Mama & Papa Series: Mary De Freitas

This post is part of a series called Mama & Papa, which is here to highlight the wonderful parents making informed choices to live more sustainably and who are supporting the brands (like Hauptli Haus Kids) who are taking all the measures to provide better and safer products for ourselves and our children, and ultimately for our earth!

MARY DE FREITAS FROM LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA

@MDEFR8S

What are your children’s names and ages?

Saige - 4 Years

Jacinta - 17 Months

What is the best part of parenthood for you?

The best part of parenthood for me is being able to relive a better version of my own childhood through my children. Motherhood has helped me to overcome childhood hurts and reparent my inner child. The day I realized that I can be whoever I want to be and create any life that I want for my own family was the first time I felt free and happy. My greatest joy is doing things with my girls that I dreamed about doing as a child.

What does your family do to be more sustainable? Do you have any tips for families looking to be more sustainable or how to teach their kids to be eco-conscious? 

When I was pregnant with Saige, I read an article that said it takes 500 years for a diaper to decompose. The thought of this horrified me so I threw myself into learning every thing I could about cloth diapering. It was a bit daunting at first but turned out to be a great experience that I am very proud of. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to cloth diaper Jacinta, mostly because we’ve been living through a renovation for the last year. A close friend of mine recommended bamboo diapers and I am just as happy with them. They are organic, biodegradable, naturally antimicrobial and sourced responsibly so I feel like I am still making a better choice for my child and the environment.

Lately, my biggest goal has been reducing the amount of plastic in our daily life. It takes constant awareness about what we are consuming, especially now that I have to send Saige to school with lunch everyday. I dreaded packing her snacks in Ziploc baggies, it felt so wasteful. Lately I’ve been using recycled paper snack bags by the brand If You Care. I love them because I can draw a little picture or message on the bag which makes it exciting for her to open her lunch. Double bonus! She is learning her letters so it is fun practice and I know it makes her feel special.

My tips for other families trying to be more eco-conscious is to just simplify your life. Research and tackle one thing at a time, otherwise, it can feel extremely overwhelming. You can make changes to your pantry staples first, then cleaning products, then beauty products and so on. The easiest way to contribute to change is to vote with your dollars. Find brands who are trying to make a difference and support them. You can also vote by not buying things, like plastic water bottles.

What is a typical day like for you? Or, describe your perfect day!

Like all families, our days are hectic and time just flies by! My husband owns a business so he works long hours and is never really off the clock. The nighttime routine is draining with small kids - getting them fed, bathed and to sleep takes up a majority of our evening. My perfect day would be getting out and enjoying the sunshine with no tantrums, going to bed with a clean house and still having time to enjoy a glass of wine with my husband.

What is your favorite thing to do with your family? 

Morning cuddles in bed <3

What do you think is the most important thing we can teach our kids? 

The most important thing we can teach them is simply - to care! Care about others and how you make them feel. Care about yourself and how you treat your body. Care about the earth and how we leave it for future generations.... Compassion and empathy are important qualities.

What is your favorite (or most unexpected!) way to use our Nuscheli?

I am actually quite surprised how useful our Nuschelis have been! They are so light and compact that I almost always have one in my purse. I love that they are such a cute accessory with Jacinta’s outfits so I can leave them on her without feeling like she’s walking around in a bib. She savors food and is ALWAYS snacking so the Nuschelis really come in handy with keeping her clean. They are incredibly soft and breathable which is perfect for our SoCal weather.

Which is your favorite Nuscheli color (sage, marigold, coral, boysenberry, charcoal)? 

Coral - I have two girls so pink is life around here!

If we launched a new set of Nuscheli colors, what would you like to see? Or who would you like to see a collaboration with!

Dusty rose or cinnamon.

If you could change one thing in this world today, what would it be?

I would change the negative political climate because people are more angry and divided than ever. There is such an “us vs. them” mentality that nothing productive can ever get done for the greater good. Egos are prioritized more than people’s lives. As a mother, it is emotionally draining when everything feels so doom and gloom but you are forced to internalize all your anxieties because there is a sweet, innocent face looking up at you expecting you to be happy and silly.

Anything else you’d like to mention here?

“May I be the tiniest nail in the house of the universe, tiny but useful.”  ~ Mary Oliver