NATURAL FAMILY LIVING

A comprehensive collection of advice for parents that reflects the philosophy of Mothering magazine.

O’ Mara has been the editor of Mothering for 20 years. She characterizes "natural family living" as being about "old fashioned values, classic ideas, and relying on your instincts." Trust yourself, she counsels, and develop an ethic of parenting. Moral questions arise frequently in parenting, and as O’ Mara points out, "the way that we answer them influences all the choices we make and underlies our relationship with our child." She then lays out what this means for various aspects of family life. Beginning at preconception and proceeding through early childhood, O’ Mara hits all the hot issues—breast-feeding, circumcision, night-time waking—and offers real guidance. "One popular, logical wounding approach to night waking that is blindly embraced by some parents suggests that leaving a baby or toddler to his own devices in the middle of the night will enhance his ability to be independent." But, cautions O’Mara, "Independence cannot be taught—it is a stage that children reach only after their dependency needs are fulfilled." Discussions of natural health care, "Family Matters" (sibling rivalry, sexuality, appropriate toys among them), alternatives for education (including home schooling), and help for times "When Bad Things Happen" (divorce, death) all follow. Not for everyone, certainly. But for readers of Mothering, and those with a similar philosophical attitudes, this is real help

from a familiar, reassuring voice.