What is Holistic Parenting?

Many of today’s parents are seeking natural remedies and a holistic lifestyle for themselves and their families in an effort to attain optimal health and to live a greener life. Holistic parenting is about understanding how our choices are connected. Being conscious of our choices enables us to think on a larger scale and to do what is best for our families both in the short term and the long term.

Although holistic parenting can take many routes and result in a wide variety of choices, there are some simple things every parent can to do to begin their journey. Here are six steps to discovering holistic parenting:

· Be Informed. Being informed in all of your parenting and health choices is a cornerstone of whole living. Investigate your options educate yourself on the benefits as well as the risks of your parenting, healthcare, and lifestyle choices.
· Cultivate Trust. Living holistically starts with a shift in your perspective away from fear and uncertainty and toward trust in yourself, your body, and nature’s healing power. Cultivating this trust is challenging but uncovering it is ultimately a source of empowerment.
· Tune Into Your Mother (or Father) Wisdom. Deep within yourself lies your inner wisdom and intuition, as well as your spiritual voice. What feels right to you may not be the most traveled path but often will best serve your family.
· Go Natural. The preponderance of chemicals in our food, homes, and environment is wreaking havoc on our health. We need to look for safe, non-toxic products to care for our homes, and to eliminate artificial ingredients, preservatives, and pesticides from our food.
· Live Lightly on the Earth. Living holistically means recognizing the interconnectedness of our choices. Tread lightly by supporting industries that nurture the earth (such as organic farming), incorporating green practices into your life (such as recycling), and giving back of yourself through volunteer work.
· Find Support. Creating and interacting with others who share similar philosophies is empowering and will help you to find the tools you need to grow a healthy family. What’s more, social support itself is health creating. Recent studies show that being socially connected to others can improve your physical health and is linked to lower mortality rates. .

May your parenting journey be a healthy one!

About Holistic Moms Network

ABOUT US

The Holistic Moms Network (HMN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit support and resource organization connecting parents who are interested in holistic health and green living. HMN was founded in 2003 by a handful of moms yearning for the support and friendship of others parenting outside the mainstream. Today - thanks to the ever-increasing popularity of alternative medicine and a growing environmental consciousness - HMN has over 120 chapters across the U.S. and Canada. Through ongoing media campaigns, HMN is informing thousands of people about the benefits of holistic health and green living.

HMN represents the growing demographic of holistic-minded parents who are questioning conventional wisdom in the areas of birthing, child-rearing, healthcare, nutrition and wellness, education, personal relationships, and our society's views about the natural world. In the face of mounting global and environmental problems, holistic parents strive to give their children the love, support, and information they need to become informed, compassionate, and healthy children who can live in balance with their world.

Some of the principles behind holistic living include:

• Eating minimally processed foods and exercising to maintain health;
• Using natural and non-invasive healing modalities that stimulate the body to heal itself;
• Understanding the connections between mind, body and spirit;
• Understanding the interconnections between life events and between all living things;
• Striving to live in balance with nature and minimizing our impact on the planet;
• Understanding that our actions and choices have consequences for our families and our planet;
• Using connection and attachment parenting techniques (through babywearing, breastfeeding, non-violent communication and positive discipline) to raise self-confident and emotionally stable children;
• Taking responsibility for our actions and making informed choices in all areas of life.

HMN has a variety of programs to support families along their holistic journeys. Through monthly meetings, playgroups, and special events, HMN's local chapters bring parents together to share advice and information in a nurturing, open-minded and respectful environment where they don't feel judged. HMN's dynamic online forums provide an additional way to learn about an array of holistic living topics including birth and vaccination choices, breastfeeding, alternative healthcare and schooling options, positive discipline and all things green - from recycling and composting to eco-friendly birthday parties and vacations.

As a member of HMN, you can share your holistic passions with others and be part of a growing movement of healthy and eco-conscious parents.

Membership in the Holistic Moms Network provides the following benefits:

• Gives parents access to our many online communities for information and support,
• Provides a subscription to The Wise Mom Newsletter,
• Includes discounts from our Sponsors,
• Provides discounted rates for our annual Natural Living Conference,
• Provides a local Chapter affiliation if available.

HMN is dedicated to facilitating grassroots community-building. The organization offers moms the opportunity to create local chapters where they can find the support, friendship, and knowledge that are so necessary for successful parenting. HMN welcomes moms-to-be, dads, grandparents, and partners into our organization. To find a chapter near you, check out our Chapters page. If no chapter exists in your region, we would be happy to help you start a chapter in your area!