Much like the story about the man and his Zen Master, Karen found that if you put things in order one thing at a time, in the end everything will be in its rightful place.  Read More…

4 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Balance, Belief, Body Image, Family Structure, Healthy Eating, Healthy Living, Keeping Active, Parenting Philosophies

Over the past 25 years the time kids have spent playing outside has decreased dramatically. Here are some great ideas for changing this worrying trend…  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Ecological Responsibility, Healthy Living, Keeping Active, Love of Nature, Natural Learning, Playtime

“Grown ups and children must join their forces. In order to become great, the grown up must be humble and learn from the child.” – Maria Montessori I was grouchy. And we all know that grouchy mama = grouchy household. Weaning, yet no slowdown in night wakings, plus travel the previous weekend, plus the endless cycle of chores and what …  Read More…

7 Comments | Posted in General, Healthy Living, Keeping Active

Self Esteem Games by Barbara Sher is a book I picked up at the library a couple of weeks ago. My oldest daughter appears to have good self-esteem when we are together as a family, but she struggles in social situations. She is uncomfortable meeting new people and would rather flee than say hello. In groups of children, even ones …  Read More…

2 Comments | Posted in Body Image, Healthy Living, Keeping Active, Natural Learning, Natural Parenting Products, Playtime, Reviews and Giveaways

Prenatal yoga is a wonderful exercise and form of stress relief for a pregnant woman. It balances posture, allowing her chest to expand more easily as her growing belly impedes on breathing. As her joints relax, yoga’s gentle strength training movements strengthen the muscles around those joints and in her core to support her growing baby and swaying back. Yoga improves …  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Birth, Healthy Living, Keeping Active, Pregnancy, Preparing for Parenting

Stress is ever present in the life of a parent.  It comes from external factors: our child, our environment, the way people respond to our parenting, daily challenges; but also from internal factors, the way we evaluate our children’s behavior, our personal struggles with self-doubt, self-criticism, and other negative mindsets. Excess stress levels, whether from internal or external pressures, make …  Read More…

8 Comments | Posted in Attachment Parenting, Balance, Gentle Discipline, Healthy Living, Keeping Active, Parenting Philosophies, Responding With Sensitivity

We often enter the New Year reflecting on the past and setting new goals or resolutions. We are often focused on ourselves, and what we want to do differently as individuals this year. But setting a family New Year’s resolution is a great way to teach cooperation, team work, and goal getting, and build camaraderie. This year, why not try making a family New Year’s resolution as well?  Read More…

7 Comments | Posted in Arts and Crafts, Balance, Consistent Care, Ecological Responsibility, Family Structure, Green Living, Healthy Eating, Healthy Living, Keeping Active, Love of Nature, Natural Learning, Parenting Philosophies, Playtime, Reading, Routines and Schedules

The hardest part of parenting, especially for moms — regardless of your parenting style — is finding a balance between personal and family life. With natural and/or attachment parenting, we spend so much time listening to our baby’s cues, learning about our baby, what he/she wants and needs, what is best for him/her, and generally putting our baby first, that it is easy to neglect ourselves and what we want and need — as mothers, as women, as people. But we all know that we can better care for our babies when we, ourselves, are taken care of.  Read More…

6 Comments | Posted in Balance, Healthy Living, Keeping Active, Work and Family

I would obsessively check my timing as I ran, wondering, “Can I stop yet? Can I? Only halfway! No. I thought I was much further along. Drat.” And during the cool-off walks, I’d be thinking, “Surely I can walk for longer, yes? Oh, shoot, I’m already over my time!” Today I was thinking how this relates to birth. Bear with me here.  Read More…

5 Comments | Posted in Birth, Healthy Living, Keeping Active, Preparing for Parenting

Sam and I have had to get creative in finding locations to bring a rowdy toddler that are shielded from some of the worst of the winter weather but are away from home and affordable to us. The suggestions below are some we’ve come up with. There’s a range of how indoors they are, so you can decide your cold tolerance. There’s also a range of expense involved, from free on up. Some options are better for younger babies, some for our age of tot and some for older kids.  Read More…

Leave a comment | Posted in Balance, Equally Shared Parenting, Healthy Living, Homeschooling, Keeping Active, Natural Learning, Parenting Philosophies, Playtime, Work and Family