Our Lifestyle
|
Environmental Activism - We are strong environmental activists. Though we understand that our friends and family sometimes do not choose to live this way, we hope that others will understand that this is what we believe, as strongly as religion or cultural practices. We recycle everything and limit our trash output. We do not use chemicals in our daily lives, going so far as to use natural organic products for even the simplest things like toothpaste, soap, and cleaning supplies. Not even the smallest part of our lives has gone unnoticed and we have changed our entire way of living to have the smallest impact on our environment possible. We honor the place where we live and we respect the world around us by adhering strictly to our beliefs. We never try to imply or impose our beliefs on others and appreciate all who understand this and know we hold it sacred. ____________________ Organic Clothing - "Organic" means that the cotton used to make the clothes was not grown with artificial fertilizers or pesticides. Most importantly, it also means that the cloth was not soaked with formaldehyde and that it has not been treated with fire retardants, chemicals which build up in the system over time and are known to be responsible for liver and kidney damage as well as being highly carcinogenic. Cotton is also the most strongly pesticide-laden crop in the United States, owing to the fact that there are no FDA standards limiting the amount of chemicals that can be contained in cotton because it is not considered an edible crop. These chemicals are absorbed by the skin and also ingested and inhaled as dust from clothing, mattresses, and appliances. Gone are the days when children slept by the fireplace or next to a heater, so unless my children are in danger of suddenly combusting of their own accord, I see no reason to dress them like a fire fighter. Cotton must be organically grown in order to be labeled "organic." Fortunately, hemp, bamboo, and silk are completely chemical-free and are naturally grown organically and so do not need to be labeled "organic" as they always are organic. Bamboo is the finest of all natural materials being stronger and softer than silk and also more absorbent, wicking moisture away from skin to keep you dry and cool. Bamboo also has natural antibacterial properties. Growing organically has more of an impact than just keeping toxic chemicals out of our children. Growing organically also ensures that these chemicals are not being used in our natural environment and that traditional farming practices have taken over the highly-industrialized petroleum-based farming that is most widely used now. _____________________ Breastfeeding - Our children will never be fed from a bottle. They will be breastfed until they wean themselves; even if they choose to nurse into the toddler years. Food will not be introduced until our children are physically capable of digesting it completely, not as infants and then they will not be fed baby food, but what food we ourselves are eating. I believe in nursing on demand anywhere that I need to. No breast substitutes such as pacifiers will be used. I have chosen not to cover myself when breastfeeding because I do not want to imply to others or myself that it is a shameful act that should be hidden from others' view. I think it's wonderful and natural and I feel very good about it, so I didn't want to surprise anyone by just busting out the baby food in public. 101 reasons to breastfeed your child ____________________ Anti-Commercialism - We are anti-commercialist, meaning
that we do not believe in or subscribe to television or to
commercialized products such as brand-name items and children's
products which advertise a specific character or corporation such as
Disney, Precious Moments, Winnie-the-Pooh, Superman, etc. I harbor a
particular aversion toward anything Disney and clowns which has
nothing to do with commercialism. They just plain creep me out. ____________________ Plastic Toys - Plastic toys contain PVC and phthalate compounds known to build up in the system and act as carcinogens. Plastic toys also contain lead in amounts not to exceed government regulation, however, some toys are in constant violation of these standards. Our little ones will not be given plastic toys of any kind or other plastic products such as plastic dishes, teethers, pacifiers, etc. The safest toys are those made from 100% organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, silk, wool, metal, or toys made from unpainted and untreated wood. Seashells, costumes, and scarves are also wonderful toys. ___________________ Mother Substitutes - Mother substitutes or "surrogate items" are items which have been developed in order to take the place of the mother so that she can put her children down to have time to herself. Items such as playpens, swings, pacifiers, walkers, bottles, cribs, strollers, handheld carriers, bed-rockers, monitoring devices, and musical toys are all mother substitutes. Our children will be held by us 100% of the time or will be set on the floor to play when they ask. They will sleep in bed with us or in a smaller bed next to ours where they can be fed, hugged, cuddled, and touched on demand. We do not consider ourselves better than other parents who use any of these devices, we only choose not to use them ourselves. ___________________ Religion - Our children will be raised with knowledge of all religions and will be encouraged to choose their own beliefs for themselves. This means that they are not to be swayed or "hinted into" any belief systems of any kind, even our own. Teaching about religion is perfectly okay, but we will not allow preaching, proselytizing, or religious symbols to be given to our children, especially during infancy when they are incapable of understanding such decisions for themselves. ___________________ Circumcision - If we have sons, they will not be circumcised. ___________________ Cloth Diapering - Cloth diapering saves more than two tons of waste per child which will end up in landfills around the world. I believe that the self-sacrifice of having to wash diapers is the least I can do to help the environment after having a child. The small amount of inconvenience it may cause me is insignificant in the big picture. Cloth diapers can be used again and again for multiple children. Even better, buying one-size-fits-all cloth diapers and covers reduces the amount of money needed to be spent on cloth diapering by at least 2/3 and also reduces the amount that will eventually, one day, find its way to a landfill.___________________ But WHY are you doing this? I have many reasons for making these choices. There are numerous books on natural parenting, attachment parenting, and natural living. If anyone would like information on why I have made some of these decisions, you may like to read Mango Mama's Natural Parenting, and e-book that I purchased years ago. I don't remember where I came across it the first time, but it was the first bit of information on natural parenting that I ever laid hands on. I do not agree with everything the author says, but after several years of research, I made my own decisions. Mango Mama's Natural Parenting You may also be interested in the following:
Bornfree! The Unassisted Childbirth Page |