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What's in The Mother's mailbag
Mailbag from issue 34
I have just got in and all my back issues have arrived. I'm sooo excited having them all come like this, it ALMOST makes up for not having discovered you earlier. This was my 40th birthday present to myself. Veronika, I know you have probably heard this a million times before, but THANKYOU ~ you are such an inspiring woman. I hope to come to the retreat, and I look forward to meeting you, and giving you a big hug!
Love and Light, Nancy
I have only been a reader of The Mother for a year now, but cannot tell you how much you and your magazine have impacted on my life ~ a shining star and guiding light in a sometimes difficult and dark world.
With kindest regards, Lisa
Thanks for another wonderful issue of The Mother magazine. Being an expectant mother, I am devouring all the information I can at the moment on ethical/natural birth/parenting, and the articles truly inspire me!
Many thanks, Terri
Another amazing issue… How I LOVE The Mother mag ~ it’s my pick me up. Seriously.
I seem to lack in motivation just three to four days before The Mother lands on my mat. I pick it up, and WHAM! ~ I'm me again! I was just thinking yesterday, as I went to bed, “it must be The Mother time again” ~ or rather, hoping it was ~ and bang, this morning, like the bright Sun, The Mother arrives
Much love to you all, Nicola
Can I just take this opportunity to thank you for the inspiration, love and power you, your beautiful family, and everyone involved sends out through your gorgeous magazine and your blog. (I read that today, and Paul's thoughts on responsibility resonated after my upstairs neighbours throwing their rubbish in my yard!!...It really helped me to see the message. Now, must get those bills sorted out!)
Love to you all, Barbara
Hope this finds you happy and enjoying the beautiful springtime! I just turned to the back page of my latest issue of the magazine and leapt up with excitement at the advertisement for the retreat! The synchronicity is buzzing and sparking at this. I’m really excited that this is happening in my neck of the woods up in North Yorkshire! Therefore, I would be very grateful if you could send me further information and a booking form for this glorious event! Well done for tuning in to what Mother Earth is asking of us next: a wonderful opportunity for people to live as this Earth intends! Thanks also for providing such a stunning, stunning magazine. Keep up the good work, and may the angels shine on you forever more for all your enlightened actions!
Yours, Jayne ~ mother of Noah and Erin
Thanks so much, as ever.....Oh how I love your glorious domain of love, joy and courage...so much more than a magazine!
Love to you all, Shona
We were pleasantly surprised to see a photo of Ollie and I in the latest TM, our favourite magazine EVER! Ollie, seeing himself in the magazine, automatically claimed that it was his and wouldn't let me read it in peace! “It’s MINE Mummy, It’s MINE”. Ah! But he soon forgot about it, and I placed my prized possession in a safe place, to savour after the little one goes to sleep. Funny, a few days ago, and shortly before receiving the latest copy of TM, I was wishing that we could have TM monthly, and surely, I see that one can get back issues ....hurray! This makes my deep desire to read different issues of TM every month very possible. So, here is my order...
Thank you Veronika and the team for your brilliant work in producing TM magazine.
Lots of love and best wishes,
Grace
Dear Veronika,
I was introduced to you on an airing of the Tyra Banks show. I felt disgraced and horrified at how you were received by Tyra and the audience. Even though the show certainly didn't get the point of child-led weaning or full-term breastfeeding...I do.
I ordered your book, and have felt so supported in reading you and your family’s experiences. Thank you for sharing yourself in this way. We are expecting a second child in July, and I wouldn't dream of anything but nursing both my babies as long as they need it and wish it. Again, many thanks to you and your important work. I am so grateful to have been able to read from you and share in your philosophies.
All the best, Nicole. Canada
Thank you for another inspirational issue ~ so lovely to receive in the post just after a heart-warming family Christmas! I was fascinated by the article The age of pervasive anxiety by Dr. Richard House. It really struck a note with me, in particular the bit about how all parents and early years workers should be trained not to intervene in the young child's 'going-on being'.
I am very conscious of the fact that I was a very 'conscientious' first-time mother, wanting to accelerate my daughter's learning experience in every way possible. This involved structuring her day around what I thought she needed: scheduled library visits, busy parent-toddler groups, organised play. This was an approach advocated and encouraged by my parents, although I always found it instinctively wrong, too fast paced for a small child, and exhausting for me! I used to feel I was being somehow neglectful if I wasn't 'doing' something with my child. Thankfully, when my daughter turned two, I searched and searched for other ways of approaching my parenting journey, and discovered a wonderful local Steiner Waldorf school ~ a ray of light. I actually cried tears of joy and relief when she first visited the nursery there, as it felt so right, like coming home.
My daughter has thrived there ever since in the calm, harmonious and gentle environment. My partner and I have also been incredibly enriched by this experience and have learnt how to slow everything right down in terms of how we parent (and even live our own lives), and we now smell the roses on the way! I am much happier, more positive/contented, and couldn't now give two hoots about whether my daughter's reached all the right milestones. It's been a struggle at times ~ particularly with other family members who have been very vocal about highlighting things we 'should' still be doing.
As I am now close to welcoming our second child into the fold, I want to ensure I give him/her the respect he/she deserves, in that I want to offer space, comfort and love rather than 'early educational experiences'. One of the major things I've learnt is to keep myself busy and occupied with my own useful activities (writing, painting, household chores, gardening, baking) rather than focusing all of my energies on my child. She happily imitates my activity one minute, and then runs off for hours to play on her own, without any need for me to disturb her. Less is definitely more.
As a mother to a five year old, and pregnant with my much-wished for second baby, I wanted to know if Richard House could suggest ways in which we as parents can 'do less' with our young children.
With warmest wishes and thanks to you and Richard House,
Dominique
Not only have you created another helpful and informative book, but something deeper and beautiful, that feels like an artwork to me, and a keeper of information ~ women’s information!
Lots of love, Cindy
Hello Veronika, I got my copy of The Birthkeepers in the post this morning. I want to thank you for the personal message in the front; it made me feel loved and supported and empowered.
I was determined not to start reading it yet, as I'm reading The Last Hours Of Ancient Sunlight, and wanted to finish it before starting a new book, but I couldn't help myself; and I've read about a quarter of your wonderful book already. I curled up on the sofa next to Llando’s sleeping warmth, and absorbed every love-filled and inspirational word. My days of pregnancy and birthing are over, but this book will be on my bookshelf to be there for my daughter, and my sons’ partners, in the future.
Thank you....just thank you!
Much love, Donna
I was so thrilled to receive a copy of The Birthkeepers today. Thank you so much. Thank you for the touching inscription, I am so honoured. Cover is gorgeous, love the colours. Andri's illustrations are beautiful. I have only flicked through (N. instantly grabbed it saying 'mine', and she’s probably right!), but what has caught my eye makes me realise there is so much more to learn about birth and my own experience. I've been trying to get my story down in a meaningful way for you, but something holds me back. I guess this could always be the case. Maybe this is why when I hear of someone having a baby I feel a yearning to go through it again and learn some more.
Alex
Started reading The Birthkeepers. Very powerful. Who knows, it might contribute to me stopping being a midwife. So true that what you say on page 25, 'we need to stop looking for what's wrong, and look for what's right'. Keep motivating us like that. Looking forward to receiving The Mother. I read an issue as I was at a woman' s labour and birth, and while she was quietly labouring, I was quietly reading.
Greetings, Monique
I love the book! Thank you so much for writing it, for putting our story in, and for the lovely words you wrote inside for me. I can't describe how pleased we are.
Sending you much love, Julie x
Blessings and appreciation for your beautiful shared syster message inside the book, for yet another beautiful bookmark. They are great.
I love you and respect you Veronika. I am only 40 odd pages in, and still to read, but already have felt the ‘amrit’ ~ the grace of the magick of the book.
I will be ordering some wholesale, so I can gift a few to those I love…
Bless you, may you ever continue to ride your dream. Ruth xxxx
Thank you so much for the copy of The Birthkeepers. It is amazing. I read it cover to cover last night, as I couldn't put it down! It is inspiring, warm and beautiful to hold and look at. I loved it. The cover is really perfect. I keep picking it up and looking at it. Andri is an amazing artist, too.
Love and light, Gina xx
Just wanted to thank you so much for the book ~ it is really beautiful, I couldn't put it down! It has been accompanying me through the long night feeds while Tansy is having her latest growth spurt. (She is a bit of a giant for our family, and she is loving the book, too.) It has such a pure vibration to it: it is on my altar overseeing the lounge. Thank you, thank you.
Hugs, Keeley
With great joy… I received my copy of The Birthkeepers, and wanted to say a big heartfelt thank you for writing such a beautiful, inspiring and uplifting book. A true gift to this world of ours. It has spoken to the truth of my heart (just as many TM articles have, and do), and has made me really remember my truth, and what I have truly wanted for my child all along. And that I really wish I hadn't compromised on any of it. It has brought me back to my true mothering self again. I never did have that unassisted lotus birth that I knew in my heart was so right for my son and I. It is painful to really accept that, but also brings me to make real changes and adjustments now. I realise how lost my true self has been. I want to give my son the mothering that is his birthright: a soulful, peaceful, connected and courageous Goddess Mother. It is time to heal and mother my lost and frightened inner child and have faith that with it, my relationship with my beautiful son can heal too. Through the right action of mothering my son from my heart, I know I can heal myself. Thank you so much for this constant reminder of my own truth. Words really can't express the depth of my gratitude. Thank you for your light, and with it, the remembrance of my son's need for primal mothering.
With love and many blessings,
Julia
Your book arrived today and made my heart sing. It is absolutely stunning ~ just like you ~ the cover is spectacular, and the words within are divine. You are a legend.
Much love beautiful sister, Tish
Just finished The Birthkeepers. Thank you so much. Absolutely fantastic. You are indeed a wise Birthkeeper!!!
Samantha
I wanted to thank you, and offer congratulations on your fantastic work manifested in The
Birthkeepers. I was most touched by what you wrote too, thanks. I've been going through
one of those dark nights of the soul, seeing certain things about myself clearly for the
first time, and recognising how they affect my relationships with my loved ones. I'm
coming back to birth, seeing how I cut myself off from this passion, and how it resonates
so deeply within me. Dealing with my impossible family has led me to push aside the possible one, but I know now that I must focus on my light and on love, and continue to carry the vision of a home with heart.
Love and spring light to you all,
Samantha
Hello Veronika,
I just have to write to say WELL DONE!!! I am gobbling up the book. I am onto the birth stories section already, and feel utterly overjoyed at all you have written. This book is wonderful ~ truly enlightening and affirming, thank you so very much. I will be buying it for my sisters, too.
I was particularly gratified that you suggest Julia Cameron's Morning Pages. I have been writing these for years, and they have helped me through some very intense emotional journeys as well as being the reason that, as a writer, I never become blocked in my work.
You have encouraged me too to look for belly dancing classes nearby, I do hope I can find something! My pregnancy is very new, but already feels utterly consuming in the best, most sensual and empowering way. I am elated, and yet so deeply grounded in my creative body, in the cradle that carries my baby, my tree. And that's another thing, I love, love, love the
illustrations! Before I bought the book, I had been making some birth art most days as part of my dream journal: very primal drawings of my baby and my self, my birthing time and my dreams. In one, my baby is a tree, a bold
strong, green tree inside my womb. I related to the drawing of this in the book so much! I also dreamed of a snake before I read the book, so clearly and so memorably, and seeing the snakes in the book and reading your explanation
has really helped me gain some clarity and positive energy from that dream. Besides all this, I do hope you are well, and your family too.
Love, Melanie
Issue #33 just arrived in snail mail and I read it cover to cover. You and your team are fab!
I love that publications, like The Mother magazine, exist, which promote my way of life. With children, life is good. Period.
Warmly, Channie
Veronika, I am so happy you published your book! My friend Laura Shanley lent it to me, and I have been reading through. Very wonderful, exciting to me for sure, thank you! If you ever come to the States I would love to get together. Be well Keepers of Birth!!!
With much love & many blessings, Zuki
Thank you for your magazine. As a new mother who is breastfeeding, carrying, e-cing and co-sleeping with my daughter, it has been a great source of comfort and inspiration for what, at times, can feel like a lonely journey. My only 'complaint' is that after reading your magazine I sometimes feel overwhelmed and unsettled. It leaves me wanting to find out more but feeling as though I will never 'know it all' or be able to make the changes I want in my life quickly enough. Your last editorial (Jigsaw puzzles and old coats) summed it all up perfectly for me. I have come to realise that I'm not going to have all the pieces of the jigsaw together at once, and just when I think I've cleared through all of the cultural cobwebs, I turn a corner and there are more. But I am glad of what I now know, and look forward to learning more from my beautiful daughter, the greatest teacher of my life. Thanks also for your book, The Drinks Are On Me, I really enjoyed it ~ it all made so much sense to me. My daughter is now 10 months and I have no intention of stopping breastfeeding until she is ready, but the longer we carry on the harder I find it to empathise with others around me who decided to stop early, or not even try at all. It makes me sad that despite the increasing awareness of breastfeeding, I am still the 'abnormal' one and the decision to use formula can be made casually. Keep up the good work!
