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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Review: "It Works!" Wrap (aka "That Crazy Wrap Thing")
As my cousin said, "Wrap yourself in thirty $1 bills andyou'll get the same results."I thought long and hard about writing this review, because it seems like... Read more
Posted on 25 July 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
A Lesson in Customer Service for Marcy's Diner
I'm going to approach this whole Marcy's Diner ridiculousness from another angle. Sure, there's the whole childism aspect, but those in Zen Parenting-esque... Read more
Posted on 20 July 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Explaining Financial Hardship to a 4-Year-Old
My husband is both a full-time high school biology teacher and a part-time college biology professor. During the summer, we're out almost $1000 a month while... Read more
Posted on 16 June 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Book Review: The Tiny Book of Patience
I'm a bad, bad friend. I cannot even tell you how long ago my friend Sam Vickery of Love Parenting asked me to take a look at her book, The Tiny Book of... Read more
Posted on 07 June 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Public Schools Charging for Education
I was a high school teacher. My only dealings in elementary education were when I did a semester of semi-student teaching in college at an elementary school tha... Read more
Posted on 04 June 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
My Son is a Quitter...and I Respect and Appreciate That
My son has never been Mr. Outgoing. He's not the one who'll jump straight into the fray in and amongst strangers just looking for a good time. He and I are... Read more
Posted on 28 May 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Colossal Failure Turned Try #2
There are still four days and $14,000 left until the Kickstarter for the book ends. Call me cynical, but I'm thinking it may not work. Read more
Posted on 04 May 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
How to React If Your Child "Comes Out" to You
If your child is LGBTQIA+, it's not a big deal. That's who they are. That's who they've always been, you just may not have always known it. You loved them befor... Read more
Posted on 22 April 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Weaning off Anti-Depressants - Day 1
Postpartum depression brought about a few years of Zoloft. (You can read more about that HERE.) I have no complaints. It's been a gift. Read more
Posted on 21 April 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
I Probably Don't Love You Unconditionally
I may love you a LOT, I may love you more than most, but unless you are my son or my nephews, I don't love you unconditionally. It's true. Go ahead. Read more
Posted on 20 April 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Yes-Friends
are dangerous. They feel good, sure. They're excellent ego-strokers. They're no good if you're ever looking to improve yourself, grow, or converse on a level... Read more
Posted on 18 April 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Kickstarter Launched! Tell a Friend!
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know I'm writing a book. (You can find the Facebook page HERE.) I'm not doing it alone, either. I have gathered... Read more
Posted on 09 April 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
The Books on My Son's Shelves
I have been collecting children's books since I was in my early 20s. To put that in perspective, I didn't have my son until I was 32 1/2. Read more
Posted on 08 April 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Review: Westwood Sunglasses
This is not normally the kind of product I'd review on my blog, but special circumstances abound, so here we are. Methinks I shall start and end with the... Read more
Posted on 08 April 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
The IVF Process for Women Vs. Men
I got to remembering last night. This is never good for my sleep. It usually turns out pretty good for the blog, though, so... Read more
Posted on 08 April 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Zen Parenting: The Book
After talking about it, planning for it, changing plans for it a couple times over, and planning some more Zen Parenting: The Book is finally happening. Holy... Read more
Posted on 31 March 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
I Am Not Wonder Woman
I hate, hate, hate being referred to as Wonder Woman, Superwoman, or any other heroic character. I am not heroic. I cannot do it all. Read more
Posted on 21 March 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Fooling Ourselves
I asked a question on my personal Facebook page in a way I normally don't - already knowing the answers I'd get. The question cropped up from a brief... Read more
Posted on 14 March 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
Grief is Not a Straight Line
The grieving process is not a straight line with the endgame being its absence. Feelings bounce around, pinging from heaving sobs to numbness to laughter at goo... Read more
Posted on 12 March 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING -
My Child Sees Skin Color
I'll readily admit, I used to be one of the jackasses who proudly claimed to be color blind. What a crock. I'm now proud to say that my son is not, in fact,... Read more
Posted on 09 March 2015 BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, FAMILY, PARENTING