To think that my choices of sustainable commuting, eating a plant based diet, and working on our City’s zero waste program likely pale in comparison to the impact of not having a baby is nothing short of devastating.  Does it make me a bad environmentalist to honor my maternal instincts?

I will never give up on you, on humanity, on the future.

I hope this year is a real turning point and by the time you’re a teenager, your life is powered almost entirely by clean energy like solar and wind.

Its been heavy on my shoulders since I found out about the state of climate woes as a child.

I am grateful for your soul, for your creativity, for your empathy. All these are precious treasures that you have to offer the world. They will help. I thank you for being in this world right now, so that you can offer these gifts at a time of transition.

Fortunately, you didn’t get injured while the wildfire burned your school.

Maya, my love, I promise to be courageous. I promise that when I face a decision, I will think of how it will impact you and your future. I promise that I’ll also step outside my individual decisions and add my weight to the forces that shift culture and systems.

I hope that people are still enjoying the wonders that nature has to offer.

There are so many more things that we can do together to help our Earth from the damage that has been done, and I am so excited to teach you.

I think every parent believes that their child’s future is worth protecting – because I know the power of this force in me and what I am willing to do.