Saturday, January 2, 2010

Thought Provoking Article on CIO

This is a very thought provoking article.

Disclaimer: While I did not see anything offensive, I am not responsible for any content of the like.

2 Comments:

Kimbrena Cravens said...

I just stumbled across your blog and have begun to follow it now! I know in some cases I'm far less crunchy than you, but I still really like to read about these sorts of things so that I can study and decide what I feel is the best course for our particular family and situations. Too often subjects like this can get so defensive so fast! It's a shame, honestly. :( At one point in my life I avoided anything of this sort altogether because of a personal experience I have had with an acquaintance around this area. I realize now not everyone is the same as she, but I was constantly harassed, accused of being a bad mom, and told that one day my daughter was going to die and it would be my fault.. all because I was pumping and feeding breast milk to her in a bottle instead of actually nursing. No matter what we did, we were attacked for not eating organic all the time, even though I really DO prefer organic, but when you're on an *extremely* tight budget sometimes it's simply not feasible to eat all organic all the time. In a way, that just turned me off to any sort of crunchy ideas whatsoever for a while, even though before I met that woman I was already pretty natural in ways before I met her.
However, now I've found that is on BOTH sides. There are those that abhor anything natural just to do it, and those that abhor anything less natural. In this woman's case she *KNEW* (in her mind) she was superior and would actually try to go to our elders and complain about members of our own church because people wouldn't do what she told them to! (things strictly health-related, nothing spirtual based at all!) and once this woman and a few family members tried to complain about me to the elders (having never spoken to me AT ALL about it beforehand) from something I wrote on Pleonast (none of these ladies are even on there..) about how I didn't understand how people can try to say they're healthy because they eat a few organic vegetables when they slather everything else they eat with grease, ranch dressing, etc. It still baffles me as to why because they're serious the most healthy eaters I've ever met! They simply don't do that. But because it sounded like I dared speak against 'organic' food, they took it as a personal attack.

Kimbrena Cravens said...

Sometimes I think the biggest problem is that it's hard to have an opinion and voice it without someone feeling as though it's a personal insult to their parenting style and think they're being judged/attacked/degraded. I've seen it happen before where someone who made their decision on how to parent did not allow anyone else to have an opinion. Theirs was the one and only way to go about it, and would become SO angry when they'd offer a 'suggestion' and it wasn't followed. Just because I have decided some ways are best for our children and our family, I don't think everyone else has to come to that conclusion. I know there will always be something I can learn from someone else. I'll never be the perfect mom I know, which is probably why I don't mind reading other people's opinions and finding them interesting even if I don't completely agree.
On the other hand, I find it strange how some would complain about talking about such things on your own blog. Of course on one's own blog they will be talking about their preferences, and what they've chosen as the best course. Obviously that's going to reflect in all conversation, articles posted, etc.
I'm afraid this is a subject that will forever be wrought with some sort of drama. Why can't people just let others live with their decisions without trying to attack them and tear them down about it?

I think it is awesome that you're putting so much thought into everything to make the right decision. Even if I might not come to the same conclusion in everything, I am highly anticipating learning new things and being led to think more seriously of my own decisions. In fact, having read some of the things you've said elsewhere is making me try to reconstruct my diet. I'll admit I'm far too much of a carnivore to go for the vegetarian/vegan diet, but I know putting more of that into my own diet would be so much better for me. And pretty much all the veggies in the frig are organic, so I think I get a few crunchy points for me. I would LOVE one day to cut out as much bad carbs/starches, etc. from my diet. At the moment I'm trying to eat bread and pasta as little as possible because they are my weaknesses.
I think my extent of 'crunchiness' at the moment lies with eating, and natural healing/living. I love natural remedies/vitamins, and really hope to learn more about them in the future. I know there's so much I can learn about having a healthy lifestyle, I'm looking forward to reading!

Sorry for leaving such a long comment here! *blush*