Mission Statement
The purpose of this site is to support and educate others about natural family living, especially pregnancy and birth. I have felt since becoming a mother in 1996 that people are losing touch with nature and as a society people are no longer taking responsibility for themselves.
In an age where we have a pill for every ill and a name for every ache, pain, or mood swing I embrace natural family living because it just comes natural to me. I use technology. I love the Internet, my ipod, and digital camera. I'd be forever grateful if a doctor brought me back to life from an accident of some kind, or if I needed medical attention for any reason. If my family had a true need for medical care I'd be the first one thanking modern medicine. There is a time and a place for modern medicine, but unfortunately it has rendered many of us unable to take care of ourselves and children with confidence.
Some aspects of modern medicine have done more harm than good. My advice is simple: You are not ignorant. You are not helpless. Pick up a book, make some new friends who do the same, trust in yourself, and educate yourself. Doctors have degrees because they study. They aren't magicians. You can study, research, and make decisions for yourself while weighing the pros and cons of all aspects of life.
No one taught me how to be a parent, give birth, breastfeed or care for my children. It came naturally. What also came naturally was my drive to use resources available to enlighten and educate myself about things I wondered about or needed to know. I had my first child 11 years ago at only 18 years old. I knew immediately and instinctively when I gave birth in a hospital that I was out of my element. Within two weeks of bringing my first born home I swore off hospital birth, fired the OB (and never went to my 6week "check-up"), fired the pediatrician after 1 visit, and embraced natural family living and began calling myself an "instinctive parent."
I remember the two week newborn check up I took my baby to. I was like a mother bear claws ready and feeling queasy that I brought my cub into a doctors office. They wanted to poke, prick, and prod at her. They seemingly loved to arm me with free formula samples and no breastfeeding support. I had not one question about how to care for my child, but I had a question for myself: Why was I here? I looked young and inexperienced and was treated as such. But I wasn't "young." I had age old intuition pumping through every part of me. I took my baby home and crawled into bed with her where she slept by my side for the next 3 years. I'd soon enough learn that there are other parents like me who follow their instincts as well as their children's needs, they are commonly called attachment parents.
At first I was shocked. Wow there are others like me? Other parents who follow their children's cues rather than a book or doctor? There are other parents who take responsibility and educate themselves about nutrition, vaccines, fever, cold, flu, growth, & development!?
It sounds so absurd now. To be surprised that people today still carry, breastfeed, and sleep with their baby. It's how it all began. Pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and mothering is older than time.
I hope I can inspire others to find the courage to trust birth and embrace motherhood fearlessly.
I advocate following your own instincts and caring for your precious children in and out of everyday on your own terms. Knowing all the while how and when to safely seek help from others.
