The way we see ourselves is up to us. View more elephant art at The Asian Elephant Art and Conservation Project.
attachment siblings…
My husband and I are family people. Family is very important to us and we would do anything to help others out. We would love to have the big family gatherings where cousins are running around playing, grandparents are spinning tales from earlier years, and everyone is chatting and interacting. We would love it, but... Continue Reading →
summer fun…
Welcome to the June Carnival of Natural Parenting: Outdoor fun This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Hobo Mama and Code Name: Mama. This month our participants have shared their stories and tips for playing outside with kids. Please read to the end to find a list... Continue Reading →
connection parenting…
Pam Leo's book, Connection Parenting, begins a bit differently from many other books. Individuals new to the subject of gentle parenting or consensual living will be happy to read that parents are doing the best they can with the information, resources, and support they have at any given time. While you may feel regret about... Continue Reading →
my husband, my nuclear midwife…
I internally cringe whenever I hear someone comment on how women have been birthing with the assistance of midwives for the majority of history. Historically, midwives did not deliver babies. They were not some expert called in for the pregnancy or birth. Traditionally, midwives were the important women in one's life - mothers, sisters, grandmothers, and... Continue Reading →
playing in the dirt…
We go to a lot of parks. I think it's important for children to have the opportunity to spend time outside playing. No matter what amenities various parks have, the natural amenities are the things which draw my children in. My kids love to play with sticks, acorns, and rocks and to dig in the... Continue Reading →
I’m a little teapot…
As a small child, I was dragged to dance lessons by my grandmother, decked out in head to toe pink. I hadn't asked for dance lessons. My grandmother was always trying to turn me into something else, and apparently I wasn't girly enough for her tastes. Since she was paying, she could dictate the pink. I don't... Continue Reading →
pretty in pink…
Walk into any baby section of a clothing store and one will notice two distinct sections - the blue section, rift with sports themes, cars, and puppy dogs - and the pink section, with flowers. Companies have been marketing gender differences for years, although they've raised the bar. It doesn't end with clothing anymore. Large... Continue Reading →
it’s 4 AM…
It's 4 AM. The Earth is slient - the world asleep. You and I stare at each other in the dim light of the night light, a twinkle beginning in your eyes and ending with a smile. I kiss you softly and hold you close, wishing to remember this moment. It's 6 AM. The world will... Continue Reading →
luck has nothing to do with it…
We are not lucky; we are fortunate. There is a difference. When my husband called his grandmother to announce the birth of our fourth child, he expected to hear excitement and congratulations. There was a bit of that, before she went into a lecture about how lucky we were. If someone was speaking of how... Continue Reading →
living peacefully with children 