Category Archives: consumerism

Mama Panya's Pancakes | Books for kids who want to change the world | Sacraparental.com

Picture books for kids who want to change the world

No one is too young to make the world a better place! Malala Yousafzai won the Nobel Peace Prize when she was only seventeen. She began her public life as an activist for girls’ education in Pakistan when she was just eleven years old, blogging about life under the Taliban. She’s proof that ordinary young people can have genuine influence […]

Read More

Giving thanks or saying grace at mealtimes - sacraparental

9 Ways to Give Thanks or ‘Say Grace’ at Mealtimes

An earlier version of this article appeared in my column at Kiwi Families. What are mealtimes like at your place? Do you have family ways of serving, eating or talking together? Would you like some fresh ideas to make the most of the gift of family meals? Here are some ideas for giving thanks at […]

Read More

Free, Full Lives: How Can We Each Make a Difference in Myanmar?

I remember when I first read a report of how women and girls were suffering under the Taliban in pre-9/11 Afghanistan. I think I was about sixteen. Widows were starving – literally dying of hunger – because they weren’t allowed to shop for food without a male guardian. Girls were kicked out of schools and […]

Read More

47 Christmas gift ideas to make the world a better place, rather than just contribute to debt and landfill waste. Add your ideas to the list, too! | Sacraparental.com

47 Christmas Gifts that can Change the World

How can something as (potentially) shallow as Christmas gift shopping be a great way to make a difference in the world? Easy 🙂 If we aspire to living a life where our actions reflect our values, then how we spend our time and money on Christmas gifts can make a real impact on people beyond […]

Read More

Why Father Christmas Doesn’t Visit Our House

I grew up with Father Christmas visiting each December. We had a particularly awesome system, in fact, that involved pillowcases instead of stockings (primarily so a board game could fit, I think). As I got older, I became aware that Father Christmas from the adult point of view was part of our family history, too. My […]

Read More

Green Cleaning: ingredients for home made dishwasher detergent

Green Cleaning Recipes, Including Home-made Dishwasher Powder (Yay Me!)

My green cleaning journey so far Me and my husband: It worked! I made dishwashing powder! Cool. No – I need a high five for this. I’m AMAZING! Yeah, well done. I’m not getting enough enthusiasm here. I think it’s amazing that you make dinner. Food that we can put in our mouths. That’s amazing. This […]

Read More

On Being a Social Entrepreneur and a Parent (at the same time) [Guest]

Jess Berentson-Shaw lives in on the side of a windswept Wellington hill. Jess has two kids, is a part time researcher and scientist, and runs (and blogs about) her social enterprise called muka kids (mukakids.com). Muka kids is her plan to bring about a sustainability revolution in the world of kids’ clothing production. She has […]

Read More

Muka Kids: Changing the World by Changing How We Buy Children’s Clothes

A warm welcome to a special guest!   Jess Berentson-Shaw lives in on the side of a windswept Wellington hill. Jess has two kids, is a part time researcher and scientist, and runs (and blogs about) her social enterprise called muka kids. Muka kids is her plan to bring about a sustainability revolution in the […]

Read More