I am proud and honored to be volunteer with the Natural Parents Network (NPN), a community of natural-minded parents and parents-to-be where you will be informed, empowered, and inspired. When you visit the NPN’s website you can find articles and posts about
Activism,
Balance,
Consistent Care,
Ecological Responsibility,
Family Safety,
Feeding With Love,
Gentle Discipline,
Healthy Living,
Holistic Health,
Natural Learning,
Nurturing Touch,
Parenting Philosophies,
Practical Home Help,
Preparing for Parenting,
Responding With Sensitivity,
Safe Sleep, and so much more!
The volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to make NPN the outstanding resource it is also spend countless hours informing and inspiring others on their personal blogs.
This month, the Natural Parents’ Network Volunteers are sharing posts that celebrate books and reading! You will read posts that share some of our volunteers’ favorite books and/or books they recommend you read for the sheer joy of reading. Other posts outline recommended reading as it relates to a wide variety of natural parenting topics. You will also find posts which outline favorite children’s books as well as books that inspire learning or have an educational focus. And of course, no reading list would be complete without our volunteers’ favorite cookbooks and health resources!
We hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as we enjoyed writing them. We are always looking for new volunteers so please,
contact us if you are interested. Just a few hours per month can help other mamas in a huge way!
Lauren at Hobo Mama shares her review of two anthropologically minded books on motherhood and child rearing:
"What Our Babies, Ourselves taught me about my baby & myself," a look into the attachment parenting our babies have been biologically primed to expect in a book by Meredith F. Small, and
"Maternal ambivalence … and why it's ok," sort of the darker or more realistic side of attachment parenting based on a reading of
Mother Nature, by Sarah Blaffer Hrdy.
In
Our Babies, Ourselves, Small writes not just as an anthropologist, wanting to observe and record human behavior and how it relates to our biological and evolutionary roots as mammals, but also from an ethnopediatrics perspective, which seeks to advise us as parents how to integrate babies' innate needs with our culture in an infant-appropriate way. It's one of Lauren's favorite books for giving scientific justification for the benefits and longstanding history and cross-cultural popularity of attachment parenting.
Mother Nature, also by an anthropologist, shares experiences of motherhood as witnessed across the world and various cultures, across history and a variety of time periods, and even across species. The text is often dark and disturbing — an unflinching look at how mothers don't always live up to what we've decided (as modern Western humans) is their "nature." While we might aspire to be self-sacrificing and perfectly nurturing, we have to acknowledge this salient truth: What babies need and what mothers need or want can be in conflict. Mothers don't always live up to the ideals of "maternal nature" — and, Lauren would argue in this review, that can be perfectly acceptable.
You can purchase the books from these Amazon affiliate links:
Our Babies, Ourselves and
Mother Nature.
Be sure to follow Lauren on Hobo Mama,
LaurenWayne.com,
her newsletter,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Pinterest, and
Google +.
Julia at A Little Bit of All of It shares her review of
The Hour That Matters Most, a book that explains why the family dinner around the table is so important. She loves this book for providing families with the tools they need to get family dinners on the table and get to know your family on a deeper level as well. The book is available from
Amazon.
You can also find A Little Bit of All of It on Facebook,
Twitter,
Pinterest, and
Google+
Julia also shares her review of
The Other Baby Book, her absolute favorite baby book. She loves this book for presenting information on how to parent your baby outside of the mainstream and for the gentle, sometimes humorous way it is written. The book is available from
Amazon.
Joella at Fine and Fair shares her review of
I Love Me!, a children's book of Affirmations filled with simple but powerful phrases that help children build self-confidence and shape a positive world view. She loves this book for its simplicity and uplifting messages; it quickly became a favorite both in her home and to give as a gift!
Joella also shares her review of
Mama, Talk About Our New Baby, an attachment parenting friendly way to introduce to older siblings-to-be what it will be like to have a new baby in the house. She appreciates the inclusion of breast feeding, baby wearing, and co-sleeping, which she found absent from mainstream "big sister" books. This book was instrumental in preparing her daughter to welcome to her new baby brother into their family and home!
Be sure to follow Joella on her blog,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Pinterest, and
tumblr.
Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children shares her review on
Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball, a picture book by Vicki Churchill and Charles Fuge. The book has been a favorite with all of her children and is one she often gives to other families. While it works for families of all styles, it particularly appeals to attachment parenting families and those exploring the joys of toddlerhood. You can purchase the book from
Amazon.
