Engaging in parenting as a radical homemaker

[mintandmoss]

I am at home full time with my 22 month old and in the third trimester for number 2. I feel myself slowing down because of the pregnancy, but needing to keep up with a busy almost 2 yr old and knowing things with kick up a notch with the new baby. I live in montreal and am addicted to CBC radio as well as this American life which I can listen to simultaneously while playing and doing housework. Are there any other NPR programs that people highly recommend? Streaming or podcasts.
I had a hard time in some ways reconciling my choice to stay home and raise my daughter and growing family. We have universal $7 a day daycare in quebec and thus there are very few stay at home parents... Daycare is the norm after babies are a year old. In most ways I am confidant and proud of my choice to focus on being the primary care giver to my daughter, but I do get tired of the monotony of our routine (especially this second winter! When we have been indoors a lot).
For a while I was looking for something career wise that I could start to do part-time to help bring home some income and also have as a goal for when I decide to go back to work (likely when my kids are in school full days). However, I realized I was doing this more to respond to a social critique that 'being a SAHM wasn't real work'. I stopped this search for something more, feeling like I was being too hard on myself and that I was doing 'real work' I just wasn't being paid for it. However, with this shift I am committing myself to doing more research and reading to deepen my confidence and engage that critical aspect of my brain in the work of parenting.
Are there any books or websites people recommend for alternative parenting?
So far I have really enjoyed reading Simplicity Parenting, You Are Your Childs First Teacher, and some online articals by Alfie Kohn and Jesper Juul.
Right now I am interested specifically in setting bounderies and limits in a loving way, adapting to parenting 2 children and beginning to process towards potentially homeschooling.
This is my first post....sorry if it is a bit all over the place, I think I have more than one question really but any feedback would be appreciated!

[mamazee]

I was typing up a response, but went to gather a few links, and lost it! I will try again.

I've been a SAHM for 11 years, and the winters are definitely the hardest. Give that a few weeks and the monotony should end.

I don't know of any other websites but Mothering that have our focus. But you might be interested in the Gentle Discipline forum and the Learning at Home forum:

http://www.mothering.com/community/f/36/gentle-discipline
http://www.mothering.com/community/f/50/learning-at-home-and-beyond

Also, the term "radical homemaking" to me means stuff like gardening and preserving the food you make, making your own soap and things, baking all your own bread, etc. I do not have those talents! Or at least not to that extent. However, if that is what you mean by "radical homemaking" I can get you links to connect with other moms here who have those same interests. I think you might be using that term differently than I'm thinking, though, so I will hold off on that.

How old are your children? I have some favorite parenting books, but it probably depends on the ages of your kids. I really like How To Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Becoming The Parent You Want To Be. I don't know of any books specifically for SAHMs.

Montreal is a big city and, despite how uncommon SAHMs are, you might be able to get a playgroup/group of moms with similar interests if you check Finding Your Tribe here ( http://www.mothering.com/community/f/94/canada ,) or maybe Craigslist.

I am a huge fan of Alfie Kohn! I haven't read the other books you're talking about, but Simplicity Parenting sounds really interesting to me.

Welcome and thanks for the interesting post.

[skinnyloveBC]

I love NPR! Specifically, WNYC's Radiolab is a fascinating program. I have yet to hear one that wasn't interesting. My favorite so far is Wake Up and Dream. SO interesting! It's available as a podcast and there's an app for Apple devices.

[mintandmoss]

Thanks for the suggestions, I will check out the other forums as well as the books and radio programs!
I guess I did not elaborate on the radical homemaker stuff, but yeah, we do all our cooking from scratch, i sew, knit, can food, have a garden and keep bees in a collective, my husband bakes all our bread. Part of my life as a SAHM includes reclaiming life skills that have gone by the wayside for many...those resources I know well, and I am slowly finding others that do the same types of things with their families.

[2pedals2wheels]

You sound like a person I would like to get to know better :)  I, too, like all of the kinds of things you do (except the bee keeping haha).  Staying at home where I live has 2 different reputations: 1) You are wealthy and you can afford to live on one income, OR  2) You are an old-fashioned homely christian type.  I prefer the "I can afford to raise my own child so I'm going to do it my way and do it well" reputation :)   I never knew about the Quebec childcare; how interesting.  Anyways, I think what you are doing for your child is outstanding.  I try to break the monotony by trying to go somewhere a couple times a week (library, grocery, nature center, etc.).  With a child on the way, you may not have the energy to be wrangling a two year old, though... You have my respect.  

By the way, do you have MOPS groups in Quebec? (Mothers Of Preschoolers) It's a great group of women to be involved with.  You might want to check it out!  http://www.mops.org/

[serenbat]

IF you like This American Life you will LOVE - http://risk-show.com   it's this American life kicked up!!!  

We also listen to Radio Lap - we can get (locally too)  WHYY - this is out of Philadelphia - The have Terry Gross! There is another "local" PA show that is really good, fact is we have 2 besides Terry - http://whyy.org/cms/youbetyourgarden/  the garden show is out of Philly but simulcasted - this is just PA - http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/nwtonight also on WHYY I mentioned Newworks because they do local stories but with a National twist and really good.

Quote:

We have universal $7 a day daycare in quebec and thus there are very few stay at home parents..

I can't really reply to your post because I am in SHOCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! over this 

you live on a different planet from us here in the US!!!!!

I stay at home with this one (age 5) my other is way older and not at home- and I am soooooooo busy with so many different things, I really need to stay home and relax! but that is not going to happen any time soon!

and welcome!!

[mamazee]

Oh that IS what you mean by "radical homemaker!" Awesome! I think you might find more in Mothering's The Mindful Home forums: http://www.mothering.com/community/f/311/the-mindful-home and maybe the Nutrition and Good Eating forum: http://www.mothering.com/community/f/267/nutrition-and-good-eating

As well as here! But you've already found some here it looks like. And the homeschooling forum maybe. Someone who hangs out in all of those forums would strike me as a potential radical homemaker. I know there are some because I've read posts by them, but I don't remember specifically who.