CarNatPar has been amazing. We have had such a wonderful response — both in the beautifully crafted posts and in the outpouring of support for a natural parenting community — that we took it a huge step forward and created the Natural Parents Network - a website that informs, empowers, and inspires parents across the globe. Many of our CarNatPar writers are now our most valuable volunteers/contributors/editors on Natural Parents Network, and we've reached and connected with even more parents that lean toward a more gentle, natural approach.
We look forward to seeing how both the CarNatPar and Natural Parents Network will evolve and grow in 2011. But as 2011 starts, I wanted to sum up our first year and share some of my favorite Carnival posts.
And for Carnival updates, be sure to look for the #CarNatPar hashtag on Twitter, or follow the Twitter list of our #CarNatPar writers. On Facebook, you can get Carnival updates by "liking" the CarNatPar Fan Page.
You can also subscribe to all our participants' RSS feeds in one go by subscribing to the shared CarnatPar feed.
Here are a few quick facts:
- In the 11 months that we hosted CarNatPar in 2010 (we took August off), we had 117 different writers.
- Besides Dionna and me, the writer who participated the most was Jessica of This Is Worthwhile — she wrote for 10 of the 11 months! After Jessica, our next most prolific writers were Alison of BluebirdMama, Melodie of Breastfeeding Moms Unite!, and Joni Rae of Tales of a Kitchen Witch Momma, who each wrote for 9 of the 11 months. Thank you, mamas!
- We had only two natural papas participate - Chris of SAHD in Lansing, who wrote for 2 months, and TwinToddlersDad of LittleStomaks, who wrote for 1 month. We need some more men to write for the Carnival — who will join us in 2011?
- Dionna and I edited a grand total of 359 posts. I would guess that we spend a minimum of 20 minutes per post each month (counting the time it takes us to write the call for submissions posts, the summaries, our comments, our tweets and FB updates, communicating by email with the writers, etc.), so that means Dionna and I each spent approximately 120 hours each (or about 11 hours each month) putting the CarNatPar together in 2010. Wow!
Here are some of my favorite posts from 2010
(Click on each month for a complete list of posts; the monthly themes are in parentheses):- January (Parenting resolutions): Mindfully Loving My Children — Melodie at Breastfeeding Moms Unite! has found that determining her children's love language is helping guide her in parenting compassionately. This one made me stop and think about how I best give and receive love — and what my family members and friends are looking for from me. I've come back to this line of thinking throughout the year.
- February (Love and partners): February Carnival of Natural Parenting — TopHat at The Bee in Your Bonnet tells us how the patience of a partner can make a difficult breastfeeding relationship succeed. There were so many gorgeous posts this month about co-parents who support and nurture, but I just love me a male lactivist!
- March (Vintage green): My momma was a hippie — Jessica at This is Worthwhile is continuing her Earth Momma mother's way of honoring nature by taking her child outside every day. I love hearing about generational natural parenting, and the simple but significant tactic of taking your child outside daily is a perfect goal.
- April (Parenting advice): Balancing Needs When Baby Trumps Mama — Alison at BluebirdMama wonders how her child's need for noise and energy balances out against her need for quiet and space. I think it's perfectly valid for attachment parents to consider their own needs and seek a balance that works for everybody.
- May (Role model): That Little Thing — NavelgazingBajan at Navelgazing demonstrates the ripple effect, one status update at a time. I love these quiet little tales of inspiring others, and that good feeling that you've been able to affect someone's life for the better.
- June (Outdoor fun): An Outside Girl — Zoey at Good Goog moved her family to (almost) the middle of nowhere so that her outdoor-loving girl could have more grass and less concrete. I had to pick this one because of the inspiring first sentence: "I often say that if Riley's not dirty by the end of the day, I haven't done my job properly."
- July (Let's talk about food): Happy Families Can Have More Than One Diet — Deb Chitwood at Living Montessori Now has figured out a way for her family to live happily as vegans and vegetarians with relatives who eat meat. I love the peaceable way her family has worked this out.
- September (We're all home schoolers): Every Day Is A School Day — Summer at Finding Summer lists the ways her family learns in this poem of a post. A sweet and simple paean to learning at home.
- October (Staying centered, finding balance): Knitting for My Family — Knitting is more than just a hobby for Kellie at Our Mindful Life — it is her creative and mental outlet, it has blessed her with friendships she might not otherwise have had, and it provides her with much-needed balance. I love her story of resisting me-time, a realization that it was important, and the value she now attaches to this peaceful weekly ritual.
- November (What is natural parenting?): Let Them Look — Betsy at Honest 2 Betsy makes time to look at, to touch, and to drool on the pinecones. Because it taught me about Fibonacci mathematical sequences, and made me laugh.
- December (Let's talk traditions): Sunday Dinners and Lullabies — Kat at Loving {Almost} Every Moment finds traditions in the small things throughout the year. I love this reminder that meaningful traditions don't have to be limited to the holidays but can be small, everyday occurrences.
And here is a complete list of all of our participants, with Facebook and Twitter links where applicable:
- A Beatnik's Beat on Life (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- A Gift Universe (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- A Mom's Fresh Start (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- Adventures in Mommyhood (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Anktangle (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- Authentic Parenting (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- Baby Dust Diaries (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 6 months.
