I’m a new mom. I always wanted to be a parent, but as I got older I was less certain that becoming a parent was the right thing to do. It had nothing to do with the normal parent worries. I wasn’t worried about increasing violence, abduction, or cultural morality shifts. Instead, I was worried about the changing climate. As a scientist, I trust the scientific consensus that our planet is warming and it’s our fault. I hope that humanity will band together, alter our lifestyles, and avert the most catastrophic consequences. But I know that the reality may be quite different. There is a chance that the world my child knows at 30 years old looks completely uninhabitable.
I’m a new mom and a Christian. As a new parent, I am stepping into a new understanding of some scriptures which is exciting! We, humans, are imperfect, but we still long to give good gifts to our children (Matthew 7:9-11). I long to give my child a lifetime on a habitable planet, with clean air and water, plenty of food, and fewer natural disasters. This is why I write. I write in hope these words will make a difference.
My son is so vulnerable right now. And so very unaware of the dangers around him. He is fearless with no concept of heights or strangers. It is my responsibility to meet his needs, and look out for dangers. While I have success in doing this in the short term, I know that his future is not completely in my control.
For example, this summer was especially bad for wildfires and smoke. Living in Kansas we were lucky to have few hazy days with bad air quality. I didn’t have to worry too much about smoke exposure to his young developing lungs, with the exception of our vacation to Idaho and Montana. This is not true for all infants born over the last year. We were very blessed.
Research is indicating that wildfire season is getting longer, fires are burning larger areas of land, and wildfires at the wildland-urban interface (homes within 0.5 miles of wildlands) are becoming more common. Wildfire smoke exacerbates problems for those with asthma and COPD and is more damaging to children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Smoke from wildfires along the wildland-urban interface is especially harmful since it contains more toxic substances from burning plastics, metals, insulation, etc.
What is causing changes to wildfire season? Climate Change. The average temperature of the planet is rising which has ripple effects across the planet. It means more dry conditions in the Western US, less snow, and earlier, longer, and hotter summers. All conditions that lead to increased fire danger and increased amounts of smoke.
This is not a danger I am able to protect my son from completely. I can keep him inside on bad days. I can own a high quality air filter. BUT we can’t live in a bubble.
In April, 2022 two wildfires began in the mountains of Northern New Mexico. Both started from from prescribed burns conducted to reduce fire risk that ended up getting out of control. In a typical April, there would have been enough snow/rain to prevent immense growth, but that year moisture was in short supply. These two fires eventually merged to form one giant fire complex call the Calf Canyon-Hermits Peak Fire. Together they burned over 340,000 acres. It burned for wildly 3 months, destroyed over 900 structures, and wasn’t fully contained until August. It was the largest fire in the lower 48 in 2022.
So why tell this story?
My extended family felt personal loss during this wildfire. My mom grew up in Las Vegas, NM. The major community threatened by this fire. The mountains this fire climbed were familiar to her. My grandmother grew up on a dude ranch in those mountains. My aunt and uncle still lived on that property.
All those buildings are now gone.
Both of my uncles lost residences to those flames. Out of 900 structures. I am personally connected to 2. There was and is so much grief.
Current trajectory, things are going to get worse, more fires, more smoke, more grief. I want to be able to look at my son years from now and say I did something. I spoke up and I advocated for change because I love him so much. I tried to change the course of the future. Only time will tell if we were successful.
So what can you do? It depends on where you live.
No matter where you are, you can ALWAYS speak up about climate change.
Share how it is affecting you and your family.
Learn more about using your voice to spark change by reading Katharine Hayhoe’s book, Saving Us.
Creation Care Mom 
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