Green Hypnotist

Organic cotton. Made with organic cotton. 100% organic cotton. Natural, untreated. Similar but not the same. Sometimes synchronicity strikes and if I listen, I usually find a life lesson or even an article in it! This one was the last week when I came across a new blurb about a very popular department store beginning to carry organic cotton jeans. I silently jumped and shouted, “yes.” I was truly excited to think inexpensive, USA made, organic jeans. That lasted for a brief moment.

The more I read and investigated about these jeans, the more once again big company and marketing is just plain deceptive. First of all, the jeans are made in China. Therefore, the carbon footprint of the jeans isn’t a plus. Second, the jeans are made ‘with’ organic cotton. Nowhere does it have to state the percentage of organic cotton that goes into the jeans so it can be very minimal. Third and most important. After the jeans are made, they are dipped and bathed in chemicals to soften, dye and break in. The fact that they have organic cotton somewhere in them is a moot point by then.

I have been a naturalist for many years.  I am informed and stay well informed regarding eco and green living.  What really makes me mad is that people who are uninformed regarding terms and labeling policies will buy these products thinking they are doing some good for their family and/or themselves.  They pay the extra to only to purchase items creatively labeled. This is what led me to the second half of the synchronicity.

The birth of a baby last week sparked some conversation regarding the clean slate of a newborn. How the little child coming into this world is unadulterated chemical free. Well, that’s actually an article for another time, but lets assume that babies come into this world chemical free. We try to introduce the best of the best and the healthiest of the healthiest for the baby. We breast feed, buy organic food, filtered water, chemical free baby detergent and so on. But what about their beds, the furniture or crib decor?

Chemicals from flame retardants used in pajamas, bedding and furniture have been found in toddlers’ blood. Flame retardants pass government standards when they do not wash out after 50 washes, so don’t think you’ll simply wash the items a few times.

According to a recent study, children under 4 years old had three times more of the neurotoxins known as PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) in their blood as their mothers. The study was released by Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. that advocates protecting public health and the environment.

PBDEs have been linked to be hormone disruptors and interfere with brain development. Infants’ clothes up to 9 months size are exempt. Doesn’t mean it’s not added, just means they don’t have to include the chemicals. But infants sleep on sheets, are exposed to bedding and furniture.  The least we can do is allow their little faces to come in contact with natural, untreated sheets.

So the next time you purchase crib sheets, do your baby a favor and buy sheets made with 100 percent organic cotton, naturally dyed, untreated. If the extra expense is an issue, consider only buying a couple and rotate/wash daily. Every bit helps and contributes to a healthy child and mother earth.

A local middle school is having development day for their students. Instead of going to classes for curriculum in the morning, they go to workshops for part of the day. What a great, innovative idea. I applaud such thought.

I was invited to hold two one-hour workshops on stress management tools for kids. Since this is an expertise of mine, I was excited and ready to explore an outline for the event.

About 50% of the clients that I see on a private basis are children. The stress management workshops I hold are majority corporate or adult groups such as battered women or spiritual, self-enhancement groups. So outlining such a workshop would be a bit different and possibly challenging since the kids are kids and focus is at a minimum.

Once I got started on the outline, exercises, and innovative ways to hold their attention, I began to think, “Oh my, how on earth am I going to get all the information I would love to share in one hour?” How can I teach these kids the multiple tools I have to alleviate some of their stress in hopes that they will walk away with something that they can use.

Of course, I finished the outline with much packed into the hour. But confirmed once again to myself, the point that school systems across the country really need stress management workshops for their children of at least… the very least…. two two-hour classes.

In these times where education funding is at an all time low and outside monies are not available, I can understand why this isn’t a priority. But just think of the enhancement that children would have using techniques taught at a stress management clinic. They would test better. They would focus more. They would identify just where their stress may lie physically. And most of all, they would come out having a better understanding of stress, how it affects their body, mind and self-esteem and those tools needed to combat it for life.

I really feel and urge educators that teen stress management is equally important as notebook organization and to take time and money out of their budget to adequately inspire children to de-stress !!