Best wishes, Natalie
In the mailbag of TM33 - 2009
Just a note to say thank you very much for The Mother magazine which arrived yesterday. My husband ordered me a subscription for Christmas. I wanted to read it after my friend lent me The Drinks Are On Me. What a fantastic book, and it was just the support I was looking for, as I often feel isolated with nursing and co-sleeping with my nearly three year old little boy. This issue of your magazine seemed to be written for me too, as I have been wondering about attachment parenting twins. I am just going through a miscarriage after 12 weeks of pregnancy. I’m still bleeding after seven weeks, so it is hard to move on yet. Thank you again.
Best wishes,
Nancy-Ann
I want to thank you for your work in promoting breastfeeding and a more natural approach to mothering. I was recommended to read The Mother magazine, and have read a few articles on the website. It’s a relief to find a publication that is honest and responds to what is best for both mother and child. I have had two home births, and breastfeed; and I can see that there are groups and organisations for support when the going gets tough. I was tandem feeding my two babies (one and three years old), but stopped feeding my eldest when I was feeling unwell and run down. She still looks occasionally for a breastfeed, but I brush it aside. In my heart I know that I have made the wrong decision, and it is so good to come across people like yourself to inspire me to listen to myself, first and foremost.
It’s difficult doing it alone sometimes, and bewildering as to why the most common sense and natural way to raise children should seem so pioneering! Keep up the good work.
Kind regards,
Ness
It really is a beautiful magazine and fills my heart up whenever I am made to feel that I am crazy for carrying, breastfeeding and sleeping with my beautiful two year old daughter. Having said that, I have three sons aged 21, 19 and 17, all of whom were brought up the same way.
Sadly, I never found anyone else doing the same at the time, and really was considered crazy, but I have had the last laugh: my sons are wonderful young men, and absolutely brilliant with their little sister. Attachment parenting really does make for a close and happy relationship, even when the children are all grown up.
Many thanks.
Love,
Ali
Dear Veronika, Like so many of your letters say, I just love receiving TM in the mail every other month, and devour it over the few days after it arrives. It is always thought-provoking, and it raises my awareness of so many interesting and important things in the world. Now I have an eight month old (a fully breastfed and virtually 100% living foods baby girl, Lakota), I am especially interested in education. We are very lucky to have a Steiner Waldorf school near us, where we have enrolled her for the two year old playgroup and kindergarten, and hopefully primary school after that. It is getting beautifully warm here, and I must say that although I love London, I love it here more! We are heading to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast for three weeks, as that is where I am from. I know you are also a Queenslander by birth. I look forward to another year of TM. I have attached a photo of Lakota, my green baby!
Love,
Meredith
Western Australia
I just wanted to thank you for publishing my essay I think I'm Drowning. I especially loved the layout, and I absolutely loved all the other articles I have read so far. What a thoughtful, powerful magazine! I have to confess that with two young children and one on the way, I have not read the magazine in its entirety, but what I have had a chance to read, I love.
I was wondering, though, why intactivism (genital integrity) is not a topic your magazine seems to cover. Is this just because it is not common practice in the UK? You know, here in the States, we are still circumcising about 50% of our boys. Of course, this number varies from state to state, but the US is still trying to justify this heinous practice.
I love the magazine regardless, but I was curious. Thanks again.
Much peace to you and your family,
Amy
USA
Many thanks for all your work and commitment, passion and love ~ and know that it works its wonders in this little village, too.
Samantha
France
Thank you for your bravery, good heart, and good mothering. Your honest view on child-led weaning is beautiful. Your children and family are beautiful as well.
Warmly, Charlotte
Full time stay at home mother of three lovely children
You have no idea just how grateful I am for your beautiful magazine arriving today. My (LLL) co-leader and I are both nursing our daughters, who are 2.5 years. Both of my sons had weaned during the 5th month of pregnancy, with the next baby at around 2.5 years, and had been slowing up until then ~ probably due to a combination of them being so active and me being very uncomfortable in the nipple during pregnancy!
Well, Britton, my beautiful girl, is nursing as though she is 2 weeks old! She is nursing constantly, and then some more on top of that! I know that the holidays certainly may have played a part, and the fact that when I am doing my school work for my masters degree I rely heavily on the ease of nursing her to get some work done. I feel grateful that she is my third, and that I know this too shall pass, but the sleep deprivation sure does play a big part in my attitude! So how thrilled am I to open my mail, and find this amazing magazine, to bring me back to centre, and to focus on this short window of time that is her life. I am in tears reading Letting Go, and then again at the reality that YOUR little baby is submitting recipes, wonderful recipes, for the magazine her mother has gifted to the world. Please tell Eliza, by the way, that I am so glad to have her version of Green Goddess Dressing ~ one of my all time favourites! I feel so blessed by you in my life, and although our connection is based on one afternoon, I feel as though you have been a part of who I am for so much longer. Thank you for that treasure in my heart.
You will laugh to know that Scott and I do not get our children gifts from us, unless it is something really special. I found the most fantastic bright pink tutu that I knew my girl would love, and tucked it away in my closet. Don't you know that the week before Christmas, she came bounding down the hallway thrilled to show me her ensemble ~ her clothes topped with the tutu. While she does not get the idea that she found something hidden, her delight was better than I could have asked for. The fact that she found it, put it on, and was so happy at that moment, meant the world, and was her focus ~ adorable!
With much love,
Kim
USA
Just read The Mother and feel in a position to get to the end of the Winter!
S.
I am finally renewing my subscription. I would like to continue from the last wonderful issue that I received, which was TM30.
Thank you so much for your delicious publication. I am a newly beginning homebirth midwife and family health advocate in Australia, as well as being woman, sister, daughter, partner and future mother. It is well known that times have become financially lean, and one of the blessings of such times is the clarity that is realised regarding what really matters in life. I hold many wonderful subscriptions supportive of my life's work and passion, yet it is TM that nourishes my wholeness in its entirety. It is TM that will be renewed again and again. TM is a wise friend, a clear true voice, warm and knowing: a welcome reminder of what is real and what truly matters in this world.
Many blessings and thanks to Veronika and all who make it happen.
Love,
Melody Bourne
Australia
I LOVE your beautiful magazine! I have eagerly devoured my first year's worth (I can't imagine not knowing what I know now as a result!!), and I am looking forward to the next year, especially as I am hoping to become a mother very soon.
I really feel like The Mother magazine has been like a guardian angel in my journey into conscious conception. Thank you so much for all that you do, and to all your writers.
Blessings and love, Laura
Like all those other readers, I always look forward to The Mother dropping through the letter box, and I have to hide it, to prevent myself from reading it cover to cover!
Peace,
Suzanne
Thank you so much for helping me with raising my child.
Thank you,
Kate.
Poland
Dear Veronika,
We arrived back to snowy and chilly Poland (-21 degrees Celsius!!) to be greeted warmly by TM32!
Again, articles in this issue touched me deeply, and stirred great waves of gratitude in me to be a mother. I feel so blessed.
Our time in England was full ~ too full, and many people were missed in our whistle-stop visit. We started the new year in the most perfect way with a walk up Blencathra to watch the sunrise. (I even sleep more beautifully in the Lakes). Oh I miss living in Penrith! It was great to be back.
Well, the wee one is blissfully snoozing with her Daddy, and I am itching to join them, so I write no more for now other than to share with you how deeply I am enjoying motherhood, and how thankful I am that there is a community of mothers and fathers who share this joy (with all its challenges) through The Mother and its related online forum. As I said, I feel truly blessed!
With thanks for TM32 (love the Mothers Rock!).
All the love
Amanda
Poland
To Whom It May Concern,
I have seen that clip on YouTube of the mum with the two children who drew pictures of breastfeeding, and who breastfed until 7 (almost 8). I've seen it many times.
The first time I saw it, I was shocked. Even a little uncomfortable. It made me question WHY I was uncomfortable. There was a time when I thought any child who could ask for it was too old. I know ~ an arbitrary idea. I have questioned that, and since discarded it. So going from a comfort level of six months, to finally 2 1/2 years (that's when we stopped breastfeeding), was a long way. I saw this clip, and it challenged me again. It made me think. It made me research. It made me sad I'd not breastfed longer.
I was recently given this page to look at: http://www.themothermagazine.co.uk/mail.html
I was so sad that the mother had to endure such treatment at the hands of the media, so that is why I am writing. I saw the clip ~ with all the flaws ~ with all the cuts that tried to make it look weird. And I saw a happy mum, well-adjusted kids and a happy dad. I saw a biased media (although I had no idea HOW biased), and regardless, it was inspiring. For all the flaws they made, the beauty and strength shone through, and it was wonderful.
I remember thinking how gutsy it was for her to be shown on tv, and let her kids be shown. I imagine she's received much negative attention. So I am writing this to say thank you to that mom. Thank you for showing it. It helped me open my mind and my views. I hope that maybe your magazine can forward this to the mum in the story, so she knows she was appreciated.
