I have been craving a place to talk natural parenting again. So, rather than complain about the lack of places that feel right, I am creating one. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/naturalmama An email list will have to do since I simply cannot organize a board right now.

Here is the group description:

Who is a Natural Mama? Well, chances are you can't tell just by looking at her. She probably isn't farming on a commune and spending her days in tie dyed peasant dresses, Birks and dreadlocks. Natural Mamas often look just like everyone else, but they are different inside.

Natural Mamas believe in natural parenting. They parent gently and look for natural alternatives in healthcare, education, nutrition and entertainment. Chances are their families rarely watch TV. They probably eat many organic or unprocessed foods. Natural Mamas probably homeschool their kids or have them in alternative schools. They are likely use herbal or other natural medicines. They believe in parenting without force, without belittling. Are you a Natural Mama?

This group is for families with children of all ages, but it has been specifically started for support as our children grow older. There are many places out there to find support for parenting a baby naturally, but few for parenting school aged children this way.
I hope you'll decide to join if the group sounds like you.

We are trying to decide if we should have Isabella's hearing tested, once again. She's had problem occasionally for a couple of years, but if we candle her ears, the problems stop. She definately has an excess amount of wax production in the one ear. On the one hand, my gut says she doesn't have an actual hearing problem because when we candle her ears she can hear our words and repeat them even if we speak pretty softly while she is across the room with her back turned. On the other hand, maybe it would be best just for our peace of mind?

I had an Usbourne books party last weekend. Wow, I had NO idea they had so many terrific books. They really are a homeschoolers dream. I haven't closed out the party yet, but hopefully will be able to get a $100 set of texts on science, history and geography/social studies for $25. My mom and sister bought the kids a lot of really neat books for the holidays.

Our chickens are now laying 3-4 eggs a day. This is so cool! It's neat to go out every day and get more eggs. We still have two young birds that haven't even started laying yet. I'm also getting 3 more birds (barred rocks this time) from a friend soon.

Drats, Vincent's awake.

Sure enough. Machine Error Gives Bush Extra Ohio Votes I don't even know what to say anymore.

Count me among the many, the depressed, the Kerry supporters. We felt so deeply about this election that we even had a yard sign (two actually, one was stolen) and a bumper sticker, two things we've never even considered before, and we were bugging other people to get out an vote. I was deeply saddened to wake up yesterday morning to the news that Bush was in all likelihood the winner, and then have Kerry concede midday. After things were so neck and neck in the evening before I went to bed, I really felt that Kerry had a good shot. Luis and I are very concerned about the path our country is heading down. Bush has another 4 years to screw things up, but the long term effects will be felt for many more years, especially in the judiciary and the world view of the US. I believe that our time as a superpower is ending, that within the next 10 years our role in the world will greatly changed. America has always been a great country, never the greatest in any one thing, but pretty dang good in lots of them, but I believe that our time is passing. We also fear for Luis' job as a union member.

Luis is a conspiracy theory kind of thinker, and last night he was speculating about the electronic voting machines. Out of curiousity, I started looking around last night. Okay, it was more out of "I really don't want to go to bed yet, so I'll waste some time online". Wow. The stuff I came across regarding those machines is scary.