Comments on grumbles and grunts: crunchspiration

Oh I know exactly how you feel. I too float betwe...

2010-05-31T18:23:53.877-04:00

Oh I know exactly how you feel. I too float between the two worlds. Lost somewhere in the middle.

Online, that's fine. There are people, friends, like you that are the same. Trying to find their way and not afraid to write about missteps along their journey.

In the real world, sadly, that's not always the case. I've lost a few newish friends because of my crunchy tendencies. I've battled with family members and been dubbed the "organic bitch".

I'm thankful every single day that I have ladies like you all to help me feel normal and secure!

This resonated so much with me - I often feel that...

2010-05-20T18:10:07.420-04:00

This resonated so much with me - I often feel that I don't really belong in this 'earthy' world - which is why I changed my byline to Natural Parenting in the Real World - because I think people can be intimidated by the crunchiness. I know I sometimes am! I simply love the concept of being half way to hippyville! LOL.

A mom recently saw me open my nappy bag and in it there was vit C, chamomile, rescue remedy and about 6 other bottles (my baby doesn't handle teething well) and she asked me if I was a sangoma (african witch doctor!). So yeah - people think I'm a witch cause I go natural first and foremost.

I must say - it breaks my heart when I see people who don't look outside of the mainstream at all...

parent with pride, thanks for that. I, all to oft...

2010-05-12T17:02:40.411-04:00

parent with pride, thanks for that.

I, all to often, find myself avoiding gazes when the topic of sleep (and where my son sleeps) comes up. Or, adding a still in when it isn't needed. As in, yes, my son is still nursing.

But now, I will try my best to parent with pride. Own my choices. Know that they have been thoughtfully considered. Thanks.

In fact, you have inspired me. And I am, by all ac...

2010-05-12T01:03:30.888-04:00

In fact, you have inspired me. And I am, by all accounts, more experienced, being the mother of two who's been at this for 5 years. The truth is, that just like anyone else I have my moments where I feel like an impostor. My moments where I feel like I'm not crunchy enough. And so reading the words and thoughts of others who feel the same way helps me through.

My second child is 13 months old, but I am doing t...

2010-05-11T23:28:48.308-04:00

My second child is 13 months old, but I am doing things much differently this time around and in Oklahoma (especially somewhat rural Oklahoma) it's definitely not the norm. So I understand exactly what you're saying. It's daunting and lonely. I only have a couple local friends who do things even remotely the way I do. One of my best friends asks me all the time who I am and what have I done with the person I was prior to this child. (Thankfully she says so in a loving way, but recently it's gotten to the point that she's telling me that I'm going to have to stop breastfeeding soon.)

At any rate, it's hard for me to see how I could have possibly inspired anyone around here to do anything differently. They all look at me like I'm crazy.

But I just keep on truckin and doing what feels right for myself and my family and I am reassured and cheered on by my friends online.

I think it's great there is such a strong onli...

2010-05-11T23:20:04.765-04:00

I think it's great there is such a strong online community of natural parenting and crunchy granola mamas, but it's too bad there sometimes seems to be an element of competition or feeling like you have to do such and such to "belong to the club".

Life and parenting are all about process, and we inspire each other by living with love and awareness. For moms with older kids it can be inspirational to see new moms practicing natural parenting with gusto. I love how you describe your process of learning and growing as "weeding out ideas". Some ideas take root and flourish even when they might have been unexpected. :)

I've been a mom for nine years now and I can h...

2010-05-11T22:28:30.039-04:00

I've been a mom for nine years now and I can honestly say that you've inspired me. You made me WANT to breastfeed, even though I haven't been physically able to with either of my kids.

There is no right way to parent a child, only the best, right way for your child. I think you're doing an incredible job of finding your own parenting style and what works best for you and Jude, which is what I think all mothers should strive to do.

There's certainly no entrance exam, you defini...

2010-05-11T20:52:21.276-04:00

There's certainly no entrance exam, you definitely qualify! Otherwise none of us would, because there are as many ways to parent, and even parent naturally, as there are babies. Doing something because other people do and not because it's right for your baby and your family is the trap, and by parenting the way that's right for your family you are showing others that they can think and decide for themselves. That's inspirational.

Well, if it makes any difference to you, you'r...

2010-05-11T17:20:23.820-04:00

Well, if it makes any difference to you, you're FAR further along than I ever was with such a young one. I mean, I was breastfeeding and wearing Hollis everywhere, but I didn't really know where to find support or that there was a community out there. I think I discovered it much later... I wish I'd known about it all along.

In my opinion, you're doing a wonderful job in the ether. Your gentle, natural parenting, and all out l o v e for Jude and the process is evident and that alone is an inspiration.

I'm still very much in process, too, and all t...

2010-05-11T13:57:56.931-04:00

I'm still very much in process, too, and all the parenting ideas I have now came as a result of being inspired by someone else. I think with natural parenting, you dip your toe in somewhere (say, babywearing), and before you know it, you're making your own all-natural deodorant. (I'm not there yet, but I'm this close.) And every next step seems like too much, too crunchy, at first, and then you get used to it, and then it starts looking appealing even, and before you know it, you're sold! So maybe to your offline and non-natural parenting friends, they're still at the "what the huh?" stage about your parenting, or maybe they're at the "used to it but unsure" stage. But you never know what might change next! :)

I wonder if you could find some more offline friends who parent as you do, go to a La Leche League meeting or search out an AP playgroup.

Best line: "i hope i'm inspiring you to p...

2010-05-11T13:55:51.635-04:00

Best line: "i hope i'm inspiring you to parent with your heart."

You inspire me, sista.

You know, I think parenting is an ever evolving pr...

2010-05-11T12:54:39.497-04:00

You know, I think parenting is an ever evolving process because there are so many stages to it. Like Dionna said, you can be an inspiration to someone who hasn't yet reached the stage you're at. The beauty of natural parenting is that it forces you to think about why you're doing things a certain way. While some people may not instantly understand (or may never understand or even want to understand), somewhere out there your choices are inspiring someone to think about their own parenting choices.

you have encouraged me to keep on pumping!

2010-05-11T10:33:52.906-04:00

you have encouraged me to keep on pumping!

I think new/young mothers discount their own exper...

2010-05-11T08:42:01.480-04:00

I think new/young mothers discount their own experience too much: regardless of where you are in your parenting journey, you have the right to be a role model! The breastfeeding mother of a one week old can inspire the heavily pregnant mother to try bf'ing. The cloth diapering mother of a two month old can inspire the mother of a newborn to try cloth. Et cetera, et cetera. Don't sell yourself short! :)