MomsLikeMe.com, an online community for moms to connect with other moms in their area, recently conducted an environmental poll of its members. Lisa Tyler, the spokeswoman for MomsLikeMe.com and a mother to 4-year-old twin boys, spoke with us about the site and the poll's results.
We know MomsLikeMe.com is a community for moms to connect, but can you tell us more about the site? How is it different from other "mommy" social networking sites?
MomsLikeMe.com is the only local online community made by moms for moms, with 80 local sites across the country. MomsLikeMe.com allows moms to connect with other moms in their area to share tips and advice online, and as well as meet up off-line for playgroups and events. Moms talk about everything on the site, from ways to save money, and potty-training tips to more serious topics such as how to tell children that their dad has lost his job. MomsLikeMe.com also has an amazing coupon section with great deals and offers as well as a marketplace section where moms can buy, sell and trade used toys and clothes.
MomsLikeMe.com recently conducted an environment poll. What was this about and what were its results?
In honor of Earth Day, MomsLikeMe.com conducted a poll of our members throughout the month of April on the importance of teaching children to protect the environment.
Out of the mom respondents:
- 69-percent of moms think that it is very important to teach children about protecting the environment
- 19-percent of moms felt that is was somewhat important
- 6-percent of moms thought it wasn’t important at all
How many women were polled? What do the results mean to you?
Almost 1,000 moms responded to the poll, which is great participation. The fact that the vast majority of moms think it’s important to teach their children about the environment is huge. I believe this shows that parents are making green living a focus of their daily lives and that they hope to pass these practices on to their children. This dedication can hopefully lead to big changes in the environment and our society as a whole.
Were the results what you expected?
Yes, we see many conversations about going green on MomsLikeMe.com. Moms are sharing tips and advice frequently, so we knew it was an important topic to them.
Can you tell us why you feel it is important to teach children about going green?
It's important to teach children not to take things for granted, including natural resources. If we teach kids these behaviors early, they will become habit for them. For example, my 4 year old reminds me when we leave the lights on in a room that we're not using. I want to teach my kids not to be wasteful and to appreciate the environment and as well as the material things they have.
How do most mothers feel about going green and teaching their children about going green? Is this an important topic in the lives of moms of today?
Yes, I think it's definitely an important topic and most moms feel it is too. And it doesn't take a lot of time or effort to do simple things such as recycling, buying locally, growing your own produce and herbs, opt for staycations instead of traveling, using energy-saving appliances and products, using recyclable grocery bags, etc. These simple acts are small steps to making a huge impact on the environment.
On a more personal note, what sort of actions are you taking in your own life towards going green? Do you have any eco-unfriendly habits you feel you need to work on more?
We try not to use paper products, we've made it fun by giving each of the kids their own special plates and cups with their favorite characters on them - an astronaut for one of my twin boys and a firefighter for the other. We also had them make their own recyclable bags that we bring to the store when we grocery shop every week. We have also just started growing a small garden (which the kids are very excited about) and I also plan to start composting, as we waste way too much food (my kids are picky eaters!).
Do you have any advice for moms and non-moms alike who are trying to be more green?
I would tell them to start with the simple things, make it fun, and weave it into your daily routine. For example, we will walk around the house and try and name things that can save energy- if a TV is on in a room where nobody is watching it, etc. My kids love to point out when Mommy and Daddy are wasting energy!
Thank you, Lisa, for taking the time to answer our questions! Want to join a community created specifically for moms in YOUR area? Visit MomsLikeMe.com
June 17th, 2009 at 1:56 am
WoW, it's good sign that about 88% of moms think that it is or somewhat important to teach their children about the awareness of taking care the environment from further destruction, Stefanie!
By the way, it's also a very awesome interview here. Nice job!
June 17th, 2009 at 10:11 am
Teaching children is most important thing to do while being mom, and can produce only good results, if done correctly. Surely, it is not an easy, it takes a lot of time, but when you have a grown and mature child there wont be anyone prouder then you.
June 18th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Being a mom is tough job to be considered...It is important that moms should teach their children to be aware in our environment and protect it since they're be the one who were next to live in this world... Good parenting to the children is a good way to help them understand to be a good person in the future..