Book Review: Spit That Out November 20, 2012 15:20

I may be an extreme case, but parenthood brings some level of neurosis for most moms and dads. Combine that with information overload, and you end up with a lot of confusion, worry and agonizing over every decision from vaccines, nutrition, and diapering to TV watching, discipline and the dangers of plastic toys.

This neurosis, and a deep passion for raising her baby green is what led Paige Wolf to write Spit That Out: The Overly Informed Parent’s Guide to Raising Children in the Age of Environmental Guilt. The book addresses some of the most pressing issues concerning parents in today’s society, offering objective, humorous insights and tips for navigating the waters of environmentally responsible living and parenting.

Paige’s book is a quick and informative read. Some of the topics that stood out to me as those not often covered by other books in this genre include shopping for eco-conscious clothing, understanding natural remedies, how screen time fits into a green home, and dealing with gifts that don’t meet the parents’ eco standards.

Spit That Out debunks common myths and includes a ton of ‘sanity tips’ sidebars that break down the information to the simplest terms and provide an easy way to check back to the book again and again for reminders on important takeaways. It also makes a point to share money saving tips in nearly every chapter to help parents find ways to be eco-friendly and budget-friendly at the same time. Best of all, there are dozens of quotes and testaments from real moms throughout, which gives the reader a sense of community, camaraderie and support in the challenge of decision-making on these important issues.

If you are troubled by information overload or unsure of where to start in raising an environmentally conscious family, pick up a copy of Spit that Out (we sell it in the ‘gear’ and ‘mommy’ sections of the site). You’ll get through the book in a few days, and will put it down feeling at ease and on a good footing to move forward making the right green choices for your family. 

-Ashley