Christine Gardner’s Posts

• Back in the Saddle

  A car-free mom gets her muscles -- and mind -- in shape for summer 5

  Posted 1 year, 5 months ago

  I've started running a few times a week.

  Each morning, I grab the clothes I've set out the night before and finish getting dressed in the garage, because I don't want to wake my family. Then I go into my neighborhood and run, although running is a misnomer. Really, it's more of a jog -- and sometimes just a walk.

  

  These legs are made for parenting.

  These jog/walk sessions don't have anything to do with being beautiful and thin, although I could do without the little mommy-skirt bathing suit. In large part,… Read More

• No Surrender

  This family is sticking with eco-alternatives 3

  Posted 2 years, 1 month ago

  This summer, my family and I took an overnight trip to Chicago that started out pleasant enough. We were well packed and tidy. Just before boarding our train, my husband took a few pictures of us, joking that this would begin our slow descent into madness.

  

  Consider the alternatives.

  Photo: iStockphoto

  Descent into madness. That turned out to be pretty accurate.

  We have a long and storied history of not doing things like other people. Instead of driving in a nice air-conditioned car complete with DVD for entertaining our daughters, we… Read More

• Poison Me Elmo

  Toxic fun 2

  Posted 2 years, 3 months ago

  Once again, it turns out plastic toys from China are more than just an eyesore -- they're a hazard. A toy recall of 86 Fisher Price products, including several branded toddler favorites like the Dora and Elmo, was issued yesterday because of a lead-paint hazard. After scrolling the list, I decided my kids were safe -- for now. At least I think so.

• What's to eat? Meat or no meat

  On the difficulties of going veggie 65

  Posted 2 years, 4 months ago

  I love bacon.

  Sure, meat is murder and all that, not to mention it's contributing more emissions than most of us slightly green carnivores would like to admit, but it is tasty.

  And filling. I learned that last bit in June when my family gave up meat at the slight urging of vegetarian Gristmillers responding to my query about the best ways to green my family life. It took me about three tummy-rumbling weeks before I learned veggie burgers satisfied my craving for hearty food.

  In a month's time I came away with conflicting thoughts about meat.

• Ignorance is bliss

  Do parents lose or gain by taking kids outdoors? 6

  Posted 2 years, 4 months ago

  I'm a little bitter about not playing soccer.

  Or softball. Or piano. I did take dance lessons, but the name "Klutzy Chrissy" didn't happen by accident.

  My parents preferred to send me outside. Even in our Detroit neighborhood, which developed a reputation during the last 30 years of offering a wide assortment of crack houses, my friends and I explored the alleys while making sure to wear shoes as protection from broken bottles.

  Ah, nature.

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Christine Gardner’s Recent Comments

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  I'd buy into that

  I'd even slap that bumper sticker on the back of my bike trailer.

  Plus, I love the optimism. It's a nice break from the doom and gloom from China.

  And for the record, it's not a cop out. I would stand with my children for a carbon neutral country. It's not like we were handed a pristine platter from those that came before us.On How much should we aim to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions? posted 2 years, 2 months ago 10 Responses

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  CSA

  I'm in the same one-income boat and joining a CSA was the best food decision I've ever made. You feel really invested in the product and the community, you get to try a lot of different types of very healthy foods and the farmer takes all of the "what should I buy this week" out of the equation, which I kind of love. And it's turned out to be a pretty great deal. Anybody know what to do with 5 pounds of summer squash?On Umbra on prioritizing organic purchases posted 2 years, 3 months ago 10 Responses

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  Glad you made it home OK

  I hope these rides, dangerous though they are, help get you some of the protection you need. I've been riding for just a few months, and not in a major city, but I've already learned what kind of jackasses are out there.

  Minivan. SUV. Minivan. SUV. SUV. Don't mind me guys. I know it's a four-way stop, but you go on ahead. Jerks... On Time to get serious about bikes posted 2 years, 3 months ago 15 Responses

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  Maybe it's just me

  But when the argument comes down to "wean ourselves...from milk and other dairy products" it's extreme. Try to get parents to stop from buying dinner in a bag? Maybe. Get parents to stop giving their children milk? Not going to happen.

  Biodiversivist's arguments on this matter have been thorough, but I will say buying local, even if meat and cheese are involved, seems like a better solution to the environment/obesity/overall-health than advocating a diet that less than 1 percent of Americans can follow.

  Again, it's probably just me. And where's that donut recipe?On On the difficulties of going veggie posted 2 years, 4 months ago 65 Responses

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  I love my daughters' doctor

  My kids' pediatrician was just responding to my questions. She probably would have added a scolding "tsk tsk" if I had asked about a diet of corn chips and chicken nuggets.
  And frankly, I think she's right. Just because you can provide a vegan diet to a toddler doesn't mean you should.
  My family opted for a more natural diet by eliminating high-fructose corn syrup and making a lot of home-cooked food.
  It's not crazy restrictive but it keeps us from buying in the middle aisles of the grocery store, where all the evil lives. Plus we buy a lot of local food.
  Local fruits, vegetables and meat. I'll take that over fortified cereal.
  On On the difficulties of going veggie posted 2 years, 4 months ago 65 Responses