Be sure to follow Mandy on her blog,
Facebook, and
Pinterest.
Mandy also shares her review on
Parent Effectiveness Training P.E.T. by r. Thomas Gordon. Styled on non-violent communication, the book is a wonderful guide with effective techniques for communicating with your children and others. It is one of Mandy's favorite, and most recommended, parenting books. You can purchase the book from
Amazon.
Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares her review of
Evie's Kitchen by Shazzie, a raw food recipe book aimed at young children and packed with natural parenting tips too. Shazzie is a raw food chef, and nutrition expert, I found her chapter on supplementation especially helpful. If you are wanting to incorporate more raw food into your child's diet then this book is a great resource! You can purchase the book from
Amazon or
Detox Your World.com.
Follow Christine on her blog,
Facebook,
Twitter,
Pinterest and
Google+.
Christine is also a huge fan of
The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates. This book is the ultimate reference book if you are looking to correct in
testinal flora issues, such as Candida. Donna Gates has been researching on the topic of Candida for years, and I would call her the ultimate expert.
The Body Ecology Diet, which is not a diet, but a lifestyle WILL correct your intestinal flora imbalances leaving you symptom free! You can purchase the book from
Amazon.
Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama is a research bug, lover of all books, and someone who has a hard time putting a good book down! Today, she shares two of her favorites;
Beyond the Rainbow Bridge and a collection of
books about...poop.
Beyond The Rainbow Bridge, Nurturing Our Children From Birth to Age Seven is a beautiful book by Barbara Patterson and Pamela Bradley. First, it is a very concise book compared to a lot of parenting books. The authors cut right to the chase and get to what really matters without a lot of fluff and fancy philosophical BS. Although their approach to parenting is heavily influenced by the work of Rudolph Steiner, the way that they share information on development, discipline, play, and health is palatable for any parent whether interested in Waldorf or not. There is so much more that I adore about this book and it really has inspired me to retool my mothering ever so slightly. I think that it is a worthwhile read for any mama who wants to create a more harmonious and gentle environment for her child(ren). By implementing many of the techniques offered by the author as well as gaining a better understanding of development and play, an opportunity to better connect with and mindfully engage your child opens up.
In the post
Books About Poop, for Children and The Adults in Their Lives, Jennifer shares her top 10 books about poop! Come on! You know you are curious. And trust her, these books are all great reads and lots of fun! Who doesn't love poop?
I've
reviewed a few books here at Momma Jorje as well. Most recently,
I was asked to review Kelle Hampton's book,
Bloom, about her life experiences leading up to the birth of her daughter with Down syndrome, the diagnosis and, later, the celebration of life and relationships. Make no mistake, though, his is
Kelle's memoir.
You can see my other book reviews in my
Book Review post category.
In Pioneering Today-A Homemade Christmas, author Melissa K. Norris, shares how to get back to the true meaning of Christmas, tips for homemade baked goods when you’re stretched for time, homemade affordable gifts people will use and like, and how to give the gift of yourself to your loved ones with special planned activities. With over 36 recipes, homemade gift ideas and decor, you’ll experience a simple Christmas with the joy the season was intended.
Bliss Balls for Beginners includes 21 Fabulous recipes that can be made into gifts, lunch box snacks, or treats for guests. They are dairy free, gluten free, and mostly sugar free too, and are easy for adults and children to make using common, healthy, lovely ingredients.
This virtual yoga series, Work Hard, Rest Deeply, from Stay-at-Home Yoga has five, full-length classes accessible whenever and wherever you roll out your mat. You will get three months of unlimited access to this series, designed to help you release tension, increase strength and cultivate joy this Holiday Season. (BONUS: Mindful Holiday Bundle Purchasers can also save $20 off an Annual Stay-at-Home Yoga Premium Membership!)
Natural Herbal Living is the perfect step in the right direction for anyone considering using herbs, essential oils, or flower essences in their own life for health and wellness. It discusses how to approach a personal herbal practice with joy and gratitude, the basics of herbalism, and important safety considerations.
written by Jenni Overend and illustrated by Julie Vivas.
(affiliate link). It helped a lot with Tyler when she was little.
because it looked colorful and fun sitting in one of the bins of board books at our local library branch. It has quickly become an absolute favorite in our house! We've renewed it a few times and it is currently overdue because I couldn't find it on library day!
Carry Me (Babies Everywhere)
, by Karyn Warburton. (There wasn't a lot of selection in the first place, and this one was available.)
is a comprehensive tool to give you a good kickstart into baby signing!