You can laugh at me now when I tell you I actually tried to google search "What it means to be crunchy" to give everyone an accurate description. . . but I didn't have much luck as far as an *official* definition. To me, when I think of being crunchy I think of hippies. Tree huggers. Vegetarians. Vegans. Conservationists. Natural is the best word I can think of that doesn't inflate any negative sparks. Typically crunchy moms support home births, breastfeeding, baby wearing, cloth diapering, co-sleeping, gentle discipline, healthy eating, etc. Typically, we're pretty far on the left, politically speaking (but lets not go there. . . )
So yes, I consider myself pretty crunchy. But I'm definitely no pro. So for the fairness of anyone who might be looking at me (or this blog) expecting this glory-glory bra-less, placenta pill taking home grower. . . I need to make my confessions now. I may be back to edit this (aka add to) on several occasions. By the end, I probably won't look very crunchy anymore. . .
Confession #1 - I enjoy fast food.
Yikes. I know. Fast food is disgusting. The food quality is horrible. The meat is below dog-food grade, the saturated fats and artificial colors and flavors are over the top. . . but I enjoy it. Although I grocery shop for only organic meat and prefer my daughter only eat organic milk and eggs. . . I love McDonalds Big Macs. It's backwards. . . I know.
Confession #2 - I'm too much of a worrier and a wimp to do a home birth.
Midwives are awesome. And how far they have come with the technology and everything behind it is amazing. If you haven't seen Ricki Lake's Birth Documentary, you should (view the trailer here). I would LOVE to give birth naturally in the comfort of my home. But I'm a worrier. And I have a low pain tolerance. And I'm too scared. So I'll be delivering in a hospital for the second time in May or June. Hopefully without induction, without having my water broken, without using pitocin. . . but honestly, probably with an epidural.
Confession #3 - My crunchinessis over-due.
I was always earthy. . . always into conservation and the environment. . . always knew I would breastfeed. But lots of other things came after Isabelle was born, after I learned new things and decided what I felt passionate about and what worked for us. Attachment Parenting, Gentle Discipline, Amber Teething Necklaces, Cloth Diapering Baby Wearing, Vaccinations, Extended Rear-Facing or the idea of Extended Breastfeeding. . . all things that I didn't grasp or even know about until she was at least 8 months old. My birth experience was not crunchy. We didn't co-sleep a day (or night) in our lives. I only wore her when it was convenient now and again, but I can probably count the number of times on one hand.
Confession #4 - I don't cloth diaper at night and randomly during the day.
I cloth diaper about 90% of the time during the day. If we have a long car trip, outing, or if dad is home with her for the day, we use disposables. At night, she's always in those nasy ol' sposies. So although I only contribute to landfills about 1/6 as much. . . I still do :(
Confession #5 - Isabelle and I both enjoy sweets.
My family (I think) thinks I'm too strict with Isabelle and her sugar intake. But I'm really not (in comparison). For her birthday, she had a regular old cake -- no homemade banana cake, no dairy free, sugar free cake, no cake with extra health-building ingredients. She's a really good eater, so if she's eaten well I'll give her a cookie, or a piece of candy, or some ice cream.
Confession #6 - I use birth control. . . or would if I could/wanted to
I'm pretty sure that's not-crunchy. Obviously I'm knocked up now, but I have no problem killing off those little swimmers or keeping my body from ovulating or whatever I have to do, even if it is unnatural.
Confession #7 - I don't do elimination communication.
If you don't know what it is and WANT to know - go here. I just haven't gotten there yet. . . probably never will. . . but props to those that do.
Confession #8 - B was fully vaccinated on schedule.
Obviously this kind of goes with #3 but I thought it deserved it's own category. To see my current stance, go here. I was too busy learning about other things before I got to vaccines. . . so I was late on the ball.
Confession #9 - We aren't Vegan or Vegetarian and I rarely can afford organic produce.
We only eat organic meat in our home (going out to eat or at in a guests home is another thing) and therefore don't eat it often. . . but we DO eat it. Same with dairy, etc. I would LOVE to be able to buy all organic produce, but it's simply not feasible right now.
Confession #10 - We don't have a compost pile and grow very few things at home.
My goal this summer is to at least get a compost bin going again and get a larger garden with more fruits and veggies. . . but in comparison, we are definitely lacking in that area.
Camera Phone Uploads!!!
<-- Me and Isabelle "baby wearing". She went through a phase when she wanted held all of the time between about 6 weeks-10 weeks (if even that long) so I wore her in my Infantino or another carrier I had. But usually never longer than a few hours, just to get stuff done in the house. I didn't realize all of the benefits of baby wearing until she was at least 8-10 months old
<---- Isabelle in her crib. She was in her crib from the first day she was home from the hospital and on. I was blessed with a good sleeper in the younger years, so it made it easy. I was so worried about starting a "habit". . . again, I didn't realize all of the benefits (HEALTH benefits, too!) to co-sleeping. We tried to co-sleep later when she started having troubles, when we went on vacation, etc. . . but since she has always been in her crib, if we are there she thinks it's play time and we've never gotten her to go to sleep!
<----- with Daddy getting ice cream. We get it lots in the summer. . .
<-----B in her car seat. I didn't discover extended rear-facing until she was over 12 months, so she was actually foward facing for a month or so before I happened to fall upon an article on Baby Center and then quickly flopped her back around.
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