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Posted January 2, 2009 by Tommi Lewis Tilden

Let's face it: Moms rule. They decide what their families eat and wear as well as how high to set the programmable thermostat, all while making everyone believe it's a democracy. Notice lately that the toilet paper is off-white and not as spongy? That's because mom switched to a biodegradable brand. She can do that because she's the head honcho who makes the house choices-the good, the bad and the green.

But with eco-power comes responsibility, and for some moms, this can lead to a serious case of eco-anxiety, especially if they don't know how to focus their efforts. According to a New York Times article, today's eco-moms to-do list includes "preparing waste-free school lunches; transforming oneself into a "locovore," by eating locally grown food; and remembering not to idle the car when picking up children from school (if one must drive)." 

But the story also talks about one mom who got so freaked out about saving the planet she worried about the extravagance of giving her daughter nightly baths and began reusing the bath water. Drain that tub, mom. There is a better way.

Says Santa Barbara eco-therapist Linda Buzzell in the story, "... If we get caught up in trying to save the world single-handedly, we're just going to burn out."

Going green is a process, and it's not as hard as you think to rally your troops for the cause. Get the whole family involved, and begin with baby steps. This way, mom's lean 'n' green choices can become a badge of honor for everyone.

Get dad to install aerators in the faucets, and soon he'll be bragging to buddies about the super-sized savings. Then it's only a matter of time before he's raving about how much gas mileage his hybrid gets, or your low electric bills, thanks to the switch to CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs).

Kids catch the green bug, too -- they proudly carry a cool reusable water bottle in their no-waste lunch boxes, tucked alongside the organic PB&J that is kept squish-less in a plastic container. They can even turn their eco-existence into an ongoing science lesson. After all, it's a lot easier to learn about the circle of life when you witness it firsthand from a compost bin filled with hundreds of slimy worms. And they may also realize how a little ingenuity-like watering indoor plants using buckets filled with collected rainwater-is a surefire way to light a fire under this "Yes We Can" generation's feet. 

Even more fun is turning your kid into a slayer of "vampire electricity," the energy that your plugged-in computer, TV, VCR and coffee maker continues to drain throughout the night even when in off-mode. Take your little slayer on a trip around the house while you unplug what's not in use. Or, better yet, buy a "smart power strip" that will also do the trick. You can also put junior on eco patrol and he'll happily let you know when big sister's showers run excessively long. (Cutting just 30 seconds off shower time saves up to four gallons of water.)

Lately, with our economic woes, families have even more need for the 3R's-reduce, reuse, recycle. With little warning, cost-saving now rules the roost, forcing us to become waste-not warriors. In recent months the meaning of being green has grown from concern about the environment to getting into survival mode as we hunker down to pay for the excess of the last few decades. And it's really comforting to know that moms can lead the way without stress, and just a little help from the rest of the family.

Tommi Lewis Tilden is the mom of one and founding editor of Disney Adventures magazine for kids and a former TEEN Magazine editor-in-chief. She writes about the environment, kids, parenting and Hollywood, and teaches high school journalism. 

Your turn: What's your biggest going green challenge? 

More tips for families going green:

• It's Great to Be Green
• Growing up Green
• Eco-Friendly Gifts to Give and Get
• When to Buy Organic