Zenparenting1
Education. Activism. Peace, Love, and Zen.
I am a mom, wife, breastfeeding and NIP advocate, genital integrity advocate, feminist, gay and human rights activist (all your basic -ivists). I full-term breastfeed, cloth diaper, co-sleep, toddler wear, extend the rear-facing sentence (at least that's how my son sees it), do not vaccinate, gently and lovingly discipline, oppose "crying it out," teach and use sign language, and home/un-school. I believe that the birthing process should not be treated as a medical emergency and am a big fan of home births. I do my best to keep my son and family healthy, safe, and happy by researching the heck out of all my decisions. I am always on the look-out for new things I can make myself that are just as good (if not better than) the store-bought stuff.
Some people have referred to me as "crunchy," "granola," "Earth Mother," "hippie," and even "laughable," "stupid," and "crazy" (but I have to consider those sources). I don't really identify as any of those. I'm just me. I just love my son and think the sun shines out of the cute little butt that I would do anything to protect. I want to raise him in the kind of world he deserves and I feel it is my duty as a human being to do my part to make it so.
MY BLOGS
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Zen Parenting
http://zenparenting1.blogspot.fr/
Rear-facing in car seats is 500% safer than forward-facing. It's a cold, hard fact. It may not be convenient for you. It may not appear to be comfortable to you. It may seem over-protective to you, but 500% is a pretty big number...
LATEST ARTICLES ( 274 )
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Expert Advice on "Breastfeeding" Without Controversy (or Quotation Marks)
I was recently more than a little irked by some "I support breastfeeding, BUT..." comments, which, as we all know, means they do not support breastfeeding. Read more
Posted on 19 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Child Car Seat Safety Starts with You
Imagine running as fast as you can - into a wall. Do you think you could stop yourself if the wall suddenly loomed up when you were two feet away? Read more
Posted on 18 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
It's Better That I Was Raped While Drugged, So I Don't Remember It
I was raped by a husband-wife couple. I was raped while under the influence of drugs they slipped me. I'm glad it was done that way, though. It's better that... Read more
Posted on 18 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Girl
"Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid is one of my all-time favorite poems. I taught it every year to my high school students and, in turn, I, also, learned something new... Read more
Posted on 16 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
How to NOT Be "All For" Breastfeeding
I have no problem with breastfeeding, but keep it classy. I support breastfeeding but it is a private act. Breastfeeding is great as long as you don't flash you... Read more
Posted on 15 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Announcement: I'm Writing a Book
As I briefly mentioned a while back, I'm writing a book. Actually, co-writing to be more specific. Margaux from Naturally Down to Earth and I are penning a... Read more
Posted on 14 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Gift-Giving as Means of Control
I recently had this short conversation with a former student: Student: I want to be an English teacher. Me: Do you really? That makes my heart sing! Student: I... Read more
Posted on 10 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
On Feeling "Touched-Out"
When I was a new mom to my new son, breastfeeding was, well, new, as were all the warm, fuzzy, sky-high feelings that come along with the whole she-bang. Read more
Posted on 06 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Faq
What is your real name? Amy Brown (nee Bray), but I typically go by Zen Mama here. Do you have a Twitter account? I do. You can follow me by clicking here.... Read more
Posted on 01 September 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Hello, My Name is Zen Mama and I Take Zoloft
Get your gasps of horror, disappointment, disgust, and pity for my ignorance out of the way now. Ok, you good? Now, take a deep breath, open your mind, and... Read more
Posted on 28 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT -
"Do You Know I Love You?"
Recently, I said to my personal friends, "You know how it's possible to rub off a fingerprint due to overuse? Well, I am convinced that if [Zen Son] had a... Read more
Posted on 27 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Two Choices
If you're like me, if you had a less than stellar childhood and upbringing, you have two choices as you become a parent: 1) Parent as you were parented,... Read more
Posted on 27 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
The Power of "I Don't Know"
"Many adults are put off when youngsters pose scientific questions. Children ask why the sun is yellow, or what a dream is, or how deep you can dig a hole, or... Read more
Posted on 24 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Mental Presence - What It Is and How To Achieve It
Dedicated to my husband and son. Breathing the same air, being in the same room with, sharing space - that's just physical presence. It's important, but not wha... Read more
Posted on 24 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
I Refuse to Lie to My Son
Santa, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, periods, erections, sex, death, why adults do the things they do...nada...I won't lie about any of it. I just won't.... Read more
Posted on 22 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Gee, Your House Smells Terrific
My husband and I are polar opposites when it comes to our levels of cleanliness. When we first met, I wouldn't walk in his apartment without shoes on. It was... Read more
Posted on 21 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
We Use a Nipple Shield - Our Breastfeeding Journey
I have flat, sometimes inverted, nipples. I was told that when I got pregnant, they would "self-correct" as if there were something wrong with them. Read more
Posted on 21 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Letter to My Father-In-Law, Because I Just Need to Vent
[Father-in-law], I've thought about this for two days, wondered whether or not I should write you, and ultimately decided that regardless of whether or not it... Read more
Posted on 20 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
New Ventures
Zen Parenting may have left Facebook, but there's WAY more to life than one discriminatory social media site. We're growing like crazy on Twitter, are getting... Read more
Posted on 20 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Book Review: Why Dads Leave
I hang my head in shame as I admit I've had this book for review for 10 months now. Bad blogger. Bad, bad blogger. I'm sorry, Meryn. I hope this review from... Read more
Posted on 16 August 2013 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING