Yes.  I’ve completely lost my mind.  I have decided to start “homeschooling” Kiran three mornings a week using the Montessori method.   It’s not really “school” as much as it is complete and total mayhem, including destruction of property (the house), tornado force toddler-made messes, a little graffiti, a couple of tears (mine) and several time outs.  BUT today was a breakthrough.  Today was awesome.  Magical even.  Today I had an “a ha moment”.  We started right away before breakfast with working with blocks and playdough.  Then we moved into the kitchen for dry pouring activities, bird watching and breakfast.  He was amamzing!  He was smiling and laughing and I was NOT pulling all of my hair out as I quietly searched for any leftover xanax.  OH NO!  Today was THE day.  Today was the day that for a split second I thought, “I could homeschool him forever.”  Then.  It happened.  After repeatedly being told to NOT open the sliding door and go out on the deck.  (All reprimanding done with smiles and gentle encouragement.)  He stood in doorway, half his body in the house and the other half on the deck.  And then shot me a raspberry.  HE. CHALLENEGED. ME.

Little shit.  Oh and he also bit me on his way to time out.  Sort of like a drive-by biting.  Here’s a picture of the wild man from this morning.  All in all we did have a wonderful morning which included a two hour play at the park!

Naturally yours, Dallas

Wonder how vaccines are handled in other countries?  Here is an article on the how childhood vaccines are handled in Japan in contrast to the US.  Hmmmm…whacha think?  PS  I think there are a few good tips in here as well for us.  Take their temp before receiving vax.  Note all changes in your kid after they receive their shots.  And don’t be afraid to ask questions and slow things down.  Just saying…..

PS And before you start firing off comments to me about how I’m a parasite because of the way I vaccinate or how I should just leave the country if I don’t like the vaccines given here or how I’m a bad Mom….save it!!  This is not a pro/anti vaccine post.  Take that crazy mess someplace else.

PPS  Good morning ya’ll. 

Voluntary Vaccines in Japan

Naturally yours, Dallas

I found this great list of herbs that can be used for natural remedies on the Mothering.com website!  Herbal treatments are my first resort when treating my boys for everything from diaper rash to coughs/colds and everything in between.  If you open up our cabinets you’ll find an arsenal of herbal remedies for the whole family.  Mullein for diaper rashes, wild cherry bark for coughs, essential oils, herbal teas…you name it, I’ve got it.  Remember, when using herbal remedies be sure to do your homework and use the herbs are suggested…meaning keep the “external use only” herbs on the outside and the “internal use only” on the inside.  Here’s to herbs!

Herbs for Natural Remedies

Naturally yours, Dallas

I’ve been gone a while and I’m finally…after months of not  blogging….am getting back on track!  We moved back in July and it’s been nonstop chaos since then!  I have so much I want to talk about…vaccines (oink, oink!), local food (or lack there of), the stress of moving, family drama and the list just goes on.  Gotta finish up a little research on the little piggy vaccine and I’ll be back with ya!

Missed you guys!

Naturally yours, Dallas

To vax or not to vax…that is the question.  If you’ve read my blog before you’ll know my view on vax is this – GET YOUR FACTS.  Gather all the information you can, talk to other parents, talk to your ped, talk to the Moms (or Dads) you see in the coffee shop, talk to your friends and anyone else you think could offer some insight.  Educate yourself as much as possible before you decide one way or the other with regards to vaccinating.  Why do I stress this?   Because in the age of the internet, unless you are living under a rock or out in space, there is NO reason why you should not be educated on this topic.  IF this topic is of concern to you.  It may not be.  You may be a parent that could not possibly care any less about vaccinating.  And if that is you, stop reading this blog and go do something else.

So here’s the skinny.  A friend of mine who is pro-vax wanted to share some facts on why it is important to get our kids vaccinated with all shots and on time.  And I asked her to put that info together because I wanted to share it with my readers.  The reason I’m doing this is because as a community (of parents) we are all shooting for the same goals and I believe in the power of knowledge.  And I know that we are stronger together (both sides of the coin) than we are apart.  So without further delay….. Read the rest of this entry »

SIGN THE DECLARATION NOW!!

http://www.kidsafechemicals.org/

Naturally yours, Dallas

Hi ya’ll! Sorry it’s been a few days since my last post.  Life has been, well, a little hectic and I’ll share with you all the sordid details in a few. But for now, I wanted to be sure that you guys get to read the report that the Environmental Working Group recently put out on contaminants found in our children’s bath products.  I only use California Baby on Kiki  so I’m not sweating this too much (other than the fact that I’m totally pissed at the FDA…again!) but I do want us to pass this info around to everyone we know!

http://www.ewg.org/report/toxic-tub/31209

Another great source of info is the sister site to the Environmental Working Group, Skin Deep.  This site is where you should go to get up to date, accurate and important info about all of our skin care products.  Save both links!!

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1

Naturally yours, Dallas

Yep.  Merck is no longer manufacturing the MMR shots in separate doses.  Some think it’s a conspiracy against families that either want to give all three in separate doses OR want to pick which vax they want from the series.  The thought is that if Merck eliminates the separate dose options, families will be forced into vaxing with all three shots.  No more picking and choosing.  Which I find odd because the rubella vaccine is sometimes given to new mothers before they leave the hospital.  Will they now give new moms the entire series even though they may only need the rubella vaccine?  Please be sure to check out this great, very unbiased, article from Dr. Sears on this topic.  I want to hear from you if you’ve got a little one that needs to get this vax – whacha gonna do now?? Or if your little one has received part of this series in separate shots and you need to finish – will you?  Me – I’m going to delay until 18 months and then give all three at once.  Not my first choice but I’m hoping that if we take some precautionary steps beforehand,  we’ll be able to prep his immune system to handle the vax.  Our pediatrician is on board with our delayed schedule and we’ve already talked about this latest news from Merck.  Get your fax on the vax and let me know what you think!

Dr. Sears Newsletter

We skip the flu vaccines every year.  Because, well, for this very reason and I’ve never met a person who received a flu shot and did NOT get some sort of strain of the flu during that particular flu season.  If you have received a flu shot and did NOT get the flu that season and suffered from no side effects from the shot – please let me know by commenting!

http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_16514.cfm

Naturally yours, Dallas

Check out this article on The Green Parents Network.

From the Washington Post, by Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter – The popular cold remedy Vicks VapoRub may cause airway inflammation that can restrict breathing in infants and toddlers, a new study says. Doctors at Wake Forest University started their study after treating an 18-month-old girl who had developed severe respiratory distress after the salve had been put directly under her nose to relieve cold symptoms. Read the rest of this entry »