Sincerely,
Debra Scott
Director greenmom www.greenmom.ca
communications director active kids club www.activekidsclub.com
Canada
Ed’s note: Thank you Debra. The family in question is mine.
Please could you thank Bethany and Eliza for their artwork and recipes in TM. I love Bethany's pictures, she is so talented, and Eliza's recipes are being copied out into a hand-made cookbook for me to keep in the kitchen :)
Love, Gina
Really enjoyed the latest Mother magazine ~ especially Liz Pilley’s article. Lovely start to January. I wondered if you’d mind publishing my email address in The Mother? I would like to find other like-minded families nearby (St. Albans, Herts), especially those interested in non-vax, homeopathy, home school, Elimination Communication, and the like. Thanks very much! Any chance of a Mother camp this year?
Much love and light,
Emma
Ed: We have been on the lookout for the perfect piece of land on which to have a Mother magazine camp. Please see our back page for details of this year’s camp.
I am absolutely loving the magazine ~ it's full of inspirational, and indeed, motivational stuff. I never thought I would be breastfeeding my 15 month son at this age, but am fully loving it, and have no plans to stop anytime soon.
Fran
You have an interesting magazine with a lot of thoughtful writers! I have enjoyed reading it.
Best of luck, Henry. USA
Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement on this most amazing path of parenting.
In gratitude, Heidi
Hi, Veronika.
Wow! You made my heart so warm and happy this morning! Received the two packages with so many thanks! I normally drink a lot of Japanese Tea (me being a Japanese girl!) and herb tea, and saw your starflower tea and have been meaning to try it out for a long time, and it did not disappoint me at all. The tea was excellent and so was the essence. Also thank you for the message to my friend, I am sure she will enjoy the gift pack.
Best regards
Lots of happiness & love from
Mari & Phoenie
I really enjoy and am inspired by your magazine.
Hope,
Australia
I just wanted to let your Cumbria, UK, readers know about a new holistic service I’m running in Carlisle, providing a homeopathic approach to fertility, pregnancy, childbirth and early years health care. It offers individually tailored treatment for pre-conception health and fertility, pregnancy support consultations and programmes, homeopathic remedy kits for home use in pregnancy, labour and early years, and post-natal consultations for parents and children.
Advice is also available on diet and nutritional supplements, books and further information, visualisation and relaxation, using other complementary therapies alongside, and birthing choices. The aim of the service is to make sure parents have the best possible chances of conceiving, maintaining a healthy pregnancy, having a positive, natural birthing experience, and supporting themselves and their baby as they grow. More information is available at http://www.newpathhomeopathy.com
Many thanks and all best wishes,
Janine Whitfield, Registered Homeopath
Carlisle
In the mailbag of TM32 - 2009
Just a short note to thank you both for the wonderful presentation that you gave in Appleton recently. I missed most of the questions at the end, as my cousin and I had to get back for small people ~ sorry, would have loved to have stayed.
I feel totally in debt for the wonderful work you are doing, especially as you are no longer breastfeeding ~ thank you once again. I also went away (having shed some tears during the initial part of the presentation) feeling that those images and captions should be on constant play/view in maternity waiting rooms; they were amazingly honest, to the point, and thought provoking ~ just perfect! I know you said you may not do such presentations again, but if you change your mind, please let me know.
With much love, Kim
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It was great meeting you and your family at the talk in Oxford. I love getting The Mother magazine every other month, so thank you. Keep up the good work! Love and best wishes, Kathryn
Just received TM31 ~ looks great. Sitting down for 'chair booba', and a good old read as it howls outside. Perfect, thank you!
Love,
Hils xxx
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The Mother magazine is just oozing with the potential of empowered choice and joy. I love that it’s about so much more than what is just written! The very resonance of the magazine vibrates with passion, love, dream and intention. Ruth xxx
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We love your family, and thank you for sharing so much and so passionately in the public sphere ~ it's so courageous, generous and inspiring.
The YouTube clips of Extraordinary Breastfeeding seemed to have been put up, initially, by detractors ~ but I thank them, too, because it led our family to search for more information, and to seek out your perspective on life and living well and ethically in this world. We are very grateful.
And just when I thought I could not possibly discover any new avenues of spirituality, the prayer in the clip led me to find out more.
