As individuals, it appears to be within our power to change our behaviors, habits and choices to better reflect and impact our growing environmental concerns and societal obligations. Buying locally produced foods, refraining from needless car trips, switching out wasteful technologies and generally cutting back on our consumption of plastics and other landfill-clogging items are some of the more obvious gestures we could make toward social responsibility.

Easy enough, but for most people things get quite a bit more complicated once you move beyond the framework of the singular to the plural and enter into the realm of parenthood and family. If you consider all the diapers, toys and clothing items that are discarded soon after purchase, it seems as if procreation and social responsibility are too often mutually exclusive. But not all hope is lost.

The idea behind Parenting at the Crossroads is to provide sane, enlightened and practical ideas on parenting with ideals, not guilt. This goes for making choices that are both advantageous for you, as much as they are advantageous for your family and the larger environment. In addition, I will strive to introduce lively and provocative viewpoints about imparting parental wisdom and sharing your convictions with your children, assuming that social responsibility is something taught by example. I welcome your comments, opinions, suggestions, nitpicking and praise and look forward to moving beyond the crossroads of overwhelm and confusion toward a path that makes more sense for everyone and everything.

Eric Steinman is a freelance writer based in Rhinebeck, NY. He regularly writes about food, music, art, architecture, and culture and is a regular contributor to Bon Appétit among other publications.