Green Child Magazine Summer 2012 | Page 20

Sara Snow Interview And I believe that empowered us to not only have balance, but also be educated to make our own health decisions. We never felt trapped by the confines of a very rigorous or strict diet. I think it’s even more relevant today – as parents can sometimes be extremist. You know, they decide to feed their kids organic food and become zealots about it. Or they’re anti-sugar in their home, and in turn, anti-sugar everywhere they go. I think it’s good to set boundaries, but I also think it’s important to allow flexibility. : Right. Kids are just like us. If you tell us we absolutely can’t have something… it’s all we can think about. Sara: Sure, and as soon as they’re out of your sight, they might go crazy if a birthday party is the first time they’ve encountered sweets and desserts, and I don’t think that’s good for anyone. : Let’s talk about kids and “stuff.” In an interview when you were pregnant with your daughter, Sylvia, you were asked if you had all the latest green baby bedding and clothes lined up. Your answer was that you had the very basic non-toxic items covered, but that you were planning to wait until she got here to see what she needed. Sara: We just don’t need all of this stuff that we are marketed to believe that we need. Think back to the way we were raised, without wipe warmers and all these gadgets. They’re just not necessary. If you start a young child out with all this stuff, you can get trapped in continuing to raise them that way. I believe it’s good for a young child to get bored. That’s how they learn to entertain themselves with an empty box or a pencil and paper rather than an electronic device. They don’t need constant stimulation. Being played with and talked to is definitely good for development, but there’s a balance to keep for peace of mind/spirit standpoint. : In the age of technology, mindful living is more im