Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I just finished reading my copy of this exciting new book and I am definitely adding it to my list of all-time favorites. The breadth of its coverage is impressive, but my favorite chapters were those on "what makes a healthy family" and "taking care of yourself as a parent." I have loved Peggy O'Mara's essays in Mothering Magazine since I first discovered them as a new parent myself eight years ago. This book is like sitting down for a long discussion with Peggy in which I could ask any parenting question I could think of. Her wisdom and compassion come shining through on every page.If you like Mothering Magazine, you are going to LOVE this book. And if you have never seen the magazine before, you can now catch up on the resources and insight of twenty years of "back issues" in this well-written, comprehensive book. Katie Allison Granju Author, "Attachment Parenting: Instinctive Care for Your Baby and Young Child"
Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction to "Natural Parenting"
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It is a thorough introduction to "Natural Parenting" [which encompasses to some degree "Attachment Parenting"]. While I don't necessarily agree with everything in this book [Personally, I disagree with the stance against vaccinating], I found the book very useful and have continued to refer back to it over the months that I've owned it. It covers a broad range of topics [everything from pregnancy and circumcision to raising children with healthy sexual identies and positive teenagers] and I imagine I'll be using it for years to come. It has the best chapter on circumcision that I've ever read. I've already loaned it to a couple of friends who were trying to make a decision about circumcision - and both decided not to. This whole book would be useful to anyone who would like to raise healthy, happy children in a more natural way than our current "pop parenting" society would have it. I think this book would be a welcome addition to any parenting library.
Rating:
Summary: The true woman's liberation
Review: I truly hope this wonderful book crosses over into the "main-stream" of Parenting because collectively we are ready to reclaim what is ours. As mothers and as parents we can now understand that our first instincts to mother and nurture our children are critical to the development of a healthy and funcrtional family-- despite what the our current conventions teach us. How liberating it is for me as a woman and a mother of two to know that what she feels deep in her heart is really what is supposed to be there. Love, support, compassion, and the endless capacity to give which is inherrant in our maternal natures. This book gives us the power to integrate what we know to be right. The authors of this book simply reinforce what we already know deep in our own beings: trust what nature does--its only natural. From reclaiming our right to a natural, drug freee childbirth to sparing our sons the cruel physical deformation know as circumscion to consturctive discipline which takes into consideration what the child really needs to grow and evovle and become a healthy person. Its ALL in this book. This book is VERY very readable, I could barely put it down. It is a must have for any family and would make a perfect gift for any mother, at any stage of her life. You can't go wrong with this book, even if you don't agree with 100% of what it says, it will broaden your perspective and open your mind to new ideas which are not so much new but in fact time-tested. This book contains true pearls of wisom and most importantly it is pratical and real. And its about time.
Rating:
Summary: The true woman's liberation
Review: I truly hope this wonderful book crosses over into the "main-stream" of Parenting because collectively we are ready to reclaim what is ours. As mothers and as parents we can now understand that our first instincts to mother and nurture our children are critical to the development of a healthy and funcrtional family-- despite what the our current conventions teach us. How liberating it is for me as a woman and a mother of two to know that what she feels deep in her heart is really what is supposed to be there. Love, support, compassion, and the endless capacity to give which is inherrant in our maternal natures. This book gives us the power to integrate what we know to be right. The authors of this book simply reinforce what we already know deep in our own beings: trust what nature does--its only natural. From reclaiming our right to a natural, drug freee childbirth to sparing our sons the cruel physical deformation know as circumscion to consturctive discipline which takes into consideration what the child really needs to grow and evovle and become a healthy person. Its ALL in this book. This book is VERY very readable, I could barely put it down. It is a must have for any family and would make a perfect gift for any mother, at any stage of her life. You can't go wrong with this book, even if you don't agree with 100% of what it says, it will broaden your perspective and open your mind to new ideas which are not so much new but in fact time-tested. This book contains true pearls of wisom and most importantly it is pratical and real. And its about time.
Rating:
Summary: Buy this Book!
Review: If you are a parent buy this book. I was fortunate to receive it as a new mother wanting to follow my own instincts but unsure amongst a sea of different views. This book empowered me to know and understand that my instincts, to carry my baby with me as much as possible and not let her cry, were right. As in reading all books I did not use all of the suggestions but chose those that worked for me and my baby and that instinctively I felt were right. The information in this book is well researched and gives the reader an alternative option.
I cannot thank Pamela Anderson enough!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book!
Review: If you like reading Mothering Magazine, this is the perfect book for you! While natural parenting practices are now considered "radical" and "liberal" the fact is that these parenting techniques have been practiced for thousands of years, which really makes them truly "conservative." This book is a great guide for parents interested in parenting the natural way!
Rating:
Summary: Buy this book!
Review: If you're a parent or planning on becoming one, you need this book. The chapter on positive discipline is worth the price alone. Then there's the chapter on alternative treatments for common childhood ailments--a godsend during cold and flu season--healthy eating for the whole family, wholesome family entertainment (full of projects to do with your kids)... I have yet to find a parenting book so comprehensive and so reassuring.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book with a few reservations
Review: Most of this book is wonderful. I LOVE Peggy and love Mothering magazine. This book is a great guide for natural and attachment parenting. I only have a few reservations. I felt the section on public schooling was very biased against. The section on home schooling, however, was nothing but glowing. I felt these sections could have been more balanced. Also, as a Lactation Consultant I was upset that the book told mothers they could control the amount of phenylketonurics a baby received by manipulating her own diet. This is untrue and could be harmful to the baby who cannot process PKU. Aside from these few flaws, this is a truly beautiful book and will help a new generation of mothers nurture their children.
Rating: 
Summary: some good, some bad
Review: There is a lot of good information in this book, but beware, if you embrace Judeo-Christian values, it may not be for you. Also I found it very strange that a book with the title Natural Family Living doesn't mention one word about Natural Family Planning (using no artificial contraceptives). What's up with that?!
Rating:
Summary: preachy
Review: This book is a must if you are into natural living, however, you have to take Peggy with a grain of salt. To live by all her suggestions is a very unrealistic goal. What I've done is read her book, and make educated decisions on my own.
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