- Be Present Mama (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 5 months.
- BeanMa (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Becoming Mamas (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- BluebirdMama (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 9 months.
- Born.in.Japan (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 6 months.
- Breastfeeding Momma Participated in Carnival 1 monts.
- Breastfeeding Moms Unite! (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 9 months.
- Cave Mother Participated in Carnival 1 months.
- Childhood 101 (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- ChildOrganics (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Chronicles of a Nursing Mom (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Code Name: Mama (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 11 months.
- Connected Mom (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Consider Eden (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 5 months.
- Craphead (aka Mommy) (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Cream of Mommy Soup (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- Crunchy-Chewy Mama (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- CurlyMonkey (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- Diary of a First Child (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 6 months.
- Domestic Chaos (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Downside Up and Outside In (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Dreaming Aloud (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Earth Mama (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 5 months.
- Ella-Bean & Co. Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- FC Mom (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Finding Summer (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Fleeting Moments Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- Future Legacy Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Good Goog (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 6 months.
- Grow With Graces (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 7 months.
- grumbles and grunts (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 6 months.
- Happy Mothering (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- Hobo Mama (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 11 months.
- Home Grown Families (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Homeschooling in Nova Scotia, Canada (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Honest 2 Betsy Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Innate Wholeness (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- Intrepid Murmurings (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 5 months.
- Janet Fraser: where birth and feminism intersent (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Job Description: Mommy (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Journey to the Simple Life (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- KellyNaturally.com (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- Laura's Blog Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Life, Gluten Free (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Little Green Blog (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 6 months.
- Little Snowflakes (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 6 months.
- Littlestomaks - Science Driven Real Life Toddler Nutrition (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Living Montessori Now (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 7 months.
- Living Peacefully with Children Participated in Carnival 7 months.
- Look Left of the Pleiades Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Love What Is (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Loving {Almost} Every Moment Participated in Carnival 5 months.
- Mama Cum Laude Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Mama-Om (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Mama2Mama Tips (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Maman A Droit (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 5 months.
- MamaWit (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Meta Mom (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- midnightfeedings (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Molly's Place (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Mom Costume (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Momioso (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Momma Jorje: a slightly crunchy momma Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- mommakesmilk (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Momopoly (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- Monkey Butt Junction (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Mother Flippin' (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Multiple Musings (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Musings of a Milk Maker Participated in Carnival 7 months.
- My Intentional Journey (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- My World Edenwild Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Natural Parents Network (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- Navelgazing (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 7 months.
- NursingFreedom.org (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- OneStarryNight (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- Our Little Acorn (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Our Mindful Life (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- Passive Aggressive Diaries Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- PhD in Parenting (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Propson Palingenesis Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- Purple Dancing Dahlias Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Raising My Boychick (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- Science@home (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 5 months.
- Stay At Home Dad in Lansing (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Strocel.com (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Stuff With Thing (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Suddenly Stay at Home (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Swiss Ramblings from Megna Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Tales of a Kitchen Witch Momma (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 9 months.
- Tales of Minor Interest - SchmoopyBaby and More Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- The Adventures of Lactating Girl (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 3 months.
- The Artsymama Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- The Bee in your Bonnet (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- The Mahogany Way (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 6 months.
- The Parent Vortex (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 8 months.
- The Practical Dilettante (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- The Variegated Life (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- There's a Pickle In My Life Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- They Are So Cute When They Are Sleeping (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- This Holistic Life Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- This is Worthwhile (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 10 months.
- Toddler In Tow Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- True Confessions of a Real Mommy (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- very, very fine Participated in Carnival 4 months.
- What I don't say (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- White Noise Participated in Carnival 1 month.
- Witch Mom (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
- Woman Seeking Mother (On Twitter) (On Facebook) Participated in Carnival 5 months.
- Write About Birth (On Twitter) Participated in Carnival 2 months.
Thanks to Dionna for putting this post together!
And please participate in our upcoming Carnivals! Entries for January are due tonight, but feel free to jump in any month.
- January 2011: Learning from children: We are often reminded that we learn as much from our children as they learn from us. What lessons have your children taught you throughout the years? Submission deadline: January 4. Carnival posting: January 11.
- February 2011: Parenting essentials: I cannot imagine parenting without __________. This one is wide open: Do you have a natural parenting product that you can’t live without? Is there a book, family secret, or song that has been crucial to your transition into the role of parent? Is it a friend who makes all the difference for you? Submission deadline: February 1. Carnival posting: February 8.
- March 2011: Make a natural parenting "Top 10" list: Be creative! Choose as many (or as few) NP topics as you’d like and incorporate them into a Top 10 list. It could be anything from "Top 10 Gifts for a New NP Mom," to "Top 10 Reasons to Birth at Home," to "The Top 10 Ways Families on a Budget Can Go Green." Submission deadline: March 1. Carnival posting: March 8.
View the Carnival of Natural Parenting page for upcoming themes and to view links for past Carnivals. Thank you for a wonderful year of celebrating natural parenting with us!
1 comments:
And just allow me to say, thank you for all your wonderful work, and for making this space for the conversation.
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