I had to laugh as I read these! My sister is a real estate agent and she was at a listing appointment. When she was touring the couples DD's room she saw cloth diapers. She then asked 'Do you know my sister Niki?' The women, who was in our playgroup, called crunchy natural mommas, said 'Oh you mean Hippy Niki!' I had to laugh then too. I have been called much worse and while for once in my life it would be nice not to have to explain every single decision I make, I like it. I go against the grain, but as my family has grown, both in age and in number, I just see it as a chance to educate! Of course people usually only want to talk to me at the grocery store when my baby is nursing loudly in the wrap, my toddler is pulling my daughters hair because he loves hair, and my older kids are drooling and asking why they never get 'normal' food or cereal for breakfast!!

I can only say this, the more positive your attitude the less they can say to break you down. I wear skirts, I birth at home, I carry my babies(and toddlers, and some times big kids too), I bake bread(so does my artisan baker DH), I wear sandals(or barefoot), I compost, I garden, I knit socks, I use cloth diapers and napkins, I stay home and educate my kids myself, I love my husband, my earth and my God, and you know what I even tie-dye!! I even have owned a big ole' van that we were going to paint, we have made cob walls and earth ovens and we love almost every minute of it! I would rather have people call me crunchy or hippy, than the one I got when I was at a coffee shop with a friend after my 5th baby was born. When asking how old she was and admiring her, the women asked if she was my first, I replied no I have 4 more at home with daddy! She actually said 'My aren't you a baby factory!' Is this a compliment? It was almost as bad as being called a breeder!!! Anyway be a hippy be crunchy, be any label you want or as many as you want!!!!


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