Up until literally today, I had no idea what ‘crunchy’ or ‘granola’ meant, in reference to moms and families.Please correct me if I am wrong.
Judging by what i have googled, that means we are pretty granola and crunchy. We eat a mostly an organic, veg diet, do Attachment Parenting, and both heavily research herbalism and as you know Billy is a family wellness coach. But I also reflected on how we are not crunchy/granola. We are gamers, didn’t do cloth diapers ( when we lived in LA Target had some biodegradable disposables we got used to), I had a C section, and we really need to get better with how much we consume.
I don’t want to push myself to be something I am not, and I hate labels. At the same time, I had been wanting to make some changes to my life and wanted to keep reducing how much we use/consume as well as eating at home more often than going out. I’m not sure about you, but I LOVE to do both, and here in Phuket street food is super cheap and they can cook Thai dishes better than I can.
My thoughts on global warming differ from what mainstream media says about it. I don’t believe that carbon dioxide causes climate change or global warming, but that our plant has gone through such changes for centuries. ( 30,000 scientists want to sue Al Gore and Hara, his company that would profit from carbon taxes). Nonetheless mankind is destroying the planet, from deforestation to mind blowing pollution that is not only killing wildlife but poisoning people. Harmful toxins are in our day to day products and we need to learn to make our own chemical-free versions of products and support artisans that are making natural and sustainable crafts and goods. Billy and I are passionate about this.
So, I have decided on a few ways to be a little more granola and crunchy and thought I would share them!
1.) I am going to start planning my days better. This is something I have problems with, but I feel it will help me gain control over my daily life and start taking more care over what I buy and eat.
2.) We are going to continue talking with our daughter about diet, herbalism, and health as well as nature. Children need to learn about the Earth and it’s splendor and that some companies respect it while others exploit it. Knowledge is power and our children need this power.
3.) We are going to live in a like minded community. One thing that travel has taught me is how important being in a positive community is. We love how the Highlands has Findhorn as well as a large homeschooling group and some great sustainable restaurants and organic stores. We want to support them and learn from them.
No one is perfect, and I hate labels. But I like the idea of being a little crunchy/granola. I plan on having a home birth for our next child and will absolutely do cloth diapers. Why not?
Photo from here
Funny that you should mention this (and us too, thanks!) but I didn’t even know that I was crunchy until I started blogging about six months ago…though I have been this way for about ten years! We can only be crunchy in so many ways and I am not fond of labels either. My husband and I gave birth to our daughter Csermely at home unassisted, yet we eat meat – not often – though it is part of our diet, especially living in the countryside of Hungary and I still haven’t mustered up enough energy to learn how to make my own lye or soap…those days are coming, just not sure when?!
haha I know what you mean! We would LOVE to do unassisted, if I can convince Billy I totally will. I wanted to for Ky but after a car accident and some heart issues had to have a C section. It went ‘well’ but still, very traumatic for me and the IV was SO painful, they couldn’t find my veins. I actually don’t care if I do have my next in say a birthing center, I just want no needles unless I ask for them ( no idea how painful it is, but will try my best).
We want to live ‘off the grid’ as much as possible when we move to Scotland, and want to learn how to take care of ourselves. Not sure how hard it will be but that is why I want you to write an ebook about it lol!!
Ha, I always associated crunchy and granola with people who wear Birkenstocks, but based on what you wrote find I fall somewhat in that category too. Who knew?! We too are working on being more self-sufficient and living a more eco and economically sustainable lifestyle. Everyday I try to make as many conscious decisions as possible and make the kids aware of their actions and the long-term effect. For sure, there is so much more we could do and are in no way (nor want to be) a perfect description of the label, but think simply being conscious about how we vote with our choices goes a long way. (And I agree with you on the no IV birthing- regretfully did it with the 1st, 2nd came unplanned in the shower(amazing/great) and was at hospital with 3rd, but no doc or nurse on site at time, so hubby ended up delivering that one too. So much better.)
I too thought Birkenstocks lol!! Wow you are so lucky your husband delivered yours, that is AWESOME. I hope mine can as well, or at least assist. Yes, I HATE IVs and needles in general. Getting my blood taken every month when I was pregnant was just so unpleasant, they can’t find my veins. At the same time, I keep hearing how agonizing giving birth sans medication is, and so that has made me wonder if I will be able to do it. I don’t want to be in agony but at the same time want to try my best to have an all natural birth.