Thank you again from your fans, currently breastfeeding a 17 month old baby ~ oh, and our baby loves watching the Extraordinary Breastfeeding clips. He stays captivated for the whole eight minutes of it! : -) Angie
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I couldn't do without my subscription and back issues of The Mother. When I'm having a really bad parenting day, and feel like the worst mother in existence, reading The Mother does seem to help. One of these days I'll get around to sending in some photos and writing about our nightmare start to breastfeeding. Luckily I had the support of a fantastic husband and the brilliant breastfeeding co-ordinator at our local hospital, so at three, (my son) is in no hurry to stop.
Best wishes, and thanks for producing such a fantastic magazine.
Michelle
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I wanted to say "please keep the articles about vaccines". Yes, it is grim and depressing, but it is better to be informed than sorry. I was never vaccinated in my whole life (thank you, mum!), and I chose to come and live in the UK because in my country (France) your child can end up in Social Services if it is discovered s/he is not vaccinated. So thank you, and keep up the good work!
Lots of love,
Fanny
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Hi Veronika,
Thanks for another great Mother mag this week ~ treasured in those late night moments, when I know I can stay up just another half hour while everyone's asleep, and lean with it into my dimly-lit lamp at the side of the bed.
Starflower tea is going down a treat with me and the little 'un. She is still saying no to solids (phew), but waits for her tea every morning. I particularly like giving it to her because she's called Savannah Star! And I like the fact that her first 'non-breastmilk' food has come from you, too.
Sending lots of love to you and your lovely family. I loved Paul's piece (Enneagram of Parenting).
Nikki
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I would like to thank you for a wonderful magazine, especially your article on Insufficient Milk Syndrome, which was just brilliant!
With warmest regards,
Blanka
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I was absolutely delighted to receive the extra copies of The Mother. It is a real honour to be on the cover of my favourite magazine, and how fitting that it snowed within a few days of it
arriving! Many thanks. Love from,
Charlotte x
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We now live nearer to our sheep field, and have a bigger garden for veggies, chickens and kids. Woodburner coming soon... Very happy with 1920s smaller house, now we are out of our modern, overlooked housing estate.
Thanks for the magazine. I find myself carrying it around to show people ~ especially the Becoming a mother article. It’s so positive, and true as well ~ same old thing: 'I wish I had known' before I had the children! I was expecting things to get 'back to normal' after I had Emily, and I'm glad it never did, but it was a struggle at the time.
I have had some great conversations with my friends about the shock of becoming a mother, and the positive changes wrought ~ especially a shift from being self-centred! I think the women who have opened up to their children also open up to the world, and can't help becoming environmentally aware as well.
I think we women are brought up (in school) expecting to 'have it all', and if you work hard and get qualified you can have a man's career, and that is what we should want ~ with kids a shared 'project' on the sidelines. This totally ignores and undervalues being a woman and mother and child. I tried to explain it to my sister when she was pregnant ~ but I don't think I succeeded, as she still found new motherhood something she was completely unprepared for emotionally. I wonder if I can photocopy this article for a friend who teaches NCT antenatal classes? Maybe it would get more women finding your magazine and opening up to the non-mainstream? Thanks again for all the encouragement to follow a less popular path. The Home Ed is going well, and my twin boys are still breastfeeding twice a day, age 4.5.
Love,
Caroline x
Ed’s note: Articles can be freely photocopied if they include the magazine’s contact details and publication date/issue no. at the bottom of the page.
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I'm really enjoying the latest Mother magazine, and have posted a copy of the article on miscarriage to my sister, who has recently been through this. I also loved the article on Becoming a mother. I know it's my third time, but it helps to focus again on the all-important first year.
Much love,
Julia
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I just want you to know that you are truly an inspiration to me! I started reading your magazine when I lived in New Zealand, where my daughter, Kayla, was born almost five years ago. I was new to parenting then, and actually found it hard to "digest" what I was reading ~ it was all so foreign to me. But as the years have progressed, I've found my life and values paralleling yours/your magazine almost completely. I founded an attachment parenting group when I lived in the Los Angeles area, which is now almost up to 250 moms, and I now have a blog where I write about my day-to-day family adventures. In fact, I just posted a piece where I shared something from TM24.
I want to share with you that over the years you have inspired me and given me strength. There have been times where I thought I was going bonkers, because I was so far off the spectrum of what I witnessed as "normal" that I started questioning myself. But then, without fail, I would get your magazine, and there would be an article, or an editorial from you, that knocked some sense back into me and helped me realise that I'm not crazy; but rather, I'm doing what's best for my daughter and I'm being guided by a perfectly innate sense of mothering. Just knowing that I wasn't the only one doing things the way I do things, helped me forge ahead with confidence and grace. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.
