This article was originally written for Natural Moms Talk Radio.
I’ve always been intrigued by the concept of the Natural Mom. Even the words “Natural Mom” sound so ethereal that anyone achieving that status brings to mind an image of an angelic creature looking down over all of us.
But these women are very real.
They do their homework and make smart decisions for their family that not only focus on their family’s well-being and health, but care for this precious planet at the same time. Being a Natural Mom is as practical as practical can be.
And despite the fact that I admire the Natural Mom, it’s not something I’ve been able to achieve in my life. I try at some things. I fail at some. I’m just too darned stubborn to try the others.
The Anatomy of One Unnatural Mom:
o I’m a breastfeeding mom, but with my first child grew so frustrated that I ended up just pumping my milk for as long as I could and bottle-feeding breast milk. I was much better equipped to handle it for REAL the next time and the 2nd baby never had a baby bottle…ever. Baby #3 is on the way and will be breastfed.
o My kids were born in a hospital and both by c-section. I attempted a vaginal birth the first time, but after 40 hours of labor and a low heart rate scare, the doctors said it was time to come out with it. I’ve been terrified of labor since.
o I love to wear my baby, but only when my husband is available to help me figure out the darned Mayan Baby Wrap. I can’t seem to make the darned thing to work properly on my own.
o Babies are allowed to sleep in our bed until I can no longer stand all the legs and feet (baby and grown up) poking me all night.
o I’m not 100% sure that I’ve ever even seen a cloth diaper.
o I’m militant about buying whole-wheat products in the grocery store, but we take our fair share of trips through the drive through for some white flour and animal fat delights.
o I bought two t-shirts from thelactivist.com, but they are so racy, we might only wear them inside the house.
o Although I thoroughly enjoy learning opportunities with my kids, home and school are two words that don’t go together around here. Well, unless I’m saying, “I’m at home and about to take the kids to school,” or the “Kids are on the way home from school.”
o I go through phases with organic foods and sometimes convince myself that all the foods labeled organic aren’t really what they say they are. Then I just buy the regular stuff to save money.
The Anatomy of One Unnatural Mom’s Kids:
o My kids are healthy, have never had any serious medical problems and rarely have colds.
o My kids are intelligent with vocabularies that would knock your socks (organic cotton, of course) off.
o My kids love interacting with other people, making friends and interactive play.
…and I could go on and on, but nobody wants to hear a mom brag about her kids endlessly. Let’s just say they’re doing pretty darned great. 
You see, I am who I am. I may be a little unnatural, but to my kids I am the world. I make my choices based on what I feel is best for my family and children.
I hope that you will forgive this Unnatural Mom and appreciate the efforts she has made because after all, nobody…not any mom…is truly perfect, except in the eyes of our own families. And that is what truly matters. Natural, unnatural or somewhere in between, all moms are amazing.
I love this post – I could have written it myself! I try to be ‘natural’ but in the end do what’s best for my family and our lifestyle. But I’m ok with that.
I’m a believer in doing what feels right. If you feel at peace with yourself and your surroundings then you are doing it right.
For me it’s always important to pass on the right messages to my kids. I know if I smile at them and feel happy about life they smile back at me and feel happy about life. And talking is good. My kids know the difference between organic and not. We decide together what we’ll eat and what we’ll buy.
They know about fair trade and they know about exploitation.
I think you gotta keep showing kids options and be open to options yourself.
Sometimes they say mom I don’t care about being organic today – can I please go to MacDonalds with my friends? And I say sure.
But I’ve over heard a couple of teeny conversations and I am just so amazed at how much wisdom they have and how they tell their friends that eating at MacDonalds too often is a bad idea because of organic issues etc.. Then I know I did something right!