Natural Family Living: The Mothering Magazine Guide to Parenting

by Peggy O'Mara, Jackie Facciolo (Illustrator), Jane L. McConnell

For more than two decades, Mothering Magazine has been the source for sound alternatives to mainstream parenting. Now Peggy O'Mara, editor and publisher of Mothering Magazine, brings her knowledge and compassion to a compendium of never-before-published parenting wisdom -- and presents, in one convenient volume, a genuinely natural approach to raising our children.

Natural Family Living
The Mothering Magazine Guide to Parenting

An internationally renowned advocate of natural parenting, Peggy O'Mara covers a vast range of timeless and contemporary issues in detail and with authority -- from the practical to the philosophical, from preconception to

* Embracing a conscious, conscientious pregnancy
* Natural childbirth, homebirth, and midwifery
* Breastfeeding
* Attachment parenting
* Healthful eating for the whole family -- and balanced attitudes toward food and diet
* Alternative health care for children, including homeopathy, bodywork, herbal remedies, and aromatherapy
* Family from discipline issues to home entertainment
* Uses and abuses of television, computers, and video games
* Approaches to sexuality
* Home schooling and alternative education.

This groundbreaking book helps parents make informed choices on cutting-edge issues as they strive to create a whole, healthy family environment. Illustrated with photos, and featuring enlightening interviews, Natural Family Living is the only guide authorized by the world's most savvy parenting publication.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Family, Health

384 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Peggy O’Mara has gained international celebrity as editor and publisher of Mothering Magazine, which she owned from 1980 to 2011, when it ceased publication. She founded mothering.com in 1995 and is now at peggyomara.com. A dynamic speaker, Peggy has lectured and conducted workshops in conjunction with organizations such as the Omega Institute, Esalen, La Leche International, and Bioneers. She has appeared on numerous television and radio programs and has been featured in national publications including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Mother Earth News, and Utne Reader. Peggy is the mother of four children and grandmother of four.

Reviews

[missy jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times I wanted to give this book five stars; at times I wanted to give it two. There is a lot of great information in this book about a wide range of parenting issues (e.g., childbirth, nighttime parenting, breastfeeding, entertainment, communication, discipline, circumcision, school, etc.). And I found a lot of it very helpful. But in some of the chapters (the chapter on vaccines, for instance) I thought the information presented was extremely one-sided, bridging on irresponsible.

And this is the thing: I am attracted to attachment parenting because it is a philosophy that encourages parents to trust their instincts and trust their children. When attachment parenting "manuals" become overly prescriptive, though, as this one does in places, I lose interest. It seems disingenuous and contradictory to tell a parent to trust their instincts, then in the next breath tell them that they are damaging their child if they do X.

Overall, though, I thought this book was a good introduction to a lot of issues (and the resource guide in the back is fantastic), and parents who read it might become interested in doing more in-depth research into the subjects presented.

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The claim that Mothering Magazine and it's publications take a "we'll inform, you choose" approach to parenting is about as full of truth as Fox News' mantra "we report, you decide". I am an "attachment" parent who had both of my babies naturally, but am appalled by the preaching, scare-mongering and misleading and dangerous medical advice Mothering Mag and the natural birth/parenting crowd throw out there as "empowering". Sure - if you already believe the half cocked stuff they try to sell, or are strong willed enough to take the good and leave the bad Mothering's offerings have some good advice, but really nothing that Dr. Sears doesn't already address without having to wade through the crap.

[polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I find it amusing to see it described as non-mainstream or alternative, which kind of is a sad reflection on society! (We have strayed so far from what is natural....) There's nothing radical about it: parenting naturally is, well, natural, and very commonsense. I don't agree with 'everything' in the book, but that's not unusual. My parenting style is very close to what is described here, however--nursing (not formula feeding), partially co-sleeping (when the need exists), bonding a lot w/ baby, holding baby/touching baby, etc. These are things parents have been doing for hundreds of years and my parents did, which is why I say it is sort of common sense. Mothering magazine has never been super interesting to me, but this book is a great resource.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I already share a worldview with people who read Mothering Mag, so this wasn't a conversion experience so much as a confirmation of hunches/previous knowledge/etc. It was interesting and would be a handy reference to have around.

