunch, but we are all composting, and my husband and son have bought into the program, which has become a way of shopping and life for us. It amazes me how our kids catch onto this and make recycling and reusing a way of life in two seconds, with just a little push from the parents.
As for 2009 goals, I have three: continue to help reduce the amount of trash going into community landfills; give back a sense of peace to parents by making it easier and more convenient for them to pack waste-free lunches for their children; and have Kids Konserve continue to give back to schools by providing them with fundraising monies that will support green efforts.” |
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Dr. Amy Wechsler is a respected dermatologist and psychiatrist practicing in New York. Here’s what this mother of two has to say:
 “Nothing gives me greater joy than helping others—whether it’s my family, my patients or those across the globe. I am working closely with an incredible group called Women for Women International, which helps survivors of war rebuild their lives. The group mobilizes women to change their lives through a holistic approach that addresses the unique needs of women in conflict and post-conflict environments. I am sponsoring two sisters in Africa through their program. I was also on the committee for the Women for Women Gala that was held on Oct. 29.
The Jane Goodall Institute, a global nonprofit that empowers people to make a difference for all living things, is also close to my heart. I am active in supporting their mission to create healthy ecosystems, protect chimpanzees, promote sustainable livelihoods and nurture new generations of committed, active citizens around the world.
Finally, I am very committed to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a group dedicated to decreasing the incidence of skin cancer by means of public and professional education, medical training and research. While the holidays are a great time to give back, I try to do whatever I can all year long—and teach my two young children to do the same.” |
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Cathy O’Brien is founder of AAM (www.aammanagement.com), a brand strategy, marketing and public relations company, and mother to two young children. Here’s what this Harrison, N.Y., mom has to say:
“Every year around the holidays, we take the opportunity as a family to reflect—and count our blessings. Although my two children are still young (5 and 7), up until this year we talked a lot about the value of our friends and family. We made it a point to be together as much as possible with our family, and to make donations of presents as well as the children’s toys and clothes to people who needed it.
This year, as the children are old enough to better understand, we will be spending time helping a local county shelter that takes care of families in need—many of whom have children the ages of our kids. We’ll help with the cooking of holiday meals as well as give gifts.” |
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