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I recently received my first copy of Green Parent. I am really impressed, it’s an excellent magazine. My children are excited about making an aquarium over the summer holidays and I have enjoyed reading something that is so refreshingly in tune with my thinking. Well done for a great magazine! Laura, Stockport

Dear Green Parent, It was my dear sister who first sent me your magazine just a few weeks after having my baby daughter (hypnobirthing is the best labour practice ever!) It came through my door just at the right time I was just settling into breastfeeding and was forced to do something I hadn’t done for years – sitting down for long periods of time! Whilst I completely advocate and now enjoy breastfeeding (after many trials and errors!), I was unaware of how isolated, and quite frankly, bored I would feel. My baby would take as long as an hour or more to have a really good feed and holding a book was not conducive to holding a baby at the same time. In steps The Green Parent magazine and

Dear Green Parent, Just wanted to say how helpful the article on breastfeeding and diet was. I had recently become more and more worried about how much my daughter (Lili, 5 months old today!) was being sick after feeds. It seemed to be much more than with her brother or sister and she was regularly having to have all her clothes changed. So I thought I’d try cutting out dairy products and it was like turning off a tap! She is still sick a little bit when sitting up straight after a feed but nothing compared to before. So thanks very much for that article – and all the rest of the magazine too.

I’d love to see an article on parents who walk with their kids to school – their thoughts and feelings. I walk with my daughter who is nearly six, and her brother and new sister and it really is a positive thing to do for all of us, we meet neighbours, experience seasons and weather, have good chats and can relax after school. I walked all through my pregnancy with Lili and was occasionally very relieved to be offered lifts but most of the time it is quite an uphill struggle to convince other parents that I’m not

4 the green parent

it made the whole experience even better as I could flick, glance, read and ponder, completely entertained without taking anything away from my precious baby girl. And a much better alternative it is to depressing daytime television. A saviour, no less. And now I have come up with the perfect solution to recycling them. Where else do you have to sit for long periods with little or no entertainment? The doctor’s surgery. So every issue my local doctors will receive a very well thumbed but perfectly intact magazine to add to the copies of Hello and Harpers. Hopefully it will help some of those sick people discover cleaner, greener and healthier lives. Yours faithfully, Hana and Martha Dwyer, County Wicklow

Dear Melissa I have just bought the current copy of your excellent issue (Aug/Sept), which I have read from cover to cover. As someone who suffers from eczema, I was interested to read about the use of seaweed in the ‘Children’s Health’ section. I contacted Mary Corcoran

weird wanting to walk to school. On bad days I curse the traffic and fumes and the fact that I feel so vulnerable out there with my kids when everyone else is boxed in and ‘safe’. Choosing to walk in the rain is generally seen as complete madness, even though we have waterproofs and they love all the puddles. It’s almost like we might all dissolve if we allow ourselves to get wet! Some parents even say ‘oh poor thing’ when Sioned is taking off her waterproofs at school. Sometimes it’s so hard to be different. I do understand that if I was working and having to get into work for 9am there would be less opportunity to walk... there are lots of issues here that end up being quite political.

I guess the bottom line is that walking gives you a real sense of where you live and it is a very sensual (pleasant and unpleasant) experience, plus a really good way to connect with your environment on an emotional level. I hope to give this to my children rather than just telling them it’s ‘good’ to look after the environment and care for the planet. Thanks very much again, Annette, Ceredigion

and she could not have been more helpful. My son enjoyed reading about the mazes and you may be interested in a good book on this subject – Mazes and Labyrinths by Adrian Fisher. As a result of your book review of “The Green Building Bible” in a previous issue I bought a copy and found it a superb publication. It tempted me to look at the website of its publisher at www.newbuilder.co.uk where I was delighted to find lots more free information on the subject of sustainable and healthy buildings. Keep up the excellent work Emma, Gloucester.

