There are parents out there who don’t give a second thought when they buy something — they spray air fresheners without worrying, cook on any pan, toss sugary cereals in the cart because it’s easy. They trust that if it’s on the shelf, it must be fine.

And then there are parents like me. Crunchy moms. The ones who stand in the aisle reading ingredient labels like we’re decoding CIA files, who Google “non-toxic” at midnight, who can turn “which laundry detergent do you use?” into a 30-minute conversation.

No, I’m not overreacting. No, I’m not being “extra.” I’m doing the damn job of a parent — protecting, questioning, and making sure my child isn’t harmed by things we can avoid.

It’s not selfish to care about what we bring into our homes. It’s not dramatic to question what’s “normal” just because everyone else is doing it. It’s called responsibility.

And yeah — my mental load is heavy. But if carrying that weight helps keep my family safer? I’ll hoist it up every single day. Because that’s what crunchy moms do.