Category Archives: Beyond Childbirth

Inspiring Children to be Lifelong Learners

  By Donna DeForbes | August 11, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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Inspiring Children as Lifelong Learners | Eco-Mothering.com

Welcome to the August 2015 Carnival of Natural Parenting 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 talked about how they continue learning throughout life and inspire their children to do the same. ***** From the beginning, my husband and I have been less focused on the academic standards of a school and more interested in what Sofie will learn from her school environment about communication, conflict resolution, working as a team or making mistakes… Rather than be someone who learns just enough to pass the test, we want her to be a lifelong learner. Because of this, we’ve been front-loading her education, spending our dollars in the formative early years as opposed to saving for college, a time when Sofie will be living the values, qualities and influences that she experienced … Continue reading →

Parenting According to Dosha

  By Donna DeForbes | August 4, 2015 - 5:00 am | , ,
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Tips for how to parent the dosha of your child | Eco-Mothering.com

The Indian science of Ayurveda is the art of living in harmony with nature. Everything in nature is formed from various proportions of these five elements: space, air, water, fire and earth. These elements are also present as biological energies within us, where they are called doshas: Pitta, Vata and Kapha. What is a Dosha? The three doshas, or mind-body types, reveal our personal energy patterns—sort of like the way Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® identifies our personalities (ISFJ, anyone?). While we each have a mix of all three doshas, usually one primary dosha dominates our personality and health from birth. According to Ayurvedic principles, we can achieve balance in our health and our lives by nurturing our particular dosha. Here is a brief summary of each dosha. Pitta (fire and water; summer/early fall): Hot, intense, sour energy. Pitta people tend to have a medium build, sensitive skin and strong appetites. They … Continue reading →

Generation Gap (In Defense of Gen Xers)

  By Donna DeForbes | May 12, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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In Defense of Gen Xers | Eco-Mothering.com

Like it or not, my daughter is growing up a part of Generation Z being defined as the most entrepreneurial, collaborative, and socially conscious group of people yet. It seems like a good thing. Studies say Gen Z are more educated, make healthier choices and are cautious in their spending—the results, perhaps, of growing up in a world defined by digital media, global connection and depleting resources. I can’t help but feel a little bit jealous and, even defensive, of my own Generation X (roughly, those born between 1965 and 1980). The Baby Boomers labeled us as such due to the challenge of identifying the “X” factor that represented us. They called us cynical, anxious, unfocused slackers. Really, we are the children of the 70’s and 80’s, a group sandwiched between two larger and flashier generations. We got lost in the shuffle. We started out in safe, idyllic childhoods but … Continue reading →

The Shape of Our Family: Musings on Genealogy

  By Donna DeForbes | April 14, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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The Influence of Family | Eco-Mothering.com

Welcome to the April 2015 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Family History 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 shared stories, lore, and wisdom about family history. Please read to the end to find a list of links to the other carnival participants. ******* I’ve had an interest in genealogy since the fifth grade when my grandfather helped me make a family tree of my Scottish ancestry for a school project. I learned the tendency of the Scots to exaggerate: my grandfather claimed a relation to Warren Beatty (we do have cousins who married into Beattys, just not Warren’s family) and said we were descended from Bonnie Prince Charlie (highly unlikely). However, my determination to continue tracing my roots persists to this day as I map my relatives on ancestry.com and make … Continue reading →

Natural Parenting from A to Z

  By Donna DeForbes | March 17, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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Natural Parenting Basics | Eco-Mothering.com

Are you a natural parent? What does that even mean? Natural parenting is generally defined as “a desire to live and parent responsively and consciously.” Within that definition there are some basic principles and a variety of lifestyle choices. Don’t worry; to be a natural parent, you don’t have to follow every single one of them! Some choices will speak to you, others will not. For instance, I am a strong proponent of breastfeeding, babywearing, nurturing touch and nature. I also had an induced labor, a fully vaccinated daughter and never made my own baby food. Yet I still consider myself a natural and responsive parent who makes conscious choices every day. If you’re new to parenting, you can peruse this list to see what aspects of the natural lifestyle may work for you and your partner. Which ones jive with your personality? Start here, then do further research on your … Continue reading →

Natural Parenting Convention: #MommyCon2015

  By Donna DeForbes | March 3, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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MommyCon 2015 | Eco-Mothering.com

I sure wish there was an event like this when I was pregnant nine years ago! It would have been amazingly helpful to have so much natural parenting information and products gathered in one location — with experts on hand to answer my every question and like-minded moms to befriend. What is MommyCon? Back for its third consecutive year, MommyCon is a boutique-style convention focused on natural and organic parenting methods. The daylong event features speakers and workshops that provide an education about parenting choices. And you don’t have to be an über-crunchy mom to attend…the organization prides themselves on being a judgment-free environment open to all parents or parents-to-be and a variety of perspectives. All you really need is to be passionate about parenting. 2015 events are being held in eight cities across the U.S. While each city’s specific program differs, topics generally include: birth, breastfeeding, natural health and … Continue reading →

Breastpump Recycling Made Easy by Medela

  By Donna DeForbes | February 19, 2015 - 5:00 am | ,
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Medela Recycles Breastpumps | Eco-Mothering.com

Here’s proof that one person can make a difference! Last summer a mom from California started a petition on change.org asking Medela to uphold their motto of “Breastfeeding for Earth” and implement a breastpump recycling program. Over 2,000 people signed the petition, and Medela responded by launching a breastpump recycling program in January. The Medela Recycles program intends to keep 12,000 breast pumps out of landfills by making it easy for moms to be eco-conscious in disposing of their breastpumps. Also, in exchange for the breastpumps received through Medela Recycles, the company will donate hospital-grade Medela Symphony® Preemie+™ breastpumps and supplies to Ronald McDonald House Charities® for families with babies in NICU. Actress and mother of two, Jenna von Oy, kicked off the campaign last month by donating two hospital grade pumps to her hometown Ronald McDonald House Charities.® This is what Jenna had to say about the Medela Recycles program: “I … Continue reading →

Green Fun Guide for Spending Time with your Teen

  By Donna DeForbes | February 17, 2015 - 5:00 am |
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family-biking

This is a guest post by Melissa Stevens In these modern times, parents are occupied with endless work-related duties and other activities that you often cannot find enough time to be with your children who have fast become teenagers. When you do grab a chance to spend a day with them, you want to have as much fun as possible. Even better, you can influence their ecological awareness by planning some green fun. Out-of-City Experiences Living in the city demands a near constant use of the car, especially when you’re driving teens to school or the mall. However, it is important to stress the importance of walking. Walk with them sometimes to the store or the local park. Gather your kids, nephews and nieces and take them for a trip into the “wild” so that they are exposed to numerous miracles of nature that urban kids rarely witness. You might … Continue reading →