Well, here I go...

My husband has been bugging me for several years now to start a Mommy blog. In the past, I've always declined. There are plenty of such blogs already in existence. What more could I offer that's not already on the web? And yet, over the years, I find I keep getting asked the same questions over and over and over by all sorts of people--usually new moms. These questions often have to do with things that are outside the mainstream; things they won't learn from the pediatrician, or maybe even their mother. I've found that moms are starting to question the status quo in parenting, and more and more are finding that getting back to the basics...a more primitive, intuitive, natural parenting style is where they're being drawn. Maybe for health reasons, maybe for philosophical reasons, maybe for environmental reasons...or maybe what they've been doing just isn't working.

I've only been a mom for four years. I certainly don't see myself as some sort of expert, and I've got a long way to go. But, for those that know me, I'm extremely analytical. I'm the grown-up version of the three year old in the back seat of the car asking "Why?" "Why is the grass green? Why is the sky blue? Why do I have to eat my peas?" Because of this almost obsession at getting to the heart of things, I've  found myself becoming extremely anti-mainstream in my parenting as I continue to ask "Why?" I didn't grow up with hippie parents, and I have never lived on a commune (though I secretly think I might enjoy it). From the looks of things I'm your typical American white girl from the suburbs...who has, over time, started living life in some ways that may seem really odd at face value. But, it's because it has worked for us, and so I'm going to, over time, share what I've learned with all of you.

I'll be posting about our journey in breastfeeding, nutrition, natural healing, cloth diapering, babywearing, homebirth, homeschooling, and various other topics that I regularly get asked about. My hope is that I'll be able to open up new options to moms that make life *easier* (because natural parenting is in many ways much easier than conventional American parenting), and to family and friends that know me, perhaps it will give some insight into why I do the crazy things I do...like have an unassisted birth...and breastfeed my 2 year old...and never use shampoo or typical deoderant/antiperspirant (ever).... (wait, you didn't know that last one? It IS possible to ditch the Pantene and Degree and be clean and not stink!)

My goal is not to be "different" for different's sake. I'm not naturally rebellious and I hate confrontation. I do what makes sense to me. Maybe it will make sense to you too after reading.  And, for my next blog I'll start with a fairly innocuous topic: babywearing.