Afraid of becoming a green "freak" and scaring my kids teachers!

The older my children get the more concerned I am about how safe their world is outside my arms. I can use non-toxic cleaners in my home, feed them organic food, use safe personal care products, carefully choose their toys and sippy cups but what happens when they go with grandma or grandpa or to school? I just enrolled my son for his preschool next year and as comfortable as I may be with the school, the program, the teachers I still wonder about some safety issues.

How does a parent try to change a school when they are following state licensing rules? My sons program has state rules for licensing and those rules state the school has to disinfect with an E.P.A. certified disinfectant approved by the health department. Bleach is usually the choice because it is cheap. I asked the teacher what she cleaned the toys with and it was bleach. I asked what they wipe the counters and tables with and it was 409. I cringed. How do I not become a "freak" about this and go to far? I don't want the teachers to think I'm weird (remember I've taught so I know) and roll their eyes when I leave the room.

I’m a huge fan of the Healthy Schools Campaign. They’re a non-profit group that empowers and supports the change of schools going green and creating healthier environments for children, including playgrounds and food. I get their newsletter via the mail and find it so interesting and informative but then I recycle it. What I should do is take this information to my sons teachers and then to the director and the board and be a catalyst for change. It is going to be time consuming and like all “new” things there will be road bumps and challenges but with groups such as the Healthy Schools Campaign I have support and ideas. Hopefully, some of you can look into this group and find their support and help too. I’d love to hear how some of you are “greening” your schools and daycares and what challenges you face.

Win the first ever biodigradable cleaner!

I've blogged about Green Mom Finds before because the site is chalked full of useful green ideas and we all need some of these. We'll they're giving away a bottle of the first every biodigradable cleaner that came on the market in 1960. Folks this was when synethic was in not green. It was also the first official Earth day product in 1990. You can win a bottle of this versitle cleaner and three spray bottles and you only have until February 10, 2008 to take the quick quiz and register. Easy! Easy! Easy! Hop on over and check it out.

Healthy Home Pack Winner!!!!

Anyone that subscribed to my blog was before January 1, 2008 was entered to win a Healthy Home Pack. This pack with all of it's Eco-savvy cleaners that kick butt when it comes to helping the Earth is worth at least $3400 in conventional cleaners. Seriously. It's super concentrate which means like 1 drop equals a window cleaner in 16oz of water. That's a penny for a bottle of streak free cleaner folks. The dollar store can't beat that. The products are kid-safe and natural so your kids can help you clean...bonus!

So the lucky winner of this pack is Haley from Michigan! This pack couldn't come at a greater time because she's expecting. Did you know that toxic chemicals can be found in the umbilical cord? Scary so thank goodness Haley will be using these cleaners to clean her home now and doesn't have to worry about breathing in toxic air. Haley's just gotten the pack but expect to read some comments on her thoughts about the different cleaners. So far she tells me she loves them and that's no surprise!

So how can you get these? Since you didn't win you can still get a great discount of 33% until the end of the month...just because I like all of you!!! AND I'll probably be having another giveaway at some time or another so be sure to subscribe and keep up to date with this sassy Eco-savvy mom and her bloggy blog blog giveaways!