I did think it could use more pictures (yes, I'm one of those people) and felt like the prental/pregnancy/birth section could have used a lot more detail and info. As a natural birth advocate, I know that it takes more than one chapter to help women make choices about birth care. I see that Mothering also has a pregnancy/birth guide, so I feel like that stuff could have been omitted in this volume to focus more on the lifestyle/raising kids stuff.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel about this pretty much the same as I do about Mothering magazine. I am drawn to it, sympathetic to its perspective, and yet skeptical. Sometimes they just seem, well, wrong, from what I can tell -- take the section on vaccines. However, I think I'd like to have a copy of this around, because there's much information here that I just can't find other places, all together like this -- about homeopathy, home remedies, that sort of stuff. And I appreciate its support for ideas that often don't get treated in other parenting guides (alternatives to punishment, home-schooling); it makes me feel less crazy in a lot of ways.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I expected to like this book, but wasn't a fan. There are definitely some great sections, however the preachy tone really gets to me. And that someone would make the argument that because their second baby was fussier, that meant they were a better parent that time around (the baby apparently felt more comfortable expressing themself, or something), was one of the silliest things I've read. Overall, while I'm actually following many of the "attachment parenting" styles (cosleeping, baby wearing, etc. etc.), this book really bugged me.

[Edna Nová · Rating 3 out of 5]

V češtině Přirozený rodinný život. Dobrý, spíše takový slovnik různých pojmu, takže se nedá úplně číst od začátku do konce, ale člověk si vybere ty pojmy, které ho zajímají.
Hodně propaguje kontaktní rodičovství, příliš se úplná na zdravou stravu a proti očkovací. Možná do budoucna zvážit ještě přečtení, protože některé pojmy pro mě teď nebyly úplně aktuální a s některými věcmi se tam neztoznuji.

[Gabriella]

I'm a fan of Mothering Magazine so this book I imagine, written by the magazines editor, will not be a far departure from all the smart, interesting stuff I read in their bi-monthly mag. This is my hope.
I've been hopping around. I read the chapter on nutrition and though not super in-depth, it provides some good ideas.

[Danell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very insighful - it made me wonder why doctors don't tell you these kinds of things.
This was actually a text book for my infant development class and I (amazingly) enjoyed reading it - infact, I kept it because it will be such a great resource when I have children!

[Celestia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I agree with almost everything in this book. I loved learning that Attachment Parenting is actually just a restoration of how parenting used to be and still is in nondindustrialized countries. A great book to help restore AP in our detachment parenting culture.

[Jaimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is full of advice on how to raise your kids in a healthy, loving, natural way. You might want to pay special attention to the vaccine section. If you like this book you might also be interested in getting a subscription to Mothering magazine.

[Kit · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's the kind of book that would be good to read if you're trying to conceive or newly pregnant - but because it's an overview of so many topics, if you have any familiarity with this parenting style, it's too general (though it has a great resources section in the back).

[Fromula · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is our bible for child rearing, along with You Are Your Child's First Teacher by Rahima Baldwin. Great info about a wide range of topics from behavior to health to food and breastfeeding. Love it!

[Gea · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I read when I was pregnant - each chapter is on something different - birth, pregnancy, food, school options - all in the realm of natural living.

[Kiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a good book. I marked it as "read" but I always have it on hand as a reference.

I can't recommend this book enough!! A must-read for any parent.

[Amron · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes yes yes! topics well covered. wonderful author. founder of Mothering Magazine---30 yr old alt family raising mag.

[Kayla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mothering Magazine under one cover.

[Jan Zeiger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book because it covered everything--natural childbirth, breastfeeding, vaccinations, circumcision, you-name-it.

[Katharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good overview of all topics for someone who is interested in natural parenting, not much that I didn't already know so better for first time parents.

[Kendra Wadsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that covered a wide range of pregnancy and parenting. Enjoyed reading it cover to cover and love having it as a resource book.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for parents and parents to be. Learn about how to raise your family in the most healthy, natural way.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

yay for mothering mag

[Barbc]

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