Dear Melissa, I was so excited about winning the goodies from the ‘Sizzling summer giveaway’. The first prize arrived today. I decided to enter our names for the draw purely on a whim, and thought that we could definitely use all the products. I secretly wanted to win, but did not want to tempt fate. You can imagine the squeals of delight that filled our household this morning when I read your letter! Lavera also sent us loads of samples

Do any other readers want to share their views about walking to school or perhaps tell us about the walking bus scheme in their area. We’d love to hear from you. Please send letters to the address on page 3.

STAR LETTER

and we are going to have a family pampering session and try them all! I love your magazine and enjoy all the articles. I also love being able to spread reading the magazine over two months...you don’t have to read it in a hurry, which is good because I have a 4 month old son and very little time to indulge. Yours with delight Becky, Worcestershire

Dear Green Parent Please can you help. I am currently exploring the possibility of either travelling with my two sons (aged six and four) for one to two years on a backpacking basis or moving to a work/live community in the UK or America. Does anyone out there have any ideas or contacts? Does anyone know of any communities that could offer us a place for a 2-year minimum stretch? I would love the advice of other readers. Thanks, Alison, Carmathenshire.

Please reply to Alison c/o The Green Parent to the address on page 3.

The star letter writer will receive a gorgeous set of goodies from Neal’s yard Remedies. The Life box is full of treats including, Seaweed and Arnica Foaming bath, Frankincense body lotion, Rosewater, Rose and Mallow moisturizer, Elderfl ower hand softener, Comfrey and Mallow footbalm, Honey and Orange scrub and an organic fl annel. £35 from www.nealsyardremedies.com or tel: 020 7627 1949. contents October / November 2005 issue 7

main features 8Birth around the world Women tell their stories of childbirth and early motherhood

12home is where the heart is Why and how to source natural products

16The big day Create a magical birthday celebration for your child

20It’s in the stars What your child’s star sign means and how astrology affects your parenting style

24Identity and clutter How to escape vapid consumerism

bumps birth and beyond

28Balancing act Pilates for pregnancy and beyond

31Birth corner Imogen Makepeace discusses pain during childbirth

32Three in the bed Breastfeeding and co-sleeping with Jo Middleton

35Holistic health Aromatherapy for labour

family life

27Shoreline news Bella Griffin feels the lure of the sea

36Learning: No losers Co-operative games to play

39Indulge your party child Goodies for a magical celebration

40Sunday Selection Where to go, what to eat and more, reclaim family sundays

41Fathers Writes Nappy days with Dom Clementson

66Travel: The cheap, chic holiday Youth hostelling for families

food and drink

53Seasonal Food and Drink What’s in season, organic wine and apple lore

54In the party spirit Delicious bites for celebrations

56Party Poppers Recipes to share with your children

health and beauty

47Your child’s health Yoga pose of the month for kids

49Your health Find out which chemicals David Baddiel contains.

50All made up Natural make up tried and tested

bookmark

42Books about the sky For little star gazers

43Great little reads Favourite bedtime stories

44Adult bookshelf The latest big reads

45Sound advice Latest music reviews

house and garden 59House and garden news How to make your garden wildlife friendly

60Urban permaculture How to turn a small space into an abundant garden

62Secret life of plants We investigate the powers of Echinacea

63Reduce, Reuse and Reduce Nicky Scott gets creative with waste.

65Ethical money Best eco-homes on the market

GREEN KIDS

is a separate magazine free inside every issue of the green parent. This issue is about the moon, and there’s lots to keep children busy while parents enjoy their own magazine.

ethical fashion

70Autumn fever Gorgeous warm organic clothes

73In the playground Funky organic clothes for kids

regulars

3 welcome 4 our mailbag 6 out and about – don’t miss out with our guide to what’s on 64 next issue and useful numbers directory 68 subscribe 82 parenting questions and answers

competitions

38Win a magical birthday party complete with geodesic dome, activities and organic cake

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