Neo-hippieI've seen the words before, so I thought I'd do a little research to see if it described me.
Crunchy mama
A neo-hippie is a person who is environmentally, health, and socially conscious. A "crunchy mom" likes to go all-natural (food, hygiene, medicine, etc.) and typically does not buy mainstream products. These parents foster a strong, positive bond with their children through natural living.
So I'm not a crunchy mom, but I have some hippie ways. If I had to define myself, I'd say I'm a frugal creamy mama with a little crunch. I'll give examples of how I am a mix...
We wanted an all-natural birth.
I was not ready for a birth tub experience (maybe if we have another!), but my mindset was that I wanted to do most of the labor at home and, once I did get to the hospital, I did not want an IV or epidural (and definitely NOT a C-section unless it was an absolute emergency). I was "flexible" because it was my first experience, but my goal was all-natural no matter how big the baby. :) Then the time came... I had about 14 straight hours of labor (not counting the five hours of contractions the night before that had stopped, so 19 total) before I opted for an epidural. The only reason why I did opt for it was that I had been up for about two days straight by that point and felt that I could not focus nor have the strength for the delivery like I wanted. I still felt pain even with the epidural... so I felt a little closer to the "natural" feeling. :)
We cloth diaper.
"You what?" Yep, I've gotten the looks and the "ew, gross" comments. I just laugh it off. I used to be one of those with the "ew, gross" mentality. After one of my besties and one of Josh's coworkers (father of twins) shared the modernity of the antiquated diapering technique, the hubs and I were inspired. We researched the cost/health/environmental impact of disposables vs. cloth early on when we were pregnant with Julia. To me, cloth diapering seemed very intimidating. The idea of having to deal with poop and wash them... it was overwhelming to think about. But I talked to MANY who currently cloth diaper, and I even got to practice with it. I fell in love! P.S. we also use cloth wipes. :)
We baby wear.
After much debate, we decided against a stroller. We rarely are in situations that require one, and we were VERY interested in baby wearing. We love our Ergo carrier! Julia loves the closeness (so do we), it is easy to take places, it's comfortable... and mamas and daddies did it for thousands of years before strollers. It's doable.
I breastfeed.
Yep, I still do. No, Julia isn't too old (she's 14 months now). :) It was a struggle in the beginning, but once her tongue tie was fixed and we got the hang of it, it has been amazing. I did supplement with Similac for Breastfeeding Moms briefly (a couple of ounces at night only) because my chunkster had a tendency to cluster feed every hour in the evening making for one tired mama. And I simply didn't make enough extra at that point to pump for bottles.
I don't judge those who chose to formula feed, but those who are able should definitely do it. The benefits are endless!! And for anyone who thinks it's weird... umm, HELLO, mamas have been feeding their babies for THOUSANDS of years that way. And for those who weren't able, that's what wet nurses were for... crazy, huh? :)
We do not co-sleep.
This is something that would not have worked for our family. It works for some, and more power to y'all who do (SAFELY). I did this for about three weeks with the little one, but I could not sleep. She has slept wonderfully on her own in her crib since then. Yay!
We don't do screen time.
This means no TV, computer, or cell phone screens in her face just yet. We want to nourish her development in experiences that are tangible. I'm not saying this will last forever. But she's still a wee one. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually recommends no screen time until age 2, and limited screen time thereafter (increasing with age). Since we have this rule in place, my hope is that Julia will always enjoy learning about her environment and enjoying the outside as she does now.
We vaccinate.
After much research and opinions from friends in the medical field, we chose to vaccinate our daughter for "required" vaccines only. More on this in another future post since it's so highly debated!
We love natural medicine.
The first thing we did when Julia started teething? We got her an amber necklace. It was a God send!! I swear by it. Placebo effect or not.
We also give her elderberry syrup with the onset of any cold symptoms (or if we've been around sickness). I take it, too!
We did not give her rice cereal.
Even our pediatrician said it was junk and empty calories. The first thing we did was feed her mashed avocado. We did start with mashed foods (not really purees). We then started giving her finger foods - mostly fresh fruits (baked if a harder texture), tender meats, cooked veggies, and yogurts and cheeses. Now we are at the stage of giving her what's on her plate, if she'll eat it. Oh, and we skipped the puffs, too. She primarily gets fresh foods and some organic baby food when we're in a bind.
We will not get her ears pierced.
I can't imagine giving her that pain without it being her choice. I chose to get my ears pierced when I was 15. She can do the same when she's old enough.
So there it is. This is me. This is who I am.
I may not be a complete hippy, but the hubs and I try to be as environmentally, health, and socially conscious as possible. Not just as parents, but in general. As a Christian, I feel convicted to take care of my body, my family, and nature since it is all a gift from God. Do I eat a doughnut every now and then? Sure. Do I drive a gas-run car? Yes. But no one's perfect. Ha!
