• Last updated 1/6/13 by Melanie Mayo

Five Ways Frugal Living Benefits Kids by Laura Grace Weldon Sophie is a single mother raising a five-year-old boy. She’s working to establish her own house cleaning business after losing her job nearly two years ago. Sophie and her son live in a small trailer home. Marissa and Jack run a thriving dental practice while raising five-year-old twin daughters. They live in a suburban home on several acres. The five-year-olds from these families are at opposite ends of the economic spectrum. But their parents are raising them in remarkably similar ways.... read more

• Last updated 10/18/12 by Melanie Mayo

 On Saturday morning I woke up just before 5 am to the sound of crying.  It turned out that a slight fever and teething were responsible.  After a few minutes of cuddling and reading a few books, all was well.  Since I was up, I checked my email.  I found out that a few hours earlier, just after 1 am, the Senate had passed a bill saying it would be okay with them if US planes landing in Europe ignored Europe’s climate laws.  The bill also gave a glimmer of hope.  It implied that the FAA and State Department needed to ramp up their efforts to negotiate a... read more

• Last updated 10/24/12 by Melanie Mayo

  With fall and winter fast upon us, our time spent outdoors is going to diminish from what it’s been during these nice last days of summer.   Our windows will close up, and the heater and fireplace will turn on.  Now while I absolutely adore sitting by a roaring fire, cozied up on the couch with my little loves, I also realize that the health impact from those seemingly benign luxuries are not what I’d like them to be.   When I think of air pollution, I often think of the Southern California sky where I grew up.  On the vast majority of days throughout... read more

• Last updated 10/4/12 by Mothering Editorial

Issue 130By Peggy O'Mara A few months ago I got a call from a reporter who wanted me to define natural family living for an article she was writing for the Seattle Times. Just yesterday a friend told me that the article had turned up in the Baltimore Sun. Until now I have resisted defining natural family living, for several reasons. First, at its best, natural family living defies general definition because it is about discovering what is natural for each individual. Second, I don’t want parents to think they must follow rules in order to be good at parenting. And... read more

• Last updated 10/19/12 by Melanie Mayo

 This week I did something that may sound a little crazy.  I took the Amtrak train from Washington, DC to Milwaukee, WI.  I had to make the trip for a work meeting, and I wanted to see if I could do my part to lower my carbon footprint by not flying.  The train was about 0.04 tons of carbon pollution, while a plane would have had nearly three times the emissions of the train.   Also, once we transition to renewable energy, trains will be an even better option since they can be powered by the wind and the sun.  The train was overnight, so I didn’t miss any... read more

• Last updated 1/7/13 by Melanie Mayo

I’ve always said that I’m not a good crafty mom.  I’ll take my kids on a hike, a bike ride, or swimming all day long, but when it comes to creative indoor ideas, I’m definitely lacking.  Recently however, my kids and I have been having a ton of fun making our own body care products that we all use and love!  They get to help create something from start to finish, taking pride in the fact that what they make is equal to anything that they can buy from the store – a confidence boost in that lesson for sure!  And together, we’ve bonded indoors and have found a craft... read more

• Last updated 10/25/12 by AdinaL

 I’m not usually one of those people who reads the last page of a book before starting it, but in the case of Dr. Michael Mann’s new book, “The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars” the last page makes for essential reading for parents because its where his daughter enters the story.  The book chronicles Dr. Mann’s ultimate victory over attacks on his scientific integrity that were funded by the coal, oil and gas industry, and has good takeaways for parents everywhere.  First, key facts about climate science are woven throughout his story and presented in an... read more

• Last updated 8/24/12 by Mothering Editorial

Talcum powder can be irritating to a baby’s respiratory system. You can make your own powder out of any combination of these natural ingredients found at your natural foods store: Powdered oris root Finely ground oatmeal Finely ground rice flour White cosmetic clay Experiment to see which consistency and ingredients you like. You may add a small amount of finely crushed lavender flowers or rose petals for a mild scent, but make sure their texture is compatible with that of the powder. You could also keep a small lavender or rose sachet inside the... read more

• Last updated 10/25/12 by AdinaL

Last week over 4 million people in the US experienced the joy, the fear, and the weight of responsibility of becoming a parent.  And last week a new organization was born to serve the needs of those parents.  It is called climateparents, and it is an organization for people with children, or who plan to have children, and are worried about the future their children will inherit in an era of climate change. So far the response has been amazing.  Parents from around the country are signing up.  Together, we are asking all elected officials to tell us two... read more

• Last updated 10/31/12 by Cynthia Mosher

My kids occasionally call the kitchen Mom’s Evil Laboratory because I like to make our own soaps, lotions, and herbal tinctures. I’ll concede, some of my concoctions don’t smell wonderful. Okay, some don’t turn out too well either. These days we’re using the last remnants of salve that’s become a little too solid. And I’m the only one intrepid enough to use the latest batch of homemade chamomile shampoo. I don’t know what the big deal is, all that’s required is applying said shampoo milliseconds after shaking before it separates back into non-frothy greenness and soapy... read more