64
How do you cope with eco-anxiety as a parent? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 year ago by to c/parenting@lemmy.world
43 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hello,

I have two young kids and lately, I am having a lot of anxiety and sadness thinking about how the current climate crisis will affect them.

I also have regrets because I decided to have children while knowing about the climate crisis. At the time, I was optimistic, but no so much anymore.

It has been hitting me hard the last few days. How do you cope/deal with this as a parent?

Thanks

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

You've been reading the news too, huh?

I wish I knew. I spent the first 30ish years of my life opting out of GHG-producing systems, and trying to get the right people elected. I stopped when I had kids because it was too hard. I dunno. I don't feel like my advocacy or self-denial helped. And my normie lifestyle definitely isn't helping.

I really don't know. Climate change is clearly happening, but nobody seems to care. Back to advocacy, I guess?

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • hideshow 2 child comments
    •
  • [–] [S] 4 points 1 year ago (1 child)

    Yeah lots of news lately and my eco-anxiety is part just-anxiety from the news.

    It is hard because the choice I make don't seem to make a difference when I look at everyone around me not really giving a shit. I am not perfect by aby means, but I really worked hard to reduce my footprint and still put effort daily to reduce it more.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent
  • hideshow 1 child comment
    •
  • [–] 2 points 1 year ago

    when I look at everyone around me not really giving a shit. ... I really worked hard to reduce my footprint

    For years I did this. Didn't drive. Rarely flew. Mostly vegetarian. Bought mostly second hand stuff. It was a lot of work. It had no appreciable effect on climate change, and made my life harder.

    I think the place to concentrate effort is on policy change. Acid rain wasn't solved (in North America) by buying patterns, it was solved through legislation. CFCs were phased out through lobbying.

    There's definitely a time and place for personal action, but there are so many people that appreciable changes will only come through changing regulations.

  • permalink
  • fedilink
  • source
  • parent