Mama & Papa Series: Shannon Corliss
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!
SHANNON CORLISS DIVIDES HER TIME BETWEEN BROOLYN, NY AND DEER ISLE, ME
@SLCORLIS
What are your children’s names and ages?
Delia - 5 Years
Niall - 2 Years
What is the best part of parenthood for you?
I’ve found I love watching my children as they experience something new for the first time or as they gain a new skill or ability. There’s something so rewarding about seeing those feelings of wonder, pride, and accomplishment on their faces, and it’s such a gift to be able to witness those moments and transformations. Also, the fierce hugs!
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?
On a daily bases we’re working to help our children become more aware: aware of the choices we make (and why), aware of the resources we use, aware of our actions and their consequences, and aware of ways we can lighten the impact we have on our earth. We do a lot of the same things most families do, I suppose: recycle, compost, use reusable water bottles and bags, eliminate plastic whenever we can, look for refillable alternatives to disposable items, use renewable energy etc. But I really try to stress providing context (in an age-appropriate way and level of detail) around those actions so they can understand why they’re so important. I want them to reach the age where they’re making independent choices with a sustainable value system firmly in place.
What is a typical day like for you? Or, describe your perfect day!
On a typical weekday during the school year, it’s all I can do to get everyone up, dressed, fed (including our three cats!), organized and out the door in time to make the ferry we take as part of our school commute. Drop offs done, I have two hours to take care of things that need attending to at home before I’m back at school to pick up my little guy at noon. We head back home again, have lunch, and then I put him down to nap, leaving him with our nanny while I return to school (third time!) to collect my daughter when her day ends. We go together to her after school activities or to the playground with friends, and then it’s home for dinner, bath, stories, and bedtime. After bedtime I try to do all the life maintenance things that never got done during the day, things like returning emails and ordering groceries, and I pack lunches for the next day before collapsing on the couch. Thankfully our weekends are more relaxed and we purposely don’t schedule any activities (like sports or classes) in order to preserve and prioritize time as a family.
What is your favorite thing to do with your family?
As a family we enjoy spending time together at our house in Maine: hiking, walking along the beach, building fairy houses in the woods, and just generally slowing down and being more present for each other. I also love traveling as a family. With kids it’s never as easy as you might like, but its always worth it. On a smaller level, I delight in little family rituals like making pancakes together on Saturday morning.
What do you think is the most important thing we can teach our kids?
I hope I’m doing my best to raise kind and empathetic individuals, kids who regularly ask questions and seek answers, and who are confident, self-reliant, and willing to work hard. That sounds pretty doable, right? : )
What is your favorite (or most unexpected!) way to use our Nuscheli?
Now that our kids are a little bit older, we use our Nuscheli a lot as handkerchiefs. Especially during the cooler months when it seems as though one and or both of them constantly have the sniffles, it’s nice to be able to use something soft, ethical, and sustainable to wipe those drippy noses (my kids even call them the nose cloths!). Plus, the gorgeous colors allow us to keep who is using which cloth straight!
Which is your favorite Nuscheli color (sage, marigold, coral, boysenberry, charcoal)?
I have to say I’m partial to marigold - who doesn’t love a sunny splash of color? The charcoal also gets a lot o fuse in our house.
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!
Navy? Or what about an earthy ochre or rust? I’m sure whatever you dream up will be beautiful!
If you could change one thing in this world today, what would it be?
The rapid pace of climate change really terrifies me. We need ambitious legislation enacted and corporations who listen to the groundswell of support and activism for a healthier earth, placing our planet above their profit.
Anything else you’d like to mention here?
