Progressive Parenting

Thursday proved to be very interesting, we had two guests canel and still managed to have a great show. We started out talking about the Slow Parenting Movement, which we will discuss in further on another show in the future when our guest will be Carrie Contey author of CALMS a guide to soothing your baby. 

Soon we received a phone call from Sarah Scharf a local Yoga instructor with Coil Yoga here in Fresno. She called to tell us about a Kids Yoga class she'll be teaching starting this June.

We had a great discusion about the benefits of Yoga for children. Sarah essentially said that when children learn techniques for self-health, relaxation, and inner fulfillment, they can navigate life's challenges with a little more ease. Yoga at an early age encourages self-esteem and body awareness with a physical activity that's noncompetitive. Fostering cooperation and compassion—instead of opposition—is a great gift to give our children. Sounds good to me, for more information contact Sarah at Coil Yoga.

Another friend of the show called and we ended up talking about everything from fermenting food and slowing down as a parent to something called a Simplicity Circle. She shared a great story about sharing a meal with strangers at Green Gulch Farm in Mendocino where for the first ten minutes of the meal no one was allowed to speak, and how comfortable it ended up being, being silent can sometimes be a blessing. We always have a great time talking to Melissa.

We hope to hear from more of our listeners about the type of programming they want to hear on our show. I alsways say the show doesn't belong to us it belongs to the listener. So let us know what you want to hear! Call us at 559-266-8888 during the show or email us!

Figuring it Out

Well it's been over two month now since my youngest was born. Life's been a blur as of late, both of the older girls are in school and most mornings are chaos. A sad reminder that being organized is as feasible as flying for me, in the near future. I've noticed however, a shift of consciousness in the Kirby household. Craig and I have decided to be happy. Ask me how that's working out for me in a month or two. I think the whole farming thing is what has caused this metamorphosis in my husband. He has found his bliss. He is calmer and easier going than he ever was. He is happy to go to the farm and work all day in this weather. He wakes up at 6 am on his day off to go to the farm and can't wait!

Meanwhile,I'm continuing to follow my bliss. I'll be teaching again in June and my first Doula client since February is Due at the end of June. I just can't wait to get to do what I love again. Don't get me wrong, I love being a Mom, but I love my work two. Maybe I love my work because it allows me to be at home with my children more. Ever since Craig has been writting his blog he has become more introspective and honest with himself and me. I love it and said as much, he asked why I wasn't writing a personal blog on the site instead of purely informational blogs. I thought about it for a while, and decided I needed to be honest and share more in order, if only, to figure things out on my own.

Kids, Dogs and Worms-Dangers Lurking in The Dirt?

By Guest Blogger  Laura Osborne Campbell

We all know that having pets is great for kids; builds responsibility, teaches compassion, encourages empathy and requires kids to excercise the pets. Pets are awesome! But in these tough economic times, many pet owners are forgoing veterinary care to save money. Some corners must be cut, understandibly, but can it affect the health of your kids?

Astonishingly, yes! If you aren't de-worming your dog or cat monthly you are out of compliance with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) reccomendations for pet care! Did you know that human cases of Toxacara are #6 in reported transmissible diseases for people!!! YUCK!!! That, by the way, is the DOG ROUNDWORM!!!!

Frightening, but true, pets harbor parasites which are transmissible to people. The people that normally get these parasites are kids and immunocompomised (pregnant) people. Normally, it is a "fecal/oral transmission" which allows the ova of these parasites to get into the body of the kid. How does a kid get feces in their mouth?? WELL if you aren't 1. removing feces from the yard and 2. de-worming your dog monthly; very easily! These roundworms produce THOUSANDS of eggs per GRAM of feces. Even when poop in the yard dries out, it can be picked up on a toy or playing child. Add that to the simple fact that kids have hands in their mouths constantly and don't practice frequent handwashing and YIKES!!! Your kid gets worms!!!

So what happens when your kid gets worms? Viceral Larval Migrans is the most common, that is the ova matures to a larvae (yes this is the "maggot" stage-these worms don't mature to adults in humans, we are not a common host, so they stay a larval stage and migrate through the body) and the larvae migrate through the vicera of the child. This can cause diarhea, abdominal upset, pnuemonia and low grade infection symptoms without a specific complaint. Less common (about 10,000 kids in the USA per year) get Ocular Larval Migrans where the larvae migrates to the eye and retinal detatchment and blindness which cannot be reversed.

How to you prevent these infections?? VERY easily!!! Pick up pet feces and de-worm your pets!!! De-worming (usually in the form of a monthly heartworm preventive such as Heartgard) will de-worm your pet and is very inexpensive. Do you want to take a chance of your child getting sick?

Thanks for reading, too many parents don't know about the dangers of poop in the yard. Please help educate your friends!

Happy Mothers Day!

Being a mom, a mama in my case, is the hardest job I've ever had. It's my favorite job, and most times it's not even work. One of the best things for me has been the transformation in myself from non-mom to motherhood. My girls have helped me discover so many things about myself. I've discovered that I'm capable of anything. Nothing seems impossible after having three children. I am infinitely creative (I've made diapers out of things you wouldn't believe),and I am also able to withstand smells and sights that would make any non-mom gag. I'm faster than a speeding bullet (when I hear a crash or high pitched scream), and I'm incredibly strong (I can carry a forty pound toddler and a nursing baby).

My girls have taught me that I have to surrender to the fact that life is constantly changing and if I don't appreciate this moment right now...I'll never have it again. I've learned how to ask for help, and say I love you more often. I've learned that a good cry every once in a while is just the thing. My girls have taught me to love myself, which can only make me a better mama.

Happy Mothers Day!

How Comercials Affect Us

A friend of mine and I were talking about how strange some folks think we both are. We wear our kids in slings, we co-sleep with them, we plan on breastfeeding for more than a year and we make our own baby food. But I think strangest of all, we had our last babies in the comfort of our own homes. Are we really strange, or are we strange when compared to what the media tells us is normal?

How often do you see parents on sit-coms co-sleeping or mention bed sharing with their kids? Do we regularly see women nursing their babies on T.V.? Is home birth ever depicted as 'normal' or is it only shown as "Extreme Motherhood" , at least that's what 20/20 called their show on extended breast feeding and the film Orgasmic Birth. At baby showers, aren't the most prevalent images those pertaining to bottles and pacifiers?We're surrounded by images of what our society deems normal. But who is 'society' really, when we use that word? Is 'society' the folks who want us to spend money on cribs and strollers and diaper genies? The JPMA (Juvenille Products Manufacturers Association) would not be a huge backer of commercials for bed sharing or baby wearing. If everyone was holding their kids or sharing a bed with them, then who would need to buy cribs and bouncy chairs? Nor would Formula makers want to back commercials for extended breastfeeding, if we were all nursing who would buy formula? It's a multi billion dollar industry, it's doubtful they would make commercials encouraging mothers to nurse.

There's really very little profit in supporting Natural Parenting.

Now what would life be like here in America if the following commercial was common place?