Natural Parents Do It Yourself

It's that time again! You might remember the great post in December 2011 that highlighted the Natural Parents Network Volunteer's most popular or favorite posts from the year. 

Well, we are back and this time we are bringing you a collection of posts that focus on Do It Yourself projects, How To's, Tutorials, Recipes, and anything related to a step by step guide or informational how-to. There are a lot of really wonderful posts here and I hope that this serves as an excellent resource that you can pass on to your friends! Enjoy!  

I'm a Natural Parent - BUT...

Welcome to the "I'm a Natural Parent - BUT..." Carnival

This post was written for inclusion in the carnival hosted by The Artful Mama and Natural Parents Network. During this carnival our participants have focused on the many different forms and shapes Natural Parenting can take in our community.

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Hours old and never out of our sight.

 I have written before that I hate labels, mostly because they are limiting. No matter what the label is people have certain ideals that they think are inclusive of that label. I believe this to be true for just about all labels; political, racial, social and of course parenting labels. My parenting style is very much in line with principles of Natural Parenting but there are no rules as to exactly how that is carried out. What does that say about my parenting?

To me natural parenting is doing what feels natural to us as a family. It is about parenting with love, gentleness, care, and consideration. If I don't follow all the stereotypes that are considered to be a part of natural parenting, am I less natural as a parent?

Petting Zoo Mini Carnival

We spent the day at a traveling Petting Zoo this week. ~B~ Had a blast and loved every second. One of my favorite things about being a parent is seeing the world though my son's eye. He was so excited to see and touch the animals. We had a fun filled day!

Sunday Surf - Mixing It Up

Barbie and McDonald’s Happy Meal Disaster

PhD in Parenting shares how Barbie and McDonald's are sending some is sending some pretty nasty messages to girls. 

Speaking Up For Those Who Can't

Up, Down & Natural Shares how she took a stand for a Breastfeeding mom. 

I have to say she's pretty great!

The Perfect Placenta 

Job Description: Mommy shares so awesome info on the placenta. 
Not to mention some pretty cool pics.

Things To Prepare For A Homebirth

Dairy of a First Child shares some tips preparing for a homebirth. 

Someday I will have a Homebirth.  :)

Agree to Disagree Online and Remain Respectful

Welcome to the February 2012 Carnival of Natural Parenting: 

Respectful Interactions With Other Parents

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by 

Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have focused on how we can communicate with other parents compassionately.

I have been working with a lot of advocacy and parenting groups online which has helped me learn so much about different aspects of parenting and life. In some groups, I am pretty active and in others I am more of a lurker. I love trying to make a change in the breastfeeding world and I am constantly striving to parent more naturally and these groups help a lot with this. I for one am very thankful to be part of the Natural Parents Network Team, they truly are an amazing group of women. We have come together and support each other in many ways, whether it be a virtual fundraiser for a fellow mom who's baby was in the NICU, words of encouragement, advice, or even donating personal items for a mom in need. But not all online interactions are as up lifting and moving as these.  I have also had the privilege to meet a lot of people online while working on projects that I truly believe in. Online interaction certainly have their challenges; plain and simple, online can be tough. Messages are miss interpreted, you don't know the other people in the group,  people take certain liberties behind the disguise of the Internet that they may not in real life, and it can get heated pretty quickly, and people can get pretty nasty.

Playdates!

Play dates keep mamma sane and kiddos happy. 

They are one thing that help me get through the challenging moments. 

 

Playing with DJ

Riding around with Emma

Snacking with Connor

Fun in a Box with Emma

Labor, Birth, and Babies Sunday Surf

Positions For Labour And Childbirth

An awesome post by Diary of a First Child, it makes me wish I  had pushed for a natural birth even more, it rocks. The pictures are by Joni Rae of Tales of a Kitchen Witch, they are so amazing, they should seriously be in a birthing book! (hint, hint to anyone writing a birthing book)

Trusting My Body: Ailia’s Birth Story

A beautiful birth story by Code Name: Mama.  An unexpected, unassisted, home birth.
(My dream birth)

Alrik's birth story: Sweet surprise unassisted home water birth 

Hobo Mama shares an awesome home water birth. 

(Another dream birth)

I did not Birth a Syndrome

Momma Jorge has a beautiful post on how she overcame the idea of birthing a syndrome rather then a beautiful baby.  I love how she inspires me to look beyond the physical and really look inward.

Missing Summer!

Winter 2010/2011

I really can't complain we have had a pretty mild winter (nothing like last year).  Somebody was not happy then. --->

This week we had our second snow sighting... I couldn't call it a storm as it was gone before it had a chance to stay, but I am really missing summer! I miss the beach, the sun, the warmth and the air! 

Here are some pics from this summer,
July/August 2011, 

I can not wait for this summer!

What's your favorite season?

Still with the Breastfeeding Theme for This Week ;)

Whatever Happened to Women and Children First?

In this past year it seems as if women’s breasts are under attack, as long as they are being used for something besides selling burgers, booze, cars, clothes, shave gel, antiperspirant…etc

Why Do Moms Quit Breastfeeding?

Most moms who wanted to breastfeed, but ended up formula feeding, will be able to cite a reason or two. Breastfeeding advocates generally say that most of those hurdles can be overcome...

Great Breastfeeding Quotes

A collection of Great Breastfeeding Quotes. 

5 Reasons Breastfeeding is the Ultimate Convenience! 

Most of us have heard about the many benefits of breastfeeding, and although my decision to breastfeed was based upon reasons like breast-milk being the ultimate food for babies, why I am continuing to breastfeed, convenience plays a huge role.

Can We Get These Commercials On Every TV Satiation?

The Breastfeeding Stigma continues; Facebook is still removing photos, they have not agreed to completely stop. Fine or Die is the latest site to remove a BFing video. Moms and Babies are still being harassed. I just read of a women who was harassed in a Walmart today.  

 

Image Credit Draw Together WIKI

A lot of the negative comments I have been reading compare BFing to going to the bathroom or having sex. It is disgusting that this is the image people have of the natural way to feed a baby.  I can't comprehend  how they can compare them. 

The other thing that is being said all the time is; Why can't you just go to the bathroom and nurse in there? Would you eat your lunch or dinner in a public restroom?