All Natural Mommies

Archive for the ‘Mommy Topics’ Category

Our household has used home-made natural cleaning products for several years.  The best way to know what’s in your cleaning products- and what your family is being exposed to- is to make them yourself.  There are many “natural” and “green” products in stores now.  But, do you really know what’s in them?  When Rowan was 2, he endured a 7 month long illness for which doctors could find no cause.  The only answer we got from several pediciatricians, allergists, and a pediatric gastroenterologist was that he’s allergic to “something.”  One by one, the typical allergens were eliminated but he still showed no improvement.  After doing our own research, my husband and I decided to eliminate cleaning chemicals from our daily lives.  This, plus the addition of probiotics, eventually led to a full recovery for Rowan.

Over the past three years, we’ve experimented with store bought natural products.  I do like Earth Friendly Products’ dish soap very much.   But, we’ve stayed true to our homemade laundry detergents and all-purpose cleaners.  Vinegar is a staple in our home.  It can be used to clean just about anything, either or its own, diluted with water, or added to a few other simple ingredients.  Yahoo! Green has featured vinegar in it’s Daily Green section.  Don’t be afraid of the smell of vinegar!  Once it’s dry, the smell goes away.  I promise your house will not smell like vinegar for very long.  You can always add a couple drops of your favorite essential oil to leave behind a nice, clean scent.   I’ve provided some of the recipes we use regularly below.  Some of these I’ve found online or in various books.  Most I’ve modified to my own liking.  I encourage you to do the same.  Use these as a starting point, and change them to suit your family.

Here’s a few to get you started…

Laundry Soap -

Gel laundry Soap

1/3 – 1/2 bar Fels Naptha or other bar soap, grated  

1/2 c. borax powder  

1/2 c. washing soda

1. Melt the grated soup in 6 cups of water.

2. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until dissolved.  Remove from heat. 

3.  Pour soap mixture into a 3 gallon bucket or similar container.

4.  Add 4 cups of hot water and stir. 

5. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir until combined. 

6.  Cover bucket and let sit for 24 hours.  The mixture will turn into a gel.  Use ½ cup per load.

 A few notes:  I saved a couple of plastic containers from store bought detergent to fill with this detergent.  They’re convenient and easy to use.  If you’ve already recycled yours, ask a friend or neighbor to save a couple for you. 

Do not reuse gallon milk jugs for your soap (or for measuring the gallon of water).  Milk jugs are difficult to sanitize.  You don’t want to inadvertently add bacteria to your detergent.

The current newsletter from Mothering talks about Authentic Parenting, a term I’ve heard a lot lately in natural parenting circles.  But what exactly does it mean?  The first definition in Webster’s for authentic is “not false or copied; genuine; real” 

By this definition, authentic parenting would be real and genuine parenting.  Raising your children with your own genuine ideals and beliefs.  Staying true to yourself and your family regardless of what other families are doing.  I think this is very much in line with what we are trying to do as “Natural Parents.”  We may use cloth diapers even though our in-laws say it’s insane.  Or breastfeed our young longer than the social norm.  Who hasn’t gotten side-long looks from the other moms at the playground when it’s mentioned that your children are not vaccinated?  Yet, we don’t give in!  We don’t change because of social pressure.  That is staying authentic and teaching our children the power of staying true to themselves. 

These things may not fit into another family’s idea of authentic parenting.   And that’s okay.  Differences of opinion are an opportunity for discussion – not lecturing, but open communication. 

What do you think?  What does authentic parenting mean to you and your family? 

This recipe causes smiles and seconds!

Butterfinger Pudding

4 Egg Yolks
2 c. Powdered Sugar
1 Stick Butter – Slightly Softened

Mix These Items Together

Add 16oz. Cool Whip

Spread 1/4 of Mixture in Bottom of 11×9 Cake Pan or whatever you want to use for the party.

Cut up 1 Angel Food Cake into little bite sized squares and spread evenly in pan.

Pour rest of your mixture evenly over Angel Food Cake in Your pan.

Crush 4 Large Butterfingers and sprinkle over the top of your pan for a crunchy topping.

Chill for at least 30 minutes (I have mixed this and headed out the door, so you don’t have to chill it if you don’t have time).

EAT! and EAT! some more!

This is a party pleaser, so I would recommend that you have these items on hand because in the future you will be asked to make this and bring this again (most likey Christmas). You can get Angel Food Cake box mixes or recipes for home made angel food cake online.