If you're interested, you can check out what I just posted on my blog:
http://www.soulflites.blogspot.com/
Blessings,
Kristen
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I loved your Wooden Pegs editorial in the last TM issue! Just to let you know we have moved. We are in Maraetai, a beautiful little paradise on the other side of Auckland.
Do you have any recommendations for teaching discipline, especially at the dinner table? I'm already having trouble and my daughter is not even one yet (although she will be next week).
Thank you again for your amazing, inspiring magazine!
Kindest regards,
Stacey
Ed’s note: As with any expectation we have for our children’s manners and/or behaviour, it begins with how we model behaviour ourselves. A one year old has no concept of what is expected of her at the dinner table. Over the next few years, she will learn what is expected in your family. Let her learn it in a space and place of love, rather than fear.
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I am in the middle of reading the latest issue of The Mother, and I loved reading about the benefits of breastfeeding in the Insufficient Milk Syndrome article. I was also intrigued by your mention of sexual energy being beautiful, deeply inspiring and creative, rather than it being shameful. I would be keen to read more about this, and whether there is anything I can do to promote this to my daughters.
Thank you for my Starflower tea and essence, which I received a few days ago. I felt offended by a comment made a few weeks ago, and lo and behold, upon taking the essence, after the first night and first morning, I suddenly saw that the comment was nothing personal. Credit to the essence?
I was very interested in the Omega 3 article. I've been keen to find out for some time if heated/processed omega 6 essential fatty acids still need to be balanced with omega 3 essential fatty acids, since heating/processing will cause damage to the fatty acid. Does it have any essential fatty acid value? Thanks again,
Linda
PS. It was also your daughter’s beautiful and amazing drawings in The Mother which had inspired me to ask for more info on how to promote sexuality to my daughters in positive terms.
Ed’s note: There are many resources on sacred sexuality. You might enjoy books on the Tao of women’s sexuality.
Sexuality is as innate and natural to humans as is breathing, eating and sleeping. For some reason, many of us in this culture have been taught to be afraid of sex and sexual energy, and we pass this phobia on to our children. This usually begins quite young, when children naturally start exploring their bodies. Refrain from insisting that they don’t touch themselves, or from saying things such as ‘Don’t touch yourself there, it’s dirty.’ The shame we inflict on toddlers when they freely play with their own genitals stays with them for life.
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All essential fatty acids are destroyed by heat.
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Dear Veronika,
I'm happy to share with you that by now the consensus has emerged at my wife's place (her parents and grandma), that we shall not have any jabs for this baby. Earlier, with some difficulty, I managed to get hold of a small book (in Kannada, the local language), explaining this whole truth about vaccines. This booklet has not just generated a lot of amazement at my wife's place, but even created a sensation in her home town. Some people even told my mother-in-law that they will visit my wife to discuss some of these things for further clarification.
During this process, some more things came to light: at least three of my wife's relatives, who were medical doctors themselves, knew this truth about the futility of vaccines, and decided not to jab their kids. This was some 20-30 years ago.
Somehow, the campaign against vaccines never picked up here in India.
I'd been pressing my wife even before she got pregnant that we should not go for jabs; I'm now relieved that it will be so. There was so much help and support from all the literature, including your blog.
As for breastfeeding, that’s the culture here in my country. Those who are unable to breastfeed, for whatever reason, are considered the less fortunate ones.
Best regards,
Deepak
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As of yesterday, I am the very happy owner of your 31st issue of The Mother. I home-birthed, I nursed toddlers, I still am an "attached" parent (though my almost sixteen year-old son sometimes denies such "charges"; his siblings merely ignore me), I supported community based agriculture, and I studied herbal medicine under Susun Weed. In short, a publication like yours is ever so yummy to me (amazing that a "word person" is reduced to simple communications when moved). I can't wait to read it cover to cover. Thank-you sooooo much for letting me be one of your writers!
Love, Channie (Israel)
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Have just finished reading the magazine ~ it’s fantastic! Especially enjoyed the articles on breastfeeding (the Breastfeeding Bill thoughts, the milk let-down), Hypnobirthing and the personality types. That article reminded me of the book The Instruction by Ainslie McLeod. It was discussed on Oprah’s Soul Series recently, and talks about personality types in a very similar way. With love,
Katharina
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I have written to say a huge thank you for publishing Sara Simon's moving piece on miscarriage. Never before (and I have read a huge amount of material) have I come across an article which so accurately reflects how I feel about my baby who died at not much older than Sara's.
What a beautiful place for Eve to be buried. With best wishes,
Vicki William
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