Changing Directions

Tommy's Mommy (called T.M. on this blog) is interested in many aspects of mothering besides Elimination Communicaiton (called E.C. on this blog). Additionally, she is interested in many things that fall outside of the direct scope of "mothering". So the decision has to be made, where does the blog go from here? Rather than limiting herself to a single topic as she has done in the past, the objective will be to discuss a range of topics that will interest women at many different locations on their path through life.

Some of things that come to the top of her mind are; breastfeeding, child birth (subtopics of home birth, midwifery, unassisted birth, natural birth), breastfeeding, nourishing a family, menopause (eeeekkkk!), child training, self-sufficiency, herbalism and natural medicine, and the application of overarching principles and underlying beliefs to every aspect of life.

In recommending herself to readers, T.M. has to offer nearly a quarter of a century of mothering experience. She has recently become a grandmother, as well. She has birthed 7 children in addition to having two miscarriages. She has taken a path that started with hospital birth, the standard American diet, reliance on doctors and hospitals for health, a path that turned and now wanders in the open fields of all things natural and a rejection of self-proclaimed experts, a path which now constantly offers new wisdom found in Creation and the gleaning of nuggets from those who have gone before with success. She has not arrived, but she has definitely left certain things behind for good.

Here is a place where we can discuss past decisions and prepare for future challenges. The readers can share what they have learned and ask about what they don't know. Here is a place to share resources and journeys with candor and compassion.

Birth Story of Tommy Gunnar

This blog is dedicated to a single subject. It was planned like that as a way of reaching out to other parents who are interested in EC, to let them have a glimpse into the life of one family who does it. TM didn't want those other parents, most of whom are complete strangers, to be forced to search for the EC bits amongst the volumes of posts about Tommy's siblings, her trip to the grocery store, her unhappiness with the weather, etc.

However, TM knows that sometimes parents who share views in one area of parenting may share views in other areas. This is likely the case with EC and natural child birth. Actually, natural child birth is something about which TM is very passionate, unlike EC, about which she is merely highly interested.

For the reason stated in the first paragraph, TM has chosen not to post the birth story of Tommy Gunnar here on this blog. You can find a link here, to TM's daughter's account of the event. Or you can navigate directly to the daughter's blog to read it.

You can also see the birth on the net by going here.

Now, for the purpose of this post. TM has another blog where she posts her thoughts that no one would care to read, but she's saving them for a book to be published after her death. Anyway, she has posted over there her own description of the labor and birth of Tommy. Some people like to read birth stories, and if you are one of those people, feel free to read it. But before you go there, be warned that it contains some brief references to intimate relations between TM and Tommy's Papa. They are tasteful and not overly graphic, but they are there.

Also, if stories about home birth, and particularly unassisted home birth, and particularly unassisted home water birth cause you to become violent and foam at the mouth because you believe the ONLY proper place for birth is on dry land in a hospital, then do YOURSELF a favor and don't read Tommy's birth story.

The warning has been sufficient, do NOT come back here and comment on how you were ambushed by the private moments mentioned in the birth story, ok?

The Unassisted Home Water Birth of Tommy Gunnar