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<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="http://empoweredmommies.com/utility/FeedStylesheets/rss.xsl" media="screen"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"><channel><title>living well…going green : children, toxic, school</title><link>http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/tags/children/toxic/school/default.aspx</link><description>Tags: children, toxic, school</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><generator>CommunityServer 2007.1 (Build: 20917.1142)</generator><item><title>We're Off to "Big Boy School"...where did the time go?</title><link>http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/2010/09/21/we-re-off-to-quot-big-boy-school-quot-where-did-the-time-go.aspx</link><pubDate>Tue, 21 Sep 2010 16:03:00 GMT</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="false">71c391a1-c181-4087-90dc-5982a3b3d1a2:760</guid><dc:creator>green i am</dc:creator><slash:comments>0</slash:comments><wfw:commentRss xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/">http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/rsscomments.aspx?PostID=760</wfw:commentRss><comments>http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/2010/09/21/we-re-off-to-quot-big-boy-school-quot-where-did-the-time-go.aspx#comments</comments><description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;font face="Calibri"&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-FAMILY:&amp;#39;Arial&amp;#39;,&amp;#39;sans-serif&amp;#39;;"&gt;&lt;font size="3"&gt;My baby turned 5 on May 28&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;And for&amp;nbsp;most of the spring and part of the summer, I struggled with whether or not he was ready for kindergarten.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;I thought…he’s a boy BUT he does have an older brother BUT he’s not into sitting still to write or draw or even color BUT he does love homework time with his brother BUT I think he would be bored with another year of “play” BUT and the list went on and on.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Nevertheless, we finally decided to give kindergarten a try.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Ironically enough, now that he’s there, I couldn’t be happier with our decision to send him “as scheduled”.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;font face="Calibri"&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-FAMILY:&amp;#39;Arial&amp;#39;,&amp;#39;sans-serif&amp;#39;;"&gt;&lt;font size="3"&gt;&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-FAMILY:&amp;#39;Arial&amp;#39;,&amp;#39;sans-serif&amp;#39;;"&gt;&lt;font size="3"&gt;He absolutely loves school and the feedback from his teacher couldn’t be more positive.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;That said, I must admit it’s hard to believe “my baby” is a kindergartner.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Let me just say that if the last five years are anything like the next five and beyond, he’ll be graduating high school in the blink of an eye.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;But for now, I find myself frequently checking the time…thinking it must be time to pick him up from preschool.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Instead, I look forward to our walks to and from the bus stop.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;In fact, nothing compares to seeing my boys getting off the bus with big grins and hearing about their day as we walk home.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;It’s priceless time!&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;With all that said, we are embracing “big boy” school enthusiastically. &lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Calibri"&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-FAMILY:&amp;#39;Arial&amp;#39;,&amp;#39;sans-serif&amp;#39;;"&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Calibri"&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-FAMILY:&amp;#39;Arial&amp;#39;,&amp;#39;sans-serif&amp;#39;;"&gt;&lt;font size="3"&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="FONT-FAMILY:&amp;#39;Arial&amp;#39;,&amp;#39;sans-serif&amp;#39;;"&gt;&lt;font size="3"&gt;With “my baby” now in school, it’s giving me time to focus on my “other baby” – green i am. &lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;As I continue my journey to green one house at a time, I’ve also expanded my focus to greening the school.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Afterall, I want to optimize my children’s school experience as opposed to treat allergies, sickness , headaches, etc…&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Let’s face it, most public places- schools included – have antibacterial soaps, use toxic cleaning products, serve super processed food, &lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;etc…&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;And while I can’t control everything, I know that small changes can have huge impacts.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;So, why not partner with schools in creating healthier environments for all our children.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;If you’re interested in helping me in my effort and/or greening your own home and/or school, know that green i am would be honored to partner with you in your efforts.&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="mso-spacerun:yes;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;img src="http://empoweredmommies.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=760" width="1" height="1"&gt;</description><category domain="http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/tags/toxic/default.aspx">toxic</category><category domain="http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/tags/children/default.aspx">children</category><category domain="http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/tags/toxicity/default.aspx">toxicity</category><category domain="http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/tags/allergies/default.aspx">allergies</category><category domain="http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/tags/school/default.aspx">school</category><category domain="http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/livingwell_goinggreen/archive/tags/green/default.aspx">green</category></